Discuss. Body Modification/ How did you learn about gender and sexuality?

Purpose: To think about the ways you may have altered your body and appearance to convey messages to those around you. 

Assignment: Write a post of 150+ words discussing your answer to these questions (no peer comment). 

Have you undergone a body modification?

Body modifications include permanent or non-permanent changes, and may be intentional or unintentional. For example: unintentional scars or intentional scarification to the body, tattooing, piercing, changes to makeup, hair, jewelry, or clothing (such as donning a modest headscarf, a uniform, or a wedding ring), or other changes to the way you present your body… 

If you have modified your body:

Was this change to your body a personal choice or did others encourage you to make this choice? Why did you make this choice? Was your choice meant to make an important transition or event in your life? Have you experienced any social judgements for your body modification (gendered, etc)? How do you feel about your body modification today? 

If you have not modified your body:

Why have you chosen not to modify your body in any way? Is it possible that you have changed the way your present yourself without realizing it? (For example, you probably don’t wear a diaper in public since that form of clothing would mark you as an un-potty trained baby). Do you think you will chose to modify your body in the future? Why or why not?

Discuss. How did you learn about gender and sexuality?

Purpose: To think about how cultural constructs of gender and sex have shaped how you see the world around you. 

Assignment: Respond to the following questions with 100+ word post (no peer comment)

• Reflect on the various ways you have “learned” about gender and sexuality throughout your life. Which influences do you think had the biggest impact?

• How important is your gender to how you think about yourself, to your “identity” or self-definition, to your everyday life? Reflect on what it would be like to be a different gender.

• In what ways have the various social settings you are a part of been shaped by (and shape) gender norms? For example, athletics teams, schools, social clubs, social media, your family, etc. In reflecting on these settings, are you surprised by the role gender plays in shaping your experience?