How Do You Get Your Water? Structural Violence Pedagogy and Women's Access to Water

Abstract

In many parts of the less developed world it is women and girls who are expected to provide water for their family. Frequently, young girls are unable to complete school or get jobs because water scarcity means they are forced to walk miles daily to obtain this most basic need. Since the creation of the United Nations Millennium Goals, progress has been made in providing clean water and sanitation to billions of people. Although there are still many regions where water scarcity and gender inequity exclude women from schooling and the workforce. With the new Social Studies C3 Framework students are expected to apply and evaluate civic concepts and take action by engaging in global citizenship. In the “How Do You Get Your Water?” Curriculum students' apply the concepts of structural violence and universal human rights to a case study on the connection between women, social inequity, and water. A writing extension gives students the reflective time to cultivate empathy for families experiencing water insecurity. Simulations meant to evoke emotional responses make the experience of water stress a reality and a culminating service-learning project fosters global citizenship.

Keywords:

• global education, women, structural violence, human rights, water access