The following questions are designed to get your group talking about women in the media, particularly on television. You can use these questions or make up your own. Take your group's answers and turn them into a challenge to the media to better represent women and to act more responsibly. Write letters to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the networks, your local stations, movie studios, magazines--anyone you want to listen up. Tell the media decision-makers how you feel about the content of their programming; let them know what you like, what you think is discriminatory and unrepresentative, and what is missing. (Sample letters and addresses are attached.)
 

General Topic: What is the current state of women in the media?
 

1. Do you feel the characters and programs on television represent you and the issues in your life?

Why or why not?
 
 
 
 
 

What do you feel is most lacking on television today? (For example: Age diversity, realistic body types, appropriate portrayals of racial and ethnic characters, lesbians and gay men, equal representation of men and women, religious diversity, etc.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2. Pick your own best and worst programs on TV:
 
 
 
 
 

How are the "best" shows similar? What makes them good?
 
 
 

How are the "worst" shows similar? What makes them so offensive or senseless?
 
 
 
 

3. What programming changes might make you more inclined to watch television?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

4. Are movies better or worse than TV at portraying women and girls? Why or why not?