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Out For A Change
A Discussion Guide
  written by Pat Griffin

© WomanVision, 1998
3570 Clay Street
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 921-5687
request@womanvision.org

Download in *.pdf format

INTENDED AUDIENCE - 12 years old and up
ESTIMATED TIME - Pre-view Discussion, 5-10 minutes
Setup and video screening, 30 minutes
Post-viewing discussion, 20-40 minutes

MATERIALS NEEDED - Out For A Change video Cassette and Discussion Guide, TV and VCR, optional handouts

Out For A Change Study Guide

INTRODUCTION

Out For A Change is a documentary video focused homophobia in women's sports and how women of all sexual orientations in sport are affected. The video includes interviews with professional tennis players Martina Navratilova and Zina Garrison and Women's Sports Foundation Executive Director Donna Lopiano. In addition, college athletic directors, athletes and coaches talk about homophobia affects their participation in sport and their relationships with teammates and coaches. A homophobia workshop with a college women's basketball team shows how open discussion of this topic can help women athletes understand how homophobia can intimidate all women and stigmatize lesbian and bisexual women in sport. The video makes connections between homophobia and sexism in sport and describes several strategies for addressing homophobia.

The purpose of this three-part discussion guide is to assist groups learning about heterosexism and homophobia in women's athletics. This discussion guide is intended for use by anyone interested in assisting a group that is learning about homophobia and heterosexism in women's athletics. Among the settings in which this unit can be used are in classes, with athletic teams, at coaching conferences, at athletic administrators' meetings, and in meetings with parents of athletes.

The three parts of this video and discussion guide are: A preview discussion (20 minutes), the video (27 minutes), and a post-viewing discussion (40 minutes). The times for the preview and post-viewing discussions are minimum times. We recommend expanding these discussions with the use of preparatory preview readings and post-viewing activities, some of which are suggested in this guide) whenever possible.

The purposes of this discussion guide are a) to understand what homophobia and heterosexism are and how they affect women's athletics, b) to encourage fair treatment of all women in athletics regardless of sexual orientation, c) to identify actions individuals and athletic departments can take to address heterosexism and homophobia in women's athletics.

Preparing the group for discussion:

Because the purpose of discussion is to encourage interaction among participants, having the participants sit in a circle for the preview and post-viewing activities is most effective.

To create an open dialogue, identify guidelines for group discussion. Post the guidelines on the chalkboard or on newsprint during the discussions.

During the discussions, remind participants about the guidelines as needed

Some suggested guidelines include the following:

  • Make sure everyone has a chance to speak
  • No put downs
  • Listen respectfully, No interrupting
  • Everyone sets own boundaries for personal sharing
  • Expect different perspectives
  • Respect confidentiality
  • Be open to learning something new

Try to set a discussion climate in which everyone can listen and talk respectfully even when conflicting perspectives are shared. Take care not to place any participants in the position of feeling pressured to disclose more about their personal identities or beliefs than they feel comfortable with.

Down the complete Study Guide in *.pdf format HERE.

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