Gender-Based Beauty Standards Objective:
Explore and challenge societal beauty standards for men and women.
Understand how these standards impact identity and self-esteem.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
1910 - 2024
Explore how gender stereotypes have evolved from the 1910s to today, reflecting societal values and concerns across different eras. This journey highlights key shifts in how masculinity and femininity have been defined and redefined over time.
Historical Breakdown 1910s:
Traditional Roles Values: Patriarchy and strict gender roles. Women were expected to be homemakers; men, the breadwinners.
Concerns: Post-WWI societal changes and the women's suffrage movement challenged traditional norms.
Stereotypes: Women as fragile and dependent; men as strong providers.
1950s: Reinforcing Norms
Values: Stability and the ideal of the nuclear family.
Concerns: Post-WWII societal reintegration and consumerism.
Stereotypes: The "happy homemaker" woman; men as stoic providers.
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Media Influence:
See how ads, movies, and social media shape these standards.
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Impact:
Discuss how these standards affect our self-image and behaviour.
​Tasks:
Quick Chat:
What do you think beauty means for men and women? Let’s brainstorm some ideas together.
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Media Spotlight: Pick an ad or social media post. We’ll analyse what beauty standards it promotes and why it matters.
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Cultural Contrast: Compare beauty standards in two different cultures. What’s different? What’s similar?
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Reflective Writing:​ Write a short piece about how these beauty standards affect you or someone you know.
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Creative Challenge:
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Create something that challenges traditional beauty standards. It could be a poster, video, or even a meme!
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Debate: “Are beauty standards more harmful to men or women?” Share your thoughts and listen to different perspectives.
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Shape Up
Why It Matters:
​Think Critically: Understand and question how beauty standards are created and who benefits.Empathy: Develop a deeper understanding of how these standards affect others.Express Yourself: Use creativity to challenge and redefine beauty.​Next Steps: Advanced Topics: Dive deeper into how beauty standards influence mental health and societal power structures.Links: Connect this topic to history, Society and Culture (SAC), and psychology for a broader perspective.