5/5 discussion question_irina

In the piece by Michelle Cox and Katherine E. Tirabassi, they bring up the question of whether or not to self-disclose in a classroom. They question: “How do we know when our self-disclosure to a whole class is justified, helpful, and in the best interest of our students and ourselves?” (236). Cox and Tirabassi conclude that choosing not to self-disclose was the best option because it would have moved the focus from the text to the teacher. Considering the statistics on rape, it is likely that some of the students in class had been raped themselves, not just their “friends”. The writers agree with Brenda Daly’s statement, “I have not overcome the powerful taboo against bringing personal (and emotional) issues into the classroom. I fear that, if I become emotional, I might lose my ‘professional’ composure, my authority” (246).
1. By not disclosing their personal experiences, do they reinforce the taboo of brining personal stories into the spotlight? Do they reinforce the misogynist idea that women are too emotional?
a. OR….is not disclosing a better option because it allows the students to focus on the text? Is one more important than the other (the text versus the real life example)?