A little intimidating

Last week's class and reading left me feeling a wee bit intimidated. I am not an academic scholar.  My classmates discuss their desire to study how people "negotiate" identity in different situations.  Huh?  The prof discussed different filters through which we frame our understanding of the world -- feminist, post-modern, critical post-moden feminist.  ?????  I'm sure I have a filter, just don't ask me to tell you what it is.   How do you learn to analyze using a particular genre of thinking?  I just think.  Most of the time, that is.