Helping Children Challenge Gender Stereotypes Through Media
Media shapes how children understand themselves — and each other. From an early age, kids absorb messages about who gets to lead, who belongs in certain careers, and what girls and boys are “supposed” to like, do, or become.
Created by the Geena Davis Institute in partnership with ITVS and the Women and Girls Lead campaign, Guess Who? is a short educational video series designed to help children ages 6–9 recognize and question gender stereotypes in media and everyday life.
The series combines storytelling, classroom discussion, and media literacy tools to encourage children to think critically about representation — and to imagine broader possibilities for themselves and others.
Watch the Playlist
Why This Matters
Children notice patterns in storytelling long before adults think they do.
Research shows that repeated exposure to narrow or stereotypical portrayals can shape how children view careers, leadership, emotions, intelligence, and belonging. When certain groups are consistently absent — or shown in limited ways — those patterns can start to feel normal.
Guess Who? was created to help children:
- Recognize gender stereotypes in media
- Question limiting assumptions
- Think critically about representation
- See women and men in a wider range of roles and careers
- Build media literacy skills at an early age
The videos encourage curiosity rather than prescribing “correct” answers, helping children develop awareness about the messages they encounter every day through television, movies, advertising, and digital media.
About the Series
The Guess Who? educational program (Link to: Geena Davis and Independent Television Service Confront the Effects of Media on Children with Guess Who? Short Videos – ITVS ) includes five short videos paired with curriculum materials developed for children, families, and educators.
Student filmmakers from the following universities collaborated with the Geena Davis Institute to create the series. :
- University of Southern California
- Boston University
- Columbia College
- Lipscomb University
- Webster University
The videos were originally produced in partnership with ITVS as part of the Women and Girls Lead public media campaign, which focuses on stories that educate, engage, and activate audiences around issues affecting women and girls globally.
Classroom & Discussion Themes
The Guess Who? series explores themes including:
- Gender stereotypes in everyday life
- Representation in television and movies
- Careers and leadership roles
- Media influence on children
- Critical thinking and media literacy
- Identity, confidence, and belonging
The videos are designed to support conversations both in classrooms and at home.
Representation Shapes Possibility
“When representation disappears from storytelling, exclusion starts to feel normal.”
The stories children see help shape what they believe is possible — for themselves and for others. Expanding representation in media helps create a broader understanding of leadership, intelligence, creativity, caregiving, and opportunity.
Because children often watch the same media repeatedly, the impact of representation can compound over time. Guess Who? helps young audiences begin recognizing those patterns early.
For Educators, Families, and Community Organizations
This resource is designed for:
- Educators and school administrators
- Parents and caregivers
- After-school and youth programs
- Librarians
- Media literacy educators
- Community organizations