Can you help me with some information?

[chocolatestar]

Hello, I read the posts here all the time although I don't post myself as I don't feel particularly knowledgeable when it comes to theory etc. I am a drama teacher and I am about to start a new production with my youth theatre which I want to give a feminist slant and I could do with a bit of help.

I mentioned this to one of the female pupils who had a very negative reaction so I would like to arm myself with a few facts before our first rehearsal on Wednesday when I talk to everyone. I was looking for things that show how relevant and necessary feminism still is such as the pay gap between men and women, the prevelance of sexual violence etc.

I was hoping people might be able to help out with a few suggestions or point me to something I can read.

Thanks, and thanks also to all who post here, reading here sort of keeps me going if that makes sense!

Do you mean you are looking for some basic starting points to talk about with a teenager to explain why feminism is necessary?

What do you mean by a negative reaction? Were there particular things she said that you're hoping to address?

I often wonder if we should use a different word - people seem to get very uppity at the word 'feminism'. But that's a whole other thread! Sorry not to be helpful on your actual question!

I read something recently about a theatre group doing a lot of feminist awareness raising. I'm trying to rememeber where I read it. I'll have a think and post again if I can remember.

I agree about The Doll's House by the way. And The House of Bernada Alba is a good one too.

The play is already chosen, it was more in the way I want to direct it. Her reaction was that she felt that feminism was all about trying to be like a guy and that it wasn't really an issue anymore. Perhaps it is easier if I just keep the issue out of the rehearsal room then.

Thanks Dittany, those links are great. I was just looking for the reasons people here have for knowing that feminism is still important. I know it is but I am not always able to articulate it in the way I want.

It's a mixed sex cast and we are doing Macbeth. I would prefer to discuss it with them I just wanted to have some ideas in my head first.

Good list here and this looks promising too.

Good luck with the work. If they like acting maybe they could do some roleplay based around what life for women was like before feminism brought in things like equal pay, (or show them the vid here maybe?), men not being able to neat their wives, owning property, etc etc.

Ooh, Macbeth. I love that play. There are loads of feminist themes there.

Have a google round about Lady M's motivations. There are debates around things like whether she was controlling Macbeth, or he was controlling her. Who wanted the power most - who was using who. It is ambigious in the text so is open. General power relations between men and women at the time can also be researched.

Concentrate on the power element rather than calling it feminism at first.

And obviously the power relations in society at the time Macbeth was written. It was written for James on the death of the most powerful Queen ever - Elizabeth I.

The witches prophecies all turned out to be true - is this something they have predicted or are they evil and have influenced Macbeth to murder? Who has the power here?

It's also a play about morals - great opportunity to talk about different moral standards put upon men and women.

It's been a long time since I read/watched Macbeth but I imagine you can find loads more on the net.

This might be very helpful if your school has a subscription to the CUP: journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=3019556

If I were you I would speak to a teacher in the English dept who should have texts on this.

Good luck with the play!