Why drag queens are being cast as a danger to kids

+ grades need improvement US Edition - Today's top story: Tennessee's drag ban rehashes old culture war narratives [View in browser]( US Edition | 18 March 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( To many conservatives, Drag Story Hours epitomize everything wrong with American culture. The reading events have inspired a raft of legislation aiming to curtail them, and Tennessee recently became the first state to enact a law banning drag events from public spaces. And to Clemson sociologist Heather Hensman Kettrey and Vanderbilt sociologist Alyssa J. Davis, it’s no surprise that Drag Story Hour has become the issue du jour for conservative culture warriors: It involves children, often takes place in public places like libraries, and reflects shifting gender norms. They [explain how since the advent of the culture wars]( nearly a century ago, conservative activists have tended to fixate on the notion of protecting children – whether the skirmish is over music, civil rights or pornography. This week, we also liked articles about [California’s drought](, [sleep-deprived health care workers]( and the erosion of the [public’s trust in the media](. Nick Lehr Arts + Culture Editor A drag queen reads to a group of parents and kids at a library in Los Angeles in July 2019. Guy Smallman/Getty Images [Tennessee’s drag ban rehashes old culture war narratives]( Heather Hensman Kettrey, Clemson University ; Alyssa J. Davis, Vanderbilt University Emphasizing threats to children is a well-worn refrain among those worried about the decline of American culture and values. For many teachers, grading is an individualized effort – not one consistent with other teachers. andresr/E+ via Getty Images [Every teacher grades differently, which isn’t fair]( Laura Link, University of North Dakota A scholar of grading explains how teachers can do a better job of reporting what grades represent, and what they are for. California’s snowpack was more than twice the average in much of the state in early March 2023. Mario Tama/Getty Images [Is the Western drought finally ending? That depends on where you look]( Dan McEvoy, Desert Research Institute Reservoirs and streams are in good shape in California and the Great Basin, but groundwater and ecosystems are another story. And then there’s the Colorado River Basin. - [Don’t trust the news media? That’s good]( Michael J. Socolow, University of Maine Journalism has been fodder for politicians’ contempt for generations. A huge percentage of the public doesn’t trust the news media either. That mistrust isn’t a bad thing in a democracy. - [The collapse of major US banks leads to bills calling for more regulation]( V. Gerard (Jerry) Comizio, American University The recent collapse of three banks has lawmakers debating whether stricter regulations will prevent other banks from meeting the same fate. - [‘Pantry porn’ on TikTok and Instagram makes obsessively organized kitchens a new status symbol]( Jenna Drenten, Loyola University Chicago Maybe you can’t have a designer kitchen. But you can still beautify your bulk food storage. - [What exactly is the internet? A computer scientist explains what it is and how it came to be]( - [US regulators avoided a banking crisis by swift action following SVB’s collapse – but the cracks it exposed continue to weaken the global financial system’s foundation]( - [Smell is the crucial sense that holds ant society together, helping the insects recognize, communicate and cooperate with one another]( - [Those seeds clinging to your hiking socks may be from invasive plants – here’s how to avoid spreading them to new locations]( - [Health care workers are frazzled – and poor sleep may turn stress into poor mental health]( - [Nazi orders for Jews to wear a star were hateful, but far from unique – a historian traces the long history of antisemitic badges]( The Conversation Quiz 🧠- Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( A Russian Su-27 fighter jet collided with what over the Black Sea on March 14? - A. An endangered African stork - B. A blimp advertising Turkish coffee - C. An American surveillance drone - D. A Bulgarian oil rig [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? Follow us: • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [Instagram]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](