Homophobia is reflected in children`s lives everywhere. Take children`s toys for example. One of the most popular toys for girls is Barbie. The image that is portrayed is that you have to be thin to be pretty. Of course, Barbie had Ken who was her mate. The same is true for other popular toys which are based on the concept of the traditional family concept: a mother, a father, and siblings. The same is true for most children stories and movies the happy ending is only achieved if family is reunited with a mother and a father. It would be unimaginable to have a family depicted as same sex partners.
In our society it is still promoting the same standards when it comes to families. It is seen as outrageous to talk about same sex marriage. I cannot imagine the discussions programs are facing if they were to include books and toys that promote other lifestyles. I personally believe that quality early childhood programs should reflect all lifestyles, including family diversity such as two mothers or fathers. Yet, I can understand why many programs shy away from this option because of the difficulty that comes with being so open.
