Be Everything To Do Anything

from: Kelly

My photo was chosen specifically to highlight how a negative aspect of gender socialization can be disguised as a positive, empowering message. The photo speaks to the many and mixed messages that play a part in gender socialization of young girls. Girls are told they can do anything, but the message comes with conditions. This is why the photo was taken with the Barbie as the biggest trophy and sitting above the "Girls Can Do Anything" pillow. The expression on the young girl's face conveys an apathy to all the messages, but we see she is wearing the same color as the Barbie, having gotten the message that being pretty matters. The conditional aspects of gender socialization are apparent in the background of the photo. You can do anything, if you are athletic, if you conform to what it considered feminine, if you are pretty, if you are heterosexual. The message of "Girls Can Do Anything" is positive but it is diminished by all the subtle messages that surround it. All the powerful aspects in the photo are surrounded by a socially recognizable female gender marker. The photo makes a statement about how gender socialization factors surrounding an empowering message can minimize and change its meaning and keep girls from being empowered.