Kendall St.Clair
Intro to Women’s/ Gender studies
4/29/25
Gender Inequality in our Daily Routines
The images below represent a series of experiences related to daily movements of women
including myself. Things that I noticed were results of gender imbalances and expectations but
never had the vocabulary to explain. Gender inequality is so rooted in our daily lives and
routines that it often goes completely unnoticed. This essay argues that everyday objects and
behaviors reinforce gender norms by maintain the gender binary and normalizing gender
violence and rape culture.
The image of gendered razors highlights how deeply
gender norms are embedded in everyday life. Although both
razors do the exact same thing, they are marketed differently
based on the gender binary which assumes there are only two
distinct genders with specific traits, masculine men and
feminine women (Lecture 1). From a young age, individuals
undergo gender socialization where they are taught to associate
certain colors, behaviors and products with their assigned
gender. This is clearly reflected in the razors. Products
marketed toward women emphasize beauty and appearance and
are many times pink, reinforcing the idea that a women’s value is centered around her
appearance. Men’s products are framed as efficient and functional, and are usually blue or dark
colored, suggesting masculinity is based on skill rather than aesthetics.
Additionally, this image can be analyzed through the concept of corporate co-optation of
feminism, which refers to the way companies adopt feminist language in order to market
products (Week 10 Lecture) . Razors marketed toward women are often framed as empowering,
suggesting these products invoke confidence. These messages can be misleading, as these
products are often more expensive and reinforce traditional beauty standards. Rather than
challenging gender inequality, brands profit from it and continue the pattern. This demonstrates
how consumerism can hide behind feminist messages
while profiting off of the inequalities.
Furthermore, this image reflects the idea of ‘doing
gender’, which suggests the gender is not something
people are but is something they do or perform through
repeated behaviors and choices (Week 2 lecture).
Purchasing and using gender specific razors becomes part
of that performance. This image shows that even
something as simple as shaving is shaped by societal
expectations, reinforcing gender norms in subtle ways.
In this photo, it is my friend holding her keys in between her fingers while were walking
around. I and many other women do this by default as a safety method when we are by ourselves
or with other women. This image depicts gender violence which is the imbalance of power with
femininity and masculinity and the harm that comes from it. Women have learned to respond to a
socially learned belief of being unsafe in public places as well as dark places. This fear is
gendered because men do not have to worry about this. Gender violence is a way to keep the
power imbalance while promoting toxic masculinity. According to lecture (Week 14 Lecture),
men are more likely to commit sexual assault thus backing up the idea of gender violence. Rape
culture is also depicted in this image. Rape culture is what makes this behavior “normal”. The
assaulters are let off the hook or let free, and the victims are blamed for the actions of the
assaulter in various ways. The expectation that women should carry keys defensively suggest
that failure to do so would be the reason she was assaulted or harmed. This promotes the cycle of
violence and fear and leaves women with the responsibility of protecting themselves hence the
keys in hand. (Week 14 lecture).
Gender norms often appear so natural that they fade into the background of everyday life.
A critical eye reveals that even ordinary objects and behaviors are deeply shaped by social
expectations surrounding femininity and masculinity. Using key course concepts including the
gender binary, gender socialization, doing gender, corporate co-optation, gender violence, and
rape culture, these images have been analyzed and broken down to reflect systems of power that
reinforce inequality.
References
Week 1 Lecture January 14th, 2026
Shaw, S. M., & Lee, J. (2020). Gendered voices, feminist visions : Classic and contemporary
readings. Oxford University Press. Pg 1-21
Week 2 Lecture January 21st, 2026
Shaw, S. M., & Lee, J. (2020). Gendered voices, feminist visions : Classic and contemporary
readings. Oxford University Press. Pg 95-103
Week 10 Lecture March 18th, 2026
Shaw, S. M., & Lee, J. (2020). Gendered voices, feminist visions : Classic and contemporary
readings. Oxford University Press. Pg 222-248
Week 14 Lecture April 15th, 2026
Shaw, S. M., & Lee, J. (2020). Gendered voices, feminist visions : Classic and contemporary
readings. Oxford University Press. Pg 525-552