ALD 327/MAS 374: Sociocultural Influences on Learning

Week 8: Gender, Sexual Identities, and Schools

Welcome, Attendance, Announcements (5 min) Institutions and Sexism (10 min) Killing Us Softly (45 min.) Gender Questions/Activity (15 min.) It’s Elementary Clips (15 min.) Sexual Identity Questions/Activity (30 min.)

Agenda: Week 8

Welcome, Attendance, Announcements(5 min)

Institutions (5 min)

“A large-scale and established set of laws, customs, practices and organizations that govern the political and social life of a people.” (p. 80)

“Institutions produce, circulate, and maintain the dominant cultures norms, values, definitions, language, policies and ideologies…”

“Institutions are directly connected to (and reflective of) larger dynamics (interests, power relations, fears) of a given society” (example: UT)

Signifier (5 min)

“A sign or symbol that conveys specific cultural meaning. Signifiers connect to larger discourses that work together to construct that meaning” (p. 88)

Sexism: Global Context (5 min)

Women and girls comprise 80% of the 12.3 million adults and children in forced labor. (p. 80). Includes trafficking, prostitution, and sweatshop labor in the US.

Of 3 billion women worldwide, about 1 billion are affected by gender-based violence the, “most pervasive yet least recognized human rights in the world.”

“War rape” is increasingly common (Rwanda, Bosnia, etc.)

Sexism: National Context (5 min)

1 in 4 U.S. women will experience domestic violence and 1 in 6 has experienced rape. 300,000/year

1.3 million U.S. women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year

Women are underemployed, the majority do unpaid work at home, and are overrepresented in minimum wage positions

Women in the U.S. and Canada earn 65-80% of their male counterparts

What Makes Sexism Hard to See?

Sexism in Advertising and Media

How do representations of women in media relate to the power that they exercise in U.S. society?

Killing Us Softly (2010)

In groups, discuss and answer the questions on the handout

Activity: Gender and Sexual Identities Questions (10m)

1. What is the difference between gender and sex?

Discuss especially what we need to consider when talking about gender.

2. According to DeMarrais, what does gender have to do with ideals of beauty, self-esteem, patriarchy?

3. According to the readings how is gender bias and gender equity in education a complicated issue? Use at least 6 examples from the readings to support your answer.

4. How is gender both a male and female issue? What are some of the new gender challenges that we need to consider according to both of the articles. Discuss at least 6 examples from the readings assigned

Questions: Gender (10 min)

1. What is the culture of heteronormativity in schools? What is heterosexism?

2. Describe different forms of peer harassment of LGBTQ students and anti-gay abuse in school.  3. Explain various ways that LGBTQ students are systematically excluded in schools? 4. Describe various things schools can do to help LGBTQ students and all student develop positive self identities.

5. What is the impact of “multiple marginality” for students of color in terms of race, class, gender, and sexuality?

Questions: Sexual Identities (10 min)

1. What is the difference between gender and sex? Discuss especially what we need to consider when talking about gender.

2. According to DeMarrais, what does gender have to do with ideals of beauty, self-esteem, patriarchy?

Questions: Gender (10 min)

Gender: Social or cultural categories used to refer to men and women. Refers to physiology and learned behaviors and understandings (DeMarrais, 2000). Gender is theorized as something that is both socially constructed and performed. (Judith Butler).

Sex: A “visible and usually permanent identifying attribute acquired at birth, refers to physical characteristics associated with being male or female.” (DeMarrais, 2000)

Questions: Gender (10 min)

Questions: Gender (10 min)

Gender Performativity and “Half-drag” portraits

Is sex always “visible,” “permanent” and based on “physical characteristics?”

Questions: Gender (10 min)

Patriarchy: Literally “the rule of fathers,” feminist theory extends it beyond the family to include all systems of male dominance through political, economic, and social structures. Patriarchy is a social construction which feminists believe can be overcome through revealing and critically analyzing it’s various manifestations.

Tickner, Ann J. (2001). "Patriarchy". Routledge Encyclopedia of International Political Economy: Entries P-Z. Taylor & Francis. pp. 1197–1198

Questions: Gender (10 min)

3. According to the readings how is gender bias and gender equity in education a complicated issue? Use at least 6 examples from the readings assigned to support your answer.

4. How is gender both a male and female issue? What are some of the new gender challenges that we need to consider according to both of the articles. Discuss at least 6 examples from the readings assigned

Questions: Gender (10 min)

Questions: Gender (10 min)

Anderson, Jenny. “Widespread Sexual Harassment in Grades 7 to 12 Found in Study.” The New York Times, November 7, 2011, sec. Education. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/07/education/widespread-sexual-harassment-in-grades-7-to-12-found-in-study.html.

Gender Activity (10 min)

Male (Normal) Male (Deviant)

Female (Normal)

Female(Deviant)

-Bro-Dude-Athletic-Macho-Tall-Muscular-Handsome-Brave-Tough-Provider-Stud

-Sensitive-Fag-Gay-Girl-Effeminate-Expressive-Fairy-Lame-Artsy-Flamboyant-Creative

-Sensitive-Sweet-Submissive-Caring-Domestic-Hottie/Beautiful-Quiet-Mom/Mother-Gentle-Calm

-Slut-Lesbian-Butch-Bitch-Independent-Tomboy-Assertive-Dike-Naggy-Hormonal-Powerful

1. What is the culture of heteronormativity in

schools? What is heterosexism?

2. Describe different forms of peer harassment of LGBTQ students and anti-gay abuse in school.

3. Explain various ways that LGBTQ students are systematically excluded in schools?

Questions: Sexual Identities (10 min)

Heteronormativity “…practices and…institutions that legitimize and privilege heterosexuality and heterosexual relationships as fundamental and ‘natural’ within society” (Garcia, p. 522)Heterosexism “…a term analogous to sexism and racism, describing an ideological system that denies, denigrates, and stigmatizes any nonheterosexual form of behavior, identity, relationship, or community (e.g. Don’t Ask Don’t Tell).” (Herek, 1990)

Source: Gregory M. Herek. "Definitions: Homophobia, Heterosexism, and Sexual Prejudice"

Questions: Sexual Identities (10 min)

4. Describe various things schools can do to help LGBTQ students and all student develop positive self identities.

5. What is the impact of “multiple marginality” for students of color in terms of race, class, gender, and sexuality?

Questions: Sexual Identities (10 min)

Intersectionality: the notion that sociocultural categories like gender, race, class, ability and other axes of identity interact on multiple and simultaneous levels, contributing to systematic inequality. (Crenshaw, 1991). Associated with black feminist thought and standpoint theory.

Questions: Sexual Identities (10 min)

Crenshaw, Kimberlé W. (1991). Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color, Stanford Law Review, Vol. 43, No. 6., pp. 1241–1299.

Matrix of Domination: The various intersections of social inequality that oppress and privilege people in different ways (Collins, 1986).

Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness and the Politics of Empowerment, ISBN 0-415-92484-7, by Patricia Hill Collins, 1990, 2000

Activity: Intersectionality

(10 min)

Race Class Gender Sexuality

1. 1. 1. 1.

2. 2. 2. 2.

3. 3. 3. 3.

Matrix of Domination:

Activity: Intersectionality

(10 min)

Race Class Gender Sexuality

1. White 1. Upper 1. Male 1. Heterosexual

2. 2. 2. 2.

3. 3. 3. 3.

4. 4. 4. 4.

Matrix of Domination:

Activity: Intersectionality

(10 min)

Race Class Gender Sexuality

1. White 1. Upper 1. Male 1. Heterosexual

2. Asian 2. Middle 2. Female 2. Bisexual

3. 3. 3. 3.

4. 4. 4. 4.

Matrix of Domination:

Activity: Intersectionality

(10 min)

Race Class Gender Sexuality

1. White 1. Upper 1. Male 1. Heterosexual

2. Asian 2. Middle 2. Female 2. Bisexual

3. Latino 3. Working 3. Intersex? 3. Homosexual

4. Black 4. Lower/Poor 4. Pansexual

Matrix of Domination (Examples):

Activity: Intersectionality

(10 min)

Race Class Gender Sexuality

1. White 1. Upper 1. Male 1. Heterosexual

2. Asian 2. Middle 2. Female 2. Bisexual

3. Latino 3. Working 3. Intersex? 3. Homosexual

4. Black 4. Lower/Poor 4. Pansexual

Trailer/Summary (4m)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWyj_OfQpnU

Elementary Gay Marriage Discussion (2.5m)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH5gfqC8V6g

High School Discussion (7m)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBzMBabVddY&feature=related

Film Context/Update on Kids (3.5m)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV_YYc7G4Iw

It’s Elementary (20 min)