From the Paper "Introduction
In the past, Christianity often linked sexuality with sin. Specific Bible text which related to sex were extrapolated to develop church doctrine that restricted sexual expression. While rigidly fundamentalist Christian groups continue to take a dim view of sex, many mainstream groups have begun to reconsider sex-ual expression and its role in the Christian life. Much of the focus on sexuality in modern Christianity relates to the existence of a moral crisis in society.
Society Has Become Increasingly Secular
Society once looked to religious leaders to set community standards of morality. Christians today decry the replacement of traditional moral values with a new morality based on relativism. With relativism, meaning nothing is absolutely right or wrong; choices are made depending..."
From the Paper "Introduction
The role of women in the early church reflects the role of women in the Bible, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. The attitudes shown toward women in scripture and in the way the early church developed show a certain ambivalence, seeing women both as a treasure to be protected and as a source of potential evil. These attitudes begin in Genesis with the story of the Creation and the Fall, and indeed much of what follows in terms of how women are viewed can be traced to the belief that Eve brought disease and death into a world that had been perfect before she was seduced by Satan. In the early church, women were relegated to a subordinate position for both reasons -- they needed the protection of men, and they were not quite trusted because of their potential for sin. An examination..."
An examination of the social work concepts (homosexual identity formation and personality development) in characterizations and relationships in two short stories.
2,475 words (approx. 9.9 pages), 10 sources, 2000, $ 79.95
From the Paper "This paper examines several concepts relevant to social work study which are raised in two short stories, David Leavitt's "Danny in Transit" and Jacquelyn Holt Park's "Columbia." Both stories offer sensitive and unique perspectives on the concept of homosexual identity formation and adolescent personality development. Both illustrate some of the personal and societal barriers faced by an individual coming to terms with a homosexual identity. "Danny in Transit" also provides insight into the effects of such identity recognition within a family and a boy about to enter adolescence, as he faces the subsequent breakdown of his family. These issues are important to social work because they present challenges, concerns, and prejudices which a contemporary social worker is likely to face in the course of providing help to both clients and their families. As more..."
Abstract A discussion of Manuel Puig's ?Kiss of the Spider Woman" about the relationship which develops between two men sharing a cell. The analysis and commentary consists of a short summary of the plot of the book, commentary on issues of style, themes, historical or political context, language and structure, and questions for further discussion.
From the Paper "In ?Kiss of the Spider Woman,? Manuel Puig weaves a story of two men sharing a prison cell in an Argentine jail and the unlikely devotion and friendship that develops as they are forced to pass their days together. Molina, a middle-aged homosexual is serving time for corrupting a minor. Valentin, a macho revolutionary, is there due to his socialist politics. They pass the days and nights listening to Molina recite and act out scenes from his favorite movies. Their friendship eventually becomes sexual, and in the end they evolve into an ironic role reversal, with Molina dying from his involvement in politics and Valentin retreating into a dream world to escape the pain of torture (Puig 1991)."
Tags: homosexual, politics, escape, prison, cell, plot, commentry, style, language
Abstract An examination of the underlying theme of sexuality and sensuality in Vampire movies in American and European cinema. Looks at the historical use of vampires as well as how their portrayal has changed over the years. Older movies are compared to more modern ones. The paper also shows the different depiction of vampires in Hollywood films and in European films.
From the Paper "It has often been stated that if horror films could be considered to have a reigning king, that position would without a doubt go to Count Dracula. While in recent years this position may have been challenged by a new succession of ax welding, hockey masked psychopaths among others, when the entire history is examined, the ?Prince of Darkness still reigns supreme. It is not surprising that vampires are such a popular source of modern entertainment; they have been in legends, folklore and myths for centuries (1). All that has really happened is that they have made the move to the most widely recognized form of story telling in our culture, cinema. If vampires as a whole entertainment then Bram Stoker's "fictional" creation Dracula, who serves as their self appointed monarch, is by far the most recognized and popular of the assemblage."
Abstract This paper focuses on the topic of female genital mutilation. It begins with a background look at the different types of FGC and at the motivations behind this practice. It explains why the practice is degrading to women and looks at how common the practice is. The paper concludes with a projection for the future and details why FGC should be outlawed worldwide.
From the Paper "As the world continues to globalize cultures are coming together and sharing traditions and values. Many of the traditions being shared have a positive impact on the cultures that they touch, but there are other cultural traditions that shock outsiders worldwide. Female genital mutilation is still practiced in several parts of the world. The practice of female genital mutilation should be outlawed, because it is degrading to all women whether or not they personally participate in it."
Abstract This paper shows how Anne Finch in the poem 'The Unequal Fetters' refuses to be bound by the chains that perceptions of gender enforce on women and speaks out against the inequality that rules society---through the beliefs of men and women alike.
From the Paper "Anne Finch was an acclaimed writer in the late sixteenth and seventeenth century when women were marginalized in society. She threw away the barriers that gender imposed on her and refused to bow to the conventions of society. Had she been alive today she would have been declared a feminist and enjoyed a freedom that she could not, even with her foresight, have imagined."
Tags: male, female, women, society, equal, freedom, sixteenth, seventeeth, century
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses and analyzes the essay "Guns and Dolls," by Laura Shapiro in which she cites evidence from scientific studies and reports on the differences between boys and girls and what causes them. The paper uses three different quotes from the article that express the idea that the differences between girls and boys are learned (social), rather than innate (biological), and explain why each quote was chosen.
From the Paper "Harvard professor of psychology Jerome Kagan explains, "'If, in our society, nature stands for the giving of life, nurturance, help affection, then the girl will conclude unconsciously that those are the qualities she should strive to attain. And the boy won't. And that's exactly what happens'" (Shapiro). Here the professor concludes because boys do not bear and raise children, they simply do not have or learn the same qualities that girls do. He contends girls learn early on they are the nurturers and caregivers, and understand they are different from boys. Kagan has studied young children for 35 years."
Tags: nurturers, caregivers, genetic, biological, sex
Abstract This paper examines the stereotypes and gender ideologies surrounding popular television shows. It speaks specifically of the father role and how its portrayal has changed over time, as well as the family in general. Compares the 1950's show "Leave it to Beaver" to the modern show "The Cosby Show".
From the Paper "In a day where you can sit down and watch any number of shows representing the absent father, the womanizing father, the couch potato father, or any combination of the three, shows "Leave it to Beaver" of the 1950's and "The Cosby Show" of the 1980's and 1990's seem to offer a refreshing alternative. Both shows were popular and influential in their time, centered on the dynamics of a nuclear family. In examining the father role portrayed in an episode of each show, one can see that while our definitions and ideas of a "family" have changed through time, we still have a long way to go before we move away from the male stereotypes that infiltrate our lives through our television sets."
Tags: beaver, cosby, gender, leave, media, show, stereotypes, television
Abstract A paper outlining how there is still a gendergap in public education, regardless of the attempts by administrations to refute the claim. This paper explains how gender inequality is still rampant in our schools today. It shows that though many situations where boys are preferred over girls are unintentional, the fact remains that time has not caused us to become blind to gender in the classroom.
From the Paper "Gender gaps in education ?have in most cases been eliminated and, in others, have significantly decreased,? according to ?Trends in Educational Equity of Girls and Women,? a report requested by Congress and released April 25, 2000 by the National Center for Education Studies. Girls appear to have fewer problems in early grades than boys do and consistently outperform boys in reading and writing, the report continues. The NCES states that young women continue to lag behind males in mathematics and science achievement in high school and are less likely to major in those fields in college. They also report that high school girls have higher educational goals than boys have and are more likely to enroll in college in the fall semester after graduating from high school. These females are then more likely to complete their bachelor's degree within five years, compared to their male counterparts."
This paper discusses the book "My Own Country: A Doctor's Story," by Abraham Verghese, specifically, the effect AIDS and its victims have on the doctor.
Abstract This paper reviews the story of Dr.Abraham Verghese, who specializes in infectious diseases, and his battle with AIDS in a small Tennessee town. The paper describes how Dr. Verghese treated his patients in an environment of fear that extended even into his own family. The author points out that the book presents a true insight into AIDS.
From the Paper "The case of Bobby Keller and Ed Maupin was especially interesting because of the further implications of their story. Ed and Bobby lived in a small town about 60 miles from the doctor's office in Johnson City. They came to him because they were afraid to be treated or tested in their own town. They had lived together for about 10 years, and both had been married before and fathered children. Both of them tried to deny their homosexuality by marrying, but both of them found they could not live a lie. Having practiced unsafe sex with multiple partners, they both had contracted HIV."
Tags: infectious, diseases, environment, fear, family, support, group, unsafe, sex
Abstract Edith Wharton's 1911 novella "Ethan Frome" allows her to tell a compelling story while simultaneously exploring the gender roles expected of both men and women in pre-World War I American society. This paper discusses and investigates how Wharton both examines and manipulates ideas about both femininity and masculinity in this tale of love, tragedy and human dependence set in the New England countryside.
From the Paper "Ethan marries Zeena because this is what men are supposed to do (even as she marries him because it is what women are supposed to do. Love does not, on either side, seem to have anything to do with it. Duty is a far stronger motivator in this world than emotion, and Wharton asks us to consider the nature of a society in which duty is so important as to override all other sensibilities. We have all been taught that duty is important, but Wharton reminds us that duty like so many other things, must be taken in moderation, especially as it applies to conventionally defined gender roles."
Tags: gender, edith, wharton, novella, role, men, women, america
Abstract This paper examines the issue of gender and racial discrimination in sport both at college as well as professional level. It attempts to dispel the myths regarding women equality and meritocracy in sports, such that women earn through professional as well as college sports as much as their male counterparts. It examines the struggles involving women recognition in sports through the history of basketball which evolved in 1891 but only allowed women players in 1971 and the differences in women participation in college sports and professional sports. The paper also outlines the racial desegregation of college and professional sports, bringing out the similarities and the differences to that of gender bias.
From the Paper "Though women face various challenges in the name of discrimination in sports oriented activities and career advancements, women in college sports face less resistance due to the fact that at college level, friendships and relationships are more sound and meaningful than at a professional level where shrewd politics dominate the sports scenario and extreme resistance is faced by women who are professional athletes. Moreover, in college sports, due to combined activities, women get more or less the same facilities and coaching aid that their male friends receive. Alternately, women athletes on a professional level are struggling hard to receive better or equal facilities than men athletes."
Abstract The paper explores how, over the past decade, women's athletics has seen an exceptional increase in popularity. While "traditional" women's sportssuch as tennis, gymnastics and ice-skating have always been popular among the American public, other sports such as soccer, basketball and boxing are gaining new fans. The paper shows, however, that the popularity of women in sports has not been an overnight phenomenon. It explores how women athletes have been slowly knocking down barriers for decades, from Wilma Rudolph (track) to Billie Jean King (tennis) to Nancy Lieberman Kline (basketball), women athletes have done more than just compete, that have campaigned for the inclusion of women in sports and have been outstanding advocates for women in athletics. This paper explores the rise of women's participation in athletics and how the present day has witnessed the best support for women athletes in American history.
From the Paper "Undeniably, women have made remarkable strides in athletics. Women athletes have much more issues to conquer than their male counterparts. For example, male athletes do not have to deal with sexism and a culture that prevents them from realizing their true potential. A revolutionary law, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in any educational program or activity at any educational institution that is a recipient of federal funds. Since the enacting Title IX there has been over an eight hundred percent increase in athletics participation among high school girls. The increase in the number of females participating in sports at all levels from elementary school to professional athletes lies in the paradigm shift in our shared values and beliefs."
Abstract This is a paper discussing the consequences of rape. Included are the psychological problems after experiencing rape and jail terms for each of the different degrees of rape. It shows how awareness has changed as recognize that rape is not a sexual act but a criminal act of violence.
From the Paper "By law, rape is "the crime of sexual intercourse without the consent of the victim, often through force or threat of violence"(Rape pg). Statutory rape is the rape of a victim who is "deemed legally incapable of consenting if she or he is known to be mentally incompetent, intoxicated, drugged or below the age of consent at the time of the rape" (Rape pg). Although, traditionally rape is a term applied to male sexual force upon a female, revisions have been made in many jurisdictions to include the possibility of a male victim. For years, issues concerning rape and the law have been debated in the United States. However, efforts by feminist groups have been successful in expanding victim's rights, such as the removal of statutes that required rape victims to physically resist attackers (Rape pg). In the past, rape victims were required to show signs of injury in order to prove they had not consented to sexual relations. Another reform has been making marital rape a crime in many circumstances. In 1975, South Dakota was the first state to enact such law reforms. Since the 1980?s, date rape, the rape by an acquaintance, has become a very important issue, especially on college campuses, although, guilt is difficult to establish (Rape pg). Rape is a world wide problem and leaves profound psychological effects upon the victims."
