In their introduction to college textbooks, Sherrie Nist-Olejnik and Jodi Patrick Holschuh explain to students that college success can be achieved with the appropriate skill and will. In other words, they argue that if you know how to read, study, and write at the college-level, for example, and if you are appropriately motivated and set goals, college success–inContinue reading “Will + Skill ≠ Success: Intersectionality, Student Depression, and Reality”
Author Archives: Dr. Andrew Joseph Pegoda
The “Trolley Problem” is Fundamentally Flawed
The so-named Trolley Problem first originated in 1905, and since its full development as a thought experiment in 1967 by Philippa Foot, it has captivated the on-going attention of philosophers and psychologists for decades. More recently, as indicated on the Facebook page “Trolley problem memes,” developing various iterations of the Trolley Problem is a popularContinue reading “The “Trolley Problem” is Fundamentally Flawed”
Key Facts About Trans People
Cis (i.e., cisgender) refers to people who identify with their assigned sex and gender at birth. If you’re not trans, you are usually cis and have cis privilege. A trans man, for example, is usually best seen as someone who was always a man, but we must be cautious of strategic essentialism and remember sex/genderContinue reading “Key Facts About Trans People”
Blue and Pink Affect Our Perception of Others
As part of a guest lecture/workshop I gave today on the power of words, I did an experiment. (If I remember correctly, I read about this experiment in Delusions of Gender that I have often talked about on this blog.) There were 18 students. I sent nine students out in the hall where they could not seeContinue reading “Blue and Pink Affect Our Perception of Others”
Learning That I Don’t Have to Tolerate Pain
One of the words that could summarize my life is pain: lots and lots of really bad pain. There have been many periods–years long–during my life where I hurt essentially all of the time. Given my body’s reaction to Neurofibromatosis, I can pretty much hurt anywhere. I have dealt with all kinds of nerve painContinue reading “Learning That I Don’t Have to Tolerate Pain”
The Power of Names
As I have written about before, no one is born voluntarily. Additionally, as soon as we open our eyes and see light and the doctor arbitrarily announces “it’s a boy” or “it’s a girl,” we are involuntarily assigned a series of names that we are forever associated with. Changing one’s name is an extremely difficultContinue reading “The Power of Names”
Longing for a Queered ACLU
This is the type of article I am always hesitant to write and publish because the American Civil Liberties Union, or the ACLU, has done incredible work for decades. I am a proud member of the ACLU. But, someone has to write about such…. The ACLU is one of the main organizations that is consistently workingContinue reading “Longing for a Queered ACLU”
Philosophy of History and A Partial Analysis of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless The USA”
If tomorrow all the things were gone I’d worked for all my life Think of the tragedy that would have to happen for everything to disappear (?) tomorrow. This also takes for granted the social construction of laboring for an employer. The use of “I’d” also connotes individuality alone and ignores the collective role society and governmentContinue reading “Philosophy of History and A Partial Analysis of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless The USA””
Dr. Andrew Joseph Pegoda 