From: Kiara
One of the first ways children are socialized is through their toys. They learn what roles they are expected to play, how they are meant to interact with the world around them, and even how they should present themselves as they grow up. In her article, “The ‘Two Cultures’ of Childhood,” Dr. Laurie A. Rudman states that, “reactions to novel toys confirm that children do not merely learn by rote which toys are for boys and which are for girls, but extract general qualities that distinguish masculine from feminine. In other words, they have begun to learn a more general gender schema” (2015). Girl toys are pink and purple, softer, smoother, and more domestic, while boy toys are multicolored or blue, harder, rougher, and more action-oriented. For example, girls often play with dolls like baby dolls or Barbies, which they use to play games such as house, teaching them to be mothers. On the other hand, boys play with action figures, like superheroes or soldiers, which they use to play games such as war, teaching them aggressive behaviors (Rudman, 2015).
In my pictures, the differences between girls' and boys' toys is demonstrated primarily through color and the contrasting types of toys. To the right, the first thing one notices is the overwhelming amount of pink. Almost everything is pink, except for the dresses on the right, which are yellow and purple to match their respective princesses. If you take a closer look, you will find that almost everything is a doll. Whether it’s a baby, a princess, a Barbie, or a pet, the aisle is almost entirely just dolls to play pretend house (or castle) with. The few toys that aren’t dolls are just for dressing up, like a princess dress, a purse, or a purple-tangled bow.On the left are the boy toys. There is no one color or kind of toy, it is a mix of multicolored WWE wrestling toys and merchandise on the right, followed by Star Wars guns and stuffed animals. On the left are “tech” toys and Hot Wheels, all different colors as well. Boys have a wide range of toys to choose from, from spy gadgets to guns and dinosaurs to ninja turtles.
When you compare the two selections, a message becomes clear: girls are the princesses who need saving, the boys are the superheroes who save them. Girls are the mothers who take care of the home, boys are the construction workers and soldiers who provide an income for the family. Girls have one “pink” job, and boys have as many options as there are colors on a spectrum.
Citations
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.
1 comment:
From: Naomi
I love this! The very first thing I noticed about your photo was your use of perspective and space. Since you took the photo standing at the end of each aisle with the camera pointing to the other end, it gives us as viewers the feeling of looking down a narrow, rigid path, which agrees with the concept of children learning completely immoveable gender roles through their toys. In conjunction with this camera angle and perspective, I think the way the aisles themselves take up space on either side of each photo helps to reinforce this. It adds a certain sense of claustrophobia, which conveys the way these gender roles suffocate us as we participate in them, especially as children try to explore their personalities and identities. Both of these elements made me think about the illusion of choice. In childhood, most young kids are told they can grow up to be anything. However, there’s almost always an unspoken caveat to this message: whatever ambition the child chooses to follow, it must fall into the few categories that are “acceptable” for their gender. So, even though boys are presented with more options than girls like you discussed, there’s still that element of choice being an illusion unless they break free of the expectations of gender roles. Of course, young boys experience this to a much lesser extent than young girls do, but it was something that your photo and essay made me think of! I really enjoyed your photo and the thought you put into it!
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