Assignment:
Discussion: Evaluating the Progress of Social Change
Imagine you work for an organization that is applying for a grant to develop an educational workshop series for youth interested in women's social issues and literature. You are approached, due to your participation in this course, to take a leadership role in preparing the grant. In order to be eligible for the grant, you need to speak to progress that has been made in regard to an issue of importance to women.
In this Discussion, you assess the progress of a social change topic concerning women to determine future priorities.
To prepare for this Discussion:
- Review Shange's work as it relates to topics covered in this course.
- Choose one social change issue that relates to one of the following themes from this course: work, family and community, health and well-being, or education.
- Consider women's historical and contemporary experiences of the particular issue you have chosen.
- Consider the progress that has been made related to the issue you chose.
- Consider your own vision of social change and how it might have changed or been enhanced during this course.
- What actions could be taken by ordinary citizens to address current concerns for women in the topic area chosen?
- Consider the role that women's literature has played in impacting social change issues.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post a 2 to 3 paragraph assessment of the progress of the social change issue you have chosen. Justify your claim using Shange's work and other resources from throughout the course to provide evidence. With this in mind, briefly respond to this question: "Why is it valuable to study women's literature as a distinct genre?"
Respond to at least one of your colleague's postings in one or more of the following ways:
- Do you agree there has been progress for women in this area? Explain why.
- Ask a probing question.
- Share an insight from having read your colleague's posting.
- Offer and support an opinion.
- Validate an idea with your own experience.
- Make a suggestion.
- Expand on your colleague's posting.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.