US Women's History Unit 13

Unit Plan

Women and Social Media – Changing Narratives

Activities

Teaching with E.L.O.N.  (Enriched Learning Opportunity Nexus) that seamlessly integrates AI 
Unit 13

Unit Focus: This unit explores the impact of social media on feminist activism, digital feminism, women’s voices in pop culture, and the role of women in major social movements.

Week 1: The Impact of Social Media on Feminist Activism and Organizing
Essential Questions:
  • How has social media transformed feminist activism?
  • What are key feminist movements that gained traction online?
  • How does digital activism compare to traditional activism?
Key Topics:
  • The rise of digital feminist movements (e.g., #MeToo, #TimesUp, #SayHerName)
  • Social media as a tool for mobilization, awareness, and advocacy
  • Case studies: Tarana Burke and #MeToo, Malala Yousafzai’s digital presence
Activities:
  • Lecture/Discussion: History of feminist activism and the transition to digital spaces.
  • Primary Source Analysis: Students examine tweets, Instagram posts, and online campaigns from feminist activists.
  • Case Study Analysis: Breakdown of #MeToo’s impact.
  • Group Project: Create a timeline of major feminist digital movements.
Assessment:
  • Short Response Essay: Compare and contrast traditional and digital activism.
  • Discussion Board Post: Reflect on how social media affects feminist activism.

Week 2: Digital Feminism – Online Platforms and Advocacy
Essential Questions:
  • What is digital feminism, and how does it operate across different platforms?
  • How do social media platforms shape feminist discourse?
  • What are the challenges of online feminist activism (e.g., harassment, digital backlash)?
Key Topics:
  • Platform-specific activism: Twitter feminism (#MeToo, #BelieveWomen), Instagram feminism (infographics, art, and influencers), TikTok activism
  • Digital divide and accessibility issues in online activism
  • Online harassment and challenges women face in digital spaces
Activities:
  • Platform Exploration: Students analyze feminist activism on different social media platforms.
  • Guest Speaker or Virtual Panel: A digital activist or social media influencer shares insights on advocacy.
  • Creative Assignment: Students create their own feminist advocacy posts using different media formats (text-based, infographic, short video).
  • Debate: "Does social media help or harm feminist activism?"
Assessment:
  • Media Analysis Essay: Students analyze the effectiveness of a specific social media feminist campaign.
  • Project Submission: Feminist advocacy social media post with a short explanation of the strategy behind it.

Week 3: Women’s Voices in Pop Culture, Media, and Entertainment
Essential Questions:
  • How are women represented in pop culture and entertainment media?
  • How do female celebrities and influencers use their platforms for advocacy?
  • What is the role of intersectionality in media representation?
Key Topics:
  • The power of celebrity activism (e.g., Beyoncé’s feminism, Lizzo and body positivity, Taylor Swift’s political shift)
  • The role of influencers and content creators in shaping feminist narratives
  • Representation of women in film, TV, and music (The Bechdel Test, feminist storytelling)
Activities:
  • Media Analysis: Students analyze films, music, and TV shows through a feminist lens.
  • Discussion: The role of female celebrities in social justice movements.
  • Creative Writing: Write an op-ed or a social media post critiquing or celebrating a pop culture moment related to feminism.
  • Comparative Analysis: Examine the portrayal of women in past vs. present media.
Assessment:
  • Presentation: Analyze a female artist’s or celebrity’s feminist impact.
  • Critical Essay: Examine how a specific piece of media represents women and feminist themes.

Week 4: Women in Social Movements – Black Lives Matter and Reproductive Justice
Essential Questions:
  • What is the role of women in social movements like Black Lives Matter and reproductive justice?
  • How does intersectionality shape feminist movements?
  • How has social media been used to advocate for Black feminist and reproductive justice issues?
Key Topics:
  • The leadership of women in the Black Lives Matter movement (Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, Opal Tometi)
  • The intersection of race, gender, and digital activism
  • Reproductive justice movements online (e.g., #ShoutYourAbortion, access to healthcare debates)
Activities:
  • Documentary Viewing: Watch clips from "Reversing Roe" or "Say Her Name."
  • Panel Discussion: Explore how online activism has advanced the reproductive justice and racial justice movements.
  • Research Project: Investigate a woman leader in Black Lives Matter or reproductive justice and present their contributions.
  • Social Media Simulation: Students design a campaign advocating for a social justice issue.
Assessment:
  • Research Paper: Analyze the role of digital feminism in reproductive justice or racial justice.
  • Advocacy Campaign: Develop a mock online campaign and explain the strategy behind it.

Final Unit Project (Culminating Assessment)
​Choose One:
  1. Social Media Campaign Project: Students design a feminist social media campaign addressing a current issue.
  2. Podcast or Video Essay: Analyze how a specific digital feminist movement has changed discourse.
  3. Research Paper: Explore the impact of digital feminism on a specific social justice issue.
  4. Creative Piece: Write a short story, poem, or script inspired by the themes of digital feminism.

Extension Activities:
  • Guest Speaker: Invite an activist, journalist, or influencer to speak about digital feminism.
  • Current Event Discussions: Weekly discussions on ongoing feminist activism online.
  • Field Trip (Virtual or In-Person): Visit a local feminist organization or attend a webinar.
This unit provides students with a critical understanding of the intersection between social media, feminism, and activism while engaging them in hands-on projects that simulate real-world advocacy. 
​The following activities include AI tools that enhance student engagement, provide data-driven insights, and facilitate personalized learning. 
Group Activity: AI-Powered Timeline of Digital Feminist Movements
Objective: Collaborate to create an AI-generated interactive timeline highlighting major digital feminist movements.
Steps:
  1. Use an AI research tool to gather historical data on movements like #MeToo, #TimesUp, and #SayHerName.
  2. Use an AI-powered text summarizer to condense key details for each movement.
  3. Organize findings in a shared document and input data into an AI timeline generator (e.g., TimelineJS).
  4. Present findings and discuss how AI helped identify key patterns.
Individual Activity: AI-Assisted Comparative Essay on Digital vs. Traditional Activism
Objective: Write an essay comparing traditional feminist activism with digital activism using AI for research assistance.
Steps:
  1. Use AI search tools to find articles and sources comparing digital and traditional activism.
  2. Input findings into an AI-powered text analysis tool to highlight common themes and key differences.
  3. Draft an essay and use an AI grammar checker for refinement.
  4. Submit and reflect on how AI influenced research quality.

Week 2: Digital Feminism – Online Platforms and Advocacy
Group Activity: AI-Powered Sentiment Analysis of Online Feminist Discourse
Objective: Analyze public sentiment about feminist movements using AI.
Steps:
  1. Collect social media posts from platforms like Twitter using an AI-based text scraping tool.
  2. Use an AI sentiment analysis tool to determine overall public sentiment on movements like #MeToo or #BelieveWomen.
  3. Discuss results and compare them with historical perceptions of feminism.
  4. Present findings on whether digital feminism is perceived positively or negatively.
Individual Activity: AI-Assisted Advocacy Post Creation
Objective: Develop a compelling social media advocacy post using AI tools.
Steps:
  1. Use AI to research trending feminist issues and identify key hashtags.
  2. Input topic ideas into an AI content generator to draft potential post formats (text, infographic script, short video script).
  3. Use an AI language refinement tool to optimize clarity and engagement.
  4. Submit the final post and provide a short reflection on how AI assisted in the creative process.

Week 3: Women’s Voices in Pop Culture, Media, and Entertainment
Group Activity: AI-Generated Gender Representation Analysis in Media
Objective: Use AI to assess gender representation in popular media.
Steps:
  1. Choose a set of movies, TV shows, or music videos to analyze.
  2. Use an AI-powered script analysis tool or NLP model to determine gender representation trends (e.g., dialogue percentage spoken by women).
  3. Compare results to industry studies on gender representation.
  4. Discuss findings and propose ways media companies can improve representation.
Individual Activity: AI-Powered Pop Culture Critique
Objective: Write a critique of a pop culture moment using AI-assisted analysis.
Steps:
  1. Select a moment from entertainment history related to feminism (e.g., a celebrity speech, a film’s feminist themes).
  2. Use AI to gather public reactions, reviews, and media responses.
  3. Use an AI text analyzer to identify patterns in praise or criticism.
  4. Write a critique and use an AI grammar checker to refine the argument.

Week 4: Women in Social Movements – Black Lives Matter and Reproductive Justice
Group Activity: AI-Enhanced Debate on Digital Feminism and Intersectionality
Objective: Use AI to gather evidence for a structured debate on intersectionality in digital feminism.
Steps:
  1. Assign teams and debate topics (e.g., "Does digital feminism adequately address intersectionality?").
  2. Use AI research tools to find diverse perspectives and case studies.
  3. Use an AI argument mapping tool to organize key points.
  4. Conduct the debate and reflect on how AI shaped arguments.
Individual Activity: AI-Generated Leader Profile on Women in Activism
Objective: Create an AI-assisted research profile on a woman leader in the Black Lives Matter or reproductive justice movement.
Steps:
  1. Use AI search tools to find reliable sources about the chosen leader.
  2. Input findings into an AI-powered text summarizer to extract key details.
  3. Use an AI writing assistant to structure a research profile.
  4. Submit and reflect on how AI streamlined the research process.

Final Unit Project (AI-Integrated Options)
​1. AI-Assisted Social Media Campaign Project
  • Use AI to generate campaign slogans, hashtags, and optimized post timing.
2. AI-Generated Podcast or Video Essay
  • Use AI to transcribe interviews, suggest script edits, and enhance voice modulation.
3. AI-Enhanced Research Paper
  • Use AI to analyze patterns in feminist activism and predict future trends.
4. AI-Powered Creative Piece
  • Use AI storytelling tools to generate creative writing prompts for feminist narratives.
These AI-integrated activities encourage critical thinking, data-driven analysis, and creative engagement while ensuring students develop digital literacy in feminist discourse. 
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