Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses that two cultures that are quite different, but that have historically been compared and contrasted to one another, exist in the male and female genders. The writer notes that females have consistently struggled to be equal partners within the social order, while males have had the freedom to control the lives of those within their families, community and the larger governmental arena. The writer maintains that differences in culture have shaped the beliefs of those within them and constructed a society that supports the ideology that different genders should have different social standings. The writer concludes that regardless of the battles for equality that have taken place throughout history, the female gender is still a culture that is oppressed and that is fighting to be considered as equal partners with their male counterparts in the social order.

From the Paper
"While women's rights improved to some degree, they have never equaled the rights known to men, nor have women been capable of being viewed as complete equals in the social order. At the current time there are more women controlling major companies in the United States and it is believed that the "glass ceiling" that exists for women in business is being removed. Yet, this situation pertains to only some women and the culture of women is continuing to be oppressed in multiple ways. This includes women that have been left as single parent mothers, supporting the household alone; the extensive numbers of women that are forced to exist in poverty because of a lack of opportunities to change their economic standing in the social order; and the minimal representation of women in the government."

Tags:equal, civil, rights, roles

Abstract
This paper examines the concepts of male and female by comparing two texts: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman and "The Female Spectator." Both texts were written by women before 1800 and, examine and dismiss the notion that men are innately superior to women. They attribute the differences to nurture and cultural influences.

Abstract
The paper takes a look at how the relationship between male and female has been a defining constant for mankind and humanity ever since its birth. According to the paper, famous couples have concentrated the entire sex war, the immense complexity of the conflict between sexes, on the way a man and a woman could generate the immense energy that could give birth both to creation and creating processes, cultural, artistic or intellectual, and potential negative, destructive forces, evil and malefic influences.

Outline:
Sexuality
Politics
Artistic Practices and Values
The Legend

From the Paper
"As previously mentioned, Frida and Diego's impossibility comes, in my opinion, from their sexual mismatch (despite this does not necessarily advocate a personality mismatch) rather than from a political stance. The political stance here contributes even stronger to sustaining the couple and promoting it on the level of intellectual nearness. Indeed, they are both supporter of Communism and here we are already talking about the mature period of Communist in its fight against the Imperialists (certainly, these are the same imperialists that would have paid Rivera for painting Rockefeller Centre) and the meeting between the couple and Trotsky is defining for the late phase of their relationship."

Tags:Frida, diego, cleopatra, anthony, beauty, sexuality, pain, pleasure, partner

Abstract
In most Western cultures, for both males and females, adolescence is a time of intense questioning. It is a developmental stage often characterized by acts of rebellion and defiance of parental dictates and values. However, the relatively uncritical acceptance of this struggle is particular to Western culture, and there is often less tolerance of this in other ethnic contexts. This paper analyzes the movie "Bend it Like Beckham" (2002); specifically the character of Jess, a Sikh girl living in London. Her parents expect obedience while English culture dictates rebellion is essential for children to develop an autonomous identity from their family. This paper also looks at an additional source of conflict that arises from Jess' passion and talent in the male dominated sport of football (soccer). As her mother strives to prepare her for marriage, Jess only wants to play football. But Jess' conflict extends even to English society which suggests that girls use sexuality as a means of rebellion. This paper shows how, despite all of the conflict, Jess actually defines conventional Western norms of femininity in her football prowess, as well as her parent's notions of decorous and obedient feminine behavior.

From the Paper
"Culturally, soccer is a central part of English life. For many young men, becoming like the cultural sports icon David Beckham, or at least aspiring to football prowess is an important part of their personal development. Football is an integrated part of the environment, the ritual of going to games, and participating in games. Jess embraces this ideal, despite her gender and despite the fact that this sport is not indigenous to her East Asian culture. She also finds romance with a non-Indian man. True, Jess cannot 'be' like Beckham in terms of her social and physical ideal exactly, but she can mimic his excellence on the field."

Tags:adolescent, values, culture, identity, conflict, femininity

Abstract
The paper reviews in detail the image of Medusa that pits femininity and masculinity against each other and allowing masculinity to triumph. The paper continues by stating that the gaze of the painted female subject often is depicted with her eyes either diverted from the viewer, or coyly regarding him. The author states that myths like the Medusa myth and the female gaze instruct women that their sexuality is something to be suppressed, that a powerful woman is a dangerous woman, and that the male will triumph in the end.

From the Paper
"Though the familiar image of Medusa as a serpent-haired monster is attributed to the Greeks, the myth of Medusa actually has its roots in pre-classical Mediterranean culture. In the matriarchal societies that existed before Greek civilization, Medusa was far from reviled as she was by the Greeks; instead, she was worshiped as a beautiful mother deity who symbolized wisdom, fertility, and female power. With the advent of Greek civilization, the existing gynocentric religion and mythology were compelled to adapt to the new patriarchal value system."

Tags:image, preclassical, mediterranean, culture, male, sexuality

Abstract
This paper puts forward the argument that female genital mutilation is no more a human rights violation than male circumcision, and therefore, both should be abolished. It discusses how, although genital mutilations are usually referred to as a cultural practice, there is increasing evidence that this innocent and benign label actually evades, dismisses, and covers up the horrific effects these mutilations have upon a child's psyche and soma and, moreover, present a very real danger to the child's health. It shows how people or cultures that engage in such practices view them as an essential right of passage and, often, an important requirement for a marriage partner, while those who do not practice genital circumcision view the practice with disbelief, horrified that any human would willingly permit such a thing to be performed on his or her child. It also looks at the origins of some these religious practices.

From the Paper
"According to James DeMeo in his article "The Geography of Genital Mutilations," the time frame and location of origins of female genital mutilations are most likely identical to that of male genital mutilations, "given their similar distributions, similar cross-cultural aspects, and similar psychological motifs," the use of each of which being "mandated and widely expanded by groups where dominance of the sexual live of children by adults, and females by males, was most extreme." With the decline of the harem system during the last 100 years, the use of eunuchs has died out, however, female infibulations and other forms female genital mutilations remain part of the certain cultures "in accordance with the arranged marriage system and other vestiges of a powerful and hysterical virginity taboo." "

Tags:right, of, passage, health, children, culture, religion

Abstract
This paper examines how "Woman at Point Zero" and "Like Water for Chocolate" show instances of sexuality and the sex act in very different cultures. It looks at how both novels explore the relationship of the feminine to the act of sexual intercourse with conclusions that are perhaps surprising, and in many ways strikingly similar. The paper also discusses how these very modern stories illustrate the impossibility of truly suppressing female sexual desire, or even of mis-categorizing it as subservient to dominant male forces and how attempts to do so, as these novels show, are not only futile but highly destructive.

From the Paper
"Laura Esquivel's Like Water for Chocolate portrays a very different vision of sexuality and the sex act. The Mexico to which Esquivel and her characters belong is marked by the forced mixture of two conflicting cultures that occurred during Spanish colonization. In a way, the history of the country mirrors the destructive and dominant view of the sex act; Spanish invaders brought their restrictive brand of Catholicism to the indigenous peoples of the area, figuratively raping the land and culture while forcing their own beliefs and social structures on what would be considered in many ways a much more liberal culture (and, it might be noted, literally raping many of the indigenous women). Today's Mexican culture and ethnic identity constitutes the blending of these two opposing forces, and the portrayal of sexuality and the sex act in Like Water for Chocolate clearly illustrates the conflicts between these opposing forces."

Tags:culture, feminism, mexico, society, egypt

Abstract
The paper explores the motivating force, in terms of social norms and mores, that allows the practice of female genital mutilation to continue, when it is obviously an infringement of human rights and has also been shown to be medically dangerous to the individual girl or woman. The paper discusses how from a sociological perspective, female genital mutilation is a phenomenon that can be understood in terms of the male-orientated and patriarchal structure of the societies in which it occurs. The paper also explains that this practice persists due to the socialization process in these countries which tends to normalize and legitimize female circumcision. The paper notes the views of those who believe female genital mutilation should be understood and accepted in terms of cultural relativity, but argues that this practice is one that does not adhere to the standards of human equality and rights in the contemporary world.

Outline:
Introduction and Overview
The Sociological Perspective
Conclusion

From the Paper
"There are however other aspects that have to be taken into account in a comprehensive sociological analysis of FGM. As the study by Ahlberg et al. states, female circumcision persists even though there is increasing evidence of the psychological and physical harm that women experience as a result of the practice. Ahlberg also emphasizes the fact that, "It persists also within contexts of substantial efforts to prevent it ...."(Ahlberg et al., 2000. p.37) This leads to the sociological view that gender roles and behavior patterns become 'normalized' or accepted by the members of the society. This normalization process is one that is socialized at a very early age and the devaluation of women then becomes accepted by the society as socially normal and permissible (Ahlberg et al 2000). This is a possible sociological explanation of why practices like female circumcision are still practiced by many cultures today."

Tags:socialization, cultural, relativity, patriarchy, human, rights

Abstract
This paper discusses how, because women have always been an integral part of society, their role has been depicted in artwork from the very first sculptures and cave paintings. Not surprising, the way that they have been delineated through art has depended on their changing responsibilities. Also, when women create the art pieces instead of their male counterparts, differences are recognized. The paper compares and contrasts this status within several different cultures such as ancient Greek Egyptian and Minoan cultures. The paper concludes that in most cases, except for the Minoan culture, the women's status continued to decline as the culture became more structured and urban. Except for the earliest times, therefore, women have had a subservient role. This has not only been in Western society, but Eastern cultures as well.

From the Paper
"In the period of approximately 3500 BCE to 635 CE, or during such cultures as the Akkadian, Neo-Summarian, Babylonian and Hittite, when looking at the art work it is difficult to know whether the women are depicting female humans or actual goddesses. For example, a female head from Uruk, Iraq, made out of marble from 3200 to 3000 BCE may be a female head or the Summarian goddess Inanna (34). Inanna., later known as Ishtar, was the Summarian goddess of love and war who was the most important female deity in all periods of Mesopotamian history (35). In a Sumerian ruin from the fourth millennium, statues and reliefs are found that are related to her worship. It is unsure, however, whether or not this goddess was represented in human form at that time. Because of continued importance of fertility at the goddesses at this time, women most likely continued to play an important role. "

Tags:Ancient, Greece, Egypt, Minoa, goddess

Abstract
This paper focuses on the term "female," explaining that the word is used in various ways, with the most basic use of the term being as the identifier of slightly more than half the population. The paper explains that female is first a biological distinction in opposition to male, but the way the word is used has a gender as much as a sexual distinction, with gender being cultural rather than biological. The term is also used as an adjective to identify either biological differences or gender differences, with certain attitudes, states, or things characterized as "female" rather than "male."

From the Paper
"The term "female" is used in various ways, with the most basic use of the term being as the identifier of slightly more than half the population. Female is first a biological distinction in opposition to male, but the way the word is used has a gender as much as a sexual distinction, with gender being cultural rather than biological. The term is also used as an adjective to identify either biological differences or gender differences, with certain attitudes, states, or things characterized as "female" rather than "male." The dictionary definition of female follows the biological and states that a female is "a person bearing two X chromosomes in the cell nuclei and ..."

Tags:etymology, women, man, human, gender