Codes of gender and the ultimate development of gender roles through toys and items, is how children in our society are raised in what is know as the “two cultures of childhood”. Boys and girls are brought up in completely different social worlds. For example, since birth one of the first apparent distinctions between boys and girls is color which can easily be differentiated between in the photo above. Also, represented in the photo is a parents desire to ensure a child adopts the appropriate behavior and code of each child's gender. Quintessentially, revealing our cultures subconscious need to put our children into either a feminine or masculine box, from birth. In turn, allowing no room for acceptance when it comes to moving to and fro between the feminine and masculine boxes, regardless of gender.
Pay attention to how angle plays a role in the photo. The camera is above the subjects, facing down upon them, as if the onlooker is dominate, larger, more powerful and has control over the subjects. This angle was chosen because it represents how society has a power and control over how American’s, raise their children.
In the foreground a hand is seen pointing toward the girls toys or items as the girl reaches, in interest, toward the boys toys or items, in defiance toward what society says she should be playing with. The authoritative hand in the foreground is positioned close to the camera, making it seem bigger insinuating power and authority over the children. This represents how parents play into gender codes and roles, making the children's behaviours and actions reflect that of there specific code of gender.
Taking into consideration the background, one will discover an incorporation of items specific to each code of gender, laid out in front of each child. In front of the boy are items that are all weapons. These weapons are placed on a cold hard wooden floor, simulating a tough emotionless background. On quite the contrary the girls items are placed on a colorful soft and floral scarf, simulating beauty, softness, comfort and care.
Through symbolism the photo reveals a fine line between the left and the right potions or boy and girl side, of this photo. In turn, giving a strong division between the cold black, browns, dark greens and camouflage of the boys side, symbolizing hard defined emotionless codes of the boys gender. Then, turning to the girls side seeing warm and uplifting colors of the rainbow and patterns of flowers on the scarf. As the backdrop essentially ties in everything together in a caring and harmonious manner. Hence, conveying the division of gender codes between girls and boys.
Finally, body language must be brought into consideration. the body language will represent how gender roles are taught to our children by society. Notice how the girl is kneeling in order to reach and pick up an item from the floor, as the boy is just bending over. This subconsciously conveys a message to the onlooker, that girls are seen as weaker and lower than boys. Even though society has though girls that kneeling down is a courteous and appropriate thing to do further portraying bias between the feminine and masculine stigma.
2 comments:
Barbie or GI-Joe?
In this photo it is clear that there is a boy and a girl with “boy toys” and “girl toys” on the floor in front of them. The toys are set in front of the children as if the children are making a decision as to what kind of toys they want to play with. As we can see, the boy in the picture does not seem very hesitant, he goes straight for the boy like toys. But if you look to the left of the picture, at the girl, you can see that she is reaching for the hammer, which todays’ society would consider “masculine.” In the middle of the picture you can see the hand that is pointing to the more feminine objects, as if they are directing the girl to choose the more feminine toys. It is almost as if the hand is representing todays’ society, telling us that girl’s play with “girl toys” and boys play with “boy toys” so the girl picking the girl toys would be the normal or correct choice. And that if she was to choose the hammer it would be abnormal or wrong. This photo describes the way that society creates codes of gender and gender roles, starting from a young age we learn what it means to be a male or female, by such small variables of life… such as the toys we prefer to play with. The way that these codes are forced by society gives us the impression that this is the right way of doing things and for that reason people continue to follow and reinforce the codes of gender and/or gender roles.
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