Hot Topic #1: Intimate Partner Violence
Intimate partner violence is a hot topic due to the alleged beating of 21-year-old R&B singer Rihanna by her boyfriend, 19-year-old R&B singer Chris Brown on Feb. 8, 2009. The incident prevented the couple from appearing on the Grammy awards later that evening, and since then, media outlets are abuzz with news reports and speculation about the incident and the couple’s relationship.
Aside from the couple’s celebrity status, their allegedly violent relationship is pertinent to your students because 32% of college students report dating violence by a previous partner, and 21% report violence by a current partner, according to the National Center for Victims of Crime (2006). The Rihanna-Brown incident affords a way for students to explore this issue from a less sensitive perspective than a self-disclosure exercise would allow.
The topic of intimate partner violence is too big to tackle completely in a 70- or 80-minute class period, but you can break it into manageable discussion questions such as:
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What is the impact of intimate partner violence on relationships? On children who witness such violence?
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Can both partners be equally at fault in intimate partner violence, given Rihanna’s and Brown’s alleged dual history of violence?
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Should celebrities be held to a higher standard of behavior because they are role models for young people?
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Was it appropriate for talk show host Oprah Winfrey to devote a show to domestic abuse soon after the Grammy night incident and to include a personal appeal to Rihanna to leave Chris Brown?
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Should children’s cable channel Nickelodeon have pulled Brown’s nomination for the Favorite Male Singer award in the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards? Brown eventually withdrew from consideration, but Nickelodeon remained mum.
These are just a few of many related topics related to the Rihanna-Brown news story, which brings up a reason some professors avoid current events: they can seem overwhelming. The solution is to narrow the focus of discussions and activities. This will keep discussions on track and will keep students engaged in the topic. More tips follow:
Tips for Using Hot Topics in the Classroom
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On a regular basis, scan the websites, magazines, listservers, and television shows your students watch for topics to bring into your classroom. Join sexual health list serves to keep abreast of sexuality news. An example of such a site is Medical News Today, at http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/sexual_health/
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Draft a lesson goal that will help you narrow your focus (e.g., “Students will increase their ability to think critically about why people remain with abusive partners”).
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Create a pre-class assignment that requires students to do some research and critical thinking, (e.g., “Come to class with a list of 3-5 influences on an individual’s decision to leave an abusive relationship”).
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Assign directed questions about the hot topic and instruct students to explore the questions in small groups before presenting their findings to the class. This will allow students to practice teamwork, critical thinking, and presentation skills.
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Assign students to read the “Why Women Stay” section in their textbook (p. 595, 2nd ed.), which discusses how fear and loyalty are other factors that keep victims in abusive relationships.
How do you bring hot topics into your Human Sexuality classroom? How can you refine a lesson you have planned? I invite you to contact me for additional help choosing topics or developing lesson plans. Reach me at Carroll3e@cengage.com.
Melanie J. Davis, MEd, teaches Human Sexuality as well as Marriage and the Family at Moravian College. She is a doctoral candidate in Human Sexuality Education and is the owner of Honest Exchange LLC, a sexuality consulting and resource development practice based in Somerville, NJ. Melanie is also a partner in the New Jersey Center for Sexual Wellness in Bedminster, NJ. This blog was first published on April 27, 2009.