Gender & Power
Theme: Being gender aware.
To enable girls to fully understand what sex and gender are and how they influence power relations, gender roles and gender stereotypes.
Group discussion prompts
In a fun way, divide the girls into four groups. Give them time to discuss:
• Do you believe that it is okay for the boys to get more education while the girls stay at home?
• Do you believe that a woman's MOST important role is taking care of the home and family?
• Do you believe that it is okay for boys and men to expect girls to have sex with them in exchange for gifts?
Ask the girls what they think sex is, and what gender is. Allow them to participate and note down their responses before sharing the definitions.
Definitions
Sex, the biological difference between girls and boys, women and men. For example, girls have a female reproductive organ (vagina) and boys have the male reproductive organ (penis). Sex doesn't change from culture to culture or race to race.
Gender, the social construction of how girls and boys, women and men should act in a certain society. Gender changes depending on culture, traditions, race and country.
Gender roles, socially constructed roles, behaviours and activities considered appropriate for girls and boys, women and men. For example, in Uganda it is expected that the woman stays home with the children, which is not the case in Norway where both parents take turns.
Gender stereotypes, unfair beliefs about girls or boys that are seen as true and unchangeable (e.g. blue is for boys and pink is for girls, boys are brighter than girls, boys aren't supposed to cry, girls are weak).
Power, the possession of control and authority over others.
Q: Where do you see power imbalances? Allow the girls to participate and take note of their responses.
Ice breaker
Ask the girls to give you some roles that they do as girls and the roles that boys do. They can also talk about the differences between how boys and girls are expected to act in Uganda.
Activity: Is it a girl or boy thing?
Warm-up activity to raise awareness of gender stereotyping. Read out the list; ask the class to raise their hands if they think it's a girl thing. Read the same statement again and ask how many think it's a boy thing. Repeat for all items.
Science • Mathematician • Crying • Teacher • Mechanic • Blue • Nurse • Cleaning • Cooking • Engineer • Doctor • Lawyer • Pink.
Discuss: Where do these ideas come from? Are there exceptions where girls do things boys do, and vice versa?
- Sex and gender are different.
- Difference and inequality are not the same. Girls and boys may have many differences but there is no reason this should affect their status or rights. They are different, but equal.
- Girls, together with boys, must cook, clean and help their parents. Girls can also take on tasks boys commonly do, like washing your parent's car. Have a positive attitude towards work.
- Respect everyone, regardless of their gender.