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

to Young Girlsto Young Girls

An Independent An Independent Women’s Studies ProjectWomen’s Studies Project

By: Jennifer FitzpatrickBy: Jennifer FitzpatrickKeene State CollegeKeene State College

Spring 2006Spring 2006

Project DescriptionProject Description

WhereWhere: Hinsdale, : Hinsdale, NH Middle/High NH Middle/High SchoolSchool

WhoWho: Open to : Open to females in grades females in grades 7-127-12

WhenWhen: Every : Every Friday 2:45-4:45 Friday 2:45-4:45 (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 Women’s involved in activism and Women’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 Information

Initial Project SPRING 2005Initial Project SPRING 2005• Women and LeadershipWomen and Leadership• Goals and AccomplishmentsGoals and Accomplishments

Mentoring/Leadership SkillsMentoring/Leadership Skills Self-esteem, confidence, body imageSelf-esteem, confidence, body image OutcomesOutcomes

New Project SPRING 2006New Project SPRING 2006• SimilaritiesSimilarities

EmpowermentEmpowerment Self-confidenceSelf-confidence

• DifferencesDifferences FocusFocus

• OutcomesOutcomes Questionnaire Questionnaire JournalsJournals ProductionProduction

Future Plans for Girls GroupFuture Plans for Girls Group

Outline of ActivitiesOutline of Activities

I.I. Women’s Rights Movement/ Women’s Rights Movement/ Women’s HistoryWomen’s History

II.II. Stereotypes/ Gender RolesStereotypes/ Gender Roles

III.III. Patriarchy/ FeminismPatriarchy/ Feminism

IV.IV. Self-Esteem/ Body ImageSelf-Esteem/ Body Image

V.V. Media LiteracyMedia Literacy

Women’s Movement/ HistoryWomen’s Movement/ History

The 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: Catherine Deeby: Catherine Dee

• Timeline/HighlightsTimeline/Highlights• QuizQuiz

• Internet SearchInternet Search• DiscussionDiscussion

Stereotypes/ Gender RolesStereotypes/ Gender Roles

DefinitionsDefinitions DiagramsDiagrams

• Male BoxMale Box• Female BoxFemale Box

DiscussionDiscussion Journal AssignmentJournal Assignment

Patriarchy/FeminismPatriarchy/Feminism

• Designing A Model of PatriarchyDesigning A Model of Patriarchy DefinitionsDefinitions DiagramDiagram DiscussionDiscussion

• FeminismFeminism DefinitionsDefinitions

• Oppression/Subjugation/FeminismOppression/Subjugation/Feminism Feminist LensFeminist Lens DiscussionDiscussion

Self-Esteem/ Body ImageSelf-Esteem/ Body Image

QuizQuiz ““What Your Answers Mean”What Your Answers Mean” CartoonCartoon DiscussionDiscussion

• Many thought their self-esteem was Many thought their self-esteem was higher than it actually was.higher than it actually was.

JournalsJournals SolutionsSolutions

Media LiteracyMedia Literacy DefinitionsDefinitions Deconstructing AdsDeconstructing Ads Killing Us SoftlyKilling Us Softly Create Your Own CommercialCreate Your Own Commercial Journals/ HomeworkJournals/ Homework

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

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

‘constructed’‘constructed’• These messages are These messages are

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

• Different people Different people experience the same experience the same media message differentlymedia message differently

• 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)(Center for Media Literacy, 2005)

““Five Key Questions”Five 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)

““Who’s renting my eyeballs?”Who’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 not… however they all not… 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 ADS Gucci- “Gucci- “This ad attempts toThis ad attempts to

demonstrate a woman's "place"demonstrate a woman's "place"in the world—at a man's feet—in the world—at 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 Mark- “Maker'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.”

Longchamp- Longchamp- “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 because…? When creativity fails because…? 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”.

ResourcesResources

www.media-awareness.cawww.media-awareness.ca www.medialit.orgwww.medialit.org http://loveyourbody.nowfoundation.org/offhttp://loveyourbody.nowfoundation.org/off

ensiveads.htmlensiveads.html http://www.jeankilbourne.com/http://www.jeankilbourne.com/ www.mediaed.orgwww.mediaed.org The 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 Dee

Teen 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.html

Internet Site: Internet Site: www.medialit.orgwww.medialit.org Kilbourne, J. (2002). Kilbourne, J. (2002). Killing us softly Killing us softly

3: Advertising’s image of women3: Advertising’s image of women..