Over spring break, my nieces and nephews were all over to my parents house. My nephews, Cashton and Tucker, 6 and a half and 5 respectively, were playing this game on our computer that was like SIMS for kids. You chose your outfit, backpack, hairstyle, and even the type of your classroom you’re in when you go to school. Much to my surprise, when you choose your teacher, you’re only given female options. How could a game be created for children under the age of 8 in mind that already marginalizes boys and girls in this way? I first thought of my niece Julia, only 2 and a half, sitting near them but not paying attention. I shuddered in anger thinking of all the images like this that will try to put her in a box. The constant stream of images from the media that will try to belittle her, and convince her that she should look and behave in a very narrow and specific way. Then I thought of my boys. Seeing those …show more content…
It refers to the “interactions across, yet based upon and even strengthening, gender boundaries” (Thorne, 170). The first aspect of borderwork was contests. In one example, a teacher split them up boys and girls, and named the boys team, “Beastly Boys”, and the girls team, “Gossipy Girls.” Splitting up by gender and also perpetuating gender stereotypes in elementary school is baffling. She goes on to write that when gender was the basis of teams, the game became much more antagonistic, showing that when boys and girls are pitted against each other, even at such a young age, they will always see the other as their rival. The other part of this section I found interesting was the concept of invasion, in which different parts of the playground were defined by boys or girls turf. Girls turf is often closer to the school, and less physical activity is implied. It’s also much more taboo for girls to “pollute” boys territory, and when boys cross the girls’ border, they often disrupt and cause havoc as a form of