I chose to base my photo surrounding my 5-year-old son Karson Alexander Mitchell. Karson spends the most time with me his 3-year-old sister Jade, Makenzie, Montana and my mom on the weekend. My sisters Makenzie and Montana are both younger than me and live with my mother. We all are unmarried except for my sister Madison who is a Lesbian and has a girlfriend for over 4 years. At an early age he was taught about sex and gender roles for people and understood that its ok for boys and girls to do the same things, look the same and try new things. Karson is adventurous, knowing that he can try anything if he wanted too. Just like toddler X wasn’t uncomfortable with doing all that he wanted to because there is nothing abnormal with trying everything. I think my son grasped that Idea very early on.
In this photo he is wearing my vest and a birthday crown that I bought for him 2 years ago, and this picture was taken in the living room of our apartment that is all designed with artwork by Karson over the past few years. The day prior Karson tried this vest on right before I wore it for the day and I thought he about how often he does try my things on that are appealing to him. Karson has always expressed things to me through his feelings by having open discussions about things going on around us. Feelings isn't something that is seen as masculine as a male, but our interactions it helps to teach my son that way of expression.That day we discussed about how beautiful heart is and how he can look at things as a child with good intentions to keep discovering more if interested, specifically what art projects should we do next. As we were talking about this subject, I was moving around him trying to find an angle to really focus on him. While sitting on the floor and checking the previous pictures, I realize the majority of our apartment has his artwork on the walls I just needed to show more of the colorful background he created. Karson is extremely passionate about his work, know that there are many ways to expressing his creativity shows his confidence in all his art.I wanted to add that the cardboard paper is something recycled that we save when we come across any types of cardboards, even Dr. Rellaihan mentioned that the best gift to give a child would be a cardboard box. The opportunity for expanding his mind happens when he can be freely creative. I left Karson in black and white and some of the background because that how some people view things, one way or the other. I choose to open the color for his old artwork because I know he can see with colorful eyes, perceiving the world of his own and learning life in different colored lights Karson’s kind heart shows his innocence of being just a kid without the pressure of male or female goals and that so early choose to be so confident in himself about his perception on gender roles.
2 comments:
Gender Roles
From: Elma
Your photo entitled “Gender Roles” captured my eye immediately because of the striking colors and contrast. Your story surrounding it captured my heart, because it is a very familiar one for me as both my son and grandson were raised in predominately female families. It appears that Karson has been taught at an early age about gender roles and that it is ok to mix these roles without negative reactions.
I love the crown on Karson’s head which I know makes him feel royal. He is expressing his role as an important figure in his world. He appears very sure of himself dressing in his mother’s vest as if it were a royal robe. The deep blue of the vest conveys the color by definition, that it is both trusting and passionate. Your photo shows Karson’s trust in what he does and also his passion in his art. Karson is looking directly into the camera, with a look of confidence. I could see in your photo and the essay that Karson is raised predominantly in a gender-neutral environment, where he is able to be more creative due to his freedom of choice. The circle in the middle of the cardboard paper on the table in this photo is very important. As I see it, while the circle conveys the center, Karson can make his picture anywhere he wants on this page. This shows his freedom to express himself as he chooses. The artwork that Karson has drawn is both bright and vibrant. With colors ranging from pinks to deep blues and blacks and hews that are both soft to strong. This shows his assurance and no fear of expressing himself in his art. It is clear he loves art and and is positively supported in his painting. It’s obvious that this freedom in his upbringing has made him confident to choose what he likes and what his interests are.
The framing of Karson in the forefront of the photo shows that he is the most important part of this photo. But you cannot look at the photo without seeing how important the artwork he has featured on the wall is. I think the composition is just right with both Karson and his artwork illuminating the page.
We know that there is no way to avoid stereotypical gender roles as children venture into the outside world, so exposing children early to all types of activities and ideas gives them more awareness on what they like and who they want to be.
From: Michelle (missy)
I was instantly attracted to your photo from the vibrant colors. I really appreciate how in depth and accurate this photo is as well. In my photo I expressed the idea of the negativity and pressure on young boys expressing their emotions and I love how he was taught about sex and gender roles at a young age because that is the time where gender roles are exaggerated. Many people would criticize the parents for discussing topics like that to their children but, it is the right thing to do and it is truly something more parents need to start doing and allow their children to grow up with a more progressive mindset. Teaching your daughter's and son's especially that expressing your feelings is normal is the first step into breaking the stereotype that sensitivity and emotions is only a female characteristic. The fact that Karson is colored black and white really does represent the binary views that still occur when it comes to the gender topic but in a way, he still dominates the photo in a positive way even over those colorful drawings. People can be so blinded by that; his creativity would go unnoticed just because people have such a set view on the way a boy and girl should behave. I could be over analyzing this, but the circle in the middle catches my attention and it made me think what it could possible represent and the first thing I instantly thought was that a circle has no sides. Karson doesn’t go by any "side" or "end" of the gender spectrum that society made up, he is an open kid who doesn't go by the roles and isn't afraid to express his creativity.
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