"Well, I'm just a faggot, what the hell do I know?"

[Wetzelbill]

Ok, I was sitting in my Feminist Literary Theory class today, when over the course of discussing our latest reading, we began talking about essentialism. Well, from this the topic turned to men in feminist classes. (there are only four in this particular class, of which I am one... last time I checked anyway) One guy, who is a Women's Studies major (or minor, not sure offhand) started talking about how he takes a lot of classes in which he is the only male. Ok, now essentialism, this is a crude definition, is the concept that it is essential for someone to be a certain race, gender etc, to fully "get" that particular issue. Meaning that say because I am a Blackfeet Indian the other non-Indians could never ever fully understand American Indian topics like myself, because they wouldn't have the experience of living it. Ok, the world is probably more complex than a blanket idea than that, but that is the basic gist. Anyway, the Professor started joking with the guy, who is gay, about how in classes with only one male or a few males how women will then start using the male or males as targets for questions on everything masculine etc. So he started saying how women in those classes will do exactly that, seek him out as an expert on all things male. Then all of sudden he just goes, "Yeah they ask all these questions about men and well, I'm just a faggot, what the hell do I know?"

The whole class just exploded with laughter. It was about the single funniest line I have ever heard. Expertly delivered too. :)

I love classes like that, good smart people, open to ideas and discussion, awesome interesting material. Lots of fun.

Good times. :)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

1. It speaks a lot for you, that you would take a class like this...

Of course, I realize there are men out there who might put themselves in a majority-female class in order to score with the classmates. But while you may never fully "get" what it is to be a woman; with a little compassion, your efforts will give you a much better idea.

It inspires me to want to take a "men's studies" class!

[mitchum]

5. "Men's studies classes" are known as Western Lit , Western Civ...

and Philosophy
DON'T FLAME ME...I didn't set up the canon (or do the work)

[crim son]

2. Lucky he got a laugh.

I was just about the only straight woman in my Feminist Lit. Th. seminar and nobody would even address me. It irritated me but I didn't let it show, not for the whole damned semester.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

3. I'm a lesbian and I've had a hard time with some women's studies majors.

Some of them take that wimmin shit too seriously.

[crim son]

4. True. I worked at a place where my boss was a lesbian.

She told me early on that she wouldn't "be with me if I were the last woman on earth." After workiing with her for two years she'd blush charmingly when we passed in the hallway :) We women need to stick together.

[mitchum]

6. Funny, I'm a straight male and I've never had a hard time with...

most women's majors.
Hard.Time.
Yes,,,I'm well aware that it is a very cheap joke
But you know we guys, we can turn ANYTHING into a stupid dick joke :)

[Wetzelbill]

8. it doesn't take much does it?

:)

[NMMNG]

9. I agree

All of that womyn/wimmin/wymyn stuff is a bit much for me. I just don't go with the whole "woman means oppression" meme.

[Floogeldy]

7. Oh, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!