Thank you so much for your words. I just got out of class this morning and was frustrated. I get one class "through it" and then along comes another and there we are at the bottom of the hill again (Sisyphus is a great comparison!)
I think you must be talking in your first example of Dream Worlds. I will certainly use that and parts of Killing Us Softly.
Last semester I had someone come in from the Rape Crisis Center and I think she was amazing (since I'm volunteering there now, I know that is true of her and not a fluke), and I'll have her back later.
I also think that one of the most pervasive aspects of American culture - the adherence to the concept of individual responsibility - is a very, very, difficult bridge to cross with many students. I see it with students in teaching social stratification, poverty, discrimination, etc. The first big hurdle is always the "blaming the victim" position.This is exactly what started us down the road of victim blaming in class today. We had been discussing script theory and how that
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I'm glad that whatever I shared is useful to you. The offer stands: if you want to chat, just call me after 7 pm. What you're doing is extremely difficult - as you know, of course. :-\ Changing their paradigm is the hardest thing to teach, IMO. Kudos to you for doing this -especially in a summer course.
A speaker from the Rape Cristis Center is a good idea.
What would happen if, instead of focusing on a female victim, the focus changed to a male victim? would it still be "a matter of choice" about getting drunk, etc.? or a child? still "a matter of choice"? if it's choice for a woman, then why not for a man or a child? Also: what about the concept of rape as used in other cultures - like the Yanomami, where the word for "marriage" is "dragging something away"?
It is profoundly difficult to teach this type of course. I teach counselors, and I've run into the same thinking (what did the victim do? why did she go there? etc). It makes me crazy.
I agree with makd that students tend to fall back into the "blame the victim". I also find that it's difficult to get them to separate the idea that rape and sexual coercion are about power more than sex.
I'm assuming that you're teaching undergrads. Do you incorporate any type of volunteer work for credit? Admittedly, I work with grad students, but I've gotten good results by requiring they volunteer at the rape crisis center on campus. This might not work for a summer course, but it's great in long semesters.
I am teaching undergrads, and I am teaching them in a small private Southern school where the entire culture of dating is "Date Rape Scenario 1-3". Perhaps because they literally live it every weekend, it is particularly hard for them to see.
I actually have one woman in the class who raised her hand and said that she used to be a volunteer and took rape crisis calls. I almost breathed a sigh of relief until she went on to say that she agrees that if a girl doesn't want to get raped, she shouldn't drink and flirt and etc. etc. Jesus. I hope she didn't take too many crisis calls :/
Of course, when I turned it around and asked them how they would respond to someone saying "It's all about personal responsibility. If that guy didn't want to be a rapist, he shouldn't have been getting drunk with a bunch of girls", I saw a few aha moments. Not many, but a few.
I turned it around and asked them how they would respond to someone saying "It's all about personal responsibility. If that guy didn't want to be a rapist, he shouldn't have been getting drunk with a bunch of girls"I was just about to suggest this, but of course you are smart and already thought of it! Glad to hear you got through to some students with that. It doesn't make sense when people blame the victim for getting raped, but then blame the alcohol (not the person) for "turning" someone into a rapist. "He was drunk, he didn't know what he was doing
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Yikes. I don't think I would last long in that class. At least, not without losing it on one of those students. I just don't understand that way of thinking at all, or how anyone could actually believe it. My hat is off to you.
It is hard! I hold it together only because I know getting angry and combative will not teach them anything, but "leading the horse to water" might teach a few.
In my social life, however, I definitely get angry and combative about this:)
I would imagine that is horribly frustrating for you. I can't think of any advice to give but I wanted you to know I think you're doing a wonderful thing.
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I think you must be talking in your first example of Dream Worlds. I will certainly use that and parts of Killing Us Softly.
Last semester I had someone come in from the Rape Crisis Center and I think she was amazing (since I'm volunteering there now, I know that is true of her and not a fluke), and I'll have her back later.
I also think that one of the most pervasive aspects of American culture - the adherence to the concept of individual responsibility - is a very, very, difficult bridge to cross with many students. I see it with students in teaching social stratification, poverty, discrimination, etc. The first big hurdle is always the "blaming the victim" position.This is exactly what started us down the road of victim blaming in class today. We had been discussing script theory and how that ( ... )
Reply
I'm glad that whatever I shared is useful to you. The offer stands: if you want to chat, just call me after 7 pm. What you're doing is extremely difficult - as you know, of course. :-\ Changing their paradigm is the hardest thing to teach, IMO. Kudos to you for doing this -especially in a summer course.
A speaker from the Rape Cristis Center is a good idea.
What would happen if, instead of focusing on a female victim, the focus changed to a male victim? would it still be "a matter of choice" about getting drunk, etc.? or a child? still "a matter of choice"? if it's choice for a woman, then why not for a man or a child? Also: what about the concept of rape as used in other cultures - like the Yanomami, where the word for "marriage" is "dragging something away"?
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I agree with makd that students tend to fall back into the "blame the victim". I also find that it's difficult to get them to separate the idea that rape and sexual coercion are about power more than sex.
I'm assuming that you're teaching undergrads. Do you incorporate any type of volunteer work for credit? Admittedly, I work with grad students, but I've gotten good results by requiring they volunteer at the rape crisis center on campus. This might not work for a summer course, but it's great in long semesters.
Good luck.
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I am teaching undergrads, and I am teaching them in a small private Southern school where the entire culture of dating is "Date Rape Scenario 1-3". Perhaps because they literally live it every weekend, it is particularly hard for them to see.
I actually have one woman in the class who raised her hand and said that she used to be a volunteer and took rape crisis calls. I almost breathed a sigh of relief until she went on to say that she agrees that if a girl doesn't want to get raped, she shouldn't drink and flirt and etc. etc. Jesus. I hope she didn't take too many crisis calls :/
Of course, when I turned it around and asked them how they would respond to someone saying "It's all about personal responsibility. If that guy didn't want to be a rapist, he shouldn't have been getting drunk with a bunch of girls", I saw a few aha moments. Not many, but a few.
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Yikes. I don't think I would last long in that class. At least, not without losing it on one of those students. I just don't understand that way of thinking at all, or how anyone could actually believe it. My hat is off to you.
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In my social life, however, I definitely get angry and combative about this:)
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