Gender is a very broad topic that is constantly
changing over time. Different cultures, societies and individuals have their
own ways of interpreting what exactly is meant by gender.
As individuals we are often blinded by the gender
roles that have been socially constructed around us. Society surprisingly has a
big impact on our identity. Gender roles have become so accustomed in our
day-to-day lives that we usually don’t even realize we are performing the
gender biologically assigned to us.
Unfortunately our ability to identify individuals
as either male or female has become a necessity in order to engage and interact
with one another. Often if an individual does not accurately fit into or
perform the roles of male or female, we do not interact or disengage. In order
to fit into society, individuals must learn how to send out the right gender
role signals and interpret others. From birth we learn to take on and perform
different characteristics that we think are applicable to our understanding of
ourselves in gender terms. This is often depicted through society’s depiction
of what it means to be male or female. Woman are also perceived/expected to be
emotional, nurturing and caregivers; whereas men are aggressive, hunters and
strong. These assumptions and expectations often come into play when it comes
to children and the toys they play with.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srnaXW9ZgZc
Marketing has become the most well known social
construction of gender roles. Through Media and marketing, we are often told
what toys are appropriate for girls to play with and what are appropriate for
boys to play with. Does that really matter? I don’t think so.
In most stores, “girls toys” and “boy toys” are
separate into different aisles and different departments within a store. Girl
aisles are typically pink with dolls, Barbie’s and princesses. Boy aisle on the
other hand are blue with superheroes, cars and building tools. By separating
toys based on gender it illuminates the child’s sense of choice as well as
hinders their confidence to play with toys outside of their expected gender
role. Often in most cases children conform and pick the toys associated with
their gender in fear of being criticized within their society. However this
does not necessarily mean that, that is their ideal toy of choice.
This is often a similar case when it comes to clothing. In the majority of stores there is also separation amongst female and male. There is also commonly no in-between. Clothing is also based upon the ideal perception of what is appropriate for male and female. Often associated with clothing is colour and a variety of themes. Girls clothing are usually pink or purple and boys clothing is blue or green. Also when it comes to shopping for a baby shower, if the expected gender of the infant has not been revealed, it is often very challenge to find gender neutral (yellow or green clothes). The majority of the clothing is also set as blue for boys and pink for girls. There is no need for such a divide.
This is often a similar case when it comes to clothing. In the majority of stores there is also separation amongst female and male. There is also commonly no in-between. Clothing is also based upon the ideal perception of what is appropriate for male and female. Often associated with clothing is colour and a variety of themes. Girls clothing are usually pink or purple and boys clothing is blue or green. Also when it comes to shopping for a baby shower, if the expected gender of the infant has not been revealed, it is often very challenge to find gender neutral (yellow or green clothes). The majority of the clothing is also set as blue for boys and pink for girls. There is no need for such a divide.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxGVpa40qZM
Parents often encourage their children to "be themselves", but are they really unconsciously encouraging them to be what society expects. By separating children into categories and by implementing such emphasis we create confusion and conflict if children are experiencing feelings outside of the anticipated norm. Is this really beneficial? Everyone has the right to display to the world what they want to be and do not need society telling them who they should or shouldn't be!
