Politics, economics, war, environment, and migration are a few examples of social forces influencing shifts in women’s experience of family and community. These shifts can be felt at the global, national, and local level and can be both unsettling and devastating. Women in these family and community situations adapt to the circumstance.

Family and community are as diverse as its members, and they have a unique impact on women. How has the role of women within your family and community changed in the past 75 years? What norms were upheld and/or challenged regarding women with whom you live and work? What generational changes have you seen and experienced?

This week, you participate in a Discussion and complete a worksheet assignment analyzing literature in the form of poetry, short story, and essay to gain insight into women’s family and community experience.

Readings

• Ensler, E. (2013). In the body of the world [PDF]. New York, NY: Henry Holt & Company. Retrieved from http://inthebodyoftheworld.com/pdf/EveEnsler-InTheBodyOfTheWorld-Excerpt.pdf

  This excerpt will be a resource for the Week 3 Worksheet.

• Hamlet, J. D. (1996). Fannie Lou Hamer: The unquenchable spirit of the Civil Rights Movement. Journal of Black Studies, 26 (5), 560–576.
  Fannie Lou Hamer: The Unquenchable Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Hamlet, J.D., in Journal of Black Studies, Vol. 26/Issue 5. Copyright 1996 by Sage Publications Inc. – Journals. Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications Inc. – Journals via the Copyright Clearance Center.

  This article discusses the notable work and efforts of Fannie Lou Hamer during the Civil Rights Movement. This article is analyzed for this week’s Discussion.

• Porter, K. A. (1965). Rope. In The collected stories of Katherine Anne Porter (pp. 42–48). Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace.
  Katherine Anne Porter, “Rope” from The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter. Copyright 1928 by Katherine Anne Porter. Used with the permission of The Permissions Company on behalf of The Katherine Anne Porter Literary Trust.

  In this short story, Porter writes from the perspective of a female character providing insight into the experience of a wife. This short story is analyzed in this week’s Worksheet Assignment.

• Brady, J. (1990). Why I (still) want a wife. Ms, 1(1), 17.
  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

  This well-known essay provides commentary on housewives. This essay is examined in this week’s Worksheet Assignment.

• Walden University. (2015b). APA style: Overview. Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/apa

• Walden University. (2015e). Writing center. Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/home

• Document: Glossary of Terms and Techniques for Literature and Creative Writing (PDF)

  This resource provides support in analyzing various forms of literature. Use this resource to identify elements of style and apply literary terms to assignments.

• Document: Week 3 Worksheet (Word document)

  Download this worksheet to your computer. It will be used in the Week 3 Assignment.

  Media

• Laureate Education (Producer). (2015). Women’s voices and social change [Interactive media]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

  With this week’s content on family and community in mind, review the timeline information on Janice Hamlet, Katherine Anne Porter, and Judy Brady.

Song Lyric Search Resources

• DiFranco, A., (1990). Lost woman song. On Ani DiFranco [Cassette]. Buffalo, NY: Righteous Babe.

• Etheridge, M. (1994). Come to my window. On Yes I am. Los Angeles, CA: A&M Studios.

• Hamer, F. L. (1997). Walk with me Lord. On Voices of the Civil Rights Movement: Black American freedom songs 1960–1966 [MP3]. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

• King, C. (1971). You’ve got a friend. On Tapestry [Record]. New York, NY: Ode Records.

• O’Connor, S. (1997). 4 My Love. On Gospel oak (EP) [CD]. London, UK: Chrysalis.

• Parton, D. (1971). Coat of many colors. On Coat of many colors [Record]. Nashville, TN: RCA.

• Russell, B. (1988). Get here. On Get here [CD]. Los Angeles, CA: A&M Studios.

  Resources in support of this week’s topic