Lesson Plan for Gender Role Approach

What is Gender-Role Approach?

A gender-role approach is an approach of teaching whereby the teachers change the perspectives on the traditional gender-role of women on how others view a woman. I can say that gender-role approach is a platform for feminism to voice out the women’s right. In this approach, we will see how female characters see themselves. For them, what does it mean to be a woman? Besides that, we will see the relationship between the female characters and their surroundings which cover people, beliefs and social structure. 

There are several basic issues in feminism. The first issue is patriarchy and sexism. This issue covers the superiority of male over female, male dominance that include the control of body, speech, education and social. The second issue is traditional gender roles which is holding a definition of how a woman should behave (submissive, weak, nurturing, emotional) and sometimes imposed on women by other women. The third issue is the objectification of women. This issue focuses for those who violate gender roles are considered as ‘bad women’ while those who conform to them are considered as ‘good women’, neglecting variations in self-perception and identity. The fourth issue is silence and voicelessness of women. Women are said have nothing to say, the sense of always saying the wrong thing where their voice is ignored and being removed from public sphere.

What is its importance?

I believe that this by learning this approach, we will appreciate women better and as a woman, I am strongly agree that a woman is not a weak person. Men cannot live without women. So, we have our right to change the traditional perspectives on women saying that women should be at home and have no right to voice out our thoughts.

Lesson Plan For Gender Role Approach

Short Story                  : The Fruitcake Special (Frank Brennan)

Form                           : 4

Duration                      : 2 Periods (80 minutes)

Level of Proficiency   : Intermediate to High Level

Objective                     : At the end of this lesson, students are able to appreciate women in their life. 

Moral values               : Appreciation and Determination

Teaching aids              : Video clips (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaeS4TVEpWE#t=30) and mahjong paper

Stage 1: Pre-reading (10 minutes)

Activities         :

   1.     Ask students a question about their experience for their gender, for being a male or a female. 
“What    experience have you had that caused you to think that you were treated in that particular way because of your gender? Encourage them to talk about 1 or two experiences if applicable.

      (Rationale: To encourage/ develop students’ interest in the activity)

   2.      Show a video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaeS4TVEpWE#t=30)
(Rationale: To ensure students have a brief idea on what the short story is all about)

Stage 2: While-reading (60 minutes)

Activities         :

   1.      Reading Comprehension

- Asks students to be in groups. (One head is better than one).

- Then, ask the students to answer the questions in their group.

*The question will be based on an excerpt taken from the short story.

  Rationale: 
i) To ensure students understand the issue of the main female character
ii) To enhance group work among the students

Instruction:

Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow.

Sabina finished it off for him. `He means that a rich and handsome man like him could not possibly fall in love with a nobody like you when he has a beautiful girl like me. Isn't that right, David?' `You express it so well, darling,' he said. Sabina continued: `So David wants you to accept a bit of money to make up for any disappointments you may have had, then you can go back to making perfumes at the factory again. Right, David?' `Absolutely, darling,' said Mr Amos before turning to me again. `Well, Anna, I hope that has helped to . . . er . . .clear things up a little. I'm sorry there had to be this, er,confusion. I hope this has sorted things out between us.' I stood watching Sabina smile as she put her fingers down his collar. `Well, Mr David Amos,' I said, `perhaps you can use your famous expert nose to sort this out, too!' I had reached into my handbag for something to throw when I saw Sabina laughing. I took the top off the first thing I found and threw everything that was in the bottle all over the front of Sabina's dress. `Take that and him too, you horrible little woman!' I shouted.

i)                    What is the issue that is being portrayed in the excerpt? Elaborate.

ii)                  How the main character is affected by the actions of their partners? (emotion)

iii)                If you are in the same situation with Anna, what would be your action? Will your action be as the same as her? Justify your answer.

   2.      Ask students to discuss in groups about the OTHER issues of gender role in the   short story. Give examples taken from the excerpts to support your answer.

    Rationale: To ensure students understand the issues which are related to the      women

Stage 3: Post-reading (10 minutes)

Activities         :

   1.      In groups, select one type of career suitable for women and research on the     following aspects: 

         - importance, qualifications, job specifications, challenges, other interesting facts

   (Rationale: To research on careers and present information)

   2.      Display your information on large posters or present your work using mahjong     paper.

   3.      Follow up suggested activity: Forum on “Career Opportunities for Women”

   Note: The forum could either be a simulation with students acting as different     professionals or the class could invite speakers from different professions.

   (Rationale: To ensure students appreciate women)