Just Like Larry

As always I was watching an episode of Spongebob I'd already seen multiple times, but for some reason I have an unconditional love for the show. This time while watching it I noticed that the episode was all about being "masculine." In the show Spongebob and Patrick want to be like Larry because he gets all the ladies and everyone depends on him. Larry is a brave, confident, and muscular Lobster. Throughout the episode Spongebob and Patrick attempt daring stunts and do things that would make them seem brave infront of the other sea creatures because otherwise they are considered immature or weak. After watching this episode I noticed that society's definition of masculinity is even applied to a lobster in a childrens television series. When I described Larry the lobster my definition was as if I was describing a "real man" in our society. Larry is muscular, assertive, brave, demanding, and more. This episode is just another reminder of society's definiton of masculinity, and it's also another demonstration of how young children are taught gender roles in society.

Girls Only!

Today while watching cartoons a commerical for a toy came on. The toy was a cupcake decorator machine. The commercial started out with my definition of girly pop music and girls giggling in the background. The girls then ran into the scene and started icing their cupcakes with smiles on. At the end of the commercial the advitisor explains that you can share you cupcakes with your girlfriends. After watching this commercial I was reminded of how young society starts embedding peoples minds with traditional gender roles. While it seems fun these little girls are being taught that baking cakes is fun, and its what little girls do. At the same time I know there is atleast one little boy out there who will watch this commerical and want the Girl Gourmet cupcake set. I also know that when he asks his parents they will more than likely say no and suggest a Hot Wheels set instead. This commerical is yet another way society is forcing traditional gender roles on children.

Taco Bell

Today I was watching the same Taco Bell commercial I've seen a ton of times. In the commercial a guy asks a girl if she wanted to have dinner sometime, and he seemed very confident about asking her. When the girl gives him her number he immediately calls her cell phone and she turns around to find him there with a new platter from Taco Bell. Then her parents show up suggesting their moving so fast that they are going to get married. After seeing this commercial over and over I realized that it represented gender in a different way that I usually look for. Usually I look for gender stereotypes or discriminations, but this time I saw gender stereotypes but they dealt with manners and how one should act around a woman or man. The guy is very confident and asks the girl out because in society today it is not considered polite for the girl to ask the guy out. Well atleast where I live that is the case. The guy also buys dinner just as he does in the commercial, and the girl is swept of her feet because of all this. I found that this was gender "manner" stereotyping. Although many people in society today live up to this stereotype.