VIC Gender at work

The aim of the activity was to make become more aware of gender stereotypes in the professional field and their consequences.

First, the students watched a video made in a classroom in the UK: « A class that turn around kids’ assumptions about  gender roles ». Young children aged about 6 were asked to draw  pictures of a surgeon, a firefighter and a fighter pilot and give them a name. Assuming they were all males, the children all drew men. Then, a firefighter, a surgeon and a pilot came into the classroom, and they were all women. The children were really amazed and first thought the ladies were dressed up.

This video explained that gender stereoptypes are all defined between 5 and 7 years of age.

Our students were as surprised as the young British children. A discussion followed, talking about what is generally considered as men’s jobs and women’s jobs and the possible reasons for that preconceived gender distribution. They realised how those stereotypes persist and can influence and restrict girls’ career choices and what damage they can cause. They created a mental map representing these stereotypes, how we can dismantle them and  break free from them.

The students realised that our mentalities are so biased that sometimes we do not even realise that we are manipulated and confirmed in stereotypes. They became aware of the preconceived ideas whereby females and males are arbitrarily assigned characteristics and roles determined and limited by their gender. Gender stereotyping can limit the development of the natural talents and abilities of girls and boys, women and men, as well as their educational and professional experiences and life opportunities in general. They created a mental map materializing these ideas and trying to find solutions