Social Construction of Gender

[allisonkilkenny]

Sexist Marvel t-shirts. Fuck. This.

[labonita-feminista]

Social Construction of Gender.

This picture was taken in Barnes and Noble. The picture is of two completely opposites shelves, one housing toys for girls and the other toys for boys.

This picture clearly reinforces the social construction of gender. Not only does it show the pink-blue contrast, but it also separates gender by the content of the toys. For the boys, a huge masculine male construction worker is the head of the display, and for the girls, butterflies, flowers, and arts&crafts are the main focus. It shows the idea that men/boys are supposed to be strong and tough, while women/girls should be more interested in the arts, nature, and “pretty” things. Both displays guide the consumer’s thoughts on what girls SHOULD like and what boys SHOULD like, with no room for intersection between the two. It also alludes to what Lorber calls the “exigencies of social order,” by forcing us to choose either pink or blue, a bead set or Lego trucks, and ultimately femininity or masculinity.

[gendertroublepanel]

[gendertroublepanel]

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