how does media influence what we think is expected in society?

our media diet can become the unspoken rule for how people should behave, which can impact our perceptions of ourselves and others.

A hand holding a smartphone with a drawing of a speech bubble containing a question mark and a scribbled design. Surrounding the phone are icons for like, connect, and play, along with colorful shapes.

use the reel binary tool to examine how media shapes
our perceptions of gender roles

reel binary

use this tool to discover if the show or movie you watch is portraying men and women through a stereotypical lens.

how do the characters we see on the screen impact our perceptions of ourselves and others?

step 1: Pick a TV show or movie

select two or three of your favorite male and female identified characters.

step 2: Score the characters

a score of 0 means a low level of the gender "norm", while a score of 5 indicates the highest possible level.

step 3: think about your scores

how does the character(s) demonstrate a positive or healthy image for men or women?

become a critical viewer

self-exploration

  • which ingredient had the highest score for you and why?

  • what surprised you about the characters? 

  • what happens when someone steps outside the box?

  • how have you challenged unhelpful or harmful messaging in the past?

more info