| BARBIE GIRL
(A three-day unit)
By: Melissa Ratcliffe & Lori L’Heureux
(RIC Secondary Education/English Practicum students assisted by Prof Cappella)
DAY ONE || DAY TWO || DAY THREE
Resource Material:
Discussion Questions
Poems: "Barbie Doll" by Marge
Piercy and "Ken Doll" by Mike
Lyrics to "Barbie
Girl" by Aqua
Graphic Organizer
Questions || Opinionnaire
|| Journal Writing Assignment
DISCUSSION
QUESTIONS
(Can be applied to either text)
What is your first reaction or response to the text? Explain it briefly.
What emotions did you feel as you read the text?
Upon what, in the text, did you focus most intently as you read- what word, phrase,
image, idea?
Describe how the girl/boy must have felt when another classmate put her/him down?
What were the positive strengths that the character possessed? Do yot consider them to
be physical, emotional and/or intellectual?
What stereotypes, if any, are apparent in the first and third stanzas? What do these
stereotypes say about what it is to be female/male in society?
Is there any evidence of gender bias and/or discrimination within the text? If so, give
examples.
What could the character have done different to overcome the negative effects that
stereotypes, gender bias, and discrimination had upon her/ life?
What do you think that we author(s) is saying about women/men in this poem? Does her/his
view seem to you fair, slightly exaggerated, or greatly exaggerated? Why?
Is the text reflective of what goes on in real life? Explain.
Back to Top
POEMS
"BARBIE DOLL" by Marge Piercy
Lyrics available at:
http://elps.k12.mi.us/elhs/classrooms/kayser/english2/gender_perspectives/barbie_doll.htm
"KEN DOLL"
Permission pending.
Back to Top
LYRICS TO "BARBIE GIRL" BY AQUA
For a copy of the lyrics to "Barbie Girl," please click on one of the
following links. To return to this page, click the "Back" button on your
browser.
If you cannot access either of the above links, go to www.google.com
and enter "Aqua" and "Barbie" as search terms. Google should
"find" several hundred pages with the lyrics to "Barbie Girl."
Back to Top
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER
Write down your personal responses regarding the two poems you just read ("Barbie
Doll" and "Ken Doll"). Your responses can be expressed in terms of key
words, imags, sentences, and/or phrases. Write your responses to Ken on the left and to
Barbie on the right.
Back to Top
QUESTIONS
- What were your initial impressions after hearing this song?
- What does the song suggest about Barbie in terms of her personality and physical
appearance? What evidence from the lyrics suggests that?
- What positive aspects about females is presented in this song? Are there any at all?
- Is Ken portrayed the same way as Barbie? Why or why not?
- Choose several words from the song that describe Barbie and Ken? Do they give realistic
descriptions of each gender in terms of their prevalence in society?
- Why do you feel Aqua would want to make such a song? Is it similar to other types of
songs you may have heard? If so, which ones?
- Is the portrayal of men and women realistic in this song or would you find them
offensive? Why?
- What other places may you find similar images of women and men (i.e. newspapers,
magazines, etc.)?
- The refrain says "...You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere…" What
does this suggest about Barbie’s personality?
Back to Top
OPINIONNAIRE
In the space provided mark whether you agree or disagree with each statement.
- A man who is not strong should be called a wimp.
- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
- A person’s physical appearance always minors who they are on the inside.
- It is never right to tease another person.
- The role of a woman should be strictly in the home.
- Men should not do laundry.
- Physical attraction should be the determining factor in the choosing of a mate.
- Beautiful people are smarter than "ugly" people.
- The way a man walks can identify his sexuality.
- Every girl should wear makeup.
|
Agree |
Disagree |
Back to Top
JOURNAL WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Think back to a situation in your life where you experienced gender bias,
discrimination, and/or stereotyping. Describe the nature of this experience. How did it
make you feel? How did you react then? Would you react differently now? How so?
Back to Top
DAY ONE || DAY TWO || DAY THREE
|
