Assignment: Journal Entry Media and Sexism
Many marketing efforts perpetuate the gender stereotypes that are steeped in our culture. Two examples at attempts to maintain these stereotypes through advertising are the Bic Critsal For Her and the Easy Bake Oven. These two conceivably innocuous items triggered a flood of articles, petitions, and videos, denouncing their perceived underlying messages.

The first controversy that erupted surrounded the Bic Cristal For Her pen. This pen was created and packaged specifically for women to use. Several groups lashed out at Bic, calling their attempt to target women with “lady pens” sexist and demeaning. Its detractors felt the campaign was degrading and fed into stereotypes by highlighting the thin design and the use of pastel colors. The negative press was overwhelming, although the pens have remained on the market.

Consumers also targeted those responsible for marketing the Easy Bake Oven by sending a petition asking its parent company Hasbro to make the ovens in colors other than pink and purple. Thousands of individuals signed the petition asking for alternative oven colors after a teenage girl from New Jersey was angered that her younger brother would have no other option but to use an oven in the colors that are considered stereotypically female. It was argued that the colors supported the stereotypical view that only young girls would want to bake. The signers of the petition felt that young boys who might want to use the toy would be more likely to practice their baking skills if the color of the oven was gender neutral.

Consider these two stories and think about your own reactions to the responses to the advertising and merchandising of these items.

To prepare: View the assigned resources and reflect on your experience with gender.

By Day 7
Submit a 2- to 4- page paper, in which you:

Identify specific messages about gender presented in the mass media.
Discuss messages about gender you have received from your family or cultural group.
Analyze how these messages have influenced your experience with gender.
Explain how you might address issues related to sexism in the mass media and diverse cultural beliefs about gender and gender roles in your social work practice. 

BUSINESS AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Learning Outcomes

Compose an effective email which include qualities of an effective email.
Initiating the job search

This SLP asks for the following:

A goodwill message to a prospective employer (Examples of goodwill messages are communications of appreciation, congratulations, or positive feedback).

Please pay particular focus to the principles outlined in Chapter 1: Effective Business Communications, within the Business Communication for Success ebook.

In the SLPs for this course, you will assume the role of a currently employed professional wanting to change careers. Each of the SLPs will focus on different phases of the job search. In each SLP, you will apply the business communication principles covered in the module.

Search for companies you are interested in working for, or jobs you are keen on. You may begin your search at an employment website (such as Monster.com, usajobs.gov, etc.) and find a job opening that interests you. Save the existing job advertisement for a position you are interested in.

You will be completing the subsequent SLPs using the job opening you identified.

For the goodwill message, write an email, using principles from routine and goodwill emails, to inquire about your desired position. You may ask questions related to application procedures, deadlines, references, or any other detail. The objective of this email is to build rapport with the company and notify them of your interest, and the possibility you may be submitting an application later on. Include the actual job advertisement in your submission. This could be a pdf document, or a link to the advertisement.

Submit your assignment by the module’s due date.