Abstract This paper reviews Joan Sangster's book, "RegulatingGirls and Women - Sexuality, Family and the Law in Ontario, 1920-1960", and describes the strengths and weaknesses of the book. The paper argues that there is room to ask whether or not legal and social realities have changed much with regard to girls and women entering a reformed criminal justice system.
From the Paper "Institutionally, all appears to have worked to protect women in Canadian family law that made men responsible for wives and children should they desert them. There were assault laws that seemed to direct high standards in the home and with the interval of 1920 to 1960 seeing the appearance of Toronto's Juvenile and Family Court as seemed to promise that family issues were taken seriously, just as the Children's Aid Society attended to child welfare. The ideal was one of producing 'social' hearings or trials that would reflect social investigation and clinical expertise as promised better family law. (p. 55) However, Sangster is able to show that law was really carried over from before, was not always enforced in ways that protected women, in effect, and that very old-fashioned thinking governed society's ideals for female citizens. The same interval produced the Mercer Reformatory for Women which aimed to make 'honest' or respectable women according to a certain mold from women thought to be immoral, as in convicted prostitutes, or in need of correction through labor."
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the roles of black women in American society as portrayed by Ann Petry in "The Street" and Paule Marshall in "Brown Girl, Brownstones". The author begins with a general discussion of the status of black women in the 1940s, the time period in which these novels are both set. Then the paper individually analyzes the actions, motivations and experiences of each character. The paper concludes that these women's stories do in fact represent the plight of a culture in the first stirrings of tumult, a spiraling downturn for blacks as a whole and black women in particular.
Outline
Introduction
Silla Boyce as Brown Girl Lutie Johnson in the Street
Conclusion
From the Paper "Perhaps the answer lies in that they had little or no choices but that they dared to hope, dared to dream of a better life in a world, in a time that did not want to see them succeed-a time when the world was at war and people of all nations were set against each other in a struggle for power. Hitler, in his pursuit of the ultimate race, was killing Jews by the millions in Europe. Here in America, considered the land of opportunity, and especially in New York City's melting pot of immigrants, the promise of a better life and the resultant struggles for power brought racism of all kinds to a simmer. Issues of black poverty and unjust treatment from whites were coming to the fore, probably because the situation for so many was becoming intolerable. When too many people start living a slipping-down life, grumblings will inevitably be heard. These novels themselves are masterpieces of grumbling, providing not only commentary on the situation brewing at the time but also deep understanding and wisdom of humanity's needs and limits, and finally, hopefully, a warning to us all."
Tags: silla, boyce, lutie, johnson, women, black, african, american, 1940s, world, war, II, racism, inner, city, new, york
Abstract This paper explores the effects of gender differentiation on education, focusing on education in the sciences. The first part of the paper looks at how women continue to fulfill most of the care giving tasks associated with domestic duties and the supportive tasks in the professional world. The next part of the paper then examines the historical imbalance between the education of boys and girls in the United States. The third section discusses how these imbalances hinder many girls and women from pursuing higher studies and careers in the sciences. The paper concludes that this imbalance in educational opportunities as well as a hostile environment are the main obstacles to women in science.
From the Paper "Across the world, the secondary position of women in society remains a virtual constant. This preferential treatment for men is embedded in social and political structures in various countries and societies. In many societies, women are akin to property, and do not have any rights to education, inheritance or to work outside the home. In the United States, legislation geared towards non-discrimination, human rights and equal treatment have made such overt discrimination against women things of the past. However, the structures of patriarchy and the preferential treatment of men remain embedded in many social structures. Society continues to discriminate against women in many ways."
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."
Abstract This paper gives the history of the AAGPBL (league represented in the movie "A League of Their Own")and its importance to American history. Paper comes complete with footnotes, graphics and an introduction fitting to today. It deals with the issues of patriotism and equality which drove the women of the team.
From the Paper "As a result of the tragic occurrences on September 11, 2001 the United States of America has seen a major influx of patriotism and civilian assistance/support. The country has not seen a mobilization of this nature since World War I and II. One group who did their part both then and now are the women of the United States. The following is the story of the All-American Girls Professional (Softball) Baseball League from 1943-1954 - a group of women who fought through the early notions that (feminine) women could not play the masculine sport of baseball - while at the same time benefiting the country in both the social and entertainment spheres.
Review of the article "The Other Difference Between Boys and Girls" and its premise that social equality of the sexes can only be achieved through recognition of gender differences.
650 words (approx. 2.6 pages), 1 source, 2002, $ 26.95
Abstract Richard M Restak in his article "The Other Difference Between Boys and Girls" examines some of those stereotypes and demonstrates that differences in behavioral performance of boys and girls are determined by brain functioning. He intends to reverse conventional wisdom about discrimination based on sex, and pursues his analysis with the assumption that "social equality for men and women really depends on recognizing these differences in brain behavior"
Abstract This paper looks at Joan Ryan's essay "Little Girls in Pretty Boxes" that applies observations of society from George Orwell's novel "1984." It looks at how Ryan's essay centers on the treatment of young female women, mainly athletes, that fits into Orwell's vision of a dystopian society.
From the Paper " Joan Ryan chooses the title of her essay well. The girls she writes about are little. They are little in physical stature immature of mind and body. Yet they are boxed into the telescreen of society's superficial eye under the "
Tags: Joan Ryan, Little Girls in Pretty Boxes, gymnastics, figure skating, George Orwell, 1984, Dystopia
An examination of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and how it has been implemented in Morocco to reduce discrimination against women.
Abstract This paper discusses discrimination against women in Morocco. It discusses the attempts to decrease discrimination and focuses on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) which was implemented by the United Nations in 1979. The paper examines how the CEDAW was implemented in Morocco and analyzes the regulations and the discriminatory specifics within the North African country.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Discrimination against Women and the CEDAW
Discrimination against Women in Morocco
CEDAW in Morocco
Conclusions
From the Paper "Morocco has implemented the CEDAW and has increased their efforts to reduce discrimination against women and promote gender equality. But the country remains divided between traditionalists and modernists, and the populations' mentality cannot be changed through international regulations. The regulations in the CEDAW were supported by the Morocco King Mohammed IV who implemented a wide series of laws to support women's rights. But the measures only fuelled the everlasting controversy between liberals and conservatives. "An estimated 100,000 people marched in Rabat in support of the government's proposed reforms in March 2000, while a counter-demonstration led by Islamists in Casablanca drew 200,000 to 500,000. As the new monarch began to liberalize Moroccan politics, women's rights became a flashpoint for the growing Islamist opposition.""
Abstract This paper examines the struggles of female enslavement, the dehumanizing effects of slavery as well as ultimate escape of author Harriet Jacobs, as detailed so vividly in her book "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl." This paper also focuses on Jacobs's gender which lends a certain uniqueness to the experiences surrounding her struggles and her final resulting escape.
From the Paper "Of course, many masters abused their female slaves, certainly lending justification to escape by these women. This is true in the story, as Jacobs describes the events leading to Dr. Flint's abuse. Furthermore, she explains that feelings and emotions that surround many households, particularly between masters and mistresses, because of this sexual abuse. Dr. Flint's abuse of Jacobs, however, led to another form of oppression because of her gender. Mrs. Flint initially offers Jacobs protection from Dr. Flint's advances. Although this offer is made out of jealousy, Mrs. Flint takes Jacobs into her room to sleep at night."
Abstract In this paper, the writer notes that most literature, especially short stories and novels by women who lived during the Victorian era, depicted that era in the basest of terms. With this normal background about women kept in mind, the writer points out that it is interesting to read the two books, 'Radicals of the Worst Sort' and 'City of Women', which show a very different side of these Victorian-era women. The writer discusses that apparently, according to these two books, there were a number of women who led the way for a much more liberated female. The writer concludes that according to Stansell and Cameron, the women who strived for recognition and equality in the late 1800s and early 1900s must also be appreciated today for changing history.
From the Paper "In her preface to City of Women, Stensell explains that her book entailed the misfortunes that women laborers suffered in New York City. She argues that working-class women introduced a separate way of life based on their particular role in society and at the mercy of bourgeoisie norms and values. In order to survive on their own, they found another way, albeit nontraditional, to make a living. This was the establishment of the first large population of female workers in the United States, which had an impact not only on them but the society as a whole that would continue into the rest of the 20the century for all women."
Abstract This paper studies the inaccurate and sexist ways in which women are portrayed in advertising -- most often either as completely domesticated (housewives) or completely sexualized. The author explains that while television programs often now depict women in their professional capacity, the advertising industry is still based on a patriarchal ideology, which inaccurately portrays women. The paper studies the effect of this portrayal on women, men and society as a whole, and makes suggestions to rectify the inaccuracies.
From the Paper "Even more harmful than the stereotyping of women through advertising is their portrayal in pornographically explicit material. There has been a vast increase of such material in both the television and print media. The women that are part of this industry earn a substantial income from it. However, the effects upon society are far more harmful than they are beneficial. The trivialization and objectification of women in this way has led to a large extent to minor and major sex crimes such as rape and coersion to have sex. Harrassment and and traditional views of sex roles are also a consequence of the deliberately degrading function of stereotypical images in pornographic material. Women are normally shown to be passive and submissive in the sex act, while males are active."
Abstract Thispaper analyzes the theme of girls' and women's independence in four children's books. These are "Alice in Wonderland", "Pippi Longstocking", "Kiss the Dust", and "Little Women".
Abstract This paper examines how the Rockefeller Drug Laws issue different punishments for usage of crack and cocaine, with the former more prevalent in communities of color and carrying a greater sentence. White women charged with drug use are viewed to have a problem that can be cured via therapy, whereas women of color are incarcerated for similar offenses. Drug-abusing pregnant mothers are discussed, as well as the differences between the private and public forms of justice that lead to racial inequality in the judicial system. Different court cases are integrated into the argument as means of proof. Behind bars, the gendered differences between male and female prison systems is discussed, as well as the constant abuse and sexual degradation experienced by female prisoners at the hands of male guards. The prison industrial complex is also compared to a modern institution of slavery.
From the Paper "The American legal system often targets women of color through unjust law enforcement and the prison system perpetuates systems of inequality found among non-prisoners. Women are mainly incarcerated for non-violent offenses and the circumstances in which their behavior is deemed "criminal" are influenced by racialized stereotypes and the manner in which gender roles are defined and distributed by our society. A majority of feminists have typically failed to address that violence against women by the state/and or military is a tangible enough dilemma and instead focus on domestic violence or violence initiated in the public sphere. Drug laws, in particular, target young and older women of color and their racially specific enforcement in the 'free world' manifests into the ultimate form of domination behind bars, a control that even transcends the color line."
Tags: discrimination, gender, justice, poverty, racism, sexism, slavery, system, women
Abstract This is a paper on the transition of women in the workplace using the Lowell Mills, of the post Civil War era, as the precursor. Women gaining a sense of unity and self-sufficiency, away from a home where they were cared for, they began to make money, and that recreated the role of woman in America.
From the Paper "Standing between the advent of industry and the chaos of the Civil War, the United States was ripe for progression. New England women began to leave the confines of the farm for the equally limiting, but ultimately liberating world of the textile factories. As the women adjusted to the new regiment of their lives, they left behind the duty and dependence of the family farm. From there it was the system of organization in the Lowell Mills that led to a redefinition of the family unit? "
Abstract The research reported in this paper consists of a qualitative study of five adolescents (between the ages of 18 and 20 years) who, at the time of the study, had signed up to receive substance abuse treatment at a local clinic. The small sample of young women were interviewed in an effort to discover their views of personal relationships and how these relationships are related to abusing drugs or alcohol. The paper includes a personal perspective on the issue, as the writer recounts her experience with substance abuse within her own family.
From the Paper "Virtually every teen interviewed believed that she could not stop abusing drugs without developing a relationship with somebody (an adult, a counselor, a boyfriend, etc.) who really pushed for her to stop the abuse. Two of the girls felt that this relationship had to be with a boyfriend and that even if counselors and empathetic adults helped them, if their boyfriend wasn't like this, they would probably continue to use drugs."
