This course explores the ways in which objects and material culture embody personal narrative. Moving back and forth from ephemeral traces of events and experiences to the culturally invested luxury goods that create legacy to the objects that facilitate daily life, this class will use, as its primary references, examples that draw from queer and African American cultures to underscore the potential of objects to tell the stories that not only reflect majority traditions and experiences but those of the disenfranchised, the details of whose lives are often obscured. In addition to readings that will provide background for class discussion, student will be asked to play the roles of detectives, archeologists, and curators at various sites around New York City. Each student will also be asked to create an annotated material record that reveals the public and private lives of one individual. That record may consist of texts, objects or any variety of media chosen or designed by the student. This blogs serves as an archive for the work done in the context of this course and related materials that become relevant to this exploration.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Gender Neutral Parenting


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Boy vs. girl

How much of gender differences come from genetics, and how much come from how we raise our kids? From the moment of birth, our actions and words impart certain expectations and assumptions about our baby girl or boy. He’s strong, smart and energetic while she is dainty, soft and cuddly. Unraveling the mysteries of gender differences has fascinated scientists for years — and there is much we still don’t understand about how gender affects our choices. Do you buy the trucks for your son because you think that’s what he should play with, or because that’s what he truly loves?" - Sherri Kuhn

This article highlights the practical aspects that can assist avoiding gendered learning through early childhood development. It is interesting to outline the aspects of gendered behaviors and how personal interests in activities, objects or entertainment can be misconstrued. 


Link: http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/1033051/raising-a-gender-neutral-child

-Kevin Houlahan
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