RE: The Social Birds & the Bees: The socialization of gender, a toy store ethnography
Gender socialization begins at a very young age and, as this ethnography evidences, plays a large role in the larger structures of patriarchy in society in the United States.
Definitely. It is sufficient to enter toys shop or clothes shops and investigates what we have for boys and girls (paying a particular attention to the colors). After writing this and continuing my reading, I noticed you were saying exactly the same thing further down in your post. :)
One major issues with gender equality and diversity in general, is that the “problem” or “issue” (if we can call it that way) is not treated equally at all levels. We should definitely do something with toys and clothes too!
A binary gender classification dominantly exists in the Western Society in which newborns are assigned to be boys or girls based solely on physical appearances.
To me, there is nothing wrong to that (let’s be a little be provocative here ;) ). There is, in my opinion, a biological definition of genders. Of course, there are exceptions to it, as you mentioned. This however has nothing to do with the gender issues we are more used to hear about those days. It is not because one is born as biologically male or female that one must feel like a male or female, which is a totally different story.
I always find it fascinating how clear the marketing is and yet hardly anyone bats an eye to it! Gender equality certainly needs to extend to all aspects of which gender encompasses, toys and clothes included. Little girls like to get muddy and little boys like to bake cupcakes!
There is a biological definition of sex which has been confused with gender. Gender is psychological and a social construct. The reason that it is detrimental is because the binary classification of gender creates specific requirements to be either or which not everyone fits which creates complete outsiders, alienating entire groups of people.
Marketing... what can we do about it, except ignoring those shops and not entering. I wish more people would do it... then maybe something could change, as money is always a good trigger for this kind of things.
I must say... that I agree with your last comment. I mixed genders and sexes. But for my defense, this is miles away from my zone of comfort (physics :p ). Thanks for bringing me back to reality!