Catalina De Erauso’s Lieutenant Nun: Memoir of a Basque Transvestite in the New World might be a nice addition to your class’ reading list. Erauso could move the course further south into colonial Peru and help spark discussion of the cultural construction of gender identities in 16th- and 17th-century Spanish America.

I give you kudos for constructing an early American course that does not focus exclusively on North America. Unfortunately, in my department, our “colonial” Americanist focuses exclusively on British North America within a teleological “Early American” framework–as a prologue to the U.S. nation.

Once you write your syllabus, will you share it with us?

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/414150.html

says it was Irina Dunn.

Mary, take note: it’s MUCH easier to get a big book contract if 1) you’re the daughter of a famous feminist writer, and 2) you argue that feminism is harmful to young women. A young woman like you writing a book about how feminism is great and helpful and shapes your life in important ways is not what the market wants to hear, so remember, you’re looking for the man bites dog story. (Or the fish rides bicycle story, as it were? You don’t even get that joke do you, because you’re 22?!?)

Oh and I didnt get a chance to post this on Tuesday (I blame my two reading seminars) but I also think that Katie Roiphie’s “research” is complete nonsense. Although it is scary some of the public finds her arguments convincing. Its a shame that educated females still promote this ideas-I’m thinking particulary of the splash Louann Brizendine made in her book “The Female Brain.” Makes me think anyone supporting gender spheres can write their conclusion before they’ve started researching these days and get it published.