Procrastination 2

I am currently taking a course that involves working in groups of three. My group has one other girls and one guy. Yesterday, the girl, whose task it was to act as secretary, was typing a bit slow, since English is not her native language. The guy made a joke about how he should type bc it will be easier for him, and "besides, you might break a nail." The girl found this charming and gave the guy her computer, so he could act as secretary (how gender-bending of him) for the rest of the group meeting. The "breaking a nail" thing is now a personal joke between them.

Today, we were discussing how to teach inferences. The guy suggested we introduce the topic by having students look at two pictures: One of Superman, one of a super model, and see what they could infer from each. He explained how you infer strength from the Supreman picture, but for the model, you might infer that although she is pretty, she is not so smart. I could not object bc a) it is a good activity b) it is true most people infer that from pictures of supermodels. I just think that its sexist that they do so.

I really like both the guy and girl in my group, and they are not trying to be sexist (yes, internalized sexism exists), but I found it fascinating that these things I take as sexist, another woman takes to be normal.

On another note, remember last night's resolution to blog about human rights and women? Today, I got another action update, this time about ensuring that the new Egyptian government protects women's rights. To get two updates in a row is another reminder of how many woman around the globe are suffering. Here is the link: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6208/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7538

Also, a friend of mine wrote this for "The New Gay", and I think it's a great article: http://thenewgay.net/2011/07/understanding-pride.html

I wanted to end with a cute youtube video, but it's been lifted by youtube due to copyright issues; Instead, I will end today's entry with a link to the much scarier AC 360 videos exposing Michelle Bachman's family clinic's treatment of gay people: http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/category/keeping-them-honest/?hpt=ac_ac1

I have one question: If a candidate hopeful's husband were running clinics telling straight people they needed to become gay, and could if they tried hard enough and prayed, would that person still be able to be a serious contender (Insert Marlon Brando) for the nomination?