Gender inequality still exists globally despite substantial national and international measures that have been taken towards gender equality. Only four out of over 135 nations have achieved gender equality including Costa Rica, Cuba, Sweden, and Norway. Although there has been evident progress, many alarming issues regarding gender discrimination still prevail today. The degree and causes of gender inequality vary throughout the world. Noticeable crimes against women consist of violence, femicide (murder of women), and rape (war rape). Honor killing, one such offense, is when a female member of a family is killed for the perception of having brought dishonor to the family. It has become a massive issue in countries such as Pakistan and the Muslim Middle East and is on the rise. Sex-selective abortion is yet another major disaster of gender inequality as it fuels human trafficking, demographic imbalance, and sexual exploitation. India and China, the two most populated nations on Earth, both informally maintain this practice of preference for male childbirth over female.From an economic viewpoint, gender discrimination is also a major impediment to growth as it prevents countries from reaching their maximum productivity potential. Although women constitute 40% of the global workforce, there are still many who are unpaid family workers in the informal sector. Those who do work are generally paid much below that of male workers, despite being equally capable and skilled. Furthermore, their status and promotion are limited to the middle or below ranks, they are laid off pre-retirement age more frequently than men, they have a limited educational opportunity, and they typically run smaller farms and less profitable enterprises.

Racism is the belief that characteristics and abilities can be attributed to people simply on the basis of their race and that some racial groups are superior to others. Racism and discrimination have been used as powerful weapons encouraging fear or hatred of others in times of conflict and war, and even during economic downturns. Racism is a matter of growing concern amongst the nations of the world. Far from being a social ill restricted to one or two countries, the moral disease of racism spans communities, countries, and continents. Racism world-wide is manifested in every continent.

In Europe, extreme racist groups have gained more and more acceptability in countries like France, Germany, and Austria. In Australia, the Aborigines have lost much of their land and have been the victim of extreme prejudice. Not only has Apartheid -- legalized separation -- been practiced in Australia, it has been a well-publicized condition in South Africa. Many African countries have endured long-term civil wars, some beginning shortly after that nation’s freedom from former colonial countries. In Asia, Cambodians harbor extreme prejudices against the Vietnamese, and Chinese students have been forbidden access to higher education in Malaysia. In the Middle East, antagonism between the Israelis and the Palestinians continues to exist.

YPIS: the social justice card game

Your Privilege Is Showing (YPIS) is a card game and an experience that enables participants to use real-world examples of bias as a catalyst for self and community change. The simulation takes present-day examples of sexism, racism, heterosexism, misogyny, ableism, as well as other types of bias stemming from forms of privilege, and asks participants to identify what kinds of bias are in operation and how to interrupt that behavior. The simulation also has mechanisms built in to discuss other participant’s choices, and disagreements.

This simulation encourages students who may feel afraid they are going to “say the wrong thing” by creating space where examination can occur without “feeling guilty”. It also has a mechanism built in that uses active bystander training to help participants develop ways to interrupt injustice in their daily lives. Participants will get to practice talking about the ways that they are personally affected by sexism, racism, and privilege, leading to deeper conversations and understanding.

Round one focuses on identifying and naming social justice issues. Players draw scenario cards from the deck and are asked to 1) categorize them as an instance of either racism, sexism, or privilege; and 2) assign the scenario one of with three different levels of overtness and impact ranging from mild to extreme: white card, yellow card, and red card.

Round two asks participants to recognize racism, sexism, and privilege in their own lives. After drawing a card that lists a privilege category and levels of overtness, players are asked to talk about an instance of that type of privilege. 

Round three asks participants to discuss a controversial social justice topic. Players draw a topic card, speak about the topic for two minutes, and then critically reflect with their peers on the perspective they just shared and what social justice nuances are at play.

Learning Outcomes:

• Participants will learn how to recognize and name social injustice.
• Participants will be more aware of their own gaps and biases.
• Participants will get practice working through the discomfort of talking about their own culpability with white supremacy, patriarchy and other forms of bias based on privilege.
• Participants will better understand intersectionality.
• Participants will be aware of the ways in which each of us is ignorant and how social justice and injustice impacts all of our daily lives.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/nake-m-kamrany/gender-inequality_b_1417535.html

http://www.globalissues.org/article/165/racism

http://www.yourprivilegeisshowing.com/how-to-play/

https://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/world-racism-faq.htm