OSAMA BIN EVERYWHERE: THE MANY FACES OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

2. Objective: To know what the term 'stereotype' means and to understand the impact of stereotyping on individuals and groups (PSHE, Citizenship)

Introduction

Describe and define a stereotype: a generalisation; a one-dimensional, simplistic description of a person, group or community such as 'Muslims are religious extremists', 'Muslims are terrorists' or 'Muslims are fundamentalists'. Discuss what the film is aiming to achieve and how it is challenging stereotypes.

Main activity

Divide the students into groups and provide each group with a collection of articles from national or local newspapers that relate to one particular social group – for example, teenagers, elderly people, asylum seekers, ethnic minorities, Muslims, and so on.

Set a task to identify how this group is commonly described and portrayed in the media and what evidence they can find to support this. Ask the students to evaluate whether this portrayal is fair or unfair comment and report their findings back to the class.

Plenary

There are a number of possible discussion points that emerge from this activity:

• Who creates or reinforces stereotypes?
• Why does the media use stereotypes?
• How do stereotypes affect those doing the stereotyping and those being stereotyped?
• Are there any positive stereotypes in the media? If so, what or who are they?
• How can stereotyping be challenged?
• What is your experience of being treated unfairly as a group? What annoyed you? What did you do about it? How could you have dealt with it more effectively?

Follow-up activity

Design a poster to challenge stereotypes that are used against a specific group.