Goal of the exercise: The goal of this exercise is to re-examine boys and girls’ identity and to determinate the gender equality.
Age of the participants: 14-17 years
Number of participant: 30
Duration of the exercise: 40 minutes
Materials: paper/flip chart paper and pens
Step by step
- Divide the participants in two groups: boys and girls.
- Give them two sheets of paper to write down the things that come on their mind when they hear “what are girls like” and “what are boys like”. One paper is for one topic.
- Ask them to present their papers and after both groups present, open a discussion by asking the participants what are the differences they can notice on the two papers.
- From this exercise they will notice how they look on the other gender and how they look on their gender.
- Guide the participants to share examples of persons that are quite contrary of the things that are written on the papers.
How the papers might look
From the girls’ group
“What are the girls like”
- Good
- Friends
- Warm
- Strong
- Beautiful
- Ordinary
- Gentle
- Smile
- Smart
- Stubborn
- Angry
- Curious
- Proud
- Quiet
- Caring
- Funny
- stupid
“What are the boys like”
- stubborn
- with muscles
- harsh
- strong
- weak
- sometimes scared
- gentle
- actors
- little boys
- angry
- caring
- fighters
From the boys’ group
“What are the boys like”
- responsible
- strong
- physical strong
- restrained
- fast
- leaders
- speaking loud
- making wars
“What are girls like”
- caring
- emotional
- responsible
- strong
- caring
- super
- beautiful
- quiet
Debriefing
- Ask them if they are presented by the things written on the flip chart and how do they feel that somebody thinks for them or sees them in such way.
- Why do we give such adjectives to the others/other gender?
- What are prejudices based on?
- The workshop can finish with presentation of the trainer about prejudices and stereotypes, gender misinterpretations.
Authorship/adaptation or source: unknown source, adapted by Association PEL
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