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What's the REAL DEAL about gender, power and relationships?
For several decades research has suggested that rigid, narrow codes of masculinity and femininity drive poorer reproductive health outcomes, homophobia and gender-based violence[1]. This is especially true among at-risk youth, particularly young people of color and/or the LGBTQ population. To improve health and education outcomes, there has been an increased focus on and commitment to designing “gender transformative” interventions which question, challenge and change rigid gender norms and inequities.

91% of teachers in our pilot schools reported that their students were able to discuss gender norms more critically as a result of the curriculum.

"Teaching this curriculum has helped me to be more empathetic every day. Also, I am learning to respect my students a lot more because they have a lot to say. They are a lot smarter than we give them credit for." -YM, Edward Murrow HS

Educators, administrators, community members, parents and students have also told us the same thing: untangling the meanings of gender is important and engaging. As young people grow up, they learn about the expectations placed on them as males or females. Young men, for example, struggle with the confines of what has been called “traditional masculinity,” hoping to fulfill the "male job description" -- whether that involves succeeding in athletics, hiding one’s emotions, being a provider, “scoring” sexually, taking risks, or achieving power in the work world or in gang life. Young women struggle with how to navigate norms that influence their experience of sexuality and desire, their autonomy and safety, their goals and dreams.

Young people who participate in this curriculum will be able to discuss, reflect upon and analyze the roles that gender and power play in their own lives, through writing and discussion about our award-winning films and how they relate to students’ realities. Through this process, students can express their underlying beliefs and attitudes, start to share ideas and challenge peer social norms. The central role that educators play in this process of discovery cannot be overstated. This is why Scenarios USA has created the What’s the REAL DEAL about Gender, Power and Relationships? curriculum: to support the educators who are in the classroom affecting positive change for their students and for all of us.

Gender, Power and Relationships Curriculum:

• 9-lesson interactive, multi-media curriculum for English, Social Studies, Health and Theater teachers
• Meets the national learning standards
• Includes 3 REAL DEAL films: A Man Made Early, Life's Poison and Man In The Mirror
• 25 writers journals
• $299 + 10 shipping/handling

What's the REAL DEAL about writing narrative?
Scenarios USA believes in the power young people can gain by taking control over the telling and writing of their own narratives. The REAL DEAL curriculum engages students grades 6-12, regardless of their academic ability, in writing in their journals during every lesson. Allowing students to make the emotional connection to the concepts they are discussing helps them to feel more connected to their learning, their learning environment, and their teacher. Journal-writing also offers students an opportunity to reflect on what has helped to shape their story so far, in order that they may intentionally direct the unfolding of the next chapters in the culminating story, play or script.

Standards-based – The activities in this curriculum comprise a complex literacy project that engages students in the application of a wide range of higher level thinking skills, especially critical analysis, to their social context. This rigorous educational experience can help students to reach the highest benchmarks for many English, Health, Social Studies and Drama learning standards.

Social emotional learning – This curriculum engages students of all abilities in the exploration of their empathy skills, which are vital to preventing violence in schools and communities. Students will explore prejudice and violence that is caused by intolerance of difference regarding gender, race, class and other identities. It is vital to the success of the implementation of this curriculum that students reject homophobic, trans-phobic, racist, sexist or other derogatory language in their discussions

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Scenarios USA launches

What’s the REAL DEAL about Masculinity? curriculum

• Are you a teacher or community educator who works with adolescents?


• Do you believe students of all abilities can be active, engaged learners?


• Could you use an interactive, multi-media curriculum that will help your students feel more connected to school and to you?

The Scenarios USA “What’s the REAL DEAL about Masculinity?” curriculum is a 9-lesson, interactive, interdisciplinary, multi-media curriculum. The curriculum meets the national core curriculum learning standards by utilizing best practices from curricula internationally.

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