VIC Gender at work

The students were divided into 6 mixed groups (each including French, Portuguese and Italian pupils).

Each group was given a short biography of an existing woman who made a difference, distingued herself very often in a male dominated field, or didn’t react as she was  expected to do as a woman, or took considerable risks to follow herconvictions. They were from different countries, backgrounds and situations. After reading the short biographies, the pupils were presented a series of stylized portraits of the women and were asked to find the picture corresponding to the woman who was described in their text. They all succeeeded, showing they had read carefully and found the mostimportant achievements of these women. In the following activity, the teacher dispayed sheets of paper, each containing a quotation. They were asked to find out whiich sentence was said by their character, thus showing they  had understood the heroin’s philosophy and convictions.

Finally, they had to create the imaginary book cover of each biography, using their artistic skills wthout forgetting all the necessary information and paying attention to the layout of the page.

The students took an active part in the activity, which was both entertaining and meaningful. Each member of the group had the opportunity of being invoved, whatever their skills and abilities (foreign language, art, creativity, etc..). Theydiscovered biographies of « rebel » women, who distinguished themselves in their fields, refusing fatality and the usualplace of women in society, overcoming all sorts of obstacles and  sometimes taking enormous risks. They could beconsidered as role models for the girls in the group.