In Beach’s text, it states that “critics have examined the underrepresentation of women and minorities in the television news industry” which is highlighted in the Local News documentary. I feel that this would be an interesting thing for students to explore, especially when observing gender roles and the feminist lens with a novel. Students could explore and research IF this statement is true and, if it is, address WHY this is present in society today.
After reading a text, for example Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, students could explore the character Elizabeth Bennet and the role she plays within the novel. Afterwards, students could look at various networks and explore the roles of women in the television news industry. Does the fact that less women than men are represented in this industry have an affect on the audience? Would it make it difference if there was an equal amount of men and women being represented? Why is it that society accepts this today?
After exploring multiple networks, they could then go out into the community and interview random people, asking them what their thoughts on this situation are. Finally, students could pool of their research together to construct a final paper or project. Have the roles of women really changed that drastically since the time of Elizabeth Bennet? Why is it that now, when women and men are supposed to have equal rights, that women continue to be underrepresented?
I like this lesson idea. I would suggest, though, having kids watch more than one newscast per station; watch an entire week. I say this because reporters and anchors might have varying schedules and, if only one night was watched, you might not catch the whole range of people.
ReplyDeleteHey Jamie!
ReplyDeleteI like that you brought the text/literature into this lesson. I also looked at the news and how women are portrayed/represented/given 'power'. I like that you have students going out into the community and interviewing people; that really shows how watching TV news and reading Pride and Prejudice actually effects them.
Hey Jamie...
ReplyDeleteNice work combining news with a piece of literature. It will help to make students see some current relevance of the novel. In my advertising analysis, KARE 11 had fairly balanced portrayals of men and women (and they too have a female meteorologist), however, almost every single person shown was white. Another thing to consider with your lesson would be not only how many women vs. men are portrayed, but in what ways. Do the portrayals of women reinforce stereotypical gender roles?