Lesson Plan 2: Confronting Beauty Standards

Hollywood’s unrealistic standard of beauty has left many people feeling depressed and unattractive. The current culture is obsessed with youth and beauty, which teaches people that they are only valuable if they are attractive. In this lesson, students will be taught how to critically think about the messages the media and culture send them about body image and explore problems associated with comparison culture. Students will also uncover how fake many of the pictures and people they see are to help them understand that they can’t compare themselves to these unrealistic standards.

Grade level: 9 - 12

Prep time: 20 min

Lesson Duration: 70 min + Optional Extension Activity (20 min)

Learning Outcomes:

It is expected that students will:

• Recognize what messages their culture and the media send them about body image.
• Identify and explore ways to combat these potentially harmful messages from culture and the media.  
• Demonstrate an understanding of how to truly accept themselves as they are right now. 

Lesson includes:

• Activate, Acquire, and Apply Activities 
• The Beauty Standard in Hollywood is Unrealistic for Both Men and Women (online article) 
• Hollywood’s Toxic Beauty Standards (online article)
• Kim Kardashian: Plastic Surgery (2000-2020) (video link)
• Agree/Disagree Signs (Printable)

Materials required (not included)

•  Screen and speakers for viewing videos

NB: Purchase includes access to downloadable resources for 6 months.