1. Chapter 2 in We’ll Call You. Each chapter has a theme. After each chapter write your own paragraph (or two) that could be added to the chapter. For example, in chapter 2, what were your own doors, windows and locks? Remember this book was written by women who were in the first cohort in the trades, in the late 70s. When writing your own paragraph, please include comments/examples on how you think things have changed, in relation to the chapter theme. 1 PAGE
2. In We’ll Call You, read chapters 3, 4, 5. Identify the themes and note some examples from the women interviewed. Then write your own paragraph or two that reflect your own experiences exemplifying the themes. If you think the theme doesn’t apply to you write about what you’ve heard or seen in reference to the themes. 1 PAGE
3. In We’ll Call You: read chapters 6, 7, 9, 11 (they are short). Identify the themes in each chapter and note some examples from the women interviewed – that resonate with your own experiences. Write your own paragraph(s) that reflect your own experiences. If you think the theme doesn’t apply to you write about what you’ve heard or seen in reference to the chapter theme. When you write your own paragraphs, you can weave in the women’s comments that apply to your own circumstances. 1 PAGE
4. Read the Handout, “How the rise of women in labor could save the movement” by Bryce Covert. Then answer the following questions in a couple of paragraphs.
https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/how-rise-women-labor-could-save-movement/.
First you’ll need to look up the stats on unionization: the easiest is to Google “Union Members –2022 to get the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. This is just for reference.
What do women bring to the labor movement that would suggest it is important for them to participate in the movement, particularly in the unionized trades, and what do women need to do to be even more effective? What influence did/does the women’s movement play? How do men fit into this scenario – why is having more women in the labor movement/trades beneficial to men? 1 PAGE
5. Select one poem from Stanley’s Girl. In a couple of paragraphs tell the class what the poem is about in terms of why it spoke to you. 1/2 PAGE
6. Read The Forgotten American Feminists and then answer the following questions in a couple paragraphs.
a) What were/are the distinguishing features that define the labor feminists – often called “socialist feminists? Was their platform achieved?
b) Describe the debate and the rationale between those whose main issue was to pass the ERA and the socialist feminists.
c) What is the difference between equal pay for equal work and equal pay for comparable work? Many people say equal pay for comparable work is too cumbersome to put into practice. What say you? How do unionized jobs fit into this paradigm?
d) How would you define second wave feminism and how do you and your union sisters and brothers fit into this OR what do we/you need to change to claim this era as your own? 1 AND 1/2 PAGE
