Journal 7 | Transformative—Undertsanding Transgenderism's New Visibility

"Transgender" is an umbrella term used to describe people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. For trans people, the sex they were were born and their own internal gender identity may not align—what the medical community now refers to as "gender dysphoria." And some, may go so far as to "transition" to become their opposite sex. Others, may remain their birth sex, but identify as various genders (e.g. queergender, non-binary, gender fluid, etc.). Encouraged by the success of the contemporary gay rights movement, many trans Americans, specifically those who've transitioned, have become both more visible and vocal in the past 20 years. Trans politicians, athletes, celebrities, and members of the military are fighting for acceptance in American society. But just as gay Americans were met with resistance, so too are this country's trans population. Conservatives have met the rise in trans visibility with anti-trans bathroom laws, weakened job protection, limitations on healthcare access, and bans on military service. But even conservatives are facing opposition to their opposition. American pop culture, for example, now routinely features pro-trans celebrities and messaging. And younger Americans are generally more accepting of their trans peers than their older counterparts. But where will all of this lead? What does the future hold for trans rights? Will American society ever fully accept trans people?

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "Transgender Lives: Your Stories" | New York Times
• "Things Not to Say to a Trans Person" | BBC Three
• "Transgender People: 10 Common Myths" | Vox
• "Even as Gay Rights Battles are Won, Transgender People Continue to Face Obstacles" | Los Angeles Times
• "Trans Rights: Americans Still Divided on Gender Identity" | Forbes
• "Ask Matt: Why Do Trans People Make Me Uncomfortable?" | TheTransAdvocate

Required:

• MLA Style
• Works cited page
• 1 page in length

Due: Wed 4.4/Thu 4.5

M3W4 | 3.26-29

"He was careful not to hurt her. 

She could feel how soft she felt to him. 

She could feel herself through him. Her skin. 

The way her body existed only where 

he touched her. The rest of her was smoke."

 —Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things

Week 4: 3.26-29
No class: Spring Break

Upcoming:

Week 5: 4.2-5

Read: AMERICAN—Chapter Two: 14 - Chapter Three: 15

Class: Reading discussion; Presentations

Due: JOURNAL 7

Gender News | 3.20

• Why Jessica Jones' female rage is so compelling these days | Slate
• Here's what happens when a photographer stages intimate scenes with her Tinder dates | Business Insider
• Are we hitting a low point for high heels? | Eastern Daily Press
• Scientists: New male birth control pills show promise | USA Today
• Former FLOTUS Michelle Obama's had to be moved to larger space to accommodate crowds | HuffPost
• Rosa Rodriguez of New Jersey, under threat of suspension, is the single person to walk out of her school to protest gun violence | ABC News

M3W3 | 3.19-22

Nothing like you've ever known
That's the life I thought that I was gonna show you
Lonely girls believe such things

That's one happy ever after that I owe you

Married man always looking at your watch
I wanted to spend more time than twelve till two
Loving you
 

And nothing like it should have been
Every time I think it's gonna be the last time
Each time I expect to much
Being wrong can get to be a painful pastime

—Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black, 

"Nothing Like You've Ever Known"

Week 3: 3.19-22

Read: AMERICAN—Introduction - Chapter One: 13

Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Watch: GTFO (2015)

Due: CRITICAL ESSAY

Upcoming:

Week 4: 3.26-29

No class: Spring Break

Critical Essay | "Trump That Bitch": Sexism, Misogyny, and the 2016 US Presidential Election

sexism: n. Prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.

misogyny: n. Hatred or dislike of, or prejudice against, women.

When Hillary Clinton had to leave a 9/11 memorial for “overheating,” the media was correct to report it. But when news came that she was, in fact, suffering from pneumonia, a frenzy began. Not surprisingly, Donald Trump seized on the news, raising questions about his opponent's health and stamina. The media and pollsters took his lead, soon asking voters whether or not Clinton’s health and stamina should be considered factors—most said yes. Consequently, she took her biggest hit in the polls up to that point. (Lost in the fervor: After quietly being diagnosed with pneumonia, Hillary continued campaigning for several days.) Later, when Trump partially released his health records (on Dr. Oz, no less), it was revealed he weighed over 230 lbs., which technically made him obese at his height. He also disclosed that he did not exercise regularly, took medication for high cholesterol, and consumed a steady diet of fast food. However, unlike Clinton, there was little scrutiny of Trump’s overall health. Certainly, his stamina was never really questioned. To Clinton supporters, this was another example of what they consider her biggest obstacle with voters: that she’s a woman. Admittedly, Clinton came with more baggage than the typical presidential candidate, but she was also one of the most qualified to ever seek the office. Nonetheless, Clinton was the target of vitriol the likes of which we’d never seen in American politics. For example, a majority of Americans were content to label her both a liar and untrustworthy, despite political fact-checkers saying otherwise. Criticism of Clinton was so intense that even her voice was criticized. She took fire from the left, too. Bernie Sander's supporters often chanted that Clinton was a "whore" and threw dollar bills at her (They claim it was not misogynistic, but because Clinton was beholden to Wall Street). From the right, she was also routinely disparaged as “entitled” and “smug”—both charges rarely lobbed at male politicians. From Republican chants of “Lock her up!” at their national convention to the “Trump that bitch” refrain popular on pro-Trump signs and shirts, opposition to Clinton went far beyond disagreements over policy. For many who opposed Clinton, it wasn't about her policies, anyway—it was about her.

Using at least two of the articles below (as well as one of your own), critically analyze the degree to which the opposition to Hillary Clinton was rooted in sexism and misogyny.

Choose two of the following in your analysis:

• “Opinion: Hillary Clinton Lost Because of Sexism” (CNN) 
• "A Boy at a Trump Rally Called Clinton a ‘Bitch.’ That’s Not an Accident.” (Think Progress)
• "America's Profound Gender Anxiety" (Atlantic) 
• "Study: Sexism a Powerful Predictor for Some Trump Voters" (University of Florida) 
• “Does Hillary Clinton Face a Different Standard for Honesty?” (Washington Post) 
• “For the Love of God, Let Hillary Have a Bit of Cake” (Jezebel) 
• “The Sexist Double Standards Hurting Hillary Clinton” (Washington Post) 
• “Why All the Hillary Haters?” (Sacramento Bee)
• “Why Would Anyone Call Hillary a Bitch?” (TheBroadSide)

Required:

• MLA Style
• Works cited page
• Approximately 750 words

Due: Wed 3.21/Thu 3.22

Gender News | 3.13

• Maine Republican candidate calls Parkland high school shooting survivor and activist a "skinhead lesbian" | Daily Mail  
• Stephanie Clifford, also known as porn star Stormy Daniels, discussed with her affair Trump in radio interview in 2007 | CNN
• Male Reddit users shares their stories of being raped by women | Reddit [NSFW]
• Study: How misconceptions and stereotypes steer young girls away from science and technology | Geekwire
• Lynda Carter, TV's original Wonder Woman: #metoo | CNN
• Also ... Kristen Wiig's surprise casting as Cheetah in the Wonder Woman sequel | Forbes 

Journal 6 | Bosom Buddies—On America's Breast Obsession

It is hard to argue that we do not live in a breast-obsessed society. Americans seemingly can't get enough of them. 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 does such an obsession lead to the dehumanization of women's bodies?

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "The Breast of Advertising" (Adweek)
• "25 Real Photos of Women's Breasts" (Refinery) [NSFW]
• "Why Are Americans Obsessed with Breasts Yet Public Breastfeeding is Controversial?" (ThoughtCatalogue)
• "New Theory on Why Men Love Breasts" (Live Science)
• "Women have Boobs—Get over It" (AlterNet)
• "America’s Sexualization of Breasts is so Pervasive Even Other Women Think Public Breastfeeding is Gross" (Quartz)

Required:

• MLA Style
• Works cited page
• 1 page in length

Due: Wed 3.14/Thu 3.15

M3W2 | 3.12-15

"Now, I'm not going to deny that I was aware of 

your beauty. But the point is, this has nothing to 

do with your beauty. As I got to know you, I began 

to realise that beauty was the least of your qualities. 

I became fascinated by your goodness. I was drawn 

in by it. I didn't understand what was happening to 

me. And it was only when I began to feel actual, 

physical pain every time you left the room that it 

finally dawned on me: I was in love, for the first time 

in my life. I knew it was hopeless, but that didn't matter 

to me. And it's not that I want to have you. All I want is 

to deserve you. Tell me what to do. Show me how to 

behave. I'll do anything you say."

—Choderlos de Laclos, Dangerous Liaisons

 
Week 2: 3.12-15

Read: eR—“Why Would Anyone Call Hillary a Bitch?” (TheBroadSide), “Why All the Hillary Haters?” (Sacramento Bee), “The Sexist Double Standards Hurting Hillary Clinton” (Washington Post), “For thenLove of God, Let Hillary Have a Bit of Cake” (Jezebel), “Opinion: Hillary Clinton Lost Because of Sexism” (CNN)

Class: Presentations; Reading discussions

Due: JOURNAL 6

Upcoming:

Weeks 3: 3.19-22

Read: AMERICAN—Introduction - Chapter One: 13

Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Watch: GTFO (2015)

Due: CRITICAL ESSAY

Week 4: 3.26-29

No class: Spring Break

Gender News | 3.5

• Former FLOTUS Michelle Obama meets two-year-old mesmerized by her portrait | CNN
• Here is Francis McDormand's Best Actress acceptance speech at the 2018 Oscars | HuffPo
• Italian male escort exposes three dozen Vatican priests who utilized his services | Newsweek
•  First male victim of Dr. Nassar to come forward: "Rot in hell" | HuffPo
• Reese Witherspoon debuts line for plus-size women | Glamour
• Mattel to release historical female figures lines for Barbie | NBC News

M3W1 | 3.5-8

Some boys kiss me
Some boys hug me
I think they're okay
If they don't give me proper credit
I just walk away

They can beg and they can plead
But they can't see the light—that's right
'Cause the boy with the cold hard cash

is always Mister Right

'Cause we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl

—Madonna, "Material Girl"

M3W1: 3.5-8

Read: eR—“A Boy at a Trump Rally Called Clinton a ‘Bitch.’ That’s Not an Accident.” (Think Progress), “Does Hillary Clinton Face a Different Standard for Honesty?” (Washington Post), "Study: Sexism a Powerful Predictor for Some Trump Voters" (University of Florida)

Class: Presentations; Reading discussions

Due: JOURNAL 5

Upcoming:

Week 2: 3.12-15

Read: eR—“Why Would Anyone Call Hillary a Bitch?” (TheBroadSide), “Why All the Hillary Haters?” (Sacramento Bee), “The Sexist Double Standards Hurting Hillary Clinton” (Washington Post), “For thenLove of God, Let Hillary Have a Bit of Cake” (Jezebel), “Opinion: Hillary Clinton Lost Because of Sexism” (CNN)

Class: Presentations; Reading discussions

Due: JOURNAL 6