Real Men and Women Take a Stand
Goal of Activity: To identify social messages and pressures around masculinity and femininity and examine how these pressures and messages affect behaviors.
Below is the activity as it would be presented to a co-ed class.
"We're going to do an activity about the messages that young men and women receive about masculinity and femininity."
"First, just the guys will be involved, but I want girls to observe respectfully and be prepared to share your observations. Then we will switch and the females will participate."
"I'm going to read some statements. Please stand up if you have experienced this and sit down if you have not."
"Please remember that there are no right or wrong answers and the values we established for the class.
"The purpose of this activity is to identify some of the pressures we feel. You may notice you're even feeling pressures in how you respond in this activity."
- Stand up if you've ever been told not to cry.
- Stand up if you've ever worked out to get bigger muscles.
- Stand up if you've ever worn or bought clothes to show off your muscles.
- Stand up if you've ever been told not to cry.
- Stand up if you've ever held back tears so you wouldn't "loose face".
- Stand up if you've ever wanted to give someone a hug, but didn't.
- Stand up if you've ever been told to "act like a man".
- Stand up if you've ever been told or told someone, "You do that like a girl."
- Stand up if you've ever been pressured to do something because it's the "manly" thing to do.
- Stand up if you've ever wanted to ask for help or advice, but felt you couldn't.
- Stand up if you've ever felt pressure to drink or use drugs.
- Stand up if you've ever felt pressure to do something physically unsafe or high risk.
- Stand up if you've ever gone along with conversations that degrade or objectify women, even though you may feel differently.
- Stand up if you've ever felt pressure to be sexually active.
- Stand up if you've ever felt pressure to have lots of sexual partners.
- Stand up if you've ever stood up for what you believe in.
"Thank you, guys. You may now sit."
"Now we're going to give the females in the group a chance. Remember that the values agreements are still in place."
- Stand up if you've ever felt pressure to be thinner.
- Stand up if you've ever bought clothes that made you look skinnier or larger breasted.
- Stand up if you've ever wanted to see a movie and been told it's a "chic flick".
- Stand up if you've ever felt pressured to do something because it's the lady-like thing to do.
- Stand up if you've ever been told to "act like a lady".
- Stand up if you've ever gone along with conversations that degrade or objectify men, even though you may feel differently.
- Stand up if you've ever held yourself back from doing something challenging that boys were doing.
- Stand up if you've ever acted weak or dumb to get help from someone else.
- Stand up if you've ever been made to feel that your opinion didn't matter or that you're not smart.
- Stand up if you've ever been called or called some one a "dumb blonde".
- Stand up if you've ever been called or called some one a "bitch" for being assertive or smart.
- Stand up if you've ever been called or called someone a "slut".
- Stand up if you've ever been told or told someone to not "hook-up" with a partner because "you'll get a reputation".
- Stand up if you've ever felt pressure to drink or use drugs.
- Stand up if you've ever felt pressure to be sexually active.
- Stand up if you've ever felt pressure to have lots of sexual partners.
- Stand up if you've ever stood up for what you believe in.