The theories of international relations (IR) are often difficult topics for students to understand: What are these and how are they useful? This is especially true among students who have likely never taken a political science class, are not political science majors, and are attending a rural regional university with limited exposure to the world.…

Using a feminist lens and a constructivist approach as the theoretical framework, we used rap lyrics and videos to help college students explore mass media's representation of the "independent" Black woman and the concept of "independence" in general. Students must be able to formulate their own concept of independence to…

Women in higher education and the consumer pressures they feel have implications for the quality of an education a woman receives. With college tuition rising, more and more college students are going into deeper financial debt than ever before (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2008). Popular culture influences on the college-going…

The images of fat professors encountered in popular culture are few in number and negative in depiction. In this article, the author discusses on how will the professorial body affect the way in which students perceive the professor's teaching abilities. The author concludes that bias against fat professors, professors of color, and other…

Maintains that sexism is the foundation on which all other forms of oppression are built. Discusses a classroom exercise in which 150 first-year students at Indiana University, Bloomington, write an essay describing a conversation with someone about homosexuality. Analyzes student essays in terms of what they reveal about the link between sexism…

Uses the television program "Roseanne" as a teaching aid to analyze societal institutions and their effects on everyday life experiences. Examines attitudes and opinions of 31 White midwestern college students, ages 18 to late 50s, regarding the program. Shows students feel the series critiques patriarchy and affirms women's lives. (NL)