The goal of this module is
- to understand that both boys and girls can hit the target.
Ideal Group size:
Up to 30
Duration:
25 minutes
Preparation:
Material:
- Chalk board and chalk, flip chart and marker pens
Materials for download:
External resources:
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How it’s done
Divide the group into boys and girls. The girls sit on the floor in a circle facing inwards and the boys sit in a circle outside the girls, facing the girls. Make sure they are close enough to the girls to hear them.- Explain the rules of the activity and its objective, which is to examine gender norms in their community.
- The girls must pretend that the boys in the outside circle are just watching and listening, like they would in a boxing match.
- The facilitator leading the girls’ discussion will read questions. The girls must then discuss the questions while the boys listen.
- The boys cannot speak at all during this first round. All they can do is listen carefully.
- The girls must speak as if the boys are not there or cannot hear them. Tell them to feel free to share how they feel; there are no wrong answers. If someone says something they like, they can snap their fingers or clap their hands.
- Below are questions for the girls to use as guides. Feel free to add your own questions.
- What is the best thing about being a female in your community?
- What is the most difficult thing about being a female in your community?
- What would you tell boys to help them better understand girls?
- What is one thing you would never want to hear said about a woman or girl again?
- Now, have the girls and boys switch positions and follow the same directions for the boys’ discussion. Use the questions below as guides. Feel free to add your own questions.
- What is the best thing about being a male in your community?
- What is the most difficult thing about being a male in your community?
- What would you tell girls to help them better understand boys?
- What is one thing you would never want to hear said about boys again?
- Now have the whole group sit in a circle and discuss:
- How did it feel to talk about these issues with people of the same sex while people of the opposite sex were listening?
- What did it feel like to listen? Did anything surprise you?
- Why is it important to communicate with people of the opposite sex?
- What can we do to make it easier for men and women to listen to each other?
