March is Women's History Month. March 8 is International Women's Day.

March 8, 1972 also marks the 36th anniversary of the failed Equal Rights Amendment that targeted equal rights for women. The amendment was approved by Congress, but subsequently it failed to be ratified by a sufficient number of states. To be part of the Constitution, at least 38 states would have to ratify it.

Many states who failed to ratify indicated their opposition by citing the Civil Rights Act as being sufficient to protect the rights of women also.

The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that "all the battles for women's rights have been won" while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of the traditional system of patriarchy.

With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could conclude that women have truly gained equality.

The unfortunate fact is that women still don't receive pay equal to that of their male counterparts and they are still not present in equal numbers in business or politics. Internationally, most women in the underdeveloped world countries lack education, healthcare, justice, and representation in government.

Assign students either a 200 word written report or a two to three minute PowerPoint presentation. Students should use and cite at least three sources from the results of the pathfinder listed below. Students should also address at least four of the essential questions listed below.

Pathfinder to learning resources:

1. Click the Topic Guide tab.

2. Type "Women's Rights" in the Find Term box and select Search.

3. The following subject terms will be listed:

    Women's rights > View articles
    Women's rights movement > View articles
    Women's status > View articles
    Women's suffrage > View articles


Essential questions are necessary for students to integrate critical thinking and original thought in their reports. Without essential questions for critical thinking, most students will report facts from a single article and most reports on a topic will be very similar or identical -- plagiarism.

The report should address these examples of essential questions (teachers may want to substitute or add their own):

• What are the most significant events in the progression of women's rights and why?
  
  
• Who were the three most significant women leaders of the rights movement and why?
  
  
• What rights still remain to be achieved?
  
  
• How do women's rights in the U.S. compare with those of other developed countries?
  
  
• What were the major societal attitudes that retarded the women's rights movement?
  
  
• Do you think that the reasons were justified then and even now?

Here are some new ProQuest models that students can use for their PowerPoint or written reports.