The document discusses the concept of the "Good-Girl Box" and the expectations and limitations placed on women. It notes that from a young age, girls receive messages about gender roles and the things they can and cannot do based on their gender. Living within the constraints of the "box" can be difficult and prevent women from fully expressing themselves. Stepping outside the box often results in girls being criticized or called names. The document also highlights statistics showing gender inequalities and disadvantages women face, such as lower pay and higher rates of poverty. Overall, it examines the social pressures that push women into confined gender roles and the negative impacts of those expectations.

1. The Good-Girl Box

2. How I Learned to Be a Girl What were the first messages you received about being a girl? What kind of messages were they? (positive, negative)? When did you first notice being a girl made a difference? Were there things you had to wear or do because you were a girl? Were there things you were told you could not do because you were a girl?

3. Young Women Speak Out Call out any negative phrases, words, or expectations you never want to hear again! ( On the board write phrases “I never want to hear…again.”

4. The Good Girl Box What are the expectations that people have about what girls and women? What are the messages girls receive from men? “” from the media?

5. Living in the box… How hard is it to live in the Good-Girl Box? What parts of you don’t fit into the box? Why is it hard if you’re a Latina? Why would it be hard if you were poor? Why would it be hard if you were a large woman?

6. Stepping outside of the Good-Girl Box What are the names girls would get called? What is the purpose of these names? What else happens to girls who step outside the box?

7. Sexism How much money do women make compared with men? What kinds of work are women expected to do?

8. The Effects on Women Women earn 74 cents for each dollar a men earn for doing comparable work. 75% of all poor people are women and children. 50% of women on welfare receive that assistance because the fathers of their children fail to pay child support. 57% of all children in female-headed households live below the poverty level. 66%of women in prison were unemployed before they went to jail 92% of women in prison had less than $10k yearly income before they were locked up.

9. Questions… How does it feel to be pushed into and expected to live in the box? How does it feel when you’re out of the box but other people are trying to push you into it?

10. How safe is the box? Some girls learn that if they stay in the box they will be safe and will have a man to protect them. If they step outside the box they will be vulnerable.

11. Not fitting the box… You are not to blame and are not wrong or bad because you don’t fit in the box. The box is an impossible set of expectations that no woman fits into perfectly. Society, particularly men, have trouble accepting women who are strong and independent. Calling a girl names and abusing her because she does not fit in the box is how sexism is maintained.

14. Checkout Who in your life pressures you to be in the box? Who supports you for being out of the box?