Before you start
- Make your own chain of people (see instructions below) as an example
- Flipchart paper and marker pens
- Paper (1 A4 sheet per participant, a few spares)
- Scissors (per pair or three)
- Coloured pens or pencils
What to do
Explain that there are many things that make us different and unique. From where we live, where we are from, our likes and dislikes, our clothes, appearance and so much more. These things make up our identity, and make us who we are and how others see us. People express themselves in different ways. Ask young people to identify different ways people express their identity and write them on a flipchart. Hopefully they will say hair – if not guide them towards this. Then say today we will focus on hair as a way of expressing yourself and showing culture and identity.
Explain that hair can be an expression of a range of things from culture, religion and personality. For example, within the Sikh religion boys grow their hair as a sign of respecting God’s creation. Another example of expression through hair is the wearing of dreadlocks. Dreadlocks are very common among the Afro-Caribbean community and are a way of expressing religious ties as well as a declaration of geographic roots and culture. Ask young people how they or people they know express themselves through hair and write these ideas on a flipchart.
People chain
Show young people your people chain example and explain they are going to make one of these themselves. Then give out the paper and scissors and demonstrate the following steps for participants to do with you:
- Fold your paper in half. Once you have folded it in half, cut the paper into two.
2. Starting with one of your cut pieces fold it length ways into half.
3. Once this is done, fold the paper in half again. One last time fold it again (this will make you 4 dolls/people in your chain).
4. Next, draw the outline of your doll onto the paper.
5. Using scissors cut out the doll outline and unfold the chain.
6. Now is time to decorate the dolls! Do not forget to get creative and versatile with your characters. Look at the ideas of different ways people express themselves through hair on the flipchart and think of the different people at your group, school, friends or family. Consider ways people express themselves through clothes and makeup as well as hair. Some people like to wear colourful clothes or hairstyles. Some people wear headscarves or dreadlocks for religious reasons, some people like to always wear a hat or have their heads shaved. Try to draw each doll in your chain in a different way to express how each person is different but are still connected.
7. You could use the other half of your paper to create another doll chain to connect to your first, but make sure you leave time for reflection at the end. If you are able to, you could connect everyone’s chains and use them to decorate your space, or young people could take them home to decorate their houses. The chain is a way of reminding yourself that we are all different, and these differences make us who we are and we should embrace it!
What we can do
Explain that workplaces and the education system have often discriminated against hair expression, resulting in the exclusion of particular ethnic groups. It is important that we embrace what makes us different and accept the differences that make us who we are.
Ask young people how we can show our appreciation when they are expressing themselves through their hair. Write down ideas on a flipchart, if they say things like compliments and words of appreciation. But be aware of people suggesting asking lots of questions or touching someone else’s hair – if these come up as ideas explain the following, or if not ask young people whether they think these are good ideas and then explain the following:
Often times, when we are curious about things that are different to what we are used to seeing, we may want to ask a lot of questions or even want to touch something we are not familiar with. However, this can make people feel uncomfortable or even as if they are being judged, so it is important to avoid this.
Explain that we shouldn’t make people feel isolated because of their differences. In a world where we are all so diverse, we must remember, it is amazing we are all different and it should be celebrated!