Gaming and geek cultures are increasingly a part of contemporary people’s hobbies, lifestyles, and social options. Notice that I said “people” and not just “guys,” because, as it turns out, many gamers are also women–around 42% according to some studies. However, a lot of these women don’t feel safe or welcome while playing in large online games, so they hide their gender, or otherwise try to downplay their real-life identities. Why? I’ve been reading posts by Lesley, a blogger who’s also a gamer, on this topic in an effort to understand. Continue Reading →
Gender
Recent posts
Gender-Bending Superheroes
Many Americans are coming to terms with the fact that their beloved superheroes are often portrayed in sexist and gender-specific ways. The results of this realization are amusing and subversive. For instance, a group of cosplayers attending San Diego Comic-Con cross-dressed as their favorite Justice League characters (click the link to check out the pictures, they’re great!). And there are drawings of male superheroes posed in the same pose as Wonder Woman (again, hilarious pics, check them out!). I’m in favor of playing with gender roles to illustrate their effects, and I’m glad that comic book fans are on board. Continue Reading →
Gender And Veterinary Medicine
Animal-lovers, take note: sexism in veterinary schools is waning, but could still affect the decisions of young people hoping to become veterinarians. I found this blog post on gender inequality in veterinary medicine fascinating, and I’m hoping the author’s plea for more compassionate people to become vets–regardless of gender–reaches future vet students. Follow us on Twitter @mysexprofessor. Follow Jeana, the author of this post, @foxyfolklorist. Continue Reading →
The Power Of Words
Living in a town with nearly 40-thousand college students, I often am asked what my field of study is, so I often find myself repeating the same response, “I’m a journalism major and my second concentration is in gender studies.” And then (after explaining what a second concentration is) almost nine times out of ten I hear the same follow-up question, “Well… What are you going to do with that?” Continue Reading →
F*cking Like A Feminist
I recently read an article by Betty Dodson called “Fucking Like A Feminist” and it really made me open my eyes to how differently feminism (as well as women’s sexuality) is perceived when presenting the topic to various audiences. Continue Reading →
Mr. Fix-It: Emotional Communication Across Gender Lines
“My emotional state is not a piece of IKEA furniture.” I found myself saying this to my partner the other night. I was working on a stressful project, hadn’t been feeling well, and was jumping through some annoying bureaucratic hoops at my university. I wanted to talk about my frustrating feelings and my partner wanted to help “fix” them. I’m now laughing at what a ridiculous gender cliché this is. Continue Reading →
Dressing Up As Daphne And Challenging Gender Norms
This past week, in my class on deviant behavior, we talked about gender norms, and how important they still are to how we present ourselves. The discussion concentrated on how parents teach their children what is expected of them and why the parents feel motivated to encourage “normal” behavior. Continue Reading →
Making A Spectacle Of Women In Politics
I chose not to have a picture for this post – read on to find out why! Women in politics face many challenges, not least of which is how they negotiate their representations in the public eye. One of the particular problems I’ve noticed is that aspects of women’s identities, ranging from how they dress to how they comport themselves sexually, are frequently focused upon by the media in ways that are much more critical than the focus on men. Continue Reading →
Why Calling Someone Out On Sexist Language Might Actually Work
Okay, by “someone” I meant “men,” but they were the subjects of a recent scientific study in which college-aged males were confronted on their use of sexist language. After being accused of using sexist language by a female conversation partner, many men went on to display compensatory social behaviors that indicated increasingly cordial feelings with their female conversation partners. These results are admittedly preliminary, but encouraging given the high incidence of sexual harassment in the workplace, as well as the prevalence of unintended, unconscious sexism in language and attitudes (among both men and women, to be fair). Follow us on Twitter @mysexprofessor. Follow Jeana, the author of this post, @foxyfolklorist. Continue Reading →
How do Transgender Students Fit Into All-Male or All-Female Colleges?
Just how do transgender students fit into, or not, all male or all female colleges such as Mount Holyoke (for women) and Morehouse (for men)? This is a very good question asked by CNN writer Stephanie Chen. And it seems to be one that many schools haven’t developed clear policies for. Continue Reading →