Greece
participants
The aim of this workshop is to foster gender equality and inclusivity by raising awareness about gender stereotypes, biases, and microaggressions. It aligns with the “Inclusivity for All, Now!” project by empowering participants to recognise, address, and challenge barriers to inclusivity in their social and professional environments.
Specific Objectives:
Raise awareness: Help participants identify gender stereotypes, biases, and microaggressions—both subtle and overt—in everyday situation.
Develop empathy: Allow participants to experience firsthand the impact of these biases through immersive role-playing and collective reflection.
Encourage action: Equip participants with tools and insights to actively promote gender sensitivity and mainstreaming within ESN and their broader communities.
Promote dialogue: Create a safe space for discussion, ensuring participants feel heard and valued as they share perspectives and solutions.
This combination of awareness, empathy, and actionable takeaways supports the overarching goal of building a more inclusive environment for all.
Activities and Methods:
The workshop employs an experiential role-playing method to highlight how gender stereotypes and microaggressions influence social dynamics and decision-making.
Icebreaker Activity: An engaging warm-up to set a positive and open atmosphere where the participants share some of the weirdest stereotypes and microagressions they have heard.
Introduction: Brief explanation of gender stereotypes and microaggressions with relatable examples to establish understanding.
Role-Playing Scenarios: Participants are assigned specific (gender) roles and act out real-life scenarios reflecting gender biases.
- Each scenario is followed by a structured debriefing to discuss feelings, behaviors, and solutions.
- The Wall of Empathy: Participants write on post-its what they would ask from society as the role they played and stick them on the shared flipchart, promoting reflection and empathy.
Promotion and Outreach:
The workshop was promoted within the local ESN network, targeting both new and existing members and Erasmus students to ensure diverse participation. Emphasis was placed on engaging participants from different backgrounds to foster a collaborative environment reflective of ESN’s inclusive values.
Impact and Multiplying Effect:
- Immediate Impact: Participants leave with increased awareness, empathy, and practical tools to address gender stereotypes and microaggressions.
- Multiplying Effect: By equipping participants to challenge biases in their personal, professional, and ESN environments, the workshop creates a ripple effect, spreading inclusivity and awareness to a wider community.
- Long-term Goal: The outcomes contribute to a more gender-sensitive and inclusive culture within ESN and outside of it.
This activity is part of the project:
Inclusivity for All, Now!