Lesson plan:

Gender stereotyping

As a whole class

View the episode Know All. After viewing replay the section near the beginning in which Dad Twist is building his sculpture that he calls "Chained to Chores". Using the pause button hold the frame until students have had time to look at the figure.

Class discussion

Discuss with the students:

• Why did Dad Twist call his artwork "Chained to Chores"?
• To what chores is he referring?
• How are these chores depicted in the sculpture?
• Who does these chores in the students' households?

Linda's first reaction to "Chained to Chores" is to describe it as sexist.

• What does the term sexist mean?
• Why does Linda think the sculpture is sexist?

Forward the tape to the section in which the children rescue the chest from the ocean. At one point in this sequence Linda attacks Peter for calling her a "girl".

Discuss with the students the reasons why Linda found this term insulting. It would be useful to write the key terms used in the discussion on the board and then use them as a basis for discussing associative meanings. What associations are made with the term girl? What associations are made with the term boy?

Individual activity

Give students the following list of gender specific terms and ask them to replace each term with a non-gender specific or neutral term. You may need to give them some examples to begin with.

Stereotypes in advertising

In small groups

Play a selection of current television commercials to the class or use advertisements from magazines to examine current representations of men and women.

Have students classify the advertisements which depict men and women into those which depict traditional roles and those that depict non-traditional roles.

Ask students to rank the advertisements in terms of their personal appeal and then have students explain their ranking in a small group situation.

Older students may be able to extend the discussion into questions about the social responsibilities of advertisers in the manner in which they portray men and women.

A useful resource is Ross-Smith, Anne and Walker, Gael (1990) Women and Advertising: Resource Package Office of the Status of Women, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. This package consists of a video of advertisements, teaching notes and overhead transparencies. It is suitable for lower secondary students.