James McPhillips

Dr. Sarch

A Global Perspective on Violence Against Women

6 September 2017

Reflection Paper 1

Gender is not decided at birth, but it is strongly swayed by a childs surroundings from

the time they are born (Lorber, p. 100). Once a childs sex has been determined, they are quickly

thrust into gender norms. Boys wear blue clothing, while girls are showered in pink. As they get

older, children come to accept those gender norms because thats what theyve been taught and

its all that they know. Further then dressing, young boys and girls are taught to act a certain

way, through both traditional parenting styles and media influences. Children look to their

parents on how to act and it is still very common in American households for the mother to be

the homemaker and the father to work and provide for the family. The media further stretches

these assertions by capitalizing on these gender norms. This can be seen in ads for toy kitchen

sets, where girls can be seen enjoying time in the kitchen while the boys play or nap (Class

PowerPoint, 8/25). Ads such as those released by Clorox display young girls getting stains from

cooking, while young boys get stains on their clothing from having fun playing in the mud (Class

PowerPoint, 8/25). These ads show, very subtly, what society deems as acceptable behavior for

each gender group, without ever explicitly saying anything on the subject.

I used to never think about gender norms being pushed upon people through

advertisements. For my entire 18 years of looking at commercials, posters, and other ads, I never

thought twice about how they subject men, women, boys, and girls to the roles that they are

given. After having class discussion about this topic, I think that now, just about every time I
look at an advertisement, I will notice these instances without even having to think about it

because almost all of the examples are so blatantly obvious.

In the documentary, Miss Representation, female news anchors open up about what its

like to be a woman within that industry. In the past, I had noticed that many news anchors fall

under the same category of middle-age to older white males. I had never really thought to much

of the sexualization of female news anchors. Now that my eyes have been opened to it, I realize

what I had been overlooking. I see this on weather forecasts of course, but for me, I see it most

prominently in sports broadcasting. Football sideline reporters are almost always young women

who are often complimented on their looks by their older, white male colleagues. From now on,

thats something that Ill be able to notice, and be able to point out, just about every time I watch

the news or a sports broadcast.

Boys will be boys, has always been a phrase Ive heard and just brushed off. When me

and my brothers would play football in the front yard and someone would get hurt, or get in a

heated argument, it was just because boys were being boys. I never thought of it as an excuse for

boys to get away with actions that girls cant. In class discussion on 8/23 and 8/25 we talked

extensively on how boys being boys is completely unfair and overused. Locker room talk is

an example of boys being boys but it is often very offensive and degrading to women. Now

when I hear the phrase boys will be boys, Ill understand that its not an excuse for anyones

actions, and it is a very unfair bias towards boys.

In the future, when I see an advertisement, I will notice biological determinism when I

see it. So often it is so clear to see, but so often it is overlooked. Media is a major influence on

people, and seeing these ads will influence people towards gender norms, instead of who they

actually want to be. When I watch the news, or the weather, or a sporting event, I will look for
gender discrimination within those environments. Now that I think about it, it is very easily to

tell that women in media are overly sexualized and from now on I will be able to notice that

when I watch TV. And from now on, when I hear boys will be boys, I know that its wrong.

That is not a good excuse because no specific characteristic has anything to do with being a boy,

and regardless, being a boy is not an excuse to get away with acting wrongfully.