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Essay / Buying and Selling Gender - 1294
Huge malls, malls, even those small corner stores, have become an icon of American culture and society. We are constantly manipulated by these so-called convenient public places where it would be almost impossible to escape. There's probably a 50% chance that we'll start our day with a cup of coffee in one, have lunch in another, or just end up taking a walk in one. Shopping centers are everywhere; we cannot escape it. Moreover, we do not want to escape it because we constantly underestimate the power and the real impact of these places on our society. These places therefore play a huge role in the socialization process and largely influence the development of our society as a whole. In order to understand how these places accentuate gender differences and gender inequality, I decided to visit the local Walmart store and, through observation of its environment and settings, try to record its gender power. I was looking for proof that gender is not just an element of individual identity, but a socially constructed institutional phenomenon that pervades even our local malls and stores. My trip to Walmart required a camera and laptop, because this equipment is crucial. for my way of doing, comparing and understanding sociological theories. As I walked through the shelves at Walmart, I noticed that each section told an interesting story about gender stereotypes in the United States. All products are shaped and personalized to attract different customer profiles. The history of the development, shape and presentation of each product has an important history that contributes to the understanding of our society...... middle of paper ...... the role is to take care of home, decorating, cooking, clothing and that they are not expected to be strong, powerful and independent, drive cars or even consider becoming pilots, soldiers or the like. Parents are so affected by what the market imposes on them that they get lost in raising their children for the happiness of their children and not for the happiness of society. (Kane, 2006) Realizing all of this, I was once again angry at what we have created in our society and how poorly we have shaped our view of gender. But I was also happy to become aware of the imposed stereotypes and thus to manage them better. Knowing all of this and keeping this in mind, I feel more confident in being who I am. Considering myself a feminist, I also feel more inspired to change points of view and help society neutralize the impact that the market has on us..