10-20 sociology

Overview

1. Read pages 21-33 of Patricia Hill Collins's Black Feminist Thought (posted on Canvas). Discuss at least 3 key elements of Black feminist thought. Be detailed in your discussion post. Aim for 300 words in your response.

1. Read pages 69-84 of Patricia Hill Collins's Black Feminist Thought. What are "controlling images"? Give at least 3 examples of what she means by this central concept in her theory. Aim for 300 words in your response.
2. .The fictional short story "Cat Person" was a viral hit, later serving as the basis for a book and a movie. Why? Using concepts from our textbook, offer a reasonable set of arguments for why and how "Cat Person" became a viral hit. What themes does it address about gender and sexuality in America today?
3. Ghosting" is a social phenomenon that many people often talk about. The New York Times article we read this week tries to make sense of it. What are your reactions to the article? What sociological reasons can you offer as to why "ghosting" ultimately happens? What concepts from the sociology of gender are especially relevant here?
4. Please read this factsheet by Dr. Yasmina Katsulis, who presents a summary of the contemporary sex work debate. Using evidence provided on the factsheet, discuss which perspective of sex work you find more compelling in what she describes as the "sex work vs. prostitution debate."
5. Read pages 213-221 of the article on sex work published in the Annual Review of Sociology. Discuss three key concepts, takeaways, or insights about sex work from the perspective of the sociology of gender that surprised or interested you.
6. Dr. Ashley Mears is a sociologist who immerses herself in the elite global party circuit in order to study consumption and gender. From reading the excerpt and perhaps your own experiences in nightlife, how could nightlife serve as an important social setting in which to study gender?
7. Read pages 776 through 782 of Professor Trautner's article about gender and sexuality in strip clubs. What is the relationship between gender and class in the strip clubs studied? Be thorough and detailed in the arguments you make.
8. The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) offers a brief overview of the history of drag. What concepts from our textbook are drag performers experimenting with? Name at least three.
9. William Berlind from the New York Times profiles Murray Hill, one of the world's most famous drag kings. What did you learn about how drag kings perform? Why do you think drag kings today are not as famous as drag queens?
10. Jack Halberstam is an important scholar in the field of gender studies, who examines issues involving feminism and the trans community. What does Halberstam mean by the term trans* feminism? Why does Halberstam prefer it?