Tool "A Genderless Story"

Language: English

Project Featuring This Tool: Rainbow Resources

Themes:Gender and Sexuality Inclusion and Equality

Perceptions and stereotypes can be very powerful. Even when using gender neutral-language, we find that those hearing the words associate them with one gender or another. In this activity participants will be made aware of their own stereotypes about male and female characteristics through listening to a story and drawing pictures.

Time 30 minutes
Approximate number of participants 5-10
Age under 10
Date published 9 Dec 2011, 11:09

Objectives

To raise awareness of the power of words and their influence on gender stereotypes

To challenge stereotypes associated with gender characteristics

Materials

One piece of paper per child
Coloured pens or crayons

Step-by-step instructions

1.Give each participant a sheet of paper and something to draw with.

2.Explain they will hear a story about a child.

3.After listening to the story ask everyone to choose a part of the story and draw it.

4.Give everyone the opportunity to present their drawings.

Debriefing

Was this story different from other stories you have heard? Why?

How are the pictures that participants have drawn different from each other?

Was it said in the story that the child is a boy or a girl?

Why did they assume the child was a boy/girl?

Can boys and girls do the same things? Why?

Tips

Divide the group into two and put them in two separate rooms/ spaces. Instead of reading the story to them,ask one group to invent a story about a boy called Alex and the other group to invent a story about a girl called Alex. Bring the groups together and allow them to act out their stories. Compare the stories afterwards.

Ask children to come up with their own stories where the main character is a girl who is strong and clever.

Play out parts of the story and invite participants to take turns (boys/ girls) in playing the main character instead of drawing the story.

You can find the appendix in the attach file

Attached files