This week’s focus has been on gender socialization and the unique influence that social institutions have over individual’s decision making. ” discusses the exact “ways” in which all the “normal” parts of a child’s school day create and reinforce cultural ideas/expectations of gender. Martin found that dress up is one of these “ways” in which “everyday movement, comportment and use of physcial space” are rife with gendered constructs but come off as harmless, normal and even traditional. Since we are approaching Halloween and children’s dress up will be especially visible to the sociological eye, this week’s discussion board will ask you to perform a gendered analysis of children’s halloween costumes.
To complete the assignment, do the following:
1) Find a site online that sells kid’s halloween costumes;
2) Decide which gender from which to search for a costume (most halloween sites make this easy as many categorize costumes by “boy” “girl”)
3) Attach a pic/screenshot of the costume you chose
4) Choose a gendered costume and in 250 words discuss how the costume creates the bodily differences Martin discusses that make gender look and feel natural; how does this function as a process of gender socialization?
Readings:
Kang, et al. Unit I Theorizing Lived Experiences;
Kang, et al. Unit I Social Constructionism;
