Can Style Become A Silent Curriculum Teaching Gendered Desire?
Gendered desire is a complicated and multifaceted concept that has been studied extensively for decades. It encompasses many aspects of human behavior, including attraction to members of the opposite sex, romantic love, physical intimacy, and emotional connection.
There are also different types of desires such as aesthetic and sensual preferences, which can be influenced by various factors such as cultural norms and socialization. In this article, we will explore how style can become a silent curriculum teaching gendered desire, and how it can affect people's perceptions and behaviors towards others based on their biological sex.
Style and Gender Identity
Let's define what we mean by "style." In general terms, style refers to the way someone presents themselves or expresses themselves through clothing, hairstyle, makeup, accessories, body language, and overall appearance. People may choose their own style according to personal preference, but they may also adopt styles that reflect their social group or identity, such as their age, race, religion, profession, sexual orientation, or geographical location.
A person who identifies as masculine might wear baggy jeans, a leather jacket, and sneakers, while a feminine person might wear high heels, dresses, and jewelry. Style can also be used to convey political messages, rebel against societal norms, or express individuality.
When it comes to gendered desire, style can play an important role in shaping one's perceptions and expectations about potential partners.
Men are often expected to be taller than women, have broad shoulders, muscular bodies, and deep voices. Women, on the other hand, are often expected to be smaller, softer, more curvaceous, and more delicate. This means that when two individuals meet for the first time, they will already have preconceived notions about each other based on their physical attributes, which can affect how attractive they find each other.
Aesthetic Preferences: How Style Can Teach Desire
In addition to biological sex, people also have aesthetic preferences that influence what they find attractive. These preferences can be influenced by culture, upbringing, education, and personal experiences. Someone from a rural community may be drawn to farmers or ranchers with rugged looks, while someone from a city might prefer polished and refined appearances. A person who grew up around traditional values might find conservative styles more appealing, while someone who is more liberal might appreciate edgier styles.
Style can teach these aesthetic preferences through exposure, conditioning, and socialization.
If a young girl grows up surrounded by models, celebrities, and beauty icons with certain body types, she may internalize those standards as desirable and strive to achieve them. If a boy sees his father wearing suits and ties to work every day, he may develop an affinity for formalwear and professional attire. Similarly, if someone spends most of their time in nature, they may develop an appreciation for outdoor gear and clothing.
Sexuality and Intimacy: The Role of Style
Style can play a role in teaching sexual desire and intimacy. Many people use fashion to express their sexual orientation, gender identity, and relationship status.
A couple might wear matching outfits to show their commitment to each other, while others might dress provocatively to signal interest in casual encounters. In some cases, style can even act as a form of foreplay, such as when a man removes his shirt or a woman shows off her legs before sex.
Style can become a silent curriculum teaching gendered desire because it shapes our perceptions and expectations about physical appearance, which are closely linked to biological sex and cultural norms. By understanding this connection, individuals can be more aware of how their own choices and behaviors affect their interactions with others, as well as the impact that style has on society at large.
Can style become a silent curriculum teaching gendered desire?
Style has been found to be a key element of gender identity, self-expression, and social status as it is an important marker of culture. People often associate particular styles with specific genders, and this can create pressure on individuals who do not conform to traditional norms. In recent years, there have been several movements towards gender fluidity, which has challenged binary understandings of what it means to be masculine or feminine.