from: Ebony
This photo is a representation of the American culture. In the bottom portion of the photo, Brittnee (right: fourteen years old) is being socialized to think and act like a mother. Her mother Nicole, (left) teaches her how to prepare a meal for a potential family. Brittnee subconsciously caters to the toddler, Devin (three years old) while attempting to cook at the same time. It is as if Brittnee, at the age of fourteen, has already accepted or embraced her gender role. This picture was placed in the bottom portion of the photo, to suggest that women are the weaker vessels and are perceived to be the less valuable gender. This picture was taken from the rear as an attempt to symbolize the female identity. In the American culture, females are socialized to nurture and cater to the needs of people. This is the identity women are born with and if they step outside America’s expectations, there identity has been compromised.
In the top portion of the photo, Xavier (right: fifteen years old) is being taught the definition of manhood. Rather than cooking inside the house, he is cooking or providing for his potential family outside the house. He is not accompanied by a toddler because he is being socialized to provide for the toddler. Unlike Brittnee, Xavier is not expected to nurture and care for the needs of people. This picture was placed in the top portion of the photo to suggest that men are the more valuable gender and hold most of the nation’s power. This picture was taken from the front as an attempt to symbolize the identity of men. Typically, men have more social, economic and political power than woman. Women are socialized to cater to the needs of people whil e men are socialized to provide for people.
3 comments:
This all shows the roles of men and women are playing in this society. Women are considered to be nurturer and care taker and men are more powerful in this society. This is all showing in "Motherhood VS. Manhood.Men are related to outside world rather than in the house.This perspective is contructed in the very early childhood, when parents teach their children household chores.Girls are tend to stay inside the house and do household work and boys play outside and thay tend to do more outside work.such as grass cutting etc.
This picture accurately shows how society view each gender. Women do "womenly" things such as cook. The men are also cooking. Yet when you hear people talk about men the word often used is grilling. How often do you hear about men baking? That seems to be a women's place. Truthfully they are the same thing. Why does society have to dictate which terms apply to which gender? Will it ever sound normal for a man to bake and a woman to grill? I sure hope so.
This shows how society has devided different roles between the two genders. It is from the time that we are little that this idea is set in the minds of boys and girls and we grow up thinking in this way.
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