Gender and Technology Training Guidelines
SESSION 8
OUR PERCEPTIONS ABOUT GENDER
This session is principally addressing gender attitudes in society, and may not be
needed where participants have already received this type of training. The Handout
provided for Session 6, should also be used with this exercise
PURPOSE: To discover different perceptions about gender
TIME
1 ½ hours.
MATERIAL 2 boards with “Totally Agree” and “Totally Disagree” written on them
List of statements (see resource pack)
Handouts 1 & 2
ACTIVITY
Step 1
Facilitator explains that very early in life people learn who they are and what
roles and responsibilities they are expected to perform.
Step 2
Ask participants to close their eyes and reflect back to their childhood and
recall the first time they discovered they were different from the opposite sex.
Ask them to recollect the place, the others who were there, what was said, who
and how the message was given about what it means to be a boy or girl.
Step 3
Ask the participants to find a partner in the group and discuss their
recollections.
Next, discuss with the partner what gender roles they are expected to take on
today as a man or woman in their culture.
Facilitator’s notes:
Participants may wish to share these insights with the wider group or they may not. If
they do, leave time for sharing
Step 4
Facilitator places 2 boards with words “ TOTALLY AGREE” on one end of the
room and a board with the words “TOTALLY DISAGREE” on the other end.
Ask the participants to choose a position in the continuum when one of the
following statements are made. Ask participants to volunteer to tell the group
the reason for the position they have taken. (This exercise should be carried
out quickly and should be FUN)
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