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Gender by design : Performativity and Consumer Packaging

Petersson McIntyre, Magdalena LU (2018) In Design and Culture: The Journal of the Design Studies Forum 10(3). p.337-358
Abstract
Mass-produced consumer packages are everyday objects that almost go unnoticed. However, by claiming things such as the essence of femininity or masculinity, they affect us and are co-creators of our reality. Based on visual ethnography, this article traces the representation of gender on mass-produced packaging during a time when male privilege is being challenged and female visual objectification is being questioned. The chosen products all have an intimate relationship with body care and the body’s functions. On some of the packaging, the biological differences between women and men are presented as scientific facts. On other examples, such as perfume packaging, gender is represented as decoupled from the body and part of an enjoyable... (More)
Mass-produced consumer packages are everyday objects that almost go unnoticed. However, by claiming things such as the essence of femininity or masculinity, they affect us and are co-creators of our reality. Based on visual ethnography, this article traces the representation of gender on mass-produced packaging during a time when male privilege is being challenged and female visual objectification is being questioned. The chosen products all have an intimate relationship with body care and the body’s functions. On some of the packaging, the biological differences between women and men are presented as scientific facts. On other examples, such as perfume packaging, gender is represented as decoupled from the body and part of an enjoyable choice of identity, as multiple, fragmented, and fluid. Such representations conceal power
differences by making gender into a matter of consumer choice, while also illustrating the constantly changing nature of gender. Gender and package design are entangled processes that affect and change with each other. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
Packaging, gender, performativity
in
Design and Culture: The Journal of the Design Studies Forum
volume
10
issue
3
pages
21 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85062830165
ISSN
1754-7075
DOI
10.1080/17547075.2018.1516437
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
a20fbe47-1dcc-4789-9a93-59b4e644b68f
date added to LUP
2024-06-04 17:33:41
date last changed
2024-06-18 11:51:20
@article{a20fbe47-1dcc-4789-9a93-59b4e644b68f,
  abstract     = {{Mass-produced consumer packages are everyday objects that almost go unnoticed. However, by claiming things such as the essence of femininity or masculinity, they affect us and are co-creators of our reality. Based on visual ethnography, this article traces the representation of gender on mass-produced packaging during a time when male privilege is being challenged and female visual objectification is being questioned. The chosen products all have an intimate relationship with body care and the body’s functions. On some of the packaging, the biological differences between women and men are presented as scientific facts. On other examples, such as perfume packaging, gender is represented as decoupled from the body and part of an enjoyable choice of identity, as multiple, fragmented, and fluid. Such representations conceal power<br/>differences by making gender into a matter of consumer choice, while also illustrating the constantly changing nature of gender. Gender and package design are entangled processes that affect and change with each other.}},
  author       = {{Petersson McIntyre, Magdalena}},
  issn         = {{1754-7075}},
  keywords     = {{Packaging; gender; performativity}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{337--358}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Design and Culture: The Journal of the Design Studies Forum}},
  title        = {{Gender by design : Performativity and Consumer Packaging}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17547075.2018.1516437}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/17547075.2018.1516437}},
  volume       = {{10}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}