This winter I taught SSW 122 Social Welfare in Canada using a Team-Based Learning format. There were four modules and each module included an in-class assignment. The topic of module 3 was “‘Na̱myut (Family): Women, children, and Indigenous people.” For the in-class assignment the focus was on “women, carework, pay equity, and policy” and I introduced the students to this assignment with this letter:

“Dear Policy Makers, 

We have a problem. Women are not earning as much money as men, even for working at the same jobs. At the same time women are responsible for a disproportionate amount of childcare, eldercare, and other care work in the home. We also lack a comprehensive national and universal childcare program, which further impacts women who need to stay home to care for their children, preventing them from earning income, building their career, and saving for retirement. Remember that Indigenous women, women of colour, and women with disabilities are often impacted by these issues differently and more severely due to intersectional oppressions. Be bold! Don’t be afraid to dream and think outside the box! Remember you can use Chapter 5 of our textbook as a resource. 

Task: 

I would like you to develop a 1-3 page policy proposal summarizing a policy you would like to develop to address one or all of these issues: pay equity, care work, childcare. 

Use the template provided to complete your policy proposal.”

The students completed the in-class assignment on teams during an online class in shared documents. The two exemplars below illustrate some of the fantastic ideas they came up with.

SSW-122-Heartfelt-heroes-Women-equity-and-care-work-policy-proposal

SSW-122-Sprinkles-Women-equity-and-care-work-policy-proposal

Image credit: Blue sky and cloud image by Komiko SHIMIZU from Unsplash.com