What is consent? [Video]

In gender and sexuality classes, I find it is important to discuss (contemporary U.S.) cultural assumptions about consent, especially in light of California’s “yes means yes” legislation and the recent scrutiny of how universities handle reporting of sexual violence/assault/“misconduct” on their campuses.  I have found this video by Laci Green helpful, since it addresses a serious topic in an approachable and humorous fashion.

Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD2EooMhqRI&feature=youtu.be

Masculinities and playing basketball in a wheelchair [Video]

I ask students in my gender classes to think about intersectionality and hierarchies of power within gender categories. This semester I used Coston and Kimmel’s (2012) article “Seeing Privilege Where It Isn’t: Marginalized Masculinities and the Intersectionality of Privilege” to encourage students to think about non-hegemonic masculinities.  Coston and Kimmel ask how men in their study who are disabled, gay, or working-class “navigate and access their privilege within the confines of a particular social role that limits, devalues, and often stigmatizes them as not-men.”  They apply Goffman’s (1963) three strategies used to neutralize stigma: minstrelization, normification, and militant chauvinism.
In addition to talking about Coston and Kimmel's study, I like to show students this advertisement of men playing basketball in wheelchairs.  I ask students to discuss the video clip in light of what we have learned about minstrelization, normification, and militant chauvinism.  You might consider asking other questions like: What assumptions do we have about masculinity and bodily ability?  What characteristics or qualities in men does this ad validate?

Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwndLOKQTDs

References:

Coston, Bethany M. and Michael Kimmel. 2012. “Seeing Privilege Where It Isn’t: Marginalized Masculinities and the Intersectionality of Privilege." Journal of Social Issues 68(1): 97-111.

Goffman, Erving. 1963. Stigma: Notes on the Management of a Spoiled Identity. Engelwood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

What does it mean to be “a real man”? [Video]

In my gender classes, we inevitable talk about the relationship between gender and power.  I ask questions like: is having power an integral part of hegemonic masculinity?  I find that this video clip from EngagingMen.Net is a useful way to start a conversation about gender, power dynamics, and social change.

Link to video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ispTJ08V0UM

Why can't people talk about race? [Video]

A recent report by MTV (Yes MTV!) gives some insight into how millennials think about race.

One of the the findings shows that about half of all millennials think it is wrong to draw attention to someone's race in any situation (even positive ones).  The following clip makes this point quite clear.


The study also shows that about half of these young adults think that it is hard to have a conversation about race. Taken together, this means that only 20% of people in this age group are comfortable having this talk.  You can use this clip to open up that dialogue.

Slate's James Boule summarizes the report by saying that "Overall, MTV confirms the general view of millennials: Compared with previous generations, they’re more tolerant and diverse and profess a deeper commitment to equality and fairness. At the same time, however, they’re committed to an ideal of colorblindness that leaves them uncomfortable with race, opposed to measures to reduce racial inequality, and a bit confused about what racism is." 

Even more of a reason to discuss race in our classes! [You can link to the Slate article here . The article contains a link to the actual report findings.]

White People Problems [Comedy]

Here's Louis CK with a hilarious bit on what he calls White People Problems. (Very similar to first world problems). A good ice breaker for any discussions on global inequality, global poverty, or outsourcing.

Louis C.K.: Hilarious
Get More: Watch More Stand-Up.

Race, Gender, and Stealing a Bicycle [Video]

When we talk about race/racism and gender/sexism in class, many students want to believe in a society where we are all treated equally. (This includes both the advantaged AND disadvantaged students). They don't realize the importance of cultural ideologies in creating biases which influence our behavior.

The popular show 'What Would You Do?' puts this to the test. They hire two actors and an actress to pretend to steal a bicycle in a crowded park.  The passer by reactions show how powerful cultural ideologies can be.