Theme
Gender Stereotypes
Challenging Gender Stereotypes for a More Inclusive Future
Gender stereotypes shape how we feel we “should” behave as a man or a woman and can create barriers to wellbeing and prevent people of all identifications from thriving.
A gendered picture
Three quarters of suicides in the UK are committed by men. Men have measurably lower access to the social support of friends and are less likely to access therapy. Women in full-time employment are nearly twice as likely to have mental health problems as men in the same setting, possibly due to the caring responsibilities that continue to fall to them to juggle. Meanwhile women are much less likely than men to be in leadership positions.
Joining the dots
Many think gender equality has been achieved and do not recognise the way in which these social challenges have been affected by gender norms, roles and stereotypes. By shining a light on these norms, we take the first step in addressing them, inviting people to reflect on which social messages are healthy and helpful and which are harmful or limiting. Through education, we build individual and community capacity to challenge them.
Sub themes
Stepping Out Of the Box
We have developed work that gives an insight into the range of ways in which gender norms and stereotypes can impact wellbeing, aspirations, identity, inclusion and relationship-building for both boys and girls.
Lads, lads, lads
We have developed work that specifically explores the social expectations surrounding masculinity, considering the different ways in which these messages can be harmful to male wellbeing.
Girls, Bodies and Belief
We have developed work that specifically explores the social expectations around femininity, exploring the harmful impacts on girls’ body image and self-esteem.
Ways you can
work with us
Resources and workshops
Order our resources on this theme or book us to deliver a workshop directly with your students or participants. We have content that is aimed at children and young people and content that is aimed at adults.
Collaboration
Partner with us on live projects as we develop and test new content. We work with a range of schools, youth groups and community organisations in our projects, both in early development and roll out stages. We love working in collaboration!
Training delivery
Book us to deliver training on this theme in relation to your young people or adult colleagues. The beauty of art and creative methods is that they can be used flexibly to engage a given audience. We are experienced in designing for different audiences and can offer bespoke or off-the-shelf variants.
Commissioning
Commission us to develop awareness-raising content on this theme for your organisation or community. We can draw from our existing portfolio or co-create something new with you to explore a different aspect of the issue.
Book our ‘Lads, lads, lads’ CPD to explore how you could use creative tools and methods to unpick what is – or isn’t – “toxic” about masculinity.
Book nowRelated Projects
Related Projects
Men’s Voices
Men’s Voices was a multimedia exhibition resulting from a co-production process with men and boys exploring what it means to be a man.
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Stepping Out Of the Box
Stepping Out Of the Box was a development of Men’s Voices, exploring gender stereotypes more broadly, resulting in a touring multimedia exhibition.
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Who Wears the Trousers
Who Wears the Trousers was a commission from The College of St Hild and St Bede at Durham University resulting in a zine and animation drawn from Stepping Out Of the Box artwork.
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Girls, Bodies and Belief
Girls, Bodies and Belief was a commission from Durham Johnston Comprehensive School to support a group of girls struggling with their mental health to challenge unhelpful self-limiting gender stereotypes.
Find out moreResources on this theme
Lads, lads, lads
A workbook to support those working with young people to explore masculinity stereotypes, using a mixture of visual art, co-created with Northeast boys and men, alongside poetry and real-life stories of young men who have challenged the status quo.
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Men’s Voices
Our exhibition catalogue which includes Chris Robinson’s original poetry collection, award winning author Ross Raisin’s piece ‘Manufacturing Men’ and a CD of Rupert Philbrick’s moving soundscape.
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Who Wears the Trousers
A lively zine with a quirky mix of artwork, poetry and information exploring gender stereotypes, with creative prompts to give young people using it space to reflect and respond.
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