Abstract
This paper examines the crippling disorder, Postpartum Depression. This is a state of depression associated with childbirth. It effects woman only. The author delves deeply into its symptoms, causes and cures. There are many quotes from doctors and medical journals.

From the Paper
"Postpartum Depression is a common, frequently unrecognized, yet devastating disorder. While the cause of postpartum depression is debatable, we know that there are genetic, biologic and psychological influences. Postpartum depression has the ability to devastate a new mother. The keys to successful treatment are early identification, reviewing patient and family histories, and intervention. By providing information on the disease early on the patient will be aware of the warning signs. Interventions, both supportive and pharmacological are effective treatments. The ability to lessen the impact of this disease is congruent with the primary caregivers role."

Tags:health, human, services, childbirth

Abstract
This paper looks at the rise of the modern department store as depicted in Emile Zola's novel, "The Ladies Paradise." Zola uses the story to comment on the stereotyping of women. He demonstrates that stereotyping just leads to more of the same. The author comments on women's position in society in 19th century France, in order to illustrate how money cannot buy love and to show how shopping was one of the few ways that women could express their own individuality.

From the Paper
"We should remember that this book with its concluding message that while money can't buy love true love itself does remain a possibility. Zola's analysis of how women (and we must assume to some extent men) are drawn into a consumer culture that will in many ways steal their souls) by the very same marketing and merchandizing techniques that remain popular today, including product placement, loss leaders, incentives for impulse buying. Zola also demonstrates to us how these selling techniques are more and more tightly bound to stereotypical definitions of femininity that the store owner has collected in the previous volume of the series stereotypes that produce stereotypical behavior that produce stronger stereotypes that produce more stereotypical behavior, etc."

Tags:store, women, stereotype, gender, paris, nineteenth, century, europe, culture, femininity, society, individuality

Abstract
This paper examines how the short story, "A & P" by John Updike, chronicles contemporary American society and how it treats issues of social stratification among members of the society. It looks at how, written in the 1960s, "A & P" provides an insightful look at the dynamics of gender and socio-economic differences of people in American society. It also explores how it discusses issues on social stratification from the viewpoint of Sammy, a young man who works at the store, "A & P". In particular, it shows how Sammy's character is an interesting and essential factor for the issue of social stratification because he serves as Updike's "commentator" on sensitive issues, such as gender discrimination on women and the snobbish and oppressive nature of the elite class in the society.

From the Paper
"The first theme discussed in the short story is the issue of gender discrimination among women. In the story, Sammy serves as the "male chauvinist" character, providing an explicit description of the three young women he encounters in the convenience store. Initially, audiences would react at the seemingly sexist comments of Sammy, wherein he looks at the young women's physical attributes only and making unpleasant remarks at them (through his narration to the reader)."

Tags:sammy, class, elite, discrimination, gender

Abstract
In Gwendolyn Brooks' poem, "The Mother", the narrator expresses a reluctant regret and a desire for the children to which she did not give birth as a result of abortion. The paper analyzes the poem and its use of tone, diction, and imagery. It finds that the speaker is alternately regretful, self-recriminating, and motherly in her reactions to her unborn children. Taken together, Brooks' powerful shifts in tone, diction, and imagery all serve to highlight the narrator's longing, and tentative regrets over children that were never born.

From the Paper
"Taken together, the changing tone throughout "The Mother" helps to expresses the narrator's reluctant regret over abortion, and a desire for the children she did not give birth to. It is her very changes in tone and emotion throughout the poem that help to highlight her confusion and regret. She is by turns apologetic, regretful, reproachful and frustrated in her attempts to explain herself."

Tags:abortion, regret, children

Abstract
The paper focuses on the problems that women encounter while entering a male dominated industry. The author discusses experiences women encounter in the police force such as alienation, hostility and resentment.

From the Paper
"Barefoot and pregnant was the motto echoed throughout the nation about women prior to 1910. In this year, Alice Stebbins Wells became the first sworn female officer. Unfortunately, even though women were accepted into the policing profession, their role was a very limited one. They were concentrated in aspects that dealt with other women, children, or clerical work. I suppose that allowing them to work solely in these areas was meant to reinforce their "motherly" side. And why not? It wasn't considered "ladylike" to shoot a gun or deal with issues such as alcohol or violence. Women weren't supposed to engage in fighting or tell men what to do. These thoughts are representative of the Madonna-whore duality, where a woman is either "a mother/wife/virtuous paragon" or "an evil/Eve/seductress" (Epstein 186 ). Women who make attempts to be officers of the law are considered to be those evil women who have deviated from the "norm." It wasn't until 1972 that amendments were made to the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, allowing women a right to an equal opportunity in their quest for a law enforcement career."

Tags:resentment, hate, alienation, equality, fair, separate, ostracism, feminine, masculine, disadvantage, training, officer

Abstract
This paper discusses the history, practice and evolution of the Qu'aran and Islam as it relates to women in society. Roles of women, freedoms, rights, and obligations are all viewed both in present times and in traditional Islamic society of centuries ago. The paper shows positive evidence of progress for women in Islamic society, as well as roadblocks yet to be overcome.

Tags:feminism, islam, rights, sociology, studies, women

Abstract
An argumentative paper about the legalization of abortion. The author argues for the freedom of abortion by looking at the consequences of making abortion illegal, the possibilities of other options and the religious, ethical and moral aspects involved.

From the Paper
"Though I do not support the absolute freedom of abortion, I do not agree that abortion is wrong. In my opinion, we have to consider all the circumstances behind the woman's decision to abort the child and we should allow her to make the ultimate decisions. The possible consequences of making abortions illegal can be more drastic than abortion itself. In this paper, I considered three issues: first, the events of 1930s through 1960s, when abortion was illegal; second, the possible option of adoption; and last, the religious aspects of abortion."

Tags:baby, legal, illegal, moral, ethical, women, rights, law, kill, death, religious

Abstract
This paper looks at the book, "Girl, Interrupted," which is the autobiographical account of Susanna Kaysen?s life just after her graduation from high school in the late 1960s. The movie, is an adaptation of the book. The author reviews both works, which deal with a woman with borderline personality disorder, one of the most common, and misdiagnosed types of mental illness facing women.

From the paper:

"Another anecdote from the book that meets the DSM-IV criteria for diagnosis of borderline personality disorder is Susanna?s dissociative episode. One day while simply sitting in a chair in the common room at the hospital, Susanna had the random notion that she had no bones in her hand. Susanna instantly, and for no apparent reason, became completely convinced that there were no bones in her hand. She was thus immensely disturbed and resolved to bite down on her hand until it bled in an attempt to get all the way down to the bone. Susanna felt as though she must see her bones to know that they are there and she refused to take anyone?s word for it. This psychotic episode seems as though it may also be tied to a feeling of emptiness."

Tags:abnormal, book, borderline, disorder, girl, interrupted, kaysen, library, movie, personality, psychological, psychology, report, suicide, susanna, woman, women

Abstract
This paper focuses on the representations of women's body image in the media and asks how these representations affect women?s self-image and behavior.

From the Paper
"The images of the media surround us constantly. According to Peach (1998): "We are exposed to over 2,000 ads a day, constituting perhaps the most powerful educational force in society. The average adult will spend one and a half years of his/her life watching television commercials". (p. 128). Leafing through the morning paper we unconsciously take in adverts and photographs. Going to work we pass billboards, signs on bus stations and busses, company logos on clothing and merchandise. At home relaxing in front of the television we are bombarded by images. What are the main messages that are conveyed by this unstoppable deluge of the media?"

Tags:advertising, body, image, women

Abstract
This paper discusses how "Thelma and Louise" strayed from the typical "road movie" formula in terms of casting, theme and storyline. It shows how the film not only helped to redefine gender stereotypes but also paved the way for other women, as well as gays, people of color and other traditionally underrepresented groups, to become "road movie heroes" as well.

From the Paper
"The conventional road movie twosome, which is usually comprised of either two young males or a male and female with a romantic connection, has permeated the genre since its inception. Thelma and Louise broke that tradition by not only using two female protagonists, but by portraying men in a consistently negative light; essentially as either "rapists", "bullies" or "boy toys"."

Tags:action, adventure, film, gender, roles, theme, gay, color