“History shows that countries are more prosperous and more peaceful when women are empowered.” President Obama
Day One DO NOW:
- Watch the video below.
- Find 2-3 articles that support or contradict President Obama’s statement. Post the link to the articles you find in the comment section below along with your first name, last initial and the period and day you have health. For example: VickieS period 1, day 2 http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/06/child-brides/gorney-text/2 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/31/world/asia/31flogging.html?pagewanted=all
Sample articles:
- Read National Geographic: Child Brides
- Afghanistan
infoplease.com/ipa/A0107264.html - Being an Afghan Girl (video/commentary)
meero.worldvision.org/frontline-focus/childbrides.html - The Bride Price (with slide show)
nytimes.com/2006/07/09/magazine/09BRI.html - Shelter Tries to Help Abuse Child Brides (caution: video may not be suitable for students)
afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/10/shelter-tries-to-help-abused-child-brides
Day Two DO NOW:
Using your cell phone or a laptop, vote on the poll below, only one vote per student and device will be allowed.
The portrayal of women in video games is the subject of academic study and controversy. Recurring themes in both include the level of independence of female characters from their male counterparts, as well as their sexual objectification and sexualization.
Early video games presented women in subsidiary roles, dependent on male protagonists. More recent games include women in active and self-reliant attitudes, but some have also increased the sexualized portrayal of women so as to appeal to a male audience.Controversy is generated by cultural stereotypes, sexism and violence towards women portrayed in games.
Prostitutes have been in all Grand Theft Auto games since Grand Theft Auto III. They are mainly out on the streets at night, and to receive their services you must drive close to them and stop. Later in the game you can kill the hooker and take your money back when you’re finished – probably the in-game violent and immoral situation most commonly cited by critics of Grand Theft Auto.
- Read and Discuss the article titled, Judge Blames Ultra Violent Video Game Grand Theft Auto for Teenage Thugs Sex Assaults
- Consider violence against females in music.
Eminem’s music contains some of the most explicit descriptions of violence ever to make their way into people’s homes. In addition to consistently calling women b*tches, sluts and whores, Eminem sings about killing his wife and raping his mother. He strikes out at everyone, including his fans, but has a particular bloodlust for women, lesbians and gays.
Here’s a sample of Eminem’s lyrics, all of which appear on his Grammy-nominated album, words which fans and critics either don’t hear or don’t take offense to:* Put your hands down, b*tch, I ain’t gone’ shoot you
I’m pull YOU to this bullet and put it through you
(from Kill You)* Don’t you get it b*tch, no one can hear you?
Now shut the f*ck up and get what’s coming to you
You were supposed to love me
NOW BLEED! B*TCH BLEED!
(from Kim)* My words are like a dagger with a jagged edge
That’ll stab you in the head whether you’re a fag or lez
(from Criminal)* I make fight music for high school kids
I put lives at risk when I drive like this
I put wives at risk with a knife like this
(from Who Knew)* B*tch, please – you must have a mental disease
Assume the position and get back down on your knees – c’mon
(from B*tch Please II)Violence against women is a serious problem, one that women’s rights groups, shelters and survivors of male violence deal with every day. To ignore songwriter’s lyrics proves only how numb our society is becoming to violence as entertainment.
Do you believe that violent words communicates to a large number of boys and young men that violence against a wife, girlfriend or mother is something to laugh at? Please comment anonymously below.
Using your cell phone or a laptop, vote on the poll below, only one vote per student and device will be allowed.
Day Three:
- Is it possible for music fans to listen to a recording and hear only the rhythm, not the words and their meanings? And what does that say about the state of music? Or, do most of his fans hear the words, but are not bothered by them? And what does that say about our culture?
- Consider violence against females in music.
Reflection with WallWisher/Padlet
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