GSE Colloquium Series in Education & Organizations: CJ Pascoe

Politics in the Schoolhouse

Across the country, books are being banned, discriminatory policies passed and wars on inclusion waged as politician and parental fears of “political content” shape school structure, culture and curriculum. This talk investigates what we mean when we call something political and how the demand for an apolitical education exacts gendered, racialized, sexualized and classed harms. Drawing on lessons learned from a study of American High School, a school filled with well-meaning staff and students, where kindness characterizes school culture, this talk explores what happens when political activities, topics and talk are banned in schools. A focus on the social life of the school shows that the void left by banning “the political” gets filled with a regime of kindness. A regime of kindness obscures the systemic nature of inequalities, making them seem like  individual problems of merit, hurt feelings, meanness, individual effort or resilience. As a result, students at American High say that racism is “sugarcoated,” queer youth are told that drag shows could lead to bullying and girls are sent the message that the slogan “your body your choice,” means that they are responsible for preventing sexual violence. Lessons from students and staff at American High suggest ways we can counter these demands for an apolitical schoolhouse by systemizing care in our schools and beyond.

C.J. Pascoe is a professor of sociology at the University of Oregon. She is the author of the award-winning book, Dude, You’re a Fag: Masculinity and Sexuality in High School and Nice is Not Enough: Inequality and the Limits of Kindness at American High School. An expert on schools, gendered inequality and homophobia, she has worked with and advised various organizations such as The Born This Way Foundation, True Child, and The Gay/Straight Alliance Network to translate academic research into policy and programming for young people. Dr. Pascoe's research has been featured in documentaries and media outlets such as Frontline, National Public Radio, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Mail and Le Monde.