MISS
REPRESENTATION
a documentary film by Jennifer Siebel Newsom
CURRICULUM
You can’t be what you can’t see.
missrepresentation.org
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Acknowledgements
Contributors:
Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Miss Representation, Writer, Director, Producer, and Founder and Chief
Executive Officer of MissRepresentation.org
Jessica Congdon, Miss Representation, Editor
Regina Kulik Scully, Miss Representation, Executive Producer
Sarah Johnson Redlich, Miss Representation, Executive Producer
Reneè Gasch, Miss Representation, Former Education and Outreach Coordinator
Imran Siddiquee, MissRepresentation.org, Social Media and Communications Manager
Amy Zucchero, MissRepresentation.org, Campaign Director
Special thanks to the following individuals for serving as curriculum advisors:
Bree Baccaglini, University High School, Student Intern
Heather Brubaker, San Francisco University High School, English Instructor
Dan Dworkin, The Hamlin School, Director of Safety and Technology
Allen Frost, Stanford University, Ph.D. Candidate in Literature
Jennifer Huynh, Curriculum Copyeditor
Alicia Klein, San Rafael High School, Director of Prospective Parent Outreach and GATE Instructor at Coleman School
Hydra Mendoza, San Francisco Board of Education, President and Mayor’s Education Advisor
Stephanie Monteleone, Milken Community High School, Health Educator
Lena Tashjian, Baltimore City College High School, English Instructor
Lela Tuhtan, Town School for Boys, Humanities Instructor
Miss Representation is pleased to be partnering with ro*co films educational to make this curriculum available to schools and universities. ro*co films educational advocates for documentary film
as an educational tool, bringing these films to instructional environments around the country.
For more information visit: www.rocoeducational.com.
missrepresentation.org
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Table of Contents
Overview....................................................................page 1
Director’s Letter......................................................... page 3
Letter to Parents........................................................ page 4
Elementary School: K-3rd Grade................................ page 5
Elementary School: 4th-5th Grade............................ page 9
Middle School............................................................page 14
High School............................................................... page 29
University Study Guide.............................................. page 44
Appendix....................................................................page 54
i.
Barbie and G.I. Joe Images
ii.U.S. Female Leaders
xviii.
Social Construction Handout
xix.
Media Log Handout
xx.U.S. Women’s History Timeline
missrepresentation.org
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Overview
Background
The average teenager spends more than 10 hours each day consuming media — more than
sleeping or attending school. Media is the messenger and an increasingly powerful one. Mainstream media bombards children and adults alike with overwhelming messages that women
should be beautiful and sexy, while men should be powerful and often violent. These messages
limit children’s ideas of what is possible in the world and can have damaging effects on their
self-esteem, health, and the way they treat others.
The Miss Representation curriculum equips K-12 and University students with the critical thinking skills to question the messages they see in mainstream media daily. It also gives teachers
and parents the tools to spark a conversation with children and young adults about their media
consumption.
Approach
Following the release of the critically acclaimed 2011 documentary film Miss Representation,
director and filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom teamed up with a diverse group of educators
to design a curriculum that gives media literacy a much needed gender focus. The curriculum
asks girls and boys alike to think about the effects of the images they see — particularly the
ways in which media affects women and girls’ ability to see themselves as leaders and be seen
as leaders by others in society.
The K-12 Miss Representation curriculum is divided into modules. Each module includes age
appropriate content, including film clips, definitions of relevant concepts, reflection exercises,
discussion questions, in-class activities, and homework suggestions. The modules are sequenced to build upon the outcomes of previous lessons. Educators also receive a copy of the
full-length film, which is more appropriate to use in the University setting.
Teachers can incorporate the curriculum into existing instruction or build upon it for a dedicated media literacy class.
missrepresentation.org
1
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Overview
MODULE
K-12 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
TARGET AUDIENCE
K-3 GRADE
Learn about different types of media.
4-5 GRADE
Recognize different types of media.
(NOTE:
This module also
references
Gender Socialization)
Understand that media communicates ideas
and teaches individuals.
Understand that media communicates ideas and
teaches individuals.
Identify the ways media and advertisements
portray gender.
Differentiate programming content from
advertising.
Begin to recognize that the way media
portrays gender can limit the options
available for both girls and boys.
Introduce examples of how media and advertising
influence the way individuals think and feel about
themselves.
Media Literacy
Identify the ways media and advertisements
portray gender.
Recognize that the way media portrays gender
can limit the options available for girls and boys.
Expand ideas of leadership to include women.
Women and
Leadership
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Pay conscious attention to the way media
presents women and men.
HIGH SCHOOL
Learn how media shapes individual beliefs and
cultural norms.
Define stereotype and identify stereotypes
frequently seen in mainstream media.
Pay conscious attention to media consumption.
Understand that when stereotypes are repeated
over and over, individuals begin to accept them
as normal or real.
Think about the ways stereotypes of femininity or
masculinity limit girls and boys.
Learn the facts about how women are underrepresented in the political and business sectors.
Identify ways in which women leaders are treated
differently in media.
Understand the ways negative treatment in the
media can affect a woman’s ability to see herself
as a leader and to obtain leadership positions.
Expand ideas of leadership to include all types of
women.
Behind the Scenes
Define diversity.
Define concepts such as representation, social
construction, and objectification.
Recognize gender stereotypes and think about
their effects.
Identify positive and empowering representations
of women in the media.
Make the connection between media
objectification and the low numbers of women in
influential leadership positions.
Recognize media bias and understand how it
undermines women’s leadership.
Define democracy and think about how disparities
in women’s leadership undermine U.S.
democracy.
Learn about important events from the women’s
movement and practice teaching others about
women’s history.
Recognize that there is a lack of diversity behind
the scenes of mainstream media and advertising.
Define diversity and think about the ways in which
more diversity behind the scenes might change
how women and girls are represented in media
and advertising.
Understand how multiple perspectives can
change a story.
Understand that what we see in the media is
influenced by political and economic decisions.
Practice making entertaining media with a strong
social message.
Comprehend that changes in the media and
advertising industry have given companies more
power in determining what we see and hear.
Reflect on the dangerous effects of solely profitdriven media and advertising industries, the
impact they have on our culture, and the
news/information we are given access to.
Identify ways in which individuals can influence
positive change in the media, news, and
advertising industries.
Recognize the complex ways mainstream
media and advertising influence gender
norms in U.S. culture, particularly as it
relates to women’s leadership.
UNIVERSITY LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Identify increasingly subtle forms of sexism
and bias in the media and recognize the
ways in which these biases spill into our
everyday experiences.
Understand that more diversity behind the
scenes can change the types of images
and stories shared through media outlets.
Connect personal experiences to the
political and economic influences of media
and advertising.
missrepresentation.org
Realize and harness consumer power to
champion good media and challenge bad
media and advocate for the eradication of
gender stereotypes in all aspects of our
society.
2
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Letter from the Director
Greetings,
I was inspired to make Miss Representation when I came to realize that injustices towards women have
worsened over time with the advent of the 24/7 news cycle, infotainment and reality television. Today’s
media sends a dangerous message to young people — that a woman’s value lies in her youth, beauty,
and sexuality and not in her capacity as a leader.
At each Miss Representation screening, from the Sundance Film Festival to San Francisco high schools,
countless people approach me brimming with excitement about what they’ve just learned from the
film. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and it reenergizes me every time to know that the next generation
understands and is driven by the importance of respecting and empowering women and girls.
Thanks to its viewers, Miss Representation is no longer just a film — it is a full-fledged social action campaign to empower women and girls to challenge limiting labels in order to realize their potential and
transform our culture for the betterment of all. Through the campaign, we will educate individuals to
use their power to champion and celebrate positive media and advertising and challenge negative media
and advertising; encourage corporations to alter their practices; and urge politicians to pass laws that
ensure equal opportunities for women and girls and promote women as leaders.
We need your help. Change begins with education, and that makes you — our educators — some of the
greatest change-makers in our society. We are asking instructors, mentors, administrators, youth group
leaders, and peer educators to become advocates for gender focused media literacy curriculums in their
schools and universities.
You’ve taken the first step by ordering the Miss Representation curriculum. With these tools and your
dedication, we will inspire youth to become their own advocates — seizing the opportunity to better
their world for themselves and for generations to follow.
Our campaign includes tips and support for educators. Stay connected with us:
• Learn more about the campaign by visiting www.missrepresentation.org
• Read our blog for ideas on how to spark conversation (missrepresentation.org/blog)
• Follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/MissRepresentationCampaign)
• Tweet your classroom’s progress using #MissRep (twitter.com/RepresentPledge)
As you use these resources, I hope you will share your feedback on how students respond to the film
clips, discussion topics, and activities. I look forward to hearing about your successes! We’ve included
an online survey for you to provide your feedback: surveymonkey.com/s/missrepresentationcurriculum.
Together, we can help our youth re-envision women as leaders in our society. The possibilities are endless!
Warmly,
Jennifer Siebel Newsom
Writer, Director, Producer
Miss Representation
3
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Letter for Parents
Dear parents and guardians,
Your child is beginning a media literacy unit in our classroom. Media literacy teaches students how to interpret the messages they hear and see from advertising, films, television, magazines, video games, music, and
even Facebook.
Why is media literacy important?
The average teenager absorbs more than 10 hours of media a day — that’s more than any other activity,
including sleeping or going to school. The messages they receive from media teach them how to view themselves and others — particularly, what it means to be a woman or a man.
If you have ever seen a Super Bowl commercial, watched a music video, or heard a Top 40 song, then you
know that mainstream media bombards children with messages that women should be beautiful and sexy,
while men should be powerful and often violent. Messages like these can limit your children’s ideas of what
is possible in the world, particularly the idea that women can be leaders. What your children learn from media can have damaging effects on their self-esteem and the way they treat others.
What are the facts?
• About 25% of girls will experience teen dating violence.
• About 65% of American women and girls have an eating disorder.
• Women hold only 3% of clout positions in the mainstream media (telecommunications, entertainment,
publishing and advertising).
• The United States is ranked 90th in the world in terms of the number of women in national legislatures.
What will your children be learning?
Using age appropriate clips from the critically acclaimed documentary film Miss Representation, students will
learn about media literacy from positive, recognizable role models, such as Condoleezza Rice, Katie Couric,
Nancy Pelosi, Rosario Dawson, Lisa Ling, and Cory Booker. Discussion questions will teach students to think
more critically about what they are watching and activities will help them recognize disparaging portrayals
when they see them. A few key concepts we’ll discuss include:
• Stereotypes and gender
• Leadership and democracy
• Diversity and perspective
How can you support media literacy in your home?
• Watch media with your children and talk to them about how media often encourages gender stereotypes.
• Work with teachers to encourage more opportunities for gender focused media literacy.
• Watch Miss Representation for yourself. Find screenings at www.missrepresentation.org/screenings.
• Host a Miss Representation screening for other parents to share ideas. Find out more at www.missrepresentation.org/screenings.
• Use resources such as MissRepresentation.org, Common Sense Media, or Women’s Media Center.
• Enroll your daughters and sons in leadership and mentoring programs. Examples include: Girls Inc.,
Girls For A Change, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Coaching Boys into Men.
We look forward to partnering with you to raise awareness around media literacy. Please feel free to reach
out to us if you have any questions.
Thank you.
4
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Elementary: Kindergarten-3rd Grade
Time minimum: 55 minutes
Overview
The Kindergarten through 3rd Grade Curriculum introduces students to early concepts of
media literacy and gender socialization. Students are encouraged to explore ways in which
media is used to communicate ideas. Instructional clips from the documentary film Miss Representation explain how media shapes ideas around what it means to be a girl or a boy. Suggested discussion and activities help students understand how, as they grow, these ideas can
limit what is possible in the world, particularly in the realm of leadership.
Objectives
•
•
•
•
Learn about different types of media.
Understand that media communicates ideas and teaches individuals.
Identify the ways media and advertisements portray gender.
Begin to recognize that the way media portrays gender can limit the options available for both girls and boys.
What you will Need
Miss Representation Curriculum DVD
Barbie and G.I. Joe Images (Appendix i)
Instructional Clips
Kindergarten - 3rd Grade Clip
missrepresentation.org
5
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Elementary: Kindergarten-3rd Grade
Key Concepts
Communication – the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information
Media – instruments used to communicate information, including television, magazines, books,
movies, music and the Internet
Advertising – a form of communication used to persuade an audience (viewers, readers or listeners) to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services
Stereotype – a generalization, usually exaggerated or oversimplified and often offensive, that is
used to describe or distinguish a group
Gender – the roles created by society for women/girl and men/boys (in comparison, sex refers
to an individual’s biology at birth)
Protagonist – a leading character in a film, book, movie or other work
Leader – a person with influence or power, especially of a political nature
Self Esteem – the way individuals think and feel about themselves
Role Model – a person who serves as an example, whose behavior is followed by others
missrepresentation.org
6
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Elementary: Kindergarten-3rd Grade
Before Viewing
Large group discussion: Defining Media (15 min)
• How do we learn things/where do we learn them from? Explain that we learn things from
a lot of places, such as parents, teachers, friends, etc. We also learn things from media (i.e.
books, magazines, the Internet, TV, video games, etc.)
• What is the difference between media and advertising? Explain that media is something
that is used to communicate ideas. Explain that advertising is a way to sell ideas, products or
services. Point out that advertisements are found in media.
• Ask students to shout out different forms of media and advertising as you write them on the
board. Help them identify media and advertising they may have missed: the Internet, cell
phones, billboards, TV, video games, magazines, radio, etc.
• Ask students to draw a picture of themselves. Put these pictures aside. Students will reference them again after they have viewed the instructional clip.
During Viewing
Instructional Clip: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade
Be aware of students’ reactions to the content. Often students will react with discomfort if they
are asked to think about gender. Giggles, gasps, or side comments can create a disempowering and uncomfortable environment. These types of responses, if they go unaddressed, hinder
honest and open dialogue about gender issues. Instructors may want to keep track of specific
film clips that elicit these types of responses. Immediately after the viewing, ask students to talk
about why they responded to these specific clips in a negative way.
missrepresentation.org
7
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Elementary: Kindergarten-3rd Grade
After Viewing
Large Group Discussion: Media Messages (15 min)
• Display the advertisement of Barbie and G.I. Joe to the class.
• Remind students that advertisements are found in media.
• Ask students to list adjectives for each character. For example, adjectives describing Barbie
might be pretty, skinny, blonde, etc. Adjectives describing G.I. Joe might be strong, brave,
big, etc.
• Ask students what each character likes to do. For example, Barbie might shop and G.I. Joe
might fight. Ask students for other examples of characters they see in media and advertising that encourage similar stereotypes. This is a good opportunity to discuss what a sterotype is.
• Remind students that media teaches us things. Ask students what these images teach us
about being a woman. Encourage both boys and girls to answer.
• What do these images teach us about being a man? Encourage both boys and girls to answer.
• Ask what would happen if we believed what these images tell us about being a woman or
man? What happens if we believe that women only like to shop? Explain that girls who
believe these messages may not try other things, like flying airplanes. And vice versa, if boys
believe these messages, they may not try new things like cooking. Point out how boys and
girls will be limited if they believe what they see in the media.
• Ask them to think about what these images teach us. For example, do all women look like
Barbie? Ask them if they think this is true.
• Ask students to take a look at the self-portrait they drew earlier. Share the portraits so the
class can see each picture. Ask each student to share one thing they like about their portrait.
As the teacher, reference the diversity throughout the portraits and comment on how much
more interesting it is to have a variety of faces/characters. Wouldn’t it be boring if we all
looked like Barbie and G.I. Joe?
Large Group Discussion: Gender & Leadership (20 min)
• Ask students to identify women and men in their lives who exhibit qualities that expand
upon the limitations of stereotypes — for example, a father who cooks and cares for them,
an uncle who sews, a mother who works in the yard, a mother who is an architect, etc.
• Ask students to identify women that they think are leaders and have them share why. Give
each student the opportunity to draw a picture or write a story about that leader. Have each
student share their picture or story with the class.
missrepresentation.org
8
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Elementary: 4th-5th Grade
Time minimum: 2 hours and 45 minutes (multiple class periods recommended)
Overview
The 4th and 5th Grade Curriculum introduces students to early concepts of media literacy and
gender socialization. Students are encouraged to explore ways in which media is used to communicate ideas. Instructional clips from the documentary film Miss Representation explain how
media shapes ideas around what it means to be a girl or a boy. Clips further explore how media
influences an individual’s self-perception. Discussions help students understand how these
ideas can limit what is possible in the world. Suggested activities introduce concepts of leadership and teach students to identify female leaders.
Objectives
•
•
•
•
Recognize different types of media.
Understand that media communicates ideas and teaches individuals.
Differentiate programming content from advertising.
Introduce examples of how media and advertising influence the way individuals
think and feel about themselves.
• Identify the ways media and advertisements portray gender.
• Recognize that the way media portrays gender can limit the options available for
girls and boys.
• Expand ideas of leadership to include women.
What you will Need
Miss Representation Curriculum DVD
Magazines and Newspapers (1 per student)
Barbie and G.I. Joe images (Appendix i)
Female Leaders Images (Appendix ii)
Instructional Clips
Chapter 1: Media Literacy
Part 1: How does the media influence our culture?
Part 2: How does what we see shape our beliefs about ourselves and others?
Chapter 2: Women and Leadership
Part 1: How do media messages affect women in leadership?
Part 2: How do we get more women into leadership?
missrepresentation.org
9
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Elementary: 4th-5th Grade
Key Concepts
Communication – an exchange of thoughts, messages, or information
Media – instruments used to communicate information, including television, magazines,
books, movies, music and the Internet
Advertising – a form of communication used to persuade an audience (viewers, readers or
listeners) to consume/buy products, ideas, or services
Gender – the roles created by society for women/girls and men/boys (in comparison, sex refers to an individual’s biology at birth)
Self-esteem – the way individuals think and feel about themselves
Protagonist – a leading character in a film, book, movie or other work
Stereotype – a generalization, usually exaggerated or oversimplified and often offensive, that
is used to describe or distinguish a group
Leader – a person with influence or power, especially of a political nature
Role Model – a person who serves as an example and whose behavior is followed by others
missrepresentation.org
10
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Elementary: 4th-5th Grade
Before Viewing
Large group discussion: Defining Media (10 min)
• How do we learn things/where do we learn them from? Explain that we learn things from
a lot of places, such as parents, teachers, friends, etc. We also learn things from media (i.e.
books, magazines, the Internet, TV, video games, etc.)
• What is the difference between media and advertising? Explain that media is something
that is used to communicate ideas. Explain that advertising is a way to sell ideas, products
or services. Point out that advertisements are found in media.
• Ask students to shout out different forms of media and advertising as you write them on
the board. Help them identify media and advertising they may have missed: the Internet,
cell phones, billboards, TV, video games, magazines, radio, etc.
• Ask students to draw a picture of themselves. Put these pictures aside. Students will reference them again after they have viewed the instructional clips.
During Viewing
Media Literacy, Women and Leadership Instructional Clips
Be aware of students’ reactions to the content. Often students will react with discomfort if
they are asked to think about gender. Giggles, gasps, or side comments can create a disempowering and uncomfortable environment. These types of responses, if they go unaddressed,
hinder honest and open dialogue about gender issues. Instructors may want to keep track of
specific film clips that elicit these types of responses. Immediately after the viewing, ask students to talk about why they responded to these specific clips in a negative way.
missrepresentation.org
11
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Elementary: 4th-5th Grade
After Viewing
Large Group Discussion: Media Messages (15 min)
• Display the advertisement of Barbie and G.I. Joe to the class.
• Remind students that advertisements are found in media.
• Ask students to list adjectives for each character. For example, adjectives describing Barbie
might be pretty, skinny, blonde, etc. Adjectives describing G.I. Joe might be strong, brave,
big, etc.
• Ask students what each character likes to do. For example, Barbie might shop and G.I. Joe
might fight. Ask students for other examples of characters they see in media and advertising that encourage similar stereotypes. This is a good opportunity to discuss what a sterotype is.
• Remind students that media teaches us things. Ask students what these images teach us
about being a woman. Encourage both boys and girls to answer.
• What do these images teach us about being a man? Encourage both boys and girls to answer.
• Ask what would happen if we believed what these images tell us about being a woman or
man? What happens if we believe that women only like to shop? Explain that girls who
believe these messages may not try other things, like flying airplanes. And vice versa, if
boys believe these messages they may not try new things like cooking. Point out how boys
and girls will be limited if they believe what they see in the media.
• Ask them to think about what these images teach us. For example, do all women look like
Barbie? Ask them if they think this is true.
• Ask students to take a look at the self-portrait they drew earlier. Share the portraits so the
class can see each picture. Ask each student to share one thing they like about their portrait. As the teacher, reference the diversity throughout the portraits and comment on how
much more interesting it is to have a variety of faces/characters. Wouldn’t it be boring if
we all looked like Barbie and G.I. Joe?
Large Group Discussion: Gender & Leadership (60 min)
• Who are some examples of leaders in their community? For example, encourage students
to think of teachers, principals, or a fire chief as leaders.
• Pass out images of political female leaders to each student in the class. Read each woman’s name and the short description aloud as you distribute these so that the students can
learn about each female leader.
• Give students the opportunity to research their assigned political woman leader in the
library or on the Internet. Ask them to write a paragraph about one of her accomplishments. Ask each student to read his or her paragraph to the class.
missrepresentation.org
12
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Elementary: 4th-5th Grade
After Viewing
Small Group Activity: Create an Advertisement (45 mins)
1. Organize students into groups of 2 to 3 depending on class size. Make sure there
are boys and girls in each group.
2. Have students work together to create their own advertisement for Barbie or G.I.
Joe that gives a different message about what it means to be pretty, handsome,
smart, successful, etc.
3. Encourage them to change what Barbie or G.I. Joe looks like and does. Emphasize
to students that THEY should use their own words and images to tell a different
story about gender.
4. Display the ads around the room for daily reminders about media messages and
how students can transcend them.
Homework (1 week)
1. Ask students to interview a woman they consider to be a leader and have them write a
short report on what makes that person a leader. OR
2. Ask students to identify a role model in their lives. Have each student write a report on
why he or she considers that person to be a role model.
Provide Feedback
Educators, please help MissRepresentation.org continue to improve upon this curriculum.
Please use the link below to share your feedback on how students responded to the film clips,
discussion topics, and activities. Please also provide your thoughts on how to improve the
curriculum and send us your suggestions for activities that you supplemented with the curriculum. Your insight is invaluable. Thank you.
Provide your feedback here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/missrepresentationcurriculum
missrepresentation.org
13
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Middle School
Grades: 6th-8th
Overview
The Middle School Curriculum introduces students to concepts of media literacy and gender
socialization, as well as the ways in which media shapes our culture. Students are encouraged
to explore how media is used to communicate ideas. Instructional clips from the documentary film Miss Representation explain how media shapes ideas around what it means to be a girl
or a boy. Suggested discussions and activities are provided to complement the film clips.
• Lesson 1: Media Literacy
• Lesson 2: Women and Leadership
• Lesson 3: Behind the Scenes
• Additional Service Learning Activities
missrepresentation.org
14
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Middle School Lesson 1: Media Literacy
Time minimum: 80-90 minutes (multiple class periods recommended)
Tips for Use
Social Studies, English, Health, and Media Literacy courses. Curriculum may also be used for
guidance counseling and eating disorder awareness groups.
Overview
The Media Literacy lesson introduces students to the ways mainstream media shape their beliefs and practices. Instructional clips from the documentary film Miss Representation explore
common portrayals of women and men in mainstream television, film, music, literature, radio,
and advertising. Students are asked to identify gender stereotypes repeated and enmeshed
in mainstream media and reflect on how these stereotypes influence their views of what it
means to be a girl or a boy.
Objectives
• Pay conscious attention to the way media presents women and men.
• Define stereotype and identify stereotypes frequently seen in mainstream media.
• Understand that when stereotypes are repeated over and over, individuals begin to
accept them as normal or real.
• Think about the ways stereotypes of femininity or masculinity limit girls and boys.
What you will Need
Miss Representation Curriculum DVD
Student journals
Popular magazines (approx. 2 for every 5 students)
Tag-board (approx. 1 for every 3 students)
Scissors
Glue
Markers
Instructional Clips
Media Literacy
Part 1: How does the media influence our culture?
Part 2: What do we see in mainstream media?
Part 3: How does what we see shape our beliefs about ourselves and others?
Part 4: How do we overcome the media’s negative messages?
missrepresentation.org
15
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Middle School Lesson 1: Media Literacy
Key Vocabulary
Media – instruments used to communicate information, including television, magazines, books,
movies, music, and the Internet
Advertising – a form of communication used to persuade an audience (viewers, readers, or listeners) to consume products, services, or ideas
Gender – the roles created by society for women/girls and men/boys (In comparison, sex refers
to an individual’s biology at birth)
Representation – the images, text, or symbols used to communicate reality
Protagonist – a leading character in a film, book, or other work
Social construction – a school of thought pertaining to the ways social phenomena are created,
institutionalized, and made into tradition by humans
Object – a thing, person, or matter to which thought or action is directed
Objectification – the process of symbolically turning a human into an object
Stereotype – a fixed conception about someone or something. Also, a generalization usually exaggerated or oversimplified and often offensive, that is used to describe or distinguish a group
Ideal – a standard that is considered perfection
Misogyny – a hatred or dislike of women
Depression – a mental health condition characterized by a continued state of low mood and
low energy
Self-injury – the act of purposely harming oneself through cutting, burning, or other physical
abuse
Eating Disorder – any of several psychological disorders characterized by serious disturbances
of eating behavior that are harmful to a person’s health (e.g., anorexia nervosa or bulimia)
Macho – a man who is aggressively proud of his masculinity
missrepresentation.org
16
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Middle School Lesson 1: Media Literacy
Before Viewing
Journaling Activity: Drawing Ideals (15 min)
1. Ask students to draw the “ideal” woman in their notebooks and write adjectives that describe her. This may or may not be what they or their families and friends think is ideal,
but rather what society or outside influences encourage for women. What does her body
shape, skin color, or hair look like? How would she act or speak and what does she care
about? Who does she resemble — for example, a Super Model, Barbie, etc.?
2. Ask students to repeat the exercise to draw the “ideal” man in their notebooks. What adjectives describe him? Who does he resemble — for example, a body builder, super hero,
etc.?
3. Ask students what the differences are between popular perceptions of men and women?
How do these perceptions compare to reality?
During Viewing
Middle School Curriculum: Instructional Clips 1-4 (12 min)
Be aware of students’ reactions to the content. Often students will react with discomfort if
they are asked to think about gender. Giggles, gasps, or side comments can create a disempowering and uncomfortable environment. These types of responses, if they go unaddressed,
may hinder honest and open dialogue about gender issues. Instructors may want to keep
track of specific film clips that elicit these types of responses. Immediately after the viewing,
ask students to talk about why they responded to these specific clips in a negative way.
missrepresentation.org
17
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Middle School Lesson 1: Media Literacy
After Viewing
Large Group Discussion: Defining Stereotypes (15 min)
•
•
•
•
What new things did you learn from the film clips? What spoke to you?
What is a stereotype?
Where did you see stereotypes in the clips that were shown?
Have you seen other media recently that had stereotypes?
Small Group Activity: Boxed In (30 min)
1. Organize students into small groups of three to five depending on the class size (if
you are teaching a co-ed class, make sure there are boys and girls in each group).
2. Give each group a piece of tag-board, a few magazines, scissors, glue, and markers.
3. Ask students to divide their tag-board into two sections or boxes: one for female
stereotypes and one for male stereotypes.
4. Ask students to cut out images of women and men from advertising and editorials
and paste them into the corresponding sections.
5. When they are complete, display the tag-boards around the room.
6. Ask each group to present on the stereotypes they found. Help them identify stereotypes that they may not have recognized.
Large Group Discussion: Breaking Free (15 min)
• How do you think seeing these images over and over again affects how you think about
yourself?
• How do you think they influence the way you think about others?
• How do your drawings of the “ideal” woman and man in your journals compare to the images you cut out?
• What contradictions do you see between the real women around you and what you see in
the media?
• How can you change the way these images affect you or people around you?
missrepresentation.org
18
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Middle School Lesson 2: Women and Leadership
Time minimum: 60-70 minutes (multiple class periods recommended)
Tips for Use
English, Social Studies, Media Literacy courses. Curriculum may also be used for guidance
counseling and girls leadership programs.
Overview
The Women and Leadership lesson helps students connect the dots between the media’s messages about women and the underrepresentation of real women in influential leadership positions. Instructional clips from the documentary film Miss Representation feature prominent
women sharing personal stories about the ways in which they are represented and treated differently than their male counterparts. Discussion questions and activities encourage students
to re-envision women in their communities as leaders.
Objectives
• Learn the facts about how women are underrepresented in the political and business
sectors.
• Identify ways in which women leaders are treated differently in media.
• Understand the ways negative treatment in the media can affect a woman’s ability to
see herself as a leader and to obtain leadership positions.
• Expand ideas of leadership to include all types of women.
What you will need
Miss Representation Education Curriculum DVD
Student journals
Instructional Clips
Women and Leadership
Part 1: How does media and advertising messaging affect women in leadership?
Part 2: Why is women’s leadership important in our world?
Part 3: What unique challenges do female leaders experience?
Part 4: How do we get more women into leadership?
missrepresentation.org
19
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Middle School Lesson 2: Women and Leadership
Key Vocabulary
Leader – an individual that influences, organizes, and helps others
Political efficacy – the idea that your voice matters in political affairs or that you can bring
about change in politics
Parity – equal numbers
Democracy – a form of government led by the people
Sexism – systematic unequal treatment based on gender that negatively affects women
Title IX – a Federal law stating that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex,
be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination
under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” The passage of
Title IX provided significant opportunities for women’s sports programs in schools and universities
Paid Family Leave – financial compensation to cover individuals who take time off of work to
care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, a registered domestic partner, or a new child
Living Wage – term used to describe the minimum hourly wage necessary for an individual to
meet basic needs, including shelter (housing) and other incidentals such as clothing and nutrition, for an extended period of time
Microenterprise – a type of small business
Domestic Abuse – a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, friends, or cohabitation
missrepresentation.org
20
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Middle School Lesson 2: Women and Leadership
Before Viewing
Journaling Activity: Leaders in the Making (10 min)
1. Ask students to journal about their definition of leadership. What is leadership? What
adjectives would you use to describe a great leader? Who are great leaders you know? What
does it take to become a leader?
2. Ask students to share their ideas. Have them shout out the names of leaders they wrote
down. How many of the leaders that came to mind are women? How do the students adjectives for men and women in the first lesson compare to the adjectives for leaders in this
lesson?
During Viewing
Women and Leadership Instructional Clips 1-4: (10 min)
Be aware of students’ reactions to the content. Often students will react with discomfort if they
are asked to think about gender. Giggles, gasps, or side comments can create a disempowering and uncomfortable environment. These types of responses, if they go unaddressed, could
hinder honest and open dialogue about gender issues. Instructors may want to keep track of
specific film clips that elicit these types of responses. Immediately after the viewing, ask students to talk about why they responded to these specific clips in a negative way.
missrepresentation.org
21
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Middle School Lesson 2: Women and Leadership
After Viewing
Large Group Discussion: Discerning Disparity (20 min)
• Draw a pie chart on the board to review the statistics. What percentage of the U.S. population are women? (51%?) What percent of Congress are women? (17%) How many women
have served as governor? (34) How many men have served as governor (2319). How many
women presidents have we had? (0)
• Do these statistics concern you? Why or why not?
• Why do you think the numbers of women in leadership are so low?
• How are women leaders treated differently than male leaders?
• What is sexism? Help students understand that sexism has historically given men/boys
an advantage and woman/girls a disadvantage. Point out that statistically the problem still
persists. For example, if a woman makes a negative gender comment towards a man, it will
not have the same harmful effects as a negative comment towards a woman. Why? Because
the man already has a historical advantage of having greater access to powerful positions in
society. In a sense, he has greater immunity to unequal gender treatment.
Small Group Activity: Spotting Sexism (15 min)
1. Organize students into small groups of 3 to 5 depending on your class size. If you
are teaching in a co-ed school, make sure there are boys and girls in each group.
2. Ask students to make a list of examples of small and large acts of sexism. What
words, actions, gestures, etc. are used? Encourage them to think of explicit and
subtle examples of sexism.
3. Ask students to share examples with the class. Brainstorm as a group about how
individuals could change these acts to decrease or stop sexism. Encourage answers
that involve the students standing up for each other. Ensure you have a boy standing up for a female classmate, vice versa, and then each standing up for their own
sex.
Homework: Be the Journalist (1 week)
• Ask students to brainstorm women leaders in their family or community. Encourage them
to think outside of the common definition of leadership—such as a mother, grandmother,
librarian, doctor, police officer, teacher, Girl Scout leader, etc.
• Have students choose one woman to interview.
• Ask students to ask their interviewee at least five questions about leadership.
• Ask students to write a one-page news article about their female leader based on the interview.
missrepresentation.org
22
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Middle School Lesson 3: Behind the Scenes
Time minimum: 70 minutes (2 class periods)
Tips for Use
Social Studies, English, and Media Literacy courses. The curriculum may also be used for
guidance counseling and girl leadership programs.
Overview
The Behind the Scenes lesson introduces students to the idea of diversity. Instructional clips
from the documentary film Miss Representation offer a glimpse into the lack of diversity behind
the scenes of mainstream media. Discussion questions ask students to think about how media
might look different if the writers and directors came from a wider variety of backgrounds and
experiences. Activities ask students to be creative and use their own diverse experiences to create a piece of entertaining media.
Objectives
• Define diversity.
• Recognize that there is a lack of diversity behind the scenes of mainstream media
and advertising.
• Understand how multiple perspectives can change a story.
• Practice making entertaining media with a strong social message.
What you will need
Miss Representation Education Curriculum DVD
Student journals
Instructional Clips
Behind the Scenes
Part 1: Could more diversity behind the scenes of media change what we see?
Part 2: How can we change the culture?
missrepresentation.org
23
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Middle School Lesson 3: Behind the Scenes
Key Vocabulary
Diversity – a variety of experiences influenced by culture, history, religion, race, gender, sexuality, nationality, language, financial background, ability, etc.
Perspective – a way to view a story or situation
Status Quo – the existing state of affairs (not changing)
Multi-dimensional – something that has many sides or views
missrepresentation.org
24
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Middle School Lesson 3: Behind the Scenes
Before Viewing
Journaling Activity: Multiplying Perspectives (15 min)
1. Ask students to write a creative story from two perspectives. For example, The Tale of the
Fly and the Fly Swatter (substitute other examples, or have students think of their own).
First ask them to write in first person from the position of the fly swatter. What is the fly
swatter thinking, doing, feeling, etc.?
2. Next have students write the same story but from the perspective of the fly. They should
write in first person from the position of the fly. What is the fly thinking, doing, feeling, etc.?
3. Ask students to reflect on how their stories changed when the perspective changed.
During Viewing
Behind the Scenes Instructional Clips 1 & 2: (7 min)
Be aware of students’ reactions to the content. Often students will react with discomfort if they
are asked to think about gender. Giggles, gasps, or side comments can create a disempowering
and uncomfortable environment. These types of responses, if they go unaddressed, could hinder honest and open dialogue about gender issues. Instructors may want to keep track of specific film clips that elicit these types of responses. Immediately after the viewing, ask students
to talk about why they responded to these specific clips in a negative way.
missrepresentation.org
25
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Middle School Lesson 3: Behind the Scenes
After Viewing
Group Discussion: Defining Diversity (15 min)
•
•
•
•
•
What new things did you learn from the film clips? What spoke to you?
What is diversity? Discuss diversity as seen in the film or the lack thereof.
How does diversity relate to the stories you wrote in your journals?
Why is it important to hear stories from multiple perspectives?
If we had more perspectives in the media, how would it change the news, films, television
shows, magazines, and other media we see?
• Is it important to have diverse perspectives in decision making? Why or why not?
Small Group Activity: Imagining Change (35 min)
1. Organize students into small groups of 3 to 5 depending on the class size (if you are
teaching a co-ed class, make sure there are boys and girls in each group).
2. Ask students to make a creative piece of entertainment about what they have
learned. For example, a music video, a magazine cover, comic strip, a short skit, a
science fiction story, a commercial, etc.
3. Somewhere in their creative piece they should represent the idea of diversity with
either a woman or a man in a non-traditional role.
4. If resources are available, ask students to record their work, make a short film, and
upload it online for others to view. [Recommended: 2 weeks]
missrepresentation.org
26
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Additional Service Learning Activities
10 x 10 x 10
10 seconds: Text and tweet about the film. Dedicate your Facebook status update to the film.
10 minutes: Make a short video to creatively share your perspective on how women and girls
should be represented in media and advertising. Post it online and share it with your friends
and family.
10 hours: Organize a consumer boycott of a magazine, movie, radio or television show that objectifies and degrades women.
10 days: Research and write an article for a magazine or blog. Start or contribute to a blog that
addresses the issues in the film.
10 weeks: Write your own story and create your own media about powerful women in nontraditional roles.
10 months: Participate in a mentorship program and share what you’ve learned about media
literacy with others in the program.
Report your progress on any action you take.
• On Twitter use “#Missrep” in your tweets and direct them to @representpledge.
• On Facebook post your progress to the Miss Representation wall (facebook.com/MissRepresentationCampaign)
missrepresentation.org
27
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Next Steps
Host a Parent Screening
Spark additional conversations and action by hosting a Miss Representation screening at your
school for family members and friends. Contact Miss Representation (www.missrepresentation.
org) to start organizing a screening today.
Provide Feedback
Educators, please help MissRepresentation.org continue to improve upon this curriculum.
Please use the link below to share your feedback on how students responded to the film clips,
discussion topics, and activities. Please also provide us your thoughts on how to improve the
curriculum and send us your suggestions for activities that you supplemented with the curriculum. Your insight is invaluable. Thank you.
Provide your feedback here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/missrepresentationcurriculum
missrepresentation.org
28
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
High School Curriculum
Grades: 9-12
Overview
The High School Curriculum introduces students to the ways media shapes our culture. Students are encouraged to explore ways in which media is used to communicate ideas. Instructional clips from the documentary film Miss Representation explain how media shapes ideas around
what it means to be a woman or a man. Suggested discussions and activities are provided to
complement the film clips.
• Lesson 1: Media Literacy
• Lesson 2: Women and Leadership
• Lesson 3: Behind the Scenes
missrepresentation.org
29
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
High School Lesson 1: Media Literacy
Time minimum: 65-70 minutes (multiple class periods recommended)
Tips for Use
Social Studies, Sociology, English, Journalism, Health, and Media Literacy courses. Curriculum
may also be used for guidance counseling and eating disorder groups.
Overview
The Media Literacy lesson includes instructional clips from the documentary film Miss Representation. They explore common portrayals of women and men in mainstream television, film,
music, radio, and advertising. Film discussions help students understand important concepts
such as representation, stereotypes, social construction, and objectification as they relate to
gender. Suggested activities encourage students to take these concepts home with them and
think about how media messages affect their own beliefs about what it means to be a woman or
man. Students are encouraged to adopt a more critical lens when watching mainstream media.
They are tasked with seeking out alternative messages that more accurately reflect girls and
women and encourage them to live up to their full potential.
Objectives
•
•
•
•
•
Learn how media shapes individual beliefs and cultural norms.
Pay conscious attention to media consumption.
Define concepts such as representation, social construction, and objectification.
Recognize gender stereotypes and think about their effects.
Identify positive and empowering representations of women in the media.
What you will Need
Miss Representation Curriculum DVD
Social Construction Handout (Appendix xviii)
Media Log Handout (Appendix xix)
Instructional Clips
Media Literacy
Part 1: How does the media influence our culture?
Part 2: What do we see in mainstream media?
Part 3: How does what we see shape our beliefs about ourselves and others?
Part 4: How do we overcome the media’s negative messaging?
missrepresentation.org
30
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
High School Lesson 1: Media Literacy
Key Vocabulary
Gender – the roles created by society for women/girls and men/boys (in comparison, sex refers
to an individual’s biology at birth)
Representation – the images, text, or symbols used to communicate reality
Protagonist – a leading character in a film, book, or other work
Social construction – a school of thought pertaining to the ways social phenomena are created,
institutionalized, and made into tradition by humans
Object – a thing, person, or matter to which thought or action is directed
Objectification – the process of symbolically turning a human into an object
Stereotype – a fixed conception about someone or something. Also, a generalization usually exaggerated or oversimplified and often offensive, that is used to describe or distinguish a group
Ideal – a standard that is considered perfection
Misogyny – the hatred or dislike of women
Depression – a mental health condition characterized by a continued state of low mood and
low energy
Self-injury – the act of purposely harming oneself through cutting, burning, or other self-inflicted physical abuse
Eating Disorder – any of several psychological disorders characterized by serious disturbances
of eating behavior that are harmful to a person’s health (e.g. anorexia nervosa or bulimia)
Macho – a man who is aggressively proud of his masculinity
missrepresentation.org
31
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
High School Lesson 1: Media Literacy
Before Viewing
Large Group Discussion: Representation Nation (15 min)
1. Review the definition of a representation with your class. Draw or write examples of representations such as symbols, adjectives, similes, metaphors, or images.
2. Discuss how representation can be distorted. Ask your students to think of examples of
when representation is not accurate. For example the use of a mirror can distort your shape
or a camera can change the way you look with a wide-angle lens or a filter effect.
During Viewing
Media Literacy Instructional Clips 1-4: (12 min)
Be aware of students’ reactions to the content. Often students will react with discomfort if they
are asked to think about gender. Giggles, gasps, or side comments can create a disempowering and uncomfortable environment. These types of responses, if they go unaddressed, hinder
honest and open dialogue about gender issues. Instructors may want to keep track of specific
film clips that elicit these types of responses. Immediately after the viewing, ask students to talk
about why they responded to these specific clips in a negative way.
missrepresentation.org
32
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
High School Lesson 1: Media Literacy
After Viewing
Large Group Discussion: Reality Reflected (15 min)
• What new things did you learn from what you watched? What stood out to you?
• What contradictions do you see between the real girls/women around you and the way they
are represented in the media?
• What about the contradictions between real boys/men and the way they are represented in
the media?
• What effects do you think media representation has on real people? Especially young girls
and boys?
• What is objectification? To help students think about the definition, analyze the “male gaze”
(i.e., Men look at women. Women look at themselves being looked at by men).
Small Group Activity: Social Constructions (15 min)
1. As a large group, ask students to define what they think social construction means.
2. Organize students into small groups and hand each group the attached Social
Construction handout (if you are teaching in a co-ed school, make sure there are
boys and girls in each group).
3. Ask each group to identify which statements are social constructions and which
ones are natural.
Journaling Activity: Stereotypes and You (10 min)
1. Ask your students to journal about stereotypes of girls/women and boys/men.
Have them list as many stereotypes as possible – including stereotypes related to
different ages, races, sexualities, religions, abilities, nationalities, etc.
2. Ask students to look over their stereotypes again and think about which gender
stereotypes they fit into comfortably and find empowering and which ones they
can’t stand and feel limited by.
Homework: Media Log (1 week)
1. Hand each student the attached Media Log handout and ask them to log their media consumption for one week.
2. Have students bring in one or more examples of positive representation of girls/women that
they found to share with the class. Have them bring in one or more examples of images of
boys/men that contradicts macho stereotypes.
missrepresentation.org
33
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
High School Lesson 2: Women and Leadership
Time minimum: 65-70 minutes (multiple class periods recommended)
Tips for Use
Social Studies, U.S. History, Government, English, Journalism, Media Literacy courses. Curriculum may also be used with guidance counseling and girls leadership programs.
Overview
The Women and Leadership lesson helps students understand how women’s objectification in
mainstream media contributes to the under-representation of women in influential leadership
positions. Instructional clips from the documentary film Miss Representation feature prominent
U.S. women leaders sharing personal stories about the ways they are represented and treated
differently than male leaders. Through discussion, students are encouraged to think about the
implications of unequal representation in a democracy. Activities will help students identify
media bias and think about the ways in which mainstream media undermines women’s leadership potential. Students are given the task to present on important events in women’s history.
Objectives
• Make the connection between media objectification and the low numbers of women
in influential leadership positions.
• Recognize media bias and understand how it undermines women’s leadership.
• Define democracy and think about how disparities in women’s leadership undermine
U.S. democracy.
• Learn about important events from the women’s movement and practice teaching
others about women’s history.
What you will need
Miss Representation Curriculum DVD
Magazines and newspapers (1 per student)
Women’s history timeline (Appendix xx)
Instructional Clips
Women and Leadership
Part 1: How does media and advertising messaging affect women in leadership?
Part 2: Why is women’s leadership important in our world?
Part 3: What unique challenges do female leaders experience?
Part 4: How do we get more women into leadership?
missrepresentation.org
34
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
High School Lesson 2: Women and Leadership
Key Vocabulary
Political efficacy – the idea that your voice matters in political affairs or that you can bring
about change in politics
Parity – equal numbers
Democracy – a form of government led by the people
Sexism – systematic unequal treatment based on gender that negatively affects women
Title IX – a Federal law stating that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex,
be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination
under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” The passage of
Title IX provided significant opportunities for women’s sports programs in schools and universities
Paid Family Leave – financial compensation to cover individuals who take time off of work to
care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, registered domestic partner, or a new child
Living Wage – term used to describe the minimum hourly wage necessary for an individual to
meet basic needs, including shelter (housing) and other incidentals such as clothing and nutrition, for an extended period of time or a lifetime
Microenterprise – a type of small business
missrepresentation.org
35
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
High School Lesson 2: Women and Leadership
Before Viewing
Large Group Discussion: Claim to Fame (5 min)
1. For one minute, ask students to rapidly name off famous people that come to mind.
2. When complete, analyze the list with your class to determine:
•
•
•
•
•
How many men came to mind?
How many women came to mind?
What are they famous for?
How many of the women are celebrities?
How many of the men are well-known leaders?
During Viewing
Women and Leadership Instructional Clips 1-4: (10 min)
Be aware of students’ reactions to the content. Often students will react with discomfort if they
are asked to think about gender. Giggles, gasps, or side comments can create a disempowering and uncomfortable environment. These types of responses, if they go unaddressed, hinder
honest and open dialogue about gender issues. Instructors may want to keep track of specific
film clips that elicit these types of responses. Immediately after the viewing, ask students to talk
about why they responded to these specific clips in a negative way.
missrepresentation.org
36
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
High School Lesson 2: Women and Leadership
After Viewing
Large Group Discussion: Defining Democracy (10 min)
• Draw a pie chart on the board to review these statistics:
1. What percentage of the U.S. population are women? (51%)
2. What percent of Congress are women? (17%)
3. How many women have served as governor? (34)
4. How many men have served as governor? (2319)
5. How many women presidents have we had? (0)
• Why are these statistics concerning?
• What is the danger of not having equal representation of men and women in politics?
• What is a democracy?
• Analyze an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Small Group Activity: Spotting Media Bias (30 min)
1. Bring in political newspapers and magazines and ask students to identify media bias.
(It can be in the text, images, or lack of representation.)
2. Have students report on one example they find.
3. Ask them to explain how each example of bias undermines the woman in the article?
4. How do these representations affect the reader?
5. How would they change the representation?
Homework: (Re)Presenting Women’s History (1 week)
1. Pass out the women’s history timeline attached to this curriculum to each student.
2. Have each student select one timeline event to present to the class.
3. Ask each student to prepare a 3-minute presentation for the class on their women’s history
event.
missrepresentation.org
37
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
High School Lesson 3: Behind the Scenes
Time minimum: 60 minutes (Multiple class periods recommended)
Tips for Use
Social Studies, Business, Government, English, Journalism, and Media Literacy courses. The
curriculum may also be used in guidance counseling and girls leadership programs.
Overview
The Behind the Scenes lesson introduces students to the political economy of mainstream media. Instructional clips from the documentary film Miss Representation give students a glimpse
into the political and business decisions that determine what we see. Students are encouraged to reflect on the implications of a profit-driven media and deregulation by policy makers.
Activities help students contemplate how to hold the media market accountable for harmful
representations of women and imagine how media might look differently with more diversity
and social responsibility behind the scenes.
Objectives
• Define diversity and think about the ways in which more diversity behind the scenes
might change how women and girls are represented in media and advertising.
• Understand that what we see in the media is influenced by political and economic
decisions.
• Comprehend that changes in the media and advertising industry have given companies more power in determining what we see and hear.
• Reflect on the dangerous effects of solely profit-driven media and advertising industries, the impact they have on our culture, and the news/information we are given access to.
• Identify ways individuals can influence positive change in the media, news, and advertising industries.
What you will need
Miss Representation Curriculum DVD
Magazines and/or Internet access
Envelopes & postage (approx. 1 per every 3 students)
Instructional Clips
Behind the Scenes
Part 1: Could more diversity behind the scenes of media change what we see?
Part 2: How do political and economic decisions affect media?
missrepresentation.org
38
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
High School Lesson 3: Behind the Scenes
Key Vocabulary
Diversity – a variety of experiences influenced by culture, history, religion, race, gender, sexuality, nationality, language, financial background, ability, etc
Perspective – a way to view a story or situation
Status Quo – the existing condition or state of affairs (not changing)
Multi-dimensional – something that has many sides
Symbolic annihilation – the absence of representation, or underrepresentation, of some group
of people in the media (often based on their race, sex, status, etc.) Symbolic annihilation is
used to highlight the erasure of peoples in popular communication (i.e., condemnation or trivialization), as quoted from an extract from the book Symbolic Annihilation
Political Economy – the relation between business practices and government policies
Regulation – government policy that sets rules or limits on businesses
Conglomerate – a corporation that owns multiple other corporations
Bottom-line – profit or money made
Censorship – acts that silence or limit freedom of speech
Public Interest – policies and practices that take into account the concerns of citizens
Telecommunication Act – a 1996 policy that deregulated or decreased the rules for telecommunications/media companies acquiring other telecommunications/media companies
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – the government body appointed to regulate
and monitor mass media
First Amendment – a constitutional protection of an individual’s freedom of speech
missrepresentation.org
39
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
High School Lesson 3: Behind the Scenes
Before Viewing
Journaling Activity: Understanding Desire (10 min)
1. Have students quickly journal about what products they desire or would like to buy.
2. Next ask students to try to remember where they first learned about these products.
What prompted them to want that particular product? What is it about that product that
they especially desire?
3. Finally, ask students to journal about how they think advertising influences their desires.
What do they feel or think when they see an advertisement?
During Viewing
Behind the Scenes Instructional Clips 1-2: (15-30 min)
Be aware of students’ reactions to the content. Often students will react with discomfort if they
are asked to think about gender. Giggles, gasps, or side comments can create a disempowering and uncomfortable environment. These types of responses, if they go unaddressed, hinder
honest and open dialogue about gender issues. Instructors may want to keep track of specific
film clips that elicit these types of responses. Immediately after the viewing, ask students to talk
about why they responded to these specific clips in a negative way.
missrepresentation.org
40
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
High School Lesson 3: Behind the Scenes
After Viewing
Group Discussion: The Race to the Bottom Line (15-20 min)
• What is diversity?
• How different would media and advertising look if there were more diversity behind the
scenes?
• Who benefits/profits from the way women are represented in the media? Who loses?
• Does it concern you that only a few companies own almost all of mainstream media? Why
or why not?
• Why do you think media corporations use stereotypes to sell their products?
• Do you think the government should create more rules for media companies? Why or why
not?
• How can you change the way media does business?
Small Group Activity: Re-create an Advertisement (3 days)
1. Organize students into groups of 3 to 5 depending on class size (if you are teaching in a
co-ed class, make sure there are boys and girls in each group).
2. Pass out magazines and ask students to search for an advertisement that objectifies
women or promotes harmful stereotypes that they would like to change. Students may
also find a commercial online or on television.
3. Have students work together to create a new advertisement that cleverly sells the product without using harmful stereotypes or disparaging representations of women.
4. Ask students to write a letter to the company responsible for the advertisement. Have
them explain why they think the representation is irresponsible. Encourage them to
include a copy of their new advertisement with an explanation of why they think theirs
is a better representation.
Homework: Op-Ed (2 days)
1. Ask students to write an opinion editorial that spotlights their dissatisfaction with the way
in which women and/or men are represented in one of the following: movie, television
show, music video, video game, or advertisement. Ask students to include specific suggestions concerning how to more accurately represent women or men to the creators of the
chosen media or advertisement.
2. Have students vote on the top two editorials to submit to the school newspaper for publication. Work with your school newspaper to publish both submissions.
3. Ask students to submit their editorials to their local community newspaper for extra credit.
4. As the teacher, create a blog featuring your students’ work to share with others.
missrepresentation.org
41
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Additional Service Learning Activities
10 x 10 x 10
10 seconds: Text and tweet about the film. Dedicate your Facebook status update to the film.
10 minutes: Make a short video to creatively share your perspective on how women and girls
should be represented in media and advertising. Post it online and share it with your friends
and family.
10 hours: Organize a consumer boycott of a magazine, movie, radio or television show that objectifies and degrades women.
10 days: Research and write an article for a magazine or blog. Start or contribute to a blog
that addresses the issues in the film.
10 weeks: Write your own story and create your own media about powerful women in nontraditional roles.
10 months: Participate in a mentorship program and share what you’ve learned about media
literacy with others in the program.
Report your progress on any action you take.
• On Twitter use “#Missrep” in your tweets and direct them to @representpledge.
• On Facebook post your progress to the Miss Representation wall (facebook.com/MissRepresentationCampaign)
missrepresentation.org
42
MISS
REPRESENTATION
EDUCATION CURRICULUM
Next Steps
Host a Parent Screening
Spark additional conversations and action by hosting a Miss Representation screening at your
school for family members and friends. Contact Miss Representation (www.missrepresentation.
org) to start organizing a screening today.
Provide Feedback
Educators, please help Miss Representation continue to improve upon this curriculum. Please
use the link below to share your feedback on how students responded to the film clips, discussion topics, and activities. Please also provide your thoughts on how to improve the curriculum
and send us your suggestions for activities that you supplemented with the curriculum. Your
insight is invaluable. Thank you.
Provide your feedback here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/missrepresentationcurriculum
missrepresentation.org
43
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
University Study Guide
Overview
Like drawing back a curtain to let bright light stream in, Miss Representation uncovers a glaring
reality we live with every day but fail to see. Directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the film explores how mainstream media contributes to the under-representation of women in influential
positions in America and challenges the media’s limiting and often disparaging portrayals of
women, which make it difficult for the average girl to see herself as powerful.
In a society where media is the most persuasive force shaping cultural norms, the collective
message that our young women and men overwhelmingly receive is that a woman’s value and
power lie in her youth, beauty, and sexuality and not in her capacity as a leader. While women
have made strides in leadership over the past few decades, the United States still ranks 90th in
the world for women in national legislatures; depression rates have doubled among teenage girls;
and cosmetic surgery on minors has more than tripled in the last ten years.
Stories from teenagers and provocative interviews with politicians, journalists, entertainers,
activists and academics, like Condoleezza Rice, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow,
Margaret Cho, Rosario Dawson and Gloria Steinem build momentum as Miss Representation accumulates startling facts and statistics that will leave the audience shaken and armed with a new
perspective.
Key Points:
• The way in which individuals are represented in the media shapes our cultural norms and
attitudes.
• Mainstream media reinforces gender stereotypes and normalizes sexism.
• Objectifying women in the media reinforces a culture of violence against women.
• Current gender norms limit women and girls socially, economically, and politically and harm
their self-esteem.
• There is an under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America.
missrepresentation.org
44
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
University Study Guide
Objectives
When used in conjunction with a facilitated discussion, the documentary film Miss Representation
helps students:
• Recognize the complex ways mainstream media and advertising influence gender norms in
U.S. culture, particularly as it relates to women’s leadership.
• Identify increasingly subtle forms of sexism and bias in the media and recognize the ways in
which these biases spill into our everyday experiences.
• Understand that more diversity behind the scenes can change the types of images and stories
shared through media outlets.
• Connect personal experiences to the political and economic influences of media and advertising.
• Realize and harness consumer power to champion good media and challenge bad media and
advocate for the eradication of gender stereotypes in all aspects of our society.
Tips for Use
For Educators
• Incorporate the film and study guide into your political science, sociology, mass communication, or women’s studies course.
• Watch the film and lead a discussion over one to two course periods.
• Encourage students to talk about their personal experiences while using “I” statements.
Highlight and respect student’s different perspectives.
• Assign a service-learning project and ask students to report on the results (we’ve included a
list of suggestions on page 52).
For Students
• Host a screening of Miss Representation at campus women’s centers, sororities and fraternities,
advocacy groups, and academic conferences.
• Use the curriculum to lead a discussion on how the issues in the film affect women and men
as well as girls and boys. Discuss the impact the issues raised in the film may have on campus
life.
• Ask students to participate in the service-learning activities included in this curriculum and
brainstorm other ways you can take action on campus or in your community.
missrepresentation.org
45
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
University Talking Points
Media Consumption
• Today children and young adults watch more than 10 hours of media a day (Rideout et. al.,
2010).
• In a climate of a 24-hour media cycle and the proliferation of infotainment and reality television, media has become the predominant communicator of cultural values and gender norms,
telling us who we can and cannot be.
• In the past stories were passed down to us by family, friends, and religious and community
leaders, and now stories are passed down to us by Youtube, reality television, “chick flicks”,
gossip magazines, talk shows, sitcoms, and Superbowl commercials.
• Through the media, young people are being sold the concept that women and girls’ value lies
in their youth, beauty, and sexuality and not in their capacity as leaders.
• An individual’s brain does not fully develop until the age of 24, which means our children
and young adults are our most vulnerable class of citizens to the proliferation of the media’s
messages.
Media and Sexualization
• Approximately 20% of news articles are about women, and many of these stories are of violence and victimhood.
• Media provides a disproportionate number of images of women as young, white, heterosexual,
and underweight.
• Reality television portrays women as catty, manipulative, vindictive, and on display for male
judgment and objectification.
• Through media and advertising, boys get the message that they should be violent, in control,
unemotional, and that women should be treated like objects and second-class citizens.
• The U.S. has the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the industrialized world—twice as high
as the UK, four times as high as Germany, and eight times as high as Japan (“Teen Pregnancy
Rates in the USA”, 2011).
Self Esteem and Abuse
• Rates of depression are the same among boys and girls until puberty, but twice as many
women are diagnosed with depression post-puberty (“Depression”, 2010).
• Sixty-five percent of American women and girls have an eating disorder (“Fact Sheet: Women
and Eating Disorders”, 2011).
• Studies estimate that 13% to 25% of youth have some history of self-injury, such as cutting,
and most studies show that cutting is more common with girls (Whitlock, 2009).
• The number of cosmetic surgery procedures performed on youth 18 or younger has more
than tripled from 1997-2007 (Sweeney, 2009).
missrepresentation.org
46
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
University Talking Points
Violence
In the United States:
• Twenty-five percent of women are abused by a partner during their lifetime (“Domestic Violence Statistics”, 2011).
• One in six women are survivors of rape or attempted rape (“Domestic Violence Statistics”,
2011).
• Fifteen percent of rape survivors are under the age of 12 (“Rape and Sexual Assault Statistics”, 2011).
Women’s Leadership
In the United States:
• In the 2010-midterm elections, women lost seats in Congress for the first time in 30 years
(O’Keefe, 2010).
• Women make up 51% of the population and only 17% of Congress (“Women in National Parliament”, 2011).
• The U.S. ranks 90th in the world for women in national legislatures (“Women in National
Parliament”, 2011).
• Women are merely 3% of Fortune 500 CEOs (“Women CEOs”, 2010).
• Women hold only 3% of clout positions in the mainstream media (telecommunications, entertainment, publishing, and advertising) (“Research & Stats”, 2009).
• Women comprise 7% of directors and 13% of film writers in the top 250 grossing films
(Lauzen, 2003).
missrepresentation.org
47
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
University Discussion Questions
Depending upon your audience, please use the following questions/ideas to get the conversation started.
Feel free to host conversations in large groups or split students into smaller groups.
For Everyone
What most surprised you about the film?
What did you learn from the film?
How much media do you (and your family and friends) consume in a day and what is this media
telling you about what it means to be a girl (woman) or a boy (man)?
Miss Representation director, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and many of the interviewees, such as Margaret Cho, Jane Fonda, Jennifer Lawless, and Devanshi Patel, talk candidly about their experiences with sexism. What connections or empathy did you feel with the experiences presented in
the film? What are your unique experiences?
Dr. Martha Lauzen disagrees with a journalist who published an article claiming the ‘glass ceiling’ no longer exists for women in entertainment. Others argue that the successes of Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin indicates that sexism is a thing of our past, not our present.
What do you think?
The opening title sequence shows real iconic women throughout history, such as Hattie Caraway
and Dr. Condoleezza Rice, and the popular celebrity faces we see on-screen. What contradictions
do you see between the real women around you and what you see in the media?
Dr. M. Gigi Durham and Lindy DeKoven state that harmful representations of women persist
because the media uses hyper-sexualized images to sell products/ideas/services. Who or what
benefits from the misrepresentations of women in the media? Who holds responsibility?
How does a lack of diversity in decision-making roles impact what we see in mainstream media
and advertising? What impact does this have on us as consumers?
What power do we have as a consumer? How can we change the way media portrays women and
girls and the ways in which women and girls view themselves?
What strategies are working to promote more women to leadership positions and make sure they
are respected when they arrive?
missrepresentation.org
48
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
University Discussion Questions
For Women and Girls
What does power “look” like in the television shows, advertisements, movies, and music videos
you watch? How do you think these images have affected the way you view yourself?
Dr. Jean Kilbourne claims that computer-enhanced advertisements encourage women to hold
themselves to impossible standards. Jennifer Pozner adds that women are expected to “look like
Miss USA, have sex like Samantha on Sex and the City, and think like June Cleaver.” How do you
hold yourself to impossible standards promoted by media? How do you hold other women to
these standards?
In what ways have you been and are you a leader? When in a leadership position, have you been
treated the same or different as the male leaders around you?
Journalists Katie Couric and Jan Yanehiro talk in the film about their role models. Rachel Maddow says there is an expectation for her to be a mentor to other women who enter her field.
Have you identified role models? If so, who are they? Is it important to have women role models
and mentors? How can you mentor another woman or girl?
Barbara Berg says that throughout history, the word ‘feminist’ has been given a bad name in order to discredit the women’s movement. What is your relationship to feminism? Is there value in
identifying with the feminist movement?
How does the objectification of women described as “raunch culture” shape your attitudes toward yourself, men, and other women? How does this influence the way women leaders are
portrayed in the media and how does this impact their success or willingness to pursue positions
of leadership?
missrepresentation.org
49
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
University Discussion Questions
For Men and Boys
Calvin talked about the pressure he feels to conform to the images of masculinity promoted in
the media and by his peers. How is masculinity represented in the media you watch, read, and
listen to? How do these images affect the way you view yourself and other men?
Cory Booker describes men as “emotionally constipated” and Jane Fonda says its important for
young boys not to separate their heart from their head. Do you feel it is important for men to
show emotion? What is at stake if they do? How can we encourage a world where it is okay for
men and boys to fully express their emotions?
Dr. Jackson Katz says that sexism is learned behavior and Paul Haggis talks about ways men may
subconsciously encourage sexism in the entertainment industry. Do you believe that sexism is a
learned behavior? Do you find yourself repeating sexist behaviors you’ve learned from the media? How do you refuse the teachings of sexism? How can you empower yourself and your male
peers to refuse it even more?
How can you support women and girls in becoming leaders and rising to positions of power and
influence?
missrepresentation.org
50
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
University Suggested Reading
Berg, Dr. Barbara J. Sexism in America: Alive, Well, and Ruining Our Future. Chicago: Lawrence Hill
Books, 2009. Print.
Durham, M. Gigi. The Lolita Effect: The Media Sexualization of Young Girls and What We Can Do
About It. New York: The Overlook Press, 2008. Print.
Katz, Dr. Jackson. The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women And How All Men Can Help.
Naperville: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2006. Print.
Kilbourne, Dr. Jean. Can’t Buy My Love: How Advertising Changes The Way We Think And Feel. New
York: Simon & Schuster, 1999. 17-32. Print.
Kornblut, Anne E. Notes from the Cracked Ceiling: Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, and What It Will
Take for A Woman to Win. New York: Crown Publishers, 2009. Print.
Lauzen, Dr. Martha. The Celluloid Ceiling: Behind-the-Scenes and On-Screen Employment of Women
in the Top 250 Films of 2002. Films 42, 2003. 26 Jul 2011. <http://www.films42.com/chats/chats_
lauzen.asp>.
Levy, Ariel. Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture. New York: Free Press,
2005. 7-45. Print.
Pozner, Jennifer L. Reality Bites Back: The Troubling Truth About Guilty Pleasure TV.Berkeley: Avalon
Publishing Group, 2010. Print.
Steyer, James P. The Other Parent: The Inside Effect of the Media’s Effect on Our Children. New York:
Atria Books, 2002. Print.
Wilson, Marie C. Closing the Leadership Gap: Add Women, Change Everything. New York: Penguin
Group, 2004. Print.
Women in America: Indicators of Social and Economic Well-Being. White House.gov,March 2011. 26
Jul 2011. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/Women_in_A_erica.pdf>.
missrepresentation.org
51
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
University Service Learning Activities
10 x 10 x 10
10 seconds: Text and tweet about the film. Dedicate your Facebook status update to the film.
10 minutes: Make an impromptu and short video to creatively share your perspective on how
women and girls should be represented in advertising and the media. Post it online and share it
with your friends.
10 hours: Organize a boycott of a magazine, movie, or television show that objectifies and degrades women.
10 days: Research and write an article for your university’s newspaper or magazine. Start or contribute to a blog that addresses the issues in the film.
10 weeks: Participate in a female candidate’s political campaign.
10 months: Participate in a mentorship program and share what you’ve learned about media
literacy with others in the program.
Report your progress on any action you take.
• On Twitter use “#Missrep” in your tweets and direct them to @representpledge.
• On Facebook post your progress to the Miss Representation wall (facebook.com/MissRepresentationCampaign)
Host a Screening
Spark additional conversations and action by hosting a Miss Representation screening at your
school for family members and friends. Contact Miss Representation (www.missrepresentation.org)
to start organizing a screening today.
Provide Feedback
Please help MissRepresentation.org continue to improve upon this study guide. Please use the
link below to share your feedback on how students responded to the film clips, discussion topics,
and activities. Please also provide us your thoughts on improvements and send us your suggestions for activities that you supplemented with the study guide. Your insight is invaluable. Thank
you.
Provide your feedback here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/missrepresentationcurriculum
missrepresentation.org
52
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
University References
“Depression.” National Institute of Mental Health, 2010. 26 Jul 2011.
<www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publcations/depression/complete- index.shtm>.
“Domestic Violence Statistics.” Domestic Violence Resource Center, 2011.
<www.dvrc-or.org/domestic/violence/resources/C61>.
“Fact Sheet: Women and Eating Disorders.” Love Your Body. National Organization of Women,
2011. 26 Jul 2011. <www.loveyourbody.nowfoundation.org/factsheet_2.html>.
Lauzen, Dr. Martha. “The Celluloid Ceiling: Behind-the-Scenes and On-Screen
Employment of Women in the Top 250 Films of 2009.” 2010.
<www.womenintvfilm.sdsu.edu/files/2009_Celluloid_Ceiling.pdf>.
O’Keefe, Bonnie. “Women and Politics: Lessons from the Midterm Elections.” Women and Politics. AAUW, Fall 2010. 3 Aug 2011.
<www.aauw.org/learn/publications/outlook/outlookFall2010_preview.cfm>.
“Research & Stats.” Women’s Media Center, 2009. 26 Jul 2011.
<http://www.womensmediacenter.com/index.php/resources/research-and-stats.html>.
Rideout, Victoria, Ulla Foehr, and Donal Roberts. “Generation M2 in the Lives of 8 to 18-Year
Olds.” Kaiser Family Foundation, Jan 010. 3 Aug 2011. <www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/8010.pdf>.
Sweeny, Camille. “Seeking Self-Esteem Through Surgery.” New York Times 15 Jan 2009.
“Teen Pregnancy Rates in the USA.” Livestrong.com, 2011. 26 Jul 2011.
<www.livestrong.com/article/12504-teen-pregnancy-rates-usa>.
Whitlock, Janis. “The Cutting Edge: Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents.” ACT for Youth
Center of Excellence, Dec 2009. 26 Jul 2011.
<www.teensuicidestatistics.com/statistics-facts.html>.
“Women CEOs.” CNN Money. CNN.com, 03 May 2010. 26 Jul 2011.
<www.money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2010/womenceos>.
“Women in National Parliaments.” Inter-Parliamentary Union, 20 Jun 2011. 26 Jul 2011.
<www.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm>.
missrepresentation.org
53
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
APPENDIX
i.
Barbie and G.I. Joe Images
ii.
U.S. Female Leaders
xviii.Social Construction Handout
xix. Media Log Handout
xx. U.S. Women’s History Timeline
missrepresentation.org
54
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Barbie and G.I. Joe Images
missrepresentation.org
i
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Female Leaders
Barbara Lee
Democratic U.S. Representative for California, serving since 1998
missrepresentation.org
ii
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Female Leaders
Condoleezza Rice
Served as the 66th United States Secretary of State for President George W. Bush, first
African American woman to hold the position
missrepresentation.org
iii
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Female Leaders
Doris Matsui
Democratic U.S. Representative for California, serving since 2005
missrepresentation.org
iv
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Female Leaders
Donna Brazile
First African American to direct a major presidential campaign (for Al Gore in 2000),
author, political analyst
missrepresentation.org
v
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Female Leaders
Dianne Feinstein
Served as the 38th Mayor of San Francisco for 10 years, serving as a Democratic U.S.
Senator for California since 1992
missrepresentation.org
vi
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Female Leaders
Hillary Clinton
Serving as the 67th U.S. Secretary of State for President Barack Obama
Served as U.S. Senator for New York for 8 years
missrepresentation.org
vii
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Female Leaders
Kirsten Gillibrand
Serving as the Democratic junior U.S. Senator for New York since 2009,
elected twice as a U.S. Representative for New York
missrepresentation.org
viii
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Female Leaders
Hilda Lucia Solis
Serving as the 25th U.S. Secretary of Labor for President Barack Obama
missrepresentation.org
ix
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Female Leaders
Kay Bailey Hutchison
Republican U.S. senior Senator for Texas, serving since 1993
missrepresentation.org
x
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Female Leaders
Nimrata Nikki Randhawa Haley (Nikki Haley)
Current Governor of South Carolina,
former Republican U.S. Representative for South Carolina
missrepresentation.org
xi
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Female Leaders
Nancy Pelosi
First female Speaker of the House for the U.S. House of Representatives (2007-2011)
current Democratic Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives,
highest ranking female elected politician in American history
missrepresentation.org
xii
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Female Leaders
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Democratic U.S. Representative for Florida, serving since 2005
missrepresentation.org
xiii
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Female Leaders
Susan Rice
Serving as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations since 2009,
American foreign policy advisor,
served on the National Security Council under President Bill Clinton
missrepresentation.org
xiv
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Female Leaders
Olympia Snowe
Serving as a Republican U.S. senior Senator for Maine since 2005,
named one of America’s top ten Senators by Time Magazine in 2006
missrepresentation.org
xv
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Female Leaders
Sonia Maria Sotomayor
The third female Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, serving since 2009
missrepresentation.org
xvi
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Female Leaders
Susana Martinez
Currently serving as the first female Governor of New Mexico,
former District Attorney in New Mexico
missrepresentation.org
xvii
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Social Construction Handout
Social Constructions
Circle the statements that represent a social construction.
1. Women give birth to babies and men do not.
2. Little girls are gentle and timid; boys are tough and adventurous.
3. In many countries, women earn 70% of what men earn.
4. Women can breastfeed babies; men need a bottle for feeding babies.
5. Women are in charge of raising children.
6. Men are decision makers.
7. The majority of police in most countries are men.
8. Men are the primary breadwinners in families.
9. Boys’ voices break at puberty and girls’ do not.
10.There are fewer women Presidents, Governors, members of Congress and managers than men.
Write a definition for ‘social construction’ in your own words:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
missrepresentation.org
xviii
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
Media Log Handout
Media Log
Track how many hours a day you spend watching or reading media.
Draw a pie chart of your average daily media consumption:
Tally how many protagonists you see in a week.
Women/Girls:
Men/Boys:
Unidentified/Other:
List the stereotypes you see repeated:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
missrepresentation.org
xix
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
U.S. Women’s History Timeline
A Historical Perspective on Women’s Leadership
1826
First public high schools for girls open in New York and Boston
1837
First co-educational college opens in Oberlin, Ohio
Susan B. Anthony first asks for equal pay for female teachers
1848
First Women’s Rights Convention is held in Seneca Falls, New York
1850
First National Women’s Rights Convention is held in Worcester, Massachusetts
1868
The first issue of The Revolution is published
1869
The National and American Woman Suffrage Associations each form
Women are given the right to vote in Wyoming
1872
Victoria Woodhull is the first woman to run for president for the Equal Rights Party, also known as the
National Radical Reformers
Susan B. Anthony attempts to “illegally” vote and is arrested
1887
Susanna Medora Salter is the first woman elected mayor in Argonia, Kansas
1896
Alice Guy Blaché is the first woman to direct a movie
1900
The first women compete in the Olympics – 19 in all
1913
National suffrage march takes place in Washington, D.C.
1916
Jeannette Rankin is the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
missrepresentation.org
xx
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
U.S. Women’s History Timeline
1917
The National Women’s Party pickets the White House
1920
Women earn the right to vote in the U.S.
1921
American novelist, Edith Wharton wins the Pulitzer Prize for The Age of Innocence
1923
The Equal Rights Amendment, first proposed in 1923 to affirm that women and men have equal
rights under the law, is still not part of the U.S. Constitution
1924
Nellie Ross of Wyoming becomes the first female governor in the U.S.
1930
Anne Morrow Lindbergh is the first woman to receive a glider pilot’s license
1932
Hattie Wyatt Caraway becomes the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate
1933
Frances Perkins is appointed Secretary of Labor by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
1934
Lettie Pate Whitehead serves as the first female director of a major corporation – The Coca-Cola
Company
1936
Sally Stearns becomes the first female coxwain for a male rowing team at Rollins College
1941-45
Six million women join the workforce during World War II
In 1942, the U.S. Military creates new braches in every division for women
1949
French philosopher Simone de Beauvoir publishes the The Second Sex
missrepresentation.org
xxi
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
U.S. Women’s History Timeline
1950
Harvard Law School begins accepting women
1955
The first Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Championship is held
1959
Ella Fitzgerald is the first woman to win a Grammy Award
1960
Oral contraceptive birth control is approved
1961
Wilma Rudolph sets a new world record in the 100-meter dash of 11.2 seconds
1962
Biologist Rachel Carson publishes Silent Spring
1963
Writer, Activist, and Feminist Betty Friedan publishes her book The Feminine Mystique
Ellen Ash Peters is the first female professor to be granted tenure at Yale Law School
1964
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act bans sex-discrimination in the workplace
1966
Betty Friedan, Rev. Pauli Murray, and Shirley Chisholm help found the National Organization
for Women (NOW)
1967
Muriel Siebert becomes the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange
1968
Women’s liberation organizers disrupt a live telecast of the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic
City
missrepresentation.org
xxii
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
U.S. Women’s History Timeline
1970
Women’s Strike for Equality sparks a second wave of feminism
Our Bodies, Ourselves is published by the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective
Anna Mae McCabe Hays becomes the first female general in the U.S. Army
1971
Ms. Magazine is published
1972
Shirley Chisholm runs for the Democratic Party presidential nomination
The passage of Title IX opens up significant opportunities for women’s sports programs in
schools and universities
1973
Roe v. Wade upholds a person’s right to privacy with respect to abortion
Female tennis star Billie Jean King defeats male tennis champion Bobby Riggs in a “Battle of the
Sexes” match
1974
Ella Grasso of Connecticut becomes the first female to be elected governor in the United States
without her husband’s incumbency when she is elected
The Coalition of Labor Union Women is formed
The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy becomes the first military service to allow women to enroll
1975
Women are no longer allowed to be discriminated from juries (Taylor v. Louisiana)
1976
Barbara Walters becomes the first female evening news co-anchor
Barbra Jordan becomes the first woman to give the keynote address at the Democratic National
Convention
Helen Hayes becomes the first woman to win an Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and an Oscar in a lifetime
1978
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act is passed
missrepresentation.org
xxiii
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
U.S. Women’s History Timeline
1980
The International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame is established by the Women’s Sports Foundation
1981
Sandra Day O’Connor is the first woman appointed Supreme Court Justice
1984
Geraldine Ferraro is the Democratic Party nominee for Vice President
Kathryn Sullivan is the first female U.S. astronaut to walk in space
Billie Jean King is appointed commissioner of World Team Tennis, becoming the first woman to
be the head of a professional athletic league
1.8 million girls participate in high school sports
1986
Oprah Winfrey’s show becomes the highest rated talk show in history
1988
The Civil Rights Restoration Act restores full coverage to Title IX in every educational institution’s programs when the institution receives any kind of federal funding
1989
Barbara Clementine Harris becomes the first female Episcopal Bishop
1991
Anita Hill accuses Clarence Thomas (United States Supreme Court nominee and Justice) of
sexual harassment
1992
Four women are elected to the U.S. Senate coining the term “Year of the Woman”
1993
The Federal Family and Medical Leave Act is enacted
Janet Reno is the first woman to be Attorney General of the United States
missrepresentation.org
xxiv
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
U.S. Women’s History Timeline
1994
The Federal Violence Against Women Act is passed to help victims of rape and domestic
violence. A 24-hour hotline is also created
1996
Madeleine Albright becomes the first female Secretary of State
1997
American Activist Jody Williams receives the Noble Peace Prize
Claudia Kennedy becomes the first female three-star general in the U.S. Army
The WNBA begins with 8 teams
Pat Henry becomes the first American woman to sail solo around the world
1998
At the winter Olympics in Nagano, the first time women are allowed to play ice hockey in the
Olympics, the U.S. Women’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team wins the gold medal
1999
Mia Hamm leads the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Final
match is attended by 90,000 people (the most-watched women’s sporting event to date)
2003
Nancy Pelosi becomes the first woman to serve as the Democratic Minority leader in the U.S.
House of Representatives
2004
Condoleezza Rice is listed as the most powerful woman in the world by Forbes Magazine
2005
Condoleezza Rice is re-named the most powerful woman in the world by Forbes Magazine
2006
Katie Couric becomes the first solo female anchor of a weekday evening news program on one
of the three traditional U.S. broadcast networks
missrepresentation.org
xxv
MISS
REPRESENTATION
CURRICULUM
U.S. Women’s History Timeline
2007
Nancy Pelosi is the first woman to serve as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Drew Gilpin is named the first female president of Harvard University
2008
Sarah Palin is the first woman to be listed on the national G.O.P. ticket
Ann Dunwoody is the first woman to serve as a four-star general in the U.S. Army
2010
Kathryn Bigelow is the first female to win an Academy Award for Best Director for her film
The Hurt Locker (2009)
The University of Connecticut’s Women’s Basketball team holds the longest winning streak in
college basketball history with 90 consecutive wins
2011
Christine Lagarde becomes the first woman to head the International Monetary Fund
Oprah Winfrey launches the OWN: the Oprah Winfrey Network
missrepresentation.org
xxvi