While I was in the studio today I had a heated discussion with a Mr Mark Collins. (If you know who that is) and we we're discussing the outcome of allowing your child to choose the colour of their room. Mark suggested that if he had a son he wouldn't allow his son to paint their room pink, mainly because of the ramifications such as bullying. I asked several people in the studio and the majority said they wouldn't mind. I think forcing an opinion on children isn't healthy and influences their views in life. But everyone will think differently on this, where would you draw the line? 

Tragic end of the boy who was brought up as a girl

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/tragic-end-of-the-boy-who-was-brought-up-as-a-girl-6170071.html?fb_source=hovercard#access_token=AAADWQ6323IoBAHCJSG8ZAxXRlvoJ1QKmDO9fnZA8rRfn6QXcbePfthY7loRrpDIKg0T1ZBi38zDeZCuYaBH5POl5WyQCXCZAoUEzDsz3orAZDZD&expires_in=3782
^^ Above link doesn't seem to be working so I found another webpage explaining this story:
http://www.rense.com/general52/weww.htm

Very long read but worthwhile!

This poor person didn't get a choice in his gender from an early age and it clearly effected every part of his life. This must have been a very early sex change especially as it was in the 60's.

 I think I want to focus on sex changes or how people change their behaviour through experiences they have. I think to much emphasis is placed on how we 'should' behave as a boy or as a girl and can lead people to be so confused with the world around them that they find living too hard. How do you feel about sex changes?

For a long time I just presumed that people were attention seeking who wanted sex changes or got bored with their life. This attitude is probably the established view that has been presented to me, although I am a lot more open minded these days. But what about those people who wanted sex change before there were the surgical and medical developments to allow them to do so? Did they just continue and try to hide how they felt inside?

While I was writing my response to megan's question about how we gendered ourselves as children growing up I began to think about how those stereotypes change as you grow up.

Boys become men replacing toy cars and guns for football and pints and girls change to women with makeup and to a certain point become 'housewives' leaving their toy houses behind.

These adverts by Axe advertising shower gel for men play with proposed sterotypes of women and their long suffering boyfriends ( who would apparently do anything for sex other than confront or talk to their partners.)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7qRw3wo_G4&feature=player_embedded

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLzsKm7sEG0&feature=relmfu


This blog, Work that matters,  takes an enlightening approach to the adverts sexism.
http://workthatmatters.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/complete-axe-guide-to-horrible-female.html



----All this has reminded me of a line in the book 'One Day' by David Nicholls.  The leading male protagonist remembers fondly how he could get a girl into bed at university simply by taking her side on a feminism debate.
Will add quote later when I find it! ---------

This video is from 1996, so these children are like 1 or 2 years older than us. I don't remember being able to point out stereotypical views of a man and woman but just shows you how early you can pick it up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A0L83rEsOo

Baby raised without 'gender' sets off debate | CTV News

Baby raised without 'gender' sets off debate | CTV News

Do you think this is a unique way of showing children they don't have to conform to gender stereotypes? Or is it just a bit too weird?? I think they are brave parents to do this in such a judgmental society but how can you hide a child's gender? I think it's pretty much impossible especially when children are so influenced by media today. 

Was sitting reading through my books last night and was struggling to know what i was actually meant to put on the blog ? so if it is ok with you lot i would like to focus of gender, constructions of gender in childhood.

Gender in advertising

Found this on youtube and thought it was interesting. Especially they two first adverts, i know they are dated and things have changed since then, but i feel this is how woman are still seen by some men these days, as objects and that should stay at home wait hand on foot on their husband.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DBJXzh6Rvg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I5Rkk3jPzE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU6ImUgsRtw&feature=related

Examples of Racism and Gender stereotyping within Disney films!

Prop 8

As society changes and evolves in the western world people are becoming more open to the historically taboo 'gender/s' of homosexuality and the rights of same sex couples. Most significantly the right to marry. The status of same sex marriage in California for example, is unique amongst the USA in that the state formerly granted marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but has discontinued doing so.
A hot political and social topic, the ongoing struggle to legalize homosexual marriage in CA and the USA has been higly publiced and fought by several influential figures and has been spear headed by the famous and powerful bringing it to the attention of the masses.

A recent all star cast play (George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Martin Sheen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jane Lynch, Kevin Bacon) streamed live and free of charge on Youtube dramatizes withheld transcripts of the court case in which 'Proposition 8' was attempted to be overruled in the state of California.

Within the trial the origins of homosexuality are explored. Is this gender something that you are born with, when does it develop, can it be repressed or eradicated. Therefore is it a gender?

While highly dramatised and often comedic it does present some compelling arguments whether you are pro or anti same sex marriage.
An argument used throughout by the opposing 'proposition 8' party is how children are affected. How do you explain to a child that you can have two dads or two mums and can fall in love with and marry either a man or woman. When do you explain this? What at the implications to society and the future?

 OR!

 Theres a condensed musical version! (staring Neil Patrick Harris yay!)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_hyT7_Bx9o

Gender Identity

Research into gender identity claims that we show signs of sexuality/gender while we are young. It is also suggested that if an individual has same-sex peers, a preference for same-sex relationship's can be formed.

We live in an age where our sexual preference is no longer considered taboo. We are a lot more free to be whoever we wish to be. Obviously there are people who do not agree with society's growing liberal approach to gender identity but isn't acceptance and understanding what is needed?

This topic is so difficult. It probably doesn't help that we are all women trying to be objective within a very wide subject area that applies to both gender's. 

Come on girls, WE CAN DO THIS!! <-Feminism gave us this attitude! 

Does being a woman define you?

Ah, well, do I wish that we lived in a world where gender didn't figure so prominently? Of course. Do I even think about myself as a woman when I go to make art? Of course not. 

Judy Chicago