The biology of boys and cars

Posted by A.

I have definitely noticed a preference for cars over dolls with my son of 14 months. Ever since he was an infant he has gravitated towards toys that roll, and he is fascinated by real trains, planes and automobiles, even making a “vrrrrrrm, vrrrrrrm” noise when he sees anything even slightly resembling a car.

According to Psychology Today, a boy’s preferences for cars may actually be of biological origin, not gender socialization.

I recently read an article on Frisky.com and in a New York Times blog about a couple in Sweden who are going so far as to hide the gender of their child, Pop, in order to protect the child from social gender constructs. “It’s cruel to bring a child into the world with a blue or pink stamp on their forehead,” Pop’s mother told a local newspaper.

Isn’t it equally as cruel to ignore biology? This sounds to me like an SNL skit gone awry.

Studies have shown that boys’ preference towards cars is not just limited to humans. A 2002 study by Gerianne M. Alexander of Texas A&M University and Melissa Hines of City University in London showed that even male monkeys prefer toy cars over dolls.

It seems that boys never really outgrow their love for cars. Perhaps that’s why there’s so many mid-life crisis men driving around in fancy sports cars. Now, if only we could buy some sports cars for the monkeys.