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For any school involved in gender equity reform it is useful that staff share and explore their personal histories in order to understand the range of experiences and perceptions of gender people bring to their professional lives as teachers and school administrators. This is so, not only because it can provide schools with useful data and insights about gender equity, but it can also alert schools to possible resistance and help them plan appropriate professional development.

While the primary audience for the following activities is teachers, many of the topics can be adapted for students and parents. The topics can be used in a number of ways, for example:

... They can be considered by individuals as personal reflection.

... They can be shared as a round table discussion.

... They can be written - for personal use or to be analysed in a group forum.

Sensitivity should be exercised when people are sharing personal histories which may be painful.

Personal experiences

• Think about a critical incident in your personal life which stands out as a moment which made a difference to the way you think about gender. Explain how your thinking changed.

• Consider a situation in your personal life where you were disadvantaged because of gender. Indicate how you felt and what you did about the situation.

• Consider a situation where you experienced or witnessed positive action to overcome disadvantage based on gender.

• What experiences in your professional life raised or reinforced your awareness of gender injustices?

• In mixed groups of males and females, share your career path to date. Consider also whether you actually planned your career and what you consider are your future career directions. Note similarities and differences between males and females in your group.

• What / who has made the most significant contribution to your professional development with respect to gender equity?

• What professional development reading on gender has made the most significant difference to your thinking about gender?

• Think about family members who have helped shape your ideas on gender equity.

• Think about friends and other significant people in your life who have helped shape your ideas on gender equity.

• Is there someone who has been a mentor for you on gender equity? Describe how they have helped shape your practice/ideas.

• Consider an incident or situation in your own schooling in which you felt constrained by gender.

• Recall a teacher who helped you overcome a barrier in your education imposed by gender.

• As a female, were there areas of the curriculum that you felt were not available to you? Consider why this was the case.

• As a male, were there areas of the curriculum that you felt were not available to you? Consider why this was the case.

• If you went to a single sex boys' school, what do feel were its advantages and disadvantages?

• If you went to a single sex girls' school, what do feel were its advantages and disadvantages?

• If you have/had sons or daughters and were concerned that their education should not be constrained by gender, would you send them to a single sex school?