Dr. Richard N Pitt, Jr. Vanderbilt University Department of Sociology Institute For Humane Studies 2008 “Sexy Words” The Liberating Effects of Intersectionality.

Dr. Richard N Pitt, Jr.Vanderbilt University

Department of Sociology

Institute For Humane Studies 2008

“Sexy Words”The Liberating Effects of Intersectionality In

The Social Science Classroom

“Sexy Words”The Liberating Effects of Intersectionality In

The Social Science Classroom

What I Hope To CoverWhat I Hope To Cover

• “Who Am I?”: Making Sense of Intersectionality • “Social Problems”: Who Decides What’s A

Problem And Who Should Solve It?• Contradictions Of Liberty: Who Is “Right”?• “Calling A Spade A Spade”: Struggling With

Unintended Consequences Of Pure Classical Liberalism

• “Making It Work”: Teaching Sociology

• “Who Am I?”: Making Sense of Intersectionality • “Social Problems”: Who Decides What’s A

Problem And Who Should Solve It?• Contradictions Of Liberty: Who Is “Right”?• “Calling A Spade A Spade”: Struggling With

Unintended Consequences Of Pure Classical Liberalism

• “Making It Work”: Teaching Sociology

Sociology 101Whose Perspective Do I Teach From?Whose Perspective Do I Teach From?

Election 2000/2008Who Did/Will I Vote For?Who Did/Will I Vote For?

African-AmericanAfrican-American

Brother Of A Defense Atty.Brother Of A Defense Atty.

GayGay

First-GenerationFirst-Generation

Blue Stater 12 YrsBlue Stater 12 Yrs

EvangelicalEvangelical

Religious PacifistReligious Pacifist

Rat’l Choice ScholarRat’l Choice Scholar

6-Figure Income

6-Figure Income

MaleMale

Navy VeteranNavy Veteran

FeministFeminist

SociologistSociologist

RepublicanRepublican

Red Stater 12 YearsRed Stater 12 Years

Son Of A Prison Warden

Son Of A Prison Warden

“Social Problems”

• Inequality & Poverty• Work & Unemployment

• Racial, Gender, and Sexual Inequality• Crime & Drugs

• Family Dissolution And Decline• Illness and the Health Care Crisis

• The Environment• Globalization

• Growth of Corporate/Gov’t Power• Population Growth & Urbanization

• Sexual “Deviance”• Conflict, War & Terrorism

“Broadly speaking, the term ‘social problems’ is used to describe a wide variety of

phenomena which are perceived and

labeled as problematic, and

for which a solution is seen as

possible and necessary.”

• Personal Privacy (Abortion, Drug and Alcohol Use)• Expression & Communication (Media, Speech, Religion)• Personal Relationships (Sexual Practice, Relationships)• Self-Defense (Firearms)• Crime and Justice (Due Process, Innocence Until Guilty)

Personal LibertyPersonal Liberty

Economic LibertyEconomic Liberty

Kinds Of LibertyKinds Of Liberty

• Property and Contracts (Wages, Production, Interest, Trade)• Energy and Resources (Pricing, Subsidization, Production)• Gov’t Finance and Spending (Taxes)• Education (School Choice)• Income Security (Social Security, Welfare, Health Care)

Contradictions Of Liberty

Contradictions Of Liberty

Both Of These Political Groups

Decry The Encroachment Of

“The Government” On Our Rights &

Liberty

Both Of These Political Groups

Decry The Encroachment Of

“The Government” On Our Rights &

Liberty

“Liberals”“Liberals” “Conservatives"“Conservatives"

“Liberals”“Liberals”

Government Is Too Powerful . . .

What Kind Of Sex/Family Is “Normal

What Substances We Can Ingest, Inject, or Inhale

Who Is Allowed On The “Homeland”

What I Can Say In Print Or On Air

Who Is A National Enemy And Worthy Of Death Through War & Conflict

What Kind Of Sex/Family Is “Normal

What Substances We Can Ingest, Inject, or Inhale

Who Is Allowed On The “Homeland”

What I Can Say In Print Or On Air

Who Is A National Enemy And Worthy Of Death Through War & Conflict

Contradictions Of Liberty

Contradictions Of Liberty

“Liberals”“Liberals”

. . . But We Need More Of It!

Stop Consequences Of Individuals’ Bad Economic Or Life Decisions

Stop Political Interest Groups From Advertising Against Our Candidates

Stop Corporate Monopolies

Stop People From Discriminating

Stop People From Owning & Using Guns

Stop Consequences Of Individuals’ Bad Economic Or Life Decisions

Stop Political Interest Groups From Advertising Against Our Candidates

Stop Corporate Monopolies

Stop People From Discriminating

Stop People From Owning & Using Guns

Contradictions Of Liberty

Contradictions Of Liberty

“Conservatives"“Conservatives"

Government Is Too Powerful . . .

What I Can Use To Protect My Family

What I Can Do With My Money As Consumer And As Employer

How and Where I Worship God

Where & How My Children Are Educated

Who I Can Trade With And Under What Circumstances

What I Can Use To Protect My Family

What I Can Do With My Money As Consumer And As Employer

How and Where I Worship God

Where & How My Children Are Educated

Who I Can Trade With And Under What Circumstances

Contradictions Of Liberty

Contradictions Of Liberty

“Conservatives"“Conservatives"

. . . But We Need More Of It!

Stop Our Global Enemies From Harassing Our Global Friends

Stop Sexual Morality In All Its Forms

Stop People From Crossing Our Borders

Stop Juries From Determining Penalties

Protect Us At All Costs Even If It Means We Lose Some Civil Liberties

Stop Our Global Enemies From Harassing Our Global Friends

Stop Sexual Morality In All Its Forms

Stop People From Crossing Our Borders

Stop Juries From Determining Penalties

Protect Us At All Costs Even If It Means We Lose Some Civil Liberties

Contradictions Of Liberty

Contradictions Of Liberty

TheRIGHT

TheRIGHT

TheLEFTThe

LEFTClassical

LiberalismClassical

Liberalism

Struggling With The Consequences Of Pure Classical Liberalism

Struggling With The Consequences Of Pure Classical Liberalism

INTEGRATION

OF THE TWO POLES

But How Can You Possibly Sustain This Kind Of Duality In The Face Of The Obvious

Unintended Consequences?

But How Can You Possibly Sustain This Kind Of Duality In The Face Of The Obvious

Unintended Consequences?

Free MarketsFree Markets

No Public $ For Education

No Public $ For Education

Free SpeechFree Speech

Regulation Of Industry

Regulation Of Industry

Soc. ofEducation

Soc. ofEducation

Compulsory Education

School Choice

Soc. of Race &

Ethnicity

Soc. of Race &

Ethnicity

Affirmative Action

Crime & Punishment

Soc. of Gender & Sex

Soc. of Gender & Sex

Gay Marriage & Adoption

Pornography & Prostitution

Soc. ofReligionSoc. of

Religion

Religion-Free Public Square

Government Faith-Based Initiatives

Soc. of Work & Labor

Soc. of Work & Labor

Minimum & Living Wages

NAFTA & Free Trade

Challenges In Teaching Sociology Courses

Challenges In Teaching Sociology Courses

QUESTIONS AND

COMMENTS

QUESTIONS AND

COMMENTS