Walk In My Shoes Activity
Rationale: In this activity participants begin to explore their
perceptions of positive and negative aspects of various group identities.
A group can be divided across any lines, e.g. race, gender, sexual orientation,
class, age, etc.
Requirements:
Materials: Chart paper, markers, and masking tape
Time: 45 to 60 minutes
Space: room for small groups for work without disturbing each
other
Number of participants: 25
Age level: adult
Directions:
- Explain the goal of the activity and ask participants to divide into
affinity groups by race, gender, sexual orientation or whatever "difference"
issue you are exploring.
- Distribute a large piece of newsprint and marker to each group, and
ask the person in each group who will serve as the group's recorder
to draw a line from the top of the page to the bottom down the center
of the page. Instruct the recorder to put a plus sign on one side of
the line and a minus on the other side.
- The task in the small group is to generate a list and record on chart
paper all of the positive and negative aspects of being a man or woman,
white person or person of color, etc. (each group writes about itself).
Tell participants they will have 15 minutes for this task.
- After 15 minutes collect the newsprint sheets from each group and
hang them in the room.
- Distribute a second piece of newsprint to each group, and instruct
participants to use the same process as before except this time the
list should reflect what each group thinks are the positive and negative
aspects of being a member of the other group. (e.g. women list what
they see as the positive and negative aspects of being a man while the
men do the same about what they perceive to be the pluses and minuses
of being a woman.) Groups have 15 minutes for this task, after which
facilitator collects and posts sheets next to the first sheets.
- Instruct participants to read all of the charts, and make a note of
any questions they might want to ask about anything on the lists. Ask
participants to return to their seats in a circle.
- Process the activity by asking some or all of the following questions:
Discussion Questions:
- Did you see anything on any of the lists that surprised you?
- Which list was easier or more fun to work on?
- Did you notice any patterns in any of the lists?
- What did you learn from this activity?
- Did you notice any contradictions in any of the lists?
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