1. A Blog of Our Own: A SoTL Investigation into Blogging in the Women’s Studies Classroom Dr. Jessica Lyn Van Slooten Assistant Professor of English and Women’s Studies, UW-Manitowoc WHAT IS FEMINIST ANALYSIS? Feminist analysis is the practice of reading, critiquing, and responding through a feminist lens, paying attention to the following themes/issues: Biological Sex Gender Equality Power Intersectionality THE SURVEY: Asked students the same six questions at the pre, mid, and post stages of the class: What do I know about feminist analysis? What do I not know about feminist analysis? What do I want to know about feminist analysis? What do I know about blogging? What do I not know about blogging? What do I want to know about blogging? STUDENT VOICES: SURVEY: QUESTION 1 Gloria: a student whose feminist analysis grew stronger. Pre-survey: “I’m not quite sure.” Mid-survey: “Look at the four core values of patriarchy when analyzing a feminist piece of media, etc. Feminist analysis can be used to look at the role of women in a particular piece of media or life and how men and women view those women. It is not BAD to be feminist.” Post-survey: “ I know that feminist analysis involves looking at and discussing anything involving something with patriarchy or analyzing in the view point of feminism. Also that we use it to see what happens in our culture involving women and men in our society.” Rosie: a student who struggled with feminist analysis. Pre-survey: “Study of various viewpoints of a person’s culture then written to show how and what person studies. A belief. I don’t know. I guessed.” Mid-survey: “That there is a good and bad side to how a person views their peers. Through observations, we can understand another person’s culture.” Post-survey: “Feminist analysis is the observation of how men and women are viewed in the workplace, home, or with friends and family.” THE BLOG ASSIGNMENT: Students write one blog entry and one comment each week, applying feminist analysis to class material (readings, discussion), popular culture examples, news, conversations, material from other classes. STUDENT VOICES: BLOG ENTRIES Considering Beauty and Appearance Gloria, Blog 1: “I think that we should be confident in who we are and feel beautiful in whatever we wear one day or how we style our hair or even if we don't style it at all. We are who we are, and I think society needs to learn how to accept that.” Gloria, Blog 9: “Society has got to find a way to get over the fact that looks do not mean everything! It bothers me so much that we are constantly reminded that we have to wear makeup everyday or do our hair, yes I like to look good and feel good about myself but not for anyone else, but myself! In this way, we can still see that women and men are NOT equal, due to the fact that men don't get commented on their hair when they are sports announcing or the shirt they wear that day. It is unfair and someone has to do something about it!” Gloria, Blog 10: “But it ties to our class because we as women get judged so quickly about everything, our size, what we wear, what we do, everything! I wish all men could take this class and understand how much they reflect patriarchy in their lives because I don't think men realize how much they do reflect it.” Rosie, Blog 2: “We are powerful, strong, and wise/So there is no need/ for us to change who we are meant to be.” Rosie, Blog 11: “I also think that people, women, in particular tend to spend more time making sure that they look good no matter where they are going […] But, what makes me feel confident and like myself, is when I wear clothes that mix and match. My appearance means everything to me, but if I can not dress or wear make-up or lack there of by choice, then I do not think my true characteristics would show.” Rosie, Blog 12: “I feel that I should be able to express who I am without changing my appearance just to make other people accept me for who I am. If I wore make-up, it would only be my choice and my choice alone and not for anyone else. I don't think I need to prove how beautiful I am, because I already know how beautiful I am inside and out. I am not say that I don't have flaws, I do, but I am proud of who I am and I don't think that I would change a thing, not for anyone.” RESEARCH QUESTION: How do weekly blog assignments help students practice the kind of feminist analysis that is a central, threshold concept/skill to the women’s studies discipline? DATA: 12 blog entries 12 blog comments 3 surveys (pre, mid, post) Data collected from 25 students from WOM 203: Women in Popular Culture Fall Semester 2011, UW-Manitowoc; data collection is ongoing in subsequent semesters. RESEARCH METHODS: Qualitative analysis: reading the data alongside a qualitative rubric to draw conclusions and note patterns. INSIGHTS: Some topics are easier for students to apply feminist analysis: Beauty, Appearance, and Body Image. Other topics prove more problematic: Marriage, Pregnancy, Sex. Blogging provides students a forum for developing their semi-formal voice, connecting class material and themes to a broader context, and, at times, strengthening their feminist analysis. Students adapt well to and thrive as they write in this medium. The level of feminist analysis seems more connected to the theme/issue than the ongoing practice of blogging. FURTHER DIRECTIONS: Study the correlation between topic/issue and application of feminist analysis. Consider the role diverse texts and discussion play in ability to apply feminist analysis. Compare level of feminist analysis in blogs to other class assignments, including essays and group projects. Thanks to the UW-Colleges, UW-System, and Opid for funding this project through the Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars Program.