Yousman, Gender, Race, and Class in Media 6e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
Class Activities
Part V: Representing Sexualities
Activity 1
Question of the Day
The question of the day is a fun and easy way to draw students into the topic of the
day’s class, get to know one another, take roll, or use as a discussion question for
an online class. Here are the questions for use in Part V.
1. Name the first word that comes to mind when you hear the term “feminist.” What
are some common stereotypes around feminists and feminism?
2. How has pop culture influenced your own life in regard to your gender identity?
Activity 2
Creating Positive Representations
Objective: To give students practice in creating nonstereotypical, counterhegemonic
images, and review of Parts I–V.
Directions:
1. Organize students into four groups. (More or less depending on class size.)
2. For the given demographic and using the assigned readings (and others if you
wish), ask students to briefly identify what the media stereotypes are of that
demographic group. Instruct them to cite where they are getting that from in the
reading (the particular sentence(s) with page numbers). Remind them not to spend
too much time here as they will need the bulk of time and energy for Part 3.
Activity 3
Critical Viewing in Action: Further Off the Straight and Narrow
1. Obtain a copy of Further Off the Straight and Narrow from your campus library or
from the Media Education Foundation.
Yousman, Gender, Race, and Class in Media 6e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
2. Depending on time and instructor preference, show the entire film or selected
sections to the class.
Activity 4
Media Representations of Gay Men in Sport
1. Obtain copies of the film Mario (2018) and the Media Education Foundation
Documentary It Takes A Team: Making Sports Safe for LGBT Athletes and
Coaches.
Activity 5
Viewing Hindi Cinema
1. Obtain a copy of either Barfi! Or Margarita with a Straw, both of which are
available in the United States. Screen one of these films for students.
2. Then obtain and screen a copy of the popular 2004 film Bride and Prejudice.
3. Lead a discussion with students about the differences in the representation of