Ethnic minority prisoners
Icebreaker 2: Why do we have to talk about sexuality in prison?
Total time required: 20 minutes
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In order to make participants feel at ease – start the session with the following icebreakers.Icebreaker 1: Expertise scale
10 minutes
Method:
Ask participants to think about their knowledge, experience and skills in matters to do with sexuality, personally and professionally. Everyone has to score themselves on a scale of 1-10, where “10”
means “an expert”, but “1” means “know nothing”.
Ask each participant “What is your score?” and “Why did you give yourself this evaluation?”
The facilitator summarises the answers by emphasizing that being familiar and comfortable with the topic of sexuality can help prison professionals in their harm reduction work.
Icebreaker 2: Why do we have to talk about sexuality in prison?
10 minutes
Method:
Ask the participants to introduce themselves answering the question „Why do you think, why do we need to talk about issues relating to sexuality in prison?”
When everybody has expressed their ideas, the facilitator can summarize these by emphasizing the need to identify and integrate sexuality in harm reduction activities.
Session 1: Sexuality
Total time required: 90 minutes
Activity: Brainstorming on sexuality 20 minutes
Materials needed:
Paper, pencils, flipchart papers, markers, tape
Method:
Ask participants to think of any associations when they hear the word “sexuality”. What comes to mind in connection with this word? Encourage them to be honest and to talk frankly, as there are no good or bad associations. Associations can be either words, things, objects, feelings etc.
Ask participants to write down on paper 10 words/ associations as quickly as possible. Time pressure usually makes associations more spontaneous and less censored.
When everybody has finished writing down their associations, ask the first participant to name the first word in his/ her list and write it on flipchart paper that is taped on the wall around the room. If other participants have also written down this word ask them to delete it from their lists. Then move to the next participant, ask for the first word, write it on the flipchart, and ask the other participants to delete it if applicable. Go on with the next words on the list until all words have been read out by the partici-pants. When writing the words on the flipchart paper, make sure that participants can read them eas-ily.
Ask participants to look at these words for a few moments, read them again and think about how they can be grouped. Usually words represent emotions, body parts, gender roles, clothes, situations, health issues, violence, etc. The discussion can lead to the conclusion that sexuality can be expressed in many ways and in many environments including prisons.
You can read all the words out aloud or ask one or more of the participants to do so. Participants might find this activity amusing and it will help to release some of the tension linked with the subject and help them to start speaking more freely about sexuality.
TRAINING SEXUALITY
145
3.8
Activity: Puzzle on sexuality terms 30 minutes
Materials needed:
Flipchart papers, markers, tape, four terms written on small cards, “Key concepts of sexuality” (Annex 15)
Method:
(Adapted from the training materials of the Engenderhealth training manual, 2006)
Introduce the activity by telling participants that they will be doing a puzzle together. Divide partici-pants into four small groups and give each group a flipchart and markers. Explain that each group will work separately but their combined efforts will create a comprehensive whole.
Each group is given a card with a word they have to define, the words are: “sex”, “sexuality”, “sexual health” and “reproductive health”. Encourage participants to define the term in a way that expresses their understanding of it, maybe even different aspects of it. Give enough time for the groups to com-plete the exercise and to write it down on flipchart paper (approximately 10 minutes).
When the definitions are finished, ask the groups to present their results. Start with the group defining the term “sex”. Ask the group members to tape their flipchart to the wall and to explain their definition.
The other groups can ask questions, comment or add something to the definition. Go on with the term
“sexuality”, then “reproductive health” and “sexual health”. Tape the flipcharts on the wall together as pieces of a puzzle.
Proceed with a discussion by asking participants about similarities and differences between “sex” and
“sexuality”, then between “sexual health” and “reproductive health”.
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During the discussion, fill the gaps in knowledge and understanding (refer to descriptions of key concepts of sexuality in Annex 15).Activity: Puzzle on sexuality in prison 40 minutes
Materials needed:
Flipchart, markers, tape, 4 terms written on small cards, “World Association of Sexology Declaration of Sexual Rights” (Annex 16)
Method:
After having completed defining the terms, ask participants to return to their small groups. Provide each group with flipchart paper and markers and again one of the terms - “sex”, “sexuality”, “sexual health” and “reproductive health.
You can use the “World Association of Sexology Declaration of Sexual Rights” as background infor-mation for the puzzle on sexuality in prisons or distribute the declaration to the participants for their group work.
Allocate one of the following issues to each group:
x Sex in prison x Sexuality in prison x Sexual health in prison x Reproductive health in prison
Ask participants to brainstorm on their issue. Encourage participants to discuss all aspects that come to their mind and to write the key points on the flipchart paper. Allow enough time to complete the dis-cussion.
Ask the first group to tape their flipchart paper to the wall and explain the key points of their discus-sion. Then, the other groups can ask questions and share their own experiences.
The exercise can be concluded by a discussion analysing aspects of sexual expressions, behaviours, customs, health and rights in their workplace. Ask them to share ideas about how they can promote understanding and respect for sexual and reproductive rights in their work setting.