Agency and Structure: Gilman, Woolf, and Douglass (REVISED ON 2/3)

Now it’s time for a discussion about AGENCY and STRUCTURE.  According to Wikipedia, “in social science, agency is defined as the capacity of individuals to act independently and to make their own free choices. By contrast, structure is those factors of influence (such as social class, religion, gender, ethnicity, ability, customs, etc.) that determine or limit an agent and their decisions.”

We have seen through each text that resistance is not always futile.  But it doesn’t always culminate in an exchange of power, either.  Why is that?

Part 1

First, re-examine The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and identify at least 3 ways systems limit Douglass’ power.  For each, provide text evidence, identify the system, and explain how it limits his power.  Be concise. 

Then, do the same for the narrator of “The Yellow Wallpaper” and A Room of One’s Own.

You are not to use outside information for this assignment.

This will culminate in a class discussion—in your estimation, which structure weighs the most on Gilman, Woolf, and Douglass? (You will need to defend your choice.)

Part 2

Implicit Bias inventory:  we will do work as a class with the ideas from Teaching Tolerance.  Here is a link to more substantial work from Harvard:  https://implicit.harvard.edu/implici .  

This work takes time; it can be interesting, but it will call some of what you think into question.  It’s up to you if you would like to go past the ADL work.

Once you have pinpointed areas of bias,  examine the graphic below.

Now it’s time to add institutionalized racism and sexism to our conversations about Gilman, Woolf, and Douglass.  How, specifically, does the graphic apply to Douglass? Use the 4 As protocol as your discussion method for this activity.

  

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part 3

Revisiting the texts:  Childish Gambino’s video for “This is America,” Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own, and Frederick Douglass' Narrative.

Discuss your Part 2 findings with a NEW group of people.  Apply the graphic and your 4 As Protocol work to your understanding of the video—can you deepen your understanding of the lyrics and video?  We will debrief as a class.


Homework:
Choose one text from Part 3 to SPACE CAT-- you will have time in class to start this.

THEN turn your ideas into a One-pager.  Your One-pager elements should include ASSUMPTIONS, AGENCY, STRUCTURE, EXIGENCE, and CLAIM (outer rectangle).