White Males Teaching for Diversity: How and Why

Authors

  • Robert Schaible Author
  • Paul Burlin Author

Abstract

For some years now, the so-called culture wars in the United States have been played out in the academy. In this paper we present our philosophy and strategy for responding to the culture wars in the context of a specific course in American Studies. We first argue five propositions: that higher education must increasingly pay attention to issues of diversity; that it is help ful to approach the diversity debate with some awareness of epistemology; that this kind of study can most profitably be done via team-taught interdisciplinary courses; that courses on national diversity should employ a pedagogy that respects differences in learning styles and that emphasizes and models shared power in the classroom; and that the future will be well served if an increasing number of white males explore and expose past and present exploitative and oppressive behaviors by members of their own group. The second part of the paper provides a sampling of readings used in the course to introduce students to epistemological issues in historical and literary studies and to the active roles played in our history by Native Americans, African Americans, and women.

Published

2024-03-22