Gender About Town

Out and about town, these are some things I found pertaining to gender.  Tell me your thoughts in the comments because you're about to read mine (I hope!).

 I took this picture because the piggy banks are clearly gender specific.  The female targeted piggies are princesses or shoe funds, whereas the male targeted piggies promote physical fun (sports).  I think it's interesting that no one would give (much) notice to one of the boy specific banks being in a girl's room, but many eyebrows would rise if a boy had a "shoe fund" or cupcake piggy. It makes me reminiscent of the Madonna song "What it Feels Like for a Girl."

"Girls can wear jeans 

and cut their hair short

wear shirts and boots

'cause it's okay to be a boy

But for a boy to look like a girl is degrading

'cause you think be a girl is degrading..."

These were some interesting finds!  I found these in the little girls section of Ross.  These are underwire (to hold up what exactly?) bras that having padding in them.  They are marketed to ten and under.  Really?  Hypersexualization of little girls much?  Someone call Peggy Orenstein.

This experience made me shake my head:  I was having a hard time finding the Women and Gender section at my local Barnes and Noble.  Usually, it is either in the Politics and Current Affairs section or right next to it.  I searched and searched.  I even asked an employee for help.

Then, I found it.

I had to chuckle (and then facepalm) when I realized that the women studies and feminist reading was not only not in the political section, it was a subsection of the Gay and Lesbian reading.  While I am pro both reading sections, one doesn't equate the other.  Thoughts?