ENGL 1A: Mind the Gap—Gender, Then and Now: April 2015

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Gender in the News 4.29.15

Bruce Jenner: "I am a woman" (USA Today)
Conservative blogger: Bruce Jenner is a "sick and delusional man" (The Blaze)
SCOTUS hears arguments in landmark same-sex marriage cases (New York Times)
Hallmark includes mother and trans son in its #PutYourHeartToPaper campaign (Towleroad)
North Dakota Republican state senator outed after he is recognized soliciting men on Grindr (Guardian)
#whereisblackwidow: New campaign aims to bring more visibility to Marvel's most high-profile heroine (Refinery29)

Monday, April 27, 2015

Reflection 7-B: Crowning Achievements—The Cult of the Princess

Though America has no history of royalty, we are currently overrun with princesses. Specifically, we have been invaded by a pint-sized army of pink-clad and bejeweled little girls. Led by Disney's iconic female characters, young girls across the country are currently eating up all things princess. But along with this craze has come new concerns that this fascination with princesses, with its emphasis of appearance and passivity, is actually undermining girls. Some argue that girls are getting the message that fantasy, even romance, are more important that self-sufficiency and personal growth. Is princess play harmless fun or can it negatively impact a girl's self-esteem? Is there a middle ground? Can the princess motif be modified to better empower girls? Finally, if princesses are, indeed, harmful to girls in the long run, what would be a more suitable interest for them to pursue?

Include one of the following texts in your discussion:

Requirements:

Must be in MLA Style
Must be one full page in length
Must include a works cited page

Due: Wed. 5.6

Reflection 7-A: I Feel Pretty—Attractiveness in America

As Americans, we are all told that "beauty is only skin deep," and that "real beauty lies on the inside." We are told that, but the realities of our culture tell quite a different story. Beauty, as it turns out, is not only celebrated in America, but rewarded. Good looks can land a person preferential treatment at restaurants, on airplanes, even in court. It's almost as if beautiful people are allowed to live in a bubble. What do you feel are the benefits of being attractive in American society? Are good looking people treated more favorably than the general population? Finally, what, if any, downsides are there to being beautiful in America?

Include one of the following texts in your discussion:

Requirements:

Must be in MLA Style
Must be only one full page in length
Must include a works cited page

Due: We 05.04

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Week 15

“It hurts to let go. Sometimes it seems the harder you try to hold on to

something, or someone, the more it wants to get away. You feel like some
kind of criminal for having felt, for having wanted. For having wanted
to be wanted. It confuses you, because you think that your feelings were
wrong and it makes you feel so small because it's so hard to keep it inside
when you let it out and it doesn't coma back. You're left so alone that you
can't explain. Damn, there's nothing like that, is there? I've been there and
you have, too. You're nodding your head.”

—Henry Rollins, The Portable Henry Rollins

Week 15: Mo 4.27/We 4.29*

READ: PERFECT—“Seven: Love Me Tender” – Epilogue

Class: SHORT ANSWER RESPONSES; Quickwrite; Reading discussion; Presentations

Upcoming:
Week 16: Mo 5.4/We 5.6
Read: PERFECT—“Four: The ‘Oh, Mommy’ Moment” – “Six: God and the Details”
Class: Quickwrite; Reading discussion
Due: REFLECTION 7

*Mo 5.4: Women only—Guest lecturer TBA; We 5.6: Men only

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Gender in the News 4.21.15

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Week 14

“I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they

were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None
of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.”

―Jane Austen, Persuasion

Week 14: Mo 4.20/We 4.22

READ: DB—Short Story Pack: “What We Talk about When We Talk about Love” by Raymond Carver, “This Blessed House” by Jhumpa Lahiri; PERFECT—“One: Weddings 101” – “Three: Inventing the Traditionalesque”
Class: SHORT ANSWER RESPONSES; Quickwrite; Reading discussion; Presentations

Due: REFLECTION 6A and 6B

Upcoming:

Week 15: Mo 4.27/We 4.29*

Read: PERFECT—“Four: The ‘Oh, Mommy’ Moment” – “Six: God and the Details”

Class: Quickwrite; Reading discussion

Due: REFLECTION 7

*Mo 4.27: Women only—Guest lecturer TBA; We 4.29: Men only

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Reflection 06-B: Bosom Buddies—America's Breast Obsession

It is difficult to argue that we do not live in a breast-obsessed society. From advertising to porn, Americans can't seem to get enough of them, and thus, we are inundated daily. Yet, the American relationship with breasts is complicated. On beaches, for instance, American women are encouraged to display as much cleavage as possible, but if a nursing mother takes a breast out in public to feed an infant many of us suddenly become prudish. Why? And when did Americans reach the point that we so celebrate, even reward, augmentation? What messages are we sending women about embracing their natural selves? And how does all this attention to breasts affect young girls? As for men, how does growing up in a breast-obsessed culture affect their views of women and their bodies?

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

Requirements:

Must be in MLA Style
Must be one full page in length
Must include a works cited page

Due: We 4.22

Reflection 6-A: I Kissed a Girl—Lesbianism in Pop Culture

In recent years, lesbianism has become increasingly visible in American popular culture. In television, music, and film, it has seemingly reached a higher level of mainstream acceptance. Of course, lesbianism in the media has not always encountered total acceptance as its portrayals still carry with them an element of taboo. Add to this complaints from the lesbian community that their portrayal in popular culture is often "faux-lesbianism," defined by heterosexuals and crafted for the pleasure of men. Nonetheless, the past two decades has seen an exponential increase in lesbian imagery from Ellen DeGeneres to Orange is the New Black. Why have lesbians, or at least acts of lesbianism, become so much more prominent? And why hasn't society embraced male/male displays of sexuality in the same way? Finally, are we in an era in which its okay for heterosexual women to be open about their sexual appreciation for other women?

Include at least two of the following pieces in your discussion:

Requirements: