Teaching Critical Thinking

I am very fortunate to work with a great group of colleagues in the Collaborative for the Critical Inquiry into Issues of Race, Gender, Sexuality and Class. This weekend, a group of us will be having a retreat to write course proposals and brainstorm new ideas for Gender Studies at Butler. We also got a reading assignment: "Teaching Critical Thinking: Practical Wisdom," by bell hooks.

hooks presents 32 teachings in this book, varying from issues of humor, imagination, conflict, and self-esteem to spirituality and feminist change. A few jewels I've found so far:

On integrity: "Integrity is present when there is congruence or agreement between what we think, say, and do" (p. 32).

On humor: "Classes where students are learning new ways of thinking and knowing that may challenge all the belief systems they have heretofore held dear need humor as a mediating force" (p. 72)

Coming Soon in Ecquid Novi: A closer look at gender and media activism in South Africa

Abstract: Media activism groups work to bring about change in the mainstream media, but their gains are often limited. Drawing on theories of the political function of news in a democracy, media sociology, and feminism, this article focuses on the specific experience of Gender Links, a Southern African gender and media organization founded in 2001. An analysis of institutional materials and 25 in-depth interviews shows that Gender Links is using a professional-technical approach to feminist media activism that is insufficient in bringing about deep and long-term change on an ideological level. It is suggested that Gender Links could benefit from more emphasis on political and countercultural approaches. The research also highlights some of the other dilemmas posed by issues related to funding, networking, the grassroots, press freedom, the profit motive, and the strong backlash from a patriarchal culture.

Dr. Rajeswari Sunder Rajan at Butler tonight

Dr. Rajeswari Sunder Rajan, Global Distinguished Professor of English at New York University, is speaking Clowes Hall on the Butler University campus tonight. Her topic is "Antigone's Resistance and Postcolonial Feminist Politics." This is part of the Global and Historical Studies program.

How do we teach journalism?

My co-authored article, "Inverting the Inverted Pyramid: A Conversation about the Use of Feminist Theories to Teach Journalism," just came out in Feminist Teacher Volume 19 Number 3. Thanks to my great colleagues Danna and Barbara for this conversation.