SOME WORDS TO START WITH…

- Male chauvinism
- Domestic violence / gender-based violence /violence against women
- Batterer vs battered
- Mistreatment= abuse
- Restraining order
- Physical abuse:
. beating
· pinching, scratching, grabbing
. slapping, punching, kicking
. spitting on someone, biting
. choking

- Psychological abuse:
. mocking someone/embarrassing someone in public
. critisizing someone/demeaning someone/name-calling someone
. gaslighting someone/guilt-tripping someone
. stalking/ cyberstalking
. driving you away from family/friends

- Sexual abuse:
. catcalling
. groping somebody
. raping
. mansplaining /talking down on someone

QUESTIONS. In pairs, take turns at answering these questions. Reason your answer.

1. In your opinion, what type of violence is the most emotionally damaging?

2. What kind of people carry domestic violence?
3. Do you think all batterers grew up in a climate of child abuse and violence?
4 Why do you think so many mistreated women stay in the relationship for so
long?
5. What would you do if you knew there was domestic violence in the flat/house
next to yours?
6. What questions would you ask a violent family member?

DEBATE: GENDER ROLES ARE NATURAL VS

GENDER ROLES ARE CULTURAL CONSTRUCTS
The class will discuss this issue, with one team arguing in favour and the other against.
There will be time to think and organise your points. Then the debate will start and the
jury, made up by two students, will decide which team has presented the strongest case.

GENDER ROLES ARE NATURAL

1. WOMEN ARE NATURALLY BETTER AT TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE (CHILDREN,

ELDERLY PEOPLE, THE SICK, ETC); THEY HAVE BEEN SO SINCE PREHISTORIC
TIMES. BESIDES, NATURE IS WISE AND THERE IS A REASON WHY THEY GIVE
BIRTH AND BREAST-FEED.

2. MEN ARE PHYSICALLY STRONGER AND THEREFORE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE
HUNTERS AND THE BREAD-WINNERS. THEY ARE MORE ACTION-ORIENTED.

3. THEIR BRAINS ARE DIFFERENT: MEN’S ARE MORE CAPABLE OF THINKING

LOGICALLY. THEY ARE BETTER AT MATHS AND SCIENCE; WOMEN HAVE A MORE
DEVELOPED LEFT HEMISPHERE AND ARE BETTER AT LANGUAGES.

GENDER ROLES ARE CULTURAL CONSTRUCTS

1. THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC PROOF ABOUT ANATOMICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN

WOMEN’S AND MEN’S BRAINS.

2. WOMEN ARE TRAINED TO BE CARING, PATIENT AND ‘OTHER-ORIENTED.’ MEN

ARE TRAINED TO BE INDEPENDENT AND COMPETITIVE. Think about the role of
- TOYS - THE MEDIA - FAIRY TALES - DISNEY FILMS …
...in shaping gender identity.