Learning Gender Stereotypes - Lesson

Lesson Plan

Level(s): Grades 8 - 9

Author: This lesson was taken, with permission, from the award-winning Violence-Prevention Curriculum Healthy Relationships, produced by the Halifax, Nova Scotia advocacy group Men For Change.

Overview

This is the second of three lessons that address gender stereotypes. The objective of these lessons is to encourage students to develop their own critical intelligence with regard to culturally inherited stereotypes, and to the images presented in the media - film and television, rock music, newspapers and magazines.The lesson begins with a review of stereotypes that are associated with men and women and their possible sources - including the role of the media. Students deconstruct a series of advertisements based on gender representation and answer questions about gender stereotyping about articles they have read.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• understand the importance of distinguishing between fantasy (what happens on television, in the movies, and in ads) and reality (what really goes on in their lives).
• understand that stereotypical perfection is illusory and unreal.
• recognize the futility and the harmful effects of striving to attain stereotypical perfection.
• appreciate the benefits of celebrating who they really are.

This lesson and all associated documents (handouts, overheads, backgrounders) are available in an easy-print, pdf kit version.

Lesson Kit:

Lesson_Learning_Gender_Stereotypes.pdf