In my picture I chose to represent gender socialization and the gender schema theory. In order to emphasize gender norms I have the little boy in a lion costume while the little girl is in a pink fairy princess costume. The gender schema theory describes how both girls and boys shape their perspective on the world based on their environment. Boys and girls strive to then meet behavioral or social standards they see being set as either masculine or feminine in order to avoid backlash or risk of being humiliated. In most cases boys will dress up as a police officer, firefighter, superhero or any costume representing a rougher, tougher image that portrays masculinity. On the other hand girls will dress up as princesses, or nurses, or teachers representing a nicer, kinder, more feminine like image.
In the picture the little boy and girl are centered in order to draw the viewers eye directly to them; two kids illustrating gender norms with Halloween costumes. The background is filled with a group of people standing behind them. Most of the people in the background are turned away from the kids almost in disapproval of the fulfilled gender norms shown through their costumes. One lady standing behind them in the trench coat has her arms crossed and looks as if she is looking down upon them. This woman is used in order to illustrate disapproval toward gender schemas and the disapproval of the positive reinforcement that is associated with following these gender norms. Also in the background a little boy is shown in a spider man costume demonstrating another example of gender norms being fulfilled. The eyes of the little lion and little princess are looking directly at the camera. The person behind the camera is in control and has the little boy and little girl following his/her direction. The eyes of the children looking directly at the camera illustrates the approval children look for when following these gender schemas in order to receive positive reinforcement. The kids in the photo are displayed to take up more than half of the frame representing the high standards society has created in order to socialize genders based on beliefs of certain behaviors being more masculine or feminine. When gender norms are followed kids are praised and receive positive reinforcement while deviating from these norms have negative consequences associated creating gender socialization.
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From: Coty
This photo strongly emphasizes the socialization of young boys and girls which leads to a significant difference in adult behavior and affects everything from career and pay inequality to society's view of women in general. The view of a girl as a princess and a boy as a lion reinforces the idea of benevolent sexism by suggesting that women need to be rescued and men have to be stronger in order to save women. This leads to the view that women are not as strong or competent as men, which results in unequal pay and career opportunities. This also encourages young boys to be more independent in life and to learn more important life skills, while girls learn to be more dependent, because a typical "princess" has to rely on a prince to rescue her. This is incredibly dangerous, because this severely reduces the skills that women learn throughout life, which puts them at a significant disadvantage compared to men.
In this photo you see that the young boy and girl are immediately categorized. The little girl dressed up as a princess gives the impression of a women getting by on looks alone and that without them she is less significant. Also the boy being dressed up as a lion shows that he is strong a leader that can protect the girl. This also leads to girls believing that they need someone there to save them from danger. This may lead women to be more dependent and have less valuable skills and to be less forward while men are more dependent leaders that take charge.
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