My horoscope

TAURUS - You may feel you're missing out on specific schooling or that there are large holes in your body of knowledge. The fact is that you are more original and unique because you're untrained. (The Washington Post, Today's Horoscope by Holiday Mathis, Monday, October 27, 2008, page C11)

de-jargon-ator

AGENCY - the ability of individuals to shape their own lives.

usually contrasted with

SOCIAL STRUCTURE - the "given" social conditions and power relations

usually, conscious agency is about breaking out of

SOCIAL CONSTRUCTS - a perception of an individual, group, or idea that is 'constructed' through cultural or social practice (dictionary.com); for example, class, race and gender are social constructs.

but in my class, I see this:

MODELING AGENCY - the asserted ability of an individual (shall I say a model minority?) to choose to portray herself/himself in stereotypically disempowered ways (sex slave, dragon lady, nerd, martial arts master, bakla (nelly queen)), (but not with the purpose of making fun of the stereotypes), with no thought to consequences for others. I recognize that you gotta get paid and I might even enjoy the show (ok, I will). But that doesn't negate the consequences (Prof Gem, PhLOL, 2008).

The modeling agency

So yesterday in my Asian American Sexualities class we showed pictures of scantily clad Asian American women and asked a loaded question: is this feminism?

There were many thoughtful responses from the students. One that makes me thoughtful goes like this:

"It's not like anyone is forcing her to a be sushi platter."

"No one is forcing them to wear a bikini in a college fashion show sponsored by Asian American organizations."

On one level, that retreat into individual choice is acceptable because it asserts agency: those women are making a choice. It may be contributing to stereotypes, but it is also the source of their power and they are choosing it, so their reasoning goes. I call that the "modeling agency" defense (get it?)

I want to ask them a deeper question next class: So what IS forcing her to make that choice?

Is it peer pressure? A desire to be liked? A paycheck?

Is it to overcome a negative body image (none of the girls are fat)? Is it to support relatives back home? Economic justice is not a term I use often because I don't fully understand it or buy it. But the concept is attractive because it values the connections between individuals and systems.

As much as we value the individual and autonomy, real life teaches us that choices are limited and control is incomplete.

In my syllabus is this quote (and I've actually read Pedagogy of the Oppressed):

• Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world. –Paulo Freire (cite…)

So the even deeper question is this: how does your choice contribute to the transformation of your world? The world that you complain about because it doesn't fairly include you in its media? Are these women practicing freedom?

test u do

Testudo is the name of the terrapin (turtle) mascot here at the University of Maryland. I found out last week that students make offerings to it and rub its head before an exam. And you can pronounce it "test you do" or "test two doh."

So my Filipino American History students are taking their exam right now.

"Is it going to be hard?" They ask.

"I don't know. I don't know my own strength," I respond.

It's 5:30 and the test started at 4pm. 2/3 of the class is still here. I guess it is hard.

I can never really concentrate or multitask effectively when students are taking an exam. I get anxious too. It's a little harder than last year's exam because I eliminated the multiple choice, but otherwise, I think it's fine. I'll see when I read them, though, what the score really is.

I gave extra credit questions so things will balance out.

Two of my students (out of 30) aren't here. Sucks to be them it will.

I do get a kick out of watching their faces contort, grin, furrow, sigh...smile.

"I'm sorry I wrote on the test."

"That's okay as long as all of your answers are on the paper I gave you."

"Do I have to write my name on every sheet?"

"Yes," I say. What I think is, "What do the directions say?"

I think maybe version 2 of the test may be a little harder since people are taking longer on that one.

One of my star pupils is going over his answers. Oh, ready to turn it in....

Oh, and another just asked for her paper back because she forgot to do the extra cred. They're out in the hall talking about it. LOL.

5:45 - there are 6 students left. I told them I was kicking them out at 6.

Hah, I just checked Facebook. I put that I'm giving an exam on my status line. Someone commented that I be nice and give everyone an "A."

"bakitwhy?"

It's 5:55 and all the Filipinos are done. I have 15 Filipinos. Fewer than I expected but it's great that so many others want to take this course.

"Yes, put your name on all the sheets!"

TIME!