Introduction:
In every country and culture, women play vital roles in society, but often the only role they are recognized for is their reproductive one. Women around the world have made great progress in improving their lives and the lives of their families, but they still face many inequities in political representation, economic well-being, health, and human rights. These inequities do not only affect individuals but also entire societies, as there is an increasing amount of evidence that improving the status of women is key to improving the health and well-being of families and stabilizing fertility rates around the world. In this activity, students explore the complex relationship between women’s status, development, and fertility. Sharing images of women in different regions exemplifies this information to engage various types of learners. In the following activity, students will first read an overview about the challenges facing girls and women in some of the world's less developed countries. They will then watch a series of photo essays and short videos online that illustrate different aspects of the real lives of girls and women including school, work, early marriage, pregnancy and motherhood. You may want to spread this activity out over the course of a week, having them look at one issue each day (education, etc.) and answer the discussion questions.
Concept:
The inequities facing women around the globe affect population growth and quality of life for all.
Objectives:
Students will be able to: - Discuss how girls’ and women’s roles vary according to culture, especially with respect to education, work, marriage, and motherhood. - Compare their own school and work experiences with teens in other countries. - Research and write about different aspects of gender roles in this country and different countries around the world.
Subjects:
Language Arts, Social Studies, Women’s Studies
Materials:
Student Reading, “Women: The