Chapter 12 Projects

Project Assignment

Purpose

Gender and gender norms are socially constructed concepts that are often taken for granted. This project will involve examining those gender norms, creating a collage, and presenting it in front of the class. The purpose of this project is to help you develop critical thinking skills in regards to gender norms and further explore how they are socially constructed.

Directions

Find pictures from various magazines, newspapers, and advertisements to make a collage that shows gender norms and traits that people often stereotypically think of as masculine, feminine, or androgynous.

For each image, you should be able to identify what gender stereotypes it portrays (or magnifies). Feel free to use images from multiple sources, but make sure you can discuss them and critically analyze what they subtly teach us about gender. For instance, what do these image convey about the person's identity, presentation of self, behavior, and expected interactions with others? What symbols do the images use to convey gender? How do these images perpetuate a gender binary? How do these images create norms that impact our lives? You should include at least seven to ten different pictures.

Materials

Poster board, glue, scissors, magazines and newspapers or the ability to print from online sources or a presentation program (such as PowerPoint)

Checklist

Writing Assignment

Purpose

In this chapter, you learned about the concepts of sex and gender and how sociologists think about them. The purpose of this writing assignment is to apply the knowledge you have learned about these concepts.

Directions

In an essay of three to four pages, answer the following prompts:

• What are the differences among sex, gender, and sexual orientation?

• What is a gender norm? Give an example.

• In what ways do gender norms reflect the culture, values, and beliefs of a society? Give examples.

• Can you think of a time when you experienced gender norm socialization? Describe the experience.

• In what ways were you socialized to gender norms? Who/what were your agents of socialization?

• How might the gender norms you learned differ from those of your parents or grandparents?

As you write, think about your own experiences growing up and what you have seen in the society around you.

Use APA style and cite any sources you use. Make sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors.

Materials

Word processing program

Checklist