A discussion of the anxieties surrounding male and/or female homosociality and homosexuality in John Mead Faulkner's "The Lost Stradivarius" and Henry James? "The Turn of the Screw".
Abstract This paper examines the sexual undertones of the two novels, showing the victorian preoccupation with homosexuality and expiation of sin. The paper shows how each novel explores homosexuality as a factor of its time and place in society. In Faulkner's novel, the idea of "coming out" as we know it is discussed, while James' novel mentions the fear and repression associated with homosexuality at the time.
From the Paper "In the late eighteenth century, notions of modesty and propriety meant that there were few ways in which sexuality could be discussed openly in a social setting. Gothic narrative served as an outlet. In Victorian Supernatural fiction, the anxieties surrounding homosexuality is a very prominent theme. However, due to the cultural status of homosexuality as taboo, the subject is heavily veiled in literature. In John Mead Faulkner's ?The Lost Stradivarius,? the story appears to be about a young man's obsession with a wonderful musical instrument and a particular piece of music. Through carefully disguised metaphor"s, the story conveys pertinent information regarding the reception of homosexuality in England during the Victorian period. Similarly, Henry James" psychological tale, "The Turn of the Screw" subtly deals with homosexuality as taboo, and elucidates the repercussions of sexual deviance in children."
Abstract Are women traditionally less inclined to fine-tune and engage strong negotiating skills to further their agenda due to a culturally-spawned sense of timidity, or because of an educational system that is institutionalized to the point that it fails to give women the tools they need to go out successfully in the business world? The authors of "Women Don"t Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide", Sara Laschever and Linda Babcock, have put together extensive research of existing studies on the topic, most of it conducted by others. Their research is explored in-depth in this paper. Other views on the subject of why women aren"t assertive in negotiations are also examined.
From the Paper "On page 28, the authors write that ?by the age of six, psychologists believe "children are experts at gender schemas", able to recognize and understand the multiple gender cues all around them.? And, they continue, children can clearly observe that ?much of the world is controlled by men,? and hence, children conclude that not only is the "way things are, but the way things should be" as well. This discussion leads up to an explanation as to why, later in life, women are still shy about stepping forward and demanding ? or at least negotiating with some chutzpah ? fair wage for equal work."
Abstract This paper discusses why the writer is in favor of birth control for women. Birth control is certainly a personal choice, and it should be a personal choice, not a societal or religious choice. It argues that, ultimately, the choice to have a child should rest between a man and a woman, and not in the mores of a society or outdated religious beliefs. Those who would raise a child should be the ones to decide whether they have a child or not.
From the Paper "I am in support of birth control for a number of reasons. First, it is a safe alternative to unwanted pregnancies. Teen pregnancy is down in America today, however, teen pregnancy is still an enormous problem, with over 1 million teens getting pregnant every year ("Gift of Life"). This is an enormous number of young women giving birth to mostly unwanted babies, and birth control could have saved these women from an unwanted pregnancy, and saved the children from what could very well be a life of poverty and hardship. It is well known most unwed mothers fall under the poverty levels in our country, and it is quite difficult for them, or their children, to climb out of poverty and into the middle class. In fact, one expert sadly notes, "They [unwed mothers] see career or economic opportunities as out of their reach and have little motivation to remain abstinent and delay pregnancy and parenting" (Sawhill).
Abstract This paper briefly discusses the problematic issue of gender stereotyping on TV and states that television advertisements and programs are listed as very suggestible, persuasive elements of everyday life that do help form and strengthen gender stereotypes.
From the Paper "Images of men and women on television are often based on stereotypical roles of males and females in society. From the beginning of our lives, culture teaches us what it means to be a boy or a girl. From the color of clothes to the toys we play with, the messages start at an early age. Young people are influenced by a variety of messages to conform to a variety of expectations, to buy certain products, and to preserve a specific set of values that stress the differences between males and females."
Abstract This paper examines how in her article, "The Naked Citadel", Susan Faludi describes the intense and negative reaction of Citadel cadets to the enrollment of women in the institution. It looks at how it is through the presence of women at the Citadel that the men of the institution have an opportunity to begin to understand that the Citadel has provided them with an environment free of many of the larger society's expectations of masculinity. It discusses how the presence of women in the Citadel reveals that the cadets' reactions against women in the institution are not necessarily sparked only by misogynistic attitudes, but how this rejection of women is sparked by a very real desire for these young cadets to be free of the influences and restrictions placed on them by the larger society, which has a narrow and rigid understanding of masculinity.
From the Paper "The women of the Citadel have a great deal to teach the men of the Citadel. The presence of women at the Citadel can be a catalyst that forces the men at the Citadel to examine their institution, and their attitudes toward masculinity. Ultimately, the presence of women may provide these men with a forced opportunity to examine their understanding of masculinity. In this sense, the women at the Citadel provide the men in the same institution with an perhaps unwelcome opportunity to examine their role in society, and potentially make changes in their attitudes and behaviors."
Abstract This paper discusses how Latinos come from a very strongly gender-differentiated culture where machismo rules, leading to the "blackening" of homosexuality, and causing it to become taboo. It analyzes how this has led to many problems, most notably high rates of HIV infection among Latinos and, subsequently, Latinas, who are typically married to a secretly gay husband who contracts HIV with his male partner and then transmits it to the wife. It also looks at the differences between homosexual Latinos and Caucasian homosexuals and how Latino homosexuals are treated within their communities, by their families, and within Latin America as a whole.
From the Paper "These are the traditional gender divisions within latino communites, although in some countries, such as Colombia, and in immigrant communities within the US, for example, these traditional cultural values are becoming more fluid, and women are generally being allowed more liberation. This is not the case, however, for homosexuals.
The macho latino culture does not see homosexuality as a viable option, with the culture defining the homosexual act as somehow against nature, against the dictates of Catholicism, and against all the latino cultural values, of familismo, machismo, etc. Homosexuals, in both genders, are therefore frowned upon, still, by the latino community."
Tags: machoism, gay, lesbian, immigrants, aids, hiv
Abstract The difference in marital relationships between cultures is an important topic to explore. This paper explains that the exploration of this topic can lead to a greater understanding of these belief systems. This discussion provides a comparative analysis of the marital systems that are present in China and Africa. It discusses the traditional marital systems that are common to both cultures. It also explores woman-to-woman marriages and the concept of polygamy.
From the Paper "An article in the Journal of Comparative Family Studies explains that traditional Chinese Marriages were arranged by the parents. (Zang, 1993:35) The journal asserts that many marriages were blind and that parents had the most control over who their children would marry. (Zang, 1993:35) The article insists that in some cases minors were contracted into marriage when they very young but did not love with one another until they were older. In addition, the article explains that once couples are married many of them live with the groom parents. This is known as a patrilocal marital structure. (Zang, 1993:35)"
Abstract This paper focuses on the prevalence of racial and gender stereotypes in television. Through these examples, this paper argues that these stereotypes serve to maintain the interests of the status quo by suppressing the interests and needs of marginalized groups such as racial minorities, women, and gays and lesbians.
From the Paper "Television is a prime example of a medium's capacity to present a skewed stereotypes regarding race. In a study of the top-rated shows on network television, Hellmich (2001) found that most of the leading roles on prime-time programs are filled by white actors. Even urban-based programs like Friends have no black leads, even though the show takes place in the ethnically diverse setting of New York City."
Abstract This paper provides an analysis of the characters of Jack and Karen in the TV series, "Will and Grace". It explains how the character of Jack has drawn fire from queer activists from time to time as promoting unfair or destructive stereotypes of the "effeminate" and 'campy' gay man. It looks at how the four main characters of the show portray sexuality.
From the Paper "The character of Jack obviously plays to gay stereotypes, as any regular viewer can attest. From the lisp to the limp wrists, from his body build and mannerisms to his over the top and affectionately outrageous personality, from his theatrical aspirations to his tastes in art and clothing, there is little about Jack that doesn?t reflect a specifically gay personality of the campy persuasion. Incidentally for many queer activists, Karen can also be seen as reflecting many primarily gay stereotypes (as a drama queen and poser), and though like many other camp idols she is of course not male her presence adds to the campy nature of the sitcom."
Abstract By using Martin Duberman's "Stonewall" as a reference, this paper examines how the Stonewall riots of 1969 sparked the movement for gay liberation by providing a platform for homosexuals. The paper discusses the oppression felt by homosexuals and all minorities and relates the black civil rights movement and anti-war protests to the gay riots. The paper shows how the book discusses the laws against homosexuals and the way society felt. By using historical facts to set the mood of the time, Duberman shows details of riots, which began prior to 1969, and the result of these riots on American political organizations.
From the Paper "Through the lives of the individuals in Dubermans? book we learn how the gay liberation movement began. Stonewall gives insight into the oppression and emotion that ultimately led to the gay liberation movement. He sets the tone by depicting how and why the Stonewall riot emerged. The lives of these individuals clearly show that resistance to oppression had been mounting. It only took one night of high emotions, years of oppression, and a widespread resistance to authority to "kick start" the gay liberation movement."
Abstract This paper begins by defining jealousy as a negative, complex human emotion that represents a provoked response to problems posed by real and/or perceived threats to an exclusive dyadic relationship. It is most commonly associated with long-term romantic relationships and sexual relationships. The paper then looks at the different experiences of men and women in dealing with jealousy within relationships and with other people. The paper references two theories, known as evolutionary-psychological and socio-cultural in studying and understanding this phenomenom.
From the Paper "The psychology of gender has evolved and has been modified dramatically over the past decade from descriptive cataloguing of gender-related differences and similarities to specific areas of inquiry within organized theoretical or methodological framework. Much of the history of behavioural sciences has involved the attempt to come to grips with a dilemma of gender-determined reaction to sexual and emotional infidelity."
Abstract The predicting factors of HIV-risk behavior in college students are assessed through a survey at a Midwestern university. One hundred and thirty-five participants (37 males, and 98 females) assess their HIV-risk behavior through a two-page, self-administered survey during the winter quarter of 2004. This paper shows how the survey assesses five areas: HIV-risk behavior, HIV-risk knowledge, HIV-risk reduction, HIV-risk reduction behavioral skill, and demographic characteristics. Through these five areas, survey administrators are able to assess the relationship between information, motivation and skills, and their risk-reduction behavior, as based on the IMB Model. The paper shows that, through statistical evaluation, it is established that participants who report greater motivation to avoid HIV infection also reported more frequent condom use. Further analysis also shows that women reported greater risk-reduction motivation, as well as better risk-reduction behavioral skills.
From the Paper "Further exploration may include the assessment of high-risk behavior through other models, such as the Health Belief Model, developed in the early 1950?s. Such a model was developed, similar to the IMB Model, to predict the likelihood of one taking preventative action against health risks (Hollar & Snizek, 1996). Future investigation might also incorporate a treatment within the study. The current study found that a greater motivation to avoid HIV infection resulted in a reported more frequent condom use. Though, perhaps with a treatment containing information on high HIV-risk behavior, the simple act of prevention through condom use, and facts and figures regarding the high AIDS rate within the college population, a follow-up survey assessment would find increased motivation to avoid HIV and a lower rate of risky behaviors within the participants."
Abstract This paper evaluates the scenario of an incident of sexual misconduct in a company and discusses the issue from the point that the victim reports the matter to the HR department. The paper examines how the HR worker should consider all the moral, ethical, and legal issues and then consider the options and the potential risks of each.
From the Paper "To ensure that employees are aware of harassment laws, a company should provide guidelines in their policies and procedures. These policies and procedures must have clear guidelines and standards of conduct must be enforced. It must clearly state that any violation will result in disciplinary action. "The legal responsibility is that of the company, and it must: Make careful selection of its compliance officers: the company must not assign compliance responsibilities to someone who does not know the law" (Peabody, 2004, p. 2)."
Abstract This is a research report, which focuses mainly on the methods of obtaining information in an intimate heterosexual domestic violence dispute. The research supported the paper's position that males are more likely to be the aggressor in a domestic violence setting, but notes the fact that women have, as of late, begun to be arrested at the scene of domestic disputes as either aggressor or as a co-aggressive participant.
From the Paper "In a violent dispute situation, it was the assumption by most that men, in the majority of cases, posed a greater threat to women. But, soon after arrests became the norm, women began to get arrested for domestic violence. Except for a minor number of scenarios, history shows that women pose a far less risk to their male counterparts. ?Mandatory arrest and the use of civil restraining orders without proper criminal sanctions are assuredly flawed solutions for preventing the complex enigma of domestic violence. Americans have historically objected to the government's attempt to legislate what they consider their private morality or family problems.? (Davis, 1998) Upon arriving on a scene, police must treat each case as a new individual event."
Abstract This paper explains that, in "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus?, John Gray uses analogies and metaphors to explain the distinct differences between men and women. According to Gray, these differences need to be accepted and appreciated in order to have fulfilling and successful relationships.
From the Paper "Gray begins his book by describing how one day Martians were looking through their telescopes and spied the inhabitants of Venus. So taken with the image of women, the Martians hurriedly invented space travel. When they arrived on Venus, the women welcomed them, for they had intuitively been expecting them. Each appreciated the differences in the other and life was grand. However, when they moved to Earth, amnesia set in and men and women forgot that they were supposed to be different. The men and women forgot everything they had learned about each other and hence, have been in conflict ever since (Gray 9)."
