From: Lucy
Gender roles are relegated in society during the formative years and beyond. One of the ways these roles become inculcated into children is through role-playing games. Role-playing games are games played by children with contrived scenarios such as cops-and-robbers, house, school, doctor, wedding etc. Children simulate adult roles in these games. Each role is either relegated by group consensus or by the leader. Roles may also be chosen by election. There are many factors that may determine which role a particular group member plays. For example the youngest and/or smallest group member may play the student instead of the teacher; this same person may play the child instead of parent during a game of house. Gender is a powerful determinant of which role a group member may play. Since these role-playing games are contrived examples of adult, real-life relationships, the children will invariably model what they see in their own families, the media, school etc. The influence of adult institutions deeply impacts the roles girls and boys select or are relegated to in these games.
The girl is in a white wedding dress. This reflects the patriarchal model that states that being married should be a girl's greatest desire-not a career or college. The dress is white to symbolize the expected purity of the bride while ignoring the double standard that boys don't have to be pure on their wedding day. Also noteworthy in this picture, she is carrying flowers. Flowers are pretty and delicate; 1950's era women were also expected to be pretty and delicate. Her head is tilted instead of erect. Erect heads demand respect and show purpose. When a girl tilts her head it's seen as flirtatious. Her hands are drawn together close to her body; this is the posture of someone without power. The little boy is looking straight into the camera with a look of confidence. His arms are spread open which is symbolic of authority. He is also wearing a helmet which indicates he is going to be doing something dangerous. Girls are told to avoid dangerous activities, but boys are encouraged to run out and skin their knees. He looks relaxed and almost arrogant. She looks repressed in her feminine role. Even their leg posturing shows repression. Her legs are together while his are separated with one foot causally on the bike petal. Her hands are full of flowers and his hands are holding up his bike. Both people in this picture are heading someplace. He is headed down a bike trail of independent adventure. She heading down an aisle, to be "given away" by a man to another man, surrendering even her name in the process. This photograph is about identity: the girl is losing hers and the boy isn't.
6 comments:
I thought this pciture was a really good way of showing that gender socialization starts early. I like the lighting it almost look like the little girl is being reflected upon almost like an angle. The fact that she is in a wedding dress and he is riding a a bike demonstrates how children are inlfunced into toy prefrences. I love the facial expresions of the children. The boy has an aggressive mean look to him and the little girls face looks whimsacle.
I think this photo is a great display of how boys can partake in sporty games while girls are expected to be ultra feminine and should only be doing and imagining feminine things. I think it displays the softness of girls and the roughness of boys, both due to socialization and gender roles. I think it accurately displays the age of the children corresponding with the activities. By this I mean that it is common for boys this age to be outdoorsy and girls this age to be playing dress up. Overall, I think this photograph is a great display of the gender rolls that even young boys and girls experience.
This photo also implies that a boy should be confident because he will grow up to be a man but the little girl should be hidden and confined because she will be a woman. I think this is what the veil shows, it's hiding her face because she should be embarrassed that she is a girl and can’t be as strong or independent as the boy looks. I also think that because the boys’ shirt says “Super Kid”, it shows how confident he is opposed to the little girl with her face hidden and turned away. I also like that the light is making the girl glow to show that she should be peaceful and innocent like an angel. I think this photo accuretly displays gender roles and what little kids should grow up to be like, the little girl should grow up to get married and the little boy should grow up to be independent and do whatever he wants.
This picture is a perfect picture to show gender roles/role playing. Kids learn from friends/family/ and the media at such a young age. This does not seem to stop as they grow older as well. Even when girls grow older they still dream about their wedding day, but a little more realistic. The media focuses so much attention on celebrity weddings that girls still dream to have there’s just as big. This plays a big role because there are plenty of people that can not afford big weddings and are disappointed on there “special days”. Many people believe their wedding day is the best day in their life but there are so many more wonderful days that can match up. Everyone has the image of wedding days being all about the brides; however the day should be focused on both the bride and groom as becoming a whole/family.
Roles of men and women are placed on one another at a very young age. The boy in this photo is already learning to act as a man with manly duties. The girl is just preparing to get married and depend on a man to take care of her. These roles are taught to children and effects what they chose to pursue in life.
This photo greatly describes the way in which children are supposed to be seen when they are young. Gender roles plays an enormous effect. The little girl dreams of her wedding day, dressing up, imagining what it will be like when shes older. And the younger boy stands as any typical male child, playing outside on his bike not bothering to worry about the future.
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