Early grades activity to confront gender stereotypes.
This is a part of Gender Doesn't Limit You! [1], also available as a PDF [2].
Note: Substitute your school's name for "St. Francis." You can replace the provided student names with names of your students, too.
Problem: Sometimes boys and girls make fun of each other because they wear something or cut their hair in a certain way that isn't what their gender usually does. Remember that gender is whether you are a boys or a girl. Sometimes someone might make fun of a boy for wearing a pink, "girls'" shirt.
Rationale: Saying something like this isn't a nice thing to do. Boys and girls can dress any way they want to, or do anything to their hair that they want. It does not matter what their gender is. Making fun of people because they act differently is a type of bullying, and bullying is not allowed at St. Francis.
Questions: What should you do if someone says that your clothes, hair, or actions are wrong because of your gender?
You should answer: "There's no such thing as boys' or girls' _____."
Case Practice:
I. Okay, so let's practice what we should say if someone makes fun of our clothes, hair or actions because we are a boy or a girl! Samantha is really excited because she got a fancy new haircut. It is a short haircut like her mother's. When she shows up to school, Marcus says, "Why do you have a boy's hair cut?" What do we say to Marcus? One, two, three GO!
Answer: "There's no such thing as boys' or girls' haircuts."
II. Good job! Let's try another one. Carey goes to school wearing her brother's old shirt, pants and shoes. Jose sees her outfit and says, "Why are you wearing boys' clothes?" What do we tell Jose? One, two, three GO!
Answer: "There's no such thing as boys' or girls' clothes."
III. Good job! Let's try another one. In Henry's culture, it is important for him to have long hair. When he shows up to school, Isabelle says, "Why do you have a girls' hair cut?" What do we tell Isabelle? One, two, three GO!
Answer: "There's no such thing as boys' or girls' haircuts."
IV. Good job! Let's try another one. Rick goes to school wearing a pink shirt. Beth says, "Why are you wearing a girl's shirt?" What do we tell Beth? One, two, three GO!
Answer: "There's no such thing as boys' or girls' clothes."
Links:
[1] http://www.tolerance.org/gender
[2] http://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/general/tt_gender_doesnt_limit-2.pdf