North Central Teachers' Convention 2020

In an age of access to endless media content, instances of sexism and sexual violence have surfaced more rapidly than ever before, placing them at the forefront of public discourse. While these topics are imbued with issues that are worthy of discussion, their messiness creates discomfort for teachers, parents, and students alike. Nonetheless, teachers are tasked with creating opportunities for students to engage with relevant and timely controversial topics and issues. To uphold this this call, this presentation looks closely at some of the reasons teachers may choose to engage with or limit their engagement with controversial issues related to sexism and sexual violence, and proposes a framework for approaching this difficult, messy, and polarizing subject. The intimate and divisive nature of this topic requires teachers to consider the implications of discussing sexism and sexual violence topics in the classroom, therefore, they must exercise preparedness and professional judgment. This presentation offers strategies for teachers to engage in messy topics, with the hope that this kind of classroom engagement will not only produce meaningful and generative classroom discussions, but may also help students grapple with larger themes of power and injustice.