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STEREOTYPES IN MEDIA
Source: Alexandra Filcakova, IntercultuReality: TOOLS, METHODS and TIPS for tolerance and media literacy
Aim: - to deepen understanding how media contributes to stereotypes
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- increase critical thinking, recognize stereotypes in media
Time: 60 minutes
Material: printed examples of advertisement, posters/photos of movies, series OR PC and projector.
Instructions:
This activity is an interactive discussion. Participants will express their opinion about the following: do different media products spread stereotypes? It’s important that the participants understand the terms stereotype, prejudice, discrimination. To introduce this topic to participants we used different activities during the project: “Lemons” from T-Kit on Social Inclusion, p. 58 available on: https://www.saltoyouth.net/downloads/4-17-402/tkit%20Social%20Inclusion.pdf and “Take a step forward” from Compass,p.281 available online: https://www.coe.int/t/dg4/eycb/Source/Compass_2012_FINAL.pdf
1. Prepare different pictures: examples of advertisements, photos of movies, TV series, title pages of magazines, if a projector is available, also video clips, short videos, advertisements, TV News. 2. Make two signs, “Containinig a stereotype” and “Doesn’t contain a stereotype”, and place them on the floor about 6–8 meters apart. You can also place a rope or tape on the floor between the two signs to symbolize the continuum between the two extremes of opinion.
3. Show the prepared video/photo and ask participants to stand next to the sign according to their opinion; those who are undecided stand at the centre point. Invite participants, if they wish, to explain why they are standing where they are. Encourage people to change their position if they change their opinion during the discussion.
4. When the discussion is finished, show the next picture/video.
Debriefing and discussion:
Although this activity is a discussion itself, it should be closed by short debriefing where participants can share what they learned from it, if some arguments made them change their opinion or find something new.
STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION
A stereotype is a belief about a certain group of people. Prejudice is a feeling about a person based on their membership in a group. Both stereotypes and prejudice can be either positive or negative. Discrimination is an action that denies the rights of a person due to their membership in a group. Source: www.study.com
