Dr. Richard N Pitt, Jr. Vanderbilt University Department of Sociology Institute For Humane Studies 2008 “Sexy Words” The Liberating Effects of Intersectionality In The Social Science Classroom

What I Hope To Cover “Who Am I?”: Making Sense of Intersectionality “Social Problems”: Who Decides What’s A Problem And Who Should Solve It? Contradictions Of Liberty: Who Is “Right”? “Calling A Spade A Spade”: Struggling With Unintended Consequences Of Pure Classical Liberalism “Making It Work”: Teaching Sociology “Who Am I?”: Making Sense of Intersectionality “Social Problems”: Who Decides What’s A Problem And Who Should Solve It? Contradictions Of Liberty: Who Is “Right”? “Calling A Spade A Spade”: Struggling With Unintended Consequences Of Pure Classical Liberalism “Making It Work”: Teaching Sociology

Whose Perspective Do I Teach From? Sociology 101 Whose Perspective Do I Teach From? Who Did/Will I Vote For? Election 2000/2008 Who Did/Will I Vote For? African-American Brother Of A Defense Atty. Gay First-Generation Blue Stater 12 Yrs Evangelical Religious Pacifist Rat’l Choice Scholar 6-Figure Income Male Navy Veteran Feminist Sociologist Republican Red Stater 12 Years Son Of A Prison Warden

“Social Problems” Inequality & Poverty Work & Unemployment Racial, Gender, and Sexual Inequality Crime & Drugs Family Dissolution And Decline Illness and the Health Care Crisis The Environment Globalization Growth of Corporate/Gov’t Power Population Growth & Urbanization Sexual “Deviance” Conflict, War & Terrorism “Broadly speaking, the term ‘social problems’ is used to describe a wide variety of phenomena which are perceived and labeled as problematic, and for which a solution is seen as possible and necessary.”

Personal Privacy (Abortion, Drug and Alcohol Use) Expression & Communication (Media, Speech, Religion) Personal Relationships (Sexual Practice, Relationships) Self-Defense (Firearms) Crime and Justice (Due Process, Innocence Until Guilty) Personal Liberty Economic Liberty Kinds Of Liberty Property and Contracts (Wages, Production, Interest, Trade) Energy and Resources (Pricing, Subsidization, Production) Gov’t Finance and Spending (Taxes) Education (School Choice) Income Security (Social Security, Welfare, Health Care)

Contradictions Of Liberty Both Of These Political Groups Decry The Encroachment Of “The Government” On Our Rights & Liberty “Liberals” “Conservatives"

“Liberals” Government Is Too Powerful... What Kind Of Sex/Family Is “Normal What Substances We Can Ingest, Inject, or Inhale Who Is Allowed On The “Homeland” What I Can Say In Print Or On Air Who Is A National Enemy And Worthy Of Death Through War & Conflict What Kind Of Sex/Family Is “Normal What Substances We Can Ingest, Inject, or Inhale Who Is Allowed On The “Homeland” What I Can Say In Print Or On Air Who Is A National Enemy And Worthy Of Death Through War & Conflict Contradictions Of Liberty

“Liberals”... But We Need More Of It! Stop Consequences Of Individuals’ Bad Economic Or Life Decisions Stop Political Interest Groups From Advertising Against Our Candidates Stop Corporate Monopolies Stop People From Discriminating Stop People From Owning & Using Guns Stop Consequences Of Individuals’ Bad Economic Or Life Decisions Stop Political Interest Groups From Advertising Against Our Candidates Stop Corporate Monopolies Stop People From Discriminating Stop People From Owning & Using Guns Contradictions Of Liberty

“Conservatives" Government Is Too Powerful... What I Can Use To Protect My Family What I Can Do With My Money As Consumer And As Employer How and Where I Worship God Where & How My Children Are Educated Who I Can Trade With And Under What Circumstances What I Can Use To Protect My Family What I Can Do With My Money As Consumer And As Employer How and Where I Worship God Where & How My Children Are Educated Who I Can Trade With And Under What Circumstances Contradictions Of Liberty

“Conservatives"... But We Need More Of It! Stop Our Global Enemies From Harassing Our Global Friends Stop Sexual Morality In All Its Forms Stop People From Crossing Our Borders Stop Juries From Determining Penalties Protect Us At All Costs Even If It Means We Lose Some Civil Liberties Stop Our Global Enemies From Harassing Our Global Friends Stop Sexual Morality In All Its Forms Stop People From Crossing Our Borders Stop Juries From Determining Penalties Protect Us At All Costs Even If It Means We Lose Some Civil Liberties Contradictions Of Liberty

The RIGHT The RIGHT The LEFT The LEFT Classical Liberalism Struggling With The Consequences Of Pure Classical Liberalism INTEGRATION OF THE TWO POLES But How Can You Possibly Sustain This Kind Of Duality In The Face Of The Obvious Unintended Consequences? Free Markets No Public $ For Education Free Speech Regulation Of Industry

Soc. of Education Soc. of Education Compulsory Education School Choice Soc. of Race & Ethnicity Affirmative Action Crime & Punishment Soc. of Gender & Sex Gay Marriage & Adoption Pornography & Prostitution Soc. of Religion Soc. of Religion Religion-Free Public Square Government Faith-Based Initiatives Soc. of Work & Labor Minimum & Living Wages NAFTA & Free Trade Challenges In Teaching Sociology Courses

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