Gender Classification Of Children

Throughout history, we have seen that gender classifications, on gender roles have resulted in gender stereotypes. Despite that children were not initially classified by their gender, but by their age. Such as in the late nineteenth-century gender classification only existed for men, and women. Whereas in the early twentieth century, occurring social progression caused a demand for gender associations towards the identity of children. Gender stereotypes towards children created a gender coalition with colors such as pink, and blue. The social personification for pink and blue established a pseudo-perception in children’s understanding of genders. In fact, the media also advertised gender scheme toys to children, in order to enforce expected …show more content…
There has always been a social division between a man and a woman. Men are stereotyped to be the labor workers, strong-willed, and intelligent. While women are stereotyped to be delicate, loving, and homemakers. Unlike, modern day, in the late-nineteenth century, children were not categorized if they were a boy or a girl. Children in the late-nineteenth century were classified by their age development. According to Barraclough Paoletti in Pink and Blue: Telling the Boys from The Girls in America, both genders during infancy to the age of seven were dressed in white gowns and were not segregated by sex, but by age . Paoletti states that the white gowns were used because they were easier to clean with products such as bleach, and because it provided a useful handy down for younger siblings. Paoletti also states that the children’s dress length and fabric displayed the child’s age, and their family’s social status. Besides, the gowns functional usage and social status symbol, the white color of the dress had a deeper social meaning to the value of children. The white color symbolized, purity, and the innocence of the child. For that reason, the use of neutral colors, and creating an asexual identity in children was important in maintaining the child’s purity in the late nineteenth century. Eventually, social advancements, in the early twentieth century emanated for a gender classification on the development of a child’s growth. Gender classifications occurred, because, at the beginning of the twentieth century, America was getting over the wounds of World War II. Some effects of this war lead to a social demand movement for equal social progression such as the women’s right movement. This feminist movement created a pause to the usage of gender specific colors for children, and adults. Although in the late 1950s the section of gender