Abstract This paper states that there are no guarantees that a particular decision will be the "right" choice; however, through critical thinking skills, the chances are better that the decision will be more "right" than ?wrong.? The author points out that, similar to scientific and logical thinking styles, the systematic thinking style looks first at the "real" problem; managers must use their critical thinking skills to discount irrelevant information and find the actual problem before proceeding through the systematic problem solving steps. The paper relates that, by "trying on" the various "hats", managers can get different perspectives on a particular problem.
From the Paper "Intuition is another critical thinking style. Many of the decisions made using intuition are trial and error. Intuition usually contributes to decisions where risk and uncertainty are prevalent. Some people, like Edward de Bono, author of several books on the creative process, "see intuition as a set of mental tools separate from logic and judgment that an individual can develop through practice and training". Intuition is often referred to as a "gut instinct" or ?sixth sense.? Intuition skills can be learned. It does involve staying close to the problem, listening to what is being said or not said, going with a hunch and following it through to the end. Intuition skills are becoming important abilities in today's decision-making world."
Abstract This paper examines how the media plays a prominent role in modern society and how the depiction of controversial topics, such as racism, sexism, and homophobia tends to influence social values, often to an inflammatory degree. In particular, it looks at how, recently, an increasing number of films and television programs have focused on homosexuality and how depictions of homosexuality in the media have not only affected how others view homosexuals, but also how gay people see themselves and the rights that they have.
Outline
Homosexuality in Film since the 1890s
Ignoring the Issue: Censorship
Homosexuality as the Subject of Laughter
Homosexuality and Violence
Conclusion
From the Paper "During the 1990's and the first years of the new millennium, homosexuality has become an increasingly prominent issue in the media. The most controversial issue currently is same-sex marriages, forbidden by law in several states. Not allowing homosexual people to have rights is a type of censorship resulting from willfully ignoring the issue. General society is often not comfortable with the issue of homosexuality because it is either ignored or maligned by the media. Advertisements, television programs and indeed films featuring homosexuality is the exception rather than the rule. The consequences of ignoring the issue however is that the fundamental rights promised by the Constitution to every citizen are becoming a travesty of its original intention (Erwin)."
Abstract This paper positively reviews this non-fictional account of a boy raised as a girl after his parents were advised to do so by a medical doctor. The paper summarizes the life story of the child as reported in the book and talks about the book's successful treatment of issues regarding scientific arrogance within the medical treatment, sexuality, and gender identity.
From the Paper "We tend to think about sexuality as being about biology (as, of course, in some rather obvious ways it is) and not go beyond the physical mechanics of sex when we are thinking about what it means to be a sexual being. But sexuality is perhaps as much about cultural mores and habits as it is about genetics, as John Colapinto's As Nature Made Him : The Boy Who Was Raised As a Girl (HarperCollins, 2000) examines. The book is a well written, thoughtful analysis of how individuals come to see themselves as possessed of sexual identities, and the process through which each individual learns to negotiate his or her identity as an amalgam of personal and social desires. The book is at its heart an impassioned story of how sexuality and sexual identity are at the very core of who each person comes to be as an adult, and how sexuality must be understood to be a fundamental and pervasive aspect of our sense of ourselves, not just what it is we do in bed."
Abstract This paper outlines the significant differences between the genders with regard to drug abuse. The paper looks at the differences in all aspects of drug use, including why they seek out drugs, who they get drugs from, the types of drugs used, the level of dependence, and the degree of relapse.
From the Paper "Drug addiction, in women and men, is a disease that has become an epidemic in America and around the world. However, there are significant gender differences in regards to drug abuse, and associated behaviors. Much research exists to show that women and men vary drastically with respect to the circumstances surrounding their initial drug use, the specific types of drugs they grow dependent upon, the level of dependence, and the ability they have to seek treatment for their addiction. From the first time a member of either sex uses drugs until they seek treatment, quit, or relapse, females and males exhibit extreme differences in their behavior."
Abstract This paper examines the history of equal employment opportunity and how it impacts human resource management today. Human resources managers must be aware of the how the EEO laws affect employees, potential employees, and retiring employees. This is because these eight Equal Employment Opportunity laws impact several areas of human resources management, including compensation, employee selection, opportunities for training and promotion, performance appraisal, and retirement.
From the Paper "Another area of human resource management concerned with EEO laws is the area of promotion and job training opportunities. The Age Discrimination Act of 1967 is one law that targets 20% of all discrimination charges, which happen to fall into the category of age related discrimination. Age related discrimination tends to occur often when decisions are being made about additional job training, funding for continuing education, and downsizing through "early retirement" programs (Bohlander, 56). Other elderly people are looked over for hire or promotion because they are considered too old and un-hip to promote. Casual remarks that express ageist attitudes can easily be used to build cases of discrimination based on age (Bohlander, 56)."
Abstract This paper shows that the media has misrepresented homosexuals in many different ways. Television and newspaper are especially differing in their portrayals of homosexuals. Current television programs have divided homosexuals into a distinct cultural group, typecasting them as sharing the same personality, lifestyle and values. They are often seen on television as being the victims of ridicule, as they are utilized in television program for providing a humorous effect. The paper shows that converse to television, newspaper, and at times radio, expose the negative portrayals of homosexuals, depicting them as being unnatural and immoral. Furthermore, the media has played a part in placing stigmas upon homosexuals, including the association they are believed to have with sex crimes, drugs and terminal sexually transmitting diseases.
From the Paper "Presently, television is a considerable contributor in the stereotyping of homosexuals. Excessively effeminate mannerisms, high pitched speaking voices, exaggerated garish and stylish clothing are images of homosexuals which are common on almost every television channel. This is, however, a vast media misrepresentation, since in reality homosexuals are considerably difficult to identify. Television particularly places gay men in brackets, giving them shared personality traits and occupations. On television programs, homosexual characters entertain audiences by predominantly possessing an energetic and flamboyant character, often even being outspoken transvestites."
Abstract This paper presents an argument that gay marriage should be permitted despite traditional and widespread religious opposition to it. The author points out that the issue of same-sex marriage is one of the most controversial in American society since the issue of abortion.
From the Paper "Although many religious conservatives wish it would, the issue of Gay marriage will not go away. This is particularly now that the U. S. Supreme Court has struck down state anti-sodomy laws as unconstitutional and in light of the Michigan State Supreme..."
Abstract This essay examines the importance of advertising in today's society and analyses the representation of gender, race and class in today's advertising. The essay argues that gender and racial inequality and stereotyping are very much present in today's advertising and furthermore that this serves advertising needs. It also argues that advertising, combined with technology is a powerful tool in maintaining consumerist culture and that many corporations depend heavily on advertising for profit. Advertising is sophisticated, very well thought through and everywhere. It directly impacts our choices and often mirrors society.
Abstract This paper examines how, in the introduction to the "History of Sexuality", Foucault argues that in the 17th century the role of sex and sexual activity in the discourse of western society made a fundamental and radical change. It also looks at how, in "Discipline and Punish", Foucault argues that obsessions over sexuality and society's approval or disapproval of specific actions occurs because of the infinite diffusion of power which is found as the basis of western society. In comparison, it looks at how two decades later, Butler employed themes from Foucault's philosophy in order to argue her case for the arbitrariness of anatomical sex, gender identity and gender performance. It shows that through the arguments in her work, "Gender Trouble", Butler concludes that there is no essential relationship between a person's anatomical sex, her self-identified gender and the gender performance she enacts to fulfill society's expectations of the norm.
From the Paper "Foucault's analysis of discourses on sex comes as a reaction to the more commonly-held belief that there was a society-wide discourse of repression in regards to sex. Foucault argues against this; he questions whether or not "sexual repression is truly an established historical fact"; whether "prohibition, censorship, and denial truly the forms through which power is exercised in a general way, if not in every society, most certainly in our own"; and whether "there really was a historical rupture between the age of repression and the critical analysis of repression". Foucault argues that through the evolution of Christian pastoral practices, specifically that of confessions regarding sexual sins, society was compelled to begin an elaborate and never-ceasing discourse on sex. "
Abstract The paper explains that stereotyping is an attempt to claim that each individual in a certain group shares a set of common qualities. The paper shows the impossibility of this, since no two individuals are alike. The paper looks at stereotypes of politicians and discusses the belief that tattoos are related to gangs, drug heads and motorcycle groups. The paper examines stereotypes of feminists and of the elderly community. The paper shows just how cruel judgments are when they are made about groups of individuals that people know little about.
From the Paper "Beliefs and values play a large role in society today, and eventually they will evolve over time. There are many different expressions of beliefs and values directly associated with stereotypes. Euphemism and dysphemism are rhetorical terms that are widely used in conjunction with stereotypes. Stereotyping is a natural function of the human and social mind. Essentially, the natural functions of stereotypes are actual sketches of how a group of people is perceived and how they perceive themselves. The stereotypes within this paper are normally viewed as erroneous. These are attempts to claim that each individual in a certain group shares a set of common qualities. No two individuals are alike, so this would be logically impossible."
Abstract The writer examines how gender socialization is reinforced or facilitated by children's clothes, toys and books, based on the observation of a child's clothing, toy and book store at a mall in Los Angeles. The writer shows how stores offered gender-coded clothes for newborns, toys that reflected the gender roles expected by society, and books for school-age children that tended to encourage them to fit into these gender-specific roles. The paper concludes that we should become conscious about our perception on gender identity and how our lives are limited and reinforced by gender stereotypes.
From the Paper "Purchasing baby clothes is the very first exciting thing for new parents, their families or their friends. Just like someone expecting a baby soon, I excitingly stepped into a children's clothing store. I strolled up and down the boy's section and girl's section of the store and thought, "why everything here is gender-coded and why everything has a clear distinctions in gender?!" No color was gender-neutral. Warm, soft colors like pink were for girls. Dark colors like brown or very bright colors like red were for boys. Only pale green and yellow seemed to be gender-neutral, which I guess was reserved for the children of unknown sex. In addition to colors, the motifs used for outfits were also gender-coded. For example, butterflies, flowers, laces, and ribbons represented girls. Motor vehicles, tools, sports equipments represented boys. Baby items or animals seemed to be gender-neutral."
Abstract This paper looks at the masculine character of the woman, Fefu in Maria Irene Forne's play "Fefu and Her Friends". It shows the various ways that Fefu strays from her traditional role as a woman as she gives up her gender to join the male forces in society.
From the Paper "Feminism is an area of increasing interest and mystery especially in modern plays like Maria Irene Fornes's Fefu and Her Friends. Fefu, an antithesis to her stereotypical fellow women, serves as the bold, daring and "new cross-gender" type figure of the play. This broad spectrum of extreme levels of manhood portrayed by Fefu is equalized out and even supported by the overall characterizations of the women in the text. In turn, these characterizations of Fefu and her friends all come together to depict Fefu's "manhood". Although a woman, Fefu portrays herself as a strong, domineering character, like the stereotypical male, and tries to enforce this masculinity upon her friends."
From the Paper "Rock recordings and performances since the 1950s have been essentially about freedom and sex. The main derivative source, the blues and rhythm and blues, has always been essentially about freedom and sex. So how does rock portray sex? It is portrayed in all forms, in all deviations, in all fetish manifestations. In the pantheon of song characters and, indeed in the rock world itself, there are cross-dressers, homosexuals, transvestites, prostitutes, groupies and toyboys. There is bondage, incest, one night stands as well as love and marriage. It is all there and more. Yet there is a constant battle among critics and observers that has raged since rock's beginnings about how gender and sexuality is and should be portrayed. Generally, Rock and Roll tends to polarize opinion and has a tendency to push even the most objective observer into fits of subjective raving."
Abstract An examination of the advantages and the disadvantages of using self-efficacy counseling based upon the client's gender. The author analyzes whether issues of self-efficacy should be used in counseling depending on the gender of the patient due to the differences between men and women's reactions.
From the Paper "The self-efficacy theory is based on the statement that people deal with the environment and various situations based on their self-judgments of how well they can perform in a given scenario and how well they can cope with a given behavior. Self-efficacy also determines how long the individuals will persist at facing an obstacle and how much effort will be put in overcoming it (Bandura, 1982)."
Abstract This paper looks at all that is involved when changing genders. The author looks at both the surgical procedures along with the psychological implications. Detailed discussion of the surgical procedure is included -- and we therefore warn anyone before purchasing this paper that graphic accounts are given.
From the Paper "Transsexualism is defined in the Mosby's Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Dictionary as "a condition in which a person has an intense desire to discard one's biologic sex and live as a member of the opposite sex. It is considered a psychiatric disorder if the condition continues for more than 2 years. Some transsexual individuals crossdress and seek medical or surgical help to change their physical sex characteristics". Transexualism is marked by the belief of the individual that he or she was born into the wrong sex and should be the other. This is a conviction that usually dates back as far as the individual can remember and does not seem to be subject to change through life experiences. It can also be defined as extreme gender dysphoria. There is also a set of terminology created by the transgendered community that is now being adopted by the medical community. For example, a femisexual is a transsexual who crosses the gender barriers from male to female, having completed genital surgery whereas a mascusexual is a female-to-male transsexual who has completed genital surgery. Complisexual is a broad term to refer to individuals who are either femisexual or mascusexual. Treatment of transsexualism is aimed at helping the individual match their "inner sense" to their outward appearance and body, usually through hormone therapy and surgery. There are several theories as to what causes one to be a transsexual. Some are neurobiological while many older ones are psychosocial."
