20 minute activity about gender stereotypes

1. Act like a “guy/girl”
A 20 minute activity about gender stereotypes

2. Students will be able to:
• Identify gender stereotypes
• Think critically about pop-culture
• Identify where messages about gender come from
• Build empathy for students who may not satisfy conventional
expectations of how boys or girls should appear or behave

3. You will need:
• 15-20 popular magazines
• Act like a “guy”/ “girl” handout

4. Instructions:
• Explain to the class that we’re going to be doing an activity that will
help us to examine gender stereotypes and how these stereotypes
appear in pop culture.
• Divide the class into small groups and pass out a stack of popular
magazines to each group.
• Ask each group to brainstorm about the messages we receive about
gender through the pictures and the ads. Ask them to fill out the
handout as they brainstorm.

6. Students can share their responses and the
pictures they found. If time allows, discuss the
following questions:
• What do you notice about the lists?
• What messages are directed at girls and women?
• What messages are directed at boys and men?
• What messages are directed at both?