Source: Content contributed by Scott Coltrane, as a Suggested Work and Family Class Activity for the Sloan Networks’ Resources for Teaching section.

Type: Film Analysis

Purpose
To encourage students to observe and evaluate media images and cultural messages about work and family obligations and opportunities for mothers and fathers

Steps
1. Divide class into small groups.

2. Have students read the article "Work-Family Imagery and Gender Stereotypes: Television and the Reproduction of Difference," (1997) Journal of Vocational Behavior, 50, 323-347 by Coltrane and Adams.
 
The article is available via internet from the publisher at:
http://www.authors.elsevier.com/JournalDetail.html?PubID=622908&Precis=DESC
Click on Tables of Contents and Abstracts (upper right of screen under About this Journal).
Click on Volume 50.
Click on Volume 50, Issue 2.
Click on PDF for article 11.

If you do not have access to this journal please contact Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes (pittcats@bc.edu) for a hard copy.

3. Meet in small groups to discuss the article. Do you think more recent television commercials (and shows) would reflect the same patterns that the authors found? Why or why not? Identify television portrayals of work and family that your group could focus on in exploring whether things are changing.

4. Small groups will select particular television shows to compare (based on audience or program type or some other criteria that the group thinks is important). Develop a coding scheme for keeping track of the number and type of images of work and family presented on the television commercials (or shows). Divide responsibility among the group for watching at least one hour of television. Record the number of characters, the number of images that represent work or family, and the gender of the character being represented (either in the shows themselves or in the commercials aired on the shows). Use whatever categories to describe the characters that you think are appropriate.

5. Meet after viewing the shows and consolidate observations. What were the major findings? Report major types of images and describe any interesting connections between the shows and work-family images according to gender. Are mothers and fathers shown in similar or different settings? Are they shown doing similar or different activities? Are they portrayed as equal parents or as having separate family roles? Are they equally likely to be portrayed as physical workers, in client service, as leaders, as business managers, as doctors, etc.?

6. Be prepared to discuss your findings in class. Discussion questions might include:

• What did you find that you expected? 
• What did you find that surprised you?
• Did you expect that media images would reinforce old patterns of gender and work-family life, or provide new models? Why?
• Do you think that media images of families and work will change? Why?
• Are media images important or insignificant? Why?