gender neutral clothes

http://www.vogue.co.uk/article/john-lewis-genderless-childrens-wear

John Lewis is the first major UK store to remove boys' and girls' labels from its children's clothes.

The new labels will say, "Girls and boys" or "Boys and girls".

Caroline Bettis, head of Children's wear at John Lewis says, "We do not want to reinforce gender stereotypes within our John Lewis collections and instead want to provide greater choice and variety to our customers so that the parent or child can choose what they would like to wear."

A campaign group called Let Clothes Be Clothes says, "It's fantastic news and we hope other shops and online retailers will now move in the same direction. A T-shirt should be just a T-shirt, not a T-shirt just for boys or just for girls."

What do you see in the picture?

Say this story is about children's clothes in shops - ask if anyone can guess what the story is

Explain the story

- When you go shopping for clothes, how are the clothes displayed?

- Why do shops have sections for boys and sections for girls?

- What is a "gender stereotype"? What does it mean?

- Who decides what clothes are for boys and what clothes are for girls? 

- Why are John Lewis shops changing labels from just boys' or just girls' to "Boys and girls"?

- "Let Clothes Be Clothes" is an interesting name for a campaign group; why do you think they chose that name?

- What can we learn from John Lewis?

-Why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in Primary Schools by Andrew Moffat

equalitiesprimary

Beautiful hijab

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/sep/08/hijab-is-beautiful-designers-challenge-trump-at-new-york-fashion-week?CMP=share_btn_fb

Dian Pelangi is an Indonesian fashion designer who has put the hijab on the New York runway as part of fashion week. Dian says, "We are not oppressed and we just want to show the world that we still can be beautiful and stylish with our hijab on."

Another designer, Vivi Zubedi, showcased colourful head -to-toe gowns on the catwalk with the words "Mekkah, Madina, Jannah" (two Muslim pilgrimage sites and the word for 'paradise') sewn on to the back alongside, "All colors matter." Vivi said, "Hijab is beautiful, we are all still human no matter what religion you are. We are still the same."

What's happening in the picture?
Where do you think the picture was taken?

Explain the story

- What is Fashion week? What is it for?
- How do you think Dian is feeling in the photo? Why?
- Why do you think Dian says she wants to show the world the hijab is beautiful?
- Why do you think Vivi sewed "All colors matter" on her designs? What does she mean?
- Vivi says "We are still the same"; what does she mean by this? Are we all the same?

(note: as part of the No Outsiders ethos I believe it's important to emphasise to children that we are not all the same; we need to recognise the differences we have in ethnicity, faith, culture etc and celebrate those differences. We get along despite our differences. However, we can discuss what people mean when they say 'we are all the same'; we are all human)

- What can we learn from fashion week in New York? What does this show about lots of people in America and how they see diversity?
- Why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsides in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in Primary Schools by Andrew Moffat

equalities primary

food diversity

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/edeka-german-supermarket-empty-shelves-racism-diversity-largest-chain-a7908551.html

A supermarket in Hamburg, Germany, emptied shelves of all foreign-made produce to help people think about racism.

Shoppers at Edeka store were able to see how many goods were made outside of Germany, and many shelves were empty. The shop put up signs saying, "This shelf is pretty boring without diversity."

A spokesperson from Edeka said, "Edeka stands for variety and diversity. In our stores we sell numerous foods which are produced in the various regions of Germany. But only together with products from other countries is it possible to create the unique variety that our customers value."

What do you see in the picture?
Where do you think the photo was taken?
Why do you think the shelves are empty?

Explain the story

- Why do you think Edeka did this?
- What did this show their shopppers?
- What does the sign about the boring shelf mean?
- Where does the food that we buy come from? Does it all come from England?
- Why don't shops in England sell only food that is made in England, and shops in Germany sell only food that was is made in Germany?
- What does this demonstrate about different people around the world and how we live together?
- Some people think that if we have different skin or live in different places or have different faith, that we can't get along. What do we say in our school?
- What can we learn from Edeka?
- Why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

equalitiesprimary

Boys SHALL go to the ball!

http://metro.co.uk/2017/08/30/boy-refused-princess-makeover-at-disneyland-paris-because-hes-not-a-girl-6890804/

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/aug/30/disneyland-apologises-for-banning-boy-from-princess-experience#img-1

Disney has apologised for not allowing a boy to join their 'Princess for a day' experience. When the boy's mother tried to book the day for her son Noah, she was told he would not be allowed to take part because he was a boy. Her son was offered a cuddly toy instead.

Noah is a "Frozen" super-fan and loves to dress up as Elsa. Noah's mum replied to the rejection in an open letter asking , "What terrible, awful fate may befall" her son if he wears a dress. Disney immediately apologised to the family and said the experience was open to all children aged 3 to 12.

Noah's mother argued, "If a little girl wants to be a superhero, she can be. If she wants to be a Jedi, she can be. She can be whatever she wants." 

After apologising, Disney released a statement:

“Diversity is near and dear to our hearts and we want to make sure that all our guests enjoy their experience at our resort. Of course, both boys and girls are welcome to enjoy the Princess for a Day experience in addition to all our other special activities.”

Noah's story hit news headlines around the world and  his mum received huge support on social media following the incident. Writing after the incident , Noah's mum said "Now Noah, and every other little boy who wants to, SHALL go to the ball!"

Disneyland Paris have changed the wording on their website which used to read, 

"Grant every little girls wishes with a Princes experience."

the website now reads, 

"Grant every child's wishes with a Princess experience."

What do you see in the picture?

What is the child wearing?

Explain the story

- Why did Noah's Mum feel so angry?

- Why did mum ask, "What terrible, awful fate may befall my son if he wears a dress"? What was she trying to show?

- Why did Disney apologise? Why didn't Disney continue to say boys could not join the experience?

- Why have Disney said, "Diversity is near and dear to our hearts"?

- Why have Disney changed the wording on their website? 

- What does this show about Disney and the world today?

- What law in the UK says that you should not face discrimination because of your gender? (The Equlaity Act 2010)

- Who was facing discrimination in this story?

- What can we learn from Noah's Mum?

- What can we learn from Disney? 

- Why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: teaching the Equality Act in Primary Schools by Andrew Moffat

equalitiesprimary