The purpose of journal is for you to have a space to think through challenging concepts, questions, and new ideas in the readings and viewings. You should keep up with your journals as you read and watchrather than all at once. You will write one journal entry and must be at least 1500 words. Your entries must be coherent and analytical – in other words, they cannot be bullet marks or random thoughts without explanation.

Journal entry should:

1. Summarize each of the readings and viewings for the week, including the author’s main arguments, focus, and key examples (about 200 words per reading or viewing; for longer viewings or readings, your summaries should also be longer)
2. Analyze the readings as a whole (do you agree or disagree? What do you find challenging? What do you find new or intriguing? How can you apply this information to your own life? How do you see the material coming up in the media, politics, or other current events? Etc.). Feel free in this section to link to videos, articles, or other relevant material. (about 400 words total)
3. Pose at least 2-3 questions you still have after reading the week’s material.

Journals are my way of assessing how closely you are reading and watching the assigned texts, so include page numbers (e.g. Frye 3) and time stamps (e.g. 1:30 for 1 minute and 30 seconds in the video) as you reference the texts, and explain with enough detail that it is clear you have read and watched with thoughtful intent. Journal entry should take about 8 hours to complete.

Readings: (see the attachments)

• Judith Lorber, “The Social Construction of Gender”
• Leslie Feinberg, “We Are All Works in Progress”
• Lois Gould, “Baby X”

Viewings:

1-“Katie & Arin” – Please scroll down to 5 minute vide

2- ABC News, “Princess Boy Loves to Wear Dresses”

3- “How To Be a Girl” Podcast

4- Intesexion Documentar

Answer preview

When a child is born, the baby is given a female or male identity depending on their genitals. With such identification, the society further goes ahead into assuming the gender roles of such small babies. The society deems that there are specific activities that the males and females should do depending on the social and cultural norms. Such perceptions in most cases influence the identity and social practices that the men and women should play. However, the society does not comprehend that such children as they grow up, they have a right to determine their gender identity…

 

(1500 words)