Increasing High School Students’ Awareness of the Effects of Gender Stereotypes

Gender stereotypes can prevent many adolescents from exploring aspects of their identity. One reason being, gender stereotypes are reinforced in media and society on a daily basis, constantly reaffirming the beliefs of what a male and female should act and look like. These beliefs may cause an adolescent to make choices about their identity without thinking or questioning, which is known as identity foreclosure. As a result, adolescents may limit themselves academically or socially which might restrict future career paths and job opportunities. My capstone project focused on teaching adolescent Girl Scouts of California Central Coast how to identify, question, and defy gender stereotypes found within our culture. To initiate my project, I prepared a 1 and a half-hour presentation on Zoom that included interactive games, videos, and discussions. These activities focused on definitions and concepts of sex and gender, gender stereotypes, and their effects on academic choices that cause occupational segregation. After completion of my capstone, results showed that participants were able to demonstrate knowledge to meet almost all outcomes successfully