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Abstract
In this article, I report on an action project undertaken by a group of young women (aged 18 to 20) to foster public discussions about the prevalence of rape culture on their university's campus. Students proposed this action project during a book study of a young adult (YA) novel that focused on rape culture and sexual violence. Discussions during the book study resulted in the women creating a video designed for university orientation events that addressed common misconceptions about issues such as consent, relationship violence, sexual coercion, and victimhood. Using case study and narrative methods, I recount my experience of witnessing unexpected activism in my classroom. Framed within critical literacy research, I consider the outcomes of making space for student activism and I discuss implications for practitioners.
Contributor Notes
Brittany Adams is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Literacy Education at SUNY Cortland. She teaches reading, literacy, and literature courses to pre- and in-service teachers across educational contexts. Her research focuses on using children's and young adult literature to teach critical literacy. Email: brittany.adams02@cortland.edu