tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post3150531115532836113..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: My Life As A SexistTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-87287927054575132312011-08-21T20:50:09.068-07:002011-08-21T20:50:09.068-07:00According to Buddhist teaching, in case you have a...According to Buddhist teaching, in case you have any interest, you are not your thoughts. Thoughts are something you have, but not who you are. It's great to be aware of them, then let them go sometimes. No need to feel bad about them!<br /><br />On another note, you probably didn't have to say a single thing to the women, other than, "this is the day's task," or some such, and leave it at that. We really are capable! Nice post.Jessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-49696679660080016282011-08-21T18:44:18.520-07:002011-08-21T18:44:18.520-07:00Great post - I have my own privilege, as a white, ...Great post - I have my own privilege, as a white, middle-class woman. The only right thing is to acknowledge it. All the rest is learning, communicating, and trying to understand people's world views and experiences. <br /><br />One other way to reconcile more emotive histories is by listening to oral testimony. The Smithsonian has amazing archives. Personally, I've grown really fond of Foxfire - a journal written by young people, recording their Appalachian elders' way of life: reimagining as they go.<br /><br />Anyway, I'm getting off topic. I just wanted to post the following links, hoping you might find them interesting starting points :)<br /><br />Here's a great series of posts by a father: http://jezebel.com/daddy-issues/<br /><br />A sociological questionnaire: http://sap.mit.edu/content/pdf/male_privilege.pdfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-46732680753165599462011-08-21T07:12:41.075-07:002011-08-21T07:12:41.075-07:00Thanks for honestly sharing your story, Tom. I was...Thanks for honestly sharing your story, Tom. I was just talking Friday with a guy friend who is a center director (and has also worked as a teacher) about his experience as a man in the early childhood field - he'll appreciate your thoughts so I'll be sure and pass it along. <br /><br />By the way, have you read Lise Eliot's recent book, "Pink Brain, Blue Brain"? Fascinating summary of research of sex differences in every area of development, where those differences originate, and if/when we should do something about them. Exposes a lot of myths and assumptions. VERY readable - she's a great translator of research! I've written a review of the book for those who are interested: http://www.childwiseresources.com/index.php?/book_club/<br /><br />KathyKathyhttp://www.facebook.com/childwiseresourcesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-19481002674509887912011-08-21T01:00:35.823-07:002011-08-21T01:00:35.823-07:00At least you are aware of your sexism... I meet lo...At least you are aware of your sexism... I meet lots of pre-school and primary practitioners who are unaware of their assumptions and practice.Juliet Robertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07035975039896986525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-45107511846608982042011-08-20T18:49:35.068-07:002011-08-20T18:49:35.068-07:00It's a wonderful skill to be able to recognise...It's a wonderful skill to be able to recognise your flaws & realise that they are part of who you are. None of are perfect & if we were we'd be very dull.<br /><br />I too find sexist thought escaping & becoming utterances from time to time. I also, ashamedly, admit to the same racially. It's not something I can fully control, the thoughts I mean & I often get angry with myself for having them. Yet, all any of us can do is the best we can & I'm sure nobody would argue that your best is awesome at the very least.<br /><br />I don't want perfection from anyone, but an awareness that what they say & do impact on others. I think no less of you Tom. If anything your standings have risen even higher. When I don't grow up I want to be just like.......<br /><br />I'll leave the rest to your imagination.Males in Early Childhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11064609037937034152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-21514620489909877972011-08-20T11:46:04.643-07:002011-08-20T11:46:04.643-07:00That should read: No you're not Trisha. =)That should read: No you're not Trisha. =)Teacher Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-45006072870405657752011-08-20T11:38:50.329-07:002011-08-20T11:38:50.329-07:00No your not Trisha. I'm fixing it. =)No your not Trisha. I'm fixing it. =)Teacher Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-37688017699100812802011-08-20T11:35:04.680-07:002011-08-20T11:35:04.680-07:00Great post! Am I the only one who isn't gettin...Great post! Am I the only one who isn't getting the pictures to load?Trishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14633779886415991038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-69695868176758341872011-08-20T11:19:10.636-07:002011-08-20T11:19:10.636-07:00To the previouscommenter--we might say many boys a...To the previouscommenter--we might say many boys approach things differently than many girls, but then there are vast numbers of outliers--all the more so, IMO, in the early years when they have had less time to be socialized. (I have known innumerable toddler boys who likes to wear skirts and princess things and zero 8yo boys who liked to, for instance.) I think presorting people into expected slots by gender, even if you are ready to be disproven, is just as sloppy as presorting them by race--in both cases, you're expecting people to be a certain way because of how they look. There is a vast weight of science out there showing that in fact there aren't very many solid differences, and even when there are some, there are lots and lots of kids who don't fit the expectation. I look pretty gender-typical and I'm a woman who is married to a man, but there are a lot of things about me that don't fit people's "female" conceptions and all my life I've been made to feel sort of off or odd because of it. This doesn't mean that I reject stereotypical behaviors when they appear in children, but it does mean that I work VERY hard not to assume or to prejudge. Interestingly I have one child who is outside the gender box in a lot of ways and one who is more gender-typical. (Not talking about appearance or sexuality here--jsut in terms of, does Boy like Cars, does Girl like Princesses, etc.)carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14077181573934610154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-980878293106848572011-08-20T11:06:17.840-07:002011-08-20T11:06:17.840-07:00A very honest piece - as teachers we have to be aw...A very honest piece - as teachers we have to be aware that boys & girls do approach things differently and then we can assist them as best we can.Kierna Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14596808181242404873noreply@blogger.com