Abstract This paper is an in-depth study of the topic of identity formation and how a non-traditional sexual orientation, such as being gay or lesbian, changes the development of one's identity. The paper examines the complex process of choosing a non-traditional sexual orientation. This includes the detailing of the many stages that the individual must face, and the many years that are often involved in the search for one's identity. The author looks at many different factors in society that affect the search for identity, including family life, friends, work and employment situations, age, environment and how they can have a negative or positive affect on the individual's lifestyle choice. The role of the social worker in helping the person deal with the problems that the individual faces in both their personal and professional life is also examined in great detail.
From the Paper "Considering general social and cultural attitudes about homosexuality, and the persistent view that the gay or lesbian identity is "abnormal", social workers must always be aware that many parents of homosexual individuals will feel a degree of shame at producing and rearing a "faulty" homosexual child. This is closely linked to the pressure of societal attitudes and concern with how others perceive their parenting, resulting in many parents becoming labeled with a similar socially stigmatized identity to that of their homosexual child. The social worker's role is to understand that many of these parents are likely to be concerned with feelings of guilt and self-blame, such as "Where did I go wrong"? or "If I had done this differently, then ... ", rather than with attempting to understand and empathize with their child's situation (Armesto, 2001). A great deal of this reaction is rooted in the family's racial, ethnic, religious, or cultural backgrounds, which often increase the family's anxiety and stigma with their disapproving and "sinful" view of gays and lesbians and the mythical beliefs that they promote as the causes of homosexuality. On the issue of self-acceptance, many studies indicate that it is the individual's network of friends, rather than the family, that plays the most significant role in gay and lesbian identity formation, indicating that the empathic understanding and support that is offered by members of the same sexual minority group, who have "walked the way", is a particularly influential and valued source of social support."
Abstract Discusses the choices an individual makes and the opinions one forms about sex and sexuality which are based on the teachings and traditions of one's religion. Details the issue of having sex before marriage and the way it is regarded by several religions. Discusses Buddhism and its promotion of the spiritual view. Muslims do not believe that sexual relations are just for procreation, but they are absolutely confined to marriage between a wife and husband. Catholic teachings state that God intends for sex to involve the whole person, body and soul, in the context of a loving, committed relationship, for the sake of both bearing children and the mutual benefit of the spouses.
From the Paper "Few things in life are as personal as the nature of one's sexuality. Whether we choose to abstain from sexual relations until marriage or "get as much as we can" regardless of a committed relationship; whether we feel abortion is evil or a woman's personal choice; whether we think marriage is for life or simply one stop on the long road to the perfect relationship ? these are all questions that only the individual can answer. But we are not alone in forming our opinions. We may be guided by parents or peers, but often, one's religious beliefs are the basis for opinions on sexuality. Religious doctrine may allow for individual freedom where sexuality is concerned, but each denomination has its own standard by which its followers are guided. Ultimately, the impact of religious belief cannot be denied. The choices an individual makes and the opinions one forms about sex and sexuality are based in the teachings and traditions of one's religion."
Abstract This paper is a review of this study which began as an examination of sexism in school text books, but grew to cover the entire school system. Their study aimed to try to observe the "hidden curriculum" in schools, and attempts to fully discuss the gender bias that occurs in all levels of education. The writer recommends this work as a thought-provoking and highly interesting study.
From the Paper "Failing at Fairness: How Our schools Cheat Girls is an excellent resource for anyone interested in the study of sexism in the school system. The authors, Myra M. Sadker and David Sadker present the results of years of research into sexism in American schools. They provide ample anecdotal and statistical evidence to back up their claim that gender bias continues to be a real problem in all levels of our educational system."
Abstract This paper argues that women must hold more political positions in their nations? governments. The paper describes that women are fifty percent of the population and therefore should have their fifty percent of their vote represented by women. It demonstrates that women representatives from industrialized countries demonstrated greater concern over issues, such as birth control and childcare, equal pay for casual work, affirmative action and sexual harassment measures, and those in developing countries, focused more on access to childhood immunization, clean and constant water supply, delivery of primary health care services and affordable food sources. The paper illustrates those ground breaking women who have held high political office.
From the Paper "The Second Global Congress of Women in Politics conducted a study on the presence of women in national parliaments throughout the world and discovered that, in the last 25 years, the participation of women in parliaments from 1975 to 1998 grew only slightly from 11% to 12.7% (Kyodo 1998). Women in Nordic countries have the highest rate of participation at a combined average of 36.7% in the two houses of Congress. Arab women have the lowest level of participation at only 3.3%. Asian figures rose from 3% to over 12% in the last 25 years, but there is nothing exciting about this, since Asia holds more than the total world population, half of which is female. (Kyodo)"
Abstract This paper examines the present restrictions that forbids gays from enlisting in the U.S. army. It compares this stance with the prohibition of women in combat units, which has subsequently been lifted. The writer shows how many now consider women to be an asset in the military. The author explains how the homosexual community hopes that this trend of acceptance will be extended to them as well.
From the Paper "The question of whether gays should be allowed in the military involves complex arguments not just on the issue of fairness to gays and others in a democratic society but also on the role of the military and any special concerns that have to be considered when creating policy for the military. The issue has been much discussed in recent years and is similar in tone to the argument formerly raised for admitting women into the military, though there are significant differences as well. Some of the primary reasons given for keeping women out of the service have also been advanced in a modified form for keeping gays out of the military, so the experience the military has had with women is instructive."
Tags: military, homosexual, discrimination, equality, combat, navy
Abstract This paper examines the gender differences of the two sexes and the conceptual paradigm that rules them. It describes marked difference in the emotional expression of men and women and the masculine mask. The author writes that we are now aware that boys tend to have a highly developed right brain whereas girls have a well-developed left brain.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Brain
The Sociological Pressure (Emotion and its Expression)
Conclusion
Bibliography
From the Paper "There has been increasing amount of research devoted to discerning the role of gender and its influence in the emotional response to a particular situation. These researches have added weight to the presumption that the structural differences of the cerebral cortex has a substantial influence in triggering emotional responses and the differing reactions in men and women to an external stimuli. Let us have a brief outlook of the psychological and biological effects that contribute to the differing emotional responses (in men and women) and the scientific explanation for the same."
This paper states the most disastrous aspect of the AIDS virus --- apart from the millions of lives that it has taken --- is that it initially affected social groups, already widely stigmatized, and because of this, what might have been controllable.
Abstract The author believes that if AIDS had initially affected more privileged members of American society than its first victims( homosexual men), the government's response would have been immediate, and there is a great possibility that this terrible epidemic may have been contained and/or prevented. The paper discusses several major factors that allowed AIDS to become an epidemic, including the federal government, the media, and the sexual revolution that took place among the homosexual community.
From the Paper "Unfortunately, since AIDS was first detected in homosexual males, it was largely dismissed because, for a great portion of the American population, gay men circa 1980 were viewed as dispensable. If such a deadly disease had affected more privileged members of American society, there can be no doubt that the government's response would have been immediate, and there is a great possibility that this terrible epidemic may have been contained and/or prevented."
From the Paper "In The Gender of Sexuality, Pepper Schwartz and Virginia Rutter delve into the influential role of gender in human sexuality. Unlike the essentialists who use biological nature to explain the differences between male and female sexual behavior, Schwartz and Rutter adhere to the social constructionist view (22). In the social constructionist perspective, gender is a social construct that reflects the interaction between biology and sociological factors such as class, culture, race and the individual (Schwartz & Rutter 3). One of the key questions explored in this book is why gender exerts such a great impact on human sexual behavior (Schwartz & Rutter 212). Even though men and women are biologically different, their sexual behavior is not consistent across societies and time periods. The evolution of social institutions clearly plays an important role in .."
From the Paper "Penner and Penner (1981) offer the book The gift of sex, subtitled "A Guide to Sexual Fulfillment." The purpose of the book is to provide the reader with a guide for understanding his or her sexuality and the sexual relationship in marriage. The authors state on the cover that they will help focus on the following aspects of the issue:
M the physical
M the total experience
M moving past sexual barriers
M resolving difficulties
M finding help
These can also be identified as five main topics made by the book, and the authors cover each topic in detail."
From the Paper The issue of gay marriage has emerged seemingly from nowhere in this election year as a major issue. One reason for this is the fact that the legislature in the state of Hawaii has been considering a bill that would make same-sex marriages legal, creating fears in the rest of the country that other states might be forced against their will to accept such marriages in Hawaii as legal elsewhere. Much of the argument over this issue is a discussion of definitions and the meaning of marriage as well as the meaning of legal. Legislators in Washington have to date worked to assure that if any states decide to allow same-sex marriage, other states will not have to recognize these unions in law. What they should be doing is finding a way to accommodate the needs of the millions of people seeking fairness and equity in such things as insurance and the right to hospital visitation,..."
From the Paper Recent linguistic research has centered its attention on the difference between the way men and women communicate in the workplace. Deborah Tannen, Ph.D. has extended her interest in the manner women and men communicate as expressed in You just don't understand (1990). In Talking from 9 to 5 (1994) Tannen scrutinizes how women's and men's conversational styles at work affects "who gets heard, who gets credit, and what gets work done". Tannen's research focuses on conversational rituals, apologies, indirectness, authority and status. Tannen emphasizes that the way people talk influences who attains power. "The ability to influence others, to be listened to, to get your way rather than having to do what others want" defines power (Tannen, 1994, p. 317). Tannen suggests that to learn more about gender..."
From the Paper "Research into the stress experienced by children and adolescents emphasizes the significance of sexual identity as an especially important component in the maturation process. Intervention into the adolescent's problems of identity development will most often implicate development of sexual identity, or orientation, as a significant factor relating to developmental stress. The turmoil of late childhood and adolescence will be discussed, as well as the particular problems faced by young people coming to terms with their sexual identities. As one might anticipate, the problems of adolescence relating to sexual identity are significantly greater for gay and lesbian youth.
The stress inherent in coming of age has begun at an earlier age than in previous centuries. Due to better nutrition..."
A review of work counteracting misinterpretations about women's characters in the male-written classics, Virgil's "Aeneid" and Dante's "Divine Comedy."
1,800 words (approx. 7.2 pages), 4 sources, 2000, $ 63.95
From the Paper "Christine de Pizan's Book of the City of Ladies (1405) was written to counteract the lies and misrepresentations about women's character that the author found in literature in which all the male writers seemed to "speak from one and the same mouth" (4). She resolved, with the help and guidance of the allegorical figures of Reason, Rectitude, and Justice, to write a demonstration of the invaluable contributions of women throughout history. She intended to counteract the ridiculous claims by male writers "that the behavior of women is inclined to and full of every vice" (4). Her examples range from the mythological Amazons to the women of the Old Testament and examples from more recent history. The greatest number, however, derived from classical history and literature. One of the best known, or, as Pizan put it, the woman whose "fame has surpassed that of all..."
Abstract This paper analyzes Deborah Tannen's theory that men and women communicate differently based on the different ways men and women perceive things, from her book "You Just Don't Understand". For men, communication is a way of maintaining status, developing a hierarchy and giving orders. In contrast, women communicate for interpersonal connections, to achieve a sense of community and to maintain equal status. This paper evaluates the possibility that such a complex subject like communication can be separated into two distinct categories so easily and whether this approach shows a stereotype that can be applied to all people.
From the Paper "There may be an overall trend towards women preferring to communicate for a certain reason, but this does not mean that every woman is the same. Accepting this view and believing that men and women can be understood so easily is a major error in judgment. It is also worth noting that in most communications it is not one person communicating with the other gender as a whole. It is one person communicating with one individual. For this communication to be most effective, the people need to make an effort to understand the perspective of each other. Attaching generalized meanings to the communication does not help with this. Another area overlooked is other characteristics that impact on a person's perspective."
Abstract This paper discusses Jackie Kay's novel "Trumpet", which details the emotions surrounding the discovery that jazzman, Joss Moody, is actually a woman. Those surrounding Moody's life are forced by the media to acknowledge the discrepancy in their existence. The author shows how following the conclusion of the novel, one is left to wonder whether the true origin of Joss Moody's choice of lifestyle is gender oppression, homosexuality, or Moody may have believed her gender and sex were not appropriately assigned at birth.
From the Paper "One of the greatest oppressors in today's society is gender, and the behavior that is expected to accompany that particular role. The media frequently capitalizes on the atypical behaviors of males and females. For example, if a man enjoys singing show tunes, going to the ballet, and is not ashamed to cry in front of others, the media frequently portrays this man as a homosexual. Additionally, if a female engages in actions that are typically associated as being masculine, this woman would be portrayed as a lesbian. A homosexual male or female is rarely portrayed as an intelligent, well-rounded individual."
