• Enabling the participants to reflect on their own values and priorities in relation to gender issues
• Analyzing the sources and influences which lead to different moral positions or priorities
• Understanding how individuals become socialized into gender-based stereotyping and prescribed gender roles

Duration : 1 hour and 35 minutes

Divide the group in 2 and provide them with a different location to work. Give to one group the story “A” and to the other group the story “B” (see stories below).

Ask participants to read the story individually and to rank the behavior of each character along a scale from “best” to “worst”. For example, they might decide that X's behavior was the worst, Y's behavior was the next worst, Z’s behavior was next – and so on. Give participants 10 minutes for this task.

When everyone has decided on their individual ranking, ask participants to get together in smaller groups (ideally, a group should be composed from 5 to 7 members).

They now have to compare and discuss their results with others. The task of the small groups is to come up with a common ranking – a list that everyone in the small group can agree on. The group should create a common ranking on the basis of shared understanding and consensus, rather than using, for example, majority voting. Give participants 30 minutes for this task.

Invite then all the groups to come back together in the same room and to present their rankings. Announce to the groups A and B that they had the same story but not the same gender for each character and write the different names that correspond to the same character on the different stories (for example : Stella / Steve, Ralf/ Raabia…). Give then the speech to each small group to give their ranking and to explain how they managed to achieve it. Take time to highlight the differences in the rankings. Give the speech to each group so they can explain how it went in their groups, what was difficult, what surprised them.

To conclude, ask the participants what are the social roles that we have in the story and how do they relate to a public or a private sphere. Write the social role next to each character and ask groups to explain what were the arguments/values they use to explain or judge their actions. Take notes.

• Paper and pens for the participants
• A flip chart
• Markers

Stories for group A :

Stella’s Story

Somewhere in a far-off land lives a beautiful girl called Stella. She is in love with the handsome Vitali, who lives on the other side of an enormous river. Earlier in the year, all the bridges across this river were swept away by a terrible flood, and all the boats except one were damaged or destroyed. Stella asks Ralf, the owner of the only remaining boat, to take her to the other side of the river. Ralf agrees, on one condition: he insists that Stella sleep with him. Stella is confused. She does not know what to do and runs to her mother to ask for advice. Her mother tells her that she does not want to interfere in Stella’s private business. In desperation, Stella sleeps with Ralf, who then takes her across the river. The joyful Stella rushes to Vitali to embrace him and proceeds to tell him everything that happened. Vitali pushes her away roughly, and Stella runs off, sobbing. Not far from Vitali’s house, Stella meets Goran, Vitali’s best friend. She tells him everything that has happened. Goran punches Vitali for what he has done to Stella, and then walks away with her…

Stories for group B :

Steve’s Story

Somewhere in a far-off land lives a beautiful boy called Steve. He is in love with the gorgeous Vicky, who lives on the other side of an enormous river. Earlier in the year, all the bridges across this river were swept away by a terrible flood, and all the boats except one were damaged or destroyed. Steve asks Raabia, the owner of the only remaining boat, to take him to the other side of the river. Raabia agrees, on one condition: she insists that Steve sleeps with her. Steve is confused. He does not know what to do and runs to his father to ask for advice. His father tells him that he does not want to interfere in Steve’s private business. In desperation, Steve sleeps with Raabia, who then takes him across the river. The joyful Steve rushes to Vicky to embrace her and proceeds to tell her everything that happened. Vicky pushes him away roughly, and Steve runs off, sobbing. Not far from Vicky’s house, Steve meets Gabriella, Vicky’s best friend. He tells her everything that has happened. Gabriella punches Vicky for what she has done to Steve, and then walks away with him…