1.jpg)
from: Rachel
The Power of Yellow addresses socialization of gender from the earliest stages of infancy. Staring in this photograph are a mother, a brother, sister and new baby infant. The infant is intentionally clad in yellow to avoid any distinction of gender. Gender has become in our society the basis of identity. By keeping someone unaware of ones identity, they don't even know how to begin the understand them. "Understand[ing] them" refers to what people already know about them by just knowing their gender, which includes every association and stereotype out there. The baby is innocent of all of these associations and stereotypes and is just starting out its life.
Placed in the center, it is the focal point; and placed in between its brother and sister, it shows a contrast. It's brother and sister have already been genderized by society. The brother, 13 in a basketball uniform, represents the athleticism and competitiveness in male gender stereotypes. The sister, 14 in a pink Hollister hoodie and a side ponytail, represents the model of popular girls in today's middle schools. Additional to showing the contrast, the placement of the children represent a conflict in which direction the baby will go as it is genderized. Both brother and sister are already acting as forces on opposite ends pulling the baby to their side. The sister on the left is holding the infant tight and going in for the kiss, being nurturing and affectionate to the baby, while the brother on the right is holding the babies arm up in a manner that looks as if the infant is flexing, while the brother is simultaneously showing his muscle. Both of the siblings actions are extremely influential to the development of the baby.
Additionally in the background, the mother acts an additional generation above the brother and sister. Through the window, the father is doing yard work outside, in which you can only see the two wheelbarrows through the window. As the siblings have a large influence on the baby, the parents had extremely large influences on the siblings who are already in their teens. The mother is doing the dishes,representing the domestic work that is included in the female sphere, where the father is doing labor work which is in the male sphere.
This photo clearly demonstrates the on-going generation after generation socialization of gender through families, and makes a statement about the innocence of babies and how no one can make a judgement on someone without a gender in yellow.
3 comments:
This picture really shows how young gender socialization starts in our society. The infant has no real characteristics that make it possible to tell if it is a boy or girl. The brother and sister are already showing the baby what it should act like if it is the same gender as they are, even though the infant can’t make any decisions for itself yet. I really like this picture because it really shows how these gender roles come into play at such a young age, and how parents don’t really seem to notice the influences being placed on their children that deal with gender roles.
“The Power of Yellow” stuck out to me, not only can you not figure out the sex of the child, but the boy and the girl in the picture are also are representing what we as society think they should be doing. The girl is holding the infant, and looking into its face and being more caring. Which to me shows that she is acting in the way that society wants females to act, more nurturing, and love. While the boy on the other hand, is flexing his muscles, and isn’t really paying that much attention to the child, and that shows that like society, we put the expectations on raising children to women soley.
thats an interesting photo. I lie how how the baby is kinda torn between which lifestyle, he/she will make. It also amazing how uncomfortable it is not knowing the sex of the child and how much confusion is there is. It funny that not only is the girl wearing pink, but the mother in the background is too...showing that it doesnt matter what generation you are, if this baby is a girl she is going to follow in their footsteps. but i like how yellow does set the baby apart.
Post a Comment