From the Paper "This paper looks at bisexuality, which is currently undergoing one of its periodic surges in interest both as an identifying label for sexual preference and as a subject for scientific investigation. Difficult to define precisely, the concept of bisexuality nevertheless exerts a fascination for what it reveals about society's changing attitudes about sex, gender, and male-female relationships.
Defining bisexuality is a relatively simple exercise: it is a sexual attraction for members of both the same and the opposite sex. Defining the bisexual individual, however, is a much more difficult matter. Marjorie Garber, in her exhaustive study of the subject, Vice Versa, begins by quoting the two best-known pieces of "common wisdom": "Everyone is bisexual" and "There is no such thing as bisexuality" (1995, p. 16). The difficulty lies ..."
From the Paper "Sexism has not been eliminated from American life any more than racism has. Sexism exists because we teach our children sex-role stereotyping, and children learn from their parents the conception of "feminine" and "masculine." Much about these conceptions is not biological at all but cultural. The way we tend to think about men and women and their gender roles in society constitute the prevailing paradigm that influences our thinking. Riane Eisler points out that the prevailing paradigm makes it difficult for us to analyze properly the roles of men and women in prehistory--we have a cultural bias that we bring to the effort and that colors our decision-making processes.. Sexism is the result of that bias, a bias imposed by our processes of acculturation.
Gender roles in Western societies have been changing rapidly ..."
Abstract Discusses use of hormone therapy, or chemical castration, as an effective treatment program for recidivist sex offenders. Describes how hormone therapy works. States that permit its use. Controversy over the treatment regarding medical risks and Constitutional issues. Research studies conducted on effectiveness. Need for psychological therapy Need for future research studies.
From the Paper "For many years, the U.S. has sought to eliminate sexual offenses by treating sexual offenders with various methods such as behavioral modification therapy, relapse prevention and cognitive reconditioning (?Review of the research literature,? 2001, p. 5). Since 1981, with the discovery of the effectiveness of specific hormones in reducing testosterone levels in human beings (Berlin & Meinecke, 1981), hormone therapy, known as chemical castration, has been tested extensively on sex offenders. Essentially, the objective of administering these drugs is to reduce the blood serum testosterone levels and lead to a concomitant decrease in sexual arousal and sexual preoccupations. The drugs work by acting on the hypothalamus..."
Abstract Argues that this is not a cure-all treatment & should not be used for all sex offenders. How chemical castration (Depo Provera) works in treating paraphiliacs, but is not effective for the majority of sex offenders. Cites several reasons against chemical castration including danger of releasing sex offenders taking Depo Provera; infringement on Constitutional rights.
From the Paper "Chemical castration for sex offenders is a punishment that is rapidly gaining in popularity in the U.S., but does its effectiveness justify the violation of the rights of those treated with it? While chemical castration has been found to be effective in treating one type of sexual offender, chemical castration laws are calling for such treatments to be performed on all types of sexual offenders. The evidence indicates that the limited benefits of chemical castration are outweighed by the significant infringements of rights against those it will not help and the false sense of security that it provides.
Chemical castration is becoming a popular "get tough" measure against sex offenders that is gaining popularity across the country. In 1996 California became the first state to enact a chemical castration law, and in 1997 three other states..."
Abstract Examines benefits to employers and privacy issues of employees. Current state of the law (federal & state). Political and moral issues. Differing views of labor and business groups. Cites legal cases & decisions. Difference between a supervisor watching & employee video cameras. Employee rights advocates.
From the Paper "Should an employer be allowed to conduct video surveillance of its employees in the workplace? No, say employees, who feel that such surveillance violates their right to privacy. Yes, say employers, who argue that employees have no right to privacy in the employer's workplace, and the employer's need to prevent misconduct and maximize productivity outweigh the privacy interests of employees. This paper will examine this question, focusing on the current state of the law (both federal and state) and the continuing political and moral debate among labor and business groups.
Employers utilize video surveillance for a variety of reasons. Situations that require scrutiny include suspicion of drug use, conducting personal business on company time, revealing trade secrets, surfing the Internet, and harassment issues..."
Abstract Describes the artist's performance of Rrose Selavy. The Rrose persona. Its network of meanings. Relationship of Rrose to DuChamp's readymades. Commodity aspect of readymades. Postmodernism. Visual portrayal of women. Boundaries of sexual differences. History and ideas of assisted and semi-readymades. Notion of artistic function. Cites specific examples.
From the Paper "Marcel Duchamp's project is as complex, ambiguous, and rich as anything undertaken by any artist of the twentieth century. One of the most elaborate networks of meaning started by Duchamp derives from his 'performance' of Rrose Selavy, the female personification first used as a signature, mocked up in a series of posed drag photographs by Man Ray, and then persisting as an alter ego for Duchamp in many subsequent projects. The spectacle of a male artist who adopts a female persona and employs 'her' in the titles of various works, as the 'author' of other pieces, and simply as a sort of working fiction in his life raises questions of many kinds. Certainly the eroticization of the communication between artist and spectator, the performative nature of gender, the nature of the patriarchal art system and art history, and the meaning of authorship of works of art are all implicated in ..."
Abstract This paper argues the case in favor of legalized abortion. The argument centers on the injustice of male control over the lives of women. The writer shows that women who are not white upper-class are most likely to suffer from anti-abortion laws. Addiction, rape, incest, race, and anti-abortion psychology are brought as proofs for a pro-choice conclusion.
From the Paper "One of the fundamental questions involved in the debate over legal abortions is the relative rights of females and males to control their own lives. If men got pregnant, the legality of abortion would not be in question. The abortion question brings up the timeless issue of white patriarchal control over the sexual purity of women who males consider to be their property to be used sexually in any way they choose. In my opinion, all women of all races and classes should have the freedom to control their own reproductive lives."
Abstract The basis for the analysis of two popular films is based on the theories written and discussed by Laura Mulvey and E. Ann Kaplan. The two films discussed are "Cruel Intentions" (1999) directed by Roger Kumble, and "10 Things I Hate About You" (1999) directed by Gil Junger. Both films are based on other stories from different periods of time, and given a new swing to be popular for teenage audiences of today. The writer shows how these films help illustrate the ideas of Mulvey and Kaplan.The writer focuses on directing and the eyes of the camera, through the portrayal of women in popular culture youth centred films.
From the Paper "Gender perspective is an important facet for studying society and culture through film. Gender is an essential perspective because we watch films on a screen as a portrayal from the eye of the camera and the director's point of view. There are two views the hegemonic male gaze and the feminist perspective, meaning through the eyes of a man, or the eyes of a women. The male gaze is the most common in film because of our patriarchal society. Most of the famous Hollywood directors are male. Very few females have made the transition into film making as a blockbuster director. Through the ranks of independent and art house films, female directors have begun to make their mark in the industry. Feminist filmmaking is often confused on negated by feminism in the broader sense. The ideologies and goals of feminism are the strive for equality, it seems that many have confused the search for equality with a more extremist view that women should be superior to men. By definition, feminism is a doctrine that advocates equal rights for women, as well as the movement aimed at equal rights for women , this is distorted in film through a fear of this empowerment and is therefore represented by bra burning, man hating, feminist cults. Equality has made many strides forward yet in some aspects of culture, a male dominance is so abundant. "
Abstract The paper raises the issues of sexual harassment and sexual discrimination in the workplace, showing how the issue was brought to light with the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings in 1991 and with the accusations of sexual harassment leveled against him by Anita Hill. The writer brings examples of cases in which employees have claimed either harassment or discrimination from higher ranking employees.
From the Paper "The issue has evolved in the lower courts based on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sexual discrimination in the work place. Sex discrimination was not included in the original draft of this legislation but was added at the last minute as an attempt to prevent passage of the Act. As a result, the true intent of Congress in the matter is not known. The first case litigated under this statute was Barnes v. Train some ten years after passage, and the District Court of the District of Columbia rejected the suit as not being the type purposed by the Act. The next case was a year later in Corne v. Bausch & Lomb, Inc. in which two female employees claimed constructive discharge as a result of physical and verbal sexual advances, and the Arizona Federal District Court rejected the suit as not being what was intended by the Act."
Abstract This paper tries to explore the exploitation of sex in advertising and is broken down into sections involving, men, women and children. It defines what exploitation is and tries to determine the limits of what advertisers can use before it becomes pornography. It looks at how the exploitation of sex and women in advertising has been going on as as early as the mid 1400s in wood carved signs on store fronts and how the exploitation of men as "beefcakes" has been more recent. It discusses how the biggest criticisms are the exploitations of prepubescent children in advertising. Picture examples of different advertisements are included.
Outline
Thesis
The Basics
Nudity
Prevalent Through the 90s
Changing Attitudes Towards Women
Conclusion
Figures
References
From the Paper "Voices, whether male or female are chosen to convey a specific message to an intended market. The when choosing a orator, a determination needs to be made initially whether the ad is being portrayed as coming from an announcer or a spokesperson. A spokesperson must portray the part of an actual user of the good or service, where, as the announcer must have an authoritative intonation. Announcers are primarily men, because of the deeper voices that exude authority. Although one study (Frieden 1984) showed that there was not a significant difference in the effect of having a male or female voice, rather that men are usually chosen as announcers more out of habit than necessity. Many times advertisers and companies will use celebrity voice-overs or celebrity spokespersons in commercials because of the recognition of their voices without having to see the person. The best example of this is James Earl Jones (AT&T) or William Shattner (Priceline.com). Both of these men have very distinct and recognizable voices that demand high salaries for this type of work. "
Abstract Audre Lorde's 1982 book "Zami: A New Spelling of My Name" was called a "biomythography" by the author. The paper reviews this cross between a novel and a memoir based on Lorde's rendition of her growing up in Harlem, the daughter of West Indian immigrants and her coming of age as a Black, as a radical and as a lesbian in the 1950s. The paper discusses the themes of self-determination and survival and the women who shaped the author's life.
From the Paper "One of the book's more fascinating descriptions is how Lorde's family dealt with their Black identity in what was virtually a white America. Until the age of 10, Lorde did not understand that she was not white, that she had a different skin color. Her parents had consciously decided to keep racism as far away from her as they could. Her family believed that the best way they could protect their children from racism was to pretend that it did not exist. To Lorde's parents, American racism was a new reality, one that they did not have to deal with in the West Indies."
Abstract Domestic violence is an important social issue. There are many explanations of why it occurs and what supports its continuation, including a feminist explanation that patriarchal culture and religion, contribute extensively to its occurrence. The paper explores this perception by reviewing several sources of literature. The paper shows that generally, literature on the subject is inconclusive, since it is ambiguous about the role of religion in relationship to domestic violence. It can both support domestic violence and condemn it. The paper follows up the literature review with a small-scale study exploring the incidence of domestic violence in two African-American congregations, one Pentecostal and one Black Muslim, using Straus' (1996) revised Conflict Tactics Scale.
From the Paper "The literature is ambiguous about the role of religion in domestic violence. Clearly the religions cited are patriarchal, with male authority predominating both in the church and the home. However, this does not mean that these are automatically abusive environments. In some instances, as Stotland's (2000) case study, men used religion to reinforce their control and justify their abuse. In other instances, as in Clark's (1997) discussion of Canadian evangelical communities, there was a wide variation in how pastors responded to domestic violence and how women were treated when suffering abuse. As Thistlethwaite (1996) indicated, there are clearly other factors involved. Nonetheless, religion and its tendency toward male control, authority, and entitlement is one of them."
Tags: conservative, beliefs, fundamentalists, Sisters, in, Islam
Abstract Despite the advances made in the modern world,existing perceptions of gender difference are still around. According to Berryman et al (1997), in present society ?qualities such as ambition, drive and competitiveness are regarded as typically masculine, whereas passivity, nurturing and emotionality are seen as typically feminine.? The paper shows that if this still our current concept of gender we might assume that these perceptions still influence the lives of individuals. Thus these perceptions also influence today's youth and their education. The essay deals with this issue by examining the impact of gender on educational outcomes. It emphasizes why differences between the two sexes occur (in choosing subjects for example) and examines who is to blame for this. The paper also looks at the gender gap and society's reaction to it.
From the Paper "Adams and Laurikietis (1976) look at the role of teachers in the affirmation of sex differences. They point out that in schools teachers have different expectations of boys and girls and treat them differently as well. Furthermore they refer to different gender affirming phrases such as: "What a language for a lady" and "Can I have two strong lads to help me"?. Though these are actually quite standard phrases they do promote a further gender typifycation. But according to the same authors gender in children is already established at a much younger age. They argue that the parents already pre-form children because they treat boys and girls according to society's view - girls are dressed in pink and boys in blue. Archer and Lloyd (1989) note that children as young as 3 and 4 already chose gender-related toys."
Abstract This paper reviews several articles discussing female sexuality. It reviews articles on what female sexuality is, what is involved in the sexuality of females, what helps aide in feminine sexuality and what hinders a women's sexuality. The paper looks at some of the problems associated with women's sexuality and whether these are perceived, physical, or medical problems. Finally,it examine how women see their own sexuality.
From the Paper "Before the advent of the "sexual revolution" in the 1960s the subject of female sexuality was considered taboo in so called polite society. Discussion of sexuality by females was viewed as an aberration. Women were taught and told that the normal reaction of women towards sexual intercourse was that they generally did not feel any physical or emotional pleasure from it. Sex was a means to an end; by performing their wifely duty to please their mates women were subjugated to the role of baby maker. This severe repression of female sexuality and its total submission to reproductive functions determined the limits of knowledge for untold generations of women (Gomex 1995)."
This paper examines the policy adopted by the U.S. military regarding gays - that if they do not openly announce their sexual orientation, they can not be dismissed.
Abstract This paper argues for the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy claiming that even though it may be considered an infringement on human rights and freedom of expression, it protects the rights of the rest of the military and opens a loophole for gay men to serve in the armed forces. It discusses how other countries have successfully integrated gay men into their militaries and compares the treatment of other "minority" groups in the military.
From the Paper "Under the terms of the Don"t Ask, Don"t Tell policy, military personnel are not asked about their sexual orientation and are not discharged because they are gay. However, gays can be discharged if they either acknowledge their homosexuality by word or deed or if they engage in sexual conduct with a member of the same sex. Gay advocates believe that this policy fosters discrimination against gays in the military. While the policy is by no means an ideal, it does represent the best option for the military at this point in time. The military isn"t noted for facilitating rapid policy change, rather it takes place gradually over time. This coupled with strong anti-gay prejudices and the military's lack of knowledge and resources for coping with the problem make the Don"t Ask, Don?t Tell policy a suitable foundation for facilitating further change in the future."
