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: Pair Up + Discuss [7/20]

[identity profile] likes-chicken.livejournal.com 2009-07-20 04:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Hurley went over next to Ino, despite a little hesitation.

"Hey, want to partner up?"
intraspective: (badass glasses girl)

Re: Pair Up + Discuss [7/20]

[personal profile] intraspective 2009-07-20 04:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"Fortune favours the brave?" she teased, raising her eyebrows but nudging the chair. "Sit sit."

Re: Pair Up + Discuss [7/20]

[identity profile] likes-chicken.livejournal.com 2009-07-20 05:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Hurley sat down. "So, uhhh, gender. Stuff."
intraspective: (challenge me i dare you)

Re: Pair Up + Discuss [7/20]

[personal profile] intraspective 2009-07-20 05:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Ino very kindly didn't roll her eyes at him. See? She was totally tactful.

Only not really, most of the time.

"Gender stuff," she said, a bit dryly. "Boys tend to try to protect girls?"

Which she was oh-so-thrilled about really.

Re: Pair Up + Discuss [7/20]

[identity profile] likes-chicken.livejournal.com 2009-07-20 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, and... holding doors open for them, and stuff," Hurley said.
intraspective: (talking in class)

Re: Pair Up + Discuss [7/20]

[personal profile] intraspective 2009-07-20 05:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"So," she said, determined to get something out of him. "Why do you think guys do that?"

Re: Pair Up + Discuss [7/20]

[identity profile] likes-chicken.livejournal.com 2009-07-20 05:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"My mom always told me you were supposed to," Hurley said. "It might be, like... a strength thing? Like... you're supposed to help the women, cause you're supposed to be stronger or something."
intraspective: (either way thoughtful)

Re: Pair Up + Discuss [7/20]

[personal profile] intraspective 2009-07-20 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
She tapped her pen against the desk. "Do you think men ought to do all of that?"

Re: Pair Up + Discuss [7/20]

[identity profile] likes-chicken.livejournal.com 2009-07-20 06:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, holding doors open for anyone is just... nice," Hurley said. "But to do it just cause they're a girl is kinda dumb, maybe?"
intraspective: (dorktastic)

Re: Pair Up + Discuss [7/20]

[personal profile] intraspective 2009-07-20 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Ino gave him a shrug, and wrinkled her nose cheerfully at him. "You tell me," she said, "I'm no boy."

Re: Pair Up + Discuss [7/20]

[identity profile] likes-chicken.livejournal.com 2009-07-20 07:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hey, but you're a girl. I figure... you try to treat people how they want to be treated, you know?"
intraspective: (Default)

Re: Pair Up + Discuss [7/20]

[personal profile] intraspective 2009-07-20 07:22 pm (UTC)(link)
"But you can't know how everyone wants to be treated," she said lightly. "So you've got to draw the line somewhere and hope for the best, right?"

Re: Pair Up + Discuss [7/20]

[identity profile] likes-chicken.livejournal.com 2009-07-20 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, I guess," Hurley said. "But I figure, you can't get in too much trouble being nice to people."