Barbie And G. I. Joe Analysis
Analytical Summary
WGSS 396
‘Barbie and G.I. Joe: Making Bodies Masculine and Feminine’
Children are taught that boys should be ‘masculine’ and play sports, and that girls should be feminine. They are given and told which toys to play with and how to play with them. For example, girls play with dolls in a gentle manner, and boys’ play with action figures more roughly. The social norms of our culture change as the times change. Gendered social practices and norms are portrayed in our mass media and are influential among men, women and children. Specifically in sports, femininity and masculinity are portrayed and influential among males and females. Female and male bodies are believed to be different and copied by the audiences of sports. The masculine and feminine body ideals are promoted in our mass media. Particularly in children’s toys like: dolls, Barbies, action figures and/or G.I. Joes. These products are constantly being advertised, mainly on …show more content…
The reading describes some research studies regarding males and females involved in sports. One of the studies was a comparison of the coverage of females and males in the U.S. open and NCAA events. The findings include that females were classified as ‘failures’ when it came to losing, and males were classified as ‘active agents,’ and their nonsuccess was blamed on their opponents. Also it’s important to note that males are classified as ‘athletes,’ and females are gender marked as ‘women’ basketball or tennis players/athletes. Gendering in sports is portrayed in our mass media whether it appears on television, or in newspapers. In the past, sports were encouraged and discouraged among boys and girls. Children were taught how to represent ones masculinity and one’s femininity. Boys joined sports teams to represent their competiveness, and girls usually participated only in physical education
WGSS 396
‘Barbie and G.I. Joe: Making Bodies Masculine and Feminine’
Children are taught that boys should be ‘masculine’ and play sports, and that girls should be feminine. They are given and told which toys to play with and how to play with them. For example, girls play with dolls in a gentle manner, and boys’ play with action figures more roughly. The social norms of our culture change as the times change. Gendered social practices and norms are portrayed in our mass media and are influential among men, women and children. Specifically in sports, femininity and masculinity are portrayed and influential among males and females. Female and male bodies are believed to be different and copied by the audiences of sports. The masculine and feminine body ideals are promoted in our mass media. Particularly in children’s toys like: dolls, Barbies, action figures and/or G.I. Joes. These products are constantly being advertised, mainly on …show more content…
The reading describes some research studies regarding males and females involved in sports. One of the studies was a comparison of the coverage of females and males in the U.S. open and NCAA events. The findings include that females were classified as ‘failures’ when it came to losing, and males were classified as ‘active agents,’ and their nonsuccess was blamed on their opponents. Also it’s important to note that males are classified as ‘athletes,’ and females are gender marked as ‘women’ basketball or tennis players/athletes. Gendering in sports is portrayed in our mass media whether it appears on television, or in newspapers. In the past, sports were encouraged and discouraged among boys and girls. Children were taught how to represent ones masculinity and one’s femininity. Boys joined sports teams to represent their competiveness, and girls usually participated only in physical education