Module 4

Materials

  • For virtual facilitation, you can use a tool like the Zoom virtual whiteboard or Mural (free) to begin the Embodiment Socialization Exercise. Participants can add their answers via the sticky notest feature, or via their own text boxes. You can also use different-colored sticky notes to delineate responses. Be mindful of people who may be color-blind in your group.  
  • If you are new to using virtual whiteboards and similar tools, you can learn more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0nMPqe10GE
  • Keep the Mural or Whiteboard accessible for future reference in Module 5.

Gather – Pre-Class Work – RJ Show and Tell

Write the prompt before the session begins: 

  • “I see…” – What RJ issues do you see happening in your example?
  • “I think…” – What do you think is happening in this situation?
  • “I wonder…” – Wonder to yourself: How this could be different?

Ground – Opening and Check In

Opening Breath Prayer

Let’s say this breath prayer together, adapted from the work of Cole Arthur Riley.

As you breathe in, recite to yourself in your mind and heart:
If I am not in my body…
As you breathe out, recite to yourself in your mind and heart:
 …someone else is.

Check In
  • Introduction instructions in the chat: Name, Pronouns, What is one word or sound that represents how you are feeling or arriving?
  • Are there any themes or pressing content that came up in your RJ Show and Tell discussions?

Study – Socialization and Embodiment

Embodiment Socialization Exercise

Virtual Facilitation: Use a tool like the Zoom virtual whiteboard or Mural (free) to create text boxes for each of these socialization headings, and then add subheadings for sex, gender, and sexuality under each. People can give their answers via the sticky notes feature, or via their own text boxes. You can also use different-colored sticky notes to delineate responses (e.g., red sticky notes relate to the “sex” category). Just be mindful of people who may be color-blind in your group.  

Please download the Mural or whiteboard for future use in Module 5. 

Ahead of time, the facilitator should set up 6 text boxes with these socialization headings:

  • Faith Community
  • Family
  • School
  • Relationships
  • Popular Culture and Media
  • Other Sources

Also add 3 horizontal row subheadings labeled:

  • Sex
  • Gender
  • Sexuality

Note: If there is not enough space to capture all the responses, you can change out the big sheets each time for sex/gender/sexuality.

Definitions

Sex refers to a set of biological attributes in humans and animals. It is primarily associated with physical and physiological features including chromosomes, gene expression, hormone levels and function, and reproductive/sexual anatomy. Many educators now prefer the term Sex Assigned at Birth, which refers to the assignment and classification of people as male, female, intersex, or another sex based on a combination of anatomy, hormones, chromosomes. It is important we don’t simply use “sex” because of the vagueness of the definition of sex and its place in transphobia. Chromosomes are frequently used to determine sex from prenatal karyotyping (although not as often as genitalia). Chromosomes do not always determine genitalia, sex, or gender.

Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, expressions and identities of girls, women, boys, men, and gender diverse people. It influences how people perceive themselves and each other, how they act and interact, and the distribution of power and resources in society. Gender identity is not confined to a binary (girl/woman, boy/man) nor is it static; it exists along a continuum and can change over time.

Sexuality is another personal identifier that best describes who you may be attracted to sexually, emotionally, intellectually, or romantically at that current period of time. Some common terms that are associated with sexuality are lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, queer, and many different identities as well.

Discussion Questions

You may not get to each of these questions. Participants can discuss their answers in pairs, small groups, or the full group.

  • What do you notice from the responses? 
  • What are some of the norms and beliefs we have learned about sex, gender, and sexuality embodiment from each of these different sources? 
  • Pay special attention to the messages you learned from your faith community and the media. Where did these lessons come from in your faith community? Sunday school lessons? Sermons? With regards to the media, did you learn these messages from television? Movies? Music?  
  • How conscious of these beliefs and norms have you been? Do you still agree with or hold these beliefs? Why or why not?

Facilitator note: For groups who want to go deeper, ask participants to process these questions as a journal prompt and then share out in pairs or triads.

  • What are a couple of key personal takeaways from this exercise about socialization that you think will stick with you and impact how you live as an embodied person? 
  • Do you still live the socialization you were raised with, or have you transformed it? How so?
  • If you have transformed, what were the sources, beliefs, norms, etc. of your re-socialization? 

Engage – Understanding Ourselves through Abortion Storytelling and Self-Reflection

Video: Nick Lloyd: Eve, Ruth, and the Choices We Make (2:03:32 – 2:15:30) Nick Lloyd’s talk (link to video with slides) (12 min) 

SACReD believes in explicit, enthusiastic consent, as well as compensating impacted people for their labor. Nick Lloyd (They/He) has agreed to share this story with SACReD for use in this curriculum only. Nick does not give you permission to share this on social media or to upload to another video platform for wider distribution. 

If you want to share Nick’s story with friends or family outside the SACReD curriculum study group, consider making a donation to support his work at https://ko-fi.com/nicklloyd. If you want to share their work with a larger audience (like at an event, worship service, meeting, or another group gathering), please reach out to Nick for written permission at [email protected].

Discussion Questions

You may not get to each of these questions. Participants can answer these questions in their journal, in pairs, small groups, or the full group.

  • What was Nick taught about gender growing up? Abortion? Sexuality? What were you taught, and how does it compare?
  • Nick discusses the stories of Eve and Ruth from the Hebrew Bible/Tanakh. What were they taught about these stories growing up? What do they mean to him now?
  • What were you taught about the stories of Eve and/or Ruth growing up? What do you believe they have to teach now?
  • What kinds of transformations have happened in your own life? What led to those transformations? Did they lead you away from a faith tradition? Towards a faith tradition?

Understanding Ourselves – Gender Unicorn

Learn more about the gender unicorn at https://transstudent.org/gender/ 

Discussion Questions

You may not get to each of these questions. Participants can answer these questions in their journal, in pairs, small groups, or the full group.

  • What did you learn from this exercise, if anything?
  • If you did this exercise when you were a teenager, would you have given the same answers? 
  • If you feel your self-understanding has changed, why? What happened to change that understanding? 
  • How has your faith journey intersected with these identities? How has it been part of a positive transformation–or made needed change or transformation more difficult?

Send – Looking Ahead and Closing 

Homework
  1. Prepare your RJ Show and Tell item
  2. Complete your Gender Unicorn worksheet
  3. Read Fact Sheet 5.1 Female Reproduction and Abortion Realities Fact Sheet.docx
Closing Breath Prayer

As you breathe in, recite to yourself in your mind and heart:
I breathe in that this body is sacred.
As you breathe out, recite to yourself in your mind and heart:
I breathe out all the messages that bind me.

Additional Resources

These are optional supplements intended to support participants and facilitators on A SACReD Journey.