Introduction
Topic
For the past two lessons, we talked about gender and how our identities are often shaped by social norms, popular images and even language. Nowadays, many people preach a gender revolution, namely that people can be whomever they want, dress however they like, love whomever they want. Instead of the strict binary divisions between man/woman, gay/straight, people are exploring the possibilities to navigate between these strict boundaries.
Write a short piece of text in which you voice your personal opinion on gender in a nuanced way. Discuss one of the following questions and use the articles featured in this web quest as a source of inspiration.
1. Should language be gender-neutral? Discuss why you feel this way. Be critical: what are the possible pitfalls? Could gender-neutral pronouns, for instance, cause miscommunication?
2. How do the online media affect our identities? Do video games, social media, ... provide opportunities to express ourselves, to be part of communities, ...? Or will the images on social media simply create new expectations? Will our physical bodies become less important than our digital avatars? Be critical about the possible pros and cons. Is it easier to come out as a transgender today than previous generations?
3. Do you think it would be better to think of gender as a continuüm? For instance, instead of linking certain characteristics to male or female behavior, to simply acknowledge that people are more or less female/male? Would it be better to ditch fixed notions on what it means to be male or female?
Note that you can make your answer as personal as you like. For instance, you could talk about how transgender icons have changed the music/beauty/fashion industry, you could talk about the role of instagram on expressing identities and the acceptance of identities that do not respond to the norm or you could reflect on written and spoken language in different contexts (newspapers versus novels) with regards to gender. You can also use different articles than the ones included here.
Form
Your text should be 1/2 A4 page long (and maximum 1 page long). Write full sentences, start a new paragraph for every new idea or argument.
Make sure to include the sources you used at the bottom of your document: a link will do.
DEADLINE
Task
In the list below you'll find several articles concerning gender which you can use to become inspired.
Useful vocabulary for sexual and gender minorities.
- https://lgbtccneworleans.org/useful-vocabulary/
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transgender-gender-identity-terms-glossary/
1. Should language be gender-neutral?
- https://www.teenvogue.com/story/howto-use-gender-neutral-words
- https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Gender-Inclusive-Language
- https://www.grammarly.com/blog/use-the-singular-they/
- https://www.extension.harvard.edu/professional-development/blog/inclusive-language-four-easy-steps
- https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34901704
- https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/23/allow-me-to-womansplain-the-problem-with-gendered-language
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/gender-neutral-pronouns-when-they-doesnt-identify-as-either-male-or-female/2014/10/27/41965f5e-5ac0-11e4-b812-38518ae74c67_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.a568b59c5c35
2. How do the online media affect our identities?
- https://www.theguardian.com/games/2019/jan/17/drag-queens-gaming-twitch-cosplay
- https://www.theguardian.com/games/2019/jan/04/rainbow-arcade-lgbtq-video-games-exhibition-world-of-warcraft-nintendo-berlin
- https://meanshappy.com/gender-in-the-world-of-cosplay/
- https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/jun/02/brief-history-transgender-issues
- https://www.ted.com/talks/johanna_blakley_social_media_and_the_end_of_gender/discussion#t-32936 (video)
- https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/instagram-does-not-allow-equality_us_5907b112e4b03b105b44bb44
- https://www.metroweekly.com/2018/10/facebook-apologizes-after-blocking-lgbtq-ads-for-being-political/
- https://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/gykepy/american-boys-project-photogr…;
- https://www.teenvogue.com/story/peels-lgbtq-ad-campaign-is-exactly-what-the-industry-needs (fashion)
3. Do you think it would be better to think of gender as a continuüm?
- https://www.itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2011/11/breaking-through-the-binary-gender-explained-using-continuums/
- https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/17/jeongmee-yoon_n_1432203.html
- https://www.teenvogue.com/story/what-is-non-binary-gender
- https://www.cbsnews.com/video/gender-the-space-between/ (the entire documentary)
- https://mic.com/articles/188505/how-gender-nonconforming-and-nonbinary-individuals-are-changing-the-beauty-industry-forever#.CO7p182Pd
- https://www.getrealcambridge.com/2016/04/20/if-gender-is-a-spectrum-isnt-everyone-genderqueer/
- https://nylon.com/articles/gender-roles-in-hip-hop (hip hop)
- http://www.vashtie.com/culture/the-progression-of-gender-roles-in-hip-hop/ (hip hop)
Process
1. Preparation
- Choose a question to answer
- Browse through the articles for inspiration or look up different articles
- Write a list of ideas (key words) and decide how you'll structure your text
2. Writing
- Write your a first draft
3. Revising
- Revise: content
- Revise: spelling and form
- Quote sources:
How to quote sentences from specific articles:
"Clearly, there’s change afoot in the language to refer to gender identity, and this clashes for some people with strong feelings about established rules of English." (1)
Sources:
Evaluation
Evaluation (/10)
You will be evaluated on the quality of your content and form.
Your text should include:
- Your personal opinion to one of the three questions (4/10)
- (At least) two arguments to support your opinion (why do you feel this way?) (3/10)
- full sentences and paragraphs (with each new idea, start a new paragraph) (2/10)
- correct spelling (1/10)
About an opinion piece: