Posts filed as: genderARG and Women: Moving Beyond The Hot BrunetteOver the past few months I’ve had the absolute pleasure of working with Andrea Phillips, an independent game designer and interactive writer. She will be speaking this week at ARG Fest discussing the phenomenon of ‘hot brunettes who need your help’. The above video is an extended version of the talk she’ll be giving, which she presented at SXSWi 2010. continue reading… Comment Unlearn
I recently read an article that a gender studies course will soon be offered as an elective at Ontario high schools. I’m pretty pumped about this idea and am a little jealous that I didn’t get to take my first course on gender, sex, and sexuality until my third year of university. It was probably one of the most influential courses I ever took, you know, next to Video Games and The Oprah Effect. As a child of the Catholic school system I know all too well how a narrow understanding of gender/sex/sexuality can have profound personal effects for adolescents. If a girl plays hockey – she’s a dyke, if a guy has a lisp he’s a fag – these words are viciously spat out in hallways, shaming their unfortunate victims. If you’re not strong enough, if you’re not pretty enough, if you don’t prescribe to set gender norms then you are the victim of taunts, ridicule, and violence. I’m not saying a course in gender studies is going to completely change this, I mean these values are even reinforced by the administration, but it can make a dent – maybe get these kids open their eyes a bit and start using their peripheral vision. The thing I found bothersome about this article, is the above illustration by the Torontist (one of Toronto’s most popular blogs). continue reading… 2 Comments Caster Semenya
I have been following the Caster Semenya case for a couple of weeks now. Each time I read new developments, my heart breaks a little and I get increasingly frustrated. When I first heard about the ‘gender probe’ I was upset about the incredibly ignorant justification the media gave behind the IAFF’s investigation*. Seriously, you’re going to investigate Semenya’s ‘gender’ because she’s strong, has short hair, has a husky voice, and you know, therefore kind of looks like a man? Looks like a man? To who? Based on who’s standards? She’s strong? Are you kidding me – she’s a fucking athlete. At first, I put aside the fact that the media and IAFF can’t seem to differentiate between gender and sex, and instead let my head swim in the multitude of sex and race issues obviously at play – for the first time in years the words white / hegemonic / heteronormative /oppressive / gender / identity all came rushing at once, and I silently wondered where the hell Dr. Ouellette was at a time like this. Comment |
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