The Danger of a Single Story

Directions: As you watch the video, respond to the following questions:

1. How does Adichie describe herself at the beginning of her talk? What words and phrases might she put on her own
identity chart?

2. Later in the story, we learn how other people view her. How do those views differ from how she describes herself?

3. According to Adichie, what dilemmas can arise when others view us differently than we view ourselves?

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4. Do you think it is a natural behaviour for people to sort and categorise the things and people they encounter in their
lives? If so, when might it be useful? When does it become a problem?

5. What does Adichie mean by a “single story”? What examples does she give?

6. How did Adichie learn “single stories” about others? How did these stories impact her understanding of herself and of
others? How did these single stories impact the choices she made at home and in her travels?

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7. What enabled Adichie to change her “single story”? What are other ways for these types of stories to change?

8. According to Adichie, why can “single stories” be dangerous? What is the relationship between “single stories” and
stereotypes?

9. Why is it that people sometimes make the same mistakes that they so easily see others making?