Project 2 - Leanne Sheth

Leanne Sheth

Time Based Media

10-22-14

Furnishing The House

For this project, I chose to explore gender stereotypes and their effect on childhood. Most have accepted the gender binary as restrictive, and the norm is beginning to separate from these strict standards. However, many children’s items are still gendered. Girls toys are almost always pink, and femininity is often thrust upon still developing youths. These identities are confusing and damaging to developing queer and even cis-gendered children, because they set unrealistic standards and attempt to predict who the child is going to become.

I portrayed this concept through the destruction of a homemade child’s playhouse. I used cardboard paneling to create the house, background, and crib. The neutral color and finish of the cardboard represents a blank slate; children are open and impressionable. Starring in the video are the female “parent” hands, decorated with red varnish and sparkly accessories. Representing the female standard, the hands place objects of femininity, growing in age and intensity as the work progresses. As the room is filled with items, the overwhelming pink is apparent and the house eventually collapses. The destruction symbolizes the negativity of gender standards on children.