Exploring Gender Stereotypes in Stories

Goals

Practice critical literacy skills around themes of gender identity and stereotypes ;

Develop a nuanced view of the potentially harmful nature of stereotypes ;

Begin developing an understanding of the socially constructed nature of gender, as well as some of its sources ;

Follow all steps of the writing process ;

See themselves as authors with the potential for standing up against detrimental gender stereotypes.

Brief description of the issue

A strong endorsement of gender stereotypes is associated with higher school dropout rates, for boys as well as for girls. These stereotypes are widely shared through literature and stories, especially those targeted at children. It is therefore important to put specific activities on this topic in place (like this one!) to break down gender stereotypes with children.

The Teaching Tolerance website has put together a variety of classroom resources in many social justice domains and on multiple topics. The mission of this organization is “to help teachers and schools educate children and youth to be active participants in a diverse democracy” by providing them free resources.

This lesson plan, Exploring Gender Stereotypes in Stories, according to the website, “allows children to look at one or more picture books that counter gender stereotypes. After discussion of the book, children will engage in a creative writing activity geared to fostering individual identity and resisting social definitions of what and how a boy or girl ‘should’ be.”

Click on this link to access the whole lesson plan.