Great Ideas: Gender Bias in Art

Developing an Awareness of Gender Bias in Art interpretation

Objective:

Students will discuss and write about ways that gender bias may influence the ways in which they interpret pieces of art.

Grade level and subject area:

Grades 6-8 / Art

Activities and strategies:

The teacher shows the students a series of slides of artists' works. After each slide, the teacher asks: "Simply from looking at the slide, can you predict if this is the work of a male artist, a female artist, or is this an impossible task?" The students write their responses and write a brief explanation regarding their decision.

Often, the students will predict the gender of the artist. The teacher then encourages the students to identify what element(s) of the work influenced their decision. The teacher can relate this discussion to common stereotypes relating to gender roles (i.e. only females paint with pink, only males draw dark or ominous scenes). If the pieces of art are chosen carefully (see list below), students can learn that many artists express themselves in ways that do not conform with gender-role expectations.

Through the discussions, the teacher encourages students to identify their own biases regarding gender role expectations as they relate to artistic expression. The teacher also encourages the students to expand their own artistic expression beyond the limits set by either their own or society's gender-role expectations. Finally, the teacher asks the students to write a paragraph that summarizes what they learned from the experience.

Resources and materials:

Representations of works of art (slides are recommended), be aware that students may be influenced by both the content and the medium. Look for pieces that defy common stereotypes. Art magazines such as Art in America and Art News, slide libraries and art textbooks are some possible sources for works of art. Suggested artists include: David Hockney, Sue Coe, Deborah Butterfield, Theodore Waddell, Donald Roller Wilson, and Georgia O'Keefe.

This lesson was created by Tama Richardson, Art teacher, East Middle School, Martinsville, IN

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