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See what happens when you reverse the sexes of characters in a well-known story
Retelling a familiar story with the characters’ gender reversed, leading to discussion of gender stereotypes.

Type of activity

Story telling, discussion

Objectives

  • To recognise stereotypical gender roles and characteristics in stories and everyday life
  • To discuss traditional and non-traditional gender roles
  • To encourage gender equality

Preparation

  • Revise or rewrite a well-known short story (e.g. novel, fairy tale, film), reversing the gender of most of the characters. If necessary, change their names and other details as well. Choose a story where male and female characters behave in a stereotypical way. (See the example of ‘reversed’ Cinderella below.) The revised story should not take longer than 10 minutes to retell.

Materials

  • Board or flipchart and marker
  • A copy of the reversed story to read out

 

Download the activity

4-30 children 40 minutes 7-13 years
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