UCLA Art & Global Health Center

Tackling Rape Culture
Full Class

In this video, the Sex Squad challenges the idea that sexual assault survivors were “asking for it.”

For all videos in this unit:

  • What did you see in the video?
  • What do you think this video was about?
  • What stood out to you the most in this video?
  • What are the beliefs that our society/your culture has on consent? What have you been taught about the way someone should initiate a sexual activity with another person?

For this video:

  • What happened in this video? What real-life problem does this video represent?
  • What are some other examples of how people are stereotyped/mistreated/discriminated for their appearance?
  • Have you or someone you know ever been judged/mistreated because of your appearance? How did it make you feel?

Materials needed: copies or electronic access to articles below, board and/or large flip chart paper, markers

Step 1.

Ask students to think about how fashion represents people and ask them to share it with the class. Write their responses on the board for all to see. Encourage several replies by guiding them through some questions:

  • Other than clothing, how do people express themselves?
  • Is everything that we wear intended to make a fashion statement?
  • What are some fashion trends that are very popular right now?
  • What are some things that older generation people think about today’s youth fashion?
  • What are some instances when people may be treated well/special simply for how they are dressed?
  • When may people be stereotyped/judged/mistreated for what they are wearing?
  • Is it fair to treat someone a specific way just based on how they are dressed?

Step 2.

Next, tell students that they will read an article(s) about challenging school dress codes (see below). Put them in groups and assign each a different article to read or read one/two together as a class.

Step 3.

After reading, guide them in dialogue:

  • What do you think about students who protested their school’s dress codes?
  • Do you agree that dress codes unfairly target girls and why?
  • Why do schools have dress codes?
  • What do you think should be included in a dress code?
  • What is on your school’s dress code that you don’t agree with and why?
  • How can principals, staff and students work together to come up with a dress code that feels fair?
  • If students don’t agree with school policies, what should they do about it?
  • What are other ways that sexism is perpetuated in schools?
  • What can we ALL do to lessen the blame/responsibility on others about the way they might be treated?

Step 4.

  1. (OPTIONAL) If you have any students that are very passionate about making changes in their school’s current dress code, suggest a way for them to pursue a policy change. Some suggested activities to start this are:
  • Create and conduct a survey to find out what other students think about their school’s dress code. Have them distribute the survey to friends, classmates and online friends and compile and share the results, along with recommendations.
  • Talk to a teacher or school administrator about convening a committee (comprised of students and staff) to explore an update of the school’s dress code policy.
  • Write a letter or article for the school newspaper about dress codes or another school policy for which you have a strong point of view.

Recommended articles:

    LAUSD Health Standards

  • HS.1.M.5, HS.1.M.8, HS.1.S.8, HS.1.S.9, HS.5.S.22,
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