FIELD LOG OR JOURNAL
You will be maintaining a record of observations, reading notes, and items to follow up on that are related to the gender and sexuality issues of the course. This can be in a separate notebook or on loose sheets. It can include highly personal items, such as dreams, if you like. The purpose of this exercise is to increase your focus on the prevalence of gender stereotypes in the media especially, the importance of gender identity in people's experience, the extent of genderized thinking, and the need for greater empathy and compassion among us all for other groups and individuals. This is an informal activity, which you will share with one or more classmates and the instructor. You may also learn to use the log as a research tool, if you are doing any field work to accompany your written assignments, just as all anthropologists do.
Notes for your Gender Journal
1. Keep track of particular issues that come up in the media, such as honor killings of women and children in various parts of the world, or legislation concerning equal pay for equal work, or whatever catches your interest. Put clippings in or notes or references to the sources of information.
2. Hone your observational skills by people-watching. What gender signals do you notice in dress, hair, language use, nonverbal communication, food choice, etc.? How much variability is there on the themes of what it is to be masculine, to be a man, to be feminine, to be a woman? Do people’s interactional styles change when they’re with someone of the same or opposite gender? What sexual signaling and general behavior do you notice?
3. Put down important and interesting points from any readings you are doing that relate to gender. Record the bibliographic information from the source.
4. Identify significant issues in your life, family, career, education, etc., that may be related to your gender identity, sexuality, sexual orientation. Use the journal to explore your attitudes and experiences with these issues.
5. What are your philosophies? theories? questions? approaches? beliefs? about gender, sex, sexuality? Use the journal to work out your own world view and life orientation.