Abstract An examination of the role of the Indian woman in society. An analysis of the "Mahabharata" which goes into great depth when describing this role. The author looks at the lives of Indian women, their status, education, goals and contributions.
From the Paper "The Mahabharata is essential for understanding human nature and the culture of India, past and present. As declared by Vyasa, ?Whatever is not found in the Mahabharata cannot be found anywhere else.? The Mahabharata does indeed present a complete picture of the lives of women in India, dealing with such topics as status, education, goals, marriage, achievement, family life, social life, moral codes, duty (dharma), and etiquette."
Tags: hindu, india, indian, ramayana, vedas, vishnu
Abstract This paper takes a look at the poet and writer, Sylvia Plath. The author argues that Sylvia's style of writing was deeply influenced by the events in her life, including the death of her father, her deep depression, her attempts at suicide, and her loss of a loved one. With many quotes from critics.
From the Paper "Sylvia Plath was a brilliant poet and writer. She wrote several books of poems but did not become famous until after her death. The events that occurred in her life deeply affected what and whom she wrote about. Her father's death, mounted by her deep depression, and attempted suicide, all affected Sylvia's life as well as her style of writing. Sylvia Plath was born October 27, 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts. She was the first child of Dr. Emil Otto Plath and Aurelia Schober Plath. Otto was a German who came to study ministry and Northwestern University, but wound up as a biology professor at Boston University, after attaining a Master's Degree in the arts from Washington University and a Ph.D. in science from Harvard, who specialized in bees. Aurelia Schober Plath was a German and English teacher at Brookline High School, until she married Otto and became a homemaker (Alexander 20-30)."
From the Paper "In her extensive semi-formal study of marriages and the sharing of household and childcare duties, The Second Shift, sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild found that women continued to assume the primary responsibility for these tasks even when their outside working hours, earning power, and theoretical commitments to altered gender roles had increased. Hochschild concluded from the limited degree of change she discovered between the 1980s and earlier decades that, while society was changing as more women worked, couples were usually caught in a "stalled revolution" as women made the greater part of the change and absorbed the greater part of the extra work the changes generated. Despite the poor state of sharing in marriages in general, however, the arrangements between couples, and the ways in which people truly think about them, are gradually changing--..."
Abstract The writer of this paper details the symptoms as well as the media's contribution to body dysmorphic disorder, also known as distorted body image. Body dysmorphic disorder has become a tremendous problem in today's society due to the barrage of negative messages sent to women by the media. This paper discusses the effect of the media, in all its forms - television, radio, print advertising, internet, etc., which has an enormous influence on what people deem as attractive in today's society. The unnecessary emphasis the media places on appearance tends to adversely affect the mental and physical health of those it comes in contact with. Body dysmorphic disorder can lead to damaged self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. This paper details the manner in which advertisers place heavy emphasis on physical appearance as a means of selling products. Too often in doing so, unnecessary pressure is placed on women to conform to unrealistic and oftentimes, unhealthy standards of beauty.
From the Paper "Women want someone they can relate to. The Body Shop, a supplier of natural beauty products, offered a much-needed change from the typical message provided by advertisers; "There are three billion women who don't look like supermodels, and only eight who do. The Australian magazine New Woman included a picture of a heavy-set model on its cover recently. This action produced a lot of positive comments from the magazine's female readers. Despite this fact, advertisers threatened to pull their sponsorship. This shows that advertisers know what they are doing when they include a woman whose body is unattainable to society at large."
Abstract This paper addresses teenage pregnancy from both a historical and a modern perspective. It examines how society perceives a young and unmarried woman, and does so in comparison with the roll of a man in that particular society. By an examination of the problems faced by women both before and after they are pregnant this paper attempts to explain why social factors are thought to contribute to teen pregnancy.
From the Paper "Although they did not live to see the fruits of their effort, the work of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton was key in advancing the social reform issues in the nineteenth century, mainly that of women's suffrage. "
Abstract This paper looks at how feminist social theory has developed, starting with Mary Wollstonecraft's "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman", the first major work of feminist theory. Male theorists who developed and enforced the natural rights doctrine are discussed. The women's rights movement is seen to have its origins in the antislavery movement. The theories from the first and second waves of feminism are discussed as well.
From the Paper "Feminist social theory has begun to have an impact on sociology in terms of the validity of issues of sex, gender, and oppression; demanding the analysis of patriarchal power, social class and the definition of entitlement to the natural rights of a person. Gender along with age, ethnicity and class is regarded as one of the major dimensions of social inequality in human societies."
Abstract A paper on the role of women in late 18th century Britain as seen in Samuel Richardson's "Pamela", or "Virtue Rewarded". The author discusses the developing concept of women as property, showing women's economic position in this period, what was socially acceptable, and how romantic love could change a woman's position.
From the Paper ?For the future, I will always mistrust most when appearances look fairest,? said Pamela in the first line of this section of the novel. It could be that Richardson was using this line symbolically to predict the entire future of Pamela's life. As Mr. B's wife she would no longer have to fear being "undone" or ?ruined.? Appearances would look very fair indeed, but if Pamela looked deep into her own heart she would have to mistrust. She would have to know that one way or another her virtue had been purchased. Call it seduction, call it rape, call it marriage. Pamela's body had been bought. Mr. B's mother said ?My good Pamela, be virtuous.? She treated her as if she were ?a gentlewoman.? Pamela, however, was not a gentlewoman. She was born to another class, and there is only one way she could become a gentlewoman. In the 18th century social mobility came to a woman only through selling her body. Mr. B. said, ?Be not virtuous, Pamela.? Whether he bought her with diamonds, or with a marriage contract, Pamela was destined to be purchased. She could only become a gentlewoman by selling her body, but without virtue that commodity would have been useless."
Abstract This essay discusses the controversial author Kate Chopin, and two of her works: "The Story of an Hour" and "The Storm". Both works focus on the issue of marriage. The writer accuses Chopin of having a narrow focus and argument and analyzes her writings to provide proof for his argument.
From the Paper "Marriage is a phase in life that almost everyone will certainly consider. Is this the right woman for me? Is this the right man for me? Do I really want to spend the rest of my life with this person by my side? The controversial author Kate Chopin, in two of her works, "The Storm" and ?The Story of an Hour,? offers several arguments concerning marriage. She is attempting to persuade the reader to her way of thinking; however, her focus is too narrow and, thereby, turns this reader away because of her unorthodox opinions. "
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts Asian women in professional and competitive sports against American women that are engaged in the same sports. The author emphasizes the role of Chinese and American women in the Olympic games. He then demonstrates how the popular media in the United States tends to present female Asian athletes as being overly dedicated to their respective sports to the end goal of drug use or cheating, while female American athletes are presented as being dedicated but also are completely honest in all respects.
From the Paper " The American and the Asian medias treat their own female athletes much as they would their male athletes, but it is evident that the American mainstream media tends to portray Asian women as athletes that are not really competitors but are instead almost monstrous. In articles from the 1998 Summer Games, for example, the allegations that the Chinese athletes were using drugs allowed the media to vilify these women. "
Abstract This paper examines the controversial life and work of Margaret Sanger, and her drive to provide women with an education regarding birth control. The author discusses Sanger's views on pregnancy, contraception, and the early beginnings of planned parenthood.
From the Paper "The early twentieth century was a revolutionary turning point in American history. This was especially true regarding woman and their rights. During this time period, there was a tremendous amount of human suffering. Those who endured much of this were women. Although there were many women who made their mark on history during this time period, Margaret Sanger was among the most influential, yet controversial women of her time. Her work in creating what is today known as Planned Parenthood, and her avocations to legalize birth control, remain a controversy to this day. "
Tags: medicine, parenthood, planned, studies, women, abortion, new, york
Abstract The following essay argues that gender issues with regards to wage equality in the American society still exist today. The author argues that although women have interrupted careers in order to tend to family matters, organizations have no right to lower the female's wages because of potential pregnancy or family matters.
From the paper:
"The fact that women often have interrupted careers in order to raise children or tend to family matters, as a reason for their lower pay. Using this logic we can assume that some people feel women are less reliable as well, for they fear women may have to leave their jobs in order to care for family or children. While some women do indeed leave their jobs to care for family only to return later, this should not be a factor in determining pay for women with equal skills to that of a man (Stewart, Prandy et al. 1980) ."
Abstract This paper takes a look at the obsession that women have about their weight and size. It claims that advertising, social pressure and media all have major roles in fanning this obsession. It provides a history of the fashion industry and show how this too has influenced this phenomena.
From the paper:
"36-24-36? Those numbers might not mean a thing to some, but for many women, they are the hallmark of western society's obsession with weight. Everywhere you look, scantily clothed women with well-defined midriffs are smiling back from televisions, movie screens, magazines, and billboards. The advertising world wants you to believe that these women have it all: they are beautiful, they are thin, and as a result, they are happier than you. While most people would agree that this is certainly not true, a growing number of women are left wondering: Do I have to be thin to have it all?"
Abstract This paper discusses the racial issues of adolescent alienation and abuse in Ann Moody's, 'Coming of Age in Mississippi'. The author discusses gender and role issues, the social setting and racial identity through her own experience revealing the painful, personal experiences of rejection or acceptance.
From the paper:
"Moody's writing is a painful autobiography of the strains in the relations that she felt while growing up. The social setting was such that the blacks and whites had separate identities but while the whites had their self respect the blacks were still in the process of realizing what there role really was. This created a tension in the interactions between the two nations that was exacerbated by the racist issues that were prominent in their lives. Further, being black women she was first suppressed due to her gender and then her race. Thus, she shows that as a woman in a black society her role became even more dubious."
Abstract The essay shows the similarities between the characters of Shug and Celie despite the apparent differences in their natures. The essay follows their personal growth which is brought upon by their friendship and is completed only after they part ways.
From the Paper "Celie depended upon Shug for unconditional love and self-assurance. Being constantly told she was ugly and worthless had a tremendous effect on Celie and literally robbed her of her self-esteem and self worth. "She ugly...She ain't smart either" (Walker 9). This type of verbal abuse was a constant theme throughout Celie's life. She was forced, at the hands of society, to keep her feelings to herself. She kept her feelings so well buried in the confines of her mind that she began to compare herself to a piece of wood. Not until Shug came around and showed her some true human affection could she finally begin to break free of the chains that bound her and began to reveal the true loving, strong, independent woman she truly was. Such pure affection opened Celie's heart and soul to the true meaning of love, which in turn allowed her to understand and give love to another, as well as, love herself. And once Celie began to love herself, she was able to begin spreading her love to everything and everyone around her."
