Intro to Women’s Studies

I went backwards on the whole women’s/gender studies thing. Introduction to Women’s Studies never quite fit into my schedule somehow, while other women’s studies classes did.

And now, here I am.

First strange moment: walking in. Every student already present (almost all female) eyes me with a mixture of dread and patience. They seem to think I might be the professor.

Imagine me sitting down amongst them, feeling a little burdened.

When I leave and come back again, the same thing repeats with those who weren’t yet in the room.

“Are you calling me a whore?” one girl laughs to another.

Class starts. The few boys present describe their reasons for being there uniformly, mumbling, “To learn about women.” As if women are plankton that live in the icy oceans of Europa, not their fellow primates.

Imagine me rolling my eyes at my desk and cautioning myself to give them a chance.  Imagine me wondering cynically how much they will really get out of this class, and how much will be willingly given.

We learn the meanings of sex and gender.  I’ve known this for two years.

Imagine me patiently waiting, doodling in the margins.

We discuss the stereotypes of feminists.

It starts typically enough. Hairy, smelly man-haters. Feminazis. But the only negative that seems to be a true belief of the person mentioning it is “overly-aggressive women”, by one of the guys.  Two girls defend feminism, mention good aspects.

Imagine my relief.

Homework for the night: read a chapter from Full Frontal Feminism.

This will be an interesting semester.