1. Theology of the Body for Teens
Seventh Grade Curriculum 6.3 (Girls)
To Use, or Not to Use? That is the Question

2. Bellwork Read Genesis 1:26-27
Then God Said: Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness…God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Make a two column chart of what you would say are masculine traits and what are feminine traits.
I am looking for opinions.
You may want to consider differences between your parents as a starting point.
Discuss.

3. Opening Prayer
O Lord, you have probed me, and you know me: you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar.
Truly you have formed my inmost being; you know me in my mother’s womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.
Probe me, o God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts;
See if my way is crooked, and lead me in the way of old.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever.
Amen.
- From Psalm 139

4. Males and Females: Differences in Development
Watch Dr. Leonard Sax: Neuropsychologist
(to 4:09)
Brain development: in girls, language area develops first; in boys, spatial relations and geometry
Reaction to Stress: in girls, impairs learning; in boys, enhances learning
Brain “wiring”: in girls, emotion is processed in same area as language; in boys, two are separate therefore harder to talk about emotions

5. The Nuts and Bolts of Complementarity of the Sexes
Both male and female are made in the image of God.
Men and women are equal in the sight of God.
When taken together, their distinct differences (“attributes”) reflect the nature of God more fully.
The differences between males and females should develop freely.
The differences enrich husband and wife relationships and create greater union.
Together they can become more fully human.

6. Exploring Complementarity
-Take notes on your group’s assigned topic:
Group 1: Why can we talk about attributes that are more typical of a male or a female?
Group 2: What does complementarity permit?
Group 3: What are feminine attributes?
Group 4: What are masculine attributes?
Play the following video to 8:45: