I'm putting together a unit for teaching 13 year olds about fairy tales. Now, it can't be overtly feminist as I am meant to be a-political at school, BUT I can point out inequality (I know, how fucked up is society that it's a good thing to teach about racial equality, but a bad thing to talk about gender equality)
Anyway - my plan so far is.
- Look at the history/background of fairy tales and their key ingredients.
- Teach about Propp's theory of characters, and discuss if fairy tales really do use them, and how acceptable/realistic these characterizations are.
- Watch 'Cinderella' and deconstruct it. I have some smart kids, they will see the misogyny in it.
- Then watch a modern version of the movie, see how the characters have changed, or if it's still just as unbelievable.
- Discuss why these stories are still so popular, what do we get from them, should they be phased out etc.
- It then becomes a writing activity for them, so a lot less under my control, and more about writing skills than discussion of theory.
I am thinking that the discussion around Cinderella and the characters - maiden in distress etc could be very informative and eye opening.
Anyone want to throw in any ideas or concerns?
I hate Cinderella with a passion, but I suspect most of my students will as well. I also suspect that looking at the depiction of teenage girls in the modern one will create some very heated discussions. There are some very strong independent girls in the classes, but also some girls and boys who have the whole 'girls should be girly' lesson rammed down their throats by parents (mirrors and fur trim in their lockers ffs, boys allowed to watch football while the girls help to cook for Thanksgiving)
Let me know your thoughts.