Activities for Teaching Gender and Sexuality in the University Classroom

Activities for Teaching Gender and Sexuality in the University Classroom is an accurate title for this collection of interesting, innovative, classroom-based activities. According to the editors, Murphy and Ribarsky, the text aims to provide a myriad of examples of activities which could be utilized to teach a variety of topics related to sexuality and gender. As such, the text is a useful resource and teaching tool which can be utilized to integrate pedagogical diversity into the classroom. . . .The topical areas addressed in Activities for Teaching Gender and Sexuality are vast and wide-ranging. The text is interdisciplinary in nature and thus is well-suited for a range of disciplines including psychology, sociology, public health, communication, human development, family studies, gender studies, and women studies. . . .one of the activities encourages students to think critically about the lens through which fairy-tale stories are told and encourages students to think differently about how contemporary American culture constructs gender and gender assigned roles. Future K-12 teachers would greatly benefit from exposure to this critical lens. . . .in addition to college professors and instructors and high school teachers, educators working for non-for profit, community-based or public health organizations may also find utility in the activities presented in the text. . . .Activities for Teaching Gender and Sexuality is stylistically unique in that the text does not have to be read cover to cover. In fact, one of the positive features of this text is that an educator could skim through the table of contents in order to look for a specific topic of interest, activity that may be relevant to an aspect of their course, or an issue they wish to cover, and implement the activity in their class. . . .Activities for Teaching Gender and Sexuality is a unique text; there are few resources that one could utilize to compare this text. . . .The activities are easily adaptable for a variety of audiences and the depth and breadth of content addressed in the various activities could be useful for a range of disciplines. * Sex Roles: A Journal of Research *
With creative ideas for experiential activities that span various learning skills, this book can provide useful material as well as inspiration for instructors. For other social justice educators, this book may also be helpful as some of the activities can be adapted to discuss issues surrounding race or ethnicity . . . [T]his book will certainly be a welcome addition to an instructor’s teaching toolbox and help make him or her a more innovate and creative educator. * Journal of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgend Youth *
The scholarship on women, gender and sexuality has been steadily expanding since the 1970s. But there has been much less scholarship and dialogue about Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies pedagogy. This volume makes an important contribution to this much-needed discussion. It is full of useful activities that help teachers and students negotiate some of the minefields present in the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies classroom. -- Linda Nicholson, Susan E. and William P. Stiritiz Distinguished Professor of Women's Studies, Washington University, St. Louis
The strengths of this project include its wide range of topics covered and the wide range of learning and teaching styles addressed. Kinesthetic exercises, writing exercises, and oral arguments all contribute to making sense of the concepts embedded in the women’s and gender studies classroom, and this book offers many ways to use and adapt these styles. Many of the exercises are innovative in their approach to standard topics, and will help students clarify complex ideas while also making them “real” in their personal lives. Overall, I think this is an exciting collection of thought-provoking exercises which can not only be used immediately in the classroom, but which will also offer inspiration to instructors in terms of thinking outside of the box we often build for ourselves. -- Barbara Gurr, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, University of Connecticut
This book is a series of fascinating exercises, designed to involve students more deeply in their own learning. Overall, I found them instructor-friendly and appropriate for the designated students. This book will be a welcome addition to any instructor’s library. After teaching for a while most of us have a repertoire of activities, but new ones are always welcome. New professors will love this. I would buy this book. -- Rebecca Reviere, Sociology/Anthropology, Howard University
This book meets a need as an instructor resource. The types of activities range across many potential course applications. I have not seen another similar book and I am happy this one is forthcoming. Overall, the materials are absolutely appropriate for the college classroom. Many would also be appropriate for an advanced high school student. Additionally, some of the content would lend itself to stand-alone or workshop type training settings. The ideals of active learning are highlighted in many of the sections and the activities in many cases appear to be ones that the student would find memorable and clearly able to make important points. I would both purchase and recommend this book. I was impressed with the content well beyond my expectations. There are numerous activities that read as fantastic experiences for the students and instructors alike. I also enjoyed the abstract content for the activities and the authors’ making their cases for why and how they developed and used their activities. I look forward to seeing this work published. -- Rebecca Sanford, Communication Studies, Monmouth University
I am so excited about this book! Michael J. Murphy and Elizabeth Ribarsky’s collection of engaging ideas will surely encourage intellectual discovery among college students everywhere. Gender and sexuality studies professors at last have a go-to source for innovative, active-learning exercises that address the politics of diversity and social justice. -- Shira Tarrant, Ph.D., associate professor, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department, California State University, Long Beach
Activities for Teaching Gender and Sexuality in the University Classroom is a 'must have' resource for any professor teaching in the field of gender and sexuality studies. Each chapter offers hands-on classroom exercises that offer creative and intellectually rigorous approaches to working with a significant concept, problem or question. This is a wonderful, wide-ranging book whose influence on pedagogy in the field will be felt for a long time. -- John Landreau, Gender Studies, The College of New Jersey