blind gossip item for philosophy nerds
I was celebrating the fact that my elderly laptop had finally booted up when a famous queer theorist walked into the coffee shop with her girlfriend and her girlfriend's kids. They sat down next to me, and QT started reading Harry Potter out loud to the kids.
I know you shouldn't write in coffee shops if you want complete silence, but I kind of wished they would relocate to the play area. Since I couldn't concentrate on my short story, I was forced to eavesdrop.
Queer Theorist: Which of Harry's teachers is your favorite?
Stepdaughter: Miss [um, I don't know most of the Harry Potter characters, so let's call her Miss Tumbleweed] Tumbleweed.
QT [who goes by a man's name these days, but I'm not sure what pronoun s/he prefers]: It's Mr. Tumbleweed. Mr. Tumbleweed is a man. Anyhow, I like Ms. McGonagall. She's strict, but she knows her stuff. I think the best teachers are like that, don't you?
[Kids give her a blank look that suggests this is the equivalent of being told nothing is cooler than broccoli.]
QT: It seems like a lot of women teachers are like that, don't you think? Strict, but they know their stuff? Men aren't like that as much.
I have not read QT's book, but I'm pretty sure it's about how women can construct empowering masculine identities if they want to. I wouldn't have figured QT for someone who was all about schooling five-year-olds in gender binaries, but when it's raining and kids are antsy, I guess we all get weak.
I know you shouldn't write in coffee shops if you want complete silence, but I kind of wished they would relocate to the play area. Since I couldn't concentrate on my short story, I was forced to eavesdrop.
Queer Theorist: Which of Harry's teachers is your favorite?
Stepdaughter: Miss [um, I don't know most of the Harry Potter characters, so let's call her Miss Tumbleweed] Tumbleweed.
QT [who goes by a man's name these days, but I'm not sure what pronoun s/he prefers]: It's Mr. Tumbleweed. Mr. Tumbleweed is a man. Anyhow, I like Ms. McGonagall. She's strict, but she knows her stuff. I think the best teachers are like that, don't you?
[Kids give her a blank look that suggests this is the equivalent of being told nothing is cooler than broccoli.]
QT: It seems like a lot of women teachers are like that, don't you think? Strict, but they know their stuff? Men aren't like that as much.
I have not read QT's book, but I'm pretty sure it's about how women can construct empowering masculine identities if they want to. I wouldn't have figured QT for someone who was all about schooling five-year-olds in gender binaries, but when it's raining and kids are antsy, I guess we all get weak.
Comments
As for the QT's opinion of teachers, how bizarre.
Tracy Lynn: I'll take a stab at a definition though Cheryl might explain it better or differently. A queer theorist is someone who studies gender and sexuality stereotypes with an eye to breaking down the stereotypes, or appropriating aspects of them to foster greater equality among people. I'd say that's the gist at least...
Didn't know that was an actually profession, however. I would be awesome at that, except for the work part. I am still Queen Of Lazytowne, you know.
I've seen the feminist ideals of friends do an about face once their own kids entered the picture.