It's A Wrap

Well, summer 1 has flown by! I want to thank everyone for some of the best posts that I have read in my three years of teaching this course during summer 1. They were smart, insightful, creative, humorous and illustrated a strong motivation for the discovery of "gendered moments". I have been impressive by your intelligence and emotional sensitivity to the topics covered this semester. I hope in some way that you have gained a new perspective and will continue to journey down a path of discovery for new gendered moments while setting examples for others in promoting acceptance and equality and kindness no matter what your preference.

Have a safe and enjoyable summer break! It's a wrap!

Reality TV? Week 6

Do certain reality TV shows give women a "bad rap"? Are there any reality shows that portray women in a good light? There seem to be many of them these days that sensationalize the stereotypical behavior of women as 'bitches" or "inferior" and a promote women as needy for a man to love or support them. Are there any shows that depict women as strong, self sufficient and smart...why do so many people tune into New Jersey Housewives or any of these Housewives series? I had to turn it off last year. I turned it on to see what all the talk was about but felt very comfortable watching women living superficial lives and only concerned with buying material things and partying...they had no concern for others except to gossip. What do you think? Does TV reflect reality? Does TV hinder our strives to recognize as intelligent and capable? Why do so many people enjoy watching women act so superficial and behavior so badly?

Check out this article.

Gay Adoption ?

Are you considered a bigot or intolerant if you don't agree with Gay Adoption. Should everyone regardless of their lifestyle, single, married, gay, old, young, etc. be allowed to adopt a child? Is this a topic that you have to have a side? Or, should it be a case by case decision? Use the link below and check out this video from early last month (May 2010). What are your thoughts on Gay Adoption?

Mike Huckabee vs. Rosie O'Donnell

I will share my thoughts after I hear from GND 311 Summer 2010 students.....

Anybody else watching "Glee"?

Okay, so this post might make you think twice about me but, yes, I have a guilty pleasure....I watch "Glee". I sit there and think as a grown women and a college professor why am I so hooked on watching these high school students singing like it's high school musical three or something...(which I could never make it through each time my niece visits!)

I bring up my secret tv watching because an interesting relationship is being explored on this show regarding a young man coming out. The fear and threats of violence and uncomfortable feelings that it is forcing others to explore about themmselves is quite interesting to see on a television show. I don't know if I have ever seen any show actually tackle this issue as a part of an ensemble...we see all the high school romance of the preteen shows found on Disney, etc. But, this show takes of the real issues of high school students, like pregnancy, homelessness, homosexuality, obesity, etc.

I like that this issue is being explored honestly without trying to exploit it for entertainment or hide it but, to frankly look at it as a real issue that exists in today's youth in high schools. I like the idea of teaching acceptance by exploring through his experiences the pain and other issues that he goes through in high school on a daily basis. The show is silly and full of singing but, to see real characters and real issues of high school students gives me hope that we are moving towards acceptance and tolerance for others.

Week #2

Well done on the first week's post! I enjoyed reading your comments. I loved the effort and thoughtfulness of your comments. Remember, this week you have to place your post on your own blog. You have to leave two comments on two other blogs. You can respond to my blog as one your two comments after you post or you can comment on two other students blogs. Go to your class section on our class blog and you will find the links to the other students in your section. I want you to copy the comments that you leave on others blogs and paste a copy to your own blog under your post for the week. Just go back to your original post and hit comment and copy the comment. I have to grade a lot of blogs between two sections so this will help me find all your work each week. Remember, you have to fully participate for credit each week. It must be one good post and two good comments, no partial credit for partial participation.
So, this week, let's examine our gender roles? How come so many of us adhere to gender roles in this day and age? IF men and women are moving towards equality in relationships, workplace, etc. how come we still adhere to masculine and feminine roles? My husband and I both are college professors, yet, the distribution of work around the house is still not evenly divided. I am still taking on the role of cleaning, childcare, organizing the home, shopping. My husband does his "manly" duties but, does significantly less around the home...yet, we both teach/work full time? How is it that as a gender communication instructor that I am caught up in these roles? Do you find yourself stuck in old fashion gender roles? Or, perpetuate their existence in your life, family, work, school? Do these roles help us understand ourselves better, and promote our personal goals or inhibit our growth? Are they barriers to our society or merely means to civility? How are you playing out gender roles in your life?

Welcome Rider Students - Summer 1 Class!

Welcome to Gender and Communication! I am looking forward to reading your thoughts. The idea of this blog is share your gender moments. I want you to learn to see the world through your "gender and communication classes", so to speak. Share with the class each week how you are recognizing the concepts and topics being discussed in class in the "real world". What are you learning about the way you think about Gender? How are you evolving or opening up your perspectives to see the issue of gender differently than you did before you started this course? What discoveries are you making that are surprising you? Are you having Eureka moments? We will blog this week on the class blog. Please indicate in the first line of your blog which section your are in this summer OL1 or OL2. (Please go to our Bb system to find full directions for blogging.) Post this week a moment that you recognized a gender issue in your life. Share with us your experience or moment and how it is shaping your life.

My weekly post: This past Saturday, I took my four year old daughter to McDonalds for a Happy Meal at lunchtime. We were waiting for our order and I noticed two young men around 18-19 years old holding hands. I was taken back and caught my breath for a moment at this sight. I was taken back because these two young men were not shy at all expressing their affection towards each other. One of the men waited in line for the order and the other went and found a table to eat. He kissed him before he left him at the counter. I have reflected back at this moment and have asked myself why I was surprised. I think it was their age and not so much their sexual orientation. How freely they felt expressing their feelings towards each other without hesitation. How at this age, whatever your sexual orientation, it tends to be a bit inhibited, (at least I was a little self conscious expressing PDA's!) and yet, these two men were not the least bit inhibited. Are we making strides in our society that we are finding greater tolerance for one another? Has this message really sinking in within this society that these men have learned it? I wasn't the least uncomfortable with their expression and think it was how freely and natural it was for them that caught me off guard. I continued with finding my daughter's chicken nuggets and orange drink and left, but, not until I asked myself, why was I taken off guard....