From: Sharon
Children learn gender roles by observing and interacting with adults at home, school, and in the community. Youngsters also copy from their peers the socially acceptable behaviors for their gender. Gender schema organizes ones thinking and produces behavior that correspond with the perception. Gender schema is when a person mentally categorizes behavior as being masculine or feminine.
This photo was taken at a local ballet class for six to eight year old girls. The little girl in the foreground is younger that the other children in her class. At this point her dancing skill level is not as proficient as the other students. Closely she watches the movements of her peers and teacher before she attempts any action.
In my photo the mirror background is symbolic for her memory of earlier actions and responses. She can recall the feeling of approval and acceptance when her dance moves were in sync with her friends. However, she can also remember the feeling of embarrassment and rejection when her dance movements were incorrect.
In the background also can be seen the ballet bar which symbolizes the social standards that must be followed. In ballet, as in life, when a person is young it is very important to adher to the standards. The little girls outfit is identical to her peers showing her efforts to conform. However, at this point she is uncertain of the action to take.
2 comments:
This is a great photo with a very unique angle that vividly represents the story at that moment. From this little girl's gesture, I can definitely tell that she is in deeply thinking.
As grown-ups, we understand the social norms and expectations for female, therefore, we start training the next generation since they were little. But to little kids, they have no clue what social norms are or how should they behave as a female in this society. Sending them to training classes like ballet can only make them feel they lost their freedom. Just look like the little girl in the picture, it seems she's not trying to catch up or fit in, but she's thinking how to quit, she doesn't have much interest in this and she looks absolutely bored. She wants to get out of here and do what interests her which may have nothing to do with what this society expects a female should be doing.
From this picture I feel like the little girl looks afraid that she can not do what the other girls are doing. Since she is a younger age she doesn't exactly know what she needs to do. The look on her face seems to symbolizes a look of fear. That shes scared she will be judge that she can not perform as well as the other girls in the class. And being apart of the social norms of having to fit in of being this perfect ballet dancer.
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