What's in Your Box? Promoting Self-Reflection and Analysis of External Influences on Gender Expression and Sexual Orientation Attitudes

Abstract

This lesson plan is designed to stimulate awareness and reflection on personal attitudes toward gender expression and sexual orientation. Participants are guided to identify and analyze how external influences from various socialization agents shape gender and sexual orientation norms and, consequently, personal attitudes about gender expression and sexual orientation. This lesson introduces a box as a metaphor for a human being, with the intention of enlightening participants that humans are dynamic beings with unique characteristics that do not necessarily fit in neat boxes. This lesson plan describes how to achieve these goals in college classrooms and with other adult learners.

KEYWORDS:

• Sex education
• sexual orientation
• gender expression
• box
• external influences
• self-reflection

Notes

The instructor will not directly assess whether students have met these objectives. Students will not share their “in-the-box” adjectives or evaluations to promote more honest student reflection. However, students should naturally meet these objectives by completing the assigned tasks.