CORE 2 - Challenging Europe CORE 2 - Challenging Europe | Page 19

Albatros Land
Aim: This simulation makes you think about gender differences and discrimination against
women. You should discuss, in group, about thoughts and feelings that result from the actions
during the game. In the end, one of the leaders tells the story about Albatros Land – The Albatros
Land inhabitants are very religious and they believe that only women have the power to connect
with god through the earth, that’s why women don’t use any shoes (to be closer to god through the
earth). Also, women with longest feet are those who have bigger connection to god because of
their biggest contact surface. Men can only connect with god through women putting their hands
on women’s heads. Men are not even aloud to touch things that came from the earth, such as
food and water. In the end of the simulation you realize that the discrimination it’s against men and
not women, as you were expecting.
Materials: Water and plastic cups; something to eat; chairs (same number as males).
Participants: Minimum 1 male leader and 2 female leaders that have knowledge about their
functions and the game goal; Minimum 3 males and 3 females (doesn’t have to exist a gender
balance).
Description: The leaders have to prepare the room by putting chairs (same number as males) in
circle and with space between the chairs for the females. Have the food and water prepared to be
distributed for the participants. The participants are invited to get inside the room with no words
being pron ounced (no one talks with each other). Female participants have to get inside the room
without shoes and they have to sit on the floor, between the chairs. Male participants have to get
inside the room with their shoes on and they have to sit in the chairs.
Actions:
1) The male leader stands up, showing the other males that they have to stand up too, and
greets all man, without words, just touching their knees with his knee.
2) The female leaders stand up and greet each female, one by one, showing them to stand
up and touching their legs and feet, from the knee till the foot.
3) The female leaders offer water in cups to each participant – the water is given directly to
male participants mouth and to female participants hands.
4) The female leaders offer food to each participant – the food is given directly to male
participants mouth and to female participants hands.
5) The leaders have to find the longest female feet. They can ask 2 or more females to get in
the middle of the circle to compare their feet. The one with longest feet is chosen to sit next
to the male leader.
6) All male participants have to put their hands on the head of female participants sited next
to them and push it down a little.