Emma Watsons Speech on Masculinity

Emma Watson's Speech on Masculinity Emma Watson, British actor and Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women, said many smart, important, sociologically informed things during her speech on gender equality  at the UN on September 20, 2014. Surprisingly,  the most important words of Ms. Watson  did not have to do with women and girls, but rather with men and boys. She said: We don’t often talk about men being imprisoned by gender stereotypes, but I can see that they are, and that when they are free, things will change for women as a natural consequence. If men don’t have to be aggressive in order to be accepted, women won’t feel compelled to be submissive.  If men don’t have to control, women won’t have to be controlled. Ms. Watson tips her hat to a multitude of deeply important  social science research in these three short sentences. This research grows  in breadth by the day, and is seen as increasingly important by the sociological community, and by feminist activists,  in  the fight for gender equality. She doesnt use the word herself, but what Ms. Watson refers to here is masculinitythe collection of behaviors, practices, embodiments, ideas, and values that come to be associated with male bodies. Recently, but historically too, social scientists and writers from a range of disciplines are paying critical attention to the way commonly held beliefs about masculinity, and how best to do it or achieve it, result in serious, widespread, violent social problems. The  list of how masculinity and social problems  are connected is a long, diverse, and horrifying one. It includes that which specifically targets women and girls, like sexualized and gendered violence. Many sociologists, like Patricia Hill Collins, C.J. Pascoe, and Lisa Wade, have studied and proven the connection between the masculine ideals of power and control, and widespread physical and sexual violence against women and girls. Sociologists who study these troubling phenomena point out that these are not crimes of passion, but of power. They are meant to elicit submission and subservience from those targeted, even in what some would consider to be their less serious forms, like street harassment and verbal abuse. (For the record, these too  are very serious problems.) In her book, Dude, Youre a Fag: Masculinity and Sexuality in High School,  an instant classic among sociologists, C.J. Pascoe showed through over a years worth of research how boys are socialized to adopt and perform a dominant, aggressive, controlling, and sexualized version of masculinity. This kind of masculinity, the idealized norm in our society, requires that boys and men control girls and women. Their status in society, and inclusion in the category men depends upon it. Of course there are other social forces at play as well, but the powerful socializing force of this dominant notion of masculinity is a key contributor to the widespread rates of sexual assault and  violence against women and girls- and against gay, lesbian, queer, and trans people too- that plague our society. That violence, though, is not only targeted at women, girls, and folks who do not fit within the rigid frameworks of heterosexuality and gender norms. It plagues the lives of normal  men and boys too, as they fight and kill  in defense of their masculine honor. Studies have found that the everyday violence within inner-city communities results in rates of PTSD among youth that exceed those among  combat veterans. Recently, Victor Rios, Associate Professor of Sociology at University of California-Santa Barbara, who has researched and written extensively about the connection between idealized masculinity and violence, founded a Facebook page dedicated to raising awareness about this issue. (Check out Boys and Guns: Masculinity in a Culture of Mass Shootings, to learn more about sociological research on this issue.) Looking beyond  our immediate communities, sociologists  make the case that this insidious link between masculinity and violence fuels many of the wars that rage across our world, as bombs, bullets, and chemical warfare batter populations into political submission. So too, many sociologists see ideologies of idealized masculinity present in the economic, environmental, and social violence wrought by global capitalism. Of these issues, celebrated sociologist Patricia Hill Collins would argue that these forms of domination are achieved by a form of power based not just on masculinity and the power structure of patriarchy, but how these intersect and overlap with racism, classism, xenophobia, and homophobia. The ideal of masculinity hurts women economically too, by casting us  as the weaker, less valuable counterparts to men, which serves to justify the gender pay gap. It bars us  from access to higher education and jobs, by framing us  as less worthy of the time and consideration of those in positions of power. It denies us  rights to autonomy in our own healthcare decisions, and prohibits us from having parity in political representation. It casts us as sex objects who exist to give pleasure to men, at the expense of our own pleasure and fulfillment. By sexualizing our bodies, it casts  them as tempting, dangerous, in need of control, and as having asked for it when we are harassed and assaulted. While the litany of social problems that harm women and girls is both infuriating and depressing, what is encouraging is that they are discussed with more frequency and openness by the day. Seeing a problem, naming it, and raising awareness about it are crucial first steps on the road to change. This is why Ms. Watsons words about men and boys are so important. A global public figure with an enormous social media platform and vast media coverage, in her speech she illuminated the historically quiet  ways in which idealized masculinity has harmed boys and men. Importantly,  Ms. Watson tuned into the emotional and psychological consequences of this issue: I’ve seen young men suffering from mental illness, unable to ask for help for fear it would make them less of a man. In fact, in the UK, suicide is the biggest killer of men between 20 to 49, eclipsing road accidents, cancer and coronary heart disease. I’ve seen men made fragile and insecure by a distorted sense of what constitutes male success. Men don’t have the benefits of equality, either......Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong......I want men to take up this mantle so that their daughters, sisters, and mothers can be free from prejudice, but also so that their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human too, reclaim those parts of themselves they abandoned, and in doing so, be a more true and complete version of themselves. Brava, Ms. Watson. You simply, eloquently, and compelling illustrated why gender inequality is a problem for men and boys too, and why the fight for equality is also theirs. You named the problem, and powerfully argued why it must be addressed.  We thank you for it. Click here to learn more about the UNs HeForShe campaign for gender equality, and pledge your support to the cause.

Using SAP in Electronic Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

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Penal Station Objectives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

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Logics - Analysis of an Article by Peter Kreeft Essay

Logics - Analysis of an Article by Peter Kreeft - Essay Example Apart from many articles, he has written many books such as The Snakebite Letters, The Philosophy of Jesus, The Journey: A Spiritual Roadmap for Modern Pilgrims, Prayer: The Great Conversation: Straight Answers to Tough Questions About Prayer etc. The major idea behind this article â€Å"The Apple Argument Against Abortion† is to educate people about the consequences of performing abortion. Peter Kreeft argues against abortion in a philosophical manner throughout this article. He is making in depth analysis of the abortion issue with the help of answering certain questions like Who human are, what are the rights of human, why abortion is wrong etc and topics such as basis of morality, differences between the rights of all people and the rights of some people, arguments from skepticism etc. He also tries to analyze different cases with respect to abortion by taking different combinations such as; The fetus is a person, and we know that The fetus is a person, but we don't know t hat The fetus isn't a person, but we don't know that The fetus isn't a person, and we know that (Kreeft, 2000) Approach This article is mainly analytical in nature. The author tries to avoid the use of any instinctive methods in this article. He has analyzed abortion from various angles. Different dimensions of abortion were beautifully explained in this article. For example, the author took the example of an apple and the understanding of ordinary people about it, to attract the attention of the readers towards the topic. Since the author is a philosopher, a philosophical approach can be visible throughout this article. He explains various dimensions of abortion with the help of comparisons, analogies etc. It is difficult for ordinary people to understand the problems associated with abortion, especially the moral issues. The author tries to explain all those issues in a simple, but comprehensive manner so that anybody who decide to perform abortion may think twice or thrice before doing so, after reading this article. In short, the author succeeded in persuading the readers of this article to argue against abortion. Different kinds of reasoning in the article Inductive, deductive, causal and analogical reasoning techniques were used throughout this article. The following paragraph is an example of an inductive argument present in this article. I have heard it argued that we do not treat any other species in the traditional way — that is, we do not assign equal rights to all mice. Some we kill (those that get into our houses and prove to be pests); others we take good care of and preserve (those that we find useful in laboratory experiments or those we adopt as pets); still others we simply ignore (mice in the wild). The argument concludes that therefore, it is only sentiment or tradition (the two are often confused, as if nothing rational could be passed down by tradition) that assigns rights to all members of our own species (Kreeft, 2000). The above argument is an example of inductive reasoning. It is not necessary that the argument needs to be 100% right to make it as an example of inductive reasoning. It should be noted that cultures like Buddhism or Jainism treats any type of killing - killing of animal or killing of human - as a sin. But cultures like Islam or Christianity do not treat killing of animals as a sin. In short, the above argument may not be conclusive or correct everywhere, but it helps the author to strengthen his arguments

Sampling Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sampling - Research Paper Example The records from the university showed that there was a sample of 1000 alumni. The survey design will utilize control categories to obtain a representative sample from the main list. The research will list the following control categories. The sex category has a larger percentage for males. The decision was arrived at because women are fewer than men. The slightly higher percentage increased their likelihood of selection. Age categories relied on recent alumni of the university. The larger percentage of 31-35 was necessary to share experiences of those who have been in the job market based on the old training program. Other categories would include; income levels based on employment or unemployment. The last category would be educational levels assessed based on secondary, tertiary or college levels.Alumni Quota sample for alumni on new training on development program Kuwaiti bank survey aims at evaluating how banking habits differ from different ethnic groups. The researcher utilizes the systematic sampling technique in which a sample is chosen by selecting a random starting point and then picking every 5th household. The sample interval is determined from the universe that totals 200000 people. Nassipur (2004) argues that when a sample is too small, the generalizability of the findings becomes difficult. When it is too small it becomes meaningless when analyzed. Besides, when the resources and time are limited a smaller sample becomes justified. The desired sample is 1500. The sample interval shall be 133. That means every 133th household has a likelihood of selection. The population resides in a geographically ordered area where tribes live alongside each other. The sample shall be distributed according to population size per region. A triangulation of sampling quota and systematic techniques will be utilized as follows. The orderly nature of geographical distribution will increase

Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 46

Case Study Example Of course though this option is not preferred because labor cost is a major component of the Mailing Place’s expenses, and keeping this at the same level is central to the organization’s success. As such, it would be better that Jill try and rework her department so that the new work is able to be handled by current staff members and also not affect any of the current work taking place. 3. I would suggest that the Mailing Place increases its labor budget as part of the planning process. It is obvious that the company is already doing very well, but taking on a whole lot more work might disrupt current work. It would be better if the company hired more workers. Also, for scheduling the company needs to make sure that employees are trained to use all the machines and PC programs within enough time before the new work commences. 1. For job candidates, placing their resumes on the World Wide Web allows them to be noticed by a wider selection of employees and also in a much faster timeframe. Previously, job placement ads had to be spotted and individualized letters sent out to each employer; now this process has been simplified by giving greater power and control for the job seeker. The World Wide Web can also help to match employers to job candidates, and this can reduce the time spent wasted on job candidates who either do not fit the job description or are not capable of performing that particular job. 2. Electronic resumes can help to identify a job candidate with specific technical skills because it can showcase some of their previous work. In this instance, this is actually better than a list of skills and qualifications because it allows the employer to see just exactly what the job candidate is capable of. If I found out that another person had developed the candidate’s homepage, then it would depend on the particular job as to what I would do. If the job had to do with computers then I would immediately rule them out; however, if the home page

Article from Marketing Journals Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

From Marketing Journals - Article Example The process adds to the product's final cost, convenience, and customer acceptance. A process may be streamlined to reduce costs and diminish consumer options, or the product may be customized, which adds to the total cost of the product but offers the consumer a greater number of alternatives. The article contended that the two major measurable and manageable characteristics of any process are complexity and divergence. It is the challenge of the manager to find the most effective balance of these important components of the process. Complexity refers to the "number and intricacy of the steps required" to perform the process (35). A laboratory that performs DNA testing could be said to be more complex than checking the air pressure in a tire. Divergence is the "degree of freedom allowed or inherent in a process step or sequence" (35). Processes that require analyzation, assimilating data, and judgment are said to be highly divergent, such as a doctor performing surgery. By blueprinting a service into a schematically represented diagram, or flow chart, the degree of complexity and divergence can be readily and visually available. The complexity and divergence can then be adjusted to fit a marketing, cost, manufacturing, or consumer need. Altering the complexity and divergence of the service process can have a significant impa... For example, a gasoline outlet may decide to offer only 2 grades of gasoline instead of 4. This will save costs by reducing inventory requirements and overhead costs. However, the customer has been offered fewer options. Alternatively, the station may decide to carry 6 grades of gasoline and add kerosene and diesel fuel. This strategy can result in a niche market with lower volume and greater margins, as it increases the divergence and positions the station differently in the market. Complexity also dictates the market position as well as consumer perception. A mechanic's garage may opt to reduce their complexity and limit their work to muffler and brake systems. This specialization strategy can be risky when competing with more broad based and full service alternatives (38). However, increasing complexity runs the risk of poor quality or customer confusion. Customers may be unaware that a garage that offers automobile detailing, inspections, body and paint, and mechanical work, also does quality brake work. The manager must look for the market position that will maximize the opportunities with the least risk. In conclusion, visualizing the complexity and divergence of the service processes can help to understand the current market position and help plan for repositioning. The process that goods or services are subjected to is a raw material that can be manipulated and formed. This structured approach can reveal the characteristics that "not only affect market position, but also can be deliberately and strategically managed for positioning purposes" (42). Blueprinting and diagramming gives the manager a greater understanding and more control over the processes that affect cost, quality, deliverability, and consumer perception. Works Cited Shostack, G L.