Talking Points 3

Dennis Carlson "Gayness, Multicultural Education, and Community"

Matthew Sawyer

Quotes

1. "Within normalizing communities, some individuals and subject positions get privileged and represented as "normal" while other individuals and subject positions are dissempowered and represented as...."abnormal."

2. "Three techniques of normalization and marginalization have been of primary importance in this regard: (1) the erasure of gayness in the curriculum, (2) the closeting and witch hunting of gay teachers, and (3) verbal and physical intimidation of gay teachers and students."

3. "Fourth, it also means that I am inextricably involved in multiple cultural struggles rather than merely just one."

Points of Discussion

Carlson makes several interesting points in his article. First is the point that America has developed whats called a "normalizing community" where those in power: SCWAMP, are seen of or thought of as normal, and those outside of those boundaries are seen of or thought of as abnormal, thus creating the other. When normalcy is held up to such high regards and standings, those labeled abnormal or the others are looked down upon and dissempowered. Another important point about the normalized culture of America, in specific regards to gayness, is how those in power are able to maintain their power in the school setting, which is labeled as a breeding house for open minds. Schools achieve this by eliminating gayness from the curriculum they teach, slamming openly gay teachers with controversy, and physically, mentally, and emotionally sabotaging the welfare of gay students and teachers alike. In order to overcome this normalized culture though, Carlson states that we need to recognize ourselves in every possible category according to SCWAMP. By doing so, we make it obvious to those possibly dissempowered in a separate category that their dissempowerment relates to ours and is equally as oppressive and by sticking together, both sides can achieve their goals and overthrow the normalized culture.