Step 1. get someone to read this Beyond Sexism conversation catalyst
Sexism can be defined as prejudice, stereotyping or discrimination based on gender, especially against females. Sexism can be a belief that one gender is superior to or more valuable than another. Sexism imposes limits on what people can do based on their gender.
Sexism maybe the reason some people find this story paradoxical…
A father and son were driving to a football game when they were involved in a terrible car crash. Tragically, the father died on the scene and the son was in a critical condition. The boy was airlifted to hospital and rushed into emergency surgery. The surgeon upon seeing him turned away and said “I can’t operate on this boy, he is my son”.
Sexism is embedded into society from the top down. The United States of America often proclaims to be ‘the leader of the free world‘. Ironically, it does not guarantee equal rights for citizens irrespective of gender. An Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution has been defeated on numerous occasions. Tony Abbott, the Australian Prime Minister from 2013-2015, said “I think it would be folly to expect that women will ever dominate or even approach equal representation in a large number of areas simply because their aptitudes, abilities and interests are different for physiological reasons.”
Perhaps any conversation about sexism is intrinsically a conversation about difference. Maybe a better place to start is talking about a word that defines unity and the opposite of sexism?!
Step 2: how does hearing that make everyone feel?
Go around each person in turn and get their feelings associated with the Convo Catalyst… with NO interruptions, responses or comments from anyone else.
NOTE: feelings are often described by short, simple words e.g. I feel sad, happy, hungry, annoyed, excited. They are emotions and what we feel deep in our bodies.
Step 3: what are everyone’s thoughts?
Go around in turn again and get each person to share their thoughts associated with the Convo Catalyst… again with NO interruptions, responses or comments from anyone else.
NOTES: thoughts are often ways to explain a feeling e.g. I’m feeling sad because my dog died; I’m feeling happy because it’s my birthday; I’m feeling angry because someone cut me off in traffic; I’m feeling hungry because I missed dinner
Step 4: Go around the group again and ask questions of others.
Get each person to ask questions of others… being curious about what others have said. Ask questions that are less about what they said and more about WHY they said it e.g. why do you hold that belief?
Step 5: Open the floor to random free-flowing discussion
And amidst the discussion… get everyone to agree on a summary of the conversation!