People are not born knowing the behavior that is “socially acceptable” and associated with their sex. What does happen when they’re born, is the forming of those gender roles. Boys wear blue, girls wear pink. Boys are supposed to be tough and macho, girls are supposed to be “lady-like” and nurturing. This photo shows how toy companies enforce the fact that boys and girls learn very early on about these roles. The boy and girl pictured are back to back showing the clearly split views that society has about how there are only two genders. Other than the obvious color differences, the toys themselves reflect what society wants boys and girls to be like. Kids’ minds are like sponges and the roles they will act out while playing with these toys will forever be in their mind. They may not really think about it but they are subliminally taught (or argued by adults, very obviously taught) how to become the correct boy and the correct girl. On the girl’s side, there are baby dolls, cribs, and household items teaching her how to be a nurturing, caring, mother and housewife. She is also seen holding a makeup kit which is teaching her how important beauty is. On the boy’s side, there are tools teaching him how to be the fixer-upper and that he is needed to do these things because he’s supposed to be handy and tough in order to be a real man. There are orioles foam fingers for the sports he’s supposed to be interested in, hot wheels for the “cool” cars he likes, and a Spiderman backpack who is so widely known as a muscular super-hero who swoops in, saves the town and gets the girl. The point is, if and when people don’t act like a boy or act like a girl, others don’t know how to treat them and they are looked at as outcasts. Although this causes a huge problem for people who are in the middle of the gender spectrum., companies profit off creating gender roles so why would they stop making those products? Will they ever? Maybe not, but it’s important for the parents to expose their kids to all types of toys and try to break the “rule” we have of a two-gendered society.
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This photo portrays the distinct differences in how boys and girls are brought up in our society. Our media and culture does a great deal to ensure that our kids are brought up in specific gender scripts. Boys are brought up to be tough while girls are encouraged to be delicate. This photo does a great job displaying our society’s handiwork in this process of creating gender roles. By displaying the decidedly feminine and masculine toys together, the viewer is struck with these contrasting ideals. This juxtaposition makes the issue more apparent whereas the room of a single gender may not have the same effect. I also agree with their use of simile when comparing kids’ minds to a sponge. Kids are easily influenced and when our society is feeding them roles that they should fit into it makes it hard for them to build their own identity. When trying to deal with gender identity problems in our society we ignore the basis of our crises; how we raise our kids. If more focus was directed towards creating a tolerant and safe environment for younger generations, rather than imposing gender ideals, our society would be more unbiased as a whole.
The line in between the backs of the boy and girl can represent the dividing line in what is appropriate in our culture for each gender. Want to wear makeup? Only for women! Want to go to the gym and be a bodybuilder? Only for men! We reward and nod to the actions we agree with. The little girl cannot cross over to the boys’ side and play and act like he does, and vice versa.
The space in between the backs of the children can also be a representation for those who fall outside of our construction of what is normal in our society (more so in the past) for example people who are gay, intersex, androgynous, etc. Meaning in the eyes of our culture there is only two acceptable identities (male or female) everything else barely gets any recognition or representation.
The boy’s head is looking up and high while the girl’s head is facing her lap/ground. This could represent the pride and value they might feel once they grow up in their gender roles. So the boy has power tool toys, sports related items, and hot wheels. The girl a crib, doll house, and baby dolls. Once the boy grows up and becomes a car mechanic versus the girl who became a homemaker, the boy will feel more esteem and self-worth than the girl.
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