Surviving Becky(s)
Pedagogies for Deconstructing Whiteness and Gender
Published on 2. July 2021
Book
Paperback/Softback
326 pages
978-1-4985-8764-8 (ISBN)
Description
The infamous rise in characterizations of white women as Becky(s) is a modern phenomenon, different from past characterizations like the Miss Anne types. But just who embodies the Becky? Why is it important to understand, especially with regards to anti-racism and racial justice? Understanding that learning, even discussing, dynamics of race and gender are oftentimes met with discomfort and emotional resistance, this creative, yet theoretical book merges social science analyses with literary short stories as a way to more effectively teach about the impact of whiteness and gender. Additionally, the book includes guiding questions so that readers can critically reflect on the behaviors of Becky(s) and how they impact the hope for racial harmony. Designed specifically for both educational spaces and the larger society, the author, an educational researcher and former classroom teacher, approaches the topic of race and gender, specifically whiteness and white women, in a nuanced manner. By borrowing from traditions found in critical race theory and teacher education, this book offers both counterstories and anecdotes that can help people better understand the dynamics behind race and gender.
Reviews / Votes
Surviving Beckys is revelatory in content, revolutionary in form. Contributors' stories of white supremacy and the Becky phenomenon are powerful and nuanced-every one a gift to the consciousness and an ode to Derrick Bell's Faces at the Bottom of the Well. Their stories, woven with Matias's pointed and unflinching analysis, make this an engaging, invaluable read for anyone hoping to more deeply understand the accumulative ravages of racism. -- Paul Gorski, founder of the Equity Literacy Institute Long before the popular aphorism, "Beckyisms" have been shared and discussed among Scholars of Color. In their new volume, editor Cheryl E. Matias and authors provide bold, courageous, and fierce accounts of the social, political, and emotional trauma and terror too often unleashed at the hands of Beckys - who are abundant in all social and professional spaces. Written from multiple perspectives and in different genres, these accounts prove to be woven from the same fabric. Indeed, despite geographic and racial/ethnic differences among the authors, there is a distinct constancy with the pervasive social construction of whiteness generally and Beckys in particular. These pages also contain the authors' rich dialogues around healing and hope. This book is both a must read to decipher our understandings of how whiteness operates in our educational system and our society at large; and serves to validate the experiences of anyone who has ever confronted Beckyisms. -- Rebeca Burciaga, San Jose State UniversityMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
477 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4985-8764-8 (9781498587648)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Surviving Becky(s)
Pedagogies for Deconstructing Whiteness and Gender
E-Book
12/2019
1st Edition
Lexington Books
€40.99
Available for download
Persons
Cheryl E. Matias is full professor in the department of curriculum and instruction at the University of Kentucky.
Content
Introduction
Acknowledgements
Section 1: Becky(s) as Colonizers
Chapter 1: The Makeover not the Takeover: Surviving the Becky Coup D'Etat, Darryl A. Brice and Derrick R. Brooms
Chapter 2: The Battle of the Elders: Queen Becky and the Table of Elders, Eligio Martinez Jr.
Section 1: Guiding Questions
Section 2: Becky(s) as Weaponized Emotionalities
Chapter 3: The Ultimate Superpower: Surviving Becky's Tears, Erica R. Wallace & Rachel Kline
Chapter 4: Attack of the 50-ft Becky, Kakali Bhattacharya and Paul Maxfield
Section 2: Guiding Questions
Section 3: Becky(s) as Entitlement and Privilege
Chapter 5: The World According to Becky: An Inverse Chronology of Humanity in a Teacher
Preparation Program, Justin P. Jimenez
Chapter 6: This Ain't No "Wizard of Oz," Becky!, G. L. Sarcedo
Chapter 7: Surviving Becky in Space, Melva R. Grant
Section 3: Guiding Questions
Section 4: Becky(s) as Terrors
Chapter 8: Nightmare on Black Magic Street: The Reality Of Staying Woke, Rebecca George and Alexanderia Smith
Chapter 9: When you cross a Becky: A Monologue, Scott Farver
Section 4: Guiding Questions
Section 5: Becky(s) as Presumed Experts & Usurped Authority
Chapter 10: Waiting to Excel, Justine Lee and Autumn A. Griffin
Chapter 11: Racism: Becky's Dance Around the Other 'R-Word' in Student Affairs, Nolan L. Cabrera
Section 5: Guiding Questions
Section 6: Becky(s) as Allies? Victims?
Chapter 12: The Guilt of a Becky, Kara Mitchell Viesca
Chapter 13: "Aren't I Great!": The Tale of a Self-Presumed Heroic Becky, Kelly E. Demers and Aubrey Scheopner Torres
Chapter 14: White Lady, Korina M. Jocson
Section 6: Guiding Questions
Section 7: Becky(s) as Violent
Chapter 15: Present tense: A Southern Gothic of Schooling, Kevin Lawrence Henry, Jr.
Chapter 16: Slow Death by Becky: Cause, Asphyxiation, Shelby Dawkins-Law
Section 7: Guiding Questions
Section 8: Becky(s) as Manipulators and Gaslighters
Chapter 17: Facing the Becky Within, Socorro Morales
Chapter 18: When Mediocrity Fails to Shine: The Case of Becky the Mad Beckologist and Dejanae the Humanoid, Leta Hooper and Wyletta Gamble-Lomax
Chapter 19: Who is Dr. Farsa?, Luis Fernando Macias
Section 8: Guiding Questions
Conclusion
Acknowledgements
Section 1: Becky(s) as Colonizers
Chapter 1: The Makeover not the Takeover: Surviving the Becky Coup D'Etat, Darryl A. Brice and Derrick R. Brooms
Chapter 2: The Battle of the Elders: Queen Becky and the Table of Elders, Eligio Martinez Jr.
Section 1: Guiding Questions
Section 2: Becky(s) as Weaponized Emotionalities
Chapter 3: The Ultimate Superpower: Surviving Becky's Tears, Erica R. Wallace & Rachel Kline
Chapter 4: Attack of the 50-ft Becky, Kakali Bhattacharya and Paul Maxfield
Section 2: Guiding Questions
Section 3: Becky(s) as Entitlement and Privilege
Chapter 5: The World According to Becky: An Inverse Chronology of Humanity in a Teacher
Preparation Program, Justin P. Jimenez
Chapter 6: This Ain't No "Wizard of Oz," Becky!, G. L. Sarcedo
Chapter 7: Surviving Becky in Space, Melva R. Grant
Section 3: Guiding Questions
Section 4: Becky(s) as Terrors
Chapter 8: Nightmare on Black Magic Street: The Reality Of Staying Woke, Rebecca George and Alexanderia Smith
Chapter 9: When you cross a Becky: A Monologue, Scott Farver
Section 4: Guiding Questions
Section 5: Becky(s) as Presumed Experts & Usurped Authority
Chapter 10: Waiting to Excel, Justine Lee and Autumn A. Griffin
Chapter 11: Racism: Becky's Dance Around the Other 'R-Word' in Student Affairs, Nolan L. Cabrera
Section 5: Guiding Questions
Section 6: Becky(s) as Allies? Victims?
Chapter 12: The Guilt of a Becky, Kara Mitchell Viesca
Chapter 13: "Aren't I Great!": The Tale of a Self-Presumed Heroic Becky, Kelly E. Demers and Aubrey Scheopner Torres
Chapter 14: White Lady, Korina M. Jocson
Section 6: Guiding Questions
Section 7: Becky(s) as Violent
Chapter 15: Present tense: A Southern Gothic of Schooling, Kevin Lawrence Henry, Jr.
Chapter 16: Slow Death by Becky: Cause, Asphyxiation, Shelby Dawkins-Law
Section 7: Guiding Questions
Section 8: Becky(s) as Manipulators and Gaslighters
Chapter 17: Facing the Becky Within, Socorro Morales
Chapter 18: When Mediocrity Fails to Shine: The Case of Becky the Mad Beckologist and Dejanae the Humanoid, Leta Hooper and Wyletta Gamble-Lomax
Chapter 19: Who is Dr. Farsa?, Luis Fernando Macias
Section 8: Guiding Questions
Conclusion