material culture things of gender
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Material culture: the 'Things' of Gender
Since the moment a child is born and the sex is made known, gender ideals start to shape that infants life, and material objects as well. As soon as the sex is known a child receives things (trucks or dolls, skirts or pants) according to their gender. Goods are made with the intentions that either a woman or man will be using it; their specifically made and aimed at one gender or the other. Items used in leisure time for younger girls is usually in preparation for caring for children and tending to house hold duties (with baby dolls and kitchen sets). It is teaching young girls social constructions and stereotypes of what a girl is supposed to do with out knowing it. All of this history value and stereotype, all in the form of a toy.
"In the model of biological determinism, women have babies. Babies are helpless; therefore the little woman stay home and tend the kids. This brings in female hormonal changes, pregnancy, lactation, woman's preoccupation with children, and the consequence of limited participation in political affairs, particularly war, politics and anything that makes lots of money. In this view male dominance is more or less inevitable...