Photo Essay: Expanding Beyond the Norm by Melissa Jimenez

Pink & Blue

mjime124_ — 2023-12-08 05:48:21 UTC

Gender stereotypes are placed at a very young age. Our assigned gender is further encouraged by placing us into the pink and blue category. The picture depicts clothes that are blue and pink, which belong to one single individual. These small actions that occur at birth, the blue versus pink onesie, feed into the ideas of gender we develop. As covered in class, the concepts of gender cues and power, socialization, naming, and dressing are all cues. These cues contribute to the role, status, and identity, which is what gives an individual a sense of belonging. So yes, the meaning we give to the pink and blue does matter.

Women in Education

mjime124_ — 2023-12-08 05:57:54 UTC

In the photo, the girls are depicted steadily doing their schoolwork. Although to most of us this image is not surprising, rather a routine, a woman in education is powerful. For a long period in history, this was not the norm, it was strange and not a part of the female role. I use this image to honor and encourage feminism because we are individuals of great strength. The girls in the picture have been given the chance to want more, to crave as much as a man ever has. In class, when discussing the origin of gender, we learned that gender is one of the factors that have deeply influenced the norms, stereotypes, and roles we've seen assigned to females and makes in history. As gender can influence internal ideas about the self, feeding feminism, inclusivity, and stepping out of the box can encourage individuals to go against the odds.

Sexuality & Marriage

mjime124_ — 2023-12-08 06:09:48 UTC

This picture is very popular in my family, it's a part of a wide spread of wedding photos. As it shows a person in a later phase in life, post-childhood, and education. When we discussed human sexuality in class, sexuality is very much about an individual's personal desire. How is it that in society for a long time it has been seen that there was an agenda that encourages one sexuality more than the rest? To clarify, it was always more acceptable than the alternative. My mom over time also adapted her thinking, as her sense of gender was “constantly created and recreated”. She recalls her culture, time, and location focusing on acknowledging heterosexuality over anything else.

To Be a Boy

mjime124_ — 2023-12-08 06:29:13 UTC

As I have also talked about the strength of the feminist movement and female strength. I also want to acknowledge the male role. A male norm and stereotype I often hear is that men have to be strong, the pillar of the family, and the provider. The image is kind of ironic as we see the boy alongside the dog, just in ways the dog will have to assert domination, the boy through social pressures may go through the same thing. I don't think having different genitalia should take away your ability to express your emotions. We are all human, and it is normal to go through the highs and lows of this so-called life.

YOU against all odds

mjime124_ — 2023-12-08 06:36:41 UTC

This poster caught my attention the moment I saw it in the classroom of my job. I think it can be relatable for many to think about the dynamic between males and females. It encourages girls to come into their role and person. They don't have to be somebody's, mom, sister, wife, etc. Norms, gender roles, and stereotypes should be pushed to their limit as we have socially constructed them. We have the power to take these movements far, to teach and educate others, just as we have created them we can also destroy them.

By: Melissa Jimenez

mjime124_ — 2023-12-08 06:38:46 UTC

GSST01S

Section 32