Lesson 1: Life examples of intolerance
Recommended size of the group: 6 to 20 people
Aim of the Lesson: The main purpose of
this lesson is for trainees to identify and share life examples of intolerance towards
immigrants and refugees.
Objectives/ Learning
Outcomes: Understand the reasons behind people
having negative attitude(s) towards immigrants and refugees.
Recourses needed:
- Handouts
- Projector
- Computer
- Sound System
- Colourful markers
- Pens
- Paper
- Flipchart paper
- Spacious training room with enough space to have people working in groups
Teaching methods: Presentations by trainer
and trainees, discussion, group work
Introduction:
At the beginning of the session, the trainer is going to introduce the definition of intolerance and will give examples of it.
What is intolerance: Intolerant individuals are unwilling to grant equal freedom of expression especially in religious matters, and often in matters of social, political or professional rights.
Forms of intolerance:
Xenophobia - is one of the most common forms of and grounds for discrimination and it is for this that it is a challenge to human rights.
Figure 2: Xenophobia
Source: Cartoon Movement
Antisemitism: can be defined as "hostility towards Jews as a religious or minority group often accompanied by social, economic, and political discrimination “. By the end of the 19th century, Jewish communities in Russia had regularly became victims of violence acts, which were organized systematic of violence against Jewish communities by the local population, often with the passive consent or active participation of law enforcement, encouraged by the antisemitic policies of governments. Attacks on Jewish communities were also common in other European countries, including among others France and Austria.
Racism: Treating someone unfairly because of their race, colour, and nationality, ethnic or national origins. For example, not allowing someone to join a group because of their accent or skin colour. Racism involves discriminatory or abusive behaviour towards people because of their imagined "inferiority". There has been a widespread belief that there are human races within our species, based on physical differences.
Ageism: Treating someone unfairly because of their age or the age you think they are. For example, calling an older person offensive names because of their age.
Sexism: Treating someone unfairly because of their gender. Men, women and transsexuals can all experience sexism. For example, discouraging a girl from pursuing a profession of plumber because it is a "boy's job". This is not true or fair.
Figure 3: Sexism
Homophobia: Treating someone unfairly because they are gay, lesbian or bisexual. For example, physically harassing someone because they are gay, or you think they are gay.
Religious Intolerance: Treating someone unfairly because they are of a different religion or have different beliefs, or because they have no beliefs. Or because someone thinks you have certain beliefs when you do not. For example, telling someone that their religion is stupid and excluding them from activities.
Figure 4: Religious Intolerance[1]
How can intolerance be countered?
Fighting intolerance requires new laws:
Each Government is responsible for enforcing human rights laws.
Fighting intolerance requires education:
Laws are necessary but insufficient for fighting intolerance in individual attitudes. Intolerance is very often rooted in ignorance and fear: fear of the unknown, of the other, other cultures, nations and religions. Intolerance is also closely linked to an exaggerated sense of self-worth and pride, whether personal, national or religious. These notions are taught and learned at an early age.
Fighting intolerance requires access to information:
Intolerance is most dangerous when it is exploited to fill the political and territorial ambitions of an individual or groups of individuals. Intolerant people usually begin by identifying the tolerance limit of the public.
Fighting intolerance requires individual awareness:
Intolerance in a society is the sum-total of the intolerance of its individual members. Intolerance create a stereotype of, a signal person negatively, insults and racial jokes are examples of individual expressions of intolerance to which some people are subjected daily.
Fighting intolerance requires local solutions:
Many people know that tomorrow's problems will be more global, but few realize that solutions to global problems are mainly local, even individual. When confronted with an evolution of intolerance around us, we must not wait for governments and institutions to act alone. We are all part of the solution. We should not feel powerless as we have a huge capacity to wield power.
Task
Exercise type about examples life intolerance
Divide the participants into groups of 4 participants and question the group about examples of intolerance that have ever been experienced in your life. Each group presents their work to the rest.
Evaluation:
Because of intolerance many people are discriminated. This causes people to not be accepted in their community. For example, people will often not get jobs because of their religion and way of dressing. Also, kids only because on what they beliefs are bullied.
It is important to think about your own behaviour:
- Are you treating someone unfairly? Why?
- What are the consequences of your action?
- How are you making them feel?
- Is there a better way that you can act so you aren’t discriminating?
If you are experiencing intolerance or observe someone being treated unfairly, it is important to speak up.
General tips for the trainer
The trainer should consider the cultural context of the group and possible physical difficulties in order to carry out the Ice Break exercise, which may be carried out standing or possibly replaced by another one of the exercises (of the other lessons).
In case there is no possibility to use the computer for the presentation of the lessons, we can use the posters (made by the trainees with the help of the trainer), with the message of the lesson.
The lesson duration is about 90 minutes.