from: Abby
The genders of the children I baby-sit are a boy and a girl. I took this picture while the little boy was playing basketball. During the time this picture was taken, his older sister was inside playing with her dolls. This is very typical of socialization of gender in boys and girls. When playing, boys tend to do physical activities like playing sports. Many times girls tend to do less physical things such as playing with dolls. Children show socialization of gender through emulating their parents or adult figures.
1 comment:
I find this photo descriptive of the narrow, binding identity route that males are to follow in our society. The pathway from the shooter to the goal of the basket depicts an inflexible, linear identity direction, which is dictated to males. There is no room for an individual to veer left or right with his identity, as there is not room for the shooter to veer left or right to make his basket. To veer to either side would result in the ball hitting up against the side barriers. The netted side barriers are intended to keep the shooter focused on the goal, keep the ball from moving too far off course, and return the misdirected ball to the shooter quickly facilitating another try at the basket. This is much like the scenario of a male trying to find his male gender identity. Males must follow a narrow course of behaviors, attitudes, and dress to establish the acceptable societal goal of the prescribed male gender. Society has many constructs in place that act as the function of the side nets to keep males on course. One example of such a function is the ridicule experienced by a male for stepping outside the imposed gender route. Ridicule is an effective way for society to throw the misdirected gender traits back to the male to facilitate another try on his part. The photo doesn’t have to reveal the sex of the shooter; the viewer knows it is male because of the game of choice. There is much more I could write in reaction to this telling photo. It is a very good portrayal of the male socialization of gender. The title disappointed me. I would like to have seen a closer related, more thought provoking title.
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