My
photo essay is about how homophobia keeps gender norms into place. In this
picture it shows that there is a boy wearing the pink jacket, hanging with
females who are doing their nails and doing what are called “female things.”
And there are two boys outside the window seeming to be talking about him
saying obscenities. My photo shows that the gender scripts that have been put
into place have been tearing our youth apart.
Homophobia plays a role in gender socialization, because it implants very strict definitions of what is considered “being normal” or “being a man,” this is especially true for boys and men. Boys will be victimized for any actions that seem to stray away from the social scripts. Which is really anything that doesn't show toughness and masculinity. But this form of socialization only spreads the hate and hostility towards homosexuals.
Masculinity
is portrayed by the media to men in such a way that if they don't meet up to
the expectations they are looked down on. From childhood, young boys are taught
not be caregivers, emotionally attached to things, are taught not to cry. Boys
are often told when they are young to “man up” or “boys don't cry.” Which is in
many ways negative because when they get older it affects them subconsciously
to the point where they don't even notice it.
In
my photo, there are deeper meaning to things you that are present in the
picture. In the picture the girls are doing their nails, taking selfies. They
represent the stereotype that girls are only one dimensional in terms of
activities and doing things.
The
pink jacket represents going against gender scripts that “real men don't wear
pink” or “you're gay if you wear pink.” He could be wearing his girlfriend's
jacket, He could be wearing it in support of breast cancer awareness. He could
just be wearing because he likes the jacket but saying that colors are for
anyone. Boys can wear whatever they would like and so can girls. The window
represents the societal barrier, the “glass ceiling “that men perpetrate on a
daily basis. The two guys are standing outside of the window looking in
judging, devaluing and marginalizing their male counter who is simply
socializing with his female friends. Not knowing what his situation is why he
is wearing it or anything of that matter. This relates to society when the
people who are “real
men”
looking at the men who go against the set gender scripts and judging them by
the way that they look, act, or dress.
In
conclusion gender stereotypes and homophobia are unnecessary and create nothing
but problematic things going on in our society. Also, it would be great if
someone would just take a stand and make an attempt to end these things so that
people can live their lives worry free and do, wear, love, and stand for
something they believe in without being ridiculed and looked at as a lesser
being.
1 comment:
From: Casey
What stuck out to me most was that the females and the male in the pink jacket all appear very comfortable with each other. Their body language, proximity to each other and facial expressions all suggest they feel okay in their surroundings and at ease being themselves. However, the two males on the other side of the glass appear very tense and anxious. They are standing, appear to be in a heated discussion, and look uncomfortable. To me, this speaks to the satisfaction men can feel when they are comfortable being themselves, instead of having to participate in an insecurity based “fag discourse” like the two outside the room. I also like that the females and the guy wearing the pink jacket all have their backs to the rude men on the other side of the glass. It appears to say that no one at that table could care any less about the offending men’s opinions. It shows contentment, and once again, as opposed to the tenseness we see on the other side of the glass. In addition, other than the girl on the far right, everyone seated is clothed in mostly pink and gray, whereas the men outside the room are wearing black and navy. This makes it appear that the people seated within the room are lighter and more comfortable with life and with themselves. I also like that it was taken in a library, maybe suggesting the two offending males need to turn around and go educate themselves on sex and gender.
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