Earlier this week I wrote about my lit professor’s astounding faux pas about what constituted that so-called universal franchise in ancient Athens. If you missed the earlier post, he said that everyone had the ability to vote when it turns out that, in reality, it was only men — and not even all men at that. As promised, I did call him out on it during the next class, and he fell all over himself apologizing for his imparting of misinformation. I also received a few very grateful looks and comments from my fellow women students.
After class, the professor took me aside to thank me again. He asked me what I do for a living, because almost all of the students at my school are adults who don’t fit the usual profile of undergrads who are in the 18-22 age range. I mentioned I’m an intern at a magazine, as well as a writer for a feminist blog. While he admitted to not knowing what a blog is, he said “very interesting” when I said “feminist”. God only knows what that means and I didn’t have the energy at 10 p.m. to inquire further.
But I am happy that I spoke up, and it should remind me in the future that keeping one’s mouth shut about stuff like this is a surefire way to keep misinformation about women’s history swept under the rug. So much for keeping my mouth shut. I’m happy I didn’t.
He didn’t know what a blog is, either? The dude sounds like he is living in a totally different world. Good for you for opening his eyes as much as you can…
@Endora: He is definitely 75 or older, so judging by my family members of that age I’m not really shocked he’s blog-ignorant. But he is really a lovely man and sharp as a whip as a teacher, except for that one “little thing”.
I’m glad you spoke up, and I’m glad was receptive.
Oh, well if he’s that old it does make sense. I was imagining a middle-aged guy and thought he must really be detached from reality in all sorts of ways.
On another note, it’s shocking how many people still see feminism as a kind of personal quirk. I like to think that every time one of us says we’re feminist, it is normalizing the idea further, though.
kuddos for speaking up… that is how change starts.
I’m impressed that he was so upfront in admitting he was wrong. Good for him. And good for you for speaking up!
Yay! Go Sarah. I’m proud of you.
So proud of you for speaking up, sarah!
“Very interesting” is code for, “Oh, shit, I guess I’m going to have to watch what I say from now on.”
I’m proud of you too! It can be really scary to go against the grain in a situation like that (something I never did in that class I’ve written about).
Congratulations! It’s really interesting to do feminism in front of, or to, or with, much older liberal men. I worked in a high school, and my boss was in his 70s and a really great English teacher who couldn’t use a computer. He was also basically an anarchist, in a crazy liberal way. Like, he gives away all his money to liberal politicians and walks EVERYwhere because he’s concerned about the environment, and hates George Bush. But he basically knows nothing about feminism.
So we were reading Taming of the Shrew once, and I (obvi) was harping on the feminist critiques of the play. He frequently dismissed my opinions (respectfully), and we frequently disagreed on the interpretations, which btw totally blew the sophomores’ minds (disagreeing! and not hating each other? crazy!) The one day I busted out the old Battered Person Syndrome as an explanation for Katherine’s behavior, and he was basically like “WHOA THIS IS CRAZY EVERYBODY PAY ATTENTION TO MS. CIMORENE BECAUSE I NEVER THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE!!!” In all caps, too!
Anyway, it was cool to see him like, switch into understanding. He’s very well meaning, but also old and not used to thinking about gender issues the way my generation does–or, thinking about them at all. Which is not an excuse (nor is being old) but it is an explanation. And whenever I’d be like, “What if this anonymous early ballad was written–by a WOMAN!!!” he’d totally get on board. I just needed to be there to bring it up.
Anyway, I’m so happy your prof responded well. It bodes really well for the class. But if you’re reading Antigone, how could he not have looked into the Ladies in Athens? It seems sort of…central. But Men and their Establishment do have a way of de-centralizing women, don’t they. Sigh.
@Cimorene: That is a great story! Yeah, I feel like there is just this assumption that if a man has those rights that they would surely extend to a woman! It’s an assumption that privilege automatically extends beyond a privileged group, and it is so infuriating when it happens in academia, when the person who is supposed to be teaching you needs their own dose of enlightenment.