Activity 1:Gender Stereotypes

1.1. A gender stereotype is a generalised view or preconception about attributes or

characteristics, or the roles that are or ought to be possessed by, or performed by,
women and men.As a result men tend to outnumber women in professions such as
law enforcement, the military and politics. Women, on the other hand, tend to
outnumber men in care-related occupations such as child-care, healthcare(nurses,
doctors, physician ect.) and social work. For nurses, the question could be “are you
man enough to be a nurse?” as nursing is regarded as a job best done by women
because of their femaleness. Others may regard males who opt for careers
traditionally associated with females as “sissies” “weak” or “not being man enough.”

1.2. Society entrenches such stereotypical tendencies because when children don't
conform to the appropriate gender role for their culture or according to societal
expectations, they may face negative sanctions such as being criticised, bullied,
marginalised, or rejected by their peers.A series of five studies showed that people
are more likely to lie, cheat, steal, or endorse doing so when they feel that they are
being devalued simply because they belong to particular groups.

1.3. Women are (or should be) communal, which means they are warm, pleasant,
caregiving, gentle, modest, sensitive and affectionate. And men are (or should be)
agentic, which means they are strong, forceful, aggressive, competent, competitive
and independent.A person holds negative stereotypes about women if he or she
thinks a woman — simply because she is a woman — is (or should be) warm,
pleasant and likeable, but not particularly forceful, competent, or suited for
high-pressure, competitive leadership tasks. A person holding such negative
stereotypes will consistently judge the women he or she works with as less talented,
less suited for challenging assignments, and less worthwhile to advise, supervise or
sponsor than the men.Women are generally pushed out of the workforce to
accommodate childcare and other unpaid responsibilities, and consequently have
less job experience than men. Women who have access to paid family and medical
leave are more likely to return to work—and to return sooner. That is why some
women earn less for similar work that men do and men get promoted to positions of
power. Women also biologically have less upper body strength,less bone mass,are
smaller built and lighter than men which would make it difficult for them to be
accepted for jobs like construction workers, police, military officers, etc. as those jobs
require more speed, strength and stamina which is easily found and more commonly
looked for in men. Men also have more cardiovascular endurance than women so
male orientated sport is advertised for more than women's.

1.4.
Activity 2: Relationship between physical and mental health

2.1 Cardiovascular fitness is a health-related component of physical fitness that is

brought about by sustained physical activity. A person's ability to deliver oxygen to
the working muscles is affected by many physiological parameters, including heart
rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, and maximal oxygen consumption.Viable options
include hiking, jogging, cycling, rowing, running, and elliptical training. Just
remember, it is any activity that increases your breathing and heart rate!Aerobic
exercise is physical exercise of low to high intensity that depends primarily on the
aerobic energy-generating process. "Aerobic" is defined as "relating to, involving, or
requiring free oxygen", and refers to the use of oxygen to meet energy demands
during exercise via aerobic metabolism adequately.

2.2. Regular physical activity can help children and adolescents improve
cardiorespiratory fitness, build strong bones and muscles, control weight, reduce
symptoms of anxiety and depression, and reduce the risk of developing health
conditions such as: Heart disease.Encouraging healthy lifestyles in children and
teens is important for when they grow older. Lifestyles that are learned in childhood
are more likely to stay with the child into adulthood.It also plays a role in the
prevention of heart diseases and type 2 diabetes.For teens, daily exercise may help
prevent conditions such as weight gain, high blood pressure, and abnormal
cholesterol levels, as well as poor lifestyle habits that lead to heart attack and stroke
later in life. It is also one key component of fitness which,jointly with others such as
flexibility, muscular endurance,muscular strength etc. contribute to the enhancement
of the quality of life.

2.3. A study from the World Health Organisation (WHO) has found that 80 percent of
adolescents across the world are not moving enough. Researchers said that the
situation is serious and that urgent action needs to be taken to get young people
moving again. 1.6 million students from 146 countries participated in the study and it
found inactivity was the highest in South Korea at 94.2 percent. The advent of the
4th industrial revolution is partly to blame as more young people resort to
video/computer games to pass time. The graph suggests that teenages do not take
physical exercise seriously and don't do enough cardiovascular physical activity to
stay healthy with most of the 1.6 million students over 146 countries in the world not
participating in physical exercise, South Korea being the highest with 94.2 percent
and the United States being the lowest with 72.0 percent of estimated prevalence of
insufficient physical activity among 11-17 year olds.

2.4. Fewer injuries - once you develop strength and flexibility in your body you’ll be
able to withstand more physical stress. Plus, you’ll rid your body of any muscle
imbalances, which will reduce your chance of getting injured during physical activity.
Correcting muscle imbalances requires a combination of strengthening the
underactive muscles and stretching the overactive (tight) ones.Improved posture and
balance –When you focus on increasing muscular flexibility your posture is likely to
improve. Working out your body allows you to have proper alignment and correct any
imbalances. Plus, with an increased range of motion you may find it easier to sit or
stand in certain ways. Yoga has been shown to improve balance.

2.5. 1. Inform Students of the Benefits

Promoting exercise in schools can start with educating students on the benefits we
discussed above. By informing students of how impactful physical exercise is to their
health and wellbeing, as well as their performance at school, we can motivate and
empower them to stay active. This is especially important for older students since
they’re more capable of understanding the research on physical activity’s benefits
and tend to have more say over how they spend their time at home.

2. Inform Parents of the Benefits

Parents can also play a vital role in helping their kids stay active, especially when it
comes to younger children, so schools should find opportunities to educate parents
on just how beneficial physical activity is for their kids. Encourage parents to limit the
time their children spend in front of a television or computer screen and instead plan
activities for the whole family that involve physical exercise, such as a bike ride or a
hike. Parents may also want to enrol their children in extracurricular activities to help
them stay active.Celebrate Students’ Healthy Habits

Positive reinforcement is a proven strategy for teaching children to repeat certain

behaviours, turning them into habits. Physical activity should be a key part of
children’s lifestyles, so using positive reinforcement to help them form healthy habits
is a great strategy. Find ways to praise students for prioritising physical activity at
home and for their accomplishments in sports or physical education classes at
school.Let Students Inspire Each Other

Students can also be inspired by one another, so it’s a good idea to use positive
reinforcement to encourage all students to be active as well as reward individual
students. Teachers can ask their students what activities they took part in over the
weekend or can ask students to share ideas for how they like to get exercise when
they’re not at school. Do they rollerblade? Play catch? Do gymnastics? Praise
students for being active and see the ripple effect it creates.

Before- and after-school programs can also provide an opportunity for students to
become more active. The CDC suggests implementing physical activity clubs,
intramural sports, interscholastic sports and physical activity in extended day
programs. Incorporating a range of physical activities for students to choose from
before and after school makes it more likely that they’ll find a program that’s a good
fit for them.

Providing physical activities gives students an opportunity for exercise, and it can
help them discover activities they enjoy and may participate in as hobbies for years
to come. A student may discover they have a passion for soccer, track or another
activity they try at school.

If you’re looking for strategies to increase physical activity in schools that don’t take
away from the normal school day, you can invite private organisations to host before-
or after-school programs at your school that encourage students to stay active. Since
students should get 60 minutes of activity a day, and time dedicated to physical
education classes and recess may be limited, before- and after-school programs can
help them achieve this one-hour goal.

Start improving the fitness program at your school by upgrading your youth fitness
equipment.

2.6. People who exercise regularly tend to do so because it gives them an enormous
sense of well-being. They feel more energetic throughout the day, sleep better at
night, have sharper memories, and feel more relaxed and positive about themselves
and their lives. And it’s also a powerful medicine for many common mental health
challenges.Regular exercise can have a profoundly positive impact on depression,
anxiety, and ADHD. It also relieves stress, improves memory, helps you sleep better,
and boosts your overall mood. And you don’t have to be a fitness fanatic to reap the
benefits. Research indicates that modest amounts of exercise can make a real
difference. No matter your age or fitness level, you can learn to use exercise as a
powerful tool to deal with mental health problems, improve your energy and outlook,
and get more out of life. Studies show that exercise can treat mild to moderate
depression as effectively as antidepressant medication—but without the side-effects,
of course. As one example, a recent study done by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of
Public Health found that running for 15 minutes a day or walking for an hour reduces
the risk of major depression by 26%. In addition to relieving depression symptoms,
research also shows that maintaining an exercise schedule can prevent you from
relapsing.Exercise is a powerful depression fighter for several reasons. Most
importantly, it promotes all kinds of changes in the brain, including neural growth,
reduced inflammation, and new activity patterns that promote feelings of calm and
well-being. It also releases endorphins, powerful chemicals in your brain that
energise your spirits and make you feel good. Finally, exercise can also serve as a
distraction, allowing you to find some quiet time to break out of the cycle of negative
thoughts that feed depression.

2.7.Prioritize Physical Education Classes

Physical education courses give students the opportunity to get some exercise
during the school day and can help them learn healthy habits for leading active
lifestyles. Physical education classes that teach sports and other team-building
games add a social component to physical activity that can make it more fun and
meaningful for kids. Physical education classes can play an influential role for
students who otherwise live sedentary lifestyles. Build Time in the Schedule for
Recess

Recess is another important way you can promote physical activity at your school.
Whereas physical education courses are structured, recess should focus more on
free play. There are various models for recess you can implement at your school. It
could be one recess period in the afternoon or a series of short recess periods
throughout the day. However you choose to include it, make sure your school builds
time into the schedule for recess so it is not crowded out by other things.

Upgrade Your Playground Equipment

Having rundown or limited playground equipment does not communicate a
commitment to fostering active play at your school. So, take a look at your
playground equipment and consider whether it could stand to be replaced, or
whether you should add some new equipment. Remember that not all playground
equipment is created equal. Look for playground equipment that is durable and
designed to aid in children’s development and to encourage inclusivity during recess.

Host Sports Events

Sports can be a fun way for kids to stay active. However, some kids don’t have the
interest or time to dedicate to being on a sports team. That’s why it’s a good idea for
schools to host sporting events beyond their normal sports games. For example, you
could host a fun run, a sack race or an obstacle course for students to participate in.
You can also form recreational sports teams for older students who enjoy sports but
are intimidated by the thought of being on a varsity team.

If children are introduced to physical exercise in a fun and beneficial way when they
are young and throughout being a teenager, it'll become a habit when they get older.
By understanding the benefits at a young age and learning to make physical
exercise something they enjoy doing, they'd want to do it more often and it'll become
a lifestyle habit into adulthood and they would be able to teach their kids and families
about the benefits of physical exercise, helping in obtaining a healthy future for future
generations as when it is something you grow up knowing it's easier to carry that
knowledge into your adult life.
Activity 3: Xenophobia in South African Schools

3.1. Xenophobia is the fear or hatred of that which is perceived to be foreign or

strange. It is an expression of perceived conflict between an ingroup and an
outgroup and may manifest in suspicion by the one of the other's activities, a desire
to eliminate their presence, and fear of losing national, ethnic, or racial identity.

3.2.

3.3. Organisations like Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) and The Centre for Human
Rights provide free legal services to both non-national and South African victims of
human rights abuses.