Boy Ballet Dancer

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Objectives

  • Students will be able to explain what a stereotype is and give examples

  • Students can explain why gender stereotypes can be harmful

  • Gain respect  for a diversity of gender presentations and identities

 

Minds On

 

Questions:

  • When Gabe tells people he is a ballet dancer, how do people react? Why do you think they react this way?

  • What does Gabe like about ballet?

  • What kind of skills do you need if you are a ballet dancer?

  • Why do you think there are not many boys who are ballet dancers?

  • What is the message of this video? What does Gabe want to tell us? Why is this an important message?

 

    Activity

  • Introduce the concept of “stereotypes”

  • Place two pages of chart paper on the wall, one which says “girls” and one which says “boys”

  • Distribute markers and ask students to write characteristics, objects, occupations, traits, or behaviors associated with either “boys” or “girls” on each chart paper

 

    Consolidation

  • Debrief: How did it feel to do that activity? How did you know how to put what where? Why does it matter that these things are gendered? Is there anything on the chart paper that you don’t agree is only for boys or girls? What happens when we don’t follow gender stereotypes? How does dividing things in this way limit everyone? What can we do to make this better?How do gender stereotypes affect Gabe? What would need to change for more boys to feel like they can do ballet?