A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History : Women in the Workforce PBS: NewsHour Online Forum Working Family Values Factoids PBS: Livelyhood The first resource presents an online forum that asks whether the sacrifices made by working mothers have been worth it, and ponders the lessons learned from the experiences of the first generation of female executives for their daughters and granddaughters. (Secondary source and current event material). The second resource presents facts ("factoids") garnered from the PBS show "Livelyhood" which show how the large numbers of women in the workplace have wrought changes in the expectations of husbands and wives in regards to family life. (Seondary source and current event material). The teacher can select several of the "Working Family Values Factoids" to present to the class. Students can respond to the factoids (whether they think it is positive or negative and why) in a class discussion, think-pair-share, or a journal response. Students can read the online forum with Bickley Townsend and compose a list of the qualities of a working woman that Townsend identifies. The students can then meet with a working woman (their mother, relative, or neighbor) and ask them if they could add to the list of qualities. Then the students can write a letter, creating their own question for Bickley Townsend and stating their opinion of women in the workforce.

(a) analyzing the effects of increased participation of women in the work force;

Women in the Workforce
PBS: NewsHour Online Forum

Working Family Values Factoids
PBS: Livelyhood

Description: The first resource presents an online forum that asks whether the sacrifices made by working mothers have been worth it, and ponders the lessons learned from the experiences of the first generation of female executives for their daughters and granddaughters. (Secondary source and current event material). The second resource presents facts ("factoids") garnered from the PBS show "Livelyhood" which show how the large numbers of women in the workplace have wrought changes in the expectations of husbands and wives in regards to family life. (Seondary source and current event material).

Teaching Tips:

"Do Now" Suggestion

The teacher can select several of the "Working Family Values Factoids" to present to the class. Students can respond to the factoids (whether they think it is positive or negative and why) in a class discussion, think-pair-share, or a journal response.

Suggestion for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson

Students can read the online forum with Bickley Townsend and compose a list of the qualities of a working woman that Townsend identifies. The students can then meet with a working woman (their mother, relative, or neighbor) and ask them if they could add to the list of qualities. Then the students can write a letter, creating their own question for Bickley Townsend and stating their opinion of women in the workforce.