Teaching a Feminist Perspective Teaching a Feminist Perspective on Mainstream Media on Mainstream Media

to Young Girlsto Young Girls

An Independent An Independent WomenWomen’’s Studies Projects Studies Project

By: Jennifer FitzpatrickBy: Jennifer FitzpatrickKeene State CollegeKeene State College

Spring 2006Spring 2006

Project DescriptionProject DescriptionWhereWhere: Hinsdale, : Hinsdale, NH Middle/High NH Middle/High SchoolSchoolWhoWho: Open to : Open to females in grades females in grades 77--1212WhenWhen: Every : Every Friday 2:45Friday 2:45--4:45 4:45 (7 Total Sessions)(7 Total Sessions)WhatWhat: Girls Group : Girls Group After School After School ProgramProgram

Participant GoalsParticipant Goals•• To achieve a basic knowledge of To achieve a basic knowledge of

feminismfeminism•• To achieve a basic knowledge of To achieve a basic knowledge of

stereotypes and gender rolesstereotypes and gender roles•• To develop understanding of why these To develop understanding of why these

ideas/issues are importantideas/issues are important•• To develop a healthier body imageTo develop a healthier body image•• The possibility of becoming inspired and The possibility of becoming inspired and

involved in activism and Womeninvolved in activism and Women’’s s StudiesStudies

•• TO HAVE FUN!!TO HAVE FUN!!

Personal GoalsPersonal Goals•• To become an adequate and engaged To become an adequate and engaged

mentormentor•• To bring awareness of such importance To bring awareness of such importance

to young girlsto young girls•• Curriculum developmentCurriculum development•• Apply knowledge to real world issuesApply knowledge to real world issues•• To enhance my skills working with To enhance my skills working with

adolescentsadolescents•• TO HAVE FUN!!TO HAVE FUN!!

Girls Group InformationGirls Group InformationInitial Project SPRING 2005Initial Project SPRING 2005•• Women and LeadershipWomen and Leadership•• Goals and AccomplishmentsGoals and Accomplishments

Mentoring/Leadership SkillsMentoring/Leadership SkillsSelfSelf--esteem, confidence, body imageesteem, confidence, body imageOutcomesOutcomes

New Project SPRING 2006New Project SPRING 2006•• SimilaritiesSimilarities

EmpowermentEmpowermentSelfSelf--confidenceconfidence

•• DifferencesDifferencesFocusFocus

•• OutcomesOutcomesQuestionnaire Questionnaire JournalsJournalsProductionProduction

Future Plans for Girls GroupFuture Plans for Girls Group

Outline of ActivitiesOutline of Activities

I.I. WomenWomen’’s Rights Movement/ s Rights Movement/ WomenWomen’’s Historys History

II.II. Stereotypes/ Gender RolesStereotypes/ Gender RolesIII.III. Patriarchy/ FeminismPatriarchy/ FeminismIV.IV. SelfSelf--Esteem/ Body ImageEsteem/ Body ImageV.V. Media LiteracyMedia Literacy

WomenWomen’’s Movement/ Historys Movement/ HistoryThe GirlsThe Girls’’ Guide To Life: How to Take Guide To Life: How to Take

Charge of the Issues That Affect YOUCharge of the Issues That Affect YOUby: Catherine Deeby: Catherine Dee

•• Timeline/HighlightsTimeline/Highlights•• QuizQuiz

•• Internet SearchInternet Search•• DiscussionDiscussion

Stereotypes/ Gender RolesStereotypes/ Gender Roles

DefinitionsDefinitionsDiagramsDiagrams•• Male BoxMale Box•• Female BoxFemale Box

DiscussionDiscussionJournal AssignmentJournal Assignment

Patriarchy/FeminismPatriarchy/Feminism

•• Designing A Model of PatriarchyDesigning A Model of PatriarchyDefinitionsDefinitionsDiagramDiagramDiscussionDiscussion

•• FeminismFeminismDefinitionsDefinitions

•• Oppression/Subjugation/FeminismOppression/Subjugation/Feminism

Feminist LensFeminist LensDiscussionDiscussion

SelfSelf--Esteem/ Body ImageEsteem/ Body Image

QuizQuiz““What Your Answers MeanWhat Your Answers Mean””CartoonCartoonDiscussionDiscussion•• Many thought their selfMany thought their self--esteem was esteem was

higher than it actually was.higher than it actually was.

JournalsJournalsSolutionsSolutions

Media LiteracyMedia LiteracyDefinitionsDefinitionsDeconstructing AdsDeconstructing AdsKilling Us SoftlyKilling Us SoftlyCreate Your Own CommercialCreate Your Own CommercialJournals/ HomeworkJournals/ Homework

Teaching Media Literacy: Teaching Media Literacy: Deconstructing AdsDeconstructing AdsBecoming a more critical consumerBecoming a more critical consumer

““Five Core ConceptsFive Core Concepts””•• All media messages are All media messages are

‘‘constructedconstructed’’•• These messages are These messages are

constructed using creative constructed using creative language with its own ruleslanguage with its own rules

•• Different people experience Different people experience the same media message the same media message differentlydifferently

•• Media have embedded Media have embedded values and points of viewvalues and points of view

•• Most media messages are Most media messages are organized to gain profit organized to gain profit and/or powerand/or power

(Center for Media Literacy, 2005)

““Five Key QuestionsFive Key Questions””•• Who created the Who created the

message?message?•• What techniques are What techniques are

used to attract my used to attract my attention?attention?

•• How might different How might different people understand the people understand the message differently?message differently?

•• What values, lifestyles, What values, lifestyles, and points of view are and points of view are represented, or left out represented, or left out of this message?of this message?

•• Why is this message Why is this message being sent?being sent?

(Center for Media Literacy, 2005)

(Center for Media Literacy, 2005)

(Center for Media Literacy, 2005)

““WhoWho’’s renting my eyeballs?s renting my eyeballs?””““Every day, Americans Every day, Americans are subject to about are subject to about 3,000 Ads on 3,000 Ads on average.average.””This includes those This includes those that we notice and that we notice and those that we may those that we may notnot…… however they all however they all have an affect.have an affect.About 1 in 5 young About 1 in 5 young women have an eating women have an eating disorder.disorder.

((Killing Us SoftlyKilling Us Softly, Jean , Jean Kilbourne) Kilbourne)

OFFENSIVE ADSOFFENSIVE ADSGucciGucci-- ““This ad attempts toThis ad attempts todemonstrate a woman's "place"demonstrate a woman's "place"in the worldin the world——at a man's feetat a man's feet——right below his...uh... Just don'tright below his...uh... Just don'tstand up too fast, sister!stand up too fast, sister!””

Maker's MarkMaker's Mark-- ““What is itWhat is itabout selling alcohol thatabout selling alcohol thatmakes advertisers want tomakes advertisers want tobelittle and insult women...belittle and insult women...does it really make mendoes it really make menfeel more powerful? Don'tfeel more powerful? Don'tanswer that.answer that.””

LongchampLongchamp-- ““This is an ad This is an ad for luggage right? And the nearly for luggage right? And the nearly naked, bronzed women is there naked, bronzed women is there becausebecause……? When creativity fails ? When creativity fails insert sex.insert sex.””

CandiesCandies-- ““This is too easy.This is too easy.Is that a space shuttle onIs that a space shuttle onyour computer, or are youyour computer, or are youjust happy to see me? Thisjust happy to see me? Thisad is so obvious in itsad is so obvious in its"subliminal" message, it's sad"subliminal" message, it's sad””. .

ResourcesResourceswww.mediawww.media--awareness.caawareness.cawww.medialit.orgwww.medialit.orghttp://loveyourbody.nowfoundation.org/ofhttp://loveyourbody.nowfoundation.org/offensiveads.htmlfensiveads.htmlhttp://www.jeankilbourne.com/http://www.jeankilbourne.com/www.mediaed.orgwww.mediaed.orgThe Girls Guide to Life: How to Take The Girls Guide to Life: How to Take Charge of the Issues That Affect YouCharge of the Issues That Affect You, by , by Catherine DeeCatherine DeeTeen Voices MagazineTeen Voices Magazine

Works CitedWorks Cited

Lewis, J., & Jhally, S. (1998). The Lewis, J., & Jhally, S. (1998). The struggle over media literacy. struggle over media literacy. Journal Journal of Communication. of Communication. Internet Site: Internet Site: http://loveyourbody.nowfoundation.ohttp://loveyourbody.nowfoundation.org/offensiveads.htmlrg/offensiveads.htmlInternet Site: Internet Site: www.medialit.orgwww.medialit.orgKilbourne, J. (2002). Kilbourne, J. (2002). Killing us softly Killing us softly 3: Advertising3: Advertising’’s image of womens image of women..