Category Archives: gender

Ninja gnomes

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Over winter vacation, Gorilla Girl and Monkey man became obsessed with Gnomeo and Juliet — an animated, Elton-John infused version of Romeo and Juliet.  The family friendly film predictably alters the ending (double suicide not really being popular with the … Continue reading →

Posted in education, fairy tales, family, gender, motherhood | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Playing dress up

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Monkey Man has found a new love — playing dress up. Gorilla Girl has a box of “princess” dress up clothes that we bought for Christmas, and she has been recently wearing the various princess outfits over her own clothing. … Continue reading →

Posted in expectations, experience, fairy tales, family, feminism, gender, identity, lessons, spring | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Not so pretty in pink

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Peggy Orenstein’s Schoolgirls, when it was released in 1994, like other feminist works of the 1990s, questioned, probed, revealed, and prompted changes and shifts in education, the work place and social interactions.  Her book, like Myra and David Sadker’s Failing … Continue reading →

Posted in class, consumerism, education, expectations, fairy tales, fraud, gender, identity, language, motherhood | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

“Reprehensible”

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

I’ve been trying not to pay too much attention to the anti-choice rhetoric spewed by the right and by Republicans, but this recent spate of attacks on women has me more depressed than ever. I try not to pay attention … Continue reading →

Posted in abortion, gender, motherhood, scars | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Mean girls

Posted on January 23, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Because I visit Monkey Man and Gorilla Girl so frequently in their classroom, the other kids are starting to pay more attention to me.  They wanted to know my name, and as I explained in a previous post, I allowed … Continue reading →

Posted in education, friends, gender, identity, motherhood, names, scars, teaching | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Farewell, Rosie

Posted on December 31, 2010 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

This iconic poster has adorned the wall of my classroom for the last fifteen or so years, as long as I have been teaching in MS 176. Geraldine Doyle, the woman who was the source of inspiration for this poster, … Continue reading →

Posted in class, consumerism, education, gender, inspiration | 2 Comments

Fashionista barbie, door bells and prince charlie

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

A few days ago, Monkey Man and Gorilla Girl were playing while I made dinner.  Gorilla Girl said to Monkey Man, “You will be Prince Charlie and I’ll visit you.” For a moment, I thought I should correct Gorilla Girl, … Continue reading →

Posted in consumerism, expectations, fairy tales, gender, holidays, language | 4 Comments

Wear it proudly

Posted on November 15, 2010 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

It will be better by the time you are married — this it what my mom uttered each time I got a scrape, bruise, or sprained an ankle. I spent much of my childhood playing tackle football with boys in … Continue reading →

Posted in expectations, gender, identity, memory, motherhood, scars | 4 Comments

Reason #37 not to pursue a PhD in humanities

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

For anyone who has considered “higher education” as a life goal or who is already struggling to teach  humanities, words of humor and wisdom… Thanks, Ed, for sending this one…

Posted in education, expectations, gender, teaching | 1 Comment

Out of the mouths of babes: gender divide

Posted on October 20, 2010 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Gorilla Girl and Monkey Man are taking a bath – I can hear them on the baby monitor from downstairs. As I write, I think of the little things they say that make me laugh. Or cringe. Today, during our … Continue reading →

Posted in beer, expectations, friends, gender, motherhood | 2 Comments