Sociology of Gender – Essay Example
Introduction
I visited City Lights Booksellers in San Francisco found along 261 Columbus Avenue. I reviewed a sample of Children Stories in the book store. Some of the books I reviewed includes; “Mockingbird”, “Roland Wright: Future Knight”, “Born to Fly”, “Matisse on the Loose” and “Leo and the Lesser Lion”. I analyzed the gender of main character, their activities and responsibilities in the sampled books. My interpretation was on the gender role of socialization that children perceive after reading the books.
Observation
“Mockingbird” is elegantly crafted children story written by Kathryn Erskine. The main character is a ten-year old girl called Caitlin Smith. This girl captivated the reader while fighting Spurger syndrome. Despite that she memorized the expressions in her counselor’s office; moving emotion of the reader is hard in the best times. Unluckily, she attempts to carry out this while living with the recent demise of her older brother Devon, killed from shooting. The father is struggling to handle the death of the son and the daughter’s hard time, but he feels he is not equal to the task.
One single day, he heard the phrase closure in the shooting scenario. She became anxious and looked for the meaning in the dictionary. Then she found out this is what they must do. She sought advice from the counselor but was given unsatisfactory answer. These made her frustrated. Finally she found closure, who directed to path of healing to the community. The author perfects his art by giving the reader provision to experience the works of a small girl. Caitlin’s perception is authentic and spot on.
“Roland Wright: Future Knight” is about a ten-year old named Roland Wright. Young boy’s ambition in life was to become a knight. The only detriment from his dream is that the father is a blacksmith and owns a forge. It was beyond doubt that son of a nobleman becomes a knight. Astonishingly, message from King John arrived. Opponent with a bow shot the king on the shoulder while in the war. Luckily, strong Roland Ffather rescues him. To extend his gratitude, the King secured Wright’s son a put in the royal family for training to knighthood. The father was indifferent on who to choose between his two sons for knighthood training. The older son Shelby was sneaky, stronger and bigger.
Roland was proficient in sword fighting. Roland was certain the older brother will pick up Kings Offer. He traveled to seek advice on a local Knight. Roland learned that being a Knight entails smiting people and more. Knight are loyal, honorable and good mannered. Importantly the essence is not to beat the opponent, rather selfless and justly. On contest day, Roland hid to the advice. After ensuring the sword is in order, quinine tilted and chivalry displayed, he was very certain the older brother is stronger and that he has lost that chance in training. He gave up place of an armorer. The following day, after contemplation, the father chose him for training. The story is wound up as happy Roland prepares himself for training and his future. The author succeeds in combining humor and historical details.
“Born to Fly” setting is a small city in an Island called Rhode during the Second World War. The main character is a girl named Bird who like flying with her father who was a mechanic. Bird’s father was called for duty during the Japanese bombing. She was committed to fly the War hawk, despite the older sister admonition that girls cannot be pilots. She used to go through the manual that her father used to leave in the house. Not a while later, a Japanese American student called Kenji was enrolled in her school. He was accused of being a secret agent, this made Bird taunted by such accusations. Kenji and Bird saw an enemy in the submarine lake, but they were not believed. They had a difficult time to prove their allegation. They went ahead to take photos.
During the process, Bird stumbled, into the plan to show the local aeronautical firm and assassinate president of their country. The author does well in balancing the speedy action with a small, detailed and well written dialogue that makes it more than an adventure and action story. Matisse on the Loose is about a boy called Matisse a sixth grader who has ambition of his art showcased in a museum. The Novel opens by introducing Matisse family. Matisse sister has a syndrome called “purple Problem”. His mother’s action made him think she is a clown.
During the opening of exhibition of Henri Matisse a French artist at the Museum, it made the progress of events; this made Matisse to replace the artist famous portrait with unoriginal copy of his own art. Before returning it to it correct place, the visiting group entered the room. They were awed by unoriginal painting, thinking it was real. Matisse was proud at the same time horrified. He tries to replace the original painting without anyone’s knowledge. From that experience he learns that a true art is inborn. He also learns that the basic household arrangement can be an inspiration. The author creates an art that is involving. This is also appealing to readers are reluctant.
“Leo and the Lesser Lion” is a book about Mary Baylis, a prank and a spunky kid. She stays with her family during depression in Alabama. The father was a city doctor. The depression affected almost everyone. Her brother Leo drowned in a spring lake accidentally during the storm. Baylis was so affected that she nearly died, but was resuscitated by her neighbor. She became popular as a resurrecting child. She was told by her nurse that was given a second chance because she has a special obligation to do.
Baylis resolved to be a nun, much to the surprise of many. She made herself acquainted to saint’s life. Healing of her back, made her do some voluntary work. Not long enough the father hosted two orphans from an orphanage. Baylis became angry. She spoke little about his brother’s death. She thought silence was an amicable way to deal with the issue. She later developed love for the two strangers. Baylis offers up a fascinating sense of place and time. It perfectly tells the story of power loss of love to humans.
Analysis
Main character in “Mockingbird” was female, “Roland Wright: Future Knight” was male, “Born to Fly” was male, “Matisse on the Loose” was male, and finally “Leo and the Lesser Lion” was female. From the above sampled books it is clear that gender bias exist in the language, content and illustrations of children’s book. It is clear in the way gender is defined as the main character in books and their depictions. From my study majority of books are male dominated. They represent almost twice their female counterparts. Books with neutrality in gender rotate around male character. In stories where female are portrayed, they show the stereotype of feminine and masculine roles.
The stereotypes are common in almost all children’s book. The female characters are portrayed as naive, sweet, dependent and conforming, while their male counterparts are capable, independent, adventurous and strong. The boys play fundamental roles such as the rescuers, adventurers and fighters, while the female are mothers, caretakers, princesses and characters that give moral support to the male. They tend to fulfill their ambitions because of help from others. Boys meet their mission through perseverance and ingenuity. Girls who stay with active qualities are very few. Therefore it can be said that genders are presented in stereotypical terms.
Conclusion
From the above finding it can be concluded that writers find characters of their own sex in books. Absence of girls in the books limits the chance for women to recognize with their sex and to allow their put in society. The way genders are portrayed in the children books has an effect on the child’s perception and attitude of sex proper way in society. The Gender issue is insidious that it silently conditions both sex to acknowledge the way they perceive the world. They give children inability to question the relationship. They give children with the chance to re-examine their assumptions and belief. Therefore, books give children alternatives and inspirations to believe in gender attitudes.
The stereotypical roles are limited to both sexes. Just as women are trapped in whiny and passive roles, men and boys are described rarely as persons demonstrating sadness and fear, and having occupations non-stereotypicaly men and boys and in roles where no meeting or competing high expectations. The stereotypes constrain girls and boys freedom to define them and make them behave in right gender-like rather that in a way that best suit their interest.
Reference
Corsaro, William A.. The sociology of childhood. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press, 2005.
Torres, Carlos Alberto, and Theodore R. Mitchell. Sociology of education emerging perspectives. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1998.
Wharton, Amy S. The sociology of gender: an introduction to theory and research. 2nd ed. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012
Wharton, Amy S.. The sociology of gender: an introduction to theory and research. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub., 2005.