1.

Look at the picture. How are men and women represented? What does it

suggest about their respective roles? (Use the vocabulary for help)

 breadwinner (n.)  misogynous (adj.)

 homemaker (n.)  old-fashioned ≠ modern (adj.)
 household (n.)  patriarchal (adj.)
 husband (n.)  traditional (adj.)
 income earner (exp.)  society'sbeliefs (exp.)
 head of the household/family (exp.)  sexism / male chauvinism (n.)
 suburbia (n.)  conform to / with / obey
 wife (n.)  gender inequality (exp.)

 household chores (exp.)  free oneselffrom (exp.)

 duty / obligation (n.)  stand up for sthg. (exp.)
 educate / bring up / raise (v.)  stuck in traditions (exp.
 tidy up (v.)  contest (v.)
 keep up / continue (v.)  express (v.)
 pass on (v.)  rebel (v.)
 take care of / look after (v.)  struggle (v.)
 manage (v.)  disobey (v.)

 advertising (n.)  stay-at-home mother (exp.)/ housewife

 role models (n.)  college / university (n.)
 promote (v.)  rights (n.)
 discrimination (n.)  secretary (n.)
 consumer commodity (n.)  stewardess /ˈstjuːədəs/ (n.)
 stereotyped portrayal (exp.)  workplace (n.)
 glass ceiling (n.)  earn money (v.)
 ideal (n.)  employ (v.)
Video : Does I Love Lucy have a feminist strain? Youtube, 0.51 m
2. Watch the video. Make a list of the activities the characters are doing and /

or are talking about. Classify them in the grid below.

wife husband son

3. Compare how the characters feel about meal planning. Use adjectives to
contrast. Pick one adjective for each character from the following list.

bored annoyed sarcastic worried understanding amused

upset angry helpless powerful cynical

Wife : ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Husband:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Son:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

4. The objective of this video is ….

 1950s Education (pg 52, 53)
Group work
Look at your respective document on page 52 or 53 and answer the following
questions. You will then fill in the grid below.
How are traditional gender roles portrayed in your document?
How were children raised in the 1950s and what were the consequences of
this education?

Question Portrayal of traditional Children’s upbringing and

gender roles consequences of this education
Gp 1

Gp 2

Gp 3

For additional information, you could look at the following video entitled
Watch the Unspoken ‘rules’ for the 1950s teens. (7m30)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSzgC-WWRho&list=PLWW1Xdyit9YGiAnbfs8zJlzr-
MtAs4CUK&index=24
Sexism in advertising in the 1950s and 60s
 Commentary

Types of wives portrayed

Physical description of the wives

Description of the men

What is expected of a ‘perfect’

wife’

Products promoted

Some surprising or shocking

quotations