UNIT 2: SYSTEMS & POWER
Sample Lesson:
Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression
Ethnic Studies Lesson
Developed by Ariana Brown
Lesson Focus Questions:
Identity: Students will learn how patriarchy and heteronormativity affect our communities, especially women and LGBTQIA+ people.
�Skills: Students will practice analyzing multimedia, primary, and secondary sources; comparing and contrasting; and annotation.
�Intellect: Students will examine the relationship between patriarchy, heteronormativity, gender identity, gender expression, and transphobia.
�Criticality: Students will learn to be critical of patriarchy, heteronormativity, and transphobia; they will build knowledge to question commonly held ideas about gender and sexuality.
�Joy: Students will learn about gender expression and create a list of ways to resist patriarchy, which will then be posted in the classroom as a daily reminder.
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression - Warm Up
5-minute Journal Prompt:
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression – Vocabulary
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression – Video Activity
Step 1: Make a list of questions you have about gender and/or sexuality.
Step 2: Watch the videos on the next slide and write down any unfamiliar words or concepts.
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression – Videos
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender & Expression – Discussion
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression – Vocabulary
Sex (assigned at birth)
The genetic characteristics (such as chromosomes) that identify a person as male or female. This is usually determined at birth.
An internal, deeply felt sense of being female, male, a blend of both or neither. Refers to how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. Can be the same as or different from their sex assigned at birth.
External appearance of one’s gender identity, usually expressed through behavior, clothing, haircut or voice, which may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors and characteristics typically associated with being either feminine or masculine.
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression – Vocabulary
Patriarchy is a system of oppression within which men have primary power and dominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property.
The belief that heterosexuality is the only natural and acceptable form of human sexuality.
The systematic belief that people need to conform to their gender assigned at birth in a gender-binary system that includes only female and male. Hatred or fear of those who are perceived to break or blur stereotypical gender roles, often expressed as stereotyping, discrimination, harassment and/or violence.
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression – Close Reading Activity
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression – Close Reading Activity
bell hooks was a scholar and teacher who wrote over 20 books. She wrote mostly about race, feminism, and class.
We are going to read one of her most famous essays, called “Understanding Patriarchy.”
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression – Close Reading Activity
Step 1: Review Annotation Guide with students.
Step 2: Individually read “Understanding Patriarchy” by bell hooks and annotate.
Step 3: Students can work alone, in partners, or small groups for this activity.
Read the essay again, working together to write summaries for each page.
Step 4: Discussion
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression – Discussion
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression – Discussion
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression - Primary Sources
This 1979 pamphlet for the March on Washington for Gay and Lesbian Rights including a list of demands.
This 1992 leaflet inquiring for more information about the death of Marsha P. Johnson, well known Black trans and gay activist.
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression – Sources
PRIMARY SOURCE DOCUMENTS & IMAGES
This 1970s Declaration of Women’s Independence from a women’s political group in Boston.
This 1996 news clipping about a vigil for a murdered Black trans person.
SYSTEMS OF POWER�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression -
Making Connections
Make a list of 10 ways patriarchy affects your life.
Think about the ways patriarchy shows up in your family and/or community.
Examples: the harsh ways people speak about women, homophobic and transphobic attitudes or cultural terms, and/or unrealistic beauty standards.
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression – Joyful Activity
Complete the following activity in pairs or small groups.
Brainstorm 10 ways you can resist patriarchal beliefs and behaviors in your daily lives. Remember that heteronormativity and transphobia are part of patriarchy. We cannot end patriarchy without also ending heteronormativity and transphobia.
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression – Joyful Activity
Complete the following activity as a class.
On a large piece of butcher paper, work together to create a large physical list of Ways to Resist Patriarchy and hang it somewhere in the classroom where it is visible to students daily.
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression – ELA Extension
Students read one of the following books aligned with this unit’s themes:
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression – Extension Activities
Systems of Power�Patriarchy, Gender, & Expression – Extended Learning