SOCI 301 - Exam 6 Questions and
Answers Graded A+
Kimmel and Mahler - Adolescent Masculinity, Homophobia, and Violence:
Random School Schoolings - Correct answer-Analyze the causes of random
shootings in American secondary schools in the 1980s and 1990s
Four Key Points:
- The shootings were not a national problem but a series of local problems that
occurred in "red states" or countries
- Most of the boys who opened dire were mercilessly and routinely bullied and
teased and that their violence was retaliatory against the threats to manhood
- That white boys in particular might be more likely than African American boys to
randomly open fire
- The specific content of the teasing and bullying is homophobia
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,Kimmel and Mahler: Pop Culture Explanations for School Shootings - Correct
answer-- Violent Video Games
- Glorification of Violence in popular music / movies
- The internet
- Availability of Firearms
However:
- Both young violence, and school violence have actually been decreasing since
1980.
- Juvenile violence involving guns have been in decline
(school shooting rates are going up but overall violence has been going down -
therefore these are unreasonable explanations)
Kimmel and Mahler - Psychological explanations for school shootings - Correct
answer-- History of childhood abuse
- Absent fathers
- Dominant mothers
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,- Violence in childhood
- Unstable family environment
- Mothers' fear of their children
However:
- Almost all the shooters came from intact and relatively stable families, with no
history of child abuse
- If they had psychological problems at all, they were relatively minor and the boys
flew under the radar of any school official of family member who might have
noticed something wrong
Kimmel and Mahler - Commonality of School Shootings - Correct answer-These
studies all missed gender
- They used broad terminology as though girls equally patriciate in this violence
All the school shootings were committed by boys
- Masculinity is the single greatest risk factor in school violence
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, Kimmel and Mahler - Two waves of school shootings - Correct answer-1982 -
1991: most school shootings were non-random (targeted victims), urban, and
involved visible minorities with handguns
1992 - 2002: 22 of 23 shootings were committed by White students in suburban
schools, most often with armed rifles rather than handguns
Kimmel and Mahler - Findings - Correct answer-Nearly all had stories of being
constantly being bullied, beat up, and most significantly, gaybaited
- Not because they were gay, but because their performance of masculinity did not
line up with the hegemonic norm of masculinity
- Peer harassment was the most significant cause of school shootings
They had a desire to get back at those who have hurt them
Local cultures have an influence
- How they create gender performance
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
Answers Graded A+
Kimmel and Mahler - Adolescent Masculinity, Homophobia, and Violence:
Random School Schoolings - Correct answer-Analyze the causes of random
shootings in American secondary schools in the 1980s and 1990s
Four Key Points:
- The shootings were not a national problem but a series of local problems that
occurred in "red states" or countries
- Most of the boys who opened dire were mercilessly and routinely bullied and
teased and that their violence was retaliatory against the threats to manhood
- That white boys in particular might be more likely than African American boys to
randomly open fire
- The specific content of the teasing and bullying is homophobia
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Kimmel and Mahler: Pop Culture Explanations for School Shootings - Correct
answer-- Violent Video Games
- Glorification of Violence in popular music / movies
- The internet
- Availability of Firearms
However:
- Both young violence, and school violence have actually been decreasing since
1980.
- Juvenile violence involving guns have been in decline
(school shooting rates are going up but overall violence has been going down -
therefore these are unreasonable explanations)
Kimmel and Mahler - Psychological explanations for school shootings - Correct
answer-- History of childhood abuse
- Absent fathers
- Dominant mothers
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,- Violence in childhood
- Unstable family environment
- Mothers' fear of their children
However:
- Almost all the shooters came from intact and relatively stable families, with no
history of child abuse
- If they had psychological problems at all, they were relatively minor and the boys
flew under the radar of any school official of family member who might have
noticed something wrong
Kimmel and Mahler - Commonality of School Shootings - Correct answer-These
studies all missed gender
- They used broad terminology as though girls equally patriciate in this violence
All the school shootings were committed by boys
- Masculinity is the single greatest risk factor in school violence
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Kimmel and Mahler - Two waves of school shootings - Correct answer-1982 -
1991: most school shootings were non-random (targeted victims), urban, and
involved visible minorities with handguns
1992 - 2002: 22 of 23 shootings were committed by White students in suburban
schools, most often with armed rifles rather than handguns
Kimmel and Mahler - Findings - Correct answer-Nearly all had stories of being
constantly being bullied, beat up, and most significantly, gaybaited
- Not because they were gay, but because their performance of masculinity did not
line up with the hegemonic norm of masculinity
- Peer harassment was the most significant cause of school shootings
They had a desire to get back at those who have hurt them
Local cultures have an influence
- How they create gender performance
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
