3 full pages essay

Choose an artifact or an image that you think represents and reinforces or challenges and undermines gender stereotypes and codes of behavior in another culture. In selecting your subject and thinking about how it conforms to or goes against gender codes, try using the following guidelines and questions:

1. For images: Look in magazines, your personal or family photos, in textbooks or children’s books--for scenes that you think present something about what men and women should look like and how they should behave. Find evidence that the way genders are presented is not only in the United States.

If you are looking at a picture or ad: Try not to look at the advertising aspect of the ad to make money—rather, look at the picture and dissect it in regard to how the genders are portrayed—and what message that sends. These elements are your evidence.

1. What is the sex of the model(s)? Why did this designer choose to use these models?

2. What do their bodies look like? Why? Where did you find the photo? 3. How are they dressed? Why?

4. What colors are used? How are these colors associated with our stereotypes of men and

women?

5. What props are used (elements in the ad/photo to “set the scene”)? How do these props conform to or go against gender stereotypes for men and women?

6. What does the combination of these details say about what men/women are like and how they should behave?

2. For artifacts: look for or think about objects/clothing that seem to be designed with a particular gender in mind. An artifact can be anything: a piece of clothing, a purse, or a toy. (Please do not pick obvious items such as baby dolls, easy-bake ovens, footballs, cars etc. unless you have an interesting angle. Please check with me first if you are unsure about your topic.)

1. Where did you find the object? (Always consider what the source is or when you find information).

2. What is the intended use of the item and whom is it designed for? How do you know this?

3. What color is the object? What does that indicate about the intended audience?

4. What material is it made from? Why might a man or woman respond to this material? If it is a Tierra for example: What does that say about our culture--or

all cultures that may use this item? What about high heels? What do they generally represent? What have they represented in the past—and in other countries in regard to gender. What about purses? Or a veil? How is a veil used in marriage and/or in religion? What does it represent? What about mini skirts, corset, or mirrors etc?

5. Why might the intended audience need or want to have this object?

6. What is the size and shape of the item? How is this related to stereotypical ideas about gender attitudes and behavior?

7. What does the combination of these details (of appearance and purpose) tell us about how a particular society believes men and women should think and behave? You may discuss American issues, but the item’s intent/message needs to extend beyond American soil. We cannot assume that American values are shared in every country. However, if they are, what does that tell us about Gender roles and behaviors in the past and in the present?

3. For a country: pick a country/culture (although you may use the USA as an element in your discussion, you must incorporate another culture or country—see note below) and analyze how men or women are portrayed. How do they view beauty and femininity? How do they construct gender roles? How do they view strength and masculinity? What are beauty and strength measured by? In some cultures the men wear the finery—or dress to impress.

For your thesis, think about what stereotypical Gender Attitudes that are being reinforced or refuted by your image/artifact/country/culture. Then, determine what message (about how men and women think and behave) is revealed in the details of your subject. For example, you might conclude that the mini-skirt reflects the belief that women in America should have long, slender legs and be willing to show them off (and for what purpose) and then discuss to how women in another country do not generally wear short skirts (and for what reasons)—then make a comment on the differences and/or issues that arise from women’s dress in general. What message, if any, do short skirts send? You can always think of other women or men’s clothing and analyze them-but always incorporate another culture somehow. In other words, do not simply write about a piece of clothing in the USA.

--What about high heels? What message do they send? Perhaps do a timeline of how the high-heel has come to play such a distinct role in our society. But what might the idea of heeled shoes in general for women mean? –or men?

--You could also discuss marriage in different countries and then make a conclusion that although some countries have different customs—what is the common link…?

--You could do a visual timeline of clothing over a century or more from a country or culture and write a two page explanation of how this change of clothing over time reflects gender roles.

--Or, you could argue that Barbie/Baby dolls teach young girls that they should grow up to be nurturing mothers --or that the Barbie Doll enforces what our culture dictates as beautiful in order to be loved, accepted and praised. Is this also an issue in other countries? You would also note if Barbie dolls are sold in other countries -- thus making a connection to a global concept of beauty.

--Or, using several toys as examples, and construct an analysis in which you examine the role played by gender-specific toys in the socialization of young children and their sense of gender identity/self-image. Then link your analysis to the concept that these gender specific items are linked globally. Are these toys and games used in other countries? What does this tell us about these cultures or human nature? Do these toys/games reinforce gender stereotyping? Or do they promote a sense of independence in children? Be careful if you use games that are already used around the world. It may be difficult to make a point if it is already used globally—--and you would have to link the gender construction and global aspect and the message that both of those send. However, the imagery in games used and sold in different counties is constructing an image—what does that tell us about how these cultures see men and women? You may cite sources from the text if you like (using MLA documentation) to further support your points.

4. In regard to marriage as noted above, you may also write on a topic listed on page 289 of your textbook under “Explore” question # 1. This topic comes after the reading “The Startling Plight of China’s Leftover Ladies.”

***Regardless of what you decide to write about—you need to have a clear thesis that lets the reader know exactly what you will discuss and that there is some kind of global connection. For example: The Tierra is used to evaluate and crown the “perfect” woman in America (as women line up on the runways in bikinis waiting for their chance at the ultimate achievement—national recognition of beauty). However, this Tierra “deeming practice” also literally takes place on the global stage in Miss Universe contests. What message does this send the world about beauty? Thus, as stated by Maria Jerskey, in the textbook Globalization A Reader for Writers, “As the world becomes increasingly globalized, and as we ourselves come to adapt to a globalized perspective, how will gender matters emerge, be challenged, and be redefined? (282). Or how may they remain them same, and why would that be?