Let’s Challenge Gender Roles

A “gender system” has been created in our society in which women and men, in their diversity, do different things with different consequences, which has affected the labour market and created problems not only for individuals but for society at large, because gender roles stereotypes create rigid and not-flexible structures and hinder people’s potential capacity within many fields. Gender stereotypes are preconceived ideas whereby males and females are arbitrarily assigned characteristics and roles determined and limited by their sex. Stereotypes about women/men are the cause of deeply engrained attitudes, values, norms and prejudices. They are used to justify and maintain the historical relations of power of men over women as well as sexist attitudes which are holding back the realisation of the true equality.

The main need that this project wants to answer to is the lack of gender critical awareness and sensitivity in youth work field.

This project will empower and enable youth workers with gender critical awareness and practical competencies and sensitivity.

More specific objectives are:

• To increase/upgrade the knowledge level of youth workers in Gender Related Topics (gender, role, identity, norms, prejudices, stereotypes, assumptions, sensitivity, etc.)
• To increase critical thinking on gender issues among youth workers;
• To motivate the youth workers to initiate and manage projects focused on gender issues;
• To equip youth workers with specific working competencies to tackle gender issues in their work;
• To support youth organization in their efforts to mainstream gender issues in their projects;
• To develop high gender sensitive attitudes in youth work field;

Target group and criteria for selection. The prospective participants should:

• Be youth workers, leader’s coordinators, facilitators and trainers from active NGOs that have mission and objectives that are related to diversity and human rights. (There will be given priority to long term members and/or for motivation to be involved in their organization for at least one more year after the project);
• Have strong interest and motivation toward gender issues as well as towards critical aspects regarding gender issues in their society as well as European society.
• Be ready to be challenged beyond their mental comfort zone;
• Have a high multiplicative potential and motivation;
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have at least a medium level of English use (to be able to participate actively in discussions and in training activities);