Details about SH!

What is SH!?

SH! is a simulation game that explores sexual harassment in the workplace. It's an unusual simulation game in some respects:

Players don't realize that the card game they have been playing is actually a simulation of sexual harassment--until at the end of the game.
The debriefing session uses the player's experiences with SH! as a metaphor of the experiences with sexual harassment.
The debriefing provides players with several aha's about the way they deal with sexual harassment.
The game divides players into the three groups of harassers, victims, and mediators and explores the interrelationships among the groups.
The activity involves a realistic combination of cooperation and competition among the members of the same groups.

Who should play SH!?

SH! is designed for use in organizational settings. It is especially suited for play by

people who want to check their assumptions about sexual harassment
men who need to experience the frustration faced by the women who attempt to communicate harassing incidents
women who need to experience the frustration faced by the men who are misunderstood and attacked
men and women who need a common experiential base to get a dialogue started

What learning outcomes does SH! produce?

The specific outcomes of playing SH! depends on the characteristics of the players and the facilitator. Here are some typical insights reported by different groups:

When you don't have witnesses to controversial incidents, it is difficult to get the others believe in your truth.
Your believability is based on what happened before, how articulate you are--and on chance factors.
When people don't listen to you, you tend to exaggerate to get their attention.
Sexual harassment is basically an abuse of power.
Powerful people play to win; powerless people play to avoid losing.
You cooperate and compete with your primary group at the same time. You have a powerful urge to conform and to rebel.
You find it tough to complain at first. Later, it becomes easier. Eventually, you enjoy the power it provides you.

What is in this book?

This book contains detailed instruction for conducting and debriefing SH!. It includes sections on how to

get ready for the game
organize participants into groups
brief the players and coaches
conduct different activities
conclude the game
debrief the players

This book also contains reproducible pages for

transparencies
forms used in the game
instructions to the three groups of players
instructions to the three different coaches

What are the requirements?

How much time? SH! requires 1 to 2 hours. The ideal time is 50 minutes of play and 40 minutes of debriefing.

How many players? SH! can be played by 9 to 40 participants. The best game involves 20 to 35 people.

What supplies? You need common play materials: decks of playing cards and dice. Additional play materials (such as special forms and instructions to the players and the coaches) can be prepared by photocopying the reproducible pages in this book.

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