Intersectionality takes into account how inequalities of race, gender, class, and sexuality "intersect," or work in combined ways, in the lives of Black women and other women of color. As a holistic teaching approach, it also has relevance for all people, male and female, straight and gay, rich and poor, and along the various continuums between…

Women's studies and feminist curricula have been lauded for the development and application of critical thinking skills for social and political change in its students (Fisher; Kellner and Share; Mayberry). Critical thinking can be defined as the ability to identify and challenge assumptions, to search for alternative ways of thinking, and to…

Since that fateful day in September 2001, and in its terrible aftermath, the author has often sought inspiration from a wider community of humans seeking to create a different, less terrifying, world. In concluding her 1912 article, "The New Year," Emma Goldman boldly asserted, "Out of the chaos the future emerges in harmony and beauty." Chaos is…

For educators striving to create an egalitarian classroom based on open, reflexive, and honest dialogue, silence can be the ultimate obstacle. Not only does silence stifle individual expression; more importantly, silence also prevents the collective production of knowledge, understanding, compassion, and empathy. When learners and teachers feel…

As the pieces by Di Chiro, Plevin, and Sze in this issue have illustrated, feminist pedagogy offers a productive framework through which to explore environmental justice issues. Environmental justice issues, in turn, offer invaluable sites for feminist praxis. The mutually enriching relationship between the two fields results from their similar…

While working in a one-year position at Grinnell College, I was assigned to teach two sections of Introduction to Gender and Women's Studies (GWS). Although I had never taught in the discipline before, I decided that my course would need a social-justice component in order to ensure that students would understand GWS as both an academic discipline…

Examines some of the problems that make teaching about the intersection of race, class, and gender difficult. Focuses on why there exists a problem of convincing students that racism, sexism, and consideration of class continue to be powerful forces in creating the kind of lives people lead. (KO)

Uses the television program "Roseanne" as a teaching aid to analyze societal institutions and their effects on everyday life experiences. Examines attitudes and opinions of 31 White midwestern college students, ages 18 to late 50s, regarding the program. Shows students feel the series critiques patriarchy and affirms women's lives. (NL)

Proposes a method for teaching about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) by using poetry written about the disease. Identifies specific anthologies as resources and reviews the literature. Says poetry addresses AIDS-inspired fears and helps reshape negative attitudes and homophobia. Suggests that it also enhances prevention-oriented public…

Describes the impact of an independent school's switch to a coeducational institution from single sex boy's school. Discusses the process of redefining the school community and developing a set of core school values. Includes a set of recommended elements for successful coeducation programs. (CFR)

Describes reactions by college students to an antihomophobic classroom pedagogy. Asserts that homosexual and bisexual students need to see themselves represented in the classroom. Presents a 30-item selected bibliography addressing this issue. (CFR)

Describes the experiences of heterosexual teachers in introducing the topic of sexual preference into a freshman writing course. Expounds on the pitfalls of a writing assignment in which students were asked to describe a conversation with someone about homosexuality. Includes numerous attempts at integrating lesbian and gay experiences into the…

Critiques the mainstream curriculum as oppressive to women and identifies it as a feminist issue. Discusses how Peggy McIntosh's theory of curricular transformation addresses this issue and suggests ways to expand the theory to make it more inclusive and applicable to gender-resistant fields. Proposes viewing feminist curriculum transformation…

Addresses the problem in an introductory women's studies course of student resistance to generalizing statements that document inequality in society. Discusses a presentation made to the class on the importance of generalizations in understanding sociological and political research findings, including statistics. Maintains that objections to…

Presents an analogy between classroom space utilization and Peter Brook's 1968 play, "The Empty Space," used in a modern, dramatic literature, college course. Taught from a feminist and student-centered perspective, students configured the classroom and class members as part of their dramatic readings. Stresses the indispensability of emptiness to…