Teaching

Dr. Peretz and Sociology 4300 students with Arun Gandhi, author, activist, and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi

As an undergraduate student, highly involved in on-campus anti-sexist, anti-racist, and anti-homophobia groups, I heard many people I respected say that ignorance is at the heart of oppression, and education is the solution. While I have since developed a more complex and critical analysis of social inequalities, my experiences as both a student and a teacher have shown me that effective teaching can help ameliorate the effects of social inequity and support progressive social change.

Because of these formative experiences, my teaching philosophy emphasizes engaging students by connecting the course materials and core concepts to issues in their own lives, while providing a space for them to develop the skills and desire to see social problems, investigate and understand them, and work effectively to address them. My goal in teaching is not to simply give students information, but to change the ways they understand themselves and their places in the world, helping them develop the skills and analytical frameworks to become engaged in improving their lives and the world around them.

This teaching philosophy lead to multiple teaching awards, including the Excellence in Teaching Award given by the Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society, and the University of Southern California’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. My classes have received media attention for their public events and social change projects, and I have published multiple peer-reviewed teaching guides that describe, in detail, how to use some of my favorite teaching activities:

“Measuring Sexuality” Teaching Resources and Innovations Library for Sociology (October 2016). http://trails.asanet.org

“A Cost/Benefit Analysis of Religion's Effects in Society. ” Teaching Resources and Innovations Library for Sociology (October 2015). http://trails.asanet.org

“Critiquing Color-Blind Racism and Racial Fallacies in 'The Daily Show.'” Teaching Resources and Innovations Library for Sociology (December 2014). http://trails.asanet.org

“Stand Up/Sit Down Structure and Agency Activity.” (with Michael Messner) Teaching Resources and Innovations Library for Sociology (November 2013). http://trails.asanet.org

Classes I have taught include:

• Intersectionality and Inequalities
• Social Problems and Social Change (Classroots Activism)
• Introduction to Women’s Studies
• Sociology of Gender and Sexuality
• Current Issues in Race and Ethnicity
• Belonging in America
• Diversity and Racial Conflict
• Introduction to Society
• Changing Family Forms