I didn’t have talks with every period, but I did have chats with the last two of the day. I opened with, “So what is up with this sexist crap?” They generally looked a little surprised at that opener, but my goal was to get them out of the normal box they live in. We talked about why they think boys can’t/shouldn’t wear skirts or dresses. We talked about how girls shouldn’t be aggressive and can only be sexual in a passive sort of way. We talked about how the boys who dressed as girls liked the excuse to shake their asses and thrust their ‘boobs’ at everyone–is that really how girls are viewed? We talked about how the girls who dressed as boys spent their time sexually harassing people and grabbing their crotches–is that really how boys are viewed?
The conversations were pretty interesting and good. The kids surprised me a couple of times in trying to have a more open mind. The comment was made more than once, “But this is just how things are and we can’t change that.” When I asked them why not they said that one person doesn’t have enough effect. I asked them how many kids are sitting in the classroom and then had them multiply the number by five and said, “I influence that many people every day. If you all go out and influence five people each… think about it.”
It was pretty good. One class went off on a digression about what our society finds attractive in men or in women and the conversation was really interesting as they were able to actually talk about what is broken about society’s fixation on looks. I was *very* happy with the people who expressed appreciation for bigger chicks (why was it the black lesbian who lead the charge on that one?) and then the rest of the class tried to claim that they are more interested in personality than looks. They were a bit chagrined when I called them liars. Then they started really talking about the fact that they are elitest about looks. It’s not like I can change the world in a day of lecturing my kidlets, but I bet they will remember this.
Oh, and the boys of 6th period have been issued a challenge to wear a skirt for an hour sometime in the next two weeks. I said they can do it at home when no one is around, but seriously–just try it. It is very comfortable and why should you completely deny yourself the right or ability to be comfortable? One class also asked questions about people who are transgendered. We were out of time so I didn’t get to discuss it, but I think I may try to bring it up soon…
It’s interesting. I do have some interesting thoughts about how much influence I have. It surprises me when I think about it.
nice done!
nice done!
You challenge them to think, something they’re probably starved for. And you don’t mind original thinking, just incomplete thinking.
If you coached sports, they’d use the phrase “would run through walls for you”. Like it or not, you’re inspirational.
You challenge them to think, something they’re probably starved for. And you don’t mind original thinking, just incomplete thinking.
If you coached sports, they’d use the phrase “would run through walls for you”. Like it or not, you’re inspirational.
amused
amused
Oh, and the boys of 6th period have been issued a challenge to wear a skirt for an hour sometime in the next two weeks. I said they can do it at home when no one is around, but seriously–just try it. It is very comfortable and why should you completely deny yourself the right or ability to be comfortable?
Well, sure, skirts are comfortable when you’re alone and don’t have to conform to society’s standards of how much skin you can show. Naked’s comfortable, too.
I find skirts to be much LESS comfortable than pants when worn in public — and this is from a fairly feminine girl who wears skirts by choice often, for how they look. I think anyone has more freedom of movement and activity (in, say, a playground situation) when wearing pants, which is your argument above is mine for encouraging trousers for younger children. At least until people don’t freak out about seeing other people’s underwear in public. (And if that’s the case, we can just dispense with clothing all together.) 😀
I *hate* pants. It is getting to the point where I wear them pretty often because they are often more convenient than skirts for warmth and I haven’t found any dresses I like for the past few years and mine are all pretty much dead.
But I hate pants. I refused to wear them with anything resembling regularity until I was about 17. I did everything in skirts and I’m a tree climber and I worked stage crew and climbed light trees and…
::curious:: And did everyone know what color panties you were wearing?
Until I was 14 or thereabouts, I did not own a pair of jeans. They were too heavy, too uncomfortable, and too “cold” — at leats, compared to my favored stretch leggings. 🙂 I guess I had a hard time coming out of the early ’90s. I had better legs then, too. Softball. Once I stopped playing, I started wearing jeans.
My mother despaired. (Actually, she kept trying to get me interested in clothes — ANY kind of clothes, not just feminine ones. I didn’t care yet. I was younger than every other girl in my grade and always a late bloomer.) Guess she warped me a LITTLE bit. Now I shop for clothes reluctantly (I warn my companions that I WILL cry in teh dressing room), but mostly in thrift shops where they’re already worn in and affordable.
I still want to wear petticoats under my long skirts all the time. 🙂
Well, you see… my mom had this rule. I had to wear bike shorts under all of my dresses. Cause I spent a lot of time upside down. 🙂
(They don’t *feel* like pants to me for some reason. Never have.)
Well, you see… my mom had this rule. I had to wear bike shorts under all of my dresses. Cause I spent a lot of time upside down. 🙂
(They don’t *feel* like pants to me for some reason. Never have.)
::curious:: And did everyone know what color panties you were wearing?
Until I was 14 or thereabouts, I did not own a pair of jeans. They were too heavy, too uncomfortable, and too “cold” — at leats, compared to my favored stretch leggings. 🙂 I guess I had a hard time coming out of the early ’90s. I had better legs then, too. Softball. Once I stopped playing, I started wearing jeans.
My mother despaired. (Actually, she kept trying to get me interested in clothes — ANY kind of clothes, not just feminine ones. I didn’t care yet. I was younger than every other girl in my grade and always a late bloomer.) Guess she warped me a LITTLE bit. Now I shop for clothes reluctantly (I warn my companions that I WILL cry in teh dressing room), but mostly in thrift shops where they’re already worn in and affordable.
I still want to wear petticoats under my long skirts all the time. 🙂
I *hate* pants. It is getting to the point where I wear them pretty often because they are often more convenient than skirts for warmth and I haven’t found any dresses I like for the past few years and mine are all pretty much dead.
But I hate pants. I refused to wear them with anything resembling regularity until I was about 17. I did everything in skirts and I’m a tree climber and I worked stage crew and climbed light trees and…
Oh, and the boys of 6th period have been issued a challenge to wear a skirt for an hour sometime in the next two weeks. I said they can do it at home when no one is around, but seriously–just try it. It is very comfortable and why should you completely deny yourself the right or ability to be comfortable?
Well, sure, skirts are comfortable when you’re alone and don’t have to conform to society’s standards of how much skin you can show. Naked’s comfortable, too.
I find skirts to be much LESS comfortable than pants when worn in public — and this is from a fairly feminine girl who wears skirts by choice often, for how they look. I think anyone has more freedom of movement and activity (in, say, a playground situation) when wearing pants, which is your argument above is mine for encouraging trousers for younger children. At least until people don’t freak out about seeing other people’s underwear in public. (And if that’s the case, we can just dispense with clothing all together.) 😀
I am impressed. I applaud you *and* your students.
I am impressed. I applaud you *and* your students.
If I didn’t have work I would volunteer right here and now to show up in a kilt just to show that even Straight Men(tm) can wear skirts.
If I didn’t have work I would volunteer right here and now to show up in a kilt just to show that even Straight Men(tm) can wear skirts.
Thank you. You do such good.
Thank you. You do such good.
fantastic!
fantastic!
schweeeeeeet. Nice work.
schweeeeeeet. Nice work.