{"id":60159,"date":"2014-01-05T08:00:36","date_gmt":"2014-01-05T13:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/socimages\/?p=60159"},"modified":"2017-09-17T16:17:50","modified_gmt":"2017-09-17T21:17:50","slug":"bullying-the-fag-and-the-problem-with-grown-ups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/socimages\/2014\/01\/05\/bullying-the-fag-and-the-problem-with-grown-ups\/","title":{"rendered":"Bullying, the “Fag,” and the Problem with Grown Ups"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this excellent 6 minute video, CJ Pascoe discusses some of the findings of her widely acclaimed book, Dude, You’re a Fag<\/em><\/a>. \u00a0She points out that, while being called “fag” and other terms for people with same sex desires are the most common and most cutting of insults between boys in school, they rarely mean to actually suggest that the target is gay. \u00a0<\/em>Instead, the terms are used to suggest that boys are failing at masculinity.<\/p>\n

This, she points out, is\u00a0not “unique to childhood.” \u00a0For this reason, calling it bullying it is probably a distraction from the fact that this doesn’t just happen among kids. \u00a0She includes, as an example, a bomb destined for Afghanistan with the phrase “highjack this, fags” written on it by American soldiers.<\/p>\n

Kids, then, aren’t in a particularly nasty stage. \u00a0They’re “repeating, affirming, investing in all of these norms and expectations that we as adults are handing down.” \u00a0If we used more adult language, Pascoe argues, we might do a better job of thinking how we’re teaching boys how to be this way.<\/p>\n

A great watch:<\/p>\n