The first topic that the Grade 7 & 8 Builders Club students wanted to learn about was GENDER DISCRIMINATION.  The class was first introduced to the definitions of both gender (the biological sex of an individual, but also the array of roles, personality traits, attitudes, behaviours, values, power and influence) attributed to men and women, boys and girls.  The class learned that gender is strongly influenced by the social environment in which we live, and boys and girls are socialized mainly by their parents, friends, educators and authority figures in the community, which either enhances or shapes values and attitudes toward the two genders. Some of the first gender socialization that happens is with babies.  Girl babies are dressed in pink, bows and frills, while boys are donned in blue or darker colours, trucks, cars and superheros.  Some people even treat boy babies differently than girls (rougher play, discourage or encourage certain behaviours) or direct them to play with certain types of toys than others.  It's clear from the time we are born our society and the people around us help construct our view of gender and appropriate behaviour. Self Esteem/Positive Identity The ability to respect yourself, accept yourself and love yourself completely, without seeking validation from your friends, the opposite sex or others around you, is the best gift you can give yourself and others.  It is clear that the stereorotypes, perception of one's abilities, strengths, attractiveness and competence in things that you feel are important (sports, school, home, friendships, hobbies) helps you feel good about yourself and builds your self esteem. For boys and girls in their early teens, this is a crucial time for development of self esteem.  It can be either a period of risk of drowning, or disappearing, particularly for girls.  It is an important time to examine stereotypes and balance your personal values, attitudes, behaviours and responses to others, and finding out what your own needs are.  It's a period of questioning what a girl, boy, individuality or social norms are in your community and the world.

Through small group workshops, presentation on body image and lectures, the Builders Club students demonstrated what their stereotypes and perceptions are of BOYS. The following are verbatim comments from students on the common stereotypes and attitudes toward the opposite sex. guys are meant to be butch guys are expected to bring home the bacon guys are expected to have higher paying jobs guys are expected to plan their lives around girls guys can slap girls on the butt; it's allowed and there is no consequence guys should have short hair guys should be strong, powerful and brave - body builders, 6-pack abs guys should be good at sports guys are hairy, greasy with chest hair guys should work at manly jobs like construction, mechanics, engineering guys are alcoholics - drinking whisky, rum, beer, vodka - it's expected guys are expected to uphold the tough-guy image - don't cry or look weak guys show their toughness toward others by hitting and keeping other guys "in line" guys never do gymnastics - those are girl sports guys should not be gay, or at least not show it - gay guys are called fruitcakes, and don't have piercing or you're definately queer guys are non-romantic, non-commital and don't ever show your feminine side (softer qualities) guys are not expected to be smart, but in fact encouraged to be dim-witted or a "stupy-head" image of guys is to be tall, athletic, ripped and tough guys work in the house is limited to taking out the garbage The class produced two collages with images of what they thought were negative and positive images of men.  These were donated to the Interlake Women's Resource Centre.

Through small group workshops, a presentation on body image and lecture, the Builders Club students demonstrated what their stereotypes and perceptions are of GIRLS. The following are verbatim comments from students on the common stereotypes and attitudes toward the opposite sex. girls are always supposed to wear make-up and be pretty girls should be skinny and have a big chest and a small bum, long legs and small feet; not fat thighs girls are expected to respect their boyfriend's wishes girls are to be mannerly, lady-like and a "good girl" girls are expected to cook, clean and care for the kids girls are weak girls should have medium-long hair girls are smarter and expected to be good in school girls should not be hairy or smelly girls should be skinny, small or petite - overly concerned with the scales girls should be a homemaker, secretary or support roles to the man - perception that skinny girls get paid more girls should be very clean girls should be skirts and dresses, but also be sexy girls should modify their words and emotions (eg. say "fluff" instead of "fart") girls typically sound ditsy saying "like", "uh?!", "so like", and "totally" girls in hockey or football are the exception and not promoted or encouraged - those are guy sports girls are not supposed to be strong, but rather weight conscience and weak girls have a curfew, while boys get more leniency from parents (double standard) girls expected to do housework, but guys don't girls aren't supposed to "stink up the bathroom" girls like shopping and are always expecting to get stuff from guys  girls commented that if they see a guy slapping a girl, they punch back (rather than verbal or other means of confrontation)  The class produced two collages with images of what they thought were negative and positive images of women.  These were donated to the Interlake Women's Resource Centre.

After viewing a film on media portrayal of boys/men and girls/women, the students had a greater awareness of how we collectively develop common stereotypes, attitudes and values toward each other. However...putting knowledge into action to change to change their own environment is easier said than done.   SEXUAL HARASSMENT "If you feel it...it is!" The class talked about what they felt were inappropriate attitudes, behaviours and values toward the other genders.  They learned that it is in their particular Western culture, community (home, work, school and on the street) and their community environment, that most reflects the attitudes toward boys/men and girls/women. The class viewed a video on how the media (film, videogames, magazines and music) portray gender, and how the images of women and men shape our behaviour, thoughts about power, race and values. Most of the class agreed that it is commonplace to call girls "sluts, whores, bitches" and boys "fags, stupid-head", etc., but when asked if they speak back against it, they replied that then they themselves would be called the bad names, so most refused to speak up against gender discrimination or sexual harassment.  This is a problem! Girls also said that it is common for the boys to slap their behinds without any consequences, while girls feel their only sense of retaliation is to hit and punch. Among youth, there is fear to speak out against gender discrimination and sexual harassment, and aggressive behaviour to retaliate is the norm. One boy replied, after being asked how he thought the collage project went, he relied, "ït was hard finding positive images of girls in magazines, but there was plenty of half naked women and sexy pictures."