In the last few years I've had between one and six transgender students on my class roster. This is great! But where were these students in the first two and a half decades of my career? Well, they were there.
Stop Listening to People who Yammer about Identity Politics
The term "Identity Politics" is meaningless. It's a red herring term that distracts us from very real underlying issues of equity and social justice.
The Marketplace of Ideas is Closed for Business
It is now undeniable that what was once vaunted as a marketplace of ideas is now nothing more than a boarded up strip-mall.
What Was the Deadliest Terrorist Group the U.S. Ever Faced?
All over the country, we see monuments to those who, under any other conceivable context would be defined as traitors, criminals or, in our modern parlance, terrorists.
What is Beauty?
HOW TO EMBRACE PERSONAL BEAUTY AND REJECT COMMODIFICATION When I teach my class on body image and the media I break up the lecture by asking, "what is beauty?" At first, this question seems to be a common sense notion. After all, everyone knows what beauty is. It's... Well, it's...you know... Sociologists are forever at... Continue Reading →
Our Socially Schizophrenic Relationship with Women’s Bodies
This post is about women's bodies.
Gender Does not Equal Sex
WHAT IS BEING REVEALED BY THE DEBATE ON TRANSGENDER RIGHTS It's easy to get distracted by the Great Transgender Bathroom debate. However, it's important to understand that the legislation in question goes far beyond public restroom and locker room policy. The North Carolina state law, HB2 not only nullifies Charlotte's ordinance protecting transgender people using... Continue Reading →
This is MY Bathroom
AND I'M TAKING A STAND! One of the most sociologically interesting characters created by the Saturday Night Live team is the androgynous Pat. This character is totally bereft fo gendered characteristics, either physically or socially. It is, therefore, impossible to categorize Pat as being a man, or a woman. This causes a great deal of tension for... Continue Reading →