STANDARD: All students will be able to explain
the effects of gender bias, stereotyping and discrimination in school materials,
activities, and classroom instruction.
GRADE LEVEL: Grades 9-12, World History
OBJECTIVE(S):
- Students will be able to identify differences in the way genders have been treated in
the same society over the course of a nation’s history.
- Students will identify factors that have caused changes in stereotyping and gender bias.
TIME: 2-3 Class Periods
MATERIALS: World History Text Book(s); Library resources, such as news
media and the Internet
PROCEDURES:
- Discuss typical stereotypes connected with Japanese women. Have students research early
Japanese history especially the Nara Period of Japan (late 6th to early 8th centuries.)
What do students learn about the daily lives of men and women? When does this start to
change? What factors influenced their society? What are the roles of women in Japanese
history? How are they treated? What kind of independence do they have? What kind of
authority do they have? Are men and women in Japan equally "free"?
- Students will display their findings in the form of charts/graphs! political
cartoons!" Dear Abby" letters/diaries/posters/roleplaying/songs/videos, etc.
ASSESSMENTS: Use performance standards for History/Social Studies to
develop performance based assessments using rubrics.
HINTS: Could be expanded to research the role of women in Japan today.
