Warm Up: Gender Identity Check-In

Take a moment to reflect on the following questions. You don't need to write anything down, just think about your answers.

1. What does the word 'gender' mean to you?
   
   
   
   
2. How do you think 'gender' is different from 'biological sex'?
   
   
   
   

We'll discuss these ideas together in a few minutes.

Cool Down: One-Word Reflection

As we wrap up today's lesson, think about everything we discussed regarding gender, sexism, and inequality.

In ONE WORD, what is your main takeaway or feeling from today's lesson?

Be prepared to share your word and why you chose it if you feel comfortable.

Discussion Guide: Unpacking Inequality

Instructions: In your small groups, read each scenario and discuss the questions below. Be prepared to share your thoughts with the class.

Discussion Questions:

1. How does this scenario demonstrate sexism or gender inequality?
2. What are the potential impacts on individuals and society?
3. What are some ways this could be challenged or improved?

Scenario 1: The STEM Gap

Sarah, a bright high school student, loves her advanced placement physics class. However, she often feels isolated as she is one of only two girls in a class of twenty-five. During group projects, her male peers sometimes assume she'll take notes or handle presentations, rather than contribute to the technical problem-solving. When college applications come around, her guidance counselor, while well-meaning, subtly suggests a career in teaching or nursing, despite Sarah expressing interest in engineering.

Scenario 2: The Pay Disparity

Mark and Emily both started at the same company, in the same entry-level position, with similar qualifications. After five years, both have received positive performance reviews and promotions. However, during a casual conversation, they discover that Mark's salary is 10% higher than Emily's, even though their responsibilities are now identical.

Scenario 3: Media Representation

A popular animated children's movie features a kingdom where all the knights and heroes are male, while the princesses and female characters primarily focus on beauty, finding a prince, or needing rescue. There are very few female characters in positions of power or actively driving the plot.

Scenario 4:

Teacher Script: Navigating Gender & Sexism

Warm-Up: Gender Identity Check-In (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone. Welcome to our discussion on a really important topic: gender, sexism, and inequality. Before we dive into definitions, let's start with a brief warm-up."

"On the screen, you'll see two questions: 'What does 'gender' mean to you?' and 'How is it different from biological sex?' I want you to take about two minutes to reflect on these questions individually. You don't need to write anything down, just think about your initial ideas. There are no right or wrong answers here; we're just exploring our starting points."

(Pause for 2 minutes as students reflect.)

Teacher: "Alright, who feels comfortable sharing some of their initial thoughts? What does 'gender' mean to you?"

(Call on 2-3 students. Affirm diverse responses without correcting them at this stage. You might say, "Thank you for sharing, that's an interesting perspective.")

"And how do you think it might be different from biological sex? Any thoughts on that?"

(Call on 1-2 students. Again, affirm their contributions.)

Teacher: "Wonderful, thank you all for engaging with those questions. We're going to build on these ideas as we move forward. Our goal today is to gain a clearer understanding of these terms and how they impact our world. Please remember that this is a safe space for everyone to share respectfully and listen actively. We may discuss sensitive topics, and it's important to approach them with empathy."

Introduction to Gender and Sexism (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Let's start by laying down some foundational definitions, as it's really easy to confuse some of these terms. We'll be using our Slide Deck: Beyond Binaries to guide us."

(Advance to Slide: Biological Sex) Veterans in the Classroom: Slide Deck: Beyond Binaries

Teacher: "First up, biological sex. When we talk about biological sex, we're referring to the biological characteristics that typically categorize individuals as male, female, or sometimes intersex. This is usually assigned at birth based on things like chromosomes, hormones, and anatomy. Think of it as the physical, biological aspects."

"Does that definition make sense? Any initial questions about biological sex?"

(Address any questions briefly.)

(Advance to Slide: What is Gender?)

Teacher: "Now, this is where it gets interesting and often misunderstood. Gender is different from biological sex. Gender is a social construct. What does that mean? It means it's about the roles, behaviors, expressions, and identities that a society or culture associates with being male, female, or other gender identities. It's about how we understand ourselves and how society expects us to act based on gender."

"So, biological sex is about biology, and gender is about society and identity. Can anyone give me an example of a gender role they might have observed in society?"

(Wait for responses. Guide them if needed, e.g., "Historically, who was expected to work outside the home, and who was expected to stay home?")

(Advance to Slide: Gender Identity & Expression) Veterans in the Classroom: Slide Deck: Beyond Binaries

Teacher: "To expand on gender, we also have gender identity and gender expression. Your gender identity is your internal, deeply held sense of being male, female, both, neither, or somewhere else on the gender spectrum. It's how you know yourself to be."

"Gender expression, on the other hand, is how you outwardly present your gender. This can be through your clothing, your hairstyle, your mannerisms, your voice—basically, how you show up in the world in relation to your gender identity. Someone's gender expression might align with societal norms, or it might not, and both are perfectly valid."

"Any questions about the differences between biological sex, gender, gender identity, and gender expression? It's okay if these concepts are new or feel complex."

(Address questions, clarify as needed.)

(Advance to Slide: Understanding Sexism) Veterans in the Classroom: Slide Deck: Beyond Binaries

Teacher: "Now that we have a clearer understanding of gender, let's talk about sexism. Sexism is prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, based on their biological sex or perceived gender. It's when someone is treated unfairly because of their gender."

"Look at the examples on the slide: 'Assumptions about abilities based on gender,' 'Unequal treatment in the workplace,' 'Harmful gender stereotypes in media.' Can anyone think of another example of sexism they might have seen or heard about?"

(Encourage students to share examples. Guide them towards understanding both overt and subtle forms of sexism.)

(Advance to Slide: What is Gender Inequality?)

Teacher: "Building on sexism, we have gender inequality. This refers to the unequal treatment or perceptions of individuals based on their gender, but it often stems from systemic sexism. This means it's not just individual acts, but patterns built into our institutions, policies, and cultural norms."

"The slide gives some manifestations: 'Wage gaps,' 'Underrepresentation in leadership,' 'Disparities in education or healthcare.' These are areas where we can see gender inequality playing out on a larger scale. For instance, the gender wage gap means that, on average, women earn less than men for the same work."

"Why do you think it's important to understand the difference between sexism, which can be an individual act, and gender inequality, which is more systemic?"

(Facilitate a brief discussion. Highlight how systemic issues require broader solutions.)

Discussion: Unpacking Inequality (20 minutes)

Teacher: "Excellent discussion so far! To really cement our understanding, we're going to move into a small group activity. I've prepared a Discussion Guide: Unpacking Inequality with several scenarios that illustrate sexism and gender inequality in different contexts. This is on slide Slide Deck: Beyond Binaries as well."

(Advance to Slide: Discussion: Unpacking Inequality) Veterans in the Classroom: Slide Deck: Beyond Binaries

Teacher: "I'd like you to get into small groups of 3-4 students. Once you're in your groups, please read through each scenario on the Discussion Guide: Unpacking Inequality. For each scenario, discuss these three questions:

1. How does this scenario demonstrate sexism or gender inequality?
2. What are the potential impacts on individuals and society?
3. What are some ways this could be challenged or improved?

"You'll have about 12-15 minutes for your group discussions. I'll be circulating to answer any questions. Then, we'll come back together as a whole class to share some of your insights. Remember to listen to each other and respect different viewpoints."

(Divide students into groups. Circulate and provide support. Give a 5-minute warning before bringing the class back.)

(After 12-15 minutes) Veterans in the Classroom: Slide Deck: Beyond Binaries

Teacher: "Alright everyone, let's bring it back together. Thank you for those thoughtful discussions. I heard some really interesting points as I walked around."

(Advance to Slide: Group Share-Out & Whole Class Discussion) Veterans in the Classroom: Slide Deck: Beyond Binaries

Teacher: "Let's do a quick share-out. What were some of the key points or insights that came out of your group discussions? Did any of the scenarios particularly resonate with you, or did anything surprise you?"

(Call on groups or individual students to share. Facilitate a brief whole-class discussion, drawing connections between the scenarios and the definitions discussed earlier. Emphasize the real-world implications.)

"What common themes did you notice across the different scenarios of sexism or gender inequality?"

"How can we apply what we've learned today to our own lives and interactions?"

Conclusion & Call to Action (5 minutes)

(Advance to Slide: Reflect & Act: Be an Ally!) Veterans in the Classroom: Slide Deck: Beyond Binaries

Teacher: "As we near the end of our lesson, let's quickly recap. Today, we've clarified the differences between biological sex and gender, and explored the concepts of gender identity and expression. We've also defined sexism and gender inequality, and critically analyzed their presence in various aspects of our society through our discussions."

"The key takeaway here is that understanding these concepts is the first step towards building a more equitable and inclusive world. Each of you has a role to play."

"On the slide, you see a call to action: 'Challenge stereotypes,' 'Speak up against discrimination,' 'Promote inclusivity.' These aren't just big ideas; they start with small, everyday actions. It could be correcting a stereotype you hear, ensuring everyone's voice is heard in a group, or simply being open to different perspectives."

"Thank you for your active participation and thoughtful contributions today."

Cool-Down: One-Word Reflection (5 minutes)

(Advance to Slide: Cool Down: One-Word Reflection) Veterans in the Classroom: Slide Deck: Beyond Binaries

Teacher: "To conclude, for our cool-down, I'd like you to take one more moment to reflect. On the screen, you'll see the prompt for our Cool Down: One-Word Reflection."

"What is ONE WORD that describes your main takeaway or feeling from today's lesson? Think about the definitions, the discussions, and what resonated with you most."

"You don't have to share, but if anyone would like to offer their word and a very brief reason why, we'd love to hear it."

(Allow 1-2 minutes for students to think and for volunteers to share. Thank them for sharing.)

Teacher: "Thank you all again for a really valuable discussion today. I hope you continue to think about these important topics."

(Collect any written cool-down responses as exit tickets if desired.)