Skype Enhancing Learning

    Like mentioned in the first post, our class has covered a decent amount of material. One part of the class that our teacher Dr. Abbey has incorporated is having guest speakers via skype. A couple of weeks ago we had our first guest who goes by the name Shark-Fu. She writes regularly on here blog entitled Angry Black Bitch. When she came and spoke to our class a good amount of students including myself found it difficult to align with her approach to gender issues. One of her articles that caused some discrepancy was called Battle Hymn of Dangerous Black Woman. We had to read it before class and as we were waiting to connect with her via skype, my classmates started talking about it.
    Shark-Fu's thoughts when it comes to her activism seems to be focused specifically towards African-American women. The post she made about the Battle Hymn is a perfect example of this as it defines the gender and sex issues she discusses as relevant only to "black" females. This upset at least one of my classmates including myself. Shark-Fu's approach towards these issues is limiting. She is certainly focus on the little-d discourse here.
The second guest we had via skype was Doug Gertner, Ph. D. Personally I really enjoyed listening to him much more than I did Shark-Fu. Focusing on Men's Movements, Doug took the time to explain the various groups that are related to gender and sex issues. My favorite part had to be his Gender Role Journey: Five Phases in Our Own Lives. The path describes how progress is made in reducing sexism in one life. Here are the phases themselves:

1. Acceptance of Traditional Gender Roles
2. Ambivalence about Gender Roles
3. Anger
4. Activism
5. Celebration and Integration of Gender Roles

    For whatever reason I love these things because it really puts it into perspective. At times I find myself in many of these phases and by looking at them I can better understand why. Usually I'd say I'm somewhat stuck in-between 3 and 4 but honestly I find myself in every phase at some point (not so much Phase 1 I hope). The Gender Role Journey also reminds me of the Kubler-Ross Model or the Five Stages of Grief. I think that Phases 1-3 of Doug Gertner's are heavily related to this model.
    So going back to Shark-Fu, it seems to me that she comes off as being stuck in Phase 3 as well. After all her blog is entitled Angry Black Bitch. I'm pretty sure she does some activism as well but can't say for sure. Shark-Fu didn't click with me because it seemed like she believed that only "black" women can achieve their freedom for themselves. However I think that it's more than that. These issues are just microcosms of the human condition. The Gender Role Journey is one that all people travel.

If the Models discussed here interest you, perhaps you will enjoy The Eight Stages of Successful Social Movements by Bill Moyer

Oh and here's another Free to Be for good measure: