Nearly 100 people attended an interactive presentation, “Mean Girls
and Real Boys,” on cultural and media constructions of gender and
their correlation to bullying.
Michigan State University Extension facilitators Janet Olson and
Karen Pace invited participants to analyze the “gender box” and think
of socially accepted connotations defining the good girls and real
boys. Participants then explored what lies outside of those boxes,
typically defined by derogatory terms and labels.
Olson and Pace shared how in today’s culture bullies verbally,
physically, and through cyberspace torment those who do not define or
meet the in-the-box roles. They also discussed current children’s
advertisements, pinpointing how the media reinforces gender
stereotypes. They challenged participants to take a step back and see
the greater messages at work, including racism, sexism and classism.
Pace offered solutions on how to be critical consumers of the
media, by reading, defining, opposing and replacing the oppressive
messages with inclusive, social changing messages.
The presentation was sponsored by the Children’s Enrichment
Center, Office of Inclusion and Equity, Women’s Center and the College
of Education.
