From birth our paths are set
Expectations and gender stereotypes are imposed onto children once they are born. Instead of being a (metaphorical) ‘white canvas’, parents or society dictate the child’s future without giving him the freedom to figure out his own identity and desire. This is exemplified through the adult’s action of filling in the blank space with their own expectations of how a boy should be and what he should like with words like “boy”, “blue”, “guns”, “robots” and “sports”. The words eventually form the baby’s face with the use of gestalt, in turn becoming the identity he didn’t ask for.
The choice of an infant amplifies the sense of helplessness in the face of societal pressure and expectations.
The baby is unfeelingly viewed as a societal construct instead of an individual with his own unique set of qualities. This evokes a sense of empathy and being able to relate to having our desires robbed away from us without the freedom to choose.
The main question is: Is the life you are striving for what you truly desire, or is it a matter of what society or your parents have set out for you to accomplish from the start?
