The Mask You Live In -- Film Blog

From the moment we are born, we are taught that blue is for boys and pink is for girls. Our parents base the color of the paint of the walls on our gender. The color of the toys and even the toys themselves are all based off of gender. We grow up learning that it is socially acceptable for boys to have the favorite color of blue and to enjoy playing with cars. For girls, we grow up learning that it is socially acceptable to like the color pink and to have an obsession for barbie dolls. During recess in first or second grade, all of the boys and I would play with toy cars that the teacher allowed us to play with. All of the cars were either blue, black, and red, except for one. The remaining car was a hot pink car. All of the kids would rush over and fight over the car that wasn't pink. The one time I got to the bin last and got the pink car, I wasn't included in the group while playing. They said they didn't want to play with "girls." From this experience, I have learned that as a guy it is only acceptable for me to play with something that proves your masculinity.