from: Dan
Gender socialization is a serious issue in the world today. In my picture I show an extreme type of gender socialization but it happens. The picture has a young kid representing all of the young kids who try to be someone completely older. This occurs through how the media portrays pro athletes and the muscular male bodies. It can also occur through family and friends of a young kid wanting to be something that at that time he is not. The picture shows a bunch of kids stuff from a Nick magazine to a stuffed Spongebob Squarepants toy in a trash can. This shows how this media shape of how males or athletes are suppose to be makes kids want to start early to be just like that person. The shaving creme and the electric shaver in the corner of the screen symbolize being old as well as the wine rack in the back corner. These are things that occur when you get older but they are merely not in the focus of the picture. Because the only thing that means being older is looking like the perfect male. What I see when I look at this picture is that strong Under Armor symbol on the shirt of the kid. That is the symbol of a perfect male that the media has produced to implant dreams in the heads of average kids around the world. I made the picture him looking in the mirror because in the mirror he feels he is that guy in the photograph but it is just a mirror and in real life he is not like
that at all.
2 comments:
This photo is a representation of “Tough Guise.” The phrase “tough Guise” is used to describe masculinity. This term suggests that masculinity is no more than a mask used to conceal the true identity of men. This mask or disguise is used as an attempt to hide men’s emotions, perceptions of life and perceptions of themselves. This photograph shows how young boys are socialized to embrace the tough guy image. Boys are taught that being a tough guy is being a man. To this young boy, being a man means throwing away his toys and magazines. These toys and magazines represent his childhood. Therefore, becoming a man means throwing away his childhood. The shaving cream that was placed away from the childhood toys and magazines symbolizes manhood and masculinity. Although this boy has no need for shaving cream, the idea of using such a manly product does not make this young boy feel young. Using shaving cream allows the young boy to grow himself up. The mirror in the photo represents the social, political, and economic power men are awarded for the “Tough Guise” image.
I think this picture is an excellent example of gender socialization. This image shows that boys and men have the same issues as girls do about their body image and who they aspire to be like. This picture explains how kids are worrying about their bodies and appearances at younger and younger ages. This boy is looking up to a man who has to use physical aggression to assert his manhood which gives off a bad image to his younger audience. This picture goes along with the movie “Tough Guise”; it is suggesting that in order to appear “manly” and “normal”, boys must use violence and anger.
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