La Sociologie Par L’Image – Enforcing Gender Norms as Disappearing Act
April 3, 2009 by SocProf and tagged Gender, Patriarchy, Sexism, Social Exclusion, Social Selection, Sociology
So, first, the first husbands were noticeably absent from the group photo of the first spouses at the G20, take a look (via Echidne):
See? there should be two husbands here but only the women posed for the group photo. Would the husbands have looked out of place here? Would this have been embarrassing to them? Would it just look weird?
But then look what happened in reverse in a group photo of the newly-formed Israeli cabinet. On top is the traditional cabinet group photo, at the bottom is the "touched-up" version that appeared in Orthodox newspaper, notice the difference? (Via the Independent)
And just like that the two women members of the cabinet are "disappeared" to not offend the delicate sensitivities of the ultra-conservative publication. No teeth-showing smiles. And of course, the formality is reinforced by the ubiquitous black suits (even the version with the women has only one woman not in black). The cabinet members are almost perfectly aligned (as opposed to the somewhat messy back rows of the spouses photo).
In both cases, the point is which gender belongs where. In the first photo, it is women-only, after all it is assumed that first spouses have to be women. So, the men are not visibly absent. It is their presence that would be noticeable. And also note the setting in which the women pose, the soft colors, pink carpet and sofa with pastel background. It looks like a somewhat formal yet a little domestic setting.
The bottom photo is formal, no pink or pastel there! Icy grey with flags and orderly pose (most men standing with hands in front of them.
It is a perfect illustration of the gendered domains: where men belong and where women belong.
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