Suggested Grade/Age Range: Grades 3 (ages 7-9)

Activity Objective: The goal of this activity is to raise awareness about the gender stereotypes that are prevalent in different forms of media and how they influence our self-image and self-esteem. A positive self-image is fundamental to healthy self-esteem. Children will have the opportunity to create a collage by choosing images that correspond to a positive self-image.

Learning Goals
Big Messages to Kids

Link to Ontario Curriculum

Materials Required:

• Paper (8 x 11 or 11 x 17 depending on time limit)
• Magazines (one for each pair of students or group of 3; if available, each individual can have his/her own)
• Printouts of images (around 10-15 so each small group can have 2-3)
• Flyers from Toys R’ Us or other toy companies
• Scissors
• Glue sticks

Prep Time: 30 min to 1 hour

• Gather magazines, images, and/or flyers depicting males and females in various gender roles
• Exploration Questions slip
• Create a sample collage
• Prepare paper, scissors, glue sticks

Task Time: 1 hour

• Opening Discussion
• Collage Making
• Collage Presentations

Activity Description:

Preparation:

1.       Prepare magazines and/or print out images that shows males and females in different advertisements

• These can possibly include: ads for toys targeted at boys or girls, images in fashion magazines, sports magazines, etc.
• Make sure the images chosen clearly demonstrate the gender stereotypes prevalent in media; also choose a few images that may be more gender neutral or that defy gender stereotypes
• Children’s books can also be a great resource for images. These can be tabbed for the children to look through
• Ensure that ethnic diversity is represented by using images from various sources

2.       Prepare paper, scissors, and glue sticks for children

 Opening Discussion:

1.       Review over what self-esteem is. Talk about the idea that how we feel about ourselves also depends on the kinds of images we see in media. We get a sense of how, as boys and girls, we are represented. Allow children to ask questions about this and take time to clarify and explain the idea of how our self-image is tied to how the media portrays boys and girls to be

• Choose ads targeting boys or girls and use this as an example through your explanation
• You can also present 1-2 images that are more neutral to show the contrast between these and the more stereotypical ones

2.       After showing the images to the class, ask them some of the following questions:

• What are some messages this gives about girls?
• What are some messages this gives about boys?
• Do you think these images affect who we are and how we act?

Activity:

3.       Explain that the children will be using magazine images and their own drawings to make a collage for a positive self-image

• Review over what a positive self-image is (e.g., a positive self-image is when we are proud to be who we are)
• Emphasize to children that we do not have to build our self-image based on what we see on TV, online, or in magazines; encourage them to choose all images that represent who they are
• Show children a collage that you have completed as an example and explain how the images you have chosen represent your unique sense of self

4.       Give children time to work on their collages

Wrap-up Discussion/Presentations:

5.       Give children an opportunity present their finished collages to the class or in partners. Have them explain why the collages represent their unique self

Activity Extensions:

An art walk can be created around the collages and other classes can be invited to participate

Additional Comments:

Because this activity is exploring the highly sensitive issue of gender stereotypes and identity, it is imperative that children are not shamed for abiding by gender stereotypes they are exposed to through the media in their everyday lives. Therefore, although we want to raise awareness that these stereotypes exist, we are not communicating these are bad. Rather the message should be more along the lines of encouraging children to form their own positive self-images and what elements they want to include in them are not up to anyone else but the children themselves.

Most local cultural communities have their own magazines and these are often free. It may be worthwhile to do a quick search for local magazines either online, at supermarkets, and/or restaurants

Additional Resources: Background readings are not mandatory for the activity

 Research Articles of Potential Interest:

Coyne, S.M., Linder, J.R., Rasmussen, E.E., Nelson, D.A., & Birkbeck, V. (2016). Pretty as a princess: Longitudinal effects of engagement with Disney Princesses on gender stereotypes, body esteem, and prosocial behavior in children. Child Development, 00, 1-17.

Martin, C.L. (2014). Gender: early socialization. Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development. Retrieved from: http://www.child-encyclopedia.com/sites/default/files/dossiers-complets/en/gender-early-socialization.pdf#page=18