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Lesson 2 of 4
  • Year 5

Identifying gender stereotypes

I can describe examples of gender stereotypes and explain ways to challenge them.

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View unit
Lesson 2 of 4
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New
  • Year 5

Identifying gender stereotypes

I can describe examples of gender stereotypes and explain ways to challenge them.

Download all

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. There are many stereotypes about gender that are untrue.
  2. 'Fundamental difference' and 'average difference' are not the same thing.
  3. Gender stereotypes are harmful and can allow mistreatment of women to continue.
  4. If we can identify stereotypes, we can challenge them.
  5. Gender equality means everyone should be treated fairly and have the same opportunities, no matter their gender.

Keywords

  • Stereotype - an unfair belief about someone based on their characteristics

  • Sexism - treating people differently or unfairly based on their gender

  • Gender equality - when people have fair opportunities and rights, and are treated equally regardless of their gender

Common misconception

Gender equality is about trying to make women better than men.

Gender equality is not about trying to make one gender better than another; it's about making them equal. Gender equality is the belief that all people should have the same rights, opportunities and respect, regardless of their gender.


To help you plan your year 5 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Identifying gender stereotypes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Acknowledge some of the observations that pupils may have made about gendered differences (such as average height). Ensure that you regularly counteract this with examples of people who defy gendered norms and prove that gender should not be a barrier to almost all activities.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which word means when there is an unfair situation where one person has more opportunities or rights than another?

Correct Answer: inequality

Q2.
The 1800s were a time of inequality and for women.

Correct Answer: discrimination

Q3.
Which group only used peaceful tactics when trying to get the vote for women?

the Suffragettes
Correct answer: the Suffragists
both the Suffragettes and the Suffragists

Q4.
Which war improved how people viewed women and helped lead to women getting the vote?

Correct answer: World War One
Wars of the Roses
The Crimean War
World War Two

Q5.
Put the following events in chronological order.

2 - The Suffragists and the Suffragettes were founded.
3 - The First World War broke out.
4 - Women over 30 were given the right to vote.
5 - Women over 21 were given the right to vote.

Q6.
Why is campaigning for women's rights still important today?

Correct answer: There are still many inequalities between women and men.
Women have equal rights now, so they don't need to campaign anymore.
Women today have far fewer rights than they had in the 1800s.

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a gender stereotype?

a fair idea about everyone’s interests
Correct answer: an unfair belief about people based on gender
a rule that everyone must follow

Q2.
Why can gender stereotypes be harmful?

they help everyone get along better
Correct answer: they can lead to unfair treatment
they make things equal for men and women
they can result in missed opportunities

Q3.
What does gender equality mean?

Correct answer: everyone should have the same rights and chances
one gender should have more power than others
men and women should stay in separate roles

Q4.
Match the word to its correct meaning.

Correct Answer:sexism,treating people differently or unfairly based on their gender

treating people differently or unfairly based on their gender

Correct Answer:average difference,on average, one group might be different from another group

on average, one group might be different from another group

Correct Answer:fundamental difference,something is true for all people in a group, with no exceptions

something is true for all people in a group, with no exceptions

Q5.
If we can spot , we can challenge them and make things fairer.

Correct Answer: stereotypes

Q6.
Why is it especially important to challenge stereotypes about women and girls?

Correct answer: they are more likely to experience sexism
Correct answer: they are treated unfairly more often than other groups
men and boys don't experience stereotypes
gender equality only benefits women and girls