My sister, an intelligent and excellent college student, got a C on a speech she wrote for class primarily because the professor didn't like the topic she chose. The topic? Feminism.
The assignment was to write a persuasive speech, and there was one primary rule: no controversial topics. Emily asked me if I thought feminism was too controversial, and I said no. I know not everyone agrees with feminism, but I don't think that makes it too controversial. Any topic will have those who disagree. That's why it's a persuasive speech - because you're trying to persuade people to agree with you. So I loaned her some books and helped her craft an overall message, and she spent weeks working on this thing.
When she finally had to present the topic and outline to her professor, the professor expressed some discomfort with the subject matter. This woman, it was clear, was not a feminist and was not comfortable with the idea of one of her students talking about feminism in her classroom. Emily persisted though and convinced her that she was well within the "no controversial topics" rule.
As expected the speech, when delivered in class, was met with some uneasiness. Em started out by saying something like "I'm a feminist and I bet, even if you don't know it yet, you are too." Which I think is genius, but that was only one of many things that the professor ripped apart.
I suppose it is possible that it was just a bad speech and she got a C for that reason alone. But common sense tells me that's bullshit. Em spent almost two months researching, writing, rewriting and practicing this speech. She knew the professor would want to hate it, so she had to make it great. She has gotten an A on every other speech she has written for the class, and she is an incredibly intelligent girl and a good student. Plus all the comments on past speeches have been of a technical nature; this time she got a lot of opinion. Instead of "poor sentence structure" it was more like "I don't like your attention-getter."
Emily thought it was important to mention that this woman is an outspoken conservative. Not that political or social conservatives are automatically anti-feminists (who knows?), but it's just another clue to what's really going on here. Em has decided not to fight the grade - she'll get an A in the class regardless. However, I did strongly encourage her to alert someone to what happened. The integrity of grading is important in academia, and somebody should know that one professor is letting her personal opinions on an issue overshadow a clear demonstration of a student's ability to do the work.
It's too bad that the very idea of feminism can be so divisive. And it's too bad Emily's grade had to suffer as a result. But I bet every student in her class that day heard something they had never heard before and learned something they had never learned before. I think that's more important than a silly grade. Emily agrees.
(cross-posted at doahleigh.com)
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It irks me when women are anti-feminist but still want to reap the benefits of feminism. "Ooh, I like my academic career and being in a postion of authority over students as a professor, BUT DON'T SAY THE F-WORD!"
And by the way, the "no controversial topics" rule for this kind of assignment sounds pretty stupid to me too. If you're to construct a persuasive argument, wouldn't it be better to apply it to something you know others may not agree with? What does she want her students to write essays on--persuading somebody to eat strawberry ice cream? No wait, that's still too controversial, you might upset the lactose-intolerant.
I know this isn't the point of this post, but what a crappy assignment. She had to write a persuasive speech about a non-controversial topic? Seriously?
What is that supposed to be? Is there really something that everyone agrees on? And if everyone already agrees, what's the point of the persuasive speech?
As an English teacher, I understand the need to avoid controversial topics because many college freshman (and sophomores...or adults in general) cannot articulate ideas about such topics; it is easier to make a blanket rule than to decide which students are capable. Often times the arguments are not well crafted...in many ways it helps the student. Young adults can also say things that are offensive without knowing it--you have to dance a fine line between the rights of students on both ends.
Besides it gets tiring to read 10 papers on abortion or gay marriage per class.
I also know that I am more critical of students when I disagree with their argument. I struggle to remain objective when a student is writing a pro-life paper--so it's easier to tell them not to. There are many other topics out there to write about.
Now, I don't think feminism is controversial, not really. I know some ideas are, but for the most part people tend to agree on equal pay, access to health care, etc...
When the instructions say "nothing controversial" and you have to ask "is this too controversial?" you're sort of assuming the risk when you go ahead and use that topic anyway.
I think most people who aren't misogynists would agree that female equality with men is not a controversial topic. That it is considered to be one by some is just a marker of our sexist society and all the more reason for girls like doahleigh's sister to give speeches on feminism.
Is it possible for your sister to sit down with the prof and talk about why she got a poor grade?
I agree with people above that he fails as a professor by asking for "no controversial topics." If it's something that you would be able to take a stance on and write a persuasive essay about, then it's a "controversial" topic.
I know a lot of people who mean that as a euphemism for "no gay marriage or abortion." But really, just say that.