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Prejudice/Stereotypes
Activity 1
| a |
Use pictures from magazines or source some
from the Internet to show a selection of people
from a variety of age groups, ethnic groups, social groups etc. Ask the class to work in small groups to
create a profile of the person. Do not give specific instructions but tell the groups they may put down any thought that they think might represent the person in the picture – they may be purely physical or suppositions about situation/personality traits etc. |
| b |
Now ask groups to share their thoughts with another group (the class may all have been given the same picture or each group a different
one.) Ask them to discuss what they know is true, what they have some evidence for and what they have no evidence for. |
| c |
Finally, display a picture of a class member (having first received their permission!) choosing someone who is well known throughout the class. What can the class say about them? |
Discuss:
- How difficult was it to say something we know is true about the person on the picture? What were the only things we could go on?
- Have any class members felt as if they have been judged by external factors only (colour, clothes, language)? How did it feel?
- Looking at the pictures again, do pupils think they can find one thing they have in common with people in the photos?
- What does the class understand by the words prejudice and stereotype?
Activity 2
Print out the following quotes from the play and ask groups to discuss what is happening in them. Bring the class together to share their thoughts and discuss what the consequences can be when individuals are judged as part of a group.
Quote 1
Mother:
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Yesterday, I saw Mischa in the street, Mischa, she sang at our
wedding, actually her little girl saw me first, let go of her mother’s
hand, and ran across to me, laughing and calling my name.
Mischa took the child’s hand, never looked at me, never spoke,
and pulled her away. |
Quote 2
Stefan:
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This won’t last, soon it’ll be someone else’s turn. Who’s different? Who shall we hate this week? Just like children in the playground,
only children aren’t so stupid. I’m talking to this man yesterday … and out of nowhere he says to me, I hate the Chinese … And I
said, all of them? And he said, yes, I hate all of them. |
Quote 3
Woman:
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Tell your mother, we don’t forget. We remember what you did to us. |
| Andrea: |
We didn’t do anything to anybody. |
| Woman: |
We don’t forget. Tell her that. |
| Andrea: |
It was people like you who killed our father. |
Quote 4
| Andrea: |
You should keep away from her. |
| Riva: |
Why? |
| Andrea: |
Because. |
| Riva: |
Because what? |
| Andrea: |
At home they were trying to kill us. |
| Riva: |
Sacha and her parents aren’t like that. |
Quote 5
| Andrea: |
Mother, they’re on the other side. |
| Mother: |
I know. |
| Andrea: |
Then what are you doing talking to them? |
| Mother: |
Do you hate all the Chinese? |
| ANDREA: |
They killed my father. |
| Mother: |
That man and his wife? Did they? |
Discuss:
- In the play, what happens to Riva and Andrea and why? (They are forced to flee their home and country because they are judged not by their own actions but as part of a group.)
- Privately think about someone who has said or done something to you that you did not like. What class was that person in at school/what street did they live on? Did it mean you disliked the whole class/ all the people in the street? What colour eyes did they have? Do you dislike all people with that colour eyes? Maybe they are the same as yours?
- Do the class know about any conflicts where people have had to/are having to leave their homes or countries or been imprisoned or killed because of ~ the ethnic or religious group they belong to?
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