Return to Resources

Big Idea: Gender

Mar 9, 2021

In support of International Women’s Day, consider a Big Idea and Challenge based on the internationalwomensday.com theme of #choosetochallenge. We agree that a “challenged world is an alert world.” By taking on challenges, we can uncover bias and inequality and work together to develop change attitudes and build better futures.

Let today be the start of a global effort to challenge gender stereotypes, discrimination, and inequality by choosing to challenge and committing to finding better ways to build an inclusive society.

ENGAGE

Big Idea: Gender
Essential Question: How do we create a more equitable world?
Challenge: Challenge gender inequality and bias!

INVESTIGATE

Sample Guiding Questions

These are only example questions. We encourage you to ask as many personal and contextual questions as possible. For help with developing quality questions check out this resource.

  1. What is gender equality and why is it important?
  2. What is gender identity and why is it important?
  3. How can we respect someone’s gender identity?
  4. What does it mean to empower women and girls?
  5. Why is it important to empower women and girls?
  6. What are ways we can empower women and girls?
  7. What does it mean to be a woman in your culture and country?
  8. What challenges (or privileges) do women stereotypically face, based on their gender?
  9. Etc.

*Once you brainstorm all of the questions organize and prioritize them.

Guiding Activities and Resources
These are only a set of example activities and resources. The learners will need to evaluate the quality and applicability of the content. They are just meant to serve as examples. The ones that you choose should be in direct relationship to your specific guiding questions and context. Activities and resources for adults, adolescents, and younger children will be different. The goal is to develop solutions that mean something in your community and are sustainable.

Example Activities

  1. Interview women in your family and community from different generations
  2. Research the concepts of gender, equality and empowerment? 
  3. Explore the history of women in your community
  4. Celebrate women’s achievements in your community
  5. Explore definitions of inequality and bias
  6. Attend women in leadership events
  7. Etc.

Example Resources

    1. International Women’s Day Teacher Toolkit
    2. Educational resources 
    3. UN Women resources

Synthesis

Using the research findings from your Investigations develop a synthesis that demonstrates a clear understanding of the challenge. For help with creating a synthesis explore this resource.

ACT

Solution Prototypes – Using your research synthesis create multiple ideas for solutions and review each one to make sure your research supports it. Share the prototypes with various stakeholders and get feedback.

Solution – with the feedback from the stakeholders develop one solution that has the most potential for success.

Implement – Develop a plan to implement the solution with the stakeholders and collect data about the impact.

Evaluate – Using quantitative and qualitative measures determine if the solution is valid and what can be improved.

REFLECT, DOCUMENT, AND SHARE

Throughout the experience take time to document the events and reflect on what is happening to build on prior knowledge and identify future questions.

Share what you learned with your local community and the world. Use #CBLWorld on social media.

Return to Resources