My first class of the new semester was "The Psychology of Gender." I knew going in that this was going to be a good class, but I'm not quite sure what to expect.
The class started out with our professor saying that this class is exactly what it advertises. We are going to talk about sex and gender. "And we are going to use the words that pertain to it. I won't use them today, but if you stay, I will be using them."
Wow. Really? We're twenty-something year old college students at a university that is expected to be more mature than the rest and we can't handle "penis" or "vagina"? But whatever.
Anyway, she continued on and talked about how sex is such an important issue to talk about, and that because we don't talk about it so much, we have a whole new breed of problems. Newlywed students have come to her as clients because the new wife has such a disposition against sex that she won't make love to her husband. (One more reason being gay trumps being straight. You both know where you stand on sex: yes).
And all in all, sex and gender are just such a huge part of our lives that we can't ignore them, as is the trend in the white-bread mormon world.
I'm sure it's going to be one hell of a class. We are going to spend several weeks discussing homosexuality in one way or another. We are even going to hear from a therapist from the counseling center and a director of Evergreen. (Not sure I'm going to agree with the Evergreen guy, but at least it's going to be talked about)
But I honestly wonder how long I'm going to be able to stay in the closet in this class. Finally there is a forum where these things can be discussed openly and honestly. And I know, I just know, some little mormon girl is going to make some ignorant comment, and it'll be the last straw. I just don't know how to toe the line between out of the closet and expel-able.
But these are things that need to be said, especially to the BYU community.
At the same time, I'm really looking forward to leaving this place. I'm tired of hiding.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
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3 comments:
I know more than one guy who came out in that class (including my boyfriend). They were good experiences, but there's plenty of reason to be cautious.
Also,
"You both know where you stand on sex: yes"
^ :-)
For the record, I'm not offended, and really kinda wish I was taking this class. I hope it's good; just throw something at the ignorant mormon girl when she opens her mouth. She'll deserve it :)
I hope you do get the chance to talk some sense into some people in that class. As long as you don't engage in what the HC calls "advocacy of homosexuality" you should be fine.
Of course, the question of what constitutes such "advocacy" can be vague, and I suspect was left that way deliberately by the BYU administration. I've done some analysis of that issue in the past, LMK if you ever want to talk about it from a legal perspective, in case you worry about putting yourself at risk.
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