From Monica
For my picture project I choose not to take a picture of a boy dressed up in a ballerina outfit, or a young girl with sports equipment, but a picture of two gender manipulated cars. One reason I believe that the cars still represent the socialization of gender in children is because it is the difference between boys and girls that the cars are modeled to represent. I also believe that children associate the difference between the cars that their parents drive as being feminine and masculine.
The little bug, I took at a slanted angle trying to represent the car as if it was posing…the bug is very attractive to females because of its cuteness. It would be considered “Gay” if a male were driving a bug, but with the big bulgy head lights and a flower in the dash it is a very innocent car. The Dodge Charger, (which we were not allowed to move from the garage…which should say something) was taken from a lower angle as it seems to be running you down, is a very masculine mussel car. The picture was taken while the car was still in the garage so it is more sheltered. When I thought about this more it is kind of funny that it usually is men that house their cars in the shed or garage…almost in a nurturing way, but in no way feminine ( as we were reminded when the fact was brought up).
11 comments:
This is a very good example of socialization of gender in a way that people do not think of on a day to day basis. We normally think of toys and clothes but we forget that not only children are socialized based on gender but teenagers and adults too. They are the most influential on the children (no wonder were the children get it from) Now that it has been brought to my attention, everyday I criticize who is driving what down the highway. Sometimes I’ll b surprised to see a girly girl putting on lip gloss in a 2.0T GTI, or a guy rocking out in a Scion TC. My boyfriend is a Volkswagen fanatic. Everyday he is either on the computer looking for parts or fixing something on his car. We see that as such a typical guy, but society makes it that way. If a girl was to do those things she would be called a tomboy. I like this photo a lot because its not the normal picture we would take for this kind of assignment and allows us to see that there are other aspects of life that depict the socialization of gender.
I think this is a good example. When people think of trucks, i think they mostly think of guys driving them. Trucks are big and tough and so are guys. But i know of a girl who drives a big truck, and i think people see her as a "tomboy." I think this is because of society and the thought of trucks making guys look tougher. Most girls just drive little cars. I always see who is driving what when i drive down the road. Usually guys are the ones driving the trucks i see. My boyfriend has a big jacked up truck, he is always cleaning it and making sure it looks good. Which i think is unusual for guys, girls usually are worried whether they look good or not.
i thought this photo was very creative and thoughtful. you made very good points showing how a car you drive can be associated with gender and social sterotypes....one that i remember from when i was little was an el camino car/truck was driven by "rednecks"....i am glad i have outgrown perpetuating this nonsense....i used this term only to support my comment :)
THIS IS SO TRUE. but men are nurturing, in a femine way. They shelter their car by clean it, wax it, feeding it gas, detailing it. Men are like women in some ways. And yes their is still vehicle sexism, because i sure do know a man would not want to be caught in a bug. They would be putting to much at risk! They would be made fun of and probably put down for a long time!
This picture brings up a very good point; we always talk about how our clothes and toys are designated to one sex but never about cars. If you see a man driving a VW bug it is automatically assumed he is gay and if a girl is interested in old cars to the point that she won’t let anyone drive her antique cars, it is considered weird and masculine. People are judged by what car they drive, I can remember countless times that I was out with my friends or parents and someone made a comment about a how person we saw driving was odd for driving that kind of car. Or even on TV, when the show is trying to be humorous one of the main characters will be seen driving a car that is not normal for their sex, so therefore results in the audience laughing. This is a very interesting picture, another way to find gender socialization in our society.
This picture brings up a very good point; we always talk about how our clothes and toys are designated to one sex but never about cars. If you see a man driving a VW bug it is automatically assumed he is gay and if a girl is interested in old cars to the point that she won’t let anyone drive her antique cars, it is considered weird and masculine. People are judged by what car they drive, I can remember countless times that I was out with my friends or parents and someone made a comment about a how person we saw driving was odd for driving that kind of car. Or even on TV, when the show is trying to be humorous one of the main characters will be seen driving a car that is not normal for their sex, so therefore results in the audience laughing. This is a very interesting picture, another way to find gender socialization in our society.
This is another great example of gender socialization. Even vehicles have become trends for both men and women. Men are typically seen driving loud muscle cars not only for looks but for speed. Women however are generally seen driving minivans or cars that are known as “cute.” I too find it ironic that so called “manly-men” with their gas guzzlers would show their feminine sides by nurturing their cars. I sometimes find myself competing with my boyfriend’s mustang whom which he calls his “baby.”
This is an example of gender socialization I never thought of! But it is so true. It shows how men and women follow certain trends and are socialized to think in certain ways. Women think a lot about what color car they want or how "cute" it is, while men want a car they can show off to their friends. I like this picture a lot. It's different and shows a lot of thought.
some cars are made for boys, and some are made for girls. you can definately tell whcih ones for which. This picture is so true. a guy would never buy a VW bug, its too "girlie". But a girl has no problem riding around in a mustange. but the companies still make the mustange look like a guys car.
I thought this photo was very realistic because guys are often too worried about driving certain cars because they are labeled as "girl cars". If you think about it, its kind of stupid because how can a car have feminine features? I used to know of someone who had a "chick car" and people teased him that he was gay frequently.
I like this photo alot because its a perfect example of segregation. How that men are suppose to have nice, fancy, fast cars and women are suppose to have just safe and reliable cars. Very nice pic!
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