LGBTQIA+ and Women's Rights in the U.S. and EU
- Balance Learning Resources
- Jun 1
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 2
Grade Level: 6-12
Duration of videos: 3 minutes & 3 minutes, 12 seconds
Themes:
Equality in education, employment, and leadership
Protection from violence and discrimination
Legal and cultural change through activism
Intersectionality and identity
Democracy, freedom, and justice
The right to self-expression and dignity
Description:
This lesson introduces students to how the United States and European Union have worked to protect and advance the rights of women and LGBTQIA+ individuals. Students will explore historical milestones, legal protections, and ongoing struggles for equality, while learning why these rights are fundamental to free and fair societies. By comparing the progress made in Western democracies to the conditions in countries where these rights are restricted or denied, students will gain a deeper understanding of global human rights and the importance of civic engagement, empathy, and truth.
Lesson Plan:
🎯 OBJECTIVES (SWBAT):
Identify key gender and LGBTQIA+ rights in the U.S. and Europe
Understand and discuss the historical and current status of these rights
Analyze how Western democracies promote and protect human rights
Compare conditions in free societies with those where rights are denied
Evaluate how laws, culture, and activism shape civil rights
Reflect on how they can contribute to a more just and inclusive world
🧰 MATERIALS:
Smartboard/projector
Internet access
Videos (linked below)
Printed discussion questions or digital slides
Chart paper or shared digital workspace
Markers or devices
LESSON ACTIVITIES:
1. 🔓 Introduction: 4 Corners Activity (10 minutes)
Post the following statement on the board: "Laws and culture shape what life is like for all people—especially for women and LGBTQIA+ individuals."
Label four corners:
A: Agree
B: Disagree
C: Agree and Disagree
D: Not Sure / No Opinion
Ask students to choose a corner based on their view, then discuss their thinking with peers in that corner.
Discussion:
What does it mean to treat everyone fairly?
Why do some people have to fight for rights that others already have?
What are human rights, and who gets to define them?
Explain that the lesson will explore how the U.S. and EU protect women's and LGBTQIA+ rights—and why these rights matter for all people.
Watch and Discuss
Video 1: A Global History of Women's Rights (3:00)
Discussion Questions:
What rights do women currently have in the U.S. and EU?
How and when were these rights achieved? Who made it possible?
What challenges did women face—and still face—in gaining these rights?
Why do women’s rights matter for all of society, not just women?
How do women’s rights in the U.S. and EU compare to those in other regions? How do women’s rights in the U.S. and EU compare to those in other regions?
Video 2: LGBTQ+ Rights Around the Globe (3:12)
Discussion Questions:
What LGBTQIA+ rights are protected in the U.S. and EU today?
What legal or social victories have helped secure those rights?
What challenges do LGBTQIA+ people still face?
Why are these rights important for everyone, not just LGBTQIA+ people?
How does LGBTQIA+ life in the U.S. and EU compare to countries where being gay or transgender is illegal or dangerous?
Group Activity: What Does Freedom Look Like? (20 minutes)
In small groups, students create a visual poster or slide presentation with three key sections:
What Rights Do People Have? (women + LGBTQIA+)
What Makes a Society Free?
How Can We Help Others Get These Rights Too?
Groups present or do a gallery walk to share ideas.
4. Research Projects (Homework or In-Class Option)
Task: Students create a brief presentation, poster, or short written profile on the person’s life, legacy, and impact.
Women’s Rights Figures (choose one):
Susan B. Anthony
Sojourner Truth
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Emmeline Pankhurst (UK)
Simone de Beauvoir (France)
Clara Zetkin (Germany)
LGBTQ+ Rights Figures (choose one):
Harvey Milk
Marsha P. Johnson
Sylvia Rivera
Magnus Hirschfeld (Germany)
Roberta Cowell (UK)
Petra De Sutter (Belgium)
Reflection/Assessment (10 minutes)
Students respond to one or more of the following on a index card to be handed in:
"One right that I am very surprised women and LGBTQIA+ communities had to fight so hard for is............
“One right I’m thankful for is…”
“One thing I want to help change in the world is…”
“How can laws help protect people’s freedom?”
Conclusion:
Western democracies have made major progress in protecting women's and LGBTQIA+ rights—but that progress came through hard work, resistance, and courage. These rights are not guaranteed everywhere in the world, and even in free societies, they can be challenged. By learning this history, students gain the tools to recognize injustice, protect freedom, and build a world that honors dignity for all.
