Follow these 5 steps for an enjoyable, informative and inspiring conversation:
Step 1. 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. Americans also voted in a President who once said of women “I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything…“
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 intinsically a conversation about difference. Maybe a better place to start is agreeing on a word defining the opposite of sexism?!
Step 2: How does 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.
NOTES:
– get them to start by saying “I feel… “
– feelings are short words to describe our interaction with an experience e.g. I feel… hot, cold, sad, happy, hungry, annoyed, excited
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:
– get each person to start with “My thoughts are… “
– thoughts are a description of an experience e.g. the temperature is 42deg; there is a blizzard blowing; it’s my birthday party; I haven’t eaten for a day; I’m stuck in traffic; I’m going on holiday
Step 4: Go around again and give each person a set amount of time e.g. 2 mins to ask questions about what others have said.
Be curious about where people are at. Particularly if they have different opinions.