Part 1: Explore the Past and Present

WALT: We Are Learning To identify how gender stereotypes have appeared in media over time.

Success criteria: I can describe a stereotype, compare media from different time periods, and use evidence from a source.

Read the timeline.

Early 1900s: Many advertisements showed women mainly caring for the home and men mainly working outside the home.

1950s–1960s: Television and magazines often presented separate activities, jobs and toys as being “for boys” or “for girls”.

1980s–1990s: More media showed women in careers and men caring for children, although stereotypes continued.

Today: Media includes a wider range of people and choices, but some advertisements, films, games and social media posts still use stereotypes.

Part 2: Analyse Media Messages

WALT: We Are Learning To identify and question messages about gender in media.

Success criteria: I can identify a stereotype, explain its possible effect, and suggest a fairer message.

Source A: An old toy advertisement shows girls playing with kitchen sets while boys build with construction toys.

Source B: A modern advertisement shows children of different genders cooking, building, caring for animals and playing sport.

Part 3: Create a Fairer Media Message

WALT: We Are Learning To create media that represents people fairly.

Success criteria: I can challenge a stereotype, include a variety of people, and explain my choices.

Support options: You may listen to the timeline being read aloud, use text-to-speech, highlight key words, or discuss your ideas with a partner before writing. Use the sentence starters: “In the past, media often…”, “Today, media can…”, and “This is fairer because…”.

Extension: Compare two media examples from different decades. Identify one change, one similarity and one question you would ask the creators.