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Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths. Unit 1: The Myth of the Model Family. What is Critical Thinking.
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Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths Unit 1: The Myth of the Model Family
What is Critical Thinking • We make critical choices / decisions daily depending on our priorities and values. Consider how a larger, more complete definition of critical thinking can assist you in engaging the topics for this class in a more complex manner.
CRITICAL THINKING • Probes for motives and causes • Values points of view different from your own • Strengthens, refines, enlarges, reshapes your ideas in light of new ideas • Encourages us to be active learners • Enables us to shape knowledge
Examining Cultural Myths via a Critical Thinking Lens • CULTURAL MYTHS: • According to our text, Rereading America, “Culture shapes the way we think; it tells us what “makes sense” (Colombo et al 3). Myths – reflect the important cultural beliefs of a society
CULTURAL MYTHS cont.. • Help us understand our place in the world; our place as it is prescribes by or culture. • Take for example, the strict gender roles men and women are supposed to play in our society • Reflections of cultural beliefs come with expectations. • For example: Men are the breadwinners, working outside the home while Women remain at home rearing the children.
CULTURAL MYTHS cont.. • When something violates the expectations that such myths create, it may even be called un-natural, immoral, or perverse. • Therefore, how do we move beyond the cultural myths which could become obstacles to critical thinking?
Moving beyond the cultural myths… • Questions the myths of dominant culture • Learning to recognize contradictions – essential for critical thinking
Harmony at Home (page17) The Myth of the Model Family *Promotional photo of The Donna Reed Show • Read pages 17- 20, paying close attention to the terminology and concepts introduced. Specifically to the way in which “family,” “traditional family,” and “family values” are defined.