The Second Sex Lesson Plan

A Day of Great Women

Kind of Activity:

Research

Objective:

To challenge De Beauvoir’s notion of greatness and lack of female genius in the world

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.9, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.7, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.7

Structure:

In “The Independent Woman,” De Beauvoir is quite strict in her definition of what constitutes greatness or genius (though in previous chapters, she both gives reasons why women might be held back or simply written out of history). The purpose of this exercise is not to challenge De Beauvoir’s assertion that women are held back socially, but to give students a bit of a breather and a chance to see that despite...