Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Assuming, for the sake of argument, that a university does in fact required classes in women's studies, or some sort of minority studies, I find it interesting that the word 'indoctrination' is being used. All Americans are indoctrinated almost every waking hour of every day with the standard historical narratives and worldview associated with white male privilege. I don't think it is unreasonable to expect someone getting a college degree to be exposed to alternative narratives and worldviews.
Simply being exposed to other views in an academic setting is not necessarily the same as being indoctrinated into them. In fact, indoctrination would aim to make sure that people are not exposed to alternative views, except maybe for the purposes of ridiculing them. Mental flexibility it's generally good, and flexibility generally involves exposure to multiple viewpoints so that informed decisions can be made (in contrast to simply going with the flow of default indoctrinated opinions). A physics major is never just a physics major. Knowledge generally brings power, and power generally brings social responsibility. Narrowly focused training is not a good idea for anyone - especially for anyone who is going to end up having greater than average amount of power.
Like it or not, we live in a highly diverse and highly complex world. Simple focused training that assumes default social narratives and opinions does not count as a good higher-level education. Students taking a women's studies class are not required to give up their sexist or racist views. But they are required to understand alternatives. This is not an unreasonable expectation for college graduates.
Assuming, for the sake of argument, that a university does in fact required classes in women's studies, or some sort of minority studies, I find it interesting that the word 'indoctrination' is being used. All Americans are indoctrinated almost every waking hour of every day with the standard historical narratives and worldview associated with white male privilege. I don't think it is unreasonable to expect someone getting a college degree to be exposed to alternative narratives and worldviews.
Simply being exposed to other views in an academic setting is not necessarily the same as being indoctrinated into them. In fact, indoctrination would aim to make sure that people are not exposed to alternative views, except maybe for the purposes of ridiculing them. Mental flexibility it's generally good, and flexibility generally involves exposure to multiple viewpoints so that informed decisions can be made (in contrast to simply going with the flow of default indoctrinated opinions). A physics major is never just a physics major. Knowledge generally brings power, and power generally brings social responsibility. Narrowly focused training is not a good idea for anyone - especially for anyone who is going to end up having greater than average amount of power.
Like it or not, we live in a highly diverse and highly complex world. Simple focused training that assumes default social narratives and opinions does not count as a good higher-level education. Students taking a women's studies class are not required to give up their sexist or racist views. But they are required to understand alternatives. This is not an unreasonable expectation for college graduates.
My son was never a sexist, but after all this stuff has been pushed on him, I suspect he is becoming one.
Oh the irony)))
P.S. "Indoctrination" has been used in a context of the "gender" study - what one considers "norm" and what's not.
Hmmm. Upon further investigation, I found this. Looks like you may have exaggerated a bit. Econ 336: Women in the U.S. Economy is recommended, not required, for a dual degree program in Physics and Engineering at UW-La Crosse.
Hmmm. Upon further investigation, I found this. Looks like you may have exaggerated a bit. Econ 336: Women in the U.S. Economy is recommended, not required, for a dual degree program in Physics and Engineering at UW-La Crosse.
Apparently the way it has been *recommended* to him, left him little space to wiggle out of it.
Otherwise I wouldn't be even mentioning it.
Apparently the way it has been *recommended* to him, left him little space to wiggle out of it.
Otherwise I wouldn't be even mentioning it.
So, in other words, he didn't feel sufficiently motivated to pursue an alternative that would meet the General Education requirement, and now it's all the university's fault. Right.
So, in other words, he didn't feel sufficiently motivated to pursue an alternative that would meet the General Education requirement, and now it's all the university's fault. Right.
Uhhmm.. right, he "didn't feel sufficiently motivated to pursue an alternative," but I guess he will still have plenty of choices down the road, such as
Hmong Americans
Language, Power, and Inequality
Women in the U.S. Economy
Multicultural Education
Understanding Human Differences
Multicultural Literature of the United States
Literature of Black America
African American Authors
Introduction to Ethnic and Racial Studies
Introduction to Wisconsin Indians
Ethnic America
Latinos in the United States: 1450-2000
History of Jazz Culture
Multicultural Philosophy in the United States
Women and Politics
Culture and Mental Health
Psychology of Women
Changing the Culture: Women in Science
Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
Introduction to English Language Learners and Advocacy
Gender, Race and Class in American Institutions
Women's Diversity: Race, Class, and Culture
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
