Gendered Words
Start by asking students whether they think ads aimed at girls and ads aimed at boys are different.
You can point out that not everyone necessarily identifies as being a “boy” or a “girl,” but that advertisers aim ads at those two categories.
Let them discuss this for a few minutes without necessarily coming to an answer.
Have students access the student chapter Gendered Words and explain that a WordCloud is a visual way of showing what words appear in something and how often: the more often a word appears, the bigger it is. These WordClouds were made by UK charity Let Toys Be Toys from 300 TV ads that aired on channels popular with kids like Nick Jr. and Cartoon Network.
Have students explore the first two word clouds using the Zoom tool and then answer the questions in the Structure Strip. When students have answered the questions, have them share and discuss their answers:
- What words do you see that appeared in ads aimed at girls?
- What messages do you think the words communicate about how kids should play with these toys?
- What words do you see that appeared in ads aimed at boys?
- What messages do you think the words communicate about how kids should play with these toys?
- How were the words in the first word cloud different from the ones in the second?
- Were there any words that were in both?
- When you put them together, what messages do you get about how boys and girls are alike or different? Do you think those messages are accurate, or are they stereotypes?
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How do you think someone might feel seeing those ads if they did not think of themselves as a “boy” or a “girl”?
Next, have students explore the third word cloud and answer the questions in the second Structure strip. When students have answered the quesitons, have them share and discuss their answers:
- Which words are biggest (most common)?
- What words do you see that were in one of the other word clouds?
- What words do you see that were not in one of the other word clouds?
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How do you think someone might feel seeing those ads if they did not think of themselves as a “boy” or a “girl”?