In the late 1980s, McDonald's introduced a new line of toys in its Happy Meal promotions, now exclusively offering Barbie and Hot Wheels as toy options. They were hugely successful, making Happy Meals more popular than ever. “Is this for a boy or a girl?” » has been added to the list of questions you were asked when ordering. This was one of the beginnings of a new form of marketing that specifically gendered toys and stereotyped the interests of each sex (Faust N. Pag.). Advertising and marketing aren't the only things that perpetuate gender stereotypes. There are many influences on American youth that contribute to stereotypes of personalities and interests for boys and girls. Today, most would characterize these actions as conforming to the gender binary. The gender binary is a socially constructed system of traits that are specifically predetermined for each gender. Socially constructed simply means that over time, different stereotypes have become the norm based on the roles played by each gender. Genderspectrum.org, an organization whose goal is to break gender stereotypes and raise awareness about gender diversity, gives this definition of the gender binary: “Western culture has come to view gender as a binary concept, with two rigidly fixed options: masculine or feminine. When a child is born, a quick glance between the legs determines the gender label the child will carry for the rest of their life. But even if gender should be limited to basic biology, a binary concept still fails to capture the rich variation observed (Understanding Gender N. Pag.). "This could simply mean that boys will receive the Hot Wheels toy with their Happy Meal, and girls will receive the Barbie doll, simply because that's expected. This is rooted in...... middle of the article ......ng: Science & Practice 7.4 (2007): 357-366. Academic Research Completed February 19, 2014. Laidlaw, Liz. “Relational Child Care Practice.” and Youth 23.3 (2010): 14-15. Academic Research Completed. February 12, 2014. Plant, E. Ashby and Janet Shibley Hyde. 81. Academic Search Completed. February 19, 2014. “Happy Meals: Boy or Girl?” Appalachian State University. , toys and learning “, Taylor and François, June 9, 2010. Web February 22, 2014. “Understanding gender.” March 10, 2014.Zhao, Emmeline. “Larry King Murder: Death of Gay Teen Illustrates Challenge for Schools.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, November 24, 2011. Web. March 10. 2014.