Trailer Park Girls

From what I’ve been able to read thus far (chapters 1 and 2), I think that this book helps to identify and clarify social literacies. The social literacies I’ve been able to identify up to this point are: self-awareness, social belonging, and lack of social existence in regard to adult recognition. Of course, the argument can be made that these are not aspects of literacy at all, but in the context of this book, I do believe they are.

Margaret J. Finders, author of “Just Girls,” had asked the participants in her study what she should say about them when she writes about them, the answers from both groups of girls (queens, the popular girls; and cookies, the not-so-popular girls), both groups said that they are just regular girls. The Queens said that they aren’t like the “woof woofs” (the cookies) and the Cookies said they aren’t like the “popular air heads” (18). I found it interesting that both sets of girls identified themselves as just regular girls while also saying that they aren’t like those other girls. I wanted Finder to dive into this a little more. I wanted a better answer as to who those “other girls” are; what are the characteristics that would define the “other girls?” Naturally, between the two groups, the descriptions would vary, I’m sure. But, it’d still be nice to find out for certain.

This brings us to the social belonging aspect. The Cookies are not considered to be popular. They kind of just stay off on their own and are identified as “the nice girls” (16). Due to “economic constraints,” none of these girls had purchased a yearbook (36). In this context, it was incredibly evident to their fellow classmates that these girls and others like them are outsiders. They are excluded from the highly social event of yearbook signing. It’s a right of passage actually for the seventh grade students because it is their first yearbook (45). So, in this regard, these girls did not socially belong to the rest of the “society” because they did not have yearbooks.

It’s interesting to me how easily adults can forget what it was like to be that socially awkward teen who is just trying to be seen and heard. What happens to us? Finder reports, “The .  .  . principal reported the socioeconomic status of the families of the student population in the following manner: 70% professional, 15% working class, and 15% trailer parks” (7).  The staff of this school has preconceived notions of those families who live in trailer parks. Whether these notions are correct or not, fair or not is beside the point for this blog post. Based on the separation made by the principal, I’m going to continue with the understanding that the trailer park families are poor. So, with this in mind, 15% of the schools population is poor. So, why did the school only give out 10 complementary copies of the yearbook (36)? There are 531 students (36); 15% equals approximately 80 students cannot afford the yearbook. And the school handed out only 10 to unknown people–it is not clarified who received those free yearbooks.

This stood out to me because of the forcefulness with which the school advertised and the tactics that were used. Finder says, “Constant comments from Northern Hills staff that ‘Everybody gets one’ and ‘Everyone loves them’ reveal that [the Cookies]and many others were invisible to school personnel” (36). Additionally, Finder reports that teachers would make yearbook signing a reward that could be had at the end of the period if the students cooperated during class (34). Wow! So, in other words, whomever does not have a yearbook is a “no one” because “Everybody gets on e.” Then, to make matters worse, the spotlight is thrown onto the students who don’t have one at the end of each class period during that last week because the teachers turn it into some kind of a reward system.

So, what can we do with this information? I don’t really know. We can ensure that we remain cognitive of those students who are socially excluded by peers and adults and do our best to include them and make them feel important. Perhaps, when it comes time to purchase the yearbooks, there are more of those complimentary yearbooks which are then handed out to the students who cannot afford them. Or, maybe have some sort of a scholarship program. Really, I just don’t know. I’m merely typing out thoughts as they pop into my head. What do you think?