Gender Schmender Dress Up!

GenderSchmenderDressUp!
Learningobjectives:
• Fashionandgenderhavebeenstronglyconnected,andareinfluencedbymedia
andmarketing,whichchangesovertime.
• Whatwewearcanaffectwhatwedoandhowweact,andcanreinforce
stereotypes
• Anyoneshouldbeabletolookandactlikehowevertheywant
Materials
-Slideshow&projector
-markersontables
-outfitchallengetemplate(1perstudent)
-Templateexample
-Signsforchallenges(toputattables)
-dressupclothing
-camera
-mirror
-photoboothstation(backdrop?)
-Dressuppartyplaylist!
Part1:
Slideshow&Discussion(15-20mins):
Showstudentsaslideshowoffirstsetofimages,beginningwithFranklinRoosevelt,and
havestudenthavestudentstalkaboutwhattheyseeandwhattheythink.Refrainfrom
givingthemextrainformationatthistime.
Then,goovereachimageagain,sharinginformationabouteachphoto:
1. ThisphotoisofFranklinRooseveltfrom1884,andshowswhatwasnormalfor
childrentowearuptotheageof6or7.Forcenturies,whitewasconsidered
mostpracticalbecauseitcouldbebleached,anddressesforsmallkidswere
consideredgenderneutral.
2. Theideaofdifferentcoloursforboysandgirlsstartedinthe1800s,butitwasn’t
alwaysthesameasweknownow.Forawhile,thetrendwasthatpinkwasa
colourforboys,andbluewasacolourforgirls.Decadeslater,theideaofpink
forgirlsandblueforboyswasestablishedbyclothingcompanies(manufacturers
andretailers)
3. Bythe1950s,girlsandboystypicallyworeverydifferentclothing.Girlsand
Womenwerenotallowedtowearpantstoschool.Boyswerenotallowedto
weardresses.
4. Duringthe1960s,clothingchangedwiththewomen’sliberationmovement.Kids
woremoregenderneutralclothing,withthethoughtthat“‘Ifwedressourgirls
morelikeboysandlesslikefrillylittlegirls...theyaregoingtohavemore
optionsandfeelfreertobeactive.’”
5. Ask,“Whatdoyouthinkofchildren’s’clothingtoday?
-doyouthinkthereareanyrulesorexpectations?
-doeswhatwewearaffectwhatwedoandhowweact?
OutfitDesignChallenge(15mins)
Describemyownoutfit,anddescribewhyIchooseittoteachintoday.Askthekids
whatIwouldn’tbegoodfor(ie.Ahotdayatthebeach,goingtoafancyparty,runninga
marathon,etc)
Attables,studentsdesigntheir“best”outfitforaparticularoccasion(treeclimbing,
goingtothebeach,runningarace,dancing,pictureday,afancyparty)
Iftimepermits,studentscansharetheiroutfitdesignswiththeclass.
SourceandFurtherReading:
Maglaty,Jeanne;WhenDidGirlsStartWearingPink?April7,2011;Smithsonian.com
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/when-did-girls-start-wearing-pink1370097/#OhQ3KcVZzHYSkP8P.99
1.
2.
Part2:
DavidBowieslideshow(5mins)
• Discusswithstudentshowoverhistory,societyoftentellsuswhatisOKforboys
towearandgirlstowear.Somepeoplehavebecomerolemodelsbychallenging
thesestereotypesanddaringtowearwhatevertheywant.
• ShowpicturesofDavidBowie,andhavestudentsdiscusswhattheyseeand
whattheythink:
Questions:
• WhatdoyounoticeaboutDavidBowie’sclothing?
• HowdoesDavidBowiechallengeGenderStereotypes?
• Doyouthinkit’seasyorhardtobedifferentfromeveryoneelse?
DressupChallenge(25mins)
Askstudentstoexperimentwithdressingup.Duringthistime,theymusttryonatleast
twodifferentoutfits:
1. Somethingthatmakesyoufeelfabulous
2. Somethingthatyouhaveneverwornbefore
Providea“photobooth”intheclassroomwherekidscantakepicturesofalloftheir
differentoutfits.
Summativequestion(5mins)
Howdoyouthinkkids’fashionshouldchangeinthefuture?
My Best ____________ Outfit
Name: ________________