Memories from the Training Course "Gender Portrays Through Media" -Durres, Albania, 12-19/11/2016

Read the above columns. Now instead of “men are strong, ‘macho’, etc.”, say “women are strong, ‘macho’,...”. This is a tiny game to understand that the characteristics that we account for the one or the other gender are actually common for the both of them.

These are easy examples to put our minds around gender stereotypes. But when it comes to our lives, the process is not that facile. Gender stereotypes go far beyond the “soft” examples listed above. We are nurtured with socially constructed gender roles, acceptable behaviours, and ethical schemes. And if one of us leans out of the permit able boundaries, they become targeted. Bullying, marginalisation, loss of employment, liberties attributed to every person through International Treaties, and in some cases even life.

These are the results of being, or daring to be different. But what is important to realise is that by no means we have no right to judge, stigmatize and ostracize any human being.

This training dealt with those issues, and media has a major share of blame for promoting unhealthy gender roles. The choice of Albania was very strategic, since it is a country with burning issues regarding gender. But nothing can be done efficiently without the shift of mindset. These activities and NFE are great tools to deal with such societal pathologies, and each of the participants learned a few or many things firstly for him/herself, becoming a potential actor in eliminating the issues, to create a positive spill-over in our world.

Each of these projects a precious and unique experience. We gain much in human capital; meet amazing people and places, push ourselves out of our comfort zones, while creating a network for future collaboration and exchange.

Only through that we can make a change!

By Stavri Mourvakis, a Greek participant 

The project has been funded by Erasmus+ programme