from: Candace
This picture demonstrates unintentional gender socialization at my nephew's birthday party. When going to a little boy's birthday party it is automatic to everyone attending it to get some kind of masculine today such a truck, game, gun, or any thing that would be considered an appropriate toy for a boy. Many people will plead guilty of helping gender socialize children at birthday parties also, for the same reasons. Most of the time when they kids are small enough the parents buy the gift for their child's friends birthday party, wrap it up, and say, "Happy Birthday". Every time he would get a car, giant action man, or gun he would act out, slap his friends five and say something like, "Oh yeah man, Whoa, Pow Pow." I don't think any boy whose birthday is being celebrated receives any presents that will benefit his schoolwork or will help further his decisions is choosing a career. On the other hand if a boy was to receive a binder or a calculator he probably wont appreciate that gift as much as he would a truck set or G.I.Joe man. The way a young boy dresses, what he plays with, all of that reflects off what kind of man he will be in his future, at least that is what people believe. The toy companies know people believe these things and they drag it out to the fullest to sell more toys. They will put pictures on the boxes of a boy or girl playing with a certain toy implying these children should play with these toys. Even if that isn't what they are implying, they know what the kids will think when they see the box and who is playing with the toy. Overall the picture represent that society is who chooses what is right for a boy to play with and what is not right. People buy gifts for boys from what they believe society will accept. Children are gender socialized but not only what they are given for their birthday, but also what they see around them. My nephew requested from me for his birthday a football & Nerf Dart gun set for him and his brother to share. I bought him some Heely's instead, but he still got his Nerf Dart set anyway. What a surprise right?
4 comments:
I think she did a great job describing the choices people in our society make when choosing what to buy a boy or girl for birthdays, or even holidays. In the picture I liked how she included the toy for the boy, so it shows that its not feminine, and makes the point that we would never give young boys toys that were considered girly, such as dolls, or else it would "hurt" their masculinity.
It was still intentional when we “gave-in” to the gender socialization when buying gift for children, it’s just that our intentions were for other reasons while being ignorant to the social and physiological consequences. Yes, I plead guilty too. My intentions were to be the more favorite gift giver, to keep peace among everyone, “You got me what I wanted”! To look good in everyone’s eyes playing hero, “That was a really cool gift”! I think it was more automatic for me to be on this power trip. This course has humbled me in many ways.
this is a great way of showing how outside parties also help shape genders. these are friends and family giving the presents, not just parents. they to are helping form his gender. I am guilty of doing this. My brother is 7 and when it came to his birthday , i ran right towards the truck section of the toy store.
Yea I think that giving in to gender socialization is the easy way and the more acceptable way. I think we are all guilty because we all were brought up the same way as the generation before us. Sure the times change, but the gender hasn't, and because of this, boys will play with GI Joes, and girls will play with Barbie. I liked playing video games as a kid, and i would have been pissed if i got school supplies or a savings bond.
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