Today, in the Academic and Scientific Writing class that I teach at a local community college, I started a unit on the persuasive essay and the art of crafting a convincing argument. In an attempt to stimulate class involvement and interest, I’ve decided to get the students to do a debate. The topic I chose (and this was actually based on student interest) is the following: should the cost of sex- reassignment surgery be covered by Canadian provinci al health care systems? Last week, when I asked students what types of controversial issues they were interested in debating, this was the only topic that elicited a response other than the usual apathetic, blank-eyed stares. Yes, people were actually up for debating this topic! Hurrah!
Now, today, when it came time to divide the class up into 2 groups, the pros and the cons, I thought perhaps the studen ts’ inherent opinions would facilitate the division. But, guess what? Out of the 13 people who attended class today, only ONE thought that sex-reassignment surgery should be covered by health care. One person! My heart sunk.
So, dear readers, tell me this: am I naïve? I really thought that amongst a group of young, 20-ish-year-old students, there would be a much more progressive attitude towards gender. Has anyone else had any experience with presenting trans issues in a non-women’s studies/non-queer studies context and had a more positive response?
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I don’t want to come across as “oh, those kids today” curmudgeon but this doesn’t really surprise me all that much after reading article after article about how young girls and young boys thought that Rihanna must have done something to deserve her beating.
It’s almost like to rebel against the activism of our youth (for the 30-somethings), the teenage generation today has become apathetic to all forms of activism? I realise that’s pretty controversial to say – it will be interesting to see if the current economic hard times change the social activism landscape as it seems to me the recession in the early 90s had a big effect on social activism when I was a teenager.
You can try to have your students pick one or more of the controversial topics on ProCon.org. They are bound to create a constructive debate on any of the 20 topics offered. One issue similar to your current debate shows the arguments surrounding the question Is sexual orientation determined at birth?
I wonder if their attitudes are not in fact motivated by an understanding of gender issues, but rather by their beliefs on government spending and the nature of the operation. After all the question posed to them was about spending, and ultimately, about them paying for a procedure with their tax dollars. I’m sure none of us believe that elective plastic surgery should be covered by health care – and no, I am not in any way trying to say that the two are the same – but I wonder if that is where the students are coming from. I think we need to keep in mind that they are fighting to not be in debt for their education and they might be swayed by that argument. Maybe mention to them that things like breast reduction are covered, that might put them in a different frame of mind.
I’m not prepared to say that this generation are less likely to be social activists because I am always amazed by the things I see them doing – despite the perception of todays youth in the media. I think what you have is a great opportunity to get to the bottom of the reasons why only one of them thinks it should be covered – it could make for a very interesting discussion and might just set your mind at ease about their attitude toward gender issues.
Hmm…I’m not convinced that “kids today” are less politically active and aware than kids used to be ten or twenty years ago. I do see lots of really great youth projects going on, so there have got to be some young people out there who are committed to social justice. However, I do find many of my students to be apathetic about social issues. But I don’t think the students I teach are representative of all youth out there.
After witnessing the students prepare for the debate and then having the actual debate in class today, I think Erika’s point is exactly right. For many of the students, the issue was not whether or not the surgery should be permitted but whether or not tax dollars should be paying for it. I still think it’s a bit of a conservative view to not want to collectively pool money for this type of surgery, and I do think those who don’t support publicly funded transsexual surgery don’t really understand trans issues well enough. My hope is that the exercise and in-class discussion afterward have enlightened a few people.