#cgallagher

[gendermatters2016]

Miss Guided... worse than just a pun?

Have you all seen the subway ads for the clothing line MissGuided? The first time I saw these photos I thought it was a joke- something along the lines of the storage ads where Drag Queens claim to love their wigs more than their kids. However, they aren’t a joke. These are legitimate ads, on the subway, in 2016. Many of the photos remind me of the Heroin Chic era of fashion from the 90′s... which has been widely criticized for promoting unhealthy body images, among other things. When I saw these ads I was actually shocked. I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve seen women so overtly sexualized in this capacity and this volume- but I’m sure that can’t be right? What is it about these ads that I find so appalling? Is it just that I am in this class, or are these actually a lot worse than much of what is out there now (in the US)? I would love to hear some opinions! 

[gendermatters2016]

The Danger of A Single Story

This is a wonderful talk from novelist Chimamanda Adichie. Many of the comments in class today reminded me of this video. I would strongly urge everyone to put twenty minutes aside to watch this!

The Danger of A Single Story

[gendermatters2016]

Depressing Study Finds Gender Stereotypes Haven’t Changed Since the 1980s

Study shows American college students do not view gender that much differently than they did in the 80′s.

“Changes in the activities and representation of women and men in society have unquestionably occurred since the early 1980s. Nonetheless, those changes apparently have not been sufficient to alter strongly held and seemingly functional beliefs about the basic social category of gender, where a variety of psychological processes may be at work that lead to the continued maintenance of gender stereotypes. An awareness of the durability of fundamental stereotypes coupled with continued vigilance as to their possible influence are desirable measures for all to take.”

View the full study here: http://pwq.sagepub.com/content/early/2016/03/03/0361684316634081.full

[gendermatters2016]

Gendered Language in Teacher Reviews

I thought this was very interesting! 

It’s an interactive chart that allows you to search how often a specific word or phrase is used on RateMyProfessor.com for male or female teachers. Below are some of the first few words I searched. It’s very interesting to see what patterns emerge (and it becomes quite addictive).

Higher results for females: Rude, Mean, Nice, Crazy, Psycho, Unfair, Work, Helpful, Not Helpful, Unreasonable

Higher results for males: Smart, Intelligent, Good, Funny, Sexy, Jerk, Genius, Brilliant

Fairly even for male and female: Fair, Hard, Bad, Kind, Hardworking, Honest

Of course, Rate My Professor is not the most reliable data source, and results may appeared skewed due to a higher number of females in the teacher population- but I still found it quite interesting to think about the fact the words/phrases like “helpful” and “not helpful” are both stronger for females. I feel this lends itself to the discussion of how the role or expectations of a teacher can change, depending on their gender. Does it not occur to students to note the helpfulness of their male teachers? Does a female teacher’s intelligence not affect what her students think of her? Is it somehow more acceptable to call a female teacher “crazy” than if she were male?   

Gendered Language in Teacher Reviews

PS 2/23 - Sorry #eileen ! I didn’t realize you posted this earlier!

[gendermatters2016]

Seven rules to avoid gratuitous gender profiles of female scientists

Finkbeiner, an award-winning journalist, noted that the assignment had come “just before the magazine announced publicly that it needs to redress its problem with a gender balance that favors males,” and that both she and her subject were “suspiciously female.”

“I honestly don’t care,” Finkbeiner concluded. “What I won’t do, however, is write about this astronomer as a woman.”