Gender stereotypes are present in the world we live in, along with the expectations that genders should adhere to. The concern with body image begins at a much younger age than we would expect. In this chapter a teacher discusses a conversation she overheard her 7 and 8 year olds in third grade having about the need to lose weight. The teacher wanted to learn about the perceptions and knowledge of her students so she divided them into two groups (male and female) and had them write ten facts about the opposite sex. All of the facts they wrote down were negative stereotypes despite the discussion about facts versus stereotypes beforehand. She then proceeds to teach them how to recognize gender stereotypes, a difficult concept to tackle with students at this age. Just when she was about to give up it rained and worms came up from the ground. She was able to use this as an engaging opening discussion to teach girls that it is alright to touch worms. However, the issue of body image did not cease, “One girl told another student that he should think about going to Jenny Craig”.

They did a lesson critiquing stereotypical images of women in toys and the media.  She had them compare Barbie to themselves or other women and do a project analyzing advertisements and how they give the illusion that they will make women younger, prettier, or more appealing. As the last part of the unit, she had them role play a school day from years ago when boys and girls were treated differently in school. The teacher did not tell them she would be treating differently, rather she waited and asked them after they were finished if they noticed anything. Of course the students picked up on all the ways boys were treated better than girls.  

This was an eye opening lesson for these young students. The teacher took a chance and stepped out of her comfort zone to teach a topic that is usually not brought up with young children. However, it was worth the risk because her students reaped the reward by understanding the gender roles that are implied by society.