Heroines and heroes

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Short description

This can be a very good introduction activity when talking about human rights and personal heroes and heroines, through the gender perspective. This activity involves individual, small and whole group work, brainstorming and discussion about:

  • Heroines and heroes as symbols of socialisation and culture.
  • How gender stereotypes take their roots in our history, culture and everyday life.

Also this activity allows to work on the topics of the right to equality, freedom from discrimination and freedom of opinion and expression.

Aims & Objectives

  • To reflect on why there are different perspectives on historical events
  • To develop skills of critical analysis for gender stereotypes and history
  • To foster curiosity, open-mindedness and a sense of justice and able to discuss with their peers

Material and equipment needed

  • Flipchart paper
  • Markers
  • Pens
  • Paper
  • Moderation board

Requirements for facilitators

This is an easy level of complexity of the activity, one trainer is sufficient. In case the activity is done online, using Google Jamboard, this requires a trainer who will stimulate the group to use it, doing a “homework” and facilitating the Zoom discussion afterwards.

More resources

Original activity can be found here

Instructions

Step by step explanation

Activity 1: Heroines and heroes (40 min)

  • Give people five minutes to think about which national heroines and heroes (historical or living) they particularly admire.
  • Hand out the paper and pens and ask each person to draw two columns. In the first column they should (using the red pen) write the names of three or four heroines plus a brief description of who they are and what they did for their country. Underneath they should write key words to describe the characteristics they associate with heroines in general.
  • Repeat the process (using the blue pen) for three or four heroes. Write this information in the second column.
  • Now ask the participants to get into small groups of between five and seven people to share their choices of heroines and heroes. Ask the groups to come to a consensus on the four most worthy heroines and four most worthy heroes.
  • Now come into plenary and write the names of each group’s heroines and heroes in two columns on the flipchart. Add the keywords that describe their characteristics.
  • Discuss the list of characteristics and the use of heroines and heroes as role models and the extent to which they are gender stereotypes. Then move on to the debriefing.

Activity 2: Debriefing (20min)

  • Start by reviewing the activity and what people learnt about heroes and heroines and then go on to talk about stereotypes and how they influence our perceptions and actions.
  • What kinds of people are heroines and heroes? (Ordinary men and women? Kings?) What did they do? (Fight? Write poems?) How did the participants learn about them?
  • What were the differences and similarities between the two lists of characteristics?
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