Robert Jensen

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For other uses, see Robert Jensen (disambiguation).
Robert Jensen
Jensen speaking at York University after The Heart of Whiteness was published
Born
Robert William Jensen

(1958-07-14) July 14, 1958 (age 65)
Academic background
Alma materUniversity of Minnesota
ThesisKnowing Pornography (1992)
Academic work
InstitutionsMoody College of Communication
Main interestsJournalism and mass communication
Notable worksGetting Off: Pornography and the End of Masculinity
Notable ideasMedia law, ethics, and politics
Websitehttp://robertwjensen.org/

Robert William Jensen (born July 14, 1958)[1] is a former professor of journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. From 1992 to 2018 he taught graduate and undergraduate courses in media law, ethics, and politics.

He has focused much of his work on the critique of pornography and of masculinity, developed in his 2017 book, The End of Patriarchy: Radical Feminism for Men. He also has written about white privilege and institutional racism. He also sits on the editorial board of the academic journal Sexualization, Media, and Society.[2]

Early life

Jensen grew up in Fargo, North Dakota.[3]

Education

In 1981, he received a

Ph.D. in media law and ethics in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota
.

Career and activism

Prior to his academic career, he worked as a reporter and copy editor for several newspapers, including the

St. Petersburg Times and the St. Paul Pioneer Press.[4]

Jensen writes for popular media, both alternative and mainstream.[5] His opinion and analytic pieces on such subjects as foreign policy, politics, and race have appeared in papers around the U.S. He also is involved in a number of activist groups, including the Third Coast Activist Resource Center.[6]

Controversy

9/11 opinion piece

Jensen wrote an opinion piece for the

September 11th terrorist attacks.[7] In the piece, Jensen wrote that the September 11th terrorist attacks were "reprehensible and indefensible" but "no more despicable than the massive acts of terrorism – the deliberate killing of civilians for political purposes – that the U.S. government has committed during my lifetime."[7]

Jensen's piece drew both praise and criticism. Some individuals demanded that The University of Texas fire Jensen. In response, University of Texas President Larry Faulkner wrote in a letter to the editor published in the Houston Chronicle that he was "disgusted by Jensen's article" and called Jensen "a fountain of undiluted foolishness on issues of public policy."[8]

Views on transgender identity

In early July 2014, MonkeyWrench Books collective cut all ties with Jensen over his article reviewing two feminist books that critiqued transgender identity.[9] These books were Sheila Jeffreys' Gender Hurts: A Feminist Analysis of the Politics of Transgenderism and Michael Schwalbe's Manhood Acts: Gender and the Practices of Domination. In the review published by Dissident Voice, Jensen concluded that, "On the surface, transgenderism may seem to be a more revolutionary approach, but radical feminism offers a deeper critique of the domination/subordination dynamic at the heart of patriarchy and a more promising path to liberation"[10] which they felt "contributes to a dangerous culture of transphobia".[9] In addition, Dexter M. Thomas wrote a rebuttal which was also published by Dissident Voice.[11] Jensen responded by writing a follow-up article which elaborated on his views on the ecological and social implications of what he terms "trans ideology".[12]

Personal life

Jensen identifies as a radical Christian who rejects the supernatural claims of Christian orthodoxy.[13] Jensen is married to musician Eliza Gilkyson.[14]

Selected works

Books

Book chapters

Journal articles
Review of:
ISBN 9780674445796
.
Review of: Kendall, Christopher N. (2004).
ISBN 9780774851152
.

Films

Speeches

Press

References

  1. ^ "Jensen, Robert, 1958-". Library of Congress. Retrieved November 9, 2015. (Robert Jensen; b. July 14, 1958)
  2. SAGE
    . 27 October 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  3. ^ Jensen, Robert (July 19, 1998). "Robert W. Jensen: White Privilege". uts.cc.utexas.edu. University of Texas at Austin College of Communication. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2011.
  4. ^ Jensen, Robert. "Robert W. Jensen: Curriculum Vitae". uts.cc.utexas.edu. University of Texas at Austin College of Communication. Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2011.
  5. ^ Jensen, Robert. "Robert W. Jensen: Articles". uts.cc.utexas.edu. University of Texas at Austin College of Communication. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2011.
  6. ^ Jensen, Robert (23 August 2015). "Nuclear threats at home and abroad". thirdcoastactivist.org. Third Coast Activist Resource Center. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  7. ^
    Hearst Corporation. Archived from the original
    on October 18, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  8. ^ Nichols, Lee (September 28, 2001). "War of Words". The Austin Chronicle. Nick Barbaro. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  9. ^ a b MonkeyWrench books collective (June 2014). "Smash the Cistem". us7.campaign-archive1.com. MonkeyWrench books collective. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  10. ^ Jensen, Robert (June 13, 2014). "Some basic propositions about sex, gender, and patriarchy". dissidentvoice.org. Dissident Voice. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  11. ^ Thomas, Dexter M. (June 21, 2014). "Gender and sexual diversity". dissidentvoice.org. Dissident Voice. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  12. ^ Jensen, Robert (September 12, 2014). "Ecological and social implications of trans and climate change". dissidentvoice.org. Dissident Voice. Archived from the original on 2017-07-24. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  13. ^ Jensen, Robert (June 5, 2009). "The Inquisition". Killing the Buddha. Retrieved April 24, 2011.
  14. ^ Chotzinoff, Robin. "Eliza Gilkyson". edibleaustin.com. Edible Austin. Retrieved November 9, 2015.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Jensen&oldid=1220988544"