http://doesnt-vomit.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] doesnt-vomit.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2009-07-20 08:33 am
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Sexual Anthropology, Monday, 7/20, Period 3

"Today," Brennan said, as she passed out posterboard and markers to the students, "we're talking about gender roles, identity and stereotypes. Those are really big subjects; I can't do much more than glance at the stereotypes here in class today. If you're interested and want to keep reading, I can recommend some books after class."

"Gender roles are the set of perceived behavioral norms associated particularly with males or females, in a given social group or system. It can be a form of division of labor by gender, as in classic hunter/gatherer societies in which men go out to hunt and women watch children and gather fruits and grains, or in a modern single-income family in which the woman stays at home and the man acts as a breadwinner. Almost all societies, to a certain effect, have a gender/sex system, although the components and workings of this system vary markedly from society to society." She went on to briefly review current research into the establishment and reinforcement of gender roles in society.

"Gender identity, meanwhile, is how a person defines him or herself in terms of gender. While this usually matches physical gender, some people identify as transgendered -- a male brain in a female body, or the reverse -- or as neither male nor female. Someone who believes their mental gender does not match their physical gender may be said to have gender identity disorder."

"The last thing we want to talk about, and the basis of your exercise today, is gender stereotypes. Stereotypes are simplistic generalizations about the roles of individuals in groups that help to feed into traditional gender roles. A simple gender stereotype is 'boys don't cry' or 'women can't drive.'"

"What I would like for you to do today is, working in pairs, come up with lists of male and female stereotypes and what reinforces them. For example, if your stereotype is that women are bad drivers, you might write down that popular jokes give that message. At the end of class we'll probably handwavily compare the lists and see where they differ and where they overlap. I'm around if you have questions."

Re: Talk to Brennan [7/20]

[identity profile] guardianborn.livejournal.com 2009-07-21 12:34 am (UTC)(link)
During the course of flirtingdiscussing the assignment, (http://community.livejournal.com/fandomhigh/2174303.html?thread=141457503&style=mine#t141457503) a specific question came up that only the teacher's knowledge could answer.

Rose approached her, a smile twitching at her lips. "Professor? I had a question. Would having dinner with a person be called a 'courting ritual?'"

Re: Talk to Brennan [7/20]

[identity profile] guardianborn.livejournal.com 2009-07-21 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
"Social," she said promptly. And now she was going to just have to brazen this out. "And I think he's pretty hot, yeah."

Re: Talk to Brennan [7/20]

[identity profile] guardianborn.livejournal.com 2009-07-21 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
Rose stared. "...safe? There aren't even any cars on the island."

She paused. Oh yeah, that's so not what was meant. She wasn't blushing. She totally wasn't blushing really.

"Yep, stay safe. Got it. Thanks."

And Rose spun around to head back towards Jack.