Roles and Perception
Now that you have read “Barbie Doll” by Margie Piercy, you realize that the author believes society has placed the expectation on girls and women to fill a particular role in society (to grow up to be perfect and pretty). Select and follow the instructions for either option in this assignment.
Option 1 - Design a Doll
You cannot blame the toy maker for making a popular doll. Would you buy an ugly doll? However, you have just learned that Mattel® is hiring new doll designers. In this assignment, you are to design a new modern doll. The doll can be either male or female and you can even draw in the accessories that will come with the toy.
Before you begin, access the Designing a Doll Template and Checklist so that you understand the expectations for this assignment. You may need to use resources outside of this course to complete this assignment. If so, please submit a Works Cited document. If you need assistance, visit the Developmental Module for information on citing any resources that you used.
You should start by brainstorming the concept, using the following questions as a guide:
- Will your doll be male or female?
- Will your doll be based upon a theme?
- Will your doll come with accessories?
- How will you modernize the doll so that it does not place a specific role on an individual?
- For what age consumer is your doll targeted?
Option 2 - Critique a Magazine Advertisement
When you read a magazine, you see advertisements filled with beautiful people. For this assignment, you are to find an advertisement from a magazine or the Internet and explain how it fits the same stereotypes you learned about in this topic. Once you have found the advertisement, explain how the particular advertisement you have found plays to the expectations of society. Your explanation should include the following:
- The URL of the advertisement (if it is web based), or a copy of the advertisement if it is found in a magazine or other source.
- A paragraph explaining how the advertisement applies certain stereotypes on people.
- A second paragraph explaining how you could change the advertisement to remove the stereotype and improve the advertisement.
Before you begin, access the Advertisement Critique Checklist to make sure that you include all of the items required for full credit. You may need to conduct research for statistics or other information to include in your notes, and you will need to properly cite any external resources that you use in a Works Cited document. If you need assistance, visit the Developmental Module for information on citing any resources that you used.
Once you have completed your Doll Design or Advertisement Critique Design, submit your assignment to the dropbox.