Recontextualising ‘Big Spender’
socialising the selling of female sexuality in a middle school drama programme
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/genl.v8i1.43Keywords:
language socialisation, sexualisation of girls, complex systems models, intertextuality, middle schoolAbstract
The main focus of this paper is to show how the rehearsal of ‘Big Spender’ in an American middle school drama programme is embedded in larger social contexts, and thereby contributes to what the American Psychological Association identifies as the ‘sexualization of girls’ in today’s world. More specifically, I use complex and ecosystems models in order to illuminate the multilayered way in which the recontextualised use of macro-level cultural texts like ‘Big Spender’ can contribute to the sexualisation of girls in meso-level, formal education-based communities of practice as well as in micro-level, face-to-face social interactions. Data presented here were collected and analysed by combining (a) ethnographically-based language socialisation field research conducted at one middle school and (b) discourse and multimodal examinations of ‘Big Spender’-related texts. Based on this multilayered analysis I show how schools and teachers can and do contribute to the language socialisation of sexual objectification and subordination of schoolgirls.
References
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Egan, R. D. and Hawkes, G. (2008) Girls, sexuality and the strange carnalities of advertisements: deconstructing the discourse of corporate paedophilia, Australian Feminist Studies, 23: 307- -322.
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Hodge, A. (2007) Sweet Charity: educational study guide. Houston, TX: Theater under the Stars. Retrieved on 10 October 2011 from http://www.tuts.com/Images/SeasonShowDocs/SweetCharity_study.pdf
Huesmann, L.R. and Taylor, L.D. (2006) Media effects in middle childhood. In A.C. Huston and M.N. Ripke (eds.)Developmental contexts in middle childhood: bridges to adolescence and adulthood 303- -326. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Klein, H. E. M. (1999). Narrative. Journal of Linguistic Anthropology. 9:167- -169. doi: 10.1525/jlin.1999.9.1-2.167
Lemke, J.L. (2000) Across the scales of time: artifacts, activities, and meanings in ecosocial systems. Mind, Culture, and Activity 7: 273- -90.
Meyer, E.J. (2008) Gendered harassment in secondary schools: understanding teachers’ (non) interventions. Gender & Education 20: 555- -70.
Plasketes, G. (2005) Reflections on the cover age: a collage of continuous coverage in popular music. Popular Music & Society 28: 137- -61.
Robinson, K. (2005) Reinforcing hegemonic masculinities through sexual harassment: issues of identity, power and popularity in secondary schools. Gender & Education 17: 19- -37.
Roth, W.M. (2001) Situating cognition. The Journal of the Learning Sciences 10: 27- -61.
Schieffelin, B.B. and Ochs, E. (1986)Language socialization across cultures. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
van Leeuwen, T. (2008)Discourse and practice: new tools for critical discourse analysis. New York: Oxford University Press.
Wenger, E. (2000) Communities of practice and social learning systems. Organization 7: 225- -46.
Wolf, S. (2004)‘Something better than this’: Sweet Charity and the feminist utopia of Broadway musicals. Modern Drama 47: 309- -32.
Wortham, S.E.F. (2005) Socialization beyond the speech event. Journal of Linguistic Anthropology 15: 95- -112.
Bauman, R. and Briggs, C.L. (1990) Poetics and Performance as Critical Perspectives on Language and Social Life. Annual Review of Anthropology 19: 59- -88.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1976) The experimental ecology of education. Educational Researcher 5: 5- -15.
Butler, M. (2003) Taking it seriously: intertextuality and authenticity in two covers by the Pet Shop Boys. Popular Music 22: 1- -19.
Cazden, C.B. 2001. Classroom Discourse: the Language of Teaching and Learning. Second ed. Portsmouth, N.H.: Heinemann.
Cover. (2012) Merriam-Webster online dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster. Retrieved on 22 June 2012 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cover Derek1986forever. (2011, 25 Oct.)
Broadway group dance - Dancing with the Stars - season 13 - week 6. [video file]. Retrieved on 28 June 2012 fromhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziNLu-gXCic
Downes, L. (2006, 29 Dec.) Middle school girls gone wild. The New York Times. Retrieved on 24 November 2011 from http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/29/opinion/29fri4.html?_r=1
Ebert, R. (1998, 16 Aug.) Nights of Cabiria (1957). Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved on 24 November 2011 from http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19980816/REVIEWS08/401010343/1023
Egan, R. D. and Hawkes, G. (2008) Girls, sexuality and the strange carnalities of advertisements: deconstructing the discourse of corporate paedophilia, Australian Feminist Studies, 23: 307- -322.
Hodge, J. (2010, 12 Nov.) A feminist guide to Broadway musicals. Gender Focus: A Canadian Feminist Blog. Retrieved on 10 October 2011 from http://www.gender-focus.com/?s=musicals
Hodge, A. (2007) Sweet Charity: educational study guide. Houston, TX: Theater under the Stars. Retrieved on 10 October 2011 from http://www.tuts.com/Images/SeasonShowDocs/SweetCharity_study.pdf
Huesmann, L.R. and Taylor, L.D. (2006) Media effects in middle childhood. In A.C. Huston and M.N. Ripke (eds.)Developmental contexts in middle childhood: bridges to adolescence and adulthood 303- -326. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Klein, H. E. M. (1999). Narrative. Journal of Linguistic Anthropology. 9:167- -169. doi: 10.1525/jlin.1999.9.1-2.167
Lemke, J.L. (2000) Across the scales of time: artifacts, activities, and meanings in ecosocial systems. Mind, Culture, and Activity 7: 273- -90.
Meyer, E.J. (2008) Gendered harassment in secondary schools: understanding teachers’ (non) interventions. Gender & Education 20: 555- -70.
Plasketes, G. (2005) Reflections on the cover age: a collage of continuous coverage in popular music. Popular Music & Society 28: 137- -61.
Robinson, K. (2005) Reinforcing hegemonic masculinities through sexual harassment: issues of identity, power and popularity in secondary schools. Gender & Education 17: 19- -37.
Roth, W.M. (2001) Situating cognition. The Journal of the Learning Sciences 10: 27- -61.
Schieffelin, B.B. and Ochs, E. (1986)Language socialization across cultures. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
van Leeuwen, T. (2008)Discourse and practice: new tools for critical discourse analysis. New York: Oxford University Press.
Wenger, E. (2000) Communities of practice and social learning systems. Organization 7: 225- -46.
Wolf, S. (2004)‘Something better than this’: Sweet Charity and the feminist utopia of Broadway musicals. Modern Drama 47: 309- -32.
Wortham, S.E.F. (2005) Socialization beyond the speech event. Journal of Linguistic Anthropology 15: 95- -112.
Published
2014-03-17
Issue
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Schick, L. (2014). Recontextualising ‘Big Spender’: socialising the selling of female sexuality in a middle school drama programme. Gender and Language, 8(1), 43-70. https://doi.org/10.1558/genl.v8i1.43
