Unit 2 Synapsis:

I really loved this unit - it opened my eyes to how I am responsible for creating the gender identity of my daughter, but also how I encourage gender on the children I work with. It isn't something I considered before as it seemed normal, but now I realize the impact it can have.

Parents and caretakers have a serious impact on the gender of a child, so what? Well, I began to wonder how it feels for a girl that doesn't "feel" girly, or a boy who doesn't particularly feel drawn to playing with the boys. Do my comments make them feel confident or do they make them feel insecure? I'm much more careful about how I see boys and girls now - because I forgot how it feels not to exactly fit in. Not to mention this culture seems to promote the "ideal woman" and "ideal man" image that can be damaging to young women and men who are not fitting in with those suggested ideals.

Ego boundaries were totally new to me and this was another topic that thoroughly enlightened me. There are masculine and feminine boundaries that are formed late in toddler hood and continue to form through childhood. Feminine boundaries are more fluid and people with these tendencies are capable of feeling what other people feel, being more compassionate and sympathetic. People with masculine boundaries see people as separate and they don't feel as sympathetic toward other people as they don't identify personally with them. It explains a lot really. Interestingly, males can have feminine boundaries and females can have masculine boundaries - these are influenced by caretakers and society, culture, religion, etc.

The chapter on gendered education isn't something I'd put much thought into but it really ties in with the lessons I'm learning in Religion and Violence and what we studied in Women's Studies last semester - men have been very influential on culture. I don't need to say too much more about that. But I'm happy to be getting a more well rounded education in 2009.

Discrimination....whoa! It took me back to when I was in human resources in the early 1990's. I remember specifically NOT hiring mothers because I got so sick of how they'd call in sick when their kids were sick *blush* (this was pre-motherhood and I was pretty driven by other things in those days). Blatant discrimination is not as prevalent but still an issue...but subtle forms are still very prevalent and normal - even acceptable. Discriminating against a woman at a university who took time off to have a baby will be considered "not dedicated" and denied tenure - and the same would go for a man who would consider taking family time off. Are families important to this culture? It really doesn't appear that way...I'm hoping things change, for the sake of our children and the parents who both want a solid future for their families.

I love this course...much more than the Women's Studies course which seemed horrible one-sided. This course is fair and presents questions about the challenges that both sexes and all genders face. I appreciate a balanced education.