Friday, May 29, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Week #2 Eureka Moment
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Responser to Tiffany, Week 1
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In response to Tiffany: "Real Men Wear Pink"...is wearing that supposed to make the kid gay? It is those kind of homophobic fears that drive a lot of strict gender enforcing. I firmly believe sexual orientation is something that is on the genetic level and cannot be changed or learned, nor is it some kind of disease. There is so much evidence out there in the scientific and research world about hormone levels in the womb that back such a theory up. You are absolutely right how it is in this matter that children have their already very limited freedom infringed upon.
- May 20, 2009 4:02 PM
Response to Professor, Week1
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I believe it all comes down to fear and security. Parents want to steer their child in a specific direction and, since at a young age toys are often a kid's first friends, then a parent wants to make sure their boy or girl is hanging out with the appropriate friends. In this case, the superimposing of toy purchases fulfills a sort of homophobic, societal/cultural duty of tradition that ensures a lucid steering toward a specific gender and its respective proper behavor. This really is just speaking of the majority and not the whole of population, of course.
It does indeed hinder a child's choice to have what pleases them, but after all we as parents will always have the need to decide what is best for our son or daughter.
The marketing can be gender-biased when television commercials or other advertisements strictly portray boys playing with action figures or girls only with Barbies, for instance. That in itself plays a large role in what parents confide in as a guideline for purchases. The media will often clearly paint the gender lines either blue or pink depending on who they think their target audience will be. Is this just good social advertising, third party child-rearing, or perhaps even a little of both?
Like many traditional American male children I was always steered toward the action figures, footballs and hockey pucks (most notable male sports) from an early age yet past the androgynous Fisher Price toddler toys. Even with my nephews, I see my brother stubbornly and with conviction filtering his kids' play things so that they foster a direct male path. In our majority society of the heterosexual, traditionally gender outlined masses, this innate desire to choose our children's paths for them and according to traditional values is in our nature.
I believe the issue mainly has to do with the traditional gender stereotypes our culture has created in that girls are the weaker sex, are more fragile, and need looking out for. It also stems from the similar, traditional value that a young girl is to remain innocent and pure for as long as possible especially out of wedlock, which still can raise some eyebrows, apparently. It is also significant to note than our Western, Christianized culture here in the United States has its long-standing patriarchal and Puritan origins from centuries back. Those values soared on down to generation to generation which naturally oppressed women and their sexuality.