PC classes....

[Gob]

A class to be offered this spring at Ohio State University is an identity politics-based course that in large part is focused on teaching students how to detect microaggressions and white privilege.

The course is dedicated to social justice themes, and pledges to teach students how to “identify microaggressions,” define and address “systems of power and privilege,” advance notions of diversity and inclusion, and prioritize “global citizenship,” its description states.

“Crossing Identity Boundaries” aims to expand students’ “self-awareness” and help them develop “dialogue skills.”

Taking the course, offered through the Department of Educational Studies, is one way students can fulfill the university’s mandatory diversity requirement, and many sections are offered throughout the school year.

The course coordinator and instructors involved in teaching the class did not respond to requests from The College Fix seeking comment.

Part of the homework includes taking two “implicit bias tests,” and writing journals on prompts such as “power/privilege in your life” or calling on Christians to write about what it might feel like to be Muslim, or males on what it’s like to be female, and “reflecting on how this new identity would have impacted your day.”

One big part of the class is a microaggressions group presentation and reflective paper.

The assignment, according to a syllabus, calls on students to “find at least 12 examples of microaggressions using at least 3 different types of social media (e.g., Yik Yak, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest). Explain who the target of the microaggression is and why your group believes it is an example of a negative remark. Provide an example of how you might respond to such a comment.”


http://www.thecollegefix.com/post/30923/

[Guinevere]

A mature white male, complaining about discussing the concept of white privilege. How unusual.

[Gob]

Teaching the concept, not discussing it. A socially divisive idea.

[Bicycle Bill]

Teaching the concept, not discussing it. A socially divisive idea.

I agree with Gob.  This sounds more like a course that says "Here's how to recognize what might possibly be microaggression wherever it may be lurking so that you can add it to your arsenal and accuse anyone of it at your convenience and to your own benefit."

-"BB"-

[Guinevere]

Oh I was confident you would also be one of those chiming in to support Gob's position. Another threatened mature white male. This place is lousy with them.

[Joe Guy]

Just great. A course that teaches how to recognize an asshole and then encourages people to go out and find them.

Those students will be lot's of fun to be with...

[BoSoxGal]

I'm with her ---> eta: Guin, not Joe.

[wesw]

(to be read in a new York accent)

yo teach....

I gotcha micro-aggression right here!

oh ay ay oh.....

[Bicycle Bill]

micro = small; miniscule; of reduced or restricted size.  When used as a term of measurement (microgram, for example), denotes a factor of one millionth (10^-6 power).  In other words, a very, very small amount of something.

So my question is, we've got nothing more important than this to worry about?

-"BB"-

[liberty]

A mature white male, complaining about discussing the concept of white privilege. How unusual.

What exactly is white privilege is it the right when stopped by cope to sit quietly and follow his instruction? Is it the right to acquire skills that are valued enough that someone will pay you for them? Is it the right to try to avoid a fight if possible; fights can always escalate to a higher level of violence?

No, what exactly is white privilege. Please give me just one example; any more than that would be too much to ask for, I am serious. just one sentence, please.

[rubato]

It is important to admit and to understand the advantages that one has had because of a privileged gender, race, education and class.

By the time I was 18 I had advantages that few would be able to match. Several generations of educated ancestors. Houses full of books, records, art &c. No one ever in my life said I could not have a book I wanted.

Financial security. I never worried about whether we could pay the bills or even pay for college. These were always a given. Assumed.

It is an important factor to consider and to admit. If you are white, Male, educated, upper class, you have been given a huge leg up in life. You didn't earn that it was a gift.

yrs,
rubato

[Econoline]

If you are white, Male, educated, upper class, you have been given a huge leg up in life. You didn't earn that it was a gift.

I'm three of those (definitely NOT upper class)...but that doesn't make everything I do a "microaggression".

[Guinevere]

That's true Econo, but that wasn't my point. Rube has the gist of it, although it's not even about being "privileged " in the sense of monetary resources. There is an incredible amount of comfort and ease when you look like the people in charge. It gives you, at the basest level, an automatic point of relation, even if you agree on nothing else. There is a reason the "old boy network" exists and there is plenty of data on the subject --- if you look like/are more similar to a person you will most likely treat them differently than someone who looks very different (race and gender being the two clearest examples).

Yes, it really is that simple.

[Crackpot]

The problem isn't so much in identification but application. Especially in times like this where being right is roar mor important than compassion and compromise.

So you've identified microaggesion what do you do about it? Call the person out on it and belittle them even though by the very definition such acts are unintentional and come from a place of true ignorance rather than bigotry in any true sense of the word?

This approach acts only to inflame and aggravate the very behaviors they claim to want to eradicate.

[Lord Jim]

I'm not much of a fan of "microaggressions"....

I vastly prefer macroaggressions...

[wesw]

face it , guin. you are being racist and sexist.

stop.

[Guinevere]

It will take far more than you to gag me, little minion.

[wesw]

what ever.

[Guinevere]

I note no one quibbled when Meade said the following:

You missed my point, which obviously I did not make clear. Still I thought it was obvious when I stated that humans discriminate based on the human qualities of some other human.

[Guinevere]

what ever.

Thank you wes...

For replying with exactly the sort of informed, thoughtful, intelligent analysis that you are so rightly known for...