Uni lesson plan on gender and discrimination

[Wallywobbles]

So, hi, I'm not a regular on this board but I could really do with some help please.

I'm going to be teaching a single 2 hour lesson/lecture on gender and discrimination (both positive and negative) to some 2nd years. French uni so second language.

I have a very participative style and like to get them thinking and talking. But I also don't want to get myself sacked by stepping too far out of the lines. Any thoughts as to how to go about it?

All the teachers in the course (17 groups) will have shared access to content probably.

So could anyone give me a starting point or things that they think I should be bringing up for discussion.

Thank you. I'll be back in a short while.

Amongst other things, I teach aspects of women's history (2nd & 3rd year university level) - I always start my module by setting out terms, and particularly emphasising the distinction between "sex" and "gender" and I usually mention that "gender" is a shortened form of the phrase gender roles or gender stereotypes.

I then say that often, we'll be discussng categories or stereotypes of feminine and masculine, and issues of socially & historically specific and constructed masculinity and femininity.

I do this partly because if there are young men in the class, I don't want them to become defensive or alienated. I know this sounds like appeasing men - and to a certain extent it is. But I'm pragmatic about it.

So we discuss issues around the evidence there is for specific historically constructed gendered roles, rather than "All men are bastards" or "All men are potential rapists" sorts of questions. It's far more effective in all sorts of ways: scholarly and pedagogically.

You might be on a hiding to nothing hoping for a participative class. It has been a few years since I was at uni in France but back then lecturers basically dictated their notes and student intervention was not required.

@WorkingItOutAsIGo We started today on the Suffragette movement in the UK so we will finish up next time. Suffragette is the one movie of the semester.

I was looking for gender stereotypes images today.

#BalanceTonPorc is the French #MeToo which we will have a look at in passing next week.

Thank you @xxyzz.

I don't lack experience, in that I've been teaching this age group/profile for 25 years or there abouts. But the break did me a lot of good.

I think STEM and the minute number of women at top level positions is something that should be looked at. The reasons are definitely not the same as the UK. And reasons for the pay gap.

And I really think I can go with @FlockofGulls

we'll be discussing categories or stereotypes of feminine and masculine, and issues of socially & historically specific and constructed masculinity and femininity.

Lots to think on. Need to start construction.

Thank you everyone.