coveringcovering

The hidden assault on our civil The hidden assault on our civil rightsrights

Kenji YoshinoKenji Yoshino

What is covering?What is covering?

““Covering” is sociologist Erving Covering” is sociologist Erving Goffman’s term for how we try to Goffman’s term for how we try to “tone down” stigmatized identities, “tone down” stigmatized identities, even when those identities are even when those identities are known to the world.known to the world.

Examples of covering: Examples of covering:

Religious covering, gay covering, sex-Religious covering, gay covering, sex-based covering, racial covering, based covering, racial covering, disability-based covering disability-based covering

The story of uncovered selves…The story of uncovered selves…

All of us struggle for self expression; we All of us struggle for self expression; we all have covered selves… (p.25)all have covered selves… (p.25)

Everyone covers. To cover is to Everyone covers. To cover is to downplay a disfavored trait so as to downplay a disfavored trait so as to blend into the mainstream. Because blend into the mainstream. Because all of us possess stigmatized all of us possess stigmatized attributes, we all encounter pressure attributes, we all encounter pressure to cover in our daily lives.to cover in our daily lives.

Kenji YoshinoKenji Yoshino

How do we all cover?How do we all cover?

Racial minorities are pressed to “act Racial minorities are pressed to “act white” by changing their names, white” by changing their names, languages, or cultural practices. languages, or cultural practices. Women are told to “play like men” at Women are told to “play like men” at work. Gays are asked not to engage in work. Gays are asked not to engage in public displays of same-sex affection. public displays of same-sex affection. The devout are instructed to minimize The devout are instructed to minimize expressions of faith, and individuals expressions of faith, and individuals with disabilities are urged to conceal with disabilities are urged to conceal the paraphernalia that permit them to the paraphernalia that permit them to function. function.

Who is Kenji Yoshino?Who is Kenji Yoshino? Professor of Constitutional Professor of Constitutional

Law at the NYU School of Law at the NYU School of Law. Law.

received his received his undergraduate degree undergraduate degree from Harvard College, took from Harvard College, took a Rhodes Scholarship to a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University Oxford University

earned his law degree at earned his law degree at Yale Law School. Yale Law School.

A specialist in A specialist in constitutional law, constitutional law, antidiscrimination law, and antidiscrimination law, and law and literature law and literature

http://www.kenjiyoshino.com/

What genre is Yoshino using in What genre is Yoshino using in his writing?his writing?

Personal narrative, or as he calls, literary Personal narrative, or as he calls, literary narrativenarrative

Legal argumentsLegal arguments AutobiographyAutobiography Personal Story: a story against demands of Personal Story: a story against demands of

assimilationassimilation Examples drawn from his personal experiencesExamples drawn from his personal experiences Cites important works on civil rights to Cites important works on civil rights to

strengthen his claimsstrengthen his claims His main argument: SEE PAGE 27!His main argument: SEE PAGE 27!

What genre is Gladwell using in What genre is Gladwell using in writing?writing?

Journalistic writingJournalistic writing Argumentative, descriptive, expressiveArgumentative, descriptive, expressive Case studiesCase studies Not a direct personal narrative, but Not a direct personal narrative, but

includes features of it.includes features of it. Cites scientific informationCites scientific information Includes photos, examples of thin-slicing, Includes photos, examples of thin-slicing,

mind-reading etc.mind-reading etc. Includes statistical information.Includes statistical information.

Remember…Remember…

Research papers come in all shapes, Research papers come in all shapes, sizes, forms, and disciplines.sizes, forms, and disciplines.

Different genres: argumentative, Different genres: argumentative, descriptive, narrative, analytic descriptive, narrative, analytic

First, you need to know what you are First, you need to know what you are writing about and who you are writing about and who you are writing for.writing for.

AssignmentsAssignments

Catch up with readingsCatch up with readings Read Covering (pg. 118-164)Read Covering (pg. 118-164) Moving forward with our research Moving forward with our research

agenda: Read Lamott’s “Shitty First agenda: Read Lamott’s “Shitty First Draft” essay and respond to the Draft” essay and respond to the prompt on class blogprompt on class blog

Have a wonderful Have a wonderful weekend!weekend!

Agenda and announcements Agenda and announcements 10/14/200810/14/2008

Talking about the upcoming assignments Talking about the upcoming assignments (Book/movie reviews)(Book/movie reviews)

A possible writing center visit next ThursdayA possible writing center visit next Thursday Presentation on CoveringPresentation on Covering Group work: White privilege checklist Group work: White privilege checklist Talking about shitty first drafts, reading Talking about shitty first drafts, reading

your blog entries.your blog entries. A new article for your research papers: A new article for your research papers:

Writing for an audience by Linda flowerWriting for an audience by Linda flower

Alternative assignment: ENG Alternative assignment: ENG 202 Movie Night202 Movie Night

Tired of writing book reviews? Here is an option Tired of writing book reviews? Here is an option you can take!you can take!

The Indiana Cares Campaign to End Homphobia The Indiana Cares Campaign to End Homphobia (ICC) will kick off its 5th annual LGBT Film Festival (ICC) will kick off its 5th annual LGBT Film Festival

Oct 19th films: short film - No Bikini at 6PMOct 19th films: short film - No Bikini at 6PMfeature film - Save Mefeature film - Save Mefeature film - Be Like Othersfeature film - Be Like Others

If interested, email me by Friday, October 15If interested, email me by Friday, October 15thth

Book/Movie reviews are dues on Tuesday, October Book/Movie reviews are dues on Tuesday, October 2121stst –late assignments will NOT be accepted. –late assignments will NOT be accepted.

Be Like OthersBe Like Others

What is it about?What is it about?

An intimate and unflinching look at life in An intimate and unflinching look at life in Iran, seen through the lens of those Iran, seen through the lens of those living at its fringes, 'Be Like Others' is a living at its fringes, 'Be Like Others' is a provocative look at a generation of provocative look at a generation of young Iranian men choosing to undergo young Iranian men choosing to undergo sex change surgerysex change surgery

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1157609/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1157609/

Save MeSave Me

What is it about?What is it about?

A sex and drug addicted young man A sex and drug addicted young man who is forced into a Christian-run who is forced into a Christian-run ministry in an attempt to cure him of ministry in an attempt to cure him of his "gay affliction", where instead he his "gay affliction", where instead he is faced with the truth in his heart is faced with the truth in his heart and spirit.and spirit.

Racial CoveringRacial Covering

Racial covering occurs when non-whites Racial covering occurs when non-whites “act white” by modulating their behaviors.“act white” by modulating their behaviors.

Individuals resist pressure to cover their Individuals resist pressure to cover their race, ethnicity, gender or national origin race, ethnicity, gender or national origin by bringing lawsuits alleging by bringing lawsuits alleging discrimination (see the examples on page discrimination (see the examples on page 130-140)130-140)

Covering is unfortunately demanded in Covering is unfortunately demanded in work force today. Covering if also work force today. Covering if also rewarded.rewarded.

Sex-based coveringSex-based covering

Discrimination against women has taken Discrimination against women has taken a different form from discrimination a different form from discrimination against other groups. Men have against other groups. Men have historically cherished women, so long as historically cherished women, so long as they conformed to the domestic role.they conformed to the domestic role.

If women are not “masculine” enough to If women are not “masculine” enough to be respected as workers, they will be be respected as workers, they will be asked to cover. If they are not “feminine” asked to cover. If they are not “feminine” enough to be respected as women, they enough to be respected as women, they will be asked to reverse cover. will be asked to reverse cover.

AssignmentsAssignments

Read Covering Part 3 (167-200) Read Covering Part 3 (167-200) Read Flowerdew’s article and start thinking about Read Flowerdew’s article and start thinking about

your your target audience target audience for your research projects. for your research projects.

Some tips:Some tips: Our writing is highly influenced by the target Our writing is highly influenced by the target

audience in our mind. Know your audience well!audience in our mind. Know your audience well! You want to prepare the readers well before you You want to prepare the readers well before you

introduce them with new concepts and ideas in introduce them with new concepts and ideas in your research. You want the readers to see things your research. You want the readers to see things as you see them.as you see them.

AnnouncementsAnnouncements Alternative Assignment: Movie Review.Alternative Assignment: Movie Review.

Let me know by tomorrow afternoon whether you choose this option.Let me know by tomorrow afternoon whether you choose this option.

The The Indiana LGBT Film FestivalIndiana LGBT Film Festival --October 19, @ 6pm, with one short film --October 19, @ 6pm, with one short film preceding the preceding the double featuredouble feature for the evening. for the evening.

Movies: No Bikini (short film), Save Me, Be Like OthersMovies: No Bikini (short film), Save Me, Be Like Others

McVitty Auditorium is located in Sprowls Hall at 470 South 11th Street on McVitty Auditorium is located in Sprowls Hall at 470 South 11th Street on the IUP campus.the IUP campus.

Roadtrip Nation is coming to IUP! They send people on the road who are Roadtrip Nation is coming to IUP! They send people on the road who are interested in exploring the world outside their comfort zone, talking with interested in exploring the world outside their comfort zone, talking with individuals who chose to define their own road in life, and sharing their individuals who chose to define their own road in life, and sharing their experiences with today's college-age generation. Visit the Green RV and experiences with today's college-age generation. Visit the Green RV and find out how to get involved in the Roadtrip Nation Movement.find out how to get involved in the Roadtrip Nation Movement.

When: October 23, 2009;  9:00 am lasting all dayWhen: October 23, 2009;  9:00 am lasting all day

Where: HUB CircleWhere: HUB Circle

www.roadtripnation.com

Agenda 10/15/2008Agenda 10/15/2008

Good job in Book Reviews!Good job in Book Reviews! Correcting our favorite mistakesCorrecting our favorite mistakes Last Presentation on Covering.Last Presentation on Covering. http://video.google.com/videosearch?

q=Sexual+Orientation+Law+2006%3A+Kenji+Yoshino&emb=0#

Book Review assignment descriptionBook Review assignment description Talking about the audience.Talking about the audience.

Your favorite mistakes Your favorite mistakes worksheetworksheet

In your groups, find the weak aspects In your groups, find the weak aspects of the following sentences which of the following sentences which were taken directly from your paperswere taken directly from your papers

The bad thing about this book is….. The bad thing about this book is….. I found this book very very interestingI found this book very very interesting We all have been in the situation where we think to fastWe all have been in the situation where we think to fast This book has made me look deeper into things. Such as when I first This book has made me look deeper into things. Such as when I first

think of when I see someone or something.think of when I see someone or something. Just because your rival has more sales doesn’t mean your going to go Just because your rival has more sales doesn’t mean your going to go

under.under. Despite what the book lacks it can still teach a lesson to the college Despite what the book lacks it can still teach a lesson to the college

students of today.students of today. The chapters go hand and hand with one another.The chapters go hand and hand with one another. The chair was very comfortable but did not look like a normal chair, it The chair was very comfortable but did not look like a normal chair, it

was ugly and that’s how people’s first impressions saw it.was ugly and that’s how people’s first impressions saw it. If you are a college student I would highly recommend reading this book.If you are a college student I would highly recommend reading this book. The IAT test could, quickly and accuracy determine weither you were for The IAT test could, quickly and accuracy determine weither you were for

or against something.or against something.   

Group Work:Group Work:Writing for an AudienceWriting for an Audience

Knowledge : What does your readers Knowledge : What does your readers need to know?need to know?

Attitude: What is the purpose of your Attitude: What is the purpose of your paper? To present? To report? To paper? To present? To report? To persuade?persuade?

Needs: What are your readers’ need? Needs: What are your readers’ need? What is the importance of your What is the importance of your research? Who would care?research? Who would care?

AssignmentsAssignments

Read Identity Read Identity Work on your Book ReviewsWork on your Book Reviews

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!