Last Year of Middle School

Lesson Plan #2

Teaching Trafficking via Attitudes Toward Women

(45 minutes)

Objectives:  Students will develop a better understanding of gender issues that make one vulnerable to exploitation.

I. Introduction (10 minutes)

A.  Teacher explains that much of what we feel, think, and believe about women -- whether we are boys or girls, young men or young women -- depends on the attitudes of those around us. We learn these attitudes from our families, our friends, our neighbors and from the media: books, magazines, radio, and television. Our parents may tell us one thing and an advertisement something very different.  No wonder we are confused.

Before we consider the various reasons why girls and women are victims of trafficking, let’s look at how we consider women themselves.  The following are some quotations about women from different religions.  Read them, decide which religion they are from, and see how you feel about them.

B. Choose one statement from each group and explain in a paragraph or two why you agree or disagree. Use personal experience (your own, a friend’s, a female relative’s, etc.) as evidence.

Group #1:

1. According to the Koran, both men and women are obliged to the five pillars and eligible for salvation or damnation, according to their personal merits” (4:124; 33:73; 6:51; 10:3). [Islam]

2. Saint Paul says that in Christ, “There is neither male nor female.” (Galatians 3:28 RSV) [Christianity]

3. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says that all who love him will be saved. (9:29-32) [Hinduism]

4. The Buddha, too, preached to women and accepted female disciples. [Buddhism]

5. "Educate the women." (Precept number 2 of Haxhi Bektashi's "13 Precepts on How Bektashi Can Move Forward.") [Bektashi]

Group #2:

1. “Women hold up half the sky.” (Chinese proverb) 

2. “The position of a woman in a society provides an exact measure of the development of that society.” (Gustav Geiger) 

3. “If you want someone to know about it, tell a man. If you want to do something about it, tell a woman.” (North American folk saying)

4. “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.” (Gloria Steinem) 

5. “Educate a woman and you educate a nation.” (Dr. Aagrey of Achimota, Ghana)

C. (10 minutes) Students share their answers with a partner, in a small group, or with the entire class.

D. (10 minutes) Next, in a small group of 5 students each, add 3 or 4 more Albanian saying about women. Do they portray women positively or negatively?

II. Discussion (15 minutes)

1. Why do you think victims of trafficking are more often female and the perpetrators male?

2. Why do you think trafficking in women would be more common in countries where women do not hold political office?

3. (Optional: Why are children and adolescents most likely to be victims of trafficking and the perpetrators older?)