Write a 3-4 page essay that relays
a personal incident or firsthand experience in which you deployed strategies of
(racial, gender, class or cultural) passing for benefits of safety, security
and/or personal advantage. Draw from readings by at least two of the following
authors: Larsen, Halberstam, Butler, Prosser, Piper. In this exercise you are
expected to articulate what was at stake for you in this experience, whom you
implicated in the experience other than yourself, and what ultimate end your
passing served. You may want to draw on other readings from the class to
examine intersections between racial and sexual/gender passing or transition.
Grading:
This paper is worth 20% of your
final grade. You will be graded as follows:
Guidelines:
1.
In the paper, demonstrate
that you have thought independently and creatively about the readings, class
discussions, and other material related to passing/transcending gender, sexual
and racial identities.
2. Meaningfully integrate two
or more specific references to Nella LarsenŐs Passing and/or excerpts/articles by Halberstam, Butler, Prosser
and/or Piper.
3. The paper should be typed and double-spaced with 12-point
font and 1-inch margins. Correct
spelling and grammar is expected.
5. You must use citations correctly! This means using quotes correctly when using text word-for-word, citing your source when paraphrasing someone else's idea, and in either case, providing the author's name, year published, and if a quote, the page number. You can use any citation style (ASA, APA, MLA), as long as you are consistent.