from: Emily
In the photo the boy, who's name is Geoffrey is playing dress up with his two older sisters, Sydney and Allison. Geoffrey is wearing high heels, a purse and sunglasses on top of his head. The problem that Geoffrey soon realizes is that what he is doing and wearing is not appropriate for his gender. Although there were accessories to choose from that were for boys Geoffrey chose the more feminine choices. But he is just a little kid and when comparing the dull male work shoes he thinks that it will be more fun to try and walk in the shoes that make him real tall. They seem more fun and challenging.
This picture describes gender socialization in many ways. First Geoffrey is doing something that is against his gender scheme. He is a little boy who wants to wear high heels. In our society if a child does something that is gender inappropriate the other children will give that child signs to try and change their behavior to the correct behavior for their gender. In this picture Geoffrey's sisters are giving him a dirty look, and not just him but they are isolating one thing that Geoffrey is wearing and that is the high heels. Their dirty looks are Geoffrey's sign that he is doing something that boys are not suppose to be doing. This is how children learn what is right and what is wrong by experimenting and then developing their gender boundaries. That is why I chose to have the picture in black and white and have the heels stand out as being red. They are representing Geoffrey's inappropriate gender socialization. That is also why Geoffrey seems to be much darker and seems to be in the shadows because that is how it is in our society for a child who goes against the grain. They are isolated and almost forced by verbal and in this case nonverbal cues. This picture represents how children learn what is appropriate for their gender. If they do something that is wrong for their gender they are quickly given signs and reinforcement to conform to what society thinks is appropriate.
Secondly, I used the theme of dress up because I think that dress up is a perfect way for children to explore their gender roles and expectations. This picture was my favorite mainly because of the looks that the girls are giving Geoffrey and also how they are dressed and standing. Sydney the oldest is ten, but her outfit seems to be quite revealing around the legs. I found this interesting because she chose an outfit that is revealing, which represents what she is learning about her gender role. This is a ten year old girl and her younger sister who is only eight who are both in the typical diva stance. I found this so interesting. Where did these young girls learn this stance?
This picture shows that even in simple everyday activities, such as dress up, and in every aspect of life children are exploring and experimenting what is right and what is wrong for their gender. And that is a key way children become gender socialized. By trial and error.
2 comments:
I really like this picture. I love the expressions on the girls faces, they almost look disgusted with the little boy. In society it would be outrageous for a boy to be dressed out of the social norm. For example, if he was wearing girls clothes and had accessories. I think this picture really shows the reactions people have toward others who dress outside their gender stereotype.
I think that its awesome that Geoffry is so excited to play dress up...i mean he is going to hate this picture when he is older and his sisters show this picture to his girlfriend, but i think its always really cool when kids break the traditional roles of boy and girl and do whatever it is that they ant to do. Thats how it should be. I just think the picture is so cool and the title id really funny too, it really makes a statement and so does Geoffry. I guess thats the advantage of haing siblings of the opposite sex, you get to experience more then just one side of life, even if it is agaist social norms.
Post a Comment