C. J. Pascoe

C. J. Pascoe is an American sociologist whose research centers on gender, sexuality, youth culture, and digital media. Her work at the University of Oregon, where she serves as an associate professor, has contributed significantly to the understanding of masculinity and gender dynamics in educational settings. Pascoe is best known for her book "Dude, You're a Fag: Masculinity and Sexuality in High School," published in 2007. This ethnographic study examines how high school students construct and enforce masculine identities through homophobic harassment, providing insights into the intersection of gender, sexuality, and power in adolescent social dynamics. Her involvement with the Digital Youth Project at UC Berkeley expanded understanding of how young people interact with digital media. As one of the editors of the journal Socius, she continues to contribute to academic discourse on sociological issues, particularly those affecting youth and gender identity. A graduate of Brandeis University, Pascoe later earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, where she was attracted to the institution's strong gender studies program. Her research methods often combine ethnographic observation with media analysis to examine contemporary youth culture and gender performance.

Readers appreciate Pascoe's research methodology in "Dude, You're a Fag," noting the depth of her ethnographic observations in high school settings. Teachers and sociology students mention using her work to understand masculinity and gender dynamics in educational environments. Readers like: - Clear writing style that makes academic concepts accessible - Specific examples that illustrate theoretical points - Detailed documentation of student interactions Common criticisms: - Limited scope focusing on one high school - Some redundancy in examples - Price point for a relatively short academic work Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (1,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (50+ reviews) Google Books: 4/5 (30+ reviews) Multiple reviewers note the book's relevance for education professionals. One teacher writes: "This helped me understand dynamics I see daily in my classroom." Graduate students frequently cite the text in dissertations and reference its research methods.

Dude, You're a Fag: Masculinity and Sexuality in High School (2007) An ethnographic study examining how American high school students construct masculine identities through homophobic harassment, based on 18 months of fieldwork at a California high school.

Making Masculinity: Adolescence, Identity, and High School (2023) A sociological analysis following the lives of adolescent boys over a 10-year period, exploring their evolving understanding and performance of masculinity as they transition from high school into adulthood.

Yes Means Yes? Sexual Consent Policies in High School (2021) An examination of how high schools implement and teach sexual consent policies, drawing from interviews with students, teachers, and administrators across multiple institutions.

Michael Kimmel studies masculinity in American culture through a sociological lens, examining how male identity forms and evolves. His book "Guyland" explores young men's development in contemporary society, sharing similar themes with Pascoe's work on masculine identity formation.

Raewyn Connell developed influential theories about masculinity and gender relations in educational settings. Her work on hegemonic masculinity provides theoretical frameworks that complement Pascoe's observations about power dynamics in high schools.

danah boyd researches youth culture and digital media interactions, focusing on how teenagers navigate social networks and online spaces. Her book "It's Complicated" examines adolescent social life and identity formation in networked environments, similar to Pascoe's Digital Youth Project work.

Patricia Hill Collins analyzes intersections of gender, race, and power in social institutions. Her research on educational settings and identity formation connects with Pascoe's examination of how social categories impact student experiences.

Ann Arnett Ferguson studies discipline and gender dynamics in schools, focusing on how institutional practices affect student identities. Her ethnographic approach to studying school environments mirrors Pascoe's methodology in examining gender and sexuality in educational settings.