The Oppression of Women Around the World
Student-Led Seminar
Below are some of the key information, facts and activities that should guide the framework for your seminar. You do not need to present the information (below) as a lot of up-front content--your role is only to guide your peers to discovery and understanding through their own research of these topics.
I've included some activities for you to consider in your seminar--this aspect is up to you, so feel free to be creative and have fun with the learning experience (**refers to suggested activities). I do expect that your peers write one blog piece (on their personal website) about a topic, essential question, video, image, reading, etc...
I've included some activities for you to consider in your seminar--this aspect is up to you, so feel free to be creative and have fun with the learning experience (**refers to suggested activities). I do expect that your peers write one blog piece (on their personal website) about a topic, essential question, video, image, reading, etc...
Suggested Activities
- **On Google+, generate discussion about the oppression of women on a global scale. Conduct a class survey (Google Forms) to determine what peers already know about the roles of women in other countries and how they are affected by poverty, globalization, and religious and/or political totalitarianism. What are some of the differences between the lives of women and children in Canada compared with those in the developing world?
- ** Plan for International Women’s Day in the online classroom with students creating "stations" or resource pages that provide each other with statistics, readings, and case studies that show the oppression of women globally. Possible issues to be addressed: international sex trafficking, mail-order brides, women and HIV/AIDS, women in war zones, female genital mutilation, women and Sharia Law. In addition, provide peers with information about agencies and programs that focus on improving the lives of women and children around the world (e.g., UNICEF).
- **Alternatively, divide the class into pairs and have each pair set up a learning "station" for online use. As peers move through the "stations," they should focus on finding the causes, consequences, and possible solutions to each of the issues.
- **Provide access to films about issues (e.g., Born into Brothels (done), Beneath the Veil, Not without My Daughter) that highlight the struggles of women around the world. Focus not just on the oppression but what can be done to solve the problems.
- **Highlight education as the key to improving the status of women (see following page with two TED talks on the power of educating girls). Have students develop an International Women’s Day advertising campaign based on one selected issue. Students could create posters, web sites, brochures, radio commercials, videos, documentary shorts, songs, or poetry to inform others about the issues faced by women around the world.
- **Summary blog entry topics: Why is it important to highlight the struggles of women internationally? What responsibility do Canadians have to oppressed women around the world? What is your response when faced with information about living standards and freedoms of women in other parts of the world? Discuss education as the key to improving the lives of women and children. What other strategies need to be considered when trying to eliminate the oppression of women globally?
Possible Resources
Top Documentary Film: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/dispatches-beneath-the-veil/
Not Without My Daughter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh7qZFb0_1Y
Forced Marriage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnFNCR34NC8
21st century sex slaves--human trafficking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajbQVwbWRg0
Women in War Zones: http://www.womeninwarzones.org/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqh1qmQPHc0
http://www.womenforwomen.org/what-we-do?gclid=Cj0KEQiAvKunBRCfsum9z6fu_5IBEiQAu4lg4hQahTNdm12QM1bXVJartw-aeww4SjE40fRuymrXQXwaAlPf8P8HAQ
http://www.niagarathisweek.com/whatson-story/5333240-angelina-jolie-opens-center-for-women-in-warzones/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nd0LCdBAQU
Not Without My Daughter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh7qZFb0_1Y
Forced Marriage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnFNCR34NC8
21st century sex slaves--human trafficking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajbQVwbWRg0
Women in War Zones: http://www.womeninwarzones.org/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqh1qmQPHc0
http://www.womenforwomen.org/what-we-do?gclid=Cj0KEQiAvKunBRCfsum9z6fu_5IBEiQAu4lg4hQahTNdm12QM1bXVJartw-aeww4SjE40fRuymrXQXwaAlPf8P8HAQ
http://www.niagarathisweek.com/whatson-story/5333240-angelina-jolie-opens-center-for-women-in-warzones/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nd0LCdBAQU