...have foot holds in several different amendments, specifically the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth for gender discrimination, and for freedom of expression the First mainly. The following cases are cases which I think represent the evolution of gender discrimination and freedom of expression best. The first case is Frontiero Vs. Richardson (1973) this case is a good example of gender discrimination. The gender which is being discriminated against is the female gender. Sharron Frontiero is a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. She filed for a dependent s allowance for her husband. The dependent s allowance was denied. According to Federal Law the wives of military members are provided with this allowance automatically, yet husbands of military members are not given the allowance unless there wives income provides for over one half of their support. According to Frontiero not allowing her husband or any other husbands to have dependency, by not allowing this they were unconstitutionally discriminating against female military members which violated the fifth amendment s due process clause. Frontiero, won the case . The court found that yes, it violated the due process clause, which said dissimilar treatment for men and woman who are similarly situated. The second case is Michael M. Vs. Supreme Court of Somona County (1981) This is also a good example of gender discrimination. The gender being discriminated against male. Seventeen and and a half year old Michael M. was charged and found...
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...MUZZAMIL HUSSAIN I. Introduction: Pornography has been defined as any material that is sexually explicit but does not appear to be obscene and, which can be displayed through the Internet, adult movies, magazines and adult stores. Obscenity laws in Canada use the community standards models to determine which pornographic material are in accordance with societal morals, and which should be categorized as obscene. John Stuart Mill and the Harms of Pornography is an article written by David Dyzenhaus in 1992, professor of Law and Philosophy at the University of Toronto. In his article, he raises an interesting idea that liberalists and feminists would support the censorship of pornography (Dyzenhaus, 1992). The feminist viewpoint argues that pornography shows men forcing women into sex; therefore it should be censored because of the harm it causes against women. Dyzenhaus then hypothesizes that because pornography is portrayed as violent material, the classical liberalists such as John Stuart Mill would defend the feminists in censoring such behavior based on his harm principle. The article also raises gender inequality issues of contemporary society, one being the subordination of men to women. Three political philosophies are concerned with the law of obscenity: liberalism, conservatism and feminism. Conservative morality takes into consideration the elements of virtue or wickedness behind pornography and asks if the material in question poses threat to...
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...Feminism refers to political, cultural, and economic movements aimed at establishing greater rights, legal protection for women, and or women's liberation. It includes some of the sociological theories and philosophies concerned with issues of gender difference. Nancy Cott defines feminism as the belief in the importance of gender equality, invalidating the idea of gender hierarchy as a socially constructed concept. Feminism has earned itself a bad reputation, but it never undermined gender differences that exist between males and females. A man can never be as good a mother as a female can. Similarly, a woman can never be as good a father as a male can. While accepting these anatomical and physiological differences between the two genders, feminism seeks for both genders to be equally respected. They are both human and as a species, humans cannot progress without either one of them. Maggie Humm and Rebecca Walker divide the history of feminism into three waves. The first wave transpired in the nineteenth and early twentieth century’s, the second occurred in the 1960s and 1970s, and the third extends from the 1990s to the present. In each wave of the movement, though men have taken part in significant responses to feminism, the relationship between men and feminism has been complex. Historically, a number of men have engaged with feminism. Philosopher Jeremy Bentham demanded equal rights for women in the eighteenth century. In 1866, philosopher John Stuart Mill presented a women's...
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...I. Racial and Ethnic Identity The distinction between ethnic group and race are too subtle for clarification; however, Scientists distinguish race on the basis of “physical characteristics” (11), such as a person’s skin tone, texture of hair or facial features. As people continue to migrate into this country, the increase number of interracial children will eventually alter the biological composition of future generations. This evolution of race will impair the variables that scientists use to classify race. Society distinguishes a person’s race based on collective conjecture; while the majority of us accept appearance as the driving force we assign a race or ethnicity. As the races intermingle, societies’ ability to categorize American’s by “social construct,” will be contingent more so on “Social assumptions,” such as language, religion, customs and ethnic group membership to determine race. White like me—Judith Levine I loved reading this! Ms. Levine has step outside herself and realized what the majority of white people in America may never be aware—“whiteness” (48). This became evident to Ms. Levine as she moved from New York’s highly diverse culture, to mainstream white neighborhood in Vermont. She says “Whiteness purports to be both nothing and everything” (48). She explains how whiteness is this invisible power that makes the majority of white people their race is superior bar none. She realized her skin shielded her from the struggles of minorities and...
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...current sexual discrimination and harassment occurs in the workplace, and the form of harassment produced has dire consequences as compared to harassment occurring in the public place. The effects exacted on victims extend further than mere mental anguish to include deterioration of employment conditions, where some victims are forced to resign to avoid more harassment ultimately causing economic losses. Notably, the high probability of occurrence of sexual harassment and the severity of harm go beyond the imagination of people and thus it is necessary to understand and solve this issue. This paper investigates sexual harassment and discrimination at the intersections of gender. Specifically, the paper examines the reasons as to why harassment occurs among sexes and why it is underrepresented among each gender. Defining Sexual Harassment and Discrimination When the terms sexual harassment and discrimination are used or rather mentioned in a conversation they raise an alarm. Sexual harassment, according to Fitzgerald, Collinsworth & Harned (2001), is legally described as “uninvited sex-related behavior…that is unwanted by and offensive to its target” (Fitzgerald, Collinsworth & Harned, 2001, p. 991). Spencer and Gavel (2011) conceptualize sexual harassment to include both quid-pro-quo and hostile workplace sexual harassment whereby the former means "explicit demands of a sexual favors in exchange for work academic progression,” (p. 54) and the...
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... Due date: 15/06/2012 11:45pm ‘Internet pornography can not be considered as leisure; discuss this statement.’ Today throughout the world, Internet pornography has grown into a major business and is constantly growing. Based on the theory of leisure, Internet pornography is accepted and considered as a form of activity, however associates of the Catholic Church are forever arguing against the Internet pornography business based on the fact that it is sinful and immoral. The main issue associated with Internet pornography is balancing individual pleasures and freedom against the various types of social harm that can eventuate. These views explore fascinating points and can be argued either way based upon personal opinion and belief. Research shows that participation in leisure has many benefits that can influence an individual’s psychological health, physical wellbeing, social health, economic health and spiritual health. Furthermore, all of these benefits contribute to the quality of life of an individual. Having a healthy spiritual life comes from living a healthy lifestyle and being emotionally stable. Being spiritually healthy may involve believing and following a specific religion to shape one’s morals. From a spiritual perspective, the Catholic Church condemns the pornography industry based on the grounds that it affects a person’s family, marriage and overall wellbeing. The body can create an addiction to pornography but yet the mind can generate negative thoughts...
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...Liberal Feminism In today’s society, women are greatly advancing politically and economically due to the contributions of liberal feminists that began in the mid to late 20th century. Liberal feminists believe that gender differences should not be derived from biology and therefore, men and women should be treated equally and have equal rights under the law and in the workplace. However, there are a few limitations to liberal feminism including denigrating women traits such as empathy and nurturing in order to increase women’s social status in society. One major achievement that liberal feminism has achieved is getting gender equality for women in the workplace and education, written in the civil rights laws in the United States. In the workplace, women have always faced discrimination by men through hiring, promotion and lower salaries. Liberal feminism has been trying to break these obstacles to help women find an easier passage to occupations that are usually conquered by men. The concepts of gate keeping, glass ceiling and gendered job queues are what liberal feminism have been fighting against to insure that women receive the same occupations, wages and benefits as men do. Affirmative Action was created to rectify the gender, racial and ethnical imbalance in the workplace which also helped women exceed without discrimination. Not only has liberal feminism advanced women with general occupations, but also with government positions. Liberal feminists have been encouraging...
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...for a women’s studies course at Ohio State University. Some of the facts may be a bit outdated, some have been updated, but I still stand by the interpretation of the texts. And, warning, this posting will include illustrated examples of pornographic cartoons, so it is definitely rated NSFW. Part 1 here discusses the subject matter; Part 2 compares hentai to live action pornography; Part 3 considers the ramifications of hentai.)  Created by a fan, and named “Jessica Rabbit Naughty Pin-up”. When Jessica Rabbit, the animated femme fatale of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? uttered the line “I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way,” I sincerely doubt her creators knew that a decade later she would be made into an online porn star. Now, alongside other American and Japanese cartoon women, she has entire websites devoted to her. Is Jessica being objectified, degraded, and having her rights taken away? Logically, no, because Jessica is merely ink-and-paint, a figment of someone’s imagination brought to life only by the mechanical and visual trickery of animation. As she said, it’s not her fault she was drawn to represent a stereotypical male conception of an idealized woman. Why should we care if people have changed her from a children’s animated figure into an adult porn star? The purpose of this essay is to answer just that: the reasons we should care, and why research should not ignore cartoon porn, and in particular hentai, when it studies pornography. According to anime scholar Mark...
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...Root Of Violence Against Women " Each year an estimated 2 to 4 million women in the United States are abused by their male partners. Many of them are severely assaulted, and thousands are killed" (thehotline.org). Statistics such as these are phenomenal. Domestic abuse does not only appear as physical harm but there is a lot of damage dealt with psychological abuse which is just as bad. Domestic violence is a widespread issue throughout the world, mostly due to fear created by the abuser. This problem is recognized worldwide and many theorists such as Nussbaum, Mackinnon and Dworkin have shared and organized their thoughts as to why such an uproar of violence has been rising within our society against women. In order to understand why violence against women is at such a high percentage we must first take a look at and understand what are the contributing influences and factors which play an active role in causing the abuser to inflict acts/thoughts/desires of violent intent onto a female. I shall analyze and go into depth of the theories coined by the names mentioned above as to what they think the root of violence is. But first we need to understand that violence against women does not only consist of physical/emotional damage, but also violation of their entitled rights as an individual human being. When we begin to treat a person as anything less or begin to expect more we have committed an act of violation on their human rights. "Objectification entails making into...
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...RUNNING HEAD: SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE Sexual Harassment Peter Samuka Strayer University English 215 writing assignment Dr. Rochelle Harris September 4, 2011 Abstract This essay focuses on sexual harassment in the workplace with women suffering the most. As increasing numbers of women have joined the labor force over the last 3 decades, what has also increased is their vulnerability to unwanted attention at work. Today, the problem of sexual harassment in the workplaces is acknowledged as a serious issue, as an occupational problem and a violation of human rights. Introduction Sexual harassment against women in the workplace is becoming more of a problem for everyone than just employers alone. Women are at a disadvantage at times on account of their femininity. Men take advantage of it and apply pressure on them to have an affair with them. They trouble them in many ways; make verbal and physical gestures inviting them to compromise with them. Lawsuits filed by women, negative publicity in the media, decline in productivity occur as business establishments fail to take pro-active measures to eradicate sexual harassment in their places of work. This research essay will focus on the history, definition, negative effect on both the victim and offender, and preventative measures to take in the event of sexual harassment, and an analysis. Sexual harassment in the workplace is a problem being addressed in many societies today and feminists have raised...
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...Conversation with Our Children In many countries talking about sex is treated as taboo. (Macionis, 2009, p. 192) Parents are not talking to their children about it. They just tell them not to have it until they are married, and a child’s extent of conversation about sex is asking, “Where do babies come from?” during adolescence. But is this really enough? Is the lack of knowledge on the topic ruining the social outlook on sex and sexuality in our Society? Not talking to our children about sex and sexuality at home leaves them to learn about it from outside sources such as, school, peers and media. Through these sources they might learn how to put on a condom and birth control, sexual diseases, pregnancy and abortion. What about their sexuality? Gender, incest, homosexuality and other sexual issues like rape and molestation? As much as some of these topics may frighten us as parents to talk about with our children, the harsh reality is, they need to know. They should know that sexuality is about more than just having sex. That sexuality is a theme found almost everywhere, and it is an important part of how we think about ourselves, as well as how others think about us (Macionis, 2009, p. 192). As parents we should let them know that sex can be pleasurable, but it can also be very confusing and frightening, and this is okay. It is also okay to wait if they feel they are not ready. Children should be made aware of their bodies, and should not feel ashamed of the changes that their bodies...
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...Brain as a Target Advertisement is a tool used by companies in order to draw attention to different products, services, and events. Advertisement is used to promote sales and attract a broader audience. This marketing strategy has been applied by people and companies for hundreds of years. It wasn’t until the 18th century that advertising had started appearing more frequently in people’s everyday lives. The spike in advertising use was caused due to the technological advancements of the printing press. People would notice different advertisements for services and products which would influence their decisions and consumer habits. I have studied many topics related to marketing and psychology. Since our technology is always increasing according to Moore’s Law, our advertising methods are also becoming more and more sophisticated. The marketing method that has been on the rise for a few years now is known neuromarketing. This form of marketing is not a new discovery, although, it is now being understood and studied better as our technology increases. It revolves around the psychological response caused by the brain when consumers look at different forms of advertisements that causes pleasure, such as, food, sex, and social. Neuromarketing, more specifically, revolves around targeting dopamine. Dopamine is the neurotransmitters in our brains which is involved with our survival instincts and pleasure responses (Touhami, 1528-32). Evidently, neuromarketing is not only being...
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...The Sex Talk: What Parents are Saying to their Children about Sex by Jessica Hausauer The attitudes an individual holds toward a particular topic are meaningful in that those attitudes are used to construct one’s social reality. Attitudes about sex are often centered around one’s political and personal belief systems, and when it comes to teaching young people about sex, parents ideally hold the prominent position of influence in adolescent’s lives. Debate rages over whether sex education should be an all encompassing component of U.S. public education and if discussed, which topics are appropriate for the classroom. While most parents support Comprehensive Sex Education, there are many who believe sexual matters are to be discussed at the sole discretion of the parent. With the focus of debate centering on whether or not sex education is best left to the parents, it is important to examine what exactly parents are teaching their children. Upon a review of the literature I found that the research regarding parents and children’s conversations about sex was lacking. Many of the studies were outdated or used questionable research methods. The purpose of this research project is to examine the experience of parent to child communication about sex. Literature Review The idea that knowledge has a direct impact on behavior faces a serious challenge when presented in the context of sex education. Much debate has centered on the efficacy of sex education programs in the...
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...subordination, there are disagreements on its causes and how to overcome it. Liberal or reformist feminists believe that traditional prejudices and stereotypes about gender differences are a barrier to equality. They believe all human beings should have equal rights. Since both men and women are human beings, both should have the same opportunities. Liberal Feminists argue that laws and policies against sex discrimination in employment and education can secure equal opportunities for women. Campaigning for changes in law can bring about change and we can bring about change through a cultural shift within society. They reject the idea that biological differences make women less competent or rational than men or that men are biologically less emotional or nurturing than women. To bring about change we must shift society’s socialisation patterns. For example society must seek to promote appropriate role models in education and the family by doing this we will benefit from a cultural shift and gender equality will become the norm. Liberal Feminists believe that changes in socialisation and culture are gradually leading to more rational attitudes to gender and overcoming ignorance and prejudice. Also, political action to introduce anti-discriminatory laws and policies is progressing to a fairer society where ones gender will no longer be significant. The contribution of Liberal Feminism to our understanding of society has been beneficial as their studies have produced evidence for the...
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...50 Key Concepts in Gender Studies Jane Pilcher & Imelda Whelehan Fifty Key Concepts in Gender Studies i Recent volumes include: Key Concepts in Social Research Geoff Payne and Judy Payne Key Concepts in Medical Sociology Jonathan Gabe, Mike Bury and Mary Ann Elston Forthcoming titles include: Key Concepts in Leisure Studies David Harris Key Concepts in Critical Social Theory Nick Crossley Key Concepts in Urban Studies Mark Gottdiener The SAGE Key Concepts series provide students with accessible and authoritative knowledge of the essential topics in a variety of disciplines. Cross-referenced throughout, the format encourages critical evaluation through understanding. Written by experienced and respected academics, the books are indispensable study aids and guides to comprehension. JANE PILCHER AND IMELDA WHELEHAN Fifty Key Concepts in Gender Studies SAGE Publications London • Thousand Oaks • New Delhi iii © Jane Pilcher and Imelda Whelehan 2004 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission in writing from the Publishers. SAGE Publications Ltd 1 Oliver’s Yard 55 City Road London EC1Y 1SP SAGE Publications Inc 2455 Teller Road Thousand Oaks, California 91320 SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd B-42 Panchsheel Enclave Post Box 4109 New Delhi 100 017 British Library...
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