Learning Gender Stereotypes Lesson Plan

Gender Representation
Movies
Stereotyping

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.

This lesson is part of USE, UNDERSTAND & ENGAGE: A Digital Media Literacy Framework for Canadian Schools.

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.

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 in advertising.

Learning Outcomes

Key concepts:

  • Media are constructions
  • Media have social and political implications
  • Media have commercial considerations
  • Each medium has a unique aesthetic form

Students will:

Know:

  • Recognize and identify gender stereotypes in ads

Understand:

  • Analyze how stereotypes are communicated in media
  • Discuss the causes and impacts of gender stereotypes

Do:

  • Find examples of gender stereotyping in media

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

Lesson Kit