Understanding the Women's Movement
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 Content & Possible Activities
Understanding the Feminist Movement Note: The terms “feminist movement,” “feminism,” “women’s liberation movement,” and “women’s movement” are used somewhat interchangeably to describe the various aspects of social justice action related to women.
**Your peers could research the history of these terms, and how and why various individuals have chosen to use one term over the other.
**You may want to provide a fact sheets or readings on first wave feminism, second wave feminism, and radical feminism.
Your peers should be able to answer the following questions:
1. Why did feminist leaders feel that a second wave of feminist activity was necessary to win real equality for women?
2. What were the main goals of second wave and radical feminism? How were they different from each other?
Provide your peers with information about the Royal Commission on the Status of Women (1970) to address the concerns of Canadian women. Your peers could consider the following questions:
1. Why was the Royal Commission called?
2. What discoveries did the government make about the role of women in society?
3. What recommendations were made? Assume the Royal Commission on the Status of Women has reconvened
**As an activity you could have peers to prepare a speech or letter addressed to the Royal Commission outlining the contemporary issues they should address. Students should provide supporting evidence for all ideas
You may want to conclude by having your peers respond to any or all of the following blog entry topics:
1. To what extent have the goals of the first and second wave and radical feminists been achieved? If you were a feminist in the 1960s and 1970s, which group would you align yourself with? Why?
2. What is feminism? What does it mean to be a feminist? What are some stereotypical notions of what feminism is and what being a feminist means? Do these stereotypes persist today? Explain.
3. Which recommendations of the Royal Commission (1970) do you agree or disagree with? Which recommendations do you think are the most significant? Explain
**Your peers could research the history of these terms, and how and why various individuals have chosen to use one term over the other.
**You may want to provide a fact sheets or readings on first wave feminism, second wave feminism, and radical feminism.
Your peers should be able to answer the following questions:
1. Why did feminist leaders feel that a second wave of feminist activity was necessary to win real equality for women?
2. What were the main goals of second wave and radical feminism? How were they different from each other?
Provide your peers with information about the Royal Commission on the Status of Women (1970) to address the concerns of Canadian women. Your peers could consider the following questions:
1. Why was the Royal Commission called?
2. What discoveries did the government make about the role of women in society?
3. What recommendations were made? Assume the Royal Commission on the Status of Women has reconvened
**As an activity you could have peers to prepare a speech or letter addressed to the Royal Commission outlining the contemporary issues they should address. Students should provide supporting evidence for all ideas
You may want to conclude by having your peers respond to any or all of the following blog entry topics:
1. To what extent have the goals of the first and second wave and radical feminists been achieved? If you were a feminist in the 1960s and 1970s, which group would you align yourself with? Why?
2. What is feminism? What does it mean to be a feminist? What are some stereotypical notions of what feminism is and what being a feminist means? Do these stereotypes persist today? Explain.
3. Which recommendations of the Royal Commission (1970) do you agree or disagree with? Which recommendations do you think are the most significant? Explain
Interesting Resources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zl5qeF0aqs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCQI-ougLsg
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/womens-movement/
http://www.ufcw.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=101&Itemid=145&lang=en
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/07/feminist-thinkers-influenced-you-tell-us