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 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.