Essay on "Gender Show and Tell"

Quoted Instructions for "Gender Show and Tell" Assignment:

You must connect the thing that you will show to the reading that I will attach. Please follow the specifics carefully. Last time I did this with you I got a zero grade because the was no linking between the reading and the object attached(picture).

You should bring in some sort of tangible object such as a magazine article, a family photo, an advertisement, a book, an article of clothing, a toy, etc. (If you want to use websites or internet sources please print out something representative to share and turn in.) Along with this object, you must turn in one to two typed pages (minimum six to eight paragraphs) explaining how the object is connected to the reading/topic for the day. This will require some forethought and scanning ahead of time so that you are not searching for your Show and Tell object at the last minute.

Creativity will be rewarded here, but note that what you choose is less important than how you connect it to the reading. In other words, if we are discussing/reading about the 1960s women*****s movement in America that day, it is completely acceptable to bring in an advertisement from a men*****s magazine of 2011 as long as in your paragraph(s) you talk about how that ad contributes to our understanding of the American women*****s movement of the 1960s. For example: what sorts of masculinity are being *****hailed***** in the ad? Is the ad*****s notion of masculinity one the 1960s feminism was opposed to, or has the ad incorporated traditional feminist critiques of masculinity in order to sell its product?

First, remember that the majority of your grade is based on YOUR analysis of your artifact and how you connect it to the main argument. So, the majority of your time and the paper should be spent on the analysis, not summarizing the argument or picking the artifact.

Second, some thoughts on the essays themselves*****¦As you read Bordo*****s *****Pills and Power Tools***** keep in mind her overarching point- that we socially constructed gendered sexualities. So, finding Viagra or similar ED drug ads (fake or real) and analyzing how sexuality is being constructed through the ad would be a good way to approach the project. Similarly, although Bordo does not specifically discuss women and birth control ads, analyzing how they construct feminine sexuality (or if they avoid sexuality altogether) would be acceptable. Analyzing sex scenes from movies/TV shows or condom ads for how they construct sexuality would also be interesting. *****