Symbolic Representation: Wedding Cake Toppers and Gender

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Many objects in society are used to convey messages to people but they can also symbolize different feminist concepts. There are more objects that are being seen from a different view point to symbolize different concepts. One such object is wedding cake toppers. Wedding cake toppers are connected to heteronormativity. Wedding cake toppers can be used as a symbol for heteronormativity and connected to Women and Gender studies.
Wedding cake toppers are small statues on top of the bride and groom’s wedding cake for the wedding reception. Cake toppers have been around for many years and are still popular for the bride and groom to have. The cake toppers are usually a figurine of a bride and groom to symbolize their marriage. However, not all cake toppers are of the bride and groom. Some different kinds of cake toppers are hearts, words such as love, and other symbols that can signify marriage. They can be customized to look like the bride and groom or bought from wedding decoration retailers. The cake toppers are either serious or funny. There are many different options for a bride and groom to have. Some figurines have the bride and groom standing by each other, but others have the bride and groom taking part in an activity that they both like. More couples are getting cake toppers that are humorous or poke fun at the idea of marriage. One example is the groom being attached to a ball and chain that is being pulled by the bride.
There are not as many options for same-sex couples. Most of the figurines on the internet are of a heterosexual couple. Even on wedding decoration websites, there are not many options for same-sex couples to choose from. Most of the websites have the couple buy two of the same figurines. If the couple w...

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...iety is becoming more tolerant of people who go against heteronormativity. As more states legalize same-sex marriages, it will be more common to see same-sex wedding toppers and other objects used in marriages and seen more in society.

Works Cited

Kirk, G., & Okazawa-Rey, M. (2009). Women’s lives: Multicultural perspectives (5th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Mundy, L. (2013, June 27). The gay-marriage fight could change how people think about all marriages. The Atlantic.com. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/06/the-guy-marriage-fight-could-change-how-people-think-about-all-marriages/277272/
Raymond, D. (2009). Popular culture and queer representation. A critical perspective. In G. Kirk & M. Okazawa-Rey (Eds.), Women’s lives: Multicultural perspectives (5th ed., pp. 180-187). Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

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