Kirsten McLean
Faculty of Arts
Exploring society’s influence on our understanding of gender and sexuality
Kirsten creates unique ways of thinking and exploring sometimes challenging issues in an inclusive and positive way.
What are you doing differently in your field that you believe is driving real change?
Gender studies requires students to think differently about how we are socialised by society - but it is a complex and contested space, especially right now. So it is important to create unique ways of exploring sometimes challenging issues in an inclusive and positive way. In my classes, we not only analyse debates around gender and sexuality in society but we celebrate the enormous social change that now sees us embrace a diverse range of ways that people do their own gender.
How do you help students build confidence, not just knowledge?
I see myself as a facilitator and mentor to my students, and I like to give them as many opportunities as possible to work on topics of interest to them. This enables them to bring their own interests to their learning and assessment. It also allows them to start from a base where they already know something and just need to build on that and develop it. That autonomy builds confidence. I love seeing their reactions when they tell me what topic they want to do a website or written piece about, and I tell them it is a great idea.
In my classes, we not only analyse debates around gender and sexuality in society but we celebrate the enormous social change that now sees us embrace a diverse range of ways that people do their own gender. ”
What legacy or ripple effect do you hope to leave behind?
I hope that I instil a sense of advocacy and social justice in my students, so that when they go out into the workforce they want to create change and support others to do the same. I hope I have also modelled the ways they can do this in a pastoral and supportive way that respects and celebrates diverse ways of being in everyday life.
What’s something about Monash that would surprise people?
Despite its size, we are not siloed within our faculties or disciplines and there are great opportunities to learn and collaborate in developing your teaching practice. I credit many of my colleagues in STEM for ideas about creative and engaging pedagogy that I have adapted for the social sciences classroom. It’s so great to read the educational research from across Monash and see what is possible in terms of the student experience.