Teaching Gender Stereotypes by Resort to Fiction: Mike Gayle’s His ‘n’ Hers
Teaching Gender Stereotypes by Resort to Fiction: Mike Gayle’s His ‘n’ Hers

Summary/Abstract: and teaching them to university students as part of interculturalism. The study starts from an observation made by the teacher based on her experience in the actual didactic process, namely the idea that, when it comes to gender stereotypes, a different method is needed for a successful debate than that of eliciting information through brainstorming. More precisely, a more palpable supporting material is required, in order to help students, overcome various blockages that may arise given the sensitivity of the topic, and for them to order and produce data on the subject. The basis for discussion is provided by short excerpts from relevant fiction, in our case the example being Mike Gayle’s novel His ‘n’ Hers. The conclusions bear, on the one hand, on the usefulness of using quotes as icebreakers for a discussion of gender stereotypes. On the other hand, we notice the transformations that people’s/students’ mindsets suffer in the contemporary world as far as their perspective on, and awareness of, gender stereotypes. We deem that gender stereotypes may produce a more relevant discussion in other cultures than the western (and) European one(s). Also, we need to concern ourselves with how we influence young minds with this topic and avoid inoculating them with labeling that they may have overcome or never been conscious of against the background of a more liberal, open-minded world than the one a generation or two older.

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