Session 6: Race and Gender Issues Workshop.

The race and gender workshop is designed to demonstrate how victims of racial prejudice feel, and to explore more constructive ways of dealing with stereotypes and situations involving racial tension.

I. OPENING ACTIVITY: ROLE PLAY

Students observe in a role play that uses prejudice and stereotypes .

II. REACTION

The Students discuss their reactions to the role-play, answering 'What If' questions in small groups.

III. DISCUSSION.

The students discuss the role play, and teachers and students discuss their reactions to the situations as well as any personal contact with stereotypes.

IV. ROLE PLAY

The students and teachers do 2 role play sessions dealing with stereotypes. The role plays use depreciating language (i.e. a style of music or clothing that makes the person otherwise unacceptable) and later involves the exchange of racial/ethnic/religious slurs. The conversation is replayed and students can 'freeze' the replay, asking questions and suggesting possible ways in which the dispute could be moderated.

V. DISCUSSION

The students talk about how the conflict escalated, discussing specifically the role of stereotypes as conflict escalators.

VI. CONCLUSION

The students talk about ways of dealing with the problems of prejudice and stereotypes. Students share their own views and discuss possible methods to diffuse the conflicts that can arise due to prejudice and stereotypes.

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