Social Consciousness Exhibit, PhotoHaus Gallery Vancouver 2013
When my daughter was asked to describe Mothers in preschool she answered “They watch”. In this project I have been watching how my children over time are adopting our socially constructed gender roles. I picked up the camera when I saw something interesting, and moved along where the game took them.
Until recently, my kids have been mostly unaware of social expectations related to gender. Around five years old my daughter became very opinionated on the world and her place in it: “If it is ugly then it is for boys.” She is reading the gender roles she observes around her, while most likely also looking for, and creating, common ground with her peer group. Her three year old brother wants to be and do all his older sister is and does, good and bad. The majority of his efforts are currently focused on being as competent as the other older peers around him, but gender differences have not yet entered the equation.
One of my objectives as a parent has been not to limit my children’s self-expression. Dirty knees and ripped pants, princess-crafty and über girly, shy or loud, even public displays of frustration. While behaving respectfully towards other human beings, I have encouraged them to feel, be and do. I believe this has helped them identify, and become more secure in, who they are.
Unlike gender itself, the roles we assign gender are driven by culture and not physiology. For example, pink was associated with masculinity prior to the 50’s (1). Research shows that already in preschool, we consistently comment on boys’ and girls’ doings and whereabouts in a very different fashion: “Lisa, that is a very pretty dress you are wearing!” and “Way to enjoy some rough play there John!” (2). We are also much more permissive towards boys than girls when they exhibit unwanted behaviours (2): “Boys will be boys”. It has been speculated that limiting women’s access to expressions of anger and frustration from an early age is the basis for why “men are straight shooters and women will go behind your back” (3).
The following are some of the questions that came up while I was working on this project:
Do we find gender roles so controversial because we think we can alter peoples sexual preference by the toys they play with?
Are our fixated gender roles the reason that women’s self-image and confidence is so centered on looks, and men’s on performance?
If it was socially acceptable for girls to effectively express ‘negative emotions’, would they grow up to be more respected and fulfilled in the workplace?
If we expanded and shifted our defined roles, could men and women start to develop deeper and more meaningful relationships?
What do you think?
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1. Pink – The dangerous colour, by Fanny Ambjörnsson (Stockholm University) 2011 [in Swedish].
2. Anna is fighting!, by Christian Eidevald (Jönköping University) 2011 [in Swedish].
3. Odd Girl Out, by Rachel Simmons, 2003
kisstheactivist 