Abstract
This paper is an examination of racial stereotypes in contemporary American society. It looks at how they are developed and how they influence interactions and attitudes, especially when individual actions do not fit the expected stereotype. Preconceived notions of what other individuals are like, based on their ethnic backgrounds, are common throughout society, reinforced by mass media images, sports, the news, and general ignorance. This paper's conclusions are also influenced by the fact that the writer is bi-racial (white and African-American) and has therefore experienced a broader range of exposure to stereotypes and the prejudices they represent.

From the Paper
"Race continues to be an explosive topic in America, a nation founded on both the principles of universal equality and the shameful legacy of slavery. Particularly among races with obvious physical differences, stereotypes provide an easy way of dealing with differences without having to genuinely understand the distinctions that make each member of the alien group an individual human being. Stereotypes are an easy shorthand. That they are false generalizations, usually based on fear and misunderstanding, does not make them any less prevalent."

Tags:black, white, african, population, prejudice, separation, label

Abstract
This six-page undergraduate academic paper discusses what it is and what it means to be biracial in modern American society. The content focuses primarily upon the experiences of children of interracial marriages and the general perceptions of American society towards them.

Abstract
The literature review shows that gay, lesbian, bi and transgendered (GBLT) have many issues and problems to face and one of the most difficult periods is when the GLBT adolescent comes out and they share their sexual identity with others. The paper discusses how gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans teenagers face the issues of identity development, disclosure to family, communication problems with family, physical and mental health problems, substance abuse, and peer pressure.

From the Paper
"What are the issues and problems that gay, lesbian, bi and transgendered (GBLT) adolescents face when coming out? The coming out stage of teenagers who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender is one of the most difficult stages that they face. The "coming-out" can be defined as the disclosure of one's sexual identity. "For lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) young people, the act of disclosing their LGB identity to others represents a major psychological decision" (Heatherman and Lavner, 2008, p. 329). The hypothesis is that GLBT adolescents often fail to disclose their sexual identity because they fear the consequences of this..."

Tags:adolescents, homosexual, issues

Abstract
This paper discusses Takeshi Kitano's film, "Hana-Bi", which won the coveted Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. The paper specifically discusses Kitano's emphasis of the disparity of creation and destruction, of joy and sorrow. It discusses the plot of the film and looks at the contrasts that are presented within the storyline and the making of the film.

From the Paper
"The breaks of sudden violence serve to minimize the graphic depiction of violence through the use of quick montage and jump cuts. This narrative discontinuity stemming from the rapidly jumped cuts, in which diegetic time is deconstructed, creates a sense of ambiguity and has a destabilizing effect both on the film, and the viewer. Hana-Bi does not simply produce the violence for detached observation, but rather shows a portion, or idea of the action, and requires active participation on the part of the viewer to reconstruct the scene, and such action is needed throughout much of the film. Such an example is seen in the very first scene, in which Nishi is shown laying out two yakuza at his car, but leaves the audience with no answers to why, or how. This stylistic decision places trust and responsibility in the audience, rather than simply laying out a graphic fight for their inspection. Also in the film, often instead of closing in and focusing tightly on the violence, the camera retreats to an isolated position. In this way, the camera remains detached outside and above the car when Nishi executes several head yakuza, and the viewer is not immersed in such a violent scene."

Tags:joy, sorrow, creation, destruction

Abstract
Bipolar affects approximately 2 million adults. The highs and lows are often difficult for family members and friends. The treatment for bipolar is a combination of medication and psychotherapy.

Abstract
This paper uses Merton's Strain Theory to help explain the homosexual perception of the sub-culture of bisexuals. The author explores theories of deviance and Merton's belief that deviance is related to social structure.

From the Paper
"Woody Allen once quipped that being bisexual doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night. Within the homosexual and heterosexual categories of sexuality exists another subgroup of sexuality bisexuality. Bi-sexuals enjoy sex with both partners."

Tags:homosexuality, heterosexuality, bisexuality, Merton, Strain Theory, deviance, norms, values

Abstract
This paper investigates the inherent problems that exist in families characterized by parents and stepparents of a biracial union or of a union that is characterized by diversity in terms of ethnic, cultural or religious differences. It also looks at diverse households headed by lesbian or gay parents. The paper analyzes the socio-cultural theories of Roland Tharp and the 'Spheres of Influence' as proposed in the work of Dr. Joyce Epstein.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Objective
Introduction
Conceptual Framework
Literature Review
Intervention
Outcomes
Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper
"It is clear that it is not possible to just 'ignore' the differences that exist in hopes that they become illusory or nonexistent because these differences are real and are dynamic in the lives of these children. What has been noted in this study to be of great importance is the active participation of the parents and stepparents in the daily activities and events that take place at school because as these parents integrate themselves more fully into the community they effectively place safezones into effect for their children and at the same time present a model for other parents and other children as to the appropriate behavior in the face of the differences that exist. It is not possible that these differences will merely go away but what is possible is that the community at large will become used to the differences thereby enabling the children to fully participate in the school and community events without having a brand upon them due to these differences in racial or culture."

Tags:diversity, parenting, integration

Abstract
This paper discusses how biracial children and their parents face some challenging obstacles, more than white children, or minority children. The paper contends that a firm grip on the facts and realities can empower parents of bi-racial children to provide the proper form of emotional and environmental support to overcome the social stigma and bias that threatens bi-racial children.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction: Daily Concerns of Bi-Racial Children
Finding Their True Identity
Relationship with Family, Friends, and the Many People That May Play a Key Part in Their Life
What Can We Do As Americans to Reduce Racism and Discrimination with Biracial Children
How Can We Encourage Them and Their Parents?

From the Paper
"Biracial children face a myriad of concerns on a daily basis. Research reveals what common sense suggests--that all these problems are rooted in racist, biased, and discriminatory social attitudes, attitudes which children encounter from their first moments of pre-school. The sense of injustice that they instinctively feel when they sense these biases will manifest out of discrimination towards one or both of their racial backgrounds, as well as towards the fact that they have more than one racial background. Examples of these concerns, and manifestation of racist attitudes, are concerns shared by parents of bi-racial children, who also suffer the emotional brunt of discrimination against their children. An understanding of the suffering of parents, as well as bi-racial children, can provide for us not only a comprehensive perspective on the challenges and concerns that bi-racial children and their parents experience on a daily basis, but a means of providing the proper environment thereof. "

Tags:identity, black, discrimination, prejudice

Abstract
This paper discusses the rise in biracial marriages and considers the relationship between a biracial child and her parents. It also discusses how bi-racial adults attempt to establish an identity in a world which is clearly divided along color lines. In addition, the paper looks at discrimination and prejudice and provides an examination of bi-racial influence upon culture, art and other social perceptions.

From the Paper
"As noted in the introduction, the rates of inter-racial marriage have been increasing in the last 30 years, with marriages between black and white couples in 1990 being four times that of the same type of marriage in 1970. Naturally, this has not been without some impact upon biracial identity; it is now much more common to find mixed-race couples than it was 20 years ago - increasing familiarity with inter-racial marriage is likely to lessen hostility to such relationships in the community. It is also estimated that "More than 100,000 biracial babies have been born every year after 1989 - more than 1 million first-generation biracial children" (Wardle, 2000); biracial children are born to women in every station of life. This may be complicated, as O'Donoghue has observed, by the fact that white women with black partners are "Often depicted as having deep-seated psychological problems, as being sexually promiscuous, and/or pathologically rebellious" (O'Donoghue, page 69). White women have been placed into psychiatric institutions for becoming involved with black men (Davies, 2000). The white women experience the worst kind of discrimination:"

Tags:perceptions, psychological, rebellious

Abstract
This paper explains that a culture is more than just a race, a language or a country but rather, through crashes and mergers, it creates new ways of seeing the world. The author points out that in Los Angeles, which is a cosmopolitan, world-class city with no majority race, the multicultural issues are not social acceptance problems that are common in suburban and rural districts, but instead psychological challenges, particularly the all-important and pervasive issue of identity. The paper stresses that culture crash is best grappled with by those individuals directly going through the continuous turmoil that it invariably creates and who are in the best position to portray their own responses to the continuing evolution of their culture.

From the Paper
"On the other hand, Karen Tei Yamashita's novel, "Tropic of Orange", deals less with personal issues of culture crash and merger than with the broader, even global, effects of mass culture merger and its attendant economic manifestations in policies such as NAFTA (which, as has been argued by many, has a tendency to erase cultural distinctions in favor of mass uniformity). Yamashita's novel does touch upon the matter of self-identity, in so far one of its central characters (Emi) is an Asian-American; but there is so much turmoil and turbulence going on around the characters that one can barely stop for the luxury of self-analysis."

Tags:bi-raciality, cosmopolitan, identity, dehumanize, evolution