Alexander Reading

Alexander Reading

Questions for Discussion and Journaling:

6. I think the concepts of male/female and masculine/feminine can be a huge restriction for all people. Just like we did the other day in class, every time you read a quote or an article or a book, there is always a story behind it. Depending on whether they are female or male it changes how the writer writes and it affects how the audience see’s and interprets the writing. People can either embrace the restriction or want to fight against it. I think it restricts people who want to come from a general background. For example, people that want to appeal to women and men or all kinds of people. It also restricts people who don’t want to be coming from any background. Like talked about in the reading, maybe if you are coming from a Trans or queer background and you are trying to appeal to those concepts. You don’t want to be restricted by titles or specific groups. These restrictions can be restrictive for all people, not just females or males. It can be restrictive for people who don’t want to sound masculine or feminine or both.

7. I think the student narratives definitely help reinforce the gender stereotypes and gender. First of all, I think it is a perspective that more students my age would have so it is something that I can easily relate to and then that puts me into the reading. I now have a connection to the reading so it makes it easier to read. I think it also gives a look into what society thinks about this topic. It can be very controversial but the story in the beginning when the class was able to label the FtM person into a man shows you that society is more understanding. At the same time there still are gender stereotypes. It is easy for us to know that we have two labels; man or woman. Our society is changing and there are now changes to this. So I think that is why the students go straight to what they have known their whole life and what they’ve always been used to.

Applying and Exploring:

3. I think that “normally” gendered students isn’t even the correct way to say it but I believe that we can gain a lot from exposure to trans theory in our composition classrooms. I think this is a point that I struggle with and that many college kids do. Why do we have to take all these classes if it has nothing to do with my major? It’s for reasons like this; you take an English class to expand your knowledge. I think it is not right to be a part of your environment and society and not be educated about what is out there. It is beneficial for me and students my age to know about all kinds of people and to not be ignorant to new ideas. We have to be able to open up and accept the changes that our happening. I think this does hold true for every minority discourse because there all opportunities to open up to new things and ideas.