Women’s Resistance
This lesson examines stories of women who helped people during the Holocaust. We will consider themes of resistance, personal narrative, and intersectionality.
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
- identify ways that women resisted during the Holocaust.
- discuss how learning about resistance improves our understanding of the Holocaust.
Guiding Questions
- How did women resist during the Holocaust?
- How does understanding resistance broaden our knowledge of the Holocaust?
Introduction
Begin with a think-pair-share discussion prompt.
- How did women have a positive impact on victims targeted by the Holocaust?
Have some discussion ideas ready in case students are struggling.
Lesson Activities
Lena Küchler-Silberman
Have students read Lena’s story in pairs or small groups. Students should discuss the questions after reading, being prepared to share ideas with the class.
- How does Lena’s story tell you more about the lives of women during the Holocaust?
- How does Lena embody and combat notions of womanhood in the mid-20th century?
- Why is it important for people to know Lena’s story?
- How does Lena’s story highlight the resistance of Jewish women during the Holocaust?
- Why is it important that we learn about resistance and victimization during the Holocaust?
Complete Infographic
Students will add to their infographics, focusing on how women resisted the Holocaust. Students will include what they have learned about how resistance can combat victimization experienced due to intersecting marginalized identities. Refer to the infographic template so students know what they are expected to include.
Conclusion
Students will expand on the ideas presented in their infographic by writing an op-ed piece.
An op-ed is a form of personal essay in which you use arguments to convince the audience of the correctness of your opinion in order to change their behaviours and beliefs. In an op-ed you try to appeal to your readers’ emotions, intellect, and core beliefs. Because an op-ed presents your own beliefs, it must be written from your point of view.
In this op-ed, students need to comment on each of the three major topics in the section: Emmie’s story, intersectionality, and women’s resistance. How do these three topics illuminate new understandings about the Holocaust?
Students should aim for between 400–500 words on this subject. This is approximately one page of typed writing. Students need to be efficient and concise in their arguments.
Support Materials
Handout: Lena Kuchler-Silberman
Handout: Intersectionality Infographic Template
Presentation outline on Women’s Resistance (optional)
