Ancestral Lines The Anthropological Matter of Gender Roles - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1932 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2019/04/16 Category Sociology Essay Level High school Tags: Gender Roles Essay Did you like this example? Out of all of the subjects presented to us in introductory anthropology, none has sparked such a discussion as week eights topic of gender and power. The interest of the class interested me, and I chose to focus on this anthropological theme for that reason. Anything that triggers such an intense reaction, from both female AND male participants might I add, certainly warrants some more attention and research. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Ancestral Lines: The Anthropological Matter of Gender Roles" essay for you Create order Regarding any background information, I have consulted my class notes as well as the PowerPoint provided online. During lecture of week eight we discussed ideas such as harassment, historical influences on misogyny, the differences in patriarchies and matriarchies around the world, several analogous relationships between women and men, the voice of women, and other nuances of the domain of females. Some of my favorite parts of those thoughts included the article by Amanda Hess outlining her experience with harassment, which incorporated her profession, experiences of other individuals, and the role of the internet in the problem. That part of lecture really brought to light the disparities between men and women by highlighting the amount of harmful or harassing messages each gender gets in their lifetime. Additionally, of the many analogous relationships defined, my favorite by far was that of Sherry Ortner, who equated females to nature where as men were more like culture. This one struck me because of the unspoken meaning of this comparison, with nature being of course where we all start, but eventually we evolve and advance enough to accumulate a culture, making us a civilized people. Thus, women are primitive, and men are advanced. Further, you can look at it on a much more surface level and realize that women dealt with the natural things such as childbirth, breastfeeding, and gardening while men were put in charge of things that made up the culture like politics, religion, and the economy. The other most intriguing part of the lesson was Mary Beards opinions and observations about the voice of women in history and literature. She teaches that womens voices were only heard in one of three ways: if they were portrayed as the victim, had a claim in a sectional interest, or as they take on an androgynous identity. We can see the victim as we analyze the damsel in distress as she is allowed to speak about situations where she feels helpless. We can see the sectional interest (more so in history) as women were allowed to make the decisions where women were regarded. We can see the androgynous identity in our female politicians who wear power suits and lower/change their voices to gain authority and respect. This one is also clear in classical history with the goddess Athena, who was stripped of femininity when she was named the champion of Athens. These three main points; the differences in harassment between the genders, the analogy of culture versus nature, and the voices of women concept, were the arguments in lecture that piqued my interest. In Friday lab for week eight, we discussed the role of gender in marketing. The experience in lab this week also led me to choosing this theme. Our group is very good at discussing the given issues extremely openly, but most of the time it takes us a few minutes to warm up to the topic. However, when the floor was opened for us to give our opinions on the pieces, nearly every hand went up immediately. This subject continued to be a source of intrigue and passion for all students. We discussed Hollywoods twisted views of both men and women and the harmful stereotypes it pushes at impressionable viewers. Additionally, we inspected the act of discriminating in the work place based on traits such as gender, good looks, and other uncontrollable characteristics. The best part of this discussion was definitely getting into the male perspective. In lecture we had focused majorly on the pitfalls of being a women and how men usually had a role in that. However, especially as we talked about marketing and stereotypes, the boys in the lab classroom spoke up about Hollywoods portrayal of tough and handsome men in movies and ads. They spoke about the unrealistic expectations that society and women in particular have in regard to mens bodies, looks, and overall tough-guy/hero appeal. We acknowledged and examined how the highest demographic of suicides in the country was the middle-aged male and how we can see that being ignored and further perpetuated in harmful marketing and media. Having all of this information made me realize the following particular things while reading Ancestral Lines and le arning more about the Maisin people of Papua New Guinea. First is the difference in division of labor. Girls are the first to be put to work caring for the younger children with their mothers, cooking, creating things for the household, and cleaning. Boys enjoy their autonomy for slightly longer, but by their mid-teens are expected to help their fathers on hunting and fishing expeditions. Already the advantage is given to the male in the situation. The next observation, continuing the assumption that males have it much easier in the Maisin society, is the different ceremonies marking the rite of passage into adulthood. For boys, their passage is marked by a celebration and feast that lasts several days at a time. However, girls encounter a painful operation of getting elaborate facial tattoos over the course of four to six weeks. This operation leaves them bloodied, scabbed, and swollen for much of the time, and they are secluded in the tattooists home for a period. This passage is supposed to replace the girls plain faces with a beautiful more attractive version to entice future husbands. It is easy to see the inequality occurring in these practices, although they are currently going out of fashion with the younger generation. At village meetings the elder men sit in intimate circles on a raised platform and younger men lounge in the shade nearby, learning from their seniors. The women and children sit far off and strain to hear the male leaders talk, leading to a gap in information and a disconnect from the opinions of the average woman. Then, in a further show of division, the younger girls bring refreshments to the men, crawling on their knees with downcast eyes to show respect. That being said, there is a space for women to share their voice, and that is when they are elders themselves. The Maisin society regards the senior women of the village as great sources of advice, wisdom, and tradition, treating them with the upmost respect. When young women marry they face lots of new obligations and expectations as they try to meet every demand of their new husband and his family as well as submitting timidly to the wishes of their new authority figures, especially the mother in law. However, women hold some power in marriages because bride wealth is observed in this area of the world. Brides also are granted the ability to return to their own families at any point in the relationship, which revokes the land rights she came with as well as the children she bore (especially if the bride wealth hadnt fully been paid yet). An important theme presented in the book is that Maisin society tends to favor submissive females and assertive males. However, the author urges the reader to understand that the Maisin are an adapting people, and that when the opposite personality traits occur in the sexes, within limits, they are not considered improper. The rules of the society still apply, but allowances can be made as long as respect is given, and peace is kept. In my opinion, this can be an example of syncretism, as the author lets us know that is it the younger generations who exhibit such nontraditional behaviors and the elders begrudgingly try to accept them. These younge r people are growing up in a Maisin society that has been influenced by western ideals and religions that encourage independence and strength, which we can also see as the new generations are turning away from antiquated practices such as the facial tattoos. The myth I have chosen to examine through the lens of gender roles is The Lazy Mans Story by Frederick Bogara, otherwise known as Kikiki number two. In this story, it outlines a nuclear family of wife, husband, and sons. The wife had been cooking and feeding her family for a long time now, and finally (when the crops ran out completely) she told her husband that he needed to go out and buy/hunt/trade for some food so that they could survive. He was a very lazy man and day after day went out to the villages and just sat around until sun down. One day, fed up (haha get it) with her husbands actions, the wife put some stones in the pot and set it on the coals. When her husband got home she encouraged him to take whatever he wanted out of the pot to eat. He stuck a fork in and broke it on the stones, the woman shamed and divorced him, marrying another man. This myth clearly plays on the gender roles and stereotypes of men and women. It illustrates how a woman has the responsibility to tend the home and the children and the man has the duty to make the sure the family is provided for. This folk tale especially emphasizes that when one of those roles is neglected then the opposite party has every right to be unhappy and take action. I chose this myth in particular because a story with similar plot points appears in the Social Design chapter of the book. In this version of events, the Maisin women and men both have to contribute to the garden to make it work, and although the women have to perform more labor than the males, there is more shared work between the genders here. However, when the food ran out from the garden, the fault and vulnerability were with the WIFE this time around, representing the expectations given to women that simply do not apply to men. This being said, as the author made sure to point out, personality traits differ within individuals and sometimes women react as the wife in the myth, calling out their husband for not completing their duties. At one point in time, a certain woman with the pseudonym Alice waded into the river and caught fish for her family (extremely against the status quo) when her husband had been absent in another town for almost a month. Alice and the villagers chastised the husbands brothers for not stepping up and providing for his wife, they resumed these duties and the fishing episode never happened again. These incidents also represent how the Maisin people accept these roles and stereotypes, even the women, because they come from the ancestors. The woman in the myth accepts that her husband was supposed to provide, not her. The wife in the second story accepts the shame and blame for running out of food in their joint garden. Alice, in the third story, accepted that she shouldnt have to fish for herself, and shamed her brothers-in-law for not providing for her. This acceptance and faith in the traditions of their lineages is the most interesting thing about gender roles in the Maisin society. The adaptability of people with different personalities and levels of confidence to this same set of rules and guidelines is an impressive feat in the obedience of the human spirit.

The And Skeptics Evaluating The Credibility Of...

The concept of journalism has always been regarded with skepticism. People are not sure which newspapers or news stations to trust. Naturally, the audience gravitates towards mainstream news providers like CNN or The New York Times. These sources, along with many others, have been accepted for their credibility. Recently, however, another source has been capturing the audience’s attention. This source is known as citizen journalism, and its contributions to society have had a huge impact. Whether or not these contributions are credible has become an issue that sparks debate among the audience. This issue is researched in an academic journal called Cynics and Skeptics: Evaluating the Credibility of Mainstream and Citizen Journalism. The academic journal defines citizen journalism as â€Å"amateur news reporting† (Carr, Barnidge, Lee, Tsang, 2014). Citizens are often the ones to experience news firsthand. News spreads like wildfire through texts, phone calls, and social media. By the time the mainstream media gets a hold of the story, everyone already knows about it. Citizen journalism has been becoming increasingly popular, but its credibility is considered something to question. Sometimes, what citizens contribute to a news story gives the story more depth and insight that a journalist may not have grasped. A video, picture, or blog post from an actual witness can cover what mainstream journalism misses. There are not journalists in every corner of the planet to cover newsShow MoreRelatedLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pages............... 122 CHAPTER 4 How to Evaluate Information and Judge Credibility..................................... 137 The Principles of Charity and Fidelity ............................................................................................ 137 When Should You Accept Unusual Statements? ........................................................................... 140 Assessing a Sources Credibility ...........................................................................

Gay Marriage Constitutional or Not Free Essays

â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness†. This is probably one of the most famous quotes involved in the Declaration of Independence. But what happens when our government starts deciding who is qualified for this rights and who isn’t? We are supposed to be one of the most advanced countries in the world, we fight for the rights of people around us, and somehow we cannot seem to find tolerance among ourselves. We will write a custom essay sample on Gay Marriage: Constitutional or Not or any similar topic only for you Order Now Why is being different so bad? Nowadays, we start to become a society that experiences a hard time accepting the different thoughts and ways of living of our fellow citizens. An example of this would be the struggles for the homosexuals across America to find an approval for same sex marriages. Although the Declaration of Independence says that every American has the right for the pursuit of happiness, for some reason neither the government nor the people in the US seem to understand that happiness can and should be different for every individual.As time goes by and news show up, I am more than convinced that same-sex marriages are not harmful for the society and therefore, should be approved right away. Many people see marriage as the culmination of the love for another human being, as finding the person to spend the rest of your life with. So, as Kathy Belge states, â€Å"if two people love each other, shouldn’t they be allowed the same rights, privileges and responsibilities, no matter their genders? We have to take into account that most people who can’t get married with their partner have no benefits whatsoever over their partner†™s assets, so if they’re together it’s solely for love.Then why is it so hard to just let them be happy by consummating their union under the law? Society sees marriage as a sacred act of commitment and believes that same-sex marriage will end the purity of such union. As Belge delivers, â€Å"when someone can compete on a television reality show to â€Å"Marry a Millionaire†, the argument about saving a sacred institution seems kind of pointless. Many people have the same question in mind: why is it a big deal? Why are they making such a commotion out of a situation that doesn’t really concern most of us? Unfortunately, our culture has a hard time, some people find it impossible, to accept the differences between human beings. We want everyone to be on the same economic level, to have the same beliefs, even to wear the same clothes, and we constantly forget about one of the promises of our country: individuality. When the Pilgrims came to this continent, they were seeking for a place where they could be themselves without anyone tormenting them.Under this belief, the founders of our nation set the United States of America, assuring that everyone could have a distinctive life without judgment or fear to be who they are. The inconformity of the rest of us, who can actually understand what individuality means, is shown in The Associated Press article which reports that â€Å"same-sex marriage supporters gathered outside a federal building and wait for a judge’s decision overturning California’s same-sex marriage ban in San Francisco. † These kinds of protests are not exclusive in California.In Madison, WI, a tour called â€Å"Summer for Marriage- One Man and One Woman Tour† was planning to appear in the city. In response, the gay community lead by Katie Belanger decided to â€Å"call for the repeal of the state’s constitutional ban on same sex marriage† and to â€Å"rally on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, and a march to the state Capitol. † The article also declares that â€Å"hundreds of protesters shouted down same-sex marriage opponents today on the steps of the state Capitol. † It is no surprise that soon many other states will join them in different protests across the country.The gay community throughout America is not planning to back down. Pro-gay marriage associations gain both strength and numbers as time goes by, so it will be no surprise that eventually the government understands and gives homosexuals their right to be happy. States like Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont already allow same-sex marriage to take place. Hopefully more states will follow their lead and realize that maybe change is what this country needs to stand out from the rest of the world. Humankind comes in different colors, shapes and beliefs. It’s time to lose our fear and conceive that maybe different is not so bad after all.Belge , Kathy. â€Å"Pro Gay Marriage-Why Gay Marriage Should be Legal. † N. p. , n. d. Web. 25 Aug. 2010. . Associated Press. â€Å"Calif. Gays Must Wait To Wed During Prop 8 Appeal† NPR. 17 August 2010. 22 Aug. 2010. . Melchert, Randall. â€Å"Homosexual activists mob pro-marriage rally in Madison, WI. † N. p. , 27 July 2010. Web. 25 Aug. 2010. . How to cite Gay Marriage: Constitutional or Not, Papers

Significant Woman Cleopatra Essay Example For Students

Significant Woman Cleopatra Essay Significant Woman: CleopatraI chose to write my Significant Woman paper on Egypts last pharaoh, Cleopatra. When I began my report, I knew very little about Cleopatra, except that she was the mistress of both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony of Rome. I wondered what impacts on history Cleopatra made on her own. I feel that Cleopatra was a very significant woman in history because she was very aggressive and assertive, characteristics that have always been considered unfeminine. At the same time, however, Cleopatra has been remembered by some as somewhat of a sex object, which is and always has been a common judgement of attractive females. Cleopatra did use her sex appeal to her advantage. It was one of the few manipulations that nobody could take away from her, and it was a very convincing form of persuasion. We will write a custom essay on Significant Woman Cleopatra specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Cleopatras family had been ruling Egypt since 305 BC, when Ptolemy I declared himself King of Egypt sometime after Alexander the Greats death. The Ptolemy family was of Macedonian decent, not Egyptian. Cleopatra, more precisely, Cleopatra VII, was the third daughter of Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos Auletes, who began his rule of Egypt in 80 BC. Cleopatra VIIs mother could possibly have been Cleopatra V Tryphaena, who either died or disappeared in 68 BC, right after Cleopatra VIIs birth in 69 BC. Cleopatra VII had two older sisters, Cleopatra VI and Berenice IV, and one younger sister, Arsinoe IV. She also had two younger brothers, Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV. Ptolemy XII ruled until his death in 51 BC, with only a brief interruption in 58 BC when his second eldest daughter, Berenice IV, took over the kingdom. His will named Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII as heirs to the throne. Leaders in Rome were named as guardians and were to uphold the choice of Ptolemy XII for the two to marry and jointly rule Egypt. Ptolemy II had established these brother-sister marriages as custom when he married his sister Arsinoe II. As children, Cleopatra and her siblings witnessed the defeat of their guardian, Pompey, by Julius Caesar in a duel. Meanwhile, Cleopatra and her brother/husband Ptolemy XIII were dueling, albeit silently, over the throne. In the middle of all this turmoil, Julius Caesar left Rome for Alexandria in 48 BC. During his stay in the Palace, he received the most famous gift in history: an oriental carpet . . . with a 22-year-old Cleopatra wrapped in. She counted on Caesars support to alienate Ptolemy XIII. With the arrival of Roman reinforcements, and after a few battles in Alexandria, Ptolemy XIII was defeated and killed. In the summer of 47 BC, having married her younger brother Ptolemy XIV, Cleopatra and Caesar embarked for a two-month trip along the Nile, aboard a legendary boat. Together, they visited Dendara, where Cleopatra was being worshipped as Pharaoh, an honor beyond Caesars reach. They became lovers, and indeed, she bore him a son, Ptolemy XV Caesar Caesarion. In 45 BC, Cleopatra, Ptolemy XIV, and Caesarion left Alexandria for Rome, where they stayed in a palace built by Caesar in their honor. Caesars acts were anything but overlooked by the Romans. In 44 BC, he was killed in a conspiracy by his Senators. With his death, Rome split between supporters of Mark Antony and Octavian. Soon after Caesars death, Cleopatra returned to Egypt. It is believed that Ptolemy XIV survived the trip home, but died shortly thereafter. Many believe that Cleopatra had him killed. This is possible because he was 15 years old and would probably start to assert his right to the throne. Cleopatra was watching Rome in silence, and when Antony seemed to prevail, she supported him and, shortly after, they too became lovers. .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a , .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a .postImageUrl , .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a , .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a:hover , .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a:visited , .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a:active { border:0!important; } .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a:active , .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4dc3f55cfb2edcebfb215d8fc0d6759a:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Mayan Civilization EssayMark Antonys alliance with Cleopatra angered Rome even more. The senators called her a sorceress and accused her of all sorts of evil. The Romans became even more furious as Antony was giving away parts of their Empire Tarsus, Cyrene, Crete, Cyprus, and Palestine one after the other to Cleopatra and her children, which, in addition to Caesars son, included Antonys twins Cleopatra Selene and Alexander Helios and his son Ptolemy Philadelphus. It was the boiling point when Octavian declared war on Cleopatra, and off the coast of Greece in the Adriatic Sea, they met in one of the most famous battles in history: Actium. The Egyptian defeat was often attributed to the early withdraw of a coward Cleopatra from the battle scene, although this claim is now discredited by most historians. Octavian waited for a year before he claimed Egypt as a Roman province. He arrived in Alexandria and easily defeated Mark Antony outside the city. Antony asked to be taken to Cleopatra. He died in her arms and was buried as a King. Octavian entered Alexandria in 30 BC. Cleopatra was captured and taken to him, and the Roman Emperor had no interest in any relation, reconciliation, or even negotiation with the Egyptian Queen. Realizing that her end is close, she decided to put an end to her life. It is not known for sure how she killed herself, but two small puncture wounds left on her arm have led many to believe that she used an asp as her death instrument. However, there were no signs of a snake or any poison present at the scene of her death. With the death of Cleopatra, a whole era in Egyptian history was closed. Alexandria remained the capital of Egypt, but Egypt is now a Roman province. The age of Egyptian Monarchs gave way to the age of Roman Emperors, and Cleopatras death gave way to the rise of Rome. The Ptolemies were of Macedonian decent, yet they ruled Egypt as Egyptians as Pharaohs. And, indeed, Cleopatra was the last Pharaoh.