Gee post #2: Joining a secondary Discourse

In Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction Gee brings up the idea of secondary Discourses. In Gee’s own words a secondary Discourse is “institutions in the public sphere, beyond the family and immediate kin and peer group” (Gee 8). What Gee means is that any group that you are apart of outside of your primary Discourse (your home life/main identity kit), is a secondary Discourse. For example, a secondary Discourse that I personally joined was my boyfriends family. This is an odd thing to consider a secondary Discourse, but hear me out. Growing up my primary Discourse was very different than my boyfriends. My family was not very affectionate, we didn’t spend time together, I was expected to excel and not just do my best, and my mother never supported my decisions. My boyfriends family was the complete opposite. They are very supportive of each other, family time is very important to them, and are very loving and excepting. So, you can see the culture shock I was thrown into here. When I first met my boyfriends family I thought the way his family was with each other was a little strange only because my primary discourse was so different. However, as I spent more time with them and started to become what felt like their family, I learned to love it.  While becoming a part of this secondary Discourse, my values of family and life began to change. I changed my way of thinking and doing and eventually being.

3 thoughts on “Gee post #2: Joining a secondary Discourse”

  1. Hi, Teagan,
    Thanks for sharing this experience. Your use of the framing technique is well done, and you explained the way in which a family Discourse other than your own felt like a very different Discourse. I am wondering how your boyfriend’s family Discourse is similar to or different from the family Discourse of your aunt and uncle’s home (as described in your literacy narrative). How much do you think our society defines family Discourse? In other words, do you think there is a societal expectation of the Dominant Discourse?
    I look forward to your response,
    Jen

    1. I believe that in todays society a family Discourse is widely represented by the idea that families are loving and supportive like my Aunt and Uncles home, and my boyfriends home as well. However, in my case I did not grow up with this societal expectation of family Discourse.

  2. Hi, Teagan,
    How do you think the family Discourse got defined as loving and supportive? I agree that a loving and supportive home is one that many parents and children consider to be desirable. What other Discourses influence our expectations, do you think?
    Thanks for your response.

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