Codes Of Gender
Codes of Gender
Victoria Garcia
Northwest Vista College
Is it true that Goffman’s theory, about body language, defines a person’s gender? “Body language comes in clusters of signals and postures, depending on the internal emotions and mental states. Recognizing a whole cluster is thus far more reliable than trying to interpret individual elements” (Using Body Language). Body language is a form of communication that is expressed between males and females, but it does not necessarily mean you are automatically a boy/man or girl/woman based on your interests or actions. Goffman’s claim that body language defines the gender of a person is not entirely wrong, but when his accusation about woman in a laying down pose symbolizes weakness, that’s where he is mistaken; Women are much more powerful, indigenous, and intellectual. For Victoria’s Secret models it is easy to determine the feminism, because the women are in bras and panties. Goffman stated “The Ritualization of Subordination” is the body posture that has a deep significant meaning. In other words, people with the knee bent and tilted head symbolizes surrender or submission, but that is not always the case. In this circumstance, Victoria’s Secret models with the tilted head and knee bent are giving off the impression of feeling sexy in these bras and panties. Women are very powerful when it comes to seductiveness; that is the purpose of these models, to attract both men and women into the stores to spend money on clothing items that are going to make them feel like they have power and are sexy, not because they are weak and powerless. “Codes of Masculinity” is a representation for what men are usually expressed as. Masculinity is typically men who appear to be strong, active, rugged, and dominant. Yet, the men who model have similarities with the issue at hand, knee bent and head tilted. The Gap models for men’s clothing are in a knee bent posture, and Goffman’s assumption about
Victoria Garcia
Northwest Vista College
Is it true that Goffman’s theory, about body language, defines a person’s gender? “Body language comes in clusters of signals and postures, depending on the internal emotions and mental states. Recognizing a whole cluster is thus far more reliable than trying to interpret individual elements” (Using Body Language). Body language is a form of communication that is expressed between males and females, but it does not necessarily mean you are automatically a boy/man or girl/woman based on your interests or actions. Goffman’s claim that body language defines the gender of a person is not entirely wrong, but when his accusation about woman in a laying down pose symbolizes weakness, that’s where he is mistaken; Women are much more powerful, indigenous, and intellectual. For Victoria’s Secret models it is easy to determine the feminism, because the women are in bras and panties. Goffman stated “The Ritualization of Subordination” is the body posture that has a deep significant meaning. In other words, people with the knee bent and tilted head symbolizes surrender or submission, but that is not always the case. In this circumstance, Victoria’s Secret models with the tilted head and knee bent are giving off the impression of feeling sexy in these bras and panties. Women are very powerful when it comes to seductiveness; that is the purpose of these models, to attract both men and women into the stores to spend money on clothing items that are going to make them feel like they have power and are sexy, not because they are weak and powerless. “Codes of Masculinity” is a representation for what men are usually expressed as. Masculinity is typically men who appear to be strong, active, rugged, and dominant. Yet, the men who model have similarities with the issue at hand, knee bent and head tilted. The Gap models for men’s clothing are in a knee bent posture, and Goffman’s assumption about
Cited: (1997-2014). Gap Men’s Clothing. Retrieved from: http://www.gap.com/products/new-mens-clothing.jsp?tid=gpps021858&kwid=1&ap=7&sem=true&mkwid=fUsR5ShH_dc&adid=tnc+zra&creative=23798827635&adpos=1t1 (2002-2014). Using Body Language. Retrieved from: www.changingminds.org/techniques/body/body_language.htm (2009-2014). Danica Patrick Gallery. Retrieved from: http://www.fansshare.com/gallery/photos/11441094/danica-patrick-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-edition-mq-tattoo/?displaying (2014). Victoria Secret. Retrieved from: www.victoriasecret.com Keywest (2014, April 28). Hand Models: Do’s and Don’ts. Retrieved from: http://www.keywestvideo.com/corporatevideoblog/index.php/hand-models-dos-donts/