“We Are Seahorses”: A Classroom Thought Experiment to Explore the Social Construction of Gender Roles

Abstract

Gender roles reinforce societal and interpersonal norms and expectations that affect individuals in and out of the workplace. The causes and effects of gender roles are often unexamined or even avoided in college classes and corporate settings. However, exploring the social construction of gender in a safe learning environment can result in a better understanding of the impact of gender roles on individuals’ thinking and behavior. I present here a novel classroom “thought experiment” in which learners can explore gender roles and the inferences they and others draw based on assumptions about gender. Gender often intersects with other dimensions of diversity, and the novelty of the “Seahorses” experience can prompt deep reflection and discussion, serving as a reference point both later in a course and long after its conclusion.