Step 1.2 Gender bias

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• Secundair onderwijs

2/ Gender bias

Ex. 1

What are assumptions like ‘Boys don’t cry’ called?

Ex. 1

What are assumptions like ‘Boys don’t cry’ called?

They are often stereotypes and examples of gender bias because they assume

certain truths about all females or all males without any proof.

Ex. 2

Now watch the first part of the video and answer the questions.

a Try to solve the riddle.

Can you solve the riddle?

YES!

NO

Ex. 2

b Watch the answer. Did you guess correctly?

c Why do you think the people in the video didn’t get the answer right?

d What does the word gender mean? What does it involve?

Ex. 2

b Watch the answer. Did you guess correctly?

c Why do you think the people in the video didn’t get the answer right?

Because we still primarily think of men in high–end jobs. These jobs are also still mostly filled by men.

d What does the word gender mean? What does it involve?

Gender refers to the characteristics of women, men, girls and boys that are socially

constructed. This includes norms, behaviour and roles associated with being a

woman, man, girl or boy, as well as relationships with each other.

Ex. 3

How does this video illustrate gender 

bias?

a Try to formulate this in your own words 

using information from the previous 

exercises. 

timing: 10 min.

b Share your opinion with the class. Check the Useful expressions on p. 262.

Ex. 4

Read these statements and tick the box that best reflects your opinion.

1) We can never fully obtain gender equality.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

2) Men are the weaker sex.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

3) We are raising sexist sons and men.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

4) Women should serve in the military.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

5) Housewives and mothers should be paid for housework.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

6) Beauty pageants for women are actually empowering and not sexist.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

7) Arranged marriages are a valid way to find love.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

8) A woman has the sole decision in requesting an abortion.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

9) Men are more aggressive than women.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

11) Men are better at science while women are better at social sciences.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

10) Men make better sportsmen.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

12) Female actresses / models / influencers should not use their femininity to promote themselves / their careers.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

13) Working mothers hinder their children’s development.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

14) Men are better in decision-making roles than women.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

15) Universities need more female teachers while kindergartens need more male teachers.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

17) Women are better communicators.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

16) Toys should be gender neutral (for instance dolls are for both boys and girls).

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

18) There are “jobs for men” and “jobs for women”.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

19) Women are vainer than men.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

20) Women who dress provocatively cannot complain about the extra attention they get.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

Ex. 5

Discuss the statements.

a Prepare your discussion:

– Highlight the 3 statements you feel most strongly about.

– Think of 2 reasons for each of the statements why you think this.

– Check the useful expressions in the Summary, p. 262 on ‘How to express your opinion’.

b Action: follow this structure in your discussion:

- You have 15 minutes to round up the debate. 

- You each get 5 talking chips. Put a talking chip 

in the middle of your desks if you want to say 

something.

After everyone’s chips are down, you keep debating. This time you can interact and react as you please!

- Speak only English.

- Talk for the full 15 minutes (not only when your teacher is around).

Ex. 6

Were you able to find enough valid arguments during your discussion? Let’s try that again, shall we? Watch the video on International Women’s Day history.

a Focus on the numbers below. and write down what the numbers represent.

Ex. 6

Were you able to find enough valid arguments during your discussion? Let’s try that again, shall we? Watch the video on International Women’s Day history.

a Focus on the numbers below. and write down what the numbers represent.

8 March is International Women’s Day

Ex. 6

Were you able to find enough valid arguments during your discussion? Let’s try that again, shall we? Watch the video on International Women’s Day history.

a Focus on the numbers below. and write down what the numbers represent.

8 March is International Women’s Day

beginning of suffrage

Ex. 6

Were you able to find enough valid arguments during your discussion? Let’s try that again, shall we? Watch the video on International Women’s Day history.

a Focus on the numbers below. and write down what the numbers represent.

8 March is International Women’s Day

beginning of suffrage

Women’s Social and Political union is formed

Ex. 6

Were you able to find enough valid arguments during your discussion? Let’s try that again, shall we? Watch the video on International Women’s Day history.

a Focus on the numbers below. and write down what the numbers represent.

8 March is International Women’s Day

beginning of suffrage

Women’s Social and Political union is formed

representation of the people act

Ex. 6

Were you able to find enough valid arguments during your discussion? Let’s try that again, shall we? Watch the video on International Women’s Day history.

a Focus on the numbers below. and write down what the numbers represent.

8 March is International Women’s Day

beginning of suffrage

Women’s Social and Political union is formed

representation of the people act

Equal Franchise act

Ex. 6

Were you able to find enough valid arguments during your discussion? Let’s try that again, shall we? Watch the video on International Women’s Day history.

a Focus on the numbers below. and write down what the numbers represent.

8 March is International Women’s Day

beginning of suffrage

Women’s Social and Political union is formed

representation of the people act

Equal Franchise act

First British female wins an Olympic gold medal.

Ex. 6

Were you able to find enough valid arguments during your discussion? Let’s try that again, shall we? Watch the video on International Women’s Day history.

a Focus on the numbers below. and write down what the numbers represent.

8 March is International Women’s Day

beginning of suffrage

Women’s Social and Political union is formed

representation of the people act

Equal Franchise act

First British female wins an Olympic gold medal.

Sex Discrimination act

Ex. 6

Were you able to find enough valid arguments during your discussion? Let’s try that again, shall we? Watch the video on International Women’s Day history.

a Focus on the numbers below. and write down what the numbers represent.

8 March is International Women’s Day

beginning of suffrage

Women’s Social and Political union is formed

representation of the people act

Equal Franchise act

First British female wins an Olympic gold medal.

Sex Discrimination act

years since Women’s Union to have a female prime minister

Ex. 7

Try to define the following concepts as they are explained in the video.

a Gender equality:

b Suffrage:

c Stereotype:

Ex. 7

Try to define the following concepts as they are explained in the video.

a Gender equality: regardless of gender, everyone is granted the same rights, privileges

and access to opportunities.

b Suffrage:

c Stereotype:

Ex. 7

Try to define the following concepts as they are explained in the video.

a Gender equality: regardless of gender, everyone is granted the same rights, privileges

and access to opportunities.

b Suffrage: the right to vote in political elections

c Stereotype:

Ex. 7

Try to define the following concepts as they are explained in the video.

a Gender equality: regardless of gender, everyone is granted the same rights, privileges

and access to opportunities.

b Suffrage: the right to vote in political elections (kiesrecht)

c Stereotype: a generalised opinion of a person or a group of people

Ex. 8

Women’s rights around the world.

a Preparation:

• Click on the interactive map for ‘Women’s rights around the world'.

• Find a country or region in the world that violates the principles of gender equality in one

or more ways. Maybe they still have laws that prove we still need International Women’s

Day?

• Make sure you do your research!

b Action: collect the information you found in the table below. Discuss what you found with your

classmates.

Ex. 9

 What questions do you still have regarding gender bias that you would like to ask your

classmates?