Harvard Sailing Team Sketch Comedy on Gender Stereotypes

Tags: gender, sex/sexuality, social construction, comedy, social interaction, stereotypes, 00 to 05 mins 
Year: 2010
Length: 4:09 (Boys will be Girls) and 3:35 (Girls will be Boys)
Access: YouTube: Boys will be Girls and Girls will be Boys

Summary: These two sketch comedy clips by the "Harvard Sailing Team" can be used in tandem for highlighting the stereotypes we harbor around men and women's intra-gender group interaction.  While the stereotypes are familiar, these clips are particularly useful for exploring how well our stereotypes map onto actual interactions.  The fact that these stereotypical interactions are being performed by the "wrong" gender group accentuates the absurdity of the stereotypes. Instructors can ask students whether these are accurate portrayals of how they interact within their own groups of friends.  If not, then why are these stereotypes so familiar to all of us?  How do they perpetuate despite deviating from actual everyday group interaction?  Further, what are the implications of this "mismatch" between perception and actuality?  These two clips also demonstrate the use of comedy in teaching sociological concepts.  

Submitted By: Michelle Smirnova

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