Intro to Gender Studies

11/28/11 – MM #13 – Last One!

Find a cultural artifact that endorses the idea that men are more violent and/or angry than women or otherwise glorifies the idea that men are violent.  A cultural artifact is a piece of our culture and so can refer to material culture (e.g. symbols, like the book I’ve pasted here) or nonmaterial culture (e.g. language, norms, and values–like the idea that play fighting is normative for young males rather than females).  Post that cultural artifact–ideally a description and image.  Note that not all posts will need images–if you post gender differences in certain crime rates for example.  Use your judgment.  But do provide an explanation of the artifact you’re posting.

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11/14/11 – MM #12-

Take and upload a picture today that, to you, captures one of the sex ratio issues that the Uecker and Regnerus’ article addresses.

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11/7/11 – MM #11 -

It is widely believed that men have a higher/greater/stronger sex drive than women. Today, ask a male you know to answer the question, “who has a higher sex drive–men or women?” Then ask why he has responded this way.  Specifically, what evidence would he cite in support of his response?

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10/31/11 – MM #10 -

Bromance or Romance – which is the superior form of love? Provide your response / opinion in the form of a six word memoir.

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10/24/11 – MM #9 -

What kinds of mediated images are we consuming?

If you are a male, provide:

• Your favorite TV show as a teenager
• Your favorite TV show currently
• Your favorite magazine

If you are a female, ask a male friend or relative of similar age for these.

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10/17/11 – MM #8 -

Gender Equity: For parity with it’s sister day, FF 8, enjoy the day off (from MM, at least) as an extension of Fall Break [But still think about gender ].

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10/10/11 – MM #7 -

[Note: These instructions were sent in an email on MM7, 10/10. The text from that is pasted below.]

Many commentators have argued that the Christian church has been feminized such that church has become a place more appealing to women than men. How do men fit in? Today, take and post a picture that is a masculine expression of religiosity. How is it masculine? Think also about how this might differ from the observations made with respect to your female FB friends from FF7.

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10/3/11 – MM #6 -

There is research to suggest that there are gender differences with respect to epistemology, or how people know/understand the world (it’s kinda like how we think about the nature of Truth/truth). Here are two different ways that people to know things:

1. Separate knowing — separate knowers are automatically skeptical.  When they hear an argument, theory, or explanation, they look for flaws in its logic.  They assume a critical position in the classroom.
2. Connected knowing — connected knowers attempt to identify with the argument being made.  Their approach is more empathic in nature.  Rather than defaulting to a critical position with regard to an argument, theory, or explanation, they attempt to understand its meaning from the perspective of the person offering it.

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9/26/11 – MM #5 -

Are men better in math, reasoning, and rationality? Let’s see.

A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs a dollar more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?

Ask 3 males and 3 females to solve this problem.  Record their responses:

Males: # , # , #

Females: # , # , #

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9/19-20/11 – MM #4 – Remix

How do men understand what it means to be a man at different points in the life course?  Ask 3 men–each at different stages in the life course (e.g. a preschooler, a new dad, a retiree, etc)–the following, “in one word, what does it mean to be a man?”

Post the life stage and response for each. Example:

• Preschooler (age 4) – response
• Dad (age 30) — response
• Retiree (age 65) – response

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9/12/11 – MM #3 -

Sex role theory. Application to males.

Do it in six words. Go!

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9/5/11 – MM #2 -

In the chapter we’re reading this week, Kimmel points out that, although wearing makeup is a norm for women in our culture, in some cultures the reverse is true. This Masculine Monday, take a picture (not a pre-existing one or one found online) of a man doing something you associate with the gendered norms of being female.  What norm is he violating?

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8/29/11 – MM #1 -

Masculine Monday ought to be as musical a venture as its sister day, FF.  In honor of our first MM, let us as make sweet music together in the form of a playlist consisting of men’s anthems.  Same general guide applies:

Your charge: Add a song to the playlist based on this theme.  Preferably, it would be one you hear on the radio on MM that strikes you as an appropriate track for inclusion.  Create a post that simply includes the name of the song and the artist.  If there are any key lyrics that you particularly compelled you to add it to our playlist, you might also indicate those. When you create the post, be sure to categorize it as “Masculine Monday.”

Tentative Play List Title, as borrowed from the lyrics of our friends The Eagles of Death Metal: “****,*******, I’m a Man, I’m a Man.”