Promiting gender equality: beyond gender stereotypes perpetuation

• Main Authors: Vanda Sousa, Marta Marchante, Vítor Alexandre Coelho, Andreia Quintais
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Asociación Nacional de Psicología Evolutiva y Educativa de la Infancia Adolescencia Mayores y Discapacidad 2019-09-01
• Series: INFAD
• Subjects: igualdade de género; promoção; programa; estereótipos de género
• Online Access: http://www.infad.eu/RevistaINFAD/OJS/index.php/IJODAEP/article/view/1575

Gender equality is presently considered a matter of Human Rights, and a goal for a sustainable economic development. However, actions that promote gender equality based on women s direct benefit have been considered complex and have led to adverse social effects, as well as contributing to a difficulty in obtaining positive results among men. However, this poster presents a reflection about the content, form and issues that should be addressed in programs that are designed to promote Gender Equality among adolescents. The manuscript will describe a program for middle school students based upon the social and emotional learning theoretical framework proposed by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (2015). The program focuses on the universal nature of a healthy and positive development, both in the way that the activities are developed and in the benefits for students of both genders. The program is composed by six sessions where several themes pertaining to gender equality are developed, namely, gender stereotypes deconstruction, emotional expression, identify qualities in the self and others, responsible decision making and conflict management (specifically in close relationships). This program uses mainly group activities and it aims not only to promote attitude change regarding gender stereotypes, but also to achieve a good level of satisfaction from participating students from both genders.