Group 6: Becoming Gendered

Midreading Masculinity- Newkirk:
1. Newkirk discusses the concept of boys using violence in their writing as a way to subliminally tell readers about their thoughts, how they're feeling, and what's going on in their daily lives. When boys were told they could no longer write violent stories, the boys were no longer interested in writing - a concept Newkirk calls "converting the natives." Newkirk quotes Peterson, "development in writing involves 'cross dressing,' a capacity to move out of stereotypical gender positions." In order to do so, Newkirk suggests to educators that they should acknowledge the cultural materials (ex: the affection for parody and action) that boys (and girls) bring to the classroom. Would you, as an educator, want to "convert the natives," even if it meant your students would no longer enjoy writing? Or would you try to incorporate the cultural materials the students' enjoy into your lessons? If students are using violence in their writing to express themselves, would you let them continue this trend or have them try something else? Many of the sources Newkirk quoted are from the 90s, so do you think these opinions on violence in writing would differ today?


Thorne & Ashcraft
1. In her article, Ashcraft states that movies and TV are one of the main sources for the production of cultural meanings and discourses. Ashcraft states that discourses are, "composed of representations, ideas, narratives, social norms, and practices that establish the dominant categories of knowledge." These discourses write "the predetermined social scripts," or in other words, conceptions of sexuality and gender. Thinking back to the time when you were in school, were there any movies or TV shows that had an impact on your conceptions of sexuality and/or gender? Did you see this movie/TV show before or after you encountered a sex ed course? Did that alter or change any conceptions you had when it came to sexuality or gender?

2. The term "tomboy" (a girl who goes against the "girly-girl" ways) and "sissy" (a boy or man whose character and interests are more feminine than masculine) are words that we have all heard, most prominently during our childhood. Thinking about Ashcraft's article, do you believe that our perceptions on "tomboys" and "sissies" are derived from movies and TV? What about from children's literature and cartoons? Young children seem to know what a "sissy" or a "tomboy" is without having to ask someone the true definition. If you remember, how did you learn what those two words meant (if you learned them at all)? Do you think that your perceptions on what a "sissy" is and what a "tomboy" is shapes your gender and sexuality conceptions later in life?