Learning to live with what you're born with/is the process,/the involvement./the making of a life. — Diane Wakoski, American poet and essayist, in The Motorcycle Betrayal Poems

This session focuses on the fourth Unitarian Universalist Source, expressed in children's language as "Jewish and Christian teachings which tell us to love all others as we love ourselves." The story from Hebrew scripture of Jacob and Rachel meeting for the first time highlights and questions gender stereotypes. Dress-up, role playing, and practice at showing and understanding emotions prompt exploration of gender traits.

Goals

This session will:

• Explore Jewish teachings "which tell us to love all others as we love ourselves," part of the fourth Source of Unitarian Universalism, through a story from Hebrew scripture
• Build awareness of gender stereotypes and how they can harm everyone
• Identify and challenge gender bias, in age-appropriate ways
• Develop participants' ability to express their emotions
• Develop participants' empathy.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

• Experience the fourth Source of Unitarian Universalism, "Jewish and Christian teachings which tell us to love all other as we love ourselves," through a story from Hebrew scripture
• Understand that a Unitarian Universalist faith guides us to accept everyone as they are—the same way we want to be accepted—regardless of how someone's behavior matches the gender we perceive them to be
• Explore gender roles and stereotypes in an age-appropriate manner
• Build emotional self-awareness, emotional expression, and empathy.