This photo blog encompasses how consumerism enforces the notion of ‘doing gender.’ Ranging from birth, to having your own children gender is deeply ingrained in our society, whether we realize it or not.
The world is a variety show of differences, so why is it that society is so hesitant to embrace these differences to encompass what it is to be a beautiful humanity, united in acceptance? Maybe this is a pipe-dream in the timeline of progression but it has to start somewhere. Let it begin with a recognition of what it is to not be male or female, but just to be human.
This photo essay is trying to portray the many different sides of femininity and how our current media culture tries to “undo” it or challenge the stereotypes of femininity.
The following photo essay will illustrate how children perform gender in their imaginative play. Examples of the way play is gendered are the difference in dress-up clothes and costumes, the availability of cosmetics to children, and the stereotyped toys that lead to binary gendered thinking. By dividing elements of imaginative play using the gender binary, society reinforces the gender binary and heteronormative gender norms. When children violate these norms, adults punish the deviance rather than allowing children to play with the toys they want and have a variety of experiences with gender expression.
Socialization is a lifelong process, but when children are developing socialization is most important. Toys are often used to teach children how to think and what behaviors are appropriate. We use toys as lessons in the gendering process. Clearly, as we walk past a toy section in a store we can notice the gender division of toys based on presentation. The binary limits the types of toys advertised to children based on their gender. Further, toys reinforce the gender binary and gendered roles. Objects doing gender persuade how children do gender. All these photos were taken while I was shopping for gifts for my nieces and nephew. These were just a few of the options I was given.