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covering. The hidden assault on our civil rights Kenji Yoshino. What is covering?. “Covering” is sociologist Erving Goffman’s term for how we try to “tone down” stigmatized identities, even when those identities are known to the world. Examples of covering:
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covering The hidden assault on our civil rights Kenji Yoshino
What is covering? “Covering” is sociologist Erving Goffman’s term for how we try to “tone down” stigmatized identities, even when those identities are known to the world. Examples of covering: Religious covering, gay covering, sex-based covering, racial covering, disability-based covering
The story of uncovered selves… All of us struggle for self expression; we all have covered selves… (p.25) Everyone covers. To cover is to downplay a disfavored trait so as to blend into the mainstream. Because all of us possess stigmatized attributes, we all encounter pressure to cover in our daily lives. Kenji Yoshino
How do we all cover? Racial minorities are pressed to “act white” by changing their names, languages, or cultural practices. Women are told to “play like men” at work. Gays are asked not to engage in public displays of same-sex affection. The devout are instructed to minimize expressions of faith, and individuals with disabilities are urged to conceal the paraphernalia that permit them to function.
Professor of Constitutional Law at the NYU School of Law. received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College, took a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University earned his law degree at Yale Law School. A specialist in constitutional law, antidiscrimination law, and law and literature http://www.kenjiyoshino.com/ Who is Kenji Yoshino?
What genre is Yoshino using in his writing? • Personal narrative, or as he calls, literary narrative • Legal arguments • Autobiography • Personal Story: a story against demands of assimilation • Examples drawn from his personal experiences • Cites important works on civil rights to strengthen his claims • His main argument: SEE PAGE 27!
What genre is Gladwell using in writing? • Journalistic writing • Argumentative, descriptive, expressive • Case studies • Not a direct personal narrative, but includes features of it. • Cites scientific information • Includes photos, examples of thin-slicing, mind-reading etc. • Includes statistical information.
Remember… • Research papers come in all shapes, sizes, forms, and disciplines. • Different genres: argumentative, descriptive, narrative, analytic • First, you need to know what you are writing about and who you are writing for.
Assignments • Catch up with readings • Read Covering (pg. 118-164) • Moving forward with our research agenda: Read Lamott’s “Shitty First Draft” essay and respond to the prompt on class blog
Agenda and announcements 10/14/2008 • Talking about the upcoming assignments (Book/movie reviews) • A possible writing center visit next Thursday • Presentation on Covering • Group work: White privilege checklist • Talking about shitty first drafts, reading your blog entries. • A new article for your research papers: Writing for an audience by Linda flower
Alternative assignment: ENG 202 Movie Night • Tired of writing book reviews? Here is an option you can take! The Indiana Cares Campaign to End Homphobia (ICC) will kick off its 5th annual LGBT Film Festival Oct 19th films: short film - No Bikini at 6PMfeature film - Save Mefeature film - Be Like Others If interested, email me by Friday, October 15th Book/Movie reviews are dues on Tuesday, October 21st –late assignments will NOT be accepted.
Be Like Others What is it about? An intimate and unflinching look at life in Iran, seen through the lens of those living at its fringes, 'Be Like Others' is a provocative look at a generation of young Iranian men choosing to undergo sex change surgery • http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1157609/
Save Me What is it about? A sex and drug addicted young man who is forced into a Christian-run ministry in an attempt to cure him of his "gay affliction", where instead he is faced with the truth in his heart and spirit.
Racial Covering • Racial covering occurs when non-whites “act white” by modulating their behaviors. • Individuals resist pressure to cover their race, ethnicity, gender or national origin by bringing lawsuits alleging discrimination (see the examples on page 130-140) • Covering is unfortunately demanded in work force today. Covering if also rewarded.
Sex-based covering • Discrimination against women has taken a different form from discrimination against other groups. Men have historically cherished women, so long as they conformed to the domestic role. • If women are not “masculine” enough to be respected as workers, they will be asked to cover. If they are not “feminine” enough to be respected as women, they will be asked to reverse cover.
Assignments • Read Covering Part 3 (167-200) • Read Flowerdew’s article and start thinking about your target audience for your research projects. Some tips: • Our writing is highly influenced by the target audience in our mind. Know your audience well! • You want to prepare the readers well before you introduce them with new concepts and ideas in your research. You want the readers to see things as you see them.
Announcements • Alternative Assignment: Movie Review. Let me know by tomorrow afternoon whether you choose this option. The Indiana LGBT Film Festival --October 19, @ 6pm, with one short film preceding the double feature for the evening. Movies: No Bikini (short film), Save Me, Be Like Others McVitty Auditorium is located in Sprowls Hall at 470 South 11th Street on the IUP campus. • Roadtrip Nation is coming to IUP! They send people on the road who are interested in exploring the world outside their comfort zone, talking with individuals who chose to define their own road in life, and sharing their experiences with today's college-age generation. Visit the Green RV and find out how to get involved in the Roadtrip Nation Movement. When: October 23, 2009; 9:00 am lasting all day Where: HUB Circle www.roadtripnation.com
Agenda 10/15/2008 • Good job in Book Reviews! • Correcting our favorite mistakes • Last Presentation on Covering. • http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Sexual+Orientation+Law+2006%3A+Kenji+Yoshino&emb=0# • Book Review assignment description • Talking about the audience.
Your favorite mistakes worksheet • In your groups, find the weak aspects of the following sentences which were taken directly from your papers
The bad thing about this book is….. • I found this book very very interesting • We all have been in the situation where we think to fast • This book has made me look deeper into things. Such as when I first think of when I see someone or something. • Just because your rival has more sales doesn’t mean your going to go under. • Despite what the book lacks it can still teach a lesson to the college students of today. • The chapters go hand and hand with one another. • The chair was very comfortable but did not look like a normal chair, it was ugly and that’s how people’s first impressions saw it. • If you are a college student I would highly recommend reading this book. • The IAT test could, quickly and accuracy determine weither you were for or against something.
Group Work:Writing for an Audience • Knowledge : What does your readers need to know? • Attitude: What is the purpose of your paper? To present? To report? To persuade? • Needs: What are your readers’ need? What is the importance of your research? Who would care?
Assignments • Read Identity • Work on your Book Reviews
