RADIO WORKSHOP ON EMOTIONAL AND SEXUAL LIFE – 18h
By Élan Interculturel
Here, we offer you a set of outlines for running several radio workshops on emotional and sexual life. In these workshops, the radio activities are a way to address various topics such as awareness of LGBTQphobic violence, obstacles related to gender stereotypes, but also love, communication and pleasure.
The sessions that follow the first one (to get to know each other and to introduce the radio material) can be proposed consecutively. You can also select only a few of them and change their order.
Please read our handbook “Running radio workshops_on_emotional_and_sexual_life”, for more information on facilitating this type of workshop.
And don’t forget to listen to our podcast, which presents a facilitator’s vision of radio workshop on emotional and sexual life.
You have questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us: infos@elaninterculturel.com
SESSION 1
GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND INTRODUCTIONG RADIO EQUIPMENT – 3h00
This first session is dedicated to set up the bases for a creative atmosphere in order to imagine a podcast. As presented here, start with icebreakers to get to know each other and create together !Participants can feel apprehension, fear not to have ideas, or be uncomfortable about expressing themselves in front of others. These games liberate the body and mind in a collaborative and intimate way. They allow everyone to write later more freely.
Introduce yourself, i.e. indicate the social position from which you are speaking.
Here are a few things you can read beforehand to help you find your way around.
Present the workshop and its educational goals in a few sentences.
Make it clear that these are educational, not therapeutic workshops: invite people to share only things that will not put them in a state of great vulnerability.
Please read our recommendations on how to deal with traumatic stories in the event that such experiences are told. This will help you feel more prepared as a facilitator.
If you are located in Limerick, you can print this list of feminist associations.
Please note that we are proposing activities based on non-formal education: the objective is above all to express oneself, to get to know oneself better and to develop one’s social and relational skills: these are not workshops that aim to deliver theoretical knowledge on gender or on emotional and sexual life, although these dimensions may be present.
Finally, specify the framework for the dissemination of the sound bites. Reassure participants that nothing will be broadcast without their consent.
In order to overcome resistance, you can explain why you are proposing this type of game. For example, you can say that waking up the body helps with attention and concentration. Also, when people are in a new environment, such as a workshop, they may feel stress. Stress is a physical reaction that can be effectively reduced by moving the body. After this type of activity, participants are better prepared to retain the information they are given.
Then, we recommend this series of icebreakers with the same starting configuration: a circle.
Here are a few things you can read beforehand to help you find your way around.
5 min
Energizers: Awakening of the body
Wake up the different parts of the body one by one.
To read the explanation of this activity, click here.
5 min
Icebreakers: First name and gesture
Remember each person’s name by associating it with a gesture.
To read the explanation of this activity, click here.
5 min
Icebreakers: Circle of gender oriented commonalities
Get to know each other better by sharing your similarities and differences.
To read the explanation of this activity, click here.
15 min
Icebreakers: The speaking circle
Finally, offer short two-way exchanges between participants so that they can get to know each other better.
To read the explanation of this activity, click here.
This allows rules to be set as a group for the duration of the workshop. For example, when dealing with issues of intimacy with different audiences, it is important that everyone is able to communicate their needs and boundaries.
You can find the step-by-step instructions here.
5 min
Say a few words about radio
The point here is to make sure that everyone has a common understanding of the term. For example, you could say:
“Radio can be broadcast live or recorded. Audio content, such as broadcasts, is traditionally broadcast via electromagnetic waves on a given frequency (as is the case with radios, in the car, etc.). However, sounds can also be broadcast via the Internet, for example on social networks. It is this accessible distribution that gave rise to the word “podcast”: “access to free audio content that can be listened to anywhere, anytime.
There are several ways to record sound before it is broadcast. For example, you can record a programme at a meeting between different people in a radio studio. But you can also go off on your own with your microphone and recorder to do interviews and short interviews on the street.
Sound recordings are usually edited (i.e. different elements are put together) on dedicated software. This can be a simple edit (such as removing extraneous noise or lengthy moments) or a more complex edit with specific sound design, narration, multiple voices. At the request of the journalist, the person in charge of the editing (usually a sound director) can add a voice-over that will be the common thread between the different sound bites, as well as music or sound effects.”
15 min
Discovering the radio equipment
Prepare several recorders, headphones and earpieces. The participants should then take the equipment in hand, try to combine it, turn it on and record themselves in mini-groups. Then explain the equipment in plenary and how to use the different types of Zoom recorders.
You can find the step-by-step instructions here.
20 min
Crossed interviews and first talk on intimacy
This activity offers to express oneself for the first time on an intimate subject at the microphone. In order for the participants to feel more comfortable and confident, we have chosen to propose this activity in triads on fairly light subjects, but which allow a first step into intimacy.
For example, you may choose three questions that participants will have to pick :
The craziest thing I’ve done for love.
My best friendship memory.
My worst date.
You can find the step-by-step instructions here.
25 min
Listening to voices
Stand in a comfortable circle and place a speaker in the center of the circle. Suggest that those who have made a short clip (less than 3 minutes) play it for the rest of the group. You can then ask a few questions about the technical aspect (“Did it sound good?”, “How were the settings?”).
To conclude, ask a few questions:
– Do you feel more empowered about the radio equipment? Do you still have technical questions?
– Did you feel comfortable answering questions about your personal life? If not, what would you need?
– Did you prefer to answer or ask questions?
SESSION 2
EXPLORING THE CONCEPT OF GENDER AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION
[6 hours].
This session offers participants the opportunity to better understand the concepts of gender and sexual orientation in a playful and participatory way. The aim is to provide a better understanding of the different terms related to these subjects and to raise awareness of violence connected to sexual orientation and gender identity.
5 min
Present the workshop and its objectives
Explain that this workshop is the first part of a sequence on gender and sexual orientation. First, you will review the vocabulary and concepts around gender. Then, you will listen to audio testimonies of people concerned about the subject. All of this will help you to better understand the issues related to these subjects.
5 min
Energizers: Stop and Go
Wake up with an activity that engages the body and concentration!
To see the explanation of this activity, click here.
5 min
Icebreakers: Name + ball
Review each other’s first names with this funny activity!
To see the explanations of this activity, click here.
10 min
Explaining the main concepts.
Take the time to explain the main concepts:
– Explain the difference between gender and biological sex
– Explain the difference between gender and gender identity
– Explain the difference between gender identity and sexual orientation
– Explain the difference between sexual orientation and romantic orientation.
You could, for example, prepare a PPT presentation to ensure that these concepts are understood.
50 min
Introducing the vocabulary related to gender and sexual orientation
This activity invites participants to discover the specific vocabulary related to gender and sexual orientation in order to assimilate it. It then enables them to use the most appropriate terms in their radio creations.
To see the explanation of this activity, click here.
5 min
Debriefing [10 min]
You can ask the following questions:
– Can anyone recall the difference between gender and biological sex?
– Can anyone recall the difference between gender identity and sexual orientation?
Then each group can take turns to speak and answer their questions:
– Who were you with in the group?
– Is there a definition that you did not agree with?
– Is there a term you did not understand?
– Is there a thought you would like to share?
5 min
Icebreaker: listening to the world
Before you start listening to testimonials, and after you’ve taken a break, it’s important for everyone to be able to come back into the “moment”. The “listen to the world” energizer helps to stimulate active listening before plunging into podcast listening.
To see the explanations for this activity click here.
40 min
Listening session based on testimonies
To better understand the concepts proposed in the previous activity, organise a listening session of testimonies related to sexual orientations and gender identities with the voices of people directly concerned. This step allows you to mix cold (theoretical) and warm (experiential) knowledge, in order to better understand how these concepts are present in everyday life. Listening to testimonies also helps to develop empathy and to deconstruct stereotypes around minority groups.
To see the explanation of this activity, click here.
Ask people to write down any unanswered questions on a piece of paper. Collect them anonymously. You can then use them for future sessions or pick out a few and answer them.
To conclude, form a circle. Invite one person to go to the centre of the circle and say something they liked – or didn’t like – about the workshop. Everyone who agrees is invited to join him or her in the circle. Then everyone returns to their original places. And so on.
5 min
Introduce this second part of the workshop. Explain that you are now going to move on to radio creation. You will first do a testimonial writing activity, and then together you will interview an expert on gender identity and sexual orientation.
10 min
Icebreakers: To guide and being guided
Suggest a game to work on confidence through two small guide activities.
To see the explanation of this activity, click here.
Collecting anonymous memories
We propose to collect the stories of the participants related to their gender identities and sexual orientations through a microphone. This activity makes it easier for people to speak out on subjects that are sometimes taboo or sensitive, particularly by ensuring their anonymity. This may be the first time that some of them will share their stories in front of a group.
To see the explanation of this activity, click here.
Here you prepare a radio programme together, during which the excerpts from the previous activity can be listened to. This programme is also an opportunity for the participants to ask questions to a specialist in these fields. You can also use the questions in the FAQ box to enrich the expert’s interview.
To see the explanation of this activity, click here.
Make a line on the floor (with chalk or masking tape). Put a “+” at one end of the line, a “-” at the other. Ask people to stand on this line according to the questions you are going to ask. Ask questions such as: “How was the buffet”, “How did you find the organisation”, etc.
SESSION 3
EXPLORING ISSUES OF DISCRIMINATION IN EMOTIONAL AND SEXUAL LIFE
[3 hours].
This session aims to raise awareness of the impact of stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination in emotional and sexual life. Through their own testimonies, listening sessions with specialists and small non-formal educational games, participants are encouraged to better understand and identify these phenomena.
5 min
Introduce the session and its objectives
Introduce this first part of the workshop. Explain that today you are going to talk about stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination and how these can impact on emotional and sexual life.
15 min
The triangle of differences and similarities
This activity suggests that people exchange ideas to find similarities and differences.
To see the explanation of this activity, click here.
45 min
A barrier overcome in intimate life
This activity asks people to share obstacles they have overcome in their intimate and sexual life, in relation to gender, race and class. We propose to carry out a variant of this activity in the form of cross-interviews.
To see the explanation of this activity, click here.
15 min
Vocabulary on the different forms of discrimination
Ask the participants to list orally the different forms of discrimination they know. Write each word on a flip chart. For each concept, you can ask for some examples of how this discrimination can be expressed and affect the people concerned in their emotional and sexual lives. You can also play some extracts from podcasts to illustrate this discrimination.
The Identity Wheel
The identity wheel is a pedagogical tool used to better understand how our social identities influence our daily lives and our relationships with others. The exercise itself is quite simple: a circle divided into social categories (gender identities, sexual orientations, race, social classes, etc.) that people complete with their personal information. They then explore how, depending on the context and situation, certain identities become more or less important, for themselves or for others. We propose here a radio adaptation to share personal stories related to these topics.
The thermometer:
– Make a line on the floor (with chalk or repositionable tape). Put a “+” at one end of the line, a “-” at the other. Ask people to stand on this line according to the questions you are going to ask. For example:
– I felt comfortable with the rest of the group during the workshop.
– I learned some things about myself.
– I enjoyed the identity wheel activity.
– I became aware of some elements of my social identity that I never think about.
– I became aware of some of my stereotypes and prejudices.
– I have a better understanding of how discrimination can impact on intimate life.
Between each answer, people who wish to do so can express themselves.
SESSION 4
TALKING ABOUT INTIMACY AND CONSENT WITH THE RADIO TOOL
[3 hours].
This series of activities aims at making participants understand the notion of consent, not as a laborious or boring issue, but rather as an essential element of intimacy, relational well-being and even eroticism.
5 min
Introduce the session and its objectives
Explain that this workshop is about intimacy and consent. First, you will share experiences around intimacy, to explore the diversity of preferences in this area. Then you will define consent together and share positive experiences at the microphone. These audio clips will illustrate how consent can be at the heart of our daily practices!
5 min
Energizers: Stop and Go
Wake up with an activity that engages the body and concentration!
To see the explanation of this activity, click here.
The degrees of intimacy
The participants are first invited to explore together the notion of intimacy in order to better understand the complexity and subjective significance of the term. Then they express themselves on their own relationship to intimacy: on a line representing the “intimacy thermometer”, they place their first name according to the degree of intimacy that certain actions related to the love/sexual/erotic sphere represent for them. Then, they finish by telling the microphone a positive memory related to intimacy or by discussing on the microphone subjects that they want to explore further.
You have several tools at your disposal to set up this activity:
The activity’s educational sheet
An educational video
30 min
Brainstorming on consent
This activity aims to define consent. People are invited to complete the sentence “Consent is …” and to share their answers orally. It is also an opportunity to discuss and question consent in order to put it at the heart of our daily lives.
Step-by-step instructions here.
30 min
Positive memory on consent
This activity invites participants to tell a positive story about consent at the microphone. This last step allows to keep a trace that young people can be proud of, to share a success story, but also to contribute to breaking down stereotypes about consent.
Click here for the educational sheet of this activity.
Put pictures from the Dixit game (or printed pictures of your choice) on the floor. Ask people to look at them one by one and to choose the ones that best represent the state of mind they feel at the end of the session. Then, each person in turn can express their feelings in 1-2 minutes.
SESSION 5
SEX POSITIVITY: PLEASURE AND SATISFACTION
[3 hours].
Even if awareness of inequality and discrimination is essential, we believe it is also important to convey a positive, joyful and recreational vision of sexuality. Pleasure in particular, often taboo, is a rich subject to explore! By proposing activities that promote a better understanding of oneself, one’s preferences and one’s limits, we hope to encourage the emotional and sexual development of the young participants. In this way, pleasure should no longer be considered as an accessory issue in education on emotional and sexual life, but as an essential element of it, contributing to the emancipation and well-being of individuals.
5 min
Introduce the session and its goals
Explain that this workshop is focused on the topic of pleasure. It is about taking the time to “dare” to talk about sexuality, “dare” to say words that are sometimes taboo, “dare” to ask questions… Indeed, it is through dialogue, by expressing what one likes or dislikes, what one would like more or less, that people can develop a joyful and pleasure-filled sexuality
Finally, please note that this workshop is for everyone, regardless of their level of experience and comfort in the sexual sphere. Indeed, it is not a question of advocating all sexual practices, in any context, but on the contrary, to learn to better know one’s preferences but also one’s limits in the intimate domain. Everyone is welcome!
15 min
Icebreakers: “Showering in triads”
Propose a small massage activity to introduce the topic of relationship to the body. If some people are not comfortable with being touched by others, you can offer a self-massage.
Click here to see the explanation of this activity.
The Words of Love
The aim of this activity is to list the different words used to name sexual activities. The exercise breaks down taboos about sex and intimacy, inviting laughter and sharing a fun time. People are then more comfortable using sexual vocabulary in further activities.
Click here to find the educational sheet of this activity.
Sweet Fantasies
This activity aims to talk about an often taboo topic: sexual fantasies. It invites, thanks to anonymity, to create a fictional story and to facilitate conversations around sensuality, pleasure and eroticism. This story can then be recorded on a microphone and listened to together.
Click here to find the educational sheet of this activity.
Kaleidoscope portrait
The Kaleidoscope Portrait is a fun activity to facilitate discussions about sexuality and pleasure. It invites people to write a short poem, alone or with others, about their preferences for sex and love, which they can then share over the microphone.
The activity also helps to quickly create an intimate atmosphere for sharing.
Click here to find the educational sheet of this activity.
The thermometer
Make a line on the floor (with chalk or repositionable tape). Put a “+” at one end of the line, a “-” at the other. Ask people to stand on this line according to the questions you are going to ask.
For example:
– I felt comfortable during the activity.
– I discovered things about myself.
– I think I would be less embarrassed to say words about sex life in the intimate sphere.
– I was moved by listening to the different poems today.
– I liked the activity “words of love”.
– I liked the activity “fantasy sketch
– I liked the activity “Kaleidoscope portrait”.
Between each answer, people who wish to do so can express themselves.
OR
The comfort target
Draw a target on a sheet of flipchart paper. It should consist of 4 circles:
– The first circle (the smallest): write on it “comfort zone”.
– The second circle: “a little outside my comfort zone”.
– The third circle: “much outside my comfort zone”.
– The fourth circle: “much too far out of my comfort zone”!
People are then asked to write their name on a Post-it sheet and place it on the target. If they wish, they can comment on their choice.