Gendered Expectations: Love, Strength, and the Symbolism of a Plush Be
In the provided texts, dual attitudes toward the plush bear that reflect the division of gender roles and expectations can be observed. On one hand, the plush bear is presented as something warm and caring, a gift that a mother gives to her child – here, the bear becomes a symbol of maternal love and attention. For example, in one excerpt, the mother carefully hands over the bear, stating: "Here. This is the very one that Aunt Mila gave you. You were two years old then. A good bear, an excellent one. Look at how tight it is! What a chubby belly it has! Look how it rolled out!
Isn’t it like a pear?Even better! And there's no need to buy one! Now go on and train as much as you wish! Start!" (source: link txt). This passage reflects the expectation that a gift from a mother should not only express affection but also stimulate activity and the development of strength—qualities traditionally linked to masculinity.On the other hand, in another excerpt, the child expresses his joy that his mom "thought of such a great idea" and immediately uses the plush bear to practice striking power: "And I made the bear sit comfortably on the sofa so that it would be more convenient for me to train with and develop the strength of my strike. It sat in front of me all chocolaty, but rather tattered..." (source: link txt). This image underscores a gender-specific nuance: even if the object itself is associated with tenderness and softness, in boy culture such an object is quickly reinterpreted through the lens of physical activity and combat—a stereotypical notion that masculinity is linked with displays of strength.Thus, the gender stereotypes underlying the representations of gifting a plush bear are revealed in that the gift, seemingly emotional and warm, is placed in a context where both activity and physical strength are valued. At the same time, the role of the giver is traditionally ascribed to the mother, emphasizing the division of roles in the family and the expectation that women express care through gifts while men demonstrate physical energy even in play with "delicate" toys.Supporting citation(s):"Mom started digging in that basket, and while she was rummaging, I saw my old trolley without wheels... And suddenly, Mom pulled out of the bottom of the basket a huge plush bear. She tossed it to me on the sofa and said: - Here. This is the very one that Aunt Mila gave you. You were two years old then. A good bear, an excellent one... Now go on and train as much as you wish! Start!" (source: link txt)"And I was very happy that Mom thought of it so brilliantly. And I made the bear sit comfortably on the sofa so that it would be more convenient for me to train with and develop the strength of my strike. It sat in front of me all chocolaty, but rather tattered..." (source: link txt)