In class, we played Ladies & Gentlemen, and I chose to be a gentleman (I brought a fake mustache and everything). The concept of the game was different for the ladies and gentlemen. For the gentlemen, our goal was to earn enough money to purchase lovely items for our wives/the ladies. The ladies role was to purchase as many items and servants as possible so that they can have the best outfit for the ball.
I think the hardest part about the game was roleplaying as a 1850’s British man. It was hard to stay in character, mostly because I have no clue how people acted during that time (I just generalized what I’ve seen in movies). Plus, I am not a man. Another hard part of the game was to keep things secretive from your partner. Because of this hidden element, I didn’t know what my partner needed. I tried to buy whatever they gave me, but there were times when money was low.
This game relates to leadership because it is about understanding different perspectives. Although I only played as a gentleman, I think the goal of the game is to see what it is like to be both the gentleman and lady. By acting like a female and male in the victorian era, we can start to understand their behaviors, feelings, and beliefs a little better. Although not a perfect interpretation, by trying to understand we can find new ways to problem solve and work together with those who are different from us.