Just Because Poem
Girls Only Toolkit
This activity helps participants to identify gender roles
and expectations that others place on them and encourages them to define
themselves outside of these gender roles.
Recommended time: 1 hour
1.
Ask
participants to define gender and discuss ways it influences our lives.
2.
Ask
participants to brainstorm things that people think about them based on the way
they look, how they behave or because they are a part of a certain group, ask
participants to focus on things that are not necessarily true. Give examples:
“just because I am a woman, people think I should have children”, etc. If participants say what people think of them
without giving a reason, ask them why they think people think that. Ask participants
to share how it makes them feel that people might think that about them whether
it is true or not.
3.
Explain
gender roles by providing examples from ideas brainstormed. Remind participants of how they felt when
others projected gender roles onto them.
4.
Tell
participants they will write a poem based on perceptions about their own
identities. Ask participants to discredit the perception with a positive trait
about themselves.
5.
Read example
“Just Because” poem using the examples provided below or use your own.
Example:
Just because
I am a girl Just
because I am a boy
It doesn’t
mean I don’t like to play sports It
doesn’t mean I don’t like to make bunna
It doesn’t
mean I am not good in school It
doesn’t mean I don’t have feelings
It doesn’t
mean I like to clean It
doesn’t mean I like to play sports
I am strong I
am a believer in gender equality
6.
Give participants
time to complete their poem. Assist when needed.
7.
When
participants have completed their poems, have them read them aloud. Remind them
to practice being confident as they claim their identities.
8.
Ask
participants to share what they learned today. Ask them to tell you what they
know about gender roles.
No comments:
Post a Comment