March 13

I. Re-watching Judith Butler Together

• not performed BUT performative
• not internal reality BUT reproduced phenomena
• institutional powers and informal practices
• the police function of gendered norms
• cultural forms/norms ....but also freedom!

II. Whole Class Activities: Clarification Exercise
Was there a word, sentence, or paragraph that really tripped you up?  If so, let's air these together now as a way to begin our discussion of Gender Trouble.

Click here for previous students' understandings/statements of Butler's Gender Trouble

IV. Group Discussion: What Would They Say ? (What Would Judith Butler Say? What would Jennifer Purvis say?  What would Adrienne Rich Say?)
Let's ask WWTS?  This line of critical theory offers us a different kind of lens into our conversations so far that push us to think about gender's performativity... including its heterosexist norms.  Here are questions inspired from your previous classes and writings:

1. Think back to discussions of the norm of men's catcalling/sexual harrassment.  How is gender performed here? Why and for whom?  What would Butler say?  What would Purvis say?  What would Rich say?
2. Let's be clear here: we live in a world where it is actually DANGEROUS for gay couples to hold hands in public or for transmen and transwomen to even walk out the door.   How is gender performed here? Why and for whom?  What would Butler say?  What would Purvis say?  What would Rich say?
3. What does it mean to be a "woman"?  What does it mean to be a "man"? What would Butler say?  What would Purvis say?  What would Rich say?
4. Many people believe all "women" should be "united" in their "common" cause?  What would Butler say?  What would Purvis say?  What would Rich say?

Be ready to talk about these questions as a whole class.  Be ready to interrogate how/why these public gender performances are also heterosexist in nature.

V. Chart-Making
In the interest of time and in order to see all responses to this assignment, we will use charts today.  The facilitator's job today is to capture everyone's comments on the chart.  Put do of the following:

• Put all group members' names on your chart (you can post to the wall and write or write out responses on the desk)
  
• Jot down answers to questions 1-4 above on your chart using a diagram, columns, etc
• Have your chart finished and DONE by 11:50am!

VI. Open Discussion