Me, Myself, and My Gender

YOUR LEARNING TASK:

You will investigate the ways in which gender norms and expectations have influence on who we are as a nation, a gender (men and women), and as individuals. Using what you have learned, you will ultimately debate one of the following questions:

Has the progress we've made as a nation toward gender equality been enough? What does the evidence suggest?

Is there such a thing as male privilege? In what ways do men benefit from being male? In what ways are they hindered?

Is feminism still necessary in America today? Is being a feminist the same as being a man-hater? Can men be feminists?

Do the messages we receive from contemporary movies, television shows, music, and other media benefit women, men, both, or neither? What does the evidence suggest?

Is America a sexist country? What does the evidence suggest?

Setting the Stage for Our Learning:
The "Tie-In" Between Gender Norms & The Scorpio Races

One of the themes of Maggie Stiefvater's novel THE SCORPIO RACES is gender discrimination and the ways society's gender norms (those behaviors that are accepted as "normal" for each gender) can limit the choices both men and women have in life.

For example, Puck, as a young woman is constantly reminded that her aspiration to ride in the Scorpio Races is a violation of Thisby's gender norms, and for the young men on Thisby? Well, as Peg Gratton says, "Boys just aren't very good at being afraid." In other words, boys (and men) aren't supposed to show fear or any other feeling associated with vulnerability.

Unfortunately, these gender related challenges are not only found on Thisby. To what extent are we affected by the expectations society has for us based on our gender?

Please join me on a learning journey as we explore the history of gender norms and roles in American history through life in America today. Keep an open mind! I can't wait to hear what you have discovered about yourself along the way!

Building Background from Informational Text for Our Debate

Just as we did with "This I Believe" you will use Tes Teach's Blendspace platform for this particular inquiry. Use the accompanying handout to record your responses. You may work quietly with another student (pairs only) who sits by you. You will have 4 class periods to work on this project. You may wish to use headphones or ear buds as you listen to the embedded videos so you can hear them a little better.

IMPORTANT! If you lose track of your packet, here's a link to
the same handout in Google Docs.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NS-psUFkOQ0EskXwHS7YINpZG18iDPQfVXuAmhwNAvc/edit?usp=sharing

What It Takes to Debate

To be honest, most middle school debate videos are on the dull side, but I like the general advice these Hun Middle School students offer about what it takes to debate successfully. To watch a few more (and much longer) examples of middle school debates, click on the links to the right of the Hun students.

Note: These debates may not follow the same format we are using, but the general structures are in place in each.

Collier Schools Middle School Debate:https://youtu.be/6PFc9Pogz94

2016 National Championship Debate
https://youtu.be/diyARGpAOf0

Preparing to Debate

Please watch the slide show embedded below to help you learn how to ready yourself and your team to debate. All of the resources you will need or may choose to use are contained here!

Use the Google Doc linked here to prepare for your debate. This doc offers you a chart format for note-taking
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NwAAHFyO-fZVp7kYlAwSt_ub8yzv98HIgSonrW9KzLQ/edit?usp=sharing

Here is an outline you may also use for note-taking if you choose.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p78zctI3_uaRmNk_rUo4XhpPPrdaw8JU-MORaS3eaPE/edit?usp=sharing

NOTE: When you are ready to prepare your formal remarks, feel free to use the note cards provided on the counter against the outside wall.

How Our Work Will Be Assessed

1) The scoring guide we will use for the TEAM grade is linked here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18z9yKVks1jn6GMGeKoaCR2Bo3OPJ1QLEygpcawk-JQ8/edit?usp=sharing

2) The scoring guide we will use for the INDIVIDUAL student grade is linked here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IyxkkTzds5qhxDovFbOjxMXp9hs9eSxusZH0CHOzoUE/edit?usp=sharing

3) The daily progress SELF- and PEER- assessment is linked here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WEYFUdgITmqtH2DwuO9Oh8ZjT3HT01lfek-819U1W24/edit?usp=sharing