Taught by Juliet Patterson, Associate Professor of Practice in English, this course introduces students to the concept of gender as a category of analysis and is designed for students who seek a fuller understanding of themselves as gendered beings and a wider knowledge of the experiences and achievements of women.
In this fall 2020, enrolled students worked in small groups to create and facilitate a Living Room Conversation dialogue and deliberation with peers at St. Olaf College around a theme related to Women and Gender Studies.
Despite the challenging circumstances the students were experiencing this term, the topics students chose for the living room conversation were diverse and engaging. Many touched upon gender, some talked about post-colonial feminism, and some specifically focused on the media representation of women since the 1980s.
Reflections
The majority of the students agreed that the small group conversations in the class were a great medium for sustained dialogue and collaboration over the course of the semester and they were able to have some really honest and constructive conversations. Faith Goede ‘22 shared that: “My classmates were so often a place of inspiration, a place of safety, a place of comfort, solidarity, and warmth… It was such an incredible point of sisterhood I often get overwhelmed thinking about it…They brought rich conversation, genuine warmth and light, and fervent hope for the future into my days, and I am forever grateful.”
Additionally, another student has shared that “the ACE project component with their small groups was really great and it was something that each person could relate to and had experience with, whether they were part of our course small group or invited members. Each group member was enthusiastic and our outside members said they enjoyed talking about their families and learning about others in the closing reflection part of our discussion. Overall, practicing deliberative conversations with my small group throughout the semester certainly taught me how to better actively listen to my peers attentively and earnestly.”
Living Room Conversation is a conversational model produced by experts in dialogue and communication to facilitate connections between people, to identify areas of similarities and shared understanding, and to celebrate differences. Living Room Conversations are a simple way to connect across different backgrounds in age, gender, race, nationality, and much more.
The organizers of Living Room Conversations believe that “getting at the heart of what we share in common with one another, these conversations have powerful, positive impacts across society – including a sense of respect, understanding, and even friendship in unexpected places!”
*This story was written about Introduction to Gender and Sexuality Studies taught by Juliet Patterson in Fall 2020.