Equality and Diversity - Building a Culture of ... - Equality Authority

B. Stereotyping
Lessons 7
Travelling Companions 2
Learning Intentions
Students will begin to realise:
The extent to which we all have
stereotypes of other people
The factors on which
stereotypes are based
Resources
6 A4 sheets of paper with the
following typed on them in
large type (to be put around the
walls of the classroom)
1. A single parent
2. A religious minister
3. A world class athlete
4. A former prisoner
5. An old age pensioner
6. A couple celebrating their
anniversary
Photos of people matching
these descriptions (see
preparation section)
(It is preferable to do this
activity as a physical activity,
especially as it will appeal to
kinaesthetic learners, but if this
is impossible you can also call
out the possible choices and
ask the students to form six
groups corresponding to the
people they have chosen. Give
each group an envelope with
the name of the person on the
outside and their photo inside,
and continue with the activity
as outlined on the next page.)
Preparation
For this activity you will need to find photos on the web or
elsewhere which represent the people below. Print out the 5
photos and put each of them in a large sealed envelope with
the description printed on the outside.
This activity works well in a number of ways. You can
choose well known personalities or simply non-stereotypical
photos of unknown people.
You will be able to find photos through doing a Google
search. (You are not breaking copyright if you simply use
them within the classroom). Some suggestions for photos to
use include:
Single Parent: a well-known single mother (JR Rowling is a
single mother with a daughter, Jessica); a single father; an
older single parent of either sex...
Religious minister: a female minister, a female Bishop (Kay
Goldsworthy, Bishop of Perth, is Australia’s first Anglican
bishop, ordained in 2008); a Muslim Imam...
World class athlete: choose an athlete with a disability
who has competed at world level -Éamonn Prunty, Oscar
Postorus (the first Olympic athlete with a disability to
compete with able bodied athletes)
A former prisoner: Nelson Mandela, Robert Downey Jr, a
female former prisoner...
An old age pensioner: Paul McCartney, Queen Elizabeth,
Clint Eastwood, Joan Rivers, Maya Angelou and many others;
older active people such as hill walkers...
A couple celebrating their anniversary: Same sex couples
in civil partnerships, including Shannon Sickles and Gráinne
Close, who were the first same-sex couple to register
their Civil Partnership in Northern Ireland (and the UK) in
December 2005.
2
This activity is adapted from one which appeared in Children in
Crossfire materials for their TIDAL course.
SECTION 2 EXPLORING PERCEPTIONS & STEREOTYPING 33