This resource addresses the experiences and challenges of women in American history. It focuses on the choices and leadership of particular women - both famous and ordinary - when confronting and dealing with inequality, subordination, and marginalization and seeking change. The documents and court cases in this resource not only illuminate larger issues concerning women’s experience, but also provide specific examples and context for understanding the experiences, and opportunities for women in U.S. history.   American women have experienced subordination and inequality deeply rooted in social, economic, legal & psychological practices. Although women have achieved major advances in the last 50 years, attitudes, practices, and structures reinforcing women’s inequality persist. This anthology provides an  array of materials covering the  experiences & accomplishments of American women using over 30 links, including a number that are significant compilations, such as the women included in the National Women’s Hall Of Fame. 

The rights, roles, and status of women in American society have been reflected in legal, economic, social, moral, and psychological structures that, in general, have historically subordinated all women. These deep roots go back many centuries of Anglo-American law and continue to affect the ways that society subordinates women through attitudes, social practices, and laws. Although major changes have taken place in the last 50 years, attitudes and structures reinforcing women’s inequality persist. This module focuses on the experiences of women and the challenges they faced in American history. It focuses on the choices and leadership of particular women - both famous and ordinary - when confronting and dealing with inequality, subordination, and marginalization and seeking change. The documents and court cases in this module not only illuminate larger issues concerning women’s experience, but also provide specific examples and context for understanding the experiences, rights, status, and opportunities for women in U.S. history.    

Listen, watch, or read the text of the speech given by Eleanor Roosevelt on December 9, 1948 on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The 12th grade learning experience consists of 7 mostly month-long units aligned to the Common Core State Standards, with available course material for teachers and students easily accessible online. Over the course of the year there is a steady progression in text complexity levels, sophistication of writing tasks, speaking and listening activities, and increased opportunities for independent and collaborative work. Rubrics and student models accompany many writing assignments.Throughout the 12th grade year, in addition to the Common Read texts that the whole class reads together, students each select an Independent Reading book and engage with peers in group Book Talks. Language study is embedded in every 12th grade unit as students use annotation to closely review aspects of each text. Teacher resources provide additional materials to support each unit.

Who decides who among us is civilized? What rules should govern immigration into the United States? Whom should we let in? Keep out? What should we do about political refugees or children without papers? What if they would be a drain on our economy?

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Students read William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest and write a short argument about who in the play is truly civilized.
Students participate in a mock trial in which they argue for or against granting asylum to a teenage refugee, and then they write arguments in favor of granting asylum to one refugee and against granting it to another.
Students read an Independent Reading text and write an informational essay about a global issue and how that relates to their book.

GUIDING QUESTIONS

These questions are a guide to stimulate thinking, discussion, and writing on the themes and ideas in the unit. For complete and thoughtful answers and for meaningful discussions, students must use evidence based on careful reading of the texts.

What role do national identity, custom, religion, and other locally held beliefs play in a world increasingly characterized by globalization?
How does Shakespeare’s view of human rights compare with that in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
Who is civilized? Who decides what civilization is or how it’s defined?
How do we behave toward and acknowledge those whose culture is different from our own?

How do we behave toward and acknowledge those whose culture is different from our own? In this lesson, students will take a moment to polish their presentations, and then each group will present. Then they’ll write a reflection about the benefits and drawbacks of globalization.

Today, over 115 million children have never set foot inside a school. The fact is that for children living in developing countries, the dream of a first day of school is yet to be realized. The daily realities of poverty, political instability, regional conflict, geography, and cultural or traditional values all play a role to varying degrees -- and the issue of gender disparity makes this fact even more staggering. Full and equal access to education (Article 26) as outlined in the 'Universal Declaration of Human Rights' and 'The Convention on the Rights of the Child' (Articles 2,3,28, and 29), has clearly been out of the reach of poor children -- and even more so in the case of girls. Nearly two-thirds of children who are denied a primary education are girls. In the least developed countries, nearly twice as many adult women than men are illiterate. (Source: UNFPA http://www.unfpa.org/icpd/10/icpd_ed.htm) If you happen to be a female, you are less likely to have access to a quality primary education and beyond -- contributing to the feminization of global poverty. Yet, there is hope despite this current state of affairs. 189 nations have pledged to meet 8 major Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. In doing so, nations hope to improve the social and economic development of all peoples. Included in these goals are those that address education and gender disparity: MDG 2: Achieve universal and primary education. MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women. Through the activities outlined in this lesson, students will become familiar with the current barriers standing in the way of educational opportunity -- especially for girls. They will watch clips from the WIDE ANGLE film 'Time for School' (2003) to understand the sense of urgency surrounding this issue, the potential benefits that can result from educating girls, and the ways that local communities are trying to address these problems. Note: This lesson focuses on MDG 2 and MDG 3. An introduction to the overall goals of the Millennium Project should be presented prior to this particular lesson.

The lessons in this unit are designed for an ELA class. They are intended to be used, if possible, in a collaborative unit with a history teacher using the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.