VIC What makes a (wo)man

First, students answered to the question “How would you define stereotypes?” and “What are some typical examples?”.

Then they were shown a Powerpoint presentation testing the extent of their own prejudices regarding gender. They discussed the results. They also watched a video where very young children were asked to draw their representations of a fireman, a surgeon, a pilot, showing that stereotypes are deeply anchored in the collective unconscious and transmitted at a very early age.

Then they were led to discuss and  answer these questions:

 What makes a boy / man / a girl / a woman? What are boys / men / girls/ women expected to be like? Can you think of attitudes and behaviours that boys / men / girls / women are expected to adopt. In pairs, girls  created 2 mental maps listing the stereotypes they could think of regarding boys / men.  In pairs, the boys  created 2 mental maps listing the stereotypes they could think of  regarding girls / women.

The students realised what gender stereotypes are and the consequences they can have on their behaviour, theirattitude towards life, their future achievements. Then they created mental maps synthesizing male and femalestereotypes. Samples of these maps were published on the project blog.