In order to do the warmer activity, make sure to arrange the room so there is space for members to stand in a line and step to the right or left. If space is an issue get members to raise their hands: right (male) / left (female).
The aim of the session is to highlight that gender stereotypes are socially-constructed and limit opportunities for everyone.
Below is some useful language that during the club session you might want to introduce, share, check or reference during the session.
Gender: refers to the characteristics of women, men, girls and boys that are socially constructed. This includes norms, behaviours and roles associated with being a woman, man, girl or boy, as well as relationships with each other. As a social construct, gender varies from society to society and can change over time.
Gender bias: a favouritism or prejudice against one gender.
Gender equality: is the state in which access to rights, opportunities and societies is open for all genders without discrimination.
Gender roles: refers to how women/men and girls/boys are expected to act, speak, dress, and conduct themselves in society and in the family.
Gender stereotypes: is a widely accepted judgment or bias related to a person’s gender. There are four main gender stereotypes: 1. personality (e.g. women are accommodating and emotional and men are strong and aggressive); 2. domestic (e.g. women do the washing up and men take care of the finances); 3. occupations/jobs (e.g. nurses are women and pilots are men); 4. physical appearance (e.g. men and women are expected to dress according to their gender men have short hairstyles and women wear dresses).
Sexism: is prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination based on a person’s sex or gender.
Sex: refers to a person’s biological characteristics. A person's sex is usually described as being either male or female.
Make sure you’re in the meeting space 10-15 mins before the club starts. Depending on your registration process make sure you’ve a register either to tick people’s names off or for people to add their names too. Also, make sure the suggestion box is visible for members to see and access.
Greet members as they enter, invite them to sit/stand wherever they are comfortable.
Start the club at the advertised time
1. Introduce yourself, what an English Club is, and your role during the club meeting.
2. Tell members there are five golden rules they need to follow to ensure this meeting is an enjoyable experience for everyone.
I. Use English – don’t correct anyone’s English
II. Be respectful and supportive you may have different levels of understanding and abilities to contribute to the discussions.
III. Everyone has the right to an opinion.
IV. Make sure everyone in your group has an opportunity to talk / ask questions. Max 3 mins per person per question.
V. All mobile phones off or put on silent.
3. Ask members if they have any questions.
4. Ask members if they are ready to start.
1. Tell members we’re going to play a quick game exploring gender roles. The aim of the game is to see which gender they associate with different jobs.
2. Ask members to all stand in line in front of you.
3. Tell members you’re going to call out a job. When they hear the job ask them which gender they think of first: a man or a woman. Do one as an example to help members understand what they have to do.
4. Tell members to close their eyes, when all eyes are closed say, taxi driver. Tell members if they think of a man for this job first to take a side step to the right; if they think of a woman first they should take a step to the left. When everyone has taken their step, ask them to open eyes, have they all taken a step in the same direction?
5. Tell members to close their eyes. Start the game.
6. Call out the following professions one-by-one: nurse / president / secretary / shop assistant / taxi driver / chef / footballer / cleaner / air hostess / spy / primary school teacher / pilot / doctor / university lecturer. After members take their step for each profession ask them to open their eyes to see if they are thinking the same.
7. Ask members what have they learned about themselves doing this activity. Do they have a gender bias?
Note: we all have gender biases, which are both conscious and unconscious due to how we were brought up, social norms and culture.
Below are some questions, you don’t have to do all of them, let the club members guide you, if they are enjoying discussing one of the question rounds let it run beyond the 17 minutes.
1. Put members into groups of 5-6 using different gender stereotypes (E.g. boys don’t cry, you run like a girl, women are bad drivers, men can’t cook, women are weak etc.)
2. Tell each group to introduce themselves to each other.
3. Show / give each group the first question: Where do our ideas about masculinity and femininity come from? Can you share some examples?
4. Give support where needed. Encourage turn-taking / asking questions.
5. If members answer the question very quickly get them to discuss: gender stereotypes; why do associate certain behaviours and emotions with being masculine or feminine.
6. After 17 mins facilitate feedback. Invite members to share something from their group discussions.
1. Put members into groups of 5-6 using different colours (red, blue, orange, green pink etc.)
2. Tell each group to introduce themselves to each other.
3. Show / give each group the second question: In what aspects of life is it easier being a girl/woman and in what aspects is it easier being a boy/man?
4. Monitor, give support where needed. Encourage turn-taking / asking questions.
5. If members answer the question very quickly get them to discuss: Should boys and girls be treated differently;
6. After 17 mins facilitate feedback. Invite members to share who they think overall has it easiest men or woman, and why?
1. Put members into groups of 5-6 using different toys: (dolls, Lego, cars, tea set, train set)
2. Tell each group to introduce themselves to each other.
3. Show / give each group the third question: Why do people treat boys and girls differently?
4. Monitor, give support where needed. Encourage turn-taking / asking questions.
5. If members answer the question very quickly get them to discuss: How does gender influence the way we parent; What are the benefits of raising boys and girls in the same way?
6. After 17 mins facilitate feedback. Invite members to share what their group members would change, if anything and why.
1. Ask members how their meeting went.
2. Ask members if the club met their expectations.
3. Tell members there’s a suggestion box (point to it) where they can share topic ideas or activities we could do.
4. Tell members when the next club is and what the theme/topic is. Encourage them to come / bring a colleague etc.
5. Thank everyone for coming.
If the members enjoyed the club session you could share the following resources with them either on Facebook or in the English Club WhatsApp group: