The amplification of women's voices and enfranchisement of their rights is a global issue that has gained momentum in the last century alongside the expansion of democracy. Women have seen their political presence increase in recent history, whether it be through suffrage and voting rights, parity of representation in governmental bodies, or…

Fairy tales--indeed all tales--are told for a purpose. They are a form of social education, a form that some scholars argue is older than civilization itself. They imagine dilemmas and offer a range of permissible solutions, labeling socially acceptable and unacceptable behavior, demarcating good and evil, exploring existential questions, binding…

The Common Core State Standards call for the increased presence of nonfiction in the school curriculum and for students' exposure to narratives characterized by textual complexity. At first glance, these recommendations may discourage classroom teachers from continuing the longstanding instructional practice of using historical fiction to…

The study of world population integrates so many themes and disciplines in the social studies because it encompasses all of human history--the rise of agriculture and civilizations, scientific progress, territorial conflicts, changing gender roles and more. It is also at the heart of human geography and how people came to dominate and alter the…

Iranian women have endured more than 30 years of an Islamist dictatorship that uses religion as a validation for unjust control. Human rights violations against women in Iran are a tragic phenomenon for an otherwise highly developed civilization. Invisible and powerless in a male-dominated society, Iranian women are discouraged from becoming…

Discusses problems that technological innovations have brought to women, particularly in developing countries. Women must be able to buy and control new technologies in order to benefit from them. (CK)

Presents a moral development approach to achieving sex equity. Uses discussion of carefully developed Kohlberg-type moral dilemmas relating to sex equity to elicit moral judgments from children at a number of developmental stages. States that schools can help promote equity through the implementation of carefully designed moral education programs.…

A survey of student opinion reflects the influence of schools on the development of sex roles. Activities are suggested to learn the social science skills of data collection and interpretation in order for students to develop their own concepts and values of role, status, and socialization.

Describes how the traditional, agressive male role has been reinforced by social studies textbooks. The author recommends that teachers teach about new roles for males by presenting images of males in caring, nurturing, and expressive roles. (AM)

Teaching activities used in secondary women's studies courses in several of the San Diego Schools are presented. A bibliography of 40 materials focusing on women's courses in history and literature is included. (JR)

Explores effects of sexist curriculum materials in the classroom and challenges educators to encourage attitude changes regarding sex roles among teachers, counselors, administrators, and students. Also discusses a survey of elementary school students' attitudes toward sex role orientations. (Author/DB)

Provides an interdisciplinary unit of study based on Hila Colman's 1978 novel, RACHEL'S LEGACY, a story about the economic and social trials of a Jewish immigrant mother and her three daughters. The unit helps junior high school students examine how traditional roles of men and women impose economic, social, and emotional limits on peoples' lives.…

An alternative course to the normally sex-assigned shop and homemaking classes is based on six modular units exploring information useful to everyone, regardless of sex or life-style. (KM)

The dynamism of Africa's role in world history, recent work in African economic history, the role of women, and the African colonial period are discussed. Various aspects of this history can be integrated easily into existing social studies courses. (RM)

Describes preparation and implementation of a data analysis and card-sorting activity to help junior high and high school students use categories on a continuum to determine the power, status, and roles of men and women in India. (CK)