Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Docuseries tackles issues of race, class, gender, identity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
What I Hear When You Say
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
WHAT I HEAR WHEN YOU SAY is a series of documentary shorts that tackle issues around race, class, gender, and identity. Diverse people from marginalized groups discuss how certain discriminatory phrases impact them. Each episode focuses on one problematic theme, like when someone asks, "When did you become gay?"; when someone who wants to know your racial background asks "What are you?"; or when someone talks about having "White Pride." Comedians, journalists, and academic experts are interviewed to give historical context about the topic. Various people from the communities affected by these issues are interviewed to share their personal experiences.
Is It Any Good?
This series is attempting to tackle very complex topics in the span of 7-minute documentaries. What I Hear When You Say does an admirable job of explaining things in plain language and presenting each topic in a frank and honest way. However, most episodes are trying to fit in so many diverse perspectives that the overall takeaway can become muddled and each issue is not covered in depth. Teens who are engaged in current events (or who experience these issues personally) may not learn anything new. But white/straight/cisgender/upper class (etc.) teenagers who have not investigated their own privilege or don't have much experience with people different from themselves will come to understand new perspectives.
While the series does interview some comedians and lively personalities, the talking-head interviews make it seem more like a teaching tool than something teenagers would watch for entertainment. This series could be used very effectively by high school teachers or college professors as a jumping off point for a class discussion.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about hurtful things people have said to them based on their identity. (Or if they haven't had that experience, why they think they haven't?) How did it make them feel?
Are there any phrases or issues in this series that you didn't realize were offensive? Do you understand why the people in the interviews find it offensive?
Were any of the issues discussed in the series new to you? What else would you like to learn about it? How can you help make a difference in your own community?
Did any of the topics in this web series make you uncomfortable? Why or why not?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 16, 2017
- Network: PBS
- Genre: Educational
- Topics: Activism
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: August 3, 2020
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