The intersection of race, class and gender affects the lives, identities and social outcomes of Americans

 Watch the trailer for Miss Representation and watch the Dove Ad.

1) Explain how women are portrayed in the mass media today and how can distorted images of beauty be a social problem for women.

2) Now onto boys and what it means to be masculine. Watch the next trailer from the Misrepresentation group.

The film notes that “pressured by the media, their peer group, and even the adults in their lives, our protagonists confront messages encouraging them to disconnect from their emotions, devalue authentic friendships, objectify and degrade women, and resolve conflicts through violence. These gender stereotypes interconnect with race, class, and circumstance, creating a maze of identity issues boys and young men must navigate to become “real” men.”

3) Do you agree or disagree with the message of this film? Why or why not? Do you think that our culture paints a narrow and limiting version of what it means to be a boy/man today?