• 1
    Start a conversation

    Next time you watch a film or TV show together, talk to them about the female characters. How many were there? What jobs did they have, and what was their part in the storyline? All too often they will be one-dimensional – hardly representative of the diverse lives women lead today. Even when they play a lawyer, doctor, or engineer, they typically fit a visual stereotype, suggesting that looks are a crucial part of female achievement.

     

  • 2
    Look for inspiration

    Ask them why they think the media chooses such limiting roles for women and how it makes them feel. Can they think of any movies or books where the heroine is more inspiring?

  • 3
    Imagine something better

    If your child were to have a starring role in a film, what would they like their character to be famous for?

  • 4
    Rewrite the rules for magazines

    Look through magazines together and rip out images of women in ads, fashion shoots, and features. Then play a game of  ‘spot the difference’ – list all the similarities you notice, and circle anything that represents a more real or diverse image of women.

  • 5
    Celebrate uniqueness

    What makes us unique is what makes us beautiful – so talk about it, and how few people in real life match up to the media’s vision of beauty.

  • 6
    Separate fact from fiction

    Discuss the clothes and styles you see in magazines. Explain that these looks have been carefully picked by stylists. What else has been done to enhance the model’s appearance, and how realistic are these features?


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