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Dates/Times: (Participation in all programs required)
Investigation of Gender Stereotypes
May 17, 2007; 10:00 a.m. EDT - 11:30 a.m. EDTGuided Art Project
May 24, 2007; 10:00 a.m. EDT - 11:30 a.m. EDT
Presentation of Class Art Project
May 31, 2007; 10:00 a.m. EDT - 11:30 a.m. EDT
Target Grade Levels: 6-8th Grade Students
Description:
A quick survey of popular American media reveals a minefield loaded with exaggerated and downright unrealistic images of males and females in our society.
Female stereotypes primarily pressure girls and women to “look” a certain way, resulting in negatives consequences for females including negative body image and loss of self-esteem, eating disorders, job discrimination, domestic violence, and rape.
Equally as dangerous, male stereotypes send unhealthy messages to boys and men to “do” or “act” in certain ways. Such pressure to “act like a man,” reinforces in males that they should be tough, in control and dominant, leading to such problems as emotional violence against self, lack of respect for and aggression against women, commission of crime and violence, and even male discrimination in the legal system.
Using excerpts from film, radio, the Internet, television, magazines and newspapers, this workshop examines various ways in which males and females are portrayed in American popular media.
The purpose of this workshop is to give male and female students an opportunity to try to reach beyond gender differences to find what they have in common as students, young people, family members, citizens and human beings. The aim is to make these students more respectful and tolerant of one another and more secure in their own gender identity.
Session one of the workshop will consist of a presentation of source material in Powerpoint format, a review of pre-workshop study articles and open dialogue among the students. In session two, the artist/facilitator (Faye Kendall) will guide students through a visual art project, such as a collage, addressing issues brought up in the first session. In the third session, each school group will anaylse its art project during a videoconference presentation and a summary discussion involving all students will follow.
Pre-Workshop Activities
Students will read 5-7 short study articles (provided by MYX 4 weeks prior to start date) and participate in a class discussion with teacher (MYX will provide discussion question). A small pre-workshop assigment and questionairre will also be provied by MYX. Students must complete both prior to the workshop start date.
Instructions for Participating Teachers for Preparing Students:
First Videoconference Session: Teachers will distribute MYX study materials (articles and images) as well as a small pre-workshop assignment to students 2 weeks prior to the workshop start date. Approximately one week prior to workshop start date, teachers will hold a class discussion on study articles (questions provided by MYX) and make sure that students complete their pre-workshop questionaires. Results should lbe tallied and reported to MYX.
Second Videoconference Session: Following the second session, the teachers will complete the art project with students during class time, preparing it for presentation during the third session.
Third Videoconference Session: Following the third session, teachers will distribute post-workshop questionairre to students and return them to MYX within one week.
Post-Project: Teachers will also fill out a workshop evaluation and return to MYX.
Resources
Student Packet: Download the student guide for this event.
MYX: Multicultural Youth eXchange Website: The MYX website is a fantastic resource for more information concerning art-based community service and strengthening the global community through art.
Media Awareness Network: Home to one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of media education and Internet literacy resources.
Center for Media Literacy: The Center for Media Literacy website provides a wide selection of teaching tools, carefully evaluated for their quality and importance to the field.
About MYX: Multicultural Youth eXchange
MYX: Multicultural Youth eXchange is a Philadelphia-based, nonprofit organization, which uses the arts to educate young people about diverse cultures in order to promote global tolerance. In a shrinking world with expanding cultural biases, violence and war, it is essential to dispel ignorance about different cultures and increase sensitivity toward diverse peoples. Because art is present in all cultures and communicates universal feelings and interpretations of the physical world we all share, MYX uses it in a central way to enlighten young minds to the fundamental common interests that all humans share. |
Special Thanks:
A very special thanks to Women's Way for providing the initial project grant.
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