• "Well in their gender" is an interactive exhibition in the form of a test, which aims to raise awareness among young people about gender stereotypes and inequalities.
  • Installed this week at the Maison de quartier de Doulon in Nantes, it is a successful bet with the middle and school children who participated.
  • The issues raised naturally lead to debates among children and give rise to reflection on the role of men and women in society and in the home.

"I think it would be better if it was equality... " says Yohann, 10, after finishing the exhibition. Since Monday, the interactive exhibition "Well in their kind" has been installed at the Maison de quartier de Doulon, in Nantes. A dozen panels represent unconventional situations: a woman doing crafts, a babysitter man, a boy with a pink sweater... Viewers are invited to fill in their reactions on a sheet, with four possible response choices. At the end of the twelve posters, they add up their answers and can discover the typical profile to which they correspond: people for whom men and women have a distinct role in society, those who are in favour of equality between the two sexes and those for whom the fight against sexist behaviour is essential, even vital.

"It's really well done, and it makes children think about important topics! It's very interesting to listen to the discussions that it triggers between them," explains Delphine Agoyer, director of the Maison de quartier de Doulon. A successful bet: schoolchildren and middle school students naturally start debates.

"We have to change that!"

On one of the panels of the exhibition, a drawing represents a pile of dishes in a sink. Among the choices of answers: I buy a dishwasher, I organize a schedule for everyone to work on, I do it directly, or I categorically refuse because I have already cooked. Maïa, 9, and Emma, 10, agree: "I replied that I would do the dishes automatically!" On the boys' side, Yohann and Elliott, 10, both opted for the dishwasher option. For Maïa, it is without appeal: "We can see that there is a gap between girls and boys... We have to change that! I don't want it to continue. »

More serious themes are also addressed: a poster questions the reaction of spectators to a scene of domestic violence. Ignore? Notify the police? Intervene and help the victim? Despite her young age, Maïa says: "I liked this question. It's really important to talk about it."


Statistics on gender inequalities in France (average salary according to gender, time spent on domestic chores, etc.) complete the exhibition. In front of the figures, the girl is appalled: "I did not think there was such a big gap between men and women... ». Raised about the sharing of domestic tasks, Maïa makes big eyes to Elliott who ventures into an explanation: "It's normal, it's more natural for girls! We boys are more lazy." The exhibition still fulfills its role of raising awareness among young people about the stereotypes that lead to gender inequalities. In an attempt to catch up with his comrade, Elliott concludes: "Women and men have the same rights and yet this is not what we see in the exhibition."

For children... and the largest

Teenage girls were also present at the Maison de quartier de Doulon, and took the opportunity to answer questions from the exhibition. "I think we don't talk enough about gender equality. It's the first time I've really wondered about it," says Sheima, a 15-year-old student in the second grade. Not particularly interested in the theme, the high school student recognizes that gender inequalities are not addressed in class and does not call herself a feminist. However, her answers seem to say the opposite, much to her surprise.

A speech supported by Khouloud, 22, a university student: "My results surprised me, because I don't consider myself a feminist! It's a big word, it's people who are really fighting for equality. According to the results of his test, Khouloud "dreams of a different society" and "never misses an opportunity to oppose sexist behavior." An analysis that the young woman does not totally approve. The two friends agree on one point: the exhibition is successful, "especially for children, it's important to talk about it from an early age".

The travelling exhibition, in Nantes until Friday, will then tour in other French cities.

  • Entertainment
  • Culture
  • Inegalites
  • Wage inequality
  • Gender
  • Gender equality
  • Child
  • Education
  • Nantes
  • Pays de la Loire