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September 4th • Culture & Gender

The Gerewol Festival

In the nomadic Wodaabe tribe of Niger, the traditional beauty standards are reversed. During the Gerewol Festival, the men spend hours applying elaborate makeup, painting their faces, and wearing ornate costumes to compete in a massive beauty pageant. The judges are women, who choose their partners based on the men's looks, dancing skills, and shining teeth. Today, we debate the psychology of beauty pageants, the evolution of gender roles, and the importance of preserving unusual cultural traditions.

Elaborately dressed men at a cultural festival

Speaking Discussion

  • What is the first thing you notice about the Gerewol Festival? How does it compare to festivals in your own country?
  • Why do we usually associate beauty pageants with women? Why is this festival so surprising to many people?
  • In your culture, what are the ideal physical traits for a man? Are these standards changing with modern social media?
  • Do you think that competing for romantic partners based purely on looks is a healthy way to build a society?
  • Should modern governments interfere with ancient cultural traditions if they seem outdated or unfair by Western standards?
  • If you were a judge at the Gerewol Festival, what traits (beyond physical looks) would you look for in a winner?

Activity 1: The modern pageant Redesign

The Task: You are a Cultural Consultant. You have been asked to design a beauty pageant for the 21st century that focuses on character rather than looks.

What are the 3 main criteria for winning your pageant?

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Sentences

Complete the sentence and justify it in 20 seconds.

  • "The most important part of a person's character is..."
  • "I think cultural traditions are..."
  • "In my opinion, beauty standards are..."