CAN WE SWITCH GENDERS OF STORY CHARACTERS?
By: Catharine A. Fisher, Ph.D.

STANDARD: All students will be able to explain the effects of gender bias, stereotyping and discrimination an access, learning, self-esteem, relationships and behavior.

GRADE LEVEL: K-6, Language Arts

OBJECTIVE(S): Students will be able to identify stereotyping and bias in classroom story books by:

1. Using reading and listening skills.
2. Analyzing characters and stories.

Students will use higher order thinking skills of analysis, evaluation, and invention.

TIME: Two or more class periods depending on the length of the story being read.

MATERIALS: Any classroom literature that is available to all of the students.

PROCEDURES:

1. In the younger grades (and sometimes in the upper grades), read a story to the students.
2. In the upper grades, have the students take turns reading a story aloud in the classroom.
3. Lead a discussion about the story to make sure everyone in the classroom comprehends the story, understands who the characters are, realizes the correct sequence, and can express the main ideas and theme(s) of the story.
4. Ask students to think about how the story would be different if the genders of the characters wore reversed, or changed.
5. Stimulate thinking by brainstorming details in the story that would be different, then analyze changes and ask for supporting details.
6. Have the students write a brief synopsis of the new story with illustrations.

HINTS:

1. The teacher may first want to demonstrate a sample story.
2. Fairy tales or folk tales lend themselves well to such changes.