STAND UP, SPEAK OUT
GENDER EQUALITY WORKSHOPS IN SCHOOLS
Stand Up, Speak Out challenges issues of gender inequality in society and in the media through discussion, debate and drama. We aim to empower young people to speak out against injustices in society when it comes to inequality between the sexes, giving young people ownership over these issues and the confidence to speak out. Our workshops are perfect for enhancing SMSC development in students and can be adapted to fit either Drama or PSHE lessons. We currently offer several opportunities for schools to get involved with our work.
Gender Equality workshops
Stand Up, Speak Out
Our Gender Equality workshops are adaptable to different year groups and can explore a range of issues:
- Gender stereotypes
- Unconscious bias
- The history of women's equality
- Women in the workplace
- Sexualisation and objectification in the media
- Harassment and #MeToo
Perfect for SMSC development, the workshops can be adaptable to:
- PSHE groups (more discussion based)
- Drama classes (with an added performance element).
We can offer:
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45 minute - 1.5-hour workshops in PSHE or Drama classes
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Half day or whole day workshops across different year groups
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Whole-school assemblies and inspirational talks which can focus on female empowerment, feminism or #MeToo, from a key figure in the UK's response to the #MeToo movement.
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We also offer consent workshops, looking at what is meant by consent; practically and legally, as well as tackling issues of victim blaming and common myths
For more details or to book a workshop or talk, please contact Gina at gina@sparkideas.co.uk.
Women of World War I to present day - How far have we come?
This workshop explores the incredible part that women played in World War I, the Suffrage campaign and the aftermath of the end of the war. We then look at the situation for women today in an exploration of gender inequality across a hundred years - asking the question 'How far have we come?'
A brilliant workshop addressing elements key to the History and PSHE curriculum.
To find out more details, and to book your school in for this workshop, please contact Gina at gina@sparkideas.co.uk
Stand Up, Speak Out - Gender Equality Six-Week Drama Devised Project
We can also work on a longer, six-week project of weekly workshops exploring gender equality in society and the media through drama. During the six weeks, the group devise a short piece of theatre in response to their learning. This is performed in front of their peers as a way of promoting healthy conversation around the issues and to encourage gender equality across the school.
This project is incredibly useful for students who are preparing for the Devising module.
To find out more details, and to book your school in for this project, please contact Gina at gina@sparkideas.co.uk
HOW DO THESE ISSUES AFFECT YOUNG PEOPLE?
The pressure now inherent within society to place people in gender roles from early adolescence had led to a belief that girls are vulnerable, admired largely for their beauty, and that boys are strong and independent. Girls are taught to emphasise their physical appearance and are seen as potential targets to sexualisation and/or victims, while boys are viewed as predators. Alongside this, across all media forms there are other pressures on both genders; for females to be loving wives and mothers, admired for their domesticity and to be reliant on a man in order to survive. Boys are unconsciously programmed into believing they must be the provider for a family, and to always be brave, never showing any sign of emotion. All of this weighs heavily on young people’s shoulders, forcing them to feel extreme pressure to fit into stereotyped roles, when they should be enjoying their youth, unencumbered by such worries. We believe that it is crucial to tackle these issues with young people and to provide them with the knowledge and confidence to recognise these issues for what they are. At a recent school trial of ‘Stand Up, Speak Out’ some examples of stereotypical women that came out of male students’ mouths included “Weak”, “Flappy and flustered”, “Indecisive”, “Well-dressed and focused on their looks”, “Unimportant”. This work is clearly sorely lacking in young people’s education. This needs to change.
By involving your students in this work, you are helping to tackle this problem.