OBJECTIVES

• to raise awareness of gender stereotyping in our thinking;

REQUIREMENTS

• Time: 40 minutes
• tools for writing
• flip-chart, markers
• video-projector

DESCRIPTION

1. The trainer reads out the following list of words and asks for hands up if the participant thinks it’s a girl thing and no hand up if the participant thinks it’s a boy thing or vice versa.

2. Once the trainer has read through the whole list, he/she asks the following questions written on the flip-chart:
   • Why do you think so many of you agreed on the associations?
   • Where do these ideas come from?
   • Is it true that these are just girls or boys things?
   • Where are these answers coming from?

3. The trainer shows one or both of these clips:

Inspiring The Future - Redraw The Balance

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv8VZVP5csA)

and/or

Children Talking about Gender Roles

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv8VZVP5csA)  

DISCUSSION TOPICS (DEBREIFING AND EVALUATION)

• How many of us actually fit totally or at all into these gender roles?
• If we do, do you think it can be because we’ve had those ideas drummed into our heads from an early age?
• What does this activity teaches us about gender roles?

Facilitator tips: It could be helpful to do some positive affirmations to support participants’ resilience and confidence to resist stereotypes, for example “it’s great that nowadays more and more women are part of the army”.

Method adapted from Robert Gordon University Challenging Gender Stereotype Lesson Plans)

https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/pluginfile.php/272873/mod_resource/content/1/Classroom%20Activities%20on%20gender%20stereotypes%20and%20equality.pdf