ABSTRACT
First, lessen the “red flags” that can heighten resistance. For instance, the words “women’s studies” are anathema; this course is “composition.” The students expect to be taught to write, and so they should be. But the choice of the topic of gender can automatically be of interest to eighteen year olds pulsing with hormones and finally provided with the freedom to unleash them. However, it is important to note that young people, both women and men, despite years of being exposed to sexual issues, are still young people. The life experience of a traditional composition student is limited in many respects. For instance, these young women are experiencing the most egal itarian span in their lives. They do receive the same pay as the young man pushing burgers across the same counter, and issues of child care, child support, promotion and tenure, and insurance coverage seem infinitely distant, the previous generation’s problems and not theirs. In addition, young men, many of whom equate women’s liberation with women’s sexu ality, also feel that feminist issues were solved years ago. So although they may be interested in sexual issues, it may be only on their terms.
