The photo taken
uses creative strategies to bring to light the social issues around gender like
the gender schema theory in module 5. This theory states, “children learn
gender schemas from their social environments, but they also willingly adopt
and exaggerate distinctions between sexes” (Rudman, 59) in the article “Two
Cultures of Childhood”. The pink goggles she is wearing reflects how she is
blinded to the social norm of girls not playing aggressively in sports or being
competitive. In the article “Two Cultures of Childhood” the interaction styles
passage says “competition permeates many of boys’ more so than girls’ -play
activities” (Rudman, 62) meaning that girls are not as interested or taught to
be in a competition with each other when playing. Rather in the article it
states, “girls more frequently engage in cooperative exchanges with each
other...” (Rudman, 62) illustrating that sports are not as physical or full of
contact when compared to boys playing. Girls tend to be nurturing and soft,
according to society, thus her having a lacrosse stick goes against this
because the sport is rough and competitive. In the toys passage of “Two
Cultures of Childhood” it is stated, “even when playing with a gender-neutral
toy, boys evince a rougher, more physical style, such as ramming into
things...” (Rudman, 61) meaning that even without social pressure boys are more
aggressive. Since she is carrying a lacrosse stick it looks as if it is almost
not her toy so to speak. Lacosse sticks are considered a boy's toy and she is
not conforming to the social norms of nonaggressive toys for girls. Her gaze is
directed right at the camera to show that she is challenging the norm of girls
being gentle and can play rough and tumble sports just like the boys do. In the
article “Two Cultures of Childhood” it is stated that “in contrast to boys’
interaction style, girls tend to avoid open competition or aggression” (Rudman,
62) meaning that girls are groomed to be nurturing mothers who are great with
children, not athletes. This is in relation to interaction styles and how they
differ between genders, women are cooperative, and men are aggressive. The
outfit she is wearing with the pink goggles, a dress, and heels is symbolism
that she is trying to still be a girl or look feminine to fit into the
expectation of what a girl is. She is representing how it is hard for women to
not be boyish unless overly compensating looking like a girl by wearing girly
things. This photo also represents the Smurfette principle where only brave
girls can become something amazing in a male centered world, which is a concept
in the article “The Smurfette Principle” by Katha Pollitt. She is positioned in
the center of the photo to represent that she is fierce and demanding
attention. She is going against the grain by playing a physical sport which is
dominated by mostly boys.
Works
Cited
Pollitt, Katha.
“Hers; The Smurfette Principle.” The New York Times, 7 Apr. 1991.
Rudman, Laurie A.,
et al. "The Two Cultures of Childhood." The Social Psychology of
Gender How Power and Intimacy Shape Gender Relations. The Guilford Press,
2015, 59-63.
2 comments:
From: Sydney
I think your photo is very original and accurately represents the inclination of girls wanting to follow their typically male-oriented passions while also keeping in touch with their femininity. The slight upward angle of the camera makes her appear confident in her decision to follow her passion, even though it does not follow the socially constructed standards for females. However, the angle is not so high as to suggest that she is superior. She does what she wants, and it is almost like she is rebelling against these trends. She adopts standards from both the male and the female sides. Her gaze directly at the camera illustrates that she is not afraid to be different. The use of contrast between the dress and fancy shoes with the lacrosse stick and goggles represents how there are very apparent roles imbedded in our society of what it means to be a certain gender. A girl must look nice and approachable whereas a guy must look scary and intimidating. The truth that this photo is trying to reveal is that although they are opposites, nobody is completely on one side of this spectrum. Everybody is a little competitive and everybody is a little cooperative. The joining of these contrasting principles onto the single girl in the photo demonstrates that opposing genders are more similar than what society thinks. Lastly, the placement of the girl directly in the center of the photo shows that she is the focus. She wants people to look at her and see that she can be feminine while also embracing her masculine side.
From: Autumn
This photo argues the social norms that females must confine to everyday to fit in. One element I noticed quickly was the positioning of the model. She is centered directly in the photo to show strength and power, but also the glowing background of the sunset signifies her even more. Another element that speaks through this photo are the clothes that are being worn by the model. Wearing dresses and heels are practices that symbolize what girls “should” wear, rather than what they may want to. Though, the lacrosse stick and goggles break down this typical stereotype due to lacrosse being a more masculine sport. Further analyzing the photo though, viewers can see that the model’s goggles are pink. The pink goggles are an example of the creative technique symbolism, which illustrates pink being associated with females. Even with lacrosse being a sport that is not played by just one gender, stores and businesses still manage to find a way to differentiate genders through their products. Another aspect I find interesting is that just by the model holding a lacrosse stick and being female, lures in viewers’ attention. As mentioned, this argument supports the article, “The Smurfette Principle” which in summary says, for females to be successful in a male-dominated culture, the female must show signs of masculinity. This principle puts men at a higher level in society that, ideally, women could never reach. Lastly, this photo challenges that argument that males are more competitive than females. This photo illustrates that you do not have to be male to participate and do well in sports.
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