Gender approach

GENDER APPROACH

The Fruitcake Special Short StoryTraditional gender role of women

&Women empowerment

Gender approach teaches students to be aware of the social issues around them especially regarding male

and female. Gender approach focuses on how society perceives men and women. What are the differences

between women in the past and the women in current society? How are their roles changes? Should there be

gender equality or gender equity? By implementing gender approach in literature, students are mould to face real problem which require their critical thinking. Thus, students will be sensitive to their surrounding

and develop more as holistic individual.

PRE-READING ACTIVITY

Introduction

The activity is using language-based approach as a medium to deliver the content of the text which focusing on gender approach. In this activity, students are introduced to traditional women’s roles versus modern women’s roles by using the characters in the story as representatives.

STEP 1

• Teacher draws two columns on the blackboard. The first column is written with “Traditional women’s roles” and the second column is written with “Modern women’s roles”.

STEP 2

• Teacher asks students about their opinions on what they understand about “Traditional women’s roles” and “Modern women’s roles”.

STEP 3

• Teacher shows six flash cards with words on them that show women’s roles and the name of characters from the short story. Teacher asks the students to stick the flash cards on the right columns.

WHILE READING ACTIVITY

Development

The activity focuses on the text of The Fruitcake Special. Students are divided into four groups. Each group can have 4 to 5 members. Two groups will be given questions based on traditional gender roles of women and the other two groups will be answering questions based on women empowerment.

QUESTION 1• What is expected by Momma and Aunt Mimi from Anna?

Explain why they have such expectation towards Anna. Give evidence from the text.

Expected answer: Anna is expected to get married soon because Momma and

Aunt Mimi believe that a woman should not grow old alone without a husband and without bearing children.

Textual evidence:I like my Aunt Mimi, but she simply can't mind her own business. She has wanted me to find a husband for ages. She didn't like the thought of me being single and having a career. She thought it wasn't natural for a twenty-seven-year-old woman like me not to be married.

`Actually, I'm twenty-seven, Aunt Mimi,' I said. She always got my age wrong. `So soon? And you're not married yet? Your mother was married when she was eighteen. Eighteen! And you were born when she was nineteen!' Aunt Mimi looked sad as she said this.

QUESTION 2

• What is the basic skill that Anna failed to posses as a woman? Give a reason for your answer why Anna should learn that particular skill and evidence from the text.

Expected answer: Anna does not possess cooking or baking skill. Anna

should learn how to bake because it is a norm that women’s place should be in the kitchen and she is expected to master all the skills regarding housework.

Textual evidence:`Anna,' said Aunt Mimi, `I've known you since you were born and you've never baked a cake in your life. Now you want to know how to bake a fruitcake. What's going on?'

QUESTION 3

• How Anna shows women empowerment in current society? Give evidence from the text.

Expected answer:

She is a career-oriented and independent woman.

Textual evidence:I was a chemist at the Amos Cosmetics factory in New Jersey, USA, trying to design a new perfume when it happened.

QUESTION 4

• How does Anna deal with the embarrassing and awkward experience regarding the fight at the French Restaurant that involved Mr. Amos, the waiter and Sabina? How does she shows women empowerment in her action and give evidence from the text.

Expected answer:

She decided to quit her job as a chemist at Amos cosmetics factory and work in the factory that produces her favouriteperfume. Anna shows women empowerment by able to make choice on her own and quit her job with dignity.

Textual evidence:It happened sometime later, shortly after I had begun to work at the factory where they made Intrigue.

POST-READING ACTIVITY

Conclusion

The post reading activity encourages the students to be creative in showing of what they have learned throughout the lesson.

• In group of four, students have to act out “ the new Anna” after she quit her job at the Amos Cosmetics factory and decide if she is getting married with Armstrong or not. Students are expected to be able to reflect issues regarding gender roles and women empowerment in their acting. They are given 5 minutes to produce their sketch.