Labels

The game leader mentions which labels he/she thinks others might use to give a description of who he/she is, e.g.: woman, heterosexual, mother, divorcee, feminist, vegetarian, workaholic, sloppy, "green",...

Ask the players to think about the labels others use to classify them.

Ask them to write down the label they hate most on a printable label and to stick it on.

The players now walk around and look at the labels others are wearing. They can ask each other questions about it.

Reflect on the activity by asking questions such as:

• Were many labels similar or were there a lot of differences?
• Do you understand why people chose the labels they chose and why they are hurtful?
• How are you confronted with labels about yourself?
• How do you deal with those labels?
• Why do you think people give labels to others?
• Do you give yourself labels as well?
• Are there labels you do like?
• ...

Now, discuss the characteristics we automatically associate with different labels. Ask the players, e.g.: "What do you think of when you hear the label 'vegetarian'?".

Write down all the words on a piece of paper or on a blackboard.

Ask the players which words, in their opinion are related to stereotypes about vegetarians and circle or underline them.

Ask the vegetarian players which characteristics associated with the label 'vegetarian' apply to them and which don't.

Repeat the same process with some or all of the other labels. By talking about the labels "girl"/"woman" and "boy"/"men", e.g., you can address gender stereotypes.