Society's Socialization of Children‏

From: Crystal
 I decided to take a photo of toys that are usually labeled for boys and toys that are usually labeled for girls. According to our textbook, "parents prefer gender-appropriate toys for their children" (79). The toys on the left are considered gender-appropriate for boys and the toys on the right are considered gender-appropriate for girls. In the background of my photo there is a white wall, which represents the blank slate that children are born with when it comes to gender-appropriateness. The toys in the foreground represent how socializing agents, like parents, peers or the media, virtually transforms children into what the society expects them to be. On the left I included toy cars, a baseball and glove, squirt guns, a Gameboy, and a Taz action figure. All of these toys are considered appropriate for boys to play with according to parents and society in general. Most of these toys have to do with playing outside (squirt guns), competition (baseball/glove, Gameboy), or speed (cars). This is because society usually socializes boys as very active, competitive, and sometimes violent. Also, notice how many items are blue or have blue on them. This is because blue is a color that is associated with boys since they are born. On the right side I placed dolls, a Cinderella movie, child make-up, a mirror, and a dress-up princess hat. Most of these toys have to do with beauty (make-up, mirror, etc.) or family (dolls). This is because society and the media have come to socialize girls with looking beautiful and taking care of a family or home, all of which are represented by the items in the photograph. Similar to blue for boys, most of the "girl" toys are pink, which goes to prove that society can even limit the colors that children are associated with. Socializing agents such as parents, the media, or peers have a very important role when it comes to the toys boys and girls play with and the activities they participate in during their childhood.