Awareness

I know today's discussion didn't seem too "Core-like" or academic. But I just don't think we can begin to "hear" what Rich has to say until we develop some awareness of gender roles, as well as religious affiliations and sexual orientation, and the assumptions our culture contains. It can be really hard to notice assumptions that are hidden in things that seem "common sense." One example from class today would be that businesses have to hire the most reliable workers, and mothers are more likely to be unreliable because of their responsibilities to their children. The assumption implicit in that is that male parents don't have the same responsibilities. Many business people thought this way. It took people saying --wait a minute, you are making an assumption here. The first step is awareness, the second step is to break the silence and open a conversation. Only after that can we begin to imagine a different way of doing things, a different language.

I believe a couple of things:
1. the academic, like the political, is always personal

As you all pointed out in class, we are products of our own experiences. They are the reality we know. It takes active listening and imagination to begin to understand that other people have other experiences. And still, we pursue, in politics and in academia, those things which are meaningful to us. Scratch the surface of a scholar and you will find a passion that started in a youthful experience.

2. Education should help us notice our assumptions.

This is sometimes called "critical thinking." Our class isn't about finding out the right things to believe; it is about looking hard at what we already believe, and at what others claim to be "true."

3.This is why we really need everyone in the class to add their perspectives and experiences.
When we hear someone else's experience, we can begin to see what our assumptions are.


NOW--let's go back to Rich's writing. She articulates so well the development of her own awareness. On Wednesday we'll look at this in detail.