We each have numerous relationships - with our families, friends, romantic and/or sexual partners, colleagues, teammates – just to name a few. These relationships provide us with the opportunity to identify many of the themes discussed in this course, in our own lives.

 Identify two current relationships in your own life. These can be any two relationships, though it would be best if the two relationships are distinct from each other
(e.g., not your two roommates, not two teammates from the same team, et cetera). For each relationship, describe:

• The relationship (who this person is to you, who you are to this person),
• How the relationship came to be,
• Where (places/spaces) and how (primary activities) time is spent together,
• Power dynamics of the relationship: patterns of dominance and submission and the
• characteristics that define these (i.e., what characteristics are present in your relationship that
• illustrate these dynamics), including, but not limited to, the following:
  • Heteronormative enactments (gender norms followed)
  • Gender norms not followed,
  • Patterns of communication,
  • Decision making patterns,
  • Financial roles in the relationship.

In addition to describing each of the above, examine why your relationships have these
characteristics. Do not answer with “because I am a man,” or “because I am a woman.” Dig deeper
and examine the motivation for the roles played in each relationship.

Finally, discuss how each relationship contributes to your identity, and reflect on how
both relationships work together, against each other, or in parallel in your own experience.