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4.4: Discrimination dilemmas


In this activity students explore possible solutions for dilemmas which may occur in our everyday lives.

Tasks

  1. Review the terms prejudice and discrimination covered in previous activities. Explain that while prejudice and discrimination often affect specific groups of people in society, we may encounter discrimination dilemmas in our everyday lives.
  2. Present the following dilemma to the class:

    You are going to have a party and have invited all your good friends. You would like to also invite your new friend May who has recently arrived in Australia as a refugee. You know two or three of your friends have said mean things about refugees who come to Australia. What do you do?

    3. Ask students to explore the issues that emerge from this dilemma:
    • The feelings of the party-giver
    • May's feelings
    • Feelings of other friends
    Record the students' contributions on the board or on butcher's paper.
  3. Divide the class into small groups, giving each group a different discrimination dilemma from Handout 16: Discrimination dilemmas. You may include the dilemma used as the example if you wish. Ask students to come up with possible solutions to the dilemmas presented. Ask groups to report back to the class, first describing (or reading out) the dilemma and then the possible solutions.
Teacher Notes
  1. Any discrimination scenario may be used to replace the dilemmas provided in the handout.
  2. Teachers should ensure that students focus on positive solutions and use appropriate language to describe dilemmas.
Activity adapted from Discrimination Dilemmas in SHIMAN, David A. The Prejudice Book: Activities for the Classroom, Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, 1988.
Downloads
Resources:
  • Butcher's paper
  • Butcher's paper