Gender Bias Worksheet

Understanding Unconscious Gender Bias

This worksheet is designed to help you reflect on unconscious gender biases and how they might influence your thoughts and actions. Please read each scenario and answer the questions that follow.

Scenario 1: The Job Interview

Imagine you are a hiring manager. You have two equally qualified candidates for a job: Alex and Jamie. Alex is a male and Jamie is a female.

1. Without knowing more about them, who would you be more inclined to hire and why?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What assumptions might you be making about Alex and Jamie based on their gender?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. How could these assumptions affect your decision-making process?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Scenario 2: The Classroom Leader

In a classroom setting, the teacher asks for a volunteer to lead a group project. Two students, Taylor and Morgan, volunteer. Taylor is a boy and Morgan is a girl.

1. Who would you choose to lead the project and why?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Reflect on any biases that might influence your choice. What are they?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. How can being aware of these biases help you make a fairer decision?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Reflection Questions

1. Think about a time when you might have made a decision influenced by gender bias. What was the situation, and how did you realize your bias?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. How can you actively work to recognize and challenge your own biases in the future?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Group Discussion

• Share your responses with a partner or small group. Discuss any similarities or differences in your answers.
• What strategies can you use to ensure that gender bias does not affect your decisions in the future?

Remember, recognizing and addressing unconscious biases is a continuous process that requires self-reflection and a willingness to change. Thank you for participating in this important exercise!

Gender Bias Discussion

Guidelines

• Respectful Listening: Ensure everyone has a chance to speak and listen respectfully to others' viewpoints.
• Open-mindedness: Be open to different perspectives and experiences.
• Confidentiality: What is shared in the discussion stays in the discussion.

Discussion Prompts

Opening Question

1. What is unconscious gender bias?
   • Encourage students to define it in their own words.
   • Discuss examples they might have encountered in media or daily life.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Personal Reflection

2. Can you think of a time when you noticed gender bias in your environment?
   • Share a story or example.
   • How did it make you feel?
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Exploring Assumptions

3. What are some common stereotypes associated with different genders?
   • List stereotypes and discuss their origins.
   • How do these stereotypes affect behavior and expectations?
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Impact and Awareness

4. How can unconscious gender bias affect decision-making in schools or workplaces?
   • Discuss potential impacts on opportunities and treatment.
   • Share any personal experiences or observations.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Strategies for Change

5. What steps can we take to become more aware of our own biases?
   • Brainstorm strategies for recognizing and challenging biases.
   • Discuss how to create a more inclusive environment.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Follow-up Points

• Empathy Building: How can understanding others' experiences with gender bias help us become more empathetic?
• Actionable Change: What actions can we take today to reduce gender bias in our community?

Conclusion

• Summarize key takeaways from the discussion.
• Encourage students to continue reflecting on their biases and to practice inclusivity in their daily lives.

Gender Bias Activity

Objective

This activity is designed to help students experience and reflect on gender bias through role-playing scenarios. By stepping into different roles, students can better understand the impact of gender bias and explore ways to address it.

Materials Needed

• Scenario cards (provided below)
• Open space for role-playing
• Reflection sheets

Instructions

Setup

1. Divide the Class: Split the class into small groups of 4-5 students.
2. Distribute Scenario Cards: Each group receives a scenario card that describes a situation involving potential gender bias.
3. Explain the Activity: Inform students that they will role-play the scenario and then discuss their experiences.

Role-Playing

1. Assign Roles: Within each group, assign roles based on the scenario. Encourage students to step into roles they might not typically identify with.
2. Act Out the Scenario: Allow 5 minutes for groups to act out their scenario. Encourage creativity and empathy in their portrayals.

Discussion and Reflection

1. Group Discussion: After role-playing, each group discusses the following questions:

   • How did it feel to be in your role?
   • What biases were evident in the scenario?
   • How did these biases affect the characters' interactions and decisions?
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

2. Reflection Sheet: Each student completes a reflection sheet with the following prompts:

   • Describe your role and the scenario.
   • What did you learn about gender bias from this activity?
   • How can you apply this understanding to real-life situations?
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Scenario Cards

Scenario 1: The Science Fair

• Situation: A group of students is preparing for a science fair. The teacher suggests that the boys handle the technical aspects while the girls focus on the presentation.

Scenario 2: The Sports Team

• Situation: During gym class, the teacher automatically assigns boys to the more physically demanding tasks and girls to supportive roles.

Scenario 3: The Art Project

• Situation: In an art class, a student suggests that only girls should work on the design because they are "more creative."

Conclusion

• Class Debrief: Bring the class back together and invite groups to share insights from their discussions and reflections.
• Key Takeaways: Highlight the importance of recognizing and challenging gender biases in everyday situations.
• Encourage Continued Reflection: Ask students to think about how they can actively work to reduce gender bias in their own lives.

Gender Bias Game: "Bias Busters"

Objective

Engage students in identifying and addressing unconscious gender biases through a fun and interactive game.

Materials Needed

• Index cards or slips of paper
• Pens or pencils
• A timer
• A small prize for the winning team (optional)

Setup

1. Divide the Class: Split the class into small teams of 4-5 students.
2. Prepare Cards: On each index card, write a scenario that involves potential gender bias. Include some scenarios that do not involve bias to challenge students' critical thinking.

Instructions

Game Play

1. Distribute Cards: Give each team a set of scenario cards.
2. Explain the Rules: Inform students that they will read each scenario and decide whether it involves gender bias. If it does, they must identify the bias and suggest how it could be addressed.
3. Set the Timer: Allow 10 minutes for teams to go through their cards.
4. Team Discussion: Teams discuss each scenario and write down their answers.

Scenarios

• Scenario 1: A teacher always asks boys to help move heavy equipment in the classroom.
• Scenario 2: A girl is discouraged from joining the robotics club because it's "mostly boys."
• Scenario 3: A boy is teased for wanting to join the dance team.
• Scenario 4: A girl is praised for being "pretty" rather than for her academic achievements.
• Scenario 5: A boy is assumed to be the leader of a group project without discussion.
• Scenario 6: A teacher encourages all students to participate in any club they are interested in, regardless of gender.

Debrief

1. Review Answers: After the time is up, go through each scenario as a class. Discuss whether each scenario involved gender bias and explore the teams' suggestions for addressing it.
2. Award Points: Give points for correct identification of bias and creative solutions.
3. Declare a Winner: The team with the most points wins the game.

Conclusion

• Reflect: Ask students to reflect on how identifying biases in the game can help them recognize biases in real life.
• Encourage Action: Discuss how they can apply what they've learned to create a more inclusive environment in their school and community.

This game not only reinforces the lesson's concepts but also encourages teamwork and critical thinking, making it an effective and enjoyable learning experience.