Talking to girls about the dirty word: 'feminism'
I am a feminist. I know it is a dirty word in some circles.
I am a feminist, but I don't have a vagenda.
Some of you may know what I am talking about. Those few extremists that don't want gender equality, but rather want to dominate with an iron-fist.
How do you have a discussion about roles of women in society and women's rights without girls feeling like being a girl is a bad thing?
How do you talk about gender equality when under the law we are equal, but in reality how can we be equal if we are not physically or emotionally the same?
Most importantly, how do you discuss empowerment with 9 to 11 year old girls without creating a superiority complex? For instance, girls walking away saying 'Girls rule and boys drool'?
Our unit needed to complete at least two Exploring Identities themes. We chose Gender Power and Being You. We have some third year Guides working on completing their Lady Baden Powell Award and are required to complete each program area.
How to complete topics like feminism, gender binaries, empowerment, confidence, self-esteem and roles of women in society and barriers women face?
We have had some strong female role models involved in our group. We even had a local Mayor join us. She is a strong and independent woman who has faced adversity, and might I add was also a Girl Guide! But how do you approach a relatively dry subject like feminism without girls developing a gender arrogance?
A sleepover. Yes, a sleepover is how to complete these heavier topics.
Exploring Identities Sleepover
A little while back our Guide unit had a simple sleepover. Generally in our unit's overnights are always camping and outdoor themed, and run more than one night.
We chose to host an 'Indoor Drive-In' styled sleepover: double feature.
One of our small rural community centers gave us their hall for free for the night. Girls arrived just before supper, and set out their sleeping bags on the floor.
Ready, set, go!
We started with The Perfect Girl activity from Girls First (GF), talking about pressures to be perfect. We each were given five post-its, placed them on the wall and wrote:
Girls have______
Girls can_______
Girls act________
Girls are________
Girls look________
Dinner and a Movie
We borrowed a projector and a screen from a friend. All we had to do was put our DVD in an connect the laptop to the projector.
For our short overnight, we chose to keep things really simple and ordered pizza.
Girls gathered in their sleeping bags and we began to watch The Breadwinner.
The Breadwinner is a pretty heavy themed story. It is a cartoon, but is very powerful.
We watched the movie and then discussed what had happened, how it made us feel, what would you have done...?
We purchased our DVD on amazon.ca for $9.99 CAN, and placed this activity under Unit's Own - Gender Power (GF).
Outdoor Break
After our film we went outside to have some run-around time.
We then preformed a Re-Enactment Rally (GF) under the stars. I read an excerpt from Jane Hampton's 'How the Girl Guides Won the War' (page 3).
We pretended that it was 1909, and I was Lord Baden-Powell at the Boy Scouts rally.
The girls were rally-goers at the Crystal Palace. They were shouting out why girls should be allowed in Scouting/Guiding, and the great attributes and skills they can contribute.
We then had them look around at every other girl in the unit. What is it about Guiding that makes us want to participate now and how would it have been different then? Are there groups that will not allow girls still today?
I purchased my copy of this book on amazon.ca for $19.26 CAN.
Theatre Concession
We gave out tickets for snacks. We had mini Halloween style chocolate bars, Twizzlers and popcorn!
We ordered popcorn bags on amazon.ca for authenticity. They were $5.09 CAN for 25 bags. I thought they were paper and was a little disappointed that they were plastic; they worked nonetheless.
Double Feature
Our second film was The Eagle Huntress, which we also purchased on amazon.ca, we paid $19.99 CAN.
Our first film The Breadwinner was empowering, but emotionally heavy filled with conflict. The Eagle Huntress was empowering and up-lifting!
Our girls discussed the movie. They continued to discuss how they have been shunned or told that they cannot do things because they are girls. Girls spoke of difficulties in their hockey leagues, gym class and other activities.
We noted how the fathers in these films supported their daughters, despite cultural norms in the films. Girls then started commenting how the male and female role-models in their lives encouraged them, and did not place gender restrictions on them.
Girls started to imagine what they would have done if they were in the same position of either of the lead characters in the films.
After our discussion, girls got ready for bed to dream of riding on horseback with an eagle on their arm!
We placed this activity under Unit's Own (Gender Power GF).
Final Activities
In the morning while waiting for pancakes girls completed Future Goals for Women (GF) activity, by creating posters inspired by Rosie the Riveter.
Girls created fun posters about what they would like to see change for girls in the world, and share a message about their hopes for women.
We shared breakfast and closed our sleepover with the Being You (GF) activity where girls went back to their Perfect Girl (GF) activity and decided if they wanted to change any of the wording on their post-its or write down any new thoughts.
Drive-In Sleepover Crest
Like any Girl Guide activity, there is a crest for that.
We ordered some fun crests from E-Patches & Crests. Each crest was $1.50 CAN.
Finishing Up
We completed more activities at meetings. We crushed stereo-type boxes with the Like a Girl (GF) activity, challenged assumtions with Questioning Assumptions (GF), signed the Body Positive Pledge (GF), made our own spin of the Spread the Word: Be You-nique (GF) activity by making bookmarks to give out at the library and more!
I was hesitant about how to tackle a topic like feminism, but we ended up having a lot of fun. Although, I was dismayed that our girls are already facing these social issues at 9, 10 and 11 years old.
We will continue to provide a safe space for these girls to spread their wings, fall and try again without judgement.
I am hopeful, because these girls will not let anyone stand in the way of their dreams.
Don't forget to like and share this post!