Chapter 2

Pre-Read Activity:
The big question of chapter 2 is whether or not women are valuable.  Do women have inherent value?  Does the very fact that they are a woman make them especially precious?  If not, then they have nothing to lose.  If so, then anything less than the highest respect and care is a loss for them.  Before asking students to consider the questions of "Are women valuable?" and "Do they usually receive the respect they deserve?", you might try this activity:

     Hand each student a rock and a small folded note with a description of the rock.  On half of the notes, explain to the student that what they have is just an ordinary rock.  On the other half of the notes, explain that the rock contains a diamond that only needs to be cut out and polished to become a spectacular gem. Ask the class to pretend that the statement on their paper is true in answering the following question: 

Would you sell your rock to me for $10? 

     Ask students to raise their hand if they would be willing to sell their rock.  Lead a discussion among students about why they think $10 would be cheating them or an extremely good deal.  Let the students discover for themselves that their rocks are different, and have a wildly different inherent value.  Once they have discovered this, turn the discussion to helping them understand that what they "settle" for in a relationship depends on how they value themselves.  If you realize that you are valuable, then an abusive partner is not a good deal.  If you have no sense of self worth, then you might think the same abusive relationship is the best deal you could get.  

The most important thing a person can do to find happiness in a relationship is to find value in themselves, first.

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Pre-Read Question:
The chapter begins with four statements.  Present these to students beforehand and ask them whether they agree or disagree with each statement.

1. Love conquers all. All you need is love. Love is all that matters. There is a dozen ways of phrasing this, but no matter how you phrase it, it is still wrong.
2. Some men are Jerks, but behind each Jerk is a long line of Knights in Shining Armor just waiting to rescue a damsel in distress.
3. Even the depraved, carnal man will change if he falls in love with the right girl.
4. In return for men giving women chocolate, flowers, compliments, dinner, etc., women should give men sex.