Sociopolitical consciousness refers to an individual's ability to critically analyze the political, economic, and social forces shaping society and one's status in it. A growing body of scholarship reports that high levels of sociopolitical consciousness are predictive in marginalized adolescents of a number of key outcomes including resilience…

In this article college football coach Ricky Santo argues that in order to change the ways of the misunderstood world of racism, one needs to acknowledge the sociocultural consciousness in society today. The sociocultural consciousness is a way to understand how people think and behave which is influenced by their race/ethnicity, social class, and…

In this article the authors describe pedagogy which rests on commitments to solidarity, activism, and intersectional understandings of personhood and social (in)justices. The authors seek to create accessible classrooms where our many selves and critical consciousness can be in (dis)comforting conversation with one another. Then, they hope to…

Stubborn societal prejudices persist that inhibit this enlargement of gender roles for boys and men. Portrayals of men in popular culture tend to be brutish, ignorant, and violent--often in sexual and predatory ways. Boys in school are subjected to homophobia, racism, classism, and shame, as a means of policing their burgeoning identities and…

Researchers have demonstrated that unconscious prejudices around characteristics such as race, gender, and class are common, even among people who avow themselves unbiased. The authors present a method for teaching about implicit racial bias using online Implicit Association Tests. The authors do not claim that their method rids students of…

Transgender people are becoming increasingly visible in popular culture, academia, and national politics. University and college administrators are struggling at every level with how to address the needs of trans-identified staff people, faculty members, and students, all of whom are increasingly becoming open, vibrant participants in university…

This research reflection explores a narrative pattern that emerged in participants' interviews on student differences. In exploring this narrative pattern, this reflection reveals tensions between participants' "structural" and "deficit" understandings of student differences of race, class, culture, and language. Framing…

Conversations play a significant role in early childhood antibias and multicultural education because they enable children to connect with others and to begin to see the implications of certain assumptions. However, engaging children in these conversations is not always easy. No matter what the question, children frequently resist answering…

A group of science students self-identifying as gay or queer have only talked of their sexuality and gender feelings, and their experiences within higher education, on the completion of their studies. The reasons for their alienation from, and further marginalisation by the queer discourse are discussed. These include the stereotyping of gay…

This paper focuses on a cohort of B.Ed. students' understandings about social difference and social justice as recorded in their professional journals in the first semester of third year. It shows that their reasons for choosing teaching as a career, reflections on their school experiences and discussions about future students are grounded in the…

American culture glorifies the self-made man and this self-making extends to individual identity. The United States celebrates geographical and social mobility and the very anomie this produces is also the site of secular rebirths. In this essay, the author examines a literary genre that draws upon the American faith in self-transformation in an…

Students from a predominantly White state at a predominantly White institution, working and living within predominantly White communities, have limited experience engaging with people of color. This lack of experience has at least two consequences. First, students tend to define "diversity" simply as non-White racial and ethnic identity, failing…

Ever since George Washington opted for the title of president rather than king, Americans have been uncomfortable with the idea of class distinctions. This article presents an interview with Dr. Janet Galligani Casey regarding the idea of class distinctions. Galligani Casey, who grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Somerville, Massachusetts,…

Examines the personal views, research methods, and writing strategies of an author who specializes in books on labor history aimed at the young adult market. Discusses some of the work that went into biographies of Mother Jones, Rosie the Riveter, and Frances Perkins. Recommends an increased focus on labor history. (MJP)

Provides a concise rationale for teaching labor history, placing the labor movement squarely in the 20th century move towards a more inclusive democracy and expanded definitions of citizens' rights and citizen participation. Briefly discusses current problems of downsizing and the proliferation of low-paying jobs. (MJP)