Abstract This paper will argue for the right of gay couples to adopt children. By looking at the facts that approve of this parental position, we can see how it has valid credentials for gay parenting in the United States.
Abstract This paper shows the difference between older and modern children's literature by comparing the relationship gender plays in each. Historically girls were portrayed as passive and succeed only due to the actions of others, as in "Snow White", and boys succeed because of their mischievous behaviour, as in "Jack and the Beanstalk". More recent children's literature reverses this role by making girls capable of being more active, as diplayed by the protagonist of "The Paper Bag Princess", although boys have remained reliant on mischief, as in "Haroun and the Sea of Stories."
From the Paper "As is true in society, gender affects how certain characters deal with the obstacles inherent in both life and in children's literature. Bruno Bettelheim argues that "the message that fairy tales get across to the child"[is] that a struggle against severe difficulties in life"is an intrinsic part of human existence but that if one does not shy away, but steadfastly meets unexpected and often unjust hardships, one masters all obstacles and at the end emerges victorious" (381). What Bettelheim does not acknowledge is that historically, in much of children's literature girls do not succeed based on their own actions and boys often emerge on top by behaving in a devious manner. This is particularly true of fairy tales. In more recent literature those positions are not necessarily true; girls have become dominant through action, although boys have continued to rely on mischief."
Abstract This paper looks at the issues surrounding the gay rights activists' fight for the recognition of same-sex marriages in the United States. It looks at the reasons they claim this recognition to be important and also discusses the claims by religious and political leaders about the problems that this recognition would create.
From the Paper "There are many political groups that are for and against the passage of a law allowing gays and lesbians the right to marry. Opponents of same-sex marriages say that giving marital recognition to gays and lesbians degrades the institution of marriage. They argue that the state should have the right to maintain the institute of marriage the way it was designed- as a union between a man and a woman. Opponents of same-sex marriage include most social and religious conservatives, the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church and most Protestant denominations."
Abstract This paper stresses that, more than any other reality television show, "Joe Millionaire" highlights particularly disturbing social views regarding women and relationships because the show presents women as liars who are motivated only by the money. The author points out that reality television has given networks another option to violence, but the audience is gradually becoming desensitized to the ethical ugliness, just as they have become desensitized to violence. The paper concludes that more and more young people associate behavior such as lying and cheating, not with a moral quandary, but with a vicarious thrill.
From the Paper "In "The Bachelor", for example, the first bachelor Alex Michel showed no qualms about having sex with one of the bachelorettes and eventually choosing another girl. The lack of public outcry about this behavior shows that for many people, the thought of sex outside a relationship and the presentation of women as objects to be chosen no longer raise a moral quandary."
Tags: desensitize, women, relationship, violence, sex
Abstract For years, the debate over distribution of contraceptives, mainly condoms, within high schools has been a hotly contested issue among law and policy makers, school officials, parents, and students. New studies and research projects have uncovered indisputable proof of the benefits of condom distribution in schools. This paper examines the above-mentioned data and provides an analysis of the current political, social, and medicinal advantages such contraceptive distribution programs provide.
From the Paper "At the heart of the debate of Condom Distribution is the fear that, by making condoms available in schools, it encourages increased sexual activity among teens. Several studies have been conducted to examine whether or not this phenomenon occurs. One such study (Blake, S. M., Ledsky, R., Goodenow, C., Sawyer, R., Lohrmann, D., and Windsor, R. 2003) took place in 1991 in Massachusetts. Massachusetts instituted a policy allowing condoms to be distributed in its public schools as a way to prevent the spread of the AIDS virus and other sexually transmitted diseases. Opponents of the program claimed it would lead to a higher level of sexual activity among teens. The results of the study revealed quite the opposite."
This paper discusses Sharon Olds's poem, "Rites of Passage", which describes the way society conditions young girls and boys to behave in a manner befitting their gender.
Abstract This paper relates that, in this poem, Olds is surprised to see that boys, from a very young age, are aggressive in nature and therefore love playing generals and soldiers. The author points out that the tone of the poem is ironic in the sense that, while on the surface it seams to be celebrating the birthday of first-grade child, on closer study, it contains heavy undertones. The paper stresses that the reason boys? behavior and their psyche are seen as the actual themes of the poem is because Olds hardly mentions anything else. There are no descriptions of the location or dresses the guests are wearing.
From the Paper "For example, all the six years olds in this poem behave in the same manner with everyone ready and willing to fight with others. There seems to be little compassion or empathy between the boys as they gear up for a "brawl". This is quite different from the behavior we would expect from a group of young girls. Not only would most of them be gathering around their dolls, they would also show little interest in waging a war against younger children. On the other hand, children in this party are looking for their potential victims and all younger kids are considered prime targets."
Abstract This paper examines how gender bias in education refers to the persistent gender gap that exists in the field of education and how various strategies have been adopted and several reforms have been introduced to tackle this issue. It looks at how women are always taught to be less aggressive and less assertive than their male counterparts, and for this reason, they tend to stay away from more competitive or professional fields of education. It shows how some changes are needed in the way teachers handle this problem in the classroom and how vast literature on the issue suggests that teachers play a vital role in gender gap issue.
From the Paper "It has also been noticed that lower self esteem and confidence in girls is directly connected with teacher's attitude towards more assertive and confident girls. While teachers permit and even encourage assertive attitude of boys, the same behavior is not tolerant when exhibited by a girl and she is seen as a disruptive element. Reay report suggest that the reason why most girls choose not to enter the more competitive fields of education is because they have been conditioned to do so."
An analysis of the concepts of love, sex, and career in the HBO television series, "Sex and the City," reflecting various facets of women in American society.
Abstract This paper discusses and analyzes two important points that emerge from an analysis of the TV series, "Sex and the City". The first issue covered is that the show demonstrates a transition among its characters, wherein the image of the modern woman is immediately replaced during the last season of the program to illustrate women facing challenges that real women confront in real life. The second point examined in the paper is that each "Sex and the City" character represents a particular facet of femininity and womanhood that the show's audiences can relate to, giving the show its human and realistic element.
From the Paper "More than a study of femininity, "Sex and the City" is also an example of a popular culture material that intends to fuse the experiences of individuals eventually achieving self-realization and accomplishment in life, while at the same time presenting life as it is projected by the mass media through the medium of television. Because the program is representative of the contemporary American society, "Sex and the City" provides insightful information about changing concepts about love, sex, and career in the women sector, as illustrated in the characters of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda."
Abstract This paper examines how critics have argued that 'much of the novel's great appeal derives from its hostility toward female sexuality' and how arguably, there are instances in the text where female sexuality is indeed viewed negatively: It is seen as animalistic, masculine and frightening. It critically discusses the way gender roles are portrayed, including attraction and repulsion between the sexes and the ways in which Stoker uses images to signify religious themes and sex.
From the Paper "Contrastingly, after Lucy's transformation, it is precisely her womanliness that is focussed upon, with Seward observing that 'she was, if possible, more radiantly beautiful that ever' (p. 240). In fact, Lucy's fate epitomises the treatment of female sexuality in the novel. She is considered to be sweet and 'pure' (p. 253) until Dracula awakens her sexuality, then the men hate, fear her and cannot believe she is the same person: 'the remnant of my love turned into hate and loathing; had she then to be killed, I could have done it with savage delight' (p. 253). Literally, she rejects stereotypical femininity, as 'with a careless motion, she flung to the ground, callous as a devil, the child that up to now she had clutched strenuously to her breast' (p. 253)."
Abstract This paper examines how socio-linguistic study shows that men and women use language in different ways, which all too often leads to male-female mis-communication. It looks at how, although the dominance approach and the difference approach are the two main viewpoints in analysing gender and language, some linguists have taken a position somewhere in between the two. It explores these theories and concludes with the author's viewpoint on the subject.
From the Paper "The dominance theory emphasizes the idea that linguistic differences in women and men's language exist as a result of men's power and women's subordination. The dominance approach considers linguistic differences to be a result of traditional social differences i.e. that of man in the role of power, and woman in the role of submission. Man's authority and woman's inferiority are mirrored through their linguistic behaviour. This research focuses mainly on a variety of features, such as the use of tag questions, interruptions, questions, standard forms and minimal responses."
Abstract The paper examines the implications of gender and class inequalities, presenting some of the key points and problems most often associated with these issues in an educational context. The writer examines various solutions to these inequalities, and explores social policies that could be used to alleviate the differences created by gender and class in education.
From the Paper "Modern human societies are far from egalitarian. By this I mean that in West we have cultivated a social system that too often divides individuals and groups into either haves or have-nots. The consequence is inequality, bias, and prejudice that can leave a large proportion of society struggling to achieve any measure of success. On the other hand, some individuals and groups have much less difficulty in securing rights and privileges in society. Sometimes this has to do with the will to succeed, as the American mythos would have us believe. Unfortunately, more often than not, a complicated mix of social, cultural, and historical forces are at play reducing the chance that individuals from certain groups can succeed. Two of the categories upon which our society often divides people into the privileged and underprivileged are gender and social class. But why talk about these two characteristics together?"
Abstract In this article, the writer points out that women are discriminated against in the workplace with lower salaries and fewer promotions compared to men, regardless of the education or experience they have. The writer questions why people take employers to court for discrimination. The writer notes that before discussing how women are discriminated against it is important to understand why discrimination is wrong.
From the Paper "Four out of ten American women visit one of Wal-Mart's stores weekly ... Yet Wal-Mart is not only a horrifyingly stingy employer: Many workers say it is also a sexist one. Wal-Mart is not the only business discrimination against women. Five different areas of discrimination are race, sex, religion, age, and disability. Another large company that discriminates against women is Boeing."
Abstract This paper argues that there are only two kinds of women in Stoker's Dracula: Virgins and Whores. The female vampires in the novel are overly sexualized and lascivious. This paper argues that it is these characteristics that make the vampires so fearful to the men in the novel. Therefore, the overthrow of Vampirism is an overthrow of sexual freedom.
From the Paper "The men in Dracula initially idealize Mina as the perfect woman. Van Helsing says, "She is one of God's women fashioned by His own hand to show us men and other women that there is a heaven where we can enter, and that its light can be here on earth. So true, so sweet, so noble, so little an egoist". Mina is gratuitously praised and held to be an angel; she seems to do no wrong. Even her intellect is complimented as being on the same level as that of a man?s. Van Helsing says, ?She has a man's brain ? a brain that a man should have were he much gifted ? and woman's heart?. Yet, the group, after so complimenting her, immediately decides to exclude her from their fight against Dracula."
Abstract This paper describes the battle of the sexes through writings in English literature. It includes quotes from Chaucer, Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night", Milton's "Paradise Lost", and Gay's "The Beggar's Opera". The time period ranges from the middle ages, the renaissance, to the enlightenment. All quotes are from the Norton Anthology Seventh edition and are sited according to MLA format.
From the Paper "From the beginning of time, the battle of the sexes has been a ferocious conflict; a conflict where women have often been on the losing side. This is truly evident from reading early English literature. Men have had the dominate roles over their women counterparts no matter what the prevailing time period was. Although women's rights diminished and replenished over the centuries, there was never a time when men and women were considered to be equal."
Abstract This paper begins with a discussion of the origins of the term "homosexual". It continues with an outline of beliefs about homosexuals through the ages, and the development of theories of homosexuality through modern times.
From the Paper "Although homosexual practices might have begun in the early centuries, the word "sodomy" was first used by a Catholic missionary, now a saint, Father Peter Damien around 1050. By sodomy, he meant masturbation and anal intercourse between men, a sin he condemned as the most perverse of sexual sins in his long letter to the Pope, entitled ?the Book of Gomorrah.? He emphasized that God designed sex exclusively for procreation and that the enjoyment of the sexual act outside this divine purpose was unnatural and therefore summarily grievously and wickedly sinful."
