Gender Discussion

Part 1

I often note to others that being surrounded by and talking about so many sad, frustrating, and infuriating examples of hate can make one start to feel hopeless about the world around us. One common theme that comes up with the class discussions and papers is the feeling of wanting to do something to change or help but also feeling overwhelmed with the scope of the problem. I get that. The issues at hand are enormous and incredibly complex to try to solve. Does this mean that we should throw our hands up in the air and give up that easily? If we do that, won't every step we've made toward progress just simply be revoked? In fact, are we starting to see that with the recent changes in policies and laws? It's important to remember that every small step toward change or helping matters! After all, I started with just teaching a class to you all, and now I have more voices and agents of change than we did in the beginning! So, yes, YOU can make a difference in someone's life and that can ripple out to have a huge impact on your community! 

However, we need to move out of the abstract and move more into a concrete planning phase. Thus, as your final course discussion, let's start to really look into ways that you can make those small steps and make a positive change in your community! 

Read through the instructions below carefully to be able to complete this discussion. 

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Discussion Requirements:

(1) Your initial post (40 points). In order to earn the full points, your post must:

· consist of at least  250 words generated by you (prompts will not count),

· effectively use college-grammar and writing constructs, and 

· thoughtfully and meaningfully respond to all prompts fully.

(2) Reply to TWO posts from your classmates (10 points). In order to earn the full points, each reply must thoughtfully and meaningfully respond to two posts using the prompts and instructions below. Replies that do not contain the prompt information will not earn points. 

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Initial Post Prompts (250+ words):

(1) Identify two issues or concepts discussed within the class that made the biggest impact on how you see the world now. 

· Describe how each has changed your perspective and why.

(2) What did you learn in this class that has spurred you to want to share/discuss with others outside of the class? 

· Describe why you feel that it is important to share this information.

· Who will you share this information with and why? 

· Are there some that you might hesitate to share this information with? Why or why not?

(3) Identify one positive change you could make to your daily life that will help make a change in your friends and close peers. 

· Describe what that change is and how it can make a bigger impact moving forward. 

(4) Finally, identify and discuss a concrete plan for how you can make a positive change in your community. 

· Search online for and identify  TWO specific  local organizations or opportunities where you would like to volunteer to make a difference. 

· Describe what the organizations do or their mission and how you could help.

· How do you get involved? Is there someone who may want to get involved with you?

· What small impact could your action make, and how could that small impact ripple out to possibly have a bigger impact?

· Could you plan to get involved soon? If so, when and now?

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Required responses for the two reply posts (reply prompts): 

(1) Suggest ways to talk to those they identified as being hesitant to share information with as they may be resistant to the information. Suggest ideas of how to better present the information in a way that may be more likely to lead to listening and understanding. 

(2) Add to places they can volunteer  or  how their identified volunteer ideas can work to create a bigger change in the community. 

** Note: Your responses must be different and uniquely tailored for each post **

Part 2

For this discussion consider each question below and choose TWO or more to respond to. Then take a moment to tell us about your plans for the summer and to say goodbye. Finally, as usual respond to at least one classmate.

· What was the "BIG Picture" for this course?

· What information was most surprising?

· If you were to tell a friend or a family member one thing that you learned from this course, what would that be?

· What areas need further research?

· How did your view of gender and psychology change over the semester?