Stereotyping Activity Guide

This two-part guide is designed to teach children to recognize stereotypes in the media.

• Once Upon a Time: Familiarize children with the concept of stereotyping.
• TV Stereotypes: Help children understand the role that stereotypes play in TV's portrayal of life.

Stereotyping Discussion Starters:

Ask the girls to think about how realistically women and girls are portrayed on their favourite shows:

• Do the girls and women on TV look like you or anyone you know? Do the girls behave like you and your friends?
  
• Do the mothers in your favourite shows work outside the home? What kind of jobs do they have? Do you know anyone's mother who has this kind of job?
  
• Think of three girl characters who are similar to you and three who are different from you.
  
• Who is the strongest, smartest and boldest girl on television? Why?
  
• Who is the strongest, smartest and boldest woman on television? Why?
  
• What girl or woman on TV is not strong, smart and bold?

(These questions are from the Girls Re-cast TV Action Kit from Girls Inc. Reprinted with permission)


Talking about Super Heroes and Heroines

Use the discussion starters to help the girls understand what makes a hero or heroine special and how stereotyping can influence how we view heroic figures in our culture.

• Talk about the kinds of TV super heroes and heroines the girls like to watch. Ask what a hero or heroine means to them. What qualities should super heroes and heroines have to make them special? Explain that anyone can be a hero or heroine: a parent, a friend or a neighbour. 
  
• Discuss the ways that conflicts are solved on super hero shows. Talk about conflict resolution skills and how they could be applied to situations that super heroes and heroines find themselves in. 
  
• Have your Sparks make posters illustrating what their ideal super hero and heroine would look like and what their characteristics would be.