From: Geovania
This picture shows my 3 years old son playing with his train set and dressing his "Thomas" pajamas. I decided to take this picture to show how the society promotes gender typing with our children. In this picture we see some categorized elements that explicit shows this play room belongs to a boy. First, I would to pay attention to the gender distinguish of color in the 12 toy bins storage. They are in dark colors such as blue, green, red and yellow whereas if this was a girl play room those bins it would be in light colors of blue, purple, blue and green. Then, look what kind toys the bins are fill with. We see toys that are gender-stereotyped for boys such as: cars, baseball bat, baseball glove, balls, and trucks as well as the big yellow Lego bin that sits by which has a picture of boy playing as constructor. Also I would like to add another gender type the Lego pieces to play with is in the same color as the bins storages. The powerful influence of the media and the market economic play an important role in stereotyping gender differences in our society, for example, this boy in the picture loves "Thomas the Train Engine" toys and noticed that he is dressing Thomas pajamas as well. This train toy as well the others toys in the picture communicate preferred future roles as been a boy, such as recognizable jobs, independence and leadership.
2 comments:
The photo of your son does provide a strong commentary on what a typical boy is supposed to be according to society. His play bins, his clothing, his choice of childhood interest, even his big box of Legos in the background all speak to that effectively. However, it might've been more effective if you had talked about what role yourself (or his father) had played in getting him interested in toys like them. Was he naturally inclined to different colors, or did he decide that he should be a 'rough' boy by getting non-girlie colors? Does he watch a variety of kids shows, or is Thomas the one he's been encouraged to look at for lessons? Has he expressed interest in being an engineer or in being Mr. Topum Hat? How did you, as his parent(s) decide to get him these toys and not others? Was it to prevent him from being teased? From being different? Or because you believed that's what he liked? A lot of the picture can also provide a commentary on how parents can influence the child's gender role, and whether their culture or their family provides a bigger model for what to do.
From Delight
This picture is a true representation of how the society fosters gender typing with gendered toys. Worthy of note also is the boy’s army patterned dress, a symbol of strength and power. Worthy of note is your mention of the influence these toys could have on the boy in communicating to him his expected future roles as a boy, some recognizable jobs and the society’s expectations of his independence and exhibition of leadership traits.
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