Gender Biased Commercials

Have you noticed some TV commercials to be gender biased? For example, throughout the 1990s, Jif Peanut Butter commercials included the tagline "Choosy Moms Choose Jif."  Only recently, in the 2000s, was this tagline adjusted to include dads: "Choosy Moms and Dads Choose Jif." 

Between now and Thursday, observe some of the commercials that air during your favorite TV Shows. Comment below in 1 paragraph, answering the following questions.  If possible, try to include a link to the commercial (if it is available on YouTube). 

Comments are due by 8am on Friday 2/8/13

1. What TV Show were you watching? What is the intended audience (age and gender)? 
2. What commercial did you see that was gender biased? For what product/concept? 
3. For whom was the product biased (Males or Females)? How do you see the bias portrayed?
4. What message(s) does this commercial send about gender roles in American society? Should it continue to air? 
5. What is 1 pro and 1 con to networks airing this commercial? Why do you think the network chose to air it during your TV program? 

Disney Characters & Gender Stereotypes

Disney movies are popular among children of all ages and many of us grew up watching these classic films. As we begin our conversation on gender development and socialization, consider how some of your favorite films portray gender stereotypes and other stereotypes for social behavior. 

 Answer the following questions (commenting below)  by Tuesday 2/5 at 8am. 

Choose your favorite Disney movie...
1.  Describe the main character's personality, behavior, and general characteristics (briefly... 3-5 sentences)
2. What gender stereotypes does this character reinforce? 
3. Who is the villain in the film? Do you see any gender stereotypes in this character? 

4. In general, what does this film teach children about gender and other components of socialization? What are the pros and cons of this film? 

Chapter 2: Culture Questions

Please write brief responses to these 2 questions from the end of Ch 2  (p. 59). Please number your responses and reply as 1 comment to this blog post.  Your responses should be about 5-7 sentences each.  You should respond by 8am on Thursday 1/31. Late posts will lose points. 

1. Do you favor ethnocentrism or cultural relativism? Explain your position.

3. Are you a member of any subcultures? Which one(s)? Why do you think that your group is a subculture? What is your group's relationship to the mainstream culture?

Semester 2 Sociology!

Welcome to Sociology! We're going to have a great semester, packed with tons of interesting topics and info. Sociology focuses on the behaviors of groups of people and societies. This blog will serve as our homebase for discussions and explorations. I'm looking forward to reading your first posts.

Feel free to explore each other's blogs (linked on the left). Follow the calendar (see Semester Project) and enjoy your study of your selected topic.