Media and Gender Identity

The media bombards us with images of what it means to be a man or a woman in our society. Sadly the images rarely take into consideration the diversity of peresonality among the genders. What messages do these images send children, or the rest of the world, about our view of what it means to be a man or a woman?

When I was in college I needed to buy a tool set (just a home tool set). I was presented with two choices at WalMart...one was in the tools section and was in a black case...the other was in the household section...it was pink but aside from the color of the case the tool sets were IDENTICAL...except that the pink tool set cost about $10 less!!

I, of course, bought the pink one! Telling this story to my students generated a great picture from someone who STILL has their pink toolset!

Why the color difference, the different marketing, and why the difference in price?

What about Men...what are the stereotypes about men, particularly in relation to their emotions and abilities in relationships?

Does this ad say it all?