Discuss gender differences in the college classroom — who tends to major in what subjects?

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This past week we have been focusing on gender. Gender is a fundamental social division. All around us we see differences between men and women (and girls and boys). The way they dress. The activities they engage in. What they say. What they want out of life. We see gender differences in the college classroom — who tends to major in what subjects? We see gender differences at the workplace — who tends to hold positions of power and authority? We see gender differences in the home — who tends to do the majority of housework? These social arrangements, which create and sustain gender differences, end up having powerful effects on the lifestyles and life chances of individuals.

This week, you will have two possible essays to write. You must choose one of them. Below I describe the requirements for each essay.

Essay Possibility #1: During lecture on Friday, you may have noticed that one of your teaching assistants, arrived to class and started folding clothes. Why was she folding her laundry during class? That seemed weird, didn\’t it? Or maybe, in a clever way, she was trying to make a point about the gendered division of labor. (Read this: https://english.emmaclit.com/2017/05/20/you-shouldve-asked/). What argument is the author of this blog post making? Do you find that argument compelling? Why or why not? As you write up your response, please reference and seriously engage with the course reading by Judith Lorber, \”Night to his Day: The Social Construction of Gender.\”

Essay Possibility #2: Are we ever not doing gender? From the moment we wake up until we go to bed, it seems like we are constantly doing gender. For this essay, I want you to walk me through a small segment of your day (when you wake up, when you walk to class, when you eat lunch, when you shop, when you drive or ride the bus, when you go out on a date, when you attend religious ceremonies, when you watch movies with friends, etc). Do not describe your whole day, but rather, choose some small segment (a strip) of your life to describe. During that small segment of your day, in what ways are you doing gender? How are you displaying your gendered identity? Given the situation you find yourself in, how are you conforming — or not — to gendered expectations of behavior? As you write up your response, please reference and seriously engage with the course reading by West and Zimmerman, \”Doing Gender.\”

Please specify which prompt you choose at the front of your essay.

Again, you must choose ONLY ONE of the two essay possibilities.

Your finished essays must be 800-900 words in total.
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