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Through the Looking Glass A Guide To Empowering Young People To Become Advocates For Gender Equality w National Women’s Council of Ireland 100 North King Street, Smithfield, Dublin 7 Ph: + 353 (0) 1 679 0100 W: www.yfactor.ie W: www.nwci.ie E: [email protected] Company No. 241868 Published November 2014 by National Women’s Council of Ireland ISBN 978–0–9926849–2–1 w Through the Looking Glass A Guide To Empowering Young People To Become Advocates For Gender Equality w Acknowledgements The Y Factor Design by www.melgardner.com 1 w Acknowledgements The National Women’s Council of Ireland Anita Ghafoor-Butt (IFPA); John Kenny would like to acknowledge all those who (Dundalk Outcomers); Gerard Rowe took part in The Y Factor Education pilot (Belong To); Alison Gilleland (INTO); project: Norah Harte (Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise); Claire McAlinden (Bluebell Youth Project); • Bernadette White and the students John Williams, (Pavee Point); Ann Walsh of 4th year LCVP class (2013), St (National Youth Council of Ireland); Vincent’s Secondary School, Dundalk, Sarah Kearney (The Y Factor Steering The Y Factor Co. Louth. Group); Hilary Tierney (NUI Maynooth); • Bairbre Kennedy and the students Ifrah Ahmed, (United Youth of Ireland); of the Transition Year Programme Deirdre Toomey (Equality Authority); Paula (2013) Malahide Community School, Madden (Irish Traveller Movement); Mella Malahide, Co. Dublin. Cusack (CDVEC); Fiona Gallagher (Trinity • Una Killoran and the Leaving Comprehensive Ballymun). Certificate Vocational Programme NWCI would also like to acknowledge students (2013) of Lough Allen College, Emma Jayne Geraghty’s research piece Drumkeerin, Co. Leitrim. ‘Boxed In’, done in conjunction with • Fran McVeigh, Patricia Lematy, The Y Factor’s pilot education project, Michelle Crosby, Thomas McMahon, concerned with exploring the capacity of Sarah Kirke and the young women’s contemporary youth work in Ireland to group in Poppintree Youth Project, take a gender-conscious approach. Ballymun, Co. Dublin. Thank you to The Y Factor Steering Group • Claire McAlinden, Paul Perth and for their support to the ongoing work of the young women in Bluebell Youth this initiative. Project. • Rachel Coyle and the young women A great thank you to our funders The in The Pyjama Circle, Malin Head, Co. Atlantic Philanthropies for their continued Donegal. support. NWCI would also like to acknowledge The Thank you to the NWCI staff who have Y Factor Education Advisory Committee contributed to this publication especially who have informed the formal and Laura Maloney, Louise Riordan and Rachel informal education work of The Y Factor. Doyle. NWCI acknowledges that this publication does not necessarily reflect all of the views of the organisations represented on the Advisory Committee: 1 w TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements .............................1 What is Gender? .............................10 NWCI and The Y Factor ........................4 Why Focus on Gender Equality? .......10 Background to This Toolkit ..................6 Local to Global Issues Who is this Toolkit For? .......................7 for Women and Girls ..........................12 Objectives of the Toolkit ......................7 What is Gender-conscious Work with Young People? ............................13 How to Use This Toolkit .......................8 Needs and Issues of Young Women ...14 Patriarchy ...........................................15 The Y Factor Needs and Issues of Young Men ......16 The Y Factor Guide Trans* Young People .........................17 to Gender Conscious Activities Outline ................................18 Work with Young Getting Going On Gender ...................20 People Sex and Gender ..............................20 1. An Alien Asks… ...............................21 National Women’s Council of 2. An Alien Asks Part II… ....................22 Ireland Gender and Stereotypes ....................22 1.Starburst Icebreaker .......................23 2.Toys for Girls and Boys ...................24 3.Young People Today! ......................26 4.Walking Debate: Exploring Gender ...28 2 Through the Looking Glass: A Guide to Empowering Young People to Become Advocates for Gender Equality 3 w TABLE OF What is Gender? .............................10 It’s the law! Nine Equality 2. Boaster Poster................................59 Why Focus on Gender Equality? .......10 Grounds, What Prevents Women Killing Us Softly ..................................60 from Participating in Politics ............ 29 Local to Global Issues 1. Movie Night ....................................61 for Women and Girls ..........................12 1.Discrimination Nation ....................30 2. In the paper today… ........................62 What is Gender-conscious Work 2.Jobs for the Boys ............................34 Discussing Relationship Abuse ........64 with Young People? ............................13 Where are the Women? ......................36 1. True or False ...................................65 Needs and Issues of Young Women ...14 Women’s Representation 2. He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not.....67 Patriarchy ...........................................15 Information Sheet ..............................37 Sexual Bullying ...................................68 Needs and Issues of Young Men ......16 What Prevents Women from ‘It’s Just a Joke’ ..................................69 Trans* Young People .........................17 Engaging in Politics? .........................38 Activism, It’s a Girl Thing ................70 Activities Outline ................................18 2.The Gender Tree ..............................40 Taking Action......................................72 Getting Going On Gender ...................20 1. Party on ...........................................42 Hold an Event .....................................74 Sex and Gender ..............................20 3.Women Rising World Café ..............44 Organise a Protest ............................76 1. An Alien Asks… ...............................21 Media, Money and How to Media ................................................. 78 2. An Alien Asks Part II… ....................22 be a Honey .........................................46 Getting Your Voice Heard ..................81 Gender and Stereotypes ....................22 1. Media Audit ....................................48 Policy and your Organisation ...........84 1.Starburst Icebreaker .......................23 2. Power Pop Songs! ..........................50 Policy and Gender Equality ................86 2.Toys for Girls and Boys ...................24 3. Film: Miss Representation .............52 Writing the Policy .............................. 88 3.Young People Today! ......................26 Body Image .........................................54 Useful Organisations 4.Walking Debate: Exploring Gender ...28 1.The Little Matchstick Girl/Boy .......56 and Resources ...................................89 Glossary of Terms ..............................90 2 Through the Looking Glass: A Guide to Empowering Young People to Become Advocates for Gender Equality 3 NWCI and The Y Factor Founded in 1973, the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) is the leading national women’s membership organisation in Ireland. We seek full equality between women and men. We represent and derive our mandate from our membership, which includes over 170 member groups from a diversity of backgrounds, sectors and locations. Our vision is of an Ireland, and of a world, where there is full equality between women and men. NWCI is a feminist organisation. We believe that feminism is about Feminism is about ending patriarchy. equality and we believe in working to Patriarchy is a social system in which change society so that women and men men hold primary power and predominate have an equal say in the decisions that in all social structures including politics, affect their lives. economics, moral and cultural life, and in families. We believe patriarchy We see feminism as an important means is structural and is damaging to both of supporting the creative potential women and men. We work to ensure and talents of women, facilitating and that women’s voices and issues are an enabling women’s full contribution to integral part of national decision-making the wider social, economic, political and structures and processes in Ireland. cultural development of society. We recognise the multiple forms of discrimi- nation that many women experience and we see feminism as a means of giving voice to all women. 4 Through the Looking Glass: A Guide to Empowering Young People to Become Advocates for Gender Equality Introduction 5 In recent years, there has been an Our discussions with young women increase in the number of groups of highlighted that schools and youth work young women coming together seeking settings key spaces where interest in to challenge patriarchy and gender gender equality issues can be nurtured inequality. Groups such as Irish Feminist and developed. The focus groups Network, Hollaback!, Endangered Bodies highlighted the importance of making and feminist societies are examples of the topic of equality between women and these new campaigns and voluntary men accessible, relevant, interesting and groups. A growing number of schools appealing. and youth organisations are approaching NWCI and The Y Factor seeking advice and support in addressing gender inequalities. In 2011, NWCI held discussions with young women about their interests in women’s equality, in feminism and the kinds