Objective: To examine common gender-biased statements

Grade Level: Grades K through 12

Time: 30 minutes

Materials: Markers, tape, long roll of paper or long piece of rope

Procedure:
Draw a continuum across the front of the room - use a full-length chalkboard, tie a long piece of rope to two chairs placed on opposite sides of the room, or stretch and tape paper rolled across the front of the room above the chalkboard. Write in the statements of agreement or disagreement.

The continuum should look like this:

1. Choose someone in the group to read the gender-role stereotypes listed below. For younger students, read from the list of stereotypes.

2. Next, ask everyone to stand in front of the neutral sign. For younger students, use pictures to identify the different lines.

3. The reader will read the first stereotype, and each member of the group will then move, without comment, to stand under the "Agree," "Neutral," or Disagree" sign. After all have chosen their stand, they can share their reasons for the position they have taken.

Remember: there are no right or wrong answers, only opinions.

4. After hearing a few of the reasons, some people may wish to shift to another line. Ask them to explain the change. They can choose to not answer by saying, "I pass."

5. When the reader is ready to read the next stereotype, have all the members of the group return to the "Neutral" line. Continue through several stereotypes.

Gender-Role Stereotypes

1. It is not okay for boys to cry.

2. Girls shouldn't be allowed to play on boys' teams.

3. It is not okay for boys to play with dolls if they want to.

4. It is not okay for girls to play with trucks if they want to.

5. Boys get into more trouble than girls do.

6. Girls are better readers than boys are.

7. Boys are better at math than girls are.

8. Teachers punish boys more often than they punish girls.

9. A girl could never grow up to be president of the United States.

10. Boys are troublemakers; girls are well behaved.

11. Girls do neat work; boys do sloppy work.

12. Boys are good at math and science.

13. Girls are good at spelling and reading.

14. Boys are better at science than girls are.

15. Boys are better at physical education than girls are.

16. Girls get better grades than boys do.

17. Boys don't like school; girls like school.

18. Boys are better at using computers than girls are.

The above excerpt was from Raising the Grade, a curriculum about Title IX. It is available from WEEA in the Spring of 1998. Call 800-793-5076 to order.