"dude you're a fag"

I think that Pascoe’s fieldwork offers insight into average American high schools today. Pascoe shows how heteronormative and homophobic discourse perpetuate a strict script of what masculinity is. This rigid structure fosters an environment of bullying targeted at gender identity. A comment was made in class regarding why gender and identity is not something many people are taught in high school. I think that is a valid and logical question; a subject that affects every individual in some way shape or form is not even addressed. I think that education is a starting point that can serve to break down discourse such as the one seen in Pascoe’s book. More importantly education should be implemented at every level of a school system. Educating children is obviously a necessary step forward, however administration and staff should be advised on ways in which gender and identity play a role in bullying. Something I noticed in the book was the lack of intervention when the “fag discourse” would ensue. I found similarities between my own school and River High but a difference I noticed was that at my school, teachers were present between passing times and it impeded on these hyper-masculine performances.