Straightlaced: How Gender's Got Us All Tied Up

Debra Chasnoff's Straightlaced features straight, gay, and bisexual teens (and some unsure of their sexual orientation) talking about how they dress or behave in order to meet—or challenge—others' expectations related to gender, while also touching on their experiences with discrimination or peer pressure. The interviewees' attitudes range from deep concern about appearing manly or feminine, to bemusement or annoyance regarding others' inability to accept nonconformity, to pleasure in being able to blur or cross boundaries. Punctuated with colorful graphics, the interviews are filmed in a studio as well as everyday settings such as stores (where boys carefully choose just the right clothing to project a straight image and girls note how many products—even deodorant—are marketed according to male or female archetypes). Other topics include straight kids' fear of being hit on by gay peers, the stress of being closeted, and concerns over being rejected or physically attacked because of sexual orientation (students remember a gay friend who committed suicide). The material is divided into 11 chapters, with credits rolling over a 12th, “Why We Agreed to Be Filmed.” The teens here are smart, thoughtful, and articulate, and they effectively express a wide range of experiences related to gender issues. Highly recommended. [Note: Straightlaced is also being sold to individuals on home video for $50 on the GroundSpark website, www.groundspark.org.] Aud: J, H, C, P. (M. Puffer-Rothenberg)