Key Messages
- Relationships can become exploitative or unhealthy if important qualities are not present and it is crucial to recognise if this is the case.
- In many relationships, there are warning signals which point to the relationships being unhealthy or abusive.
- It is important to have a range of strategies and sources of support to access if yourself, or a friend, is experiencing relationship abuse.
Time
40 Minutes
Required Resources
- A set of warning signals cards or worksheet per group.
Success criteria
- Articulate why they feel certain behaviours are not healthy, honest, equal within relationships.
- Identify ways how they might address these behaviours and where they could go for support.
Teaching Notes
Please note: this activity may be triggering for some students/ teachers, please outline your safety and support protocols prior to beginning the lesson.
You do not have to use all scenarios; select those relevant to your teaching and learning.
When making decisions relating to their sexual health, young people need to have some awareness of their own actions and the actions of others. They also need to understand that power in a relationship is
not fixed, and it can be challenged and changed.
This activity creates opportunity to discuss with students the different ways a relationship could be ended and what support a young person may need to do this.
Procedure
- Introduce the activity by noting that people can find themselves in relationships that are not healthy or positive. These relationships can be damaging to emotional and physical health.
- Divide the class into small groups, giving each group a set of activity cards or worksheet to mark answers.
- Students sort the cards into three categories:
- ‘Do nothing’
- ‘Discuss relationship/ try to change behaviour’
- ‘End Relationship’
- Once sorted, ask each group to read out their ‘Do nothing’ list to the class. Discuss these behaviours and why they chose to put them in that category.
- Repeat the process for each of the other two categories.
Note: this activity could also be translated to an online poll for the students.
Questioning
The following guiding questions could be helpful in the discussion, select those relevant to your class focus:
- Overall, where the responses similar between groups or not? What factors could account for these differences?
- Referring to the ‘Discuss relationship/ change behaviour’ list, ask whose behaviour the students think needs to change.
- What tips would they give someone wanting to discuss a problem behaviour with their partner? What types of responses might be seen? Which of these are respectful, and which could indicate further problems?
- What behaviours are clear signals to end the relationship?
- What might be the consequences of ignoring these signals?
- Sometimes, people stay in unhealthy relationships. Why do you think that might be?
- What advice would you give someone who wants to end a relationship?
- Which of the behaviours would impact on the safety of someone else?
- What support services can you identify that could help a young person in a difficult/ unhealthy relationship? Students can research local services, online supports and services offered at school.
- What are the the factors that influence why groups place different behaviours under different headings.
Extensions
Select a scenario and write a script for its resolution. Students could record/act/write about the successful
resolution. This could be done as individual/small groups/pairs unpacking different ways to resolve an issue.
References
Source: Sexual Health Victoria. Adapted from International Women’s Health Coalition 2004, Positively informed: lesson plans and guidance for sexuality educators and advocates, chapter 6: intimate relationships.