Theme: Sexual Assault
The purpose of this research paper is to examine differences in media messages on gender roles from
prefeminist/early postfeminist eras to contemporary society. You can choose any type of medium
(newspapers, children’s books, comics, television shows, ads, lyrics from songs, popular magazine covers)
from specific time periods (e.g. 1960 compared to 2018 on the medium you choose, e.g., ADS). You will have
to review between FIVE (5) content pieces for each medium you choose from each time period (So, five ads
from 1960, five ads from 2018, as examples). You will review the content looking for particular themes as to
how gender is portrayed. In your writing, you will compare and contrast the gender roles from the two different
time periods.
In writing your paper, you will summarize the themes focusing on differences and similarities. Ask yourself:
How much has changed? Has the message changed, if so in what way? What did you find interesting?
Disappointing? Exciting?