“Football girls and dancing boys – gender differences in physical education”
Football for girls and dancing for boys – since when have pupils been able to choose these activities in PE at your school? In what way has PE developed in your countries? What prejudices are there (still) among pupils, teachers and parents or in society in general against certain sports for girls or boys?

Project contents and activities
The theoretical aspects of the project will include a look at the historical development of PE in the participating countries. Moreover, surveys will be conducted in and outside of school with the aim of answering the question what prejudices there are against certain sports for boys and girls and what the reasons for their existence might be. A comparison of these data on an international level may reveal interesting details as to similarities and intercultural differences.
In PE the pupils are to engage actively in the “new” activities that are supposedly the domain of the opposite sex, they are meant to achieve competences while doing so and to get to know and document the reaction of their environment towards activities that defy common notions of gender-specific behaviour.
An international football tournament (for girls) and a dance event (for boys) will mark the end of the project. Pupils will be able to experience the fascinating capacity of sports in bringing people from different nations together.

How the project fits into the curriculum
Combining an international project with sports activities boosts the enjoyment of physical activity and at the same time shows the integrative function of sports. The relevance of sports in effecting changes in society, including gender roles, is also part of the curriculum for PE at grammar schools.

Effects across school subjects
Pupils’ awareness of gender-specific roles will be raised along with their awareness of how these gender roles have been dealt with across the centuries and national boundaries. They will find out about the cultural diversity of their own country and acquire intercultural competence. At the same time they will gain first hand experience of the potential of sports in practice in bringing people together.

The pupils’ role
The pupils will acquire competences in one sport that defies the traditional gender roles as predetermined by their society. They will find out about how this topic is dealt with in other European countries and develop a critical awareness of gender clichés.

Results
The project will result in a comparative analysis of the surveys together with minor exhibitions on the history of PE and an international football tournament for girls and a dance event for boys with pupils of all the participating countries. This international sports meeting of pupils is meant to mark the beginning of a long-term tradition.