Key Messages

We can’t really know a person just by knowing their gender.

Learning Intention

Students will: Identify and reflect on attitudes around gender.

Time

30 minutes.

Required Resources

  • One class set of values wheel handouts and/or
  • Image of values wheel to direct a class discussion.
Download Required Resources

Teaching Notes

This activity identifies community and personal values about gender which may result in stereotyped attitudes, roles, beliefs and customs.

Please Note: It is important to note and state to students that all bodies are different. This can include differences in how someone's body looks or how someone feels about their gender. When we discuss bodies, we often separate them into two categories – male and female. People who are intersex, transgender or non-binary may not fit exactly into either of these categories. Because of this, where possible, the word ‘typically’ is used when referring to specific sexes or genders. Students should be encouraged to apply the information that is fitting for them and their individual body.

Procedure

  1. Distribute worksheets to each student.
  2. Students to brainstorm and record words they associate with both ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ on the spokes of the value wheel.
  3. As a class, students to share and discuss these words. Teacher to record on the board under the headings of ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’.

Questioning

  1. What made some words / values more significant than others?
  2. What similarities and differences can be observed in the lists?
  3. Why might this be so?
  4. What influences the inclusion of these values?
  5. Do these values influence how a person behaves?
  6. Do these values influence how a person behaves in a relationship?
  7. Do these values always relate to the gender someone was assigned at birth?
  8. Are there expectations around how a person should behave because of their gender?
  9. What else have you observed?
  10. What conclusions can you draw from these lists?

Extension activity: The activity can be adapted to further explore this area by using other pairs of relevant words such as heterosexual/homosexual, mother/father, girl/boy, young/old, safe/unsafe

Curriculum Information