Women’s life experiences have offered unique opportunities for intercultural exchanges both historically and today. This section contains an overview essay noting some of the ways women have connected with each other across cultural boundaries.

Interspersed in the essay are classroom activities suggestions. The activities can be used to:

• challenge stereotypes about the “exotic other.”
  
  
• explore immigrant and national issues of identity.
  
  
• demonstrate ways to connect around common interests in the classroom and beyond.

Connecting Across Cultural Borders: Past and Present - Essay

Activities:

Women and Veiling: Two Admiring Views- Reading

Self Portrait by Theoung Mim - Art Analysis:

Ethnic Mirrors by Eliane Cristina Testa- Art Analysis

“The Ideal......” “Who is......?” - Identity Awareness Discussion

“No Longer the Other” - “Child of the Americas” - Poem Analysis

Quotable Women for Peace - Primary Source Analysis and Research

Organizing for Intercultural Dialog - Web Research

The Solidarity Quilt - Art and Craft Activity

Circles of Connectedness - Finding Classroom Connections