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ERIC Number: EJ1123318
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 14
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0882-4843
EISSN: N/A
Global Feminism from Page to Stage: Teaching "Half the Sky" and "Seven"
Capo, Beth Widmaier
Feminist Teacher: A Journal of the Practices, Theories, and Scholarship of Feminist Teaching, v23 n1 p17-30 2012
The documentary play "Seven" is the collaboration of seven female playwrights with seven women activists connected in 2006 by the Vital Voices Global Partnership, a nonprofit nongovernmental organization supporting the development of female leaders (Vital). The stated mission of Vital Voices is to "identify, invest in and bring visibility to extraordinary women around the world by unleashing their leadership potential to transform lives and accelerate peace and prosperity in their communities." "Seven" is an ensemble piece of documentary theatre based on interviews, and the play has usually just seven women on a stage deviod of props or sets. "Seven" was created as an artistic response to social and political issues, a feminist intervention, and it has benefited from the support of actors, public figures, and politicians, and author Beth Capo argues it should be taught and staged on American college campuses as an opportunity to educate and inspire students and larger community audiences about women's leadership in solving global issues. Doing so offers an opportunity for feminist pedagogy and a form of activism to both faculty and students. This article traces the performance of "Seven" at a private liberal arts college and offer suggestions and assignments for teaching the text. According to a Chinese proverb, "Women hold up half the sky." When Karen Dean, professor of political science and director of the college leadership program, first introduced other faculty to Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's book "Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide," faculty immediately saw the pedagogical potential of that text. "Half the Sky" entered the curriculum in several classes. The author encourages feminist scholars, teachers and educators to explore the use of "Half the Sky" as a tool in their classrooms. A group project assignment is provided.
University of Illinois Press. 1325 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820-6903. Tel: 217-244-0626; Fax: 217-244-8082; e-mail: journals@uillinois.edu; Web site: http://www.press.uillinois.edu/journals.php
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A