To enable young people to consider a biblical perspective on gender roles and how that applies to their lives

BACKGROUND READING:

There are different views on the roles of men and women in the church and home. This meeting guide takes the egalitarian view – that men and women were created equal and that competition, inequality and prescribed roles are a result of the fall. You may want to include the particular emphasis of your denomination as you consider the Bible passages. Some films consider gender roles and can be a good discussion starter. In What Women Want Mel Gibson develops the ability to listen in on what women are thinking. Whale Rider tells the story of a girl, Pai, who is born into a Maori tribe much to the disappointment of her grandfather who wanted a grandson to train to be the new leader of the tribe. For a theological approach, you still can’t beat Equal to Serve by Gretchen Gaebelein Hull. Or visit the website of Christians for Biblical Equality www.cbeinternational.org which has lots of good articles.

 NOTES FOR ADAPTING:

In the Pictionary game, if you have a single gender group, choose the two teams according to hair colour – one blonde, one brown. From that, talk about inequalities between men and women.

Boys’ list: car, tree, camel, skateboard, door, book

Discuss their reactions to the game and invite them to draw parallels with how men and women are treated in life. Although girls outperform boys at school, in the workplace they get paid less and find it hard to break into top jobs. In what ways do they feel women are disadvantaged in our society? Is this the way it should be? Are men disadvantaged in any way? What expectations are there on you because of your gender?

Put the following words onto blank postcards or business cards – one word on each. Add other words that are appropriate to the boys and girls in your group. Make three or four sets of the cards: Strong, pretty, talkative, leader, giggly, caring, sporty, intelligent, decision maker, athletic, footballer, emotional, dancer, dainty, ambitious, innovative, creative, compassionate, sensitive, boisterous, gentle, confident. Hand the sets of cards to three or four in the group and get them to hold them so the words aren’t visible. Then ask them to quickly turn the cards over one by one and deal them into two piles – one of words associated with boys and one of words associated with girls. They shouldn’t think too long about each word – just go with their gut instinct. They have to put each card on one or other of the piles – there’s no in between!

Discuss this activity – how did it feel to have to choose which were more typically male and which were female? Did anyone disagree with the choices people made? Let other people do the activity again, this time putting the cards into three piles – male, female and both. They will have more time to think about it. Discuss: what are the differences between men and women (apart from the obvious physical ones!), or are they identical? Where do differences come from – nature or nurture?

Split into small groups. Give half of the groups the first set of passages, and the other half the second set. Ask them to read through the passages and summarise what they say about men and women from a Biblical perspective.

Set one - Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:20-25; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 5:21-33.

Invite the groups to report back on what they found and discuss the passages. Do they have any questions? Is there anything they didn’t understand? What do they think about what the Bible says on this issue? The first set talk about the ‘sameness’ of men and women – that both are made in God’s image. They are to submit to one another and consider each other as equals. The second set prescribes roles to men and women. Women are not allowed to teach or have authority; they must remain silent; they must cover their heads.

Explain that there have been different interpretations of these Bible passages through the ages and in different parts of the Church. At times they have been used to prescribe very strict roles of what men and women are allowed to do. But many people believe that God created men and women equal, to complement each other. The first set of Bible passages explain this important principle which stands for all time. The second set shows how cultural limitations have been put on men and women at different times, but these are not meant to be universal and eternal. Use this opportunity to explain your denomination’s teaching on the issue.

Set the context of Genesis 3:16-20 and then read the passage to the group. Adam and Eve were created equal and complemented each other perfectly. It wasn’t good for Adam to be alone; he needed Eve and vice versa. 

KEY POINT: God intended men and women to explore and develop his world together. But when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, competition, strife and roles entered their relationship.

Get two large sheets of paper and write ‘celebrate’ in the centre of one and ‘decimate’ in the centre of the other. Invite the group to write on the celebrate one all the things that they like about being the gender that they are. For example, one girl might really enjoy wearing make up, another might love the girls’ football team that she belongs to. Then invite them to write on the ‘decimate’ sheet all the things they don’t enjoy about being the gender that they are and that they would like to get rid of. For example, a boy may hate football and the fact that everyone expects all boys to like football, a girl may hate the pressure to be thin. You could get people cutting pictures or words out of magazines and sticking them on as well. Discuss these collages of words. Allow people to say why they have chosen those words or pictures.

KEY POINT: There are big differences between the opinions of people of the same gender. We are not all identical, nor do we have to be. Encourage them to listen to each other and consider whether they need to treat each other differently as a result.

Celebrate – Decimate (7 mins)

Get two large sheets of paper and write ‘celebrate’ in the centre of one and ‘decimate’ in the centre of the other. Invite the group to write on the celebrate one all the things that they like about being the gender that they are. For example, one girl might really enjoy wearing make up, another might love the girls’ football team that she belongs to. Then invite them to write on the ‘decimate’ sheet all the things they don’t enjoy about being the gender that they are and that they would like to get rid of. For example, a boy may hate football and the fact that everyone expects all boys to like football, a girl may hate the pressure to be thin. You could get people cutting pictures or words out of magazines and sticking them on as well. Discuss these collages of words. Allow people to say why they have chosen those words or pictures.