Communication Skills And Interpersonal Problem Solving...

In his research Atilgan Erozkan examined how communication skills and interpersonal problem solving skills effect adolescent’s social self-efficacy, the belief in one’s own abilities. Before the study begins, Erozkan defines how communication, interpersonal relationships, and self-efficacy relate. Communication is a crucial element in forming long-lasting interpersonal relationships, which is an important aspect in adolescents developing positive self-efficacy (Erozkan, 2013). Adolescents begin to acquire life-long interpersonal relationships in high school. The quality of these relationships is highly dependent on the quality of communication that occurs between individuals (Erozkan, 2013). The relationships that adolescents create have a direct impact on their self-efficacy when creating new interpersonal relationships and communicating (Erozkan, 2013). Before Erozkan discusses interpersonal problem solving, the topic of interpersonal competency is outlined. Th is is because interpersonal competency, the development of communication skills, relies significantly on being able to effectively engage and understand interactions (Erozkan, 2013). If competent communication skills are not further developed than messages being sent during communication can become misunderstood (Erozkan, 2013). Since interpersonal relationships allow people to influence each other any problems that arise can have a profound impact on an individual (Erozkan, 2013). Therefore, ErozkanShow MoreRelatedGender Roles And Attitudes And Their Implications For Well Being Around The New Millennium3650 Words   |  15 Pagesand others. There are different factors that affect a person’s emotional and physical state. The first article is â€Å"Changing gender roles and attitudes and their implications for well-being around the new millennium.† The article was published in Social Psychiatry Psychiatric Epidemiology in May 2014, written by Helen Sweeting, Abita Bhaskar, Michaela Benzeval, Frank Popham, and Kate Hunt . Data was collected from the British Household Panel Survey from 20 to 64 year olds in heterosexual couple’sRead MoreAnalysis Of Helicopter Parenting By Cline And Fay1664 Words   |  7 PagesSummary: Helicopter parenting, first introduced by Cline and Fay in their 1990 parenting book series, refers to overly protective and involved parents, who overly involve themselves in their children’s lives with behaviours including constant communication, intervention into children’s affairs, taking control of decision making, personally investing themselves in their children’s goals and the removal of any obstacles that their children may encounter. Studies have shown that this parenting styleRead MoreParenting Styles And The Parenting Style Essay1594 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Parenting style used by caregivers plays an important role in the child’s development and learning, specifically social emotional learning. Parents play a big role in their child’s academic achievement, especially depending on the parenting style use. The parenting style where the parents are involved and monitor their children is related to academic achievement and educational accomplishment (Spera, 2005). Parenting styles comprise of two dimensions, demandingness and responsivenessRead MoreTeenage Suicide : A Challenging Period Of Life3083 Words   |  13 Pagesthat they made a suicide attempt that required medical attention (CDC, 2012a). For every completed suicide among youth between the ages of 15 and 24, there are about 100-200 suicide attempts (Goldsmith et al., 2002). Suicide among adolescents also contributes to social and economic burden through a loss of productivity. Specifically, Yang and Lester (2007) estimated the costs of each youth between the ages of 15 and 24 who completed suicide as $1,022,950 from lost lifetime earnings in 2005. The CDCRead MoreEssay on Understanding Depression: Family Systems Theory3654 Words   |  15 PagesDepression is classified as a mood disorder by the DSM-IV (1994) and is defined as a mental illness characterized by sadness, general apathy, a loss of self-esteem, feelings of guilt, and, at times, suicidal tendencies (Lexicon, n.d). Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses that individuals receive treatment for today. In any six-month period, 9.4 million Americans, and 340 million people in the world, suffer from this disease. One in four women and one in 10 men will develop depressionRead MoreEvidence-Based Treatments for Childhood Depression3114 Words   |  13 Pagestreatments of childhood depression. They would like to see more longitudinal studies conducted to contribute to the already existing body of knowledge to further investigate if the depressive symptoms return after a period of time even if the treatment/s have proven to be effective. On a more positive note, there has been a significant amount of evidence that proves effective many different approaches to treating childhood depression. Discussion The first treatment approach I would like to discussRead More The Identifying Factors in the Development of Aggression and Violence in Youth Today3982 Words   |  16 PagesDevelopment of Aggression and Violence in Youth Today Tragic events like the shootings at Columbine High School capture public attention and concern, but are not typical of youth violence. Most adolescent homicides are committed in inner cities and outside of school. They most frequently involve an interpersonal dispute and a single victim. On average, six or seven youths are murdered in this country each day. Most of these are inner-city minority youths. Such acts of violence are tragic and contributeRead MoreThe Problem Of Female Adolescents2135 Words   |  9 Pagesare all aware of, teenagers can be very egocentristic and feel the whole world is either against them or watching their every move. Female adolescents can especially have these feelings and are far more hurt by words than actions. In a recent survey done by the Journal of School Health, it indicated that between 10% and 17% of middle and high school adolescents report some form of maltreatment by their peers (Eisenberg et al., 2003), and 23% of female victims report being intimidated by other girlsRead More Hope for Rehabilitation for Institutionalized Youth Offenders4628 Words   |  19 Pages â€Å"You do the crime, you pay the time,† is a common phrase uttered throughout our society in regard to juvenile delinquency. It has been suggested that a punitive response to the problem of youth violence in America is an effective means of solving the issue of youth crime, and would also deter future offenders. As a result, the existence of rehabilitation strategies within the system available to offenders is under threat. A harsh and punitive response to youth violence was, in part,Read MoreAdolescent Cognitive Development After Trauma4747 Words   |  19 PagesAdolescent Cognitive Development After Trauma Raquel A. Figueroa Liberty University COUN 620-B02 Abstract In a generation of hopelessness, adolescents seek a purpose for their existence. They seek refugee from violence, abuse and maltreatment. The overwhelming pressure opens the door for instant gratification in drugs, alcohol, sexual activity, and fail to make appropriate adjustments in compromising circumstances. There is a correlation between traumatic experiences and adolescent

Causes And Effects Of Global Warming - 8495 Words

Global Systems Assignment Jordyn McFerran - Year 10 Science The Causes and Effects of Global Warming The Causes and Effects of Global Warming Global warming is a term heard quite often in everyday life, however, many people are unaware of what it actually is, or its diverse causes and effects on the Earth. Global warming is a the gradual increase of the Earth’s average surface temperatures, as a result of the enhanced buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere; such as carbon dioxide emissions present from burning fossil fuels. Our Earth’s atmosphere behaves like a greenhouse, although, trapping heat in a different way. Gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and methane, act like a giant piece of glass wrapped around the planet. The sun’s rays pass straight through these greenhouse gases and heat the Earth, the Earth then gives off heat energy that radiates into space. A small amount of this heat does not pass out of the atmosphere and is reflected back towards the planet and effectively traps the heat we need to survive. This is called the natural greenhouse effect and without it, the Eart h would not support the large diversity of life it needs to. This process is not something to be concerned about, however, the enhanced greenhouse effect is something we, as contributors, need be aware of. In recent centuries, humans have been using energy in far greater quantities, and due to this, more carbon dioxide and methane emissions areShow MoreRelatedGlobal Warming : Causes And Effects905 Words   |  4 Pagesindependent variables that are contributing to the cause of a problem the world is currently faced with, global warming. What is global warming? Well, global warming is a rise in the Earth s average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in climate and that may result from the greenhouse effect (which I will talk more about.) Which is when our ozone layer has a hole which gradually increases, and increases heat from the sun. This causes major problems such as the polar caps meltingRead MoreGlobal Warming : Causes And Effects1369 Words   |  6 PagesGlobal Warming: Clearing up the Confusion to Become Part of the Solution Global warming, often confused with the term â€Å"climate change,† is a problem of worldly proportions that knows no limits, caused in large part by human actions. If it continues unchecked, its effects will be felt around the planet, from human society, to the environment, to the world economy. The purpose of this research paper is to understand the topic of global warming, its causes and effects, in order to help understandRead MoreCause And Effect Of Global Warming953 Words   |  4 Pagesunderstand the cause and effect of global warming, but it can take years for scientists to reach a consensus. The claims that global warming is the next apocalypse or is just some fairy tale lack scientific proof. These claims have confused the general public, and leave many citizens’ questions unanswered. Many people are concerned about the overall decline of environmental health due to an increase in man-made greenhouse gas emissions, but experts are now clarifying the debate on global warming with hardRead MoreGlobal Warming : Causes And Effects1325 Words   |  6 Pages Global warming is already taking place. It stopped being a prediction. The temperature at the earth’s surface has averagely increased by around 0.60 C.Both the oceans and the air are warming. It is believed that the greenhouses gases’ concentrations in the atmosphere have increased dramatically since the periods of pre-industrialization. This condition is caused by the activities of human beings most especially through the burning of fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil,Read MoreGlobal Warming : Causes And Effects973 Words   |  4 PagesGlobal warming has become a massive problem throughout the world, and as the population grows so do the effects of climate change. What people do not know is that it is the leading cause of the earth’s end and might be a minor cause of death in the far future. Global warming is one of the many things that h umans have caused that has no easy fix. Professors Charles Kennel, V. Ramanathan, and David G. Victor at the University of California – San Diego say that â€Å"Greenhouse gas concentrations are trendingRead MoreGlobal Warming : Causes And Effects1206 Words   |  5 PagesGlobal warming is a naturally occurring phenomenon within our planet that needs to be reduced because it is affecting us in many harmful ways. It is one of the most current and widely discussed factors. It has been impacting us negatively in ways such as biodiversity and climate conditions. Several current trends clearly demonstrate that global warming is directly impacting on rising sea levels, the melting of ice caps and significant worldwide climate changes. Over the years, scientists have conductedRead MoreGlobal Warming : Causes And Effects880 Words   |  4 PagesGlobal warming has increased significantly since the 1800s and is becoming a significant impact in our everyday lives. It is considered on e of the most challenging environmental problems that exists today. Due to global warming, temperatures on Earth are rising and it’s affecting the way people live. Many people feel concerned about this issue while others could not care less. Developing countries do not understand the impact global warming has and how they should contribute to it while developedRead MoreGlobal Warming : Causes And Effects1453 Words   |  6 PagesGlobal Warming Introduction A slight change in temperature may not seem that bad but a small rise in global temperature can do a lot of damage. Global warming is an increase in the earth s average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in climate [11]. This report is going to discuss the many causes of global warming as well as the effects that come with it. It will also discuss ways to prevent global warming from happening. Causes of Global Warming Global warming is whatRead MoreGlobal Warming : Cause And Effect1471 Words   |  6 Pages Global warming (Cause/Effect) Jimareo Kimmons Comp I Dr. Sarthou 10/30/2015 Droughts, lengthy hot spells, heavy downpours, floods, and other extreme weather events are occurring more frequently and intensely every year. Around the world, research teams are analyzing these trends, noting the changes in temperature, rainfall, ice mass, sea level, and many other variables recorded by weather measuring devices. The trends are undeniable: the Earth is getting warmer. Polar sea iceRead MoreGlobal Warming : Causes And Effects1381 Words   |  6 PagesEarth is broken, and we all had a hand in breaking it, inadvertently though it may have been, by adding an abundance of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere that contribute directly to global warming; and we continue to do so every time we start our car, turn up the heat, turn on the lights or throw away trash. Global warming is a problem, caused in large part by human activity, and as it stands, poses a monumental threat to the planet and all of its occupants; while mega polluters do not have an incentive

Third Bridge in Istanbul Free Essays

The first bridge over Ä °stanbul’s Bosporus was the BoÄŸazià §i Bridge, which was opened in 1973 by then-President Fahri Korutà ¼rk, while the FSM began operating in 1988 when Turgut Ãâ€"zal was prime minister. The Turkish government announced plans to construct a third bridge over the Bosphorus.The name of the future bridge has not been decided yet. We will write a custom essay sample on Third Bridge in Istanbul or any similar topic only for you Order Now The third bridge is expected to connect a highway starting in the Western province of Tekirdağ’s KÄ ±nalÄ ± with another highway starting from the PaÅŸakà ¶y neighborhood in Ä °stanbul’s Asian side. The minister said the government expects a sufficient amount of traffic to utilize the route once it is finalized. Experts expressed mixed feelings about the proposal of the Tarabya-Beykoz route, north of the two existing bridges .Some argued it would improve the area. Supporters of the new bridge also say it will make Turkey an important transportation corridor. They point to other highways that have crossed the three largest water reservoirs of Istanbul as evidence that mega infrastructure projects can be built safely(2009). However others argued that a third bridge would threaten the natural resources of Istanbul and was not a real solution to the city’s traffic problem because it will encourage more people to use cars, increase Istanbul’s chronic traffic problem, the fumes of the traffic will pollute the forests and kill the natural life there and also damage social life and bring new economic problems. The government argued about reducing the Istanbul’s traffic problems however there is a fact that it will create its own traffic.There are 3.3 million motor vehicles on road in the region that the North Marmara project covers.Land transportation shoulders 87 percent of Ä °stanbul’s mass transportation burden.The government officals stated that the bridge would be essential for easing the city’s traffic congestion(2010).However all scientific stuides show that bridges increase the traffic load. It will create its own traffic potential. The solution only may be developing public transportation on rails. This plan does not exist rail traffic. More cars will be sold and added to the existing load. The government claimed that third bridge will not damage the nature however many experts preotested the third bridge because after the construction many parts of forests won’t be existed anymore. Some of Ä °stanbul’s prominent forestry areas are along the third bridge route.Belgrade Forest, Fatih Forest and the Polonezkà ¶y. The project is expected to be finalized with little damage to these sites but destroying large parts of the Belgrade Forest, crossing the Bosporus at one if its picturesque locations, a huge waste of money for building a highway far from the city through uninhabited territory will be a murdery.It is clearly known that the third bridge would start a large-scale damage to forest lands on both sides of Istanbul, on the green lands of Kocaeli and Thrace Peninsulas. All the forests in the North which serve as oxygen generating areas, as breathing lungs of the City will be under great danger due to the bridge and its connection roads construction. An area about as large as the Belgrade Forest would be damaged as a result of the third bridge construction activities, as it is stated by the authorities that the third bridge and its highways will be linked to the Black Sea Coastal Highway which has done great harm to the natural Black Sea Coastline(2008). It is claimed that the bridge will contribute to the city economically however this means more unemployment and more homelessness.The government argue that this infrastructure project would create massive investment and jobs and tackle increasing unemployment rates(2010).The main aim of this 6-billion-dollar project is to channel money into the car, logistics and construction sectors. This money comes out of Istanbulites’ pockets and they will pay the cost in terms of reduced living standards. The bottled water that they drink wil become more expensive, and the air they breathe more polluted. Bu they need both to live.Istanbul’s population is already five times of what this area can cope with. With a new bridge, the population will increase. This will mean more unemployment and more homelessness. â€Å"The introduction of the third bridge will be the death of Istanbul,† said Dr. Pr. Murat Cemal Yalà §Ã„ ±ntan of Mimar Sinan University in an interview(2010). How to cite Third Bridge in Istanbul, Essay examples

Shakespeare uses sounds Essay Example For Students

Shakespeare uses sounds Essay This quotation shows Antonio as being a self-centred, horrible, and vengeful character. However, when Antonio is trying to persuade Sebastian, he doesnt say everything that is on his mind, and obscure and not very direct. Gradually, he becomes more open about the subject of murder. He appeals to Sebastians sense of ambition, and in the end Antonio wins his way. Antonio even says that he wont feel guilty about murdering the king:  SEBASTIAN: But for your conscience? ANTONIO: Ay, sir, where lies that?  This shows a lot about both of the characters. It shows that Antonio is a very heartless character, and that Sebastian is a naive character, and that he isnt using his brain to its full potential. Anyone could see that this was a stupid idea of Antonios, but with the good persuasion from Antonio, the murder goes ahead:  SEBASTIAN: Thy case, dear friend,  Shall become my precedent. How significant has magic been in the scenes we have read?  Magic has been quite a big issue in this play, as two of the main characters, which are Prospero and Ariel, base their commands on magic and basically every time that they appear in the play. Magic is a part of their character and what they posses as well.  We realise, (not straight from the beginning) that the storm, which is created, that brings the ship to its ruin, is by Prosperos demand, for Ariel to complete. Ariel is Prosperos servant, and Prospero commands him to do most things, which involve magic. Ariel does this through his magic powers that he has:   Prospero: Hast thou, spirit,  Performed to point the tempest that I bade thee? From Ariel, we are given a description of how he performed his task:  ARIEL: To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride  On the curled clouds  I flamed amazement.  Even the words that Shakespeare uses, sounds magical: to dive into fire, to rise on curled clouds. Nobody that is mortal could do things like this.  Magic plays a very important role in the plot of the play. You wouldnt have been able to have had the shipwreck if it wasnt for magic. Prospero knows that Ferdinand has a big interest in his daughter Miranda. Prospero wants to challenge Ferdinand to see how much he really does love Miranda, and to do this he needs Ariel to lead Ferdinand to Prospero by singing gently to him:  ARIEL: The wild waves whist;  Foot it featly here and there,  And sweet sprites bear  The burden. This speech is really very calm and gentle, and again the pacific words like waves whist and sprites bear all make it sound magical.  In Act Two, Ariel comes onto the scene, in order to put Gonzalo, Adrian, Alonso and Francisco to sleep, and he comes in playing solemn music to achieve this. When Ariel usually plays music, is seems to symbolize drowsiness which is what is happening in this part of the play. Later on in the scene he decides to wake them up, just before Gonzalo, Antonio and Alonso are about to be killed by Antonio and Sebastian. Ariel does this so that Antonio and Sebastian are to be caught red handed with swords in their hands:  ARIEL: Shake off slumber and beware.  Awake, awake!   The word beware used in this quotation, shows that he is trying to protect Gonzalo, Antonio and Alonso. We also see that the magic used in this play isnt so bad as might have been thought at the beginning of the play with the shipwreck. We realise that if magic wasnt a part of this play, Antonio and Sebastian would have killed half the characters!  It is not just Prospero and Ariel who know that magic is being practising, but it is also the mortal characters. Just after Ariel has woken Gonzalo, Antonio and Alonso from sleep, Gonzalo thinks that it is magic that had woken them from their sleep:  GONZALO: I heard a humming,  And a strange one too, which did awake me.  We realise that Ariel wants the King to go safely on to seek thy son. Magic keeps the characters alive in one aspect of this play, just like Ariel did to save Gonzalo, Antonio and Alonso. Magic is also significant in this play, as otherwise they would have been no shipwreck in the first place, because it was Ariel who caused this.

Scientific Method and Empiricism free essay sample

Empiricism is a philosophical doctrine that our knowledge only comes from experiences. It can be described as a central role of observation. Empiricism was eventually somewhat replaced around the 1970’s by Positivism, Humanism, Marxist, Feminism and Post-Colonialism. However it still plays an important role today’s society, for example in the cataloguing of species. There is about 1.7 million species are known to science, there is an estimated range of 4 to 20 million total species. 10,000 new invertebrates are found each year. There has been over 1000 new species discovered in the Mekong region alone in the last decade. Empiricism is based on a reliance of the senses; however there is a major emphasis on visual observation in particular. The mind is conveyed as a clean tablet (slate) or ‘tabula rasa’; it should not be subjected to any predisposition. This term was coined by Aristotle, what the mind thinks must be in it in the same sense as letters are on a tablet, which bears no actual writing; in the case of the mind this is what is believed to happen. We will write a custom essay sample on Scientific Method and Empiricism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page (Aristotle, On the Soul, 3.4.430a1). a blank mind with no influence of previous experiences can look at something with an open mind, how it really is, instead of how that person wants to see it. John Locke, who was a leading philosopher of British Empiricism, said that â€Å"there is nothing in the mind but what there is nothing in the mind but what entered it by way of the senses†. This perfectly conveys the concept of Empiricism. It is not performed for the sake of the collection for data; it is carried out with reference to theory and concepts. It is much more hands on experience than studying someone else’s hypothesis’ of a situation. The person carrying out the investigation as I have previously mentioned is not influenced by any other elements. Sauer stated that ‘geographical knowledge rests upon disciplined observation and it is a body of interferences drawn from classified and properly correlated observations†¦ we are concerned here simply with the relevance of the observations and the manner in which they are made. (1924:19) recc reading pg 11 cloke p Sidney Woolridge, a geographer also stated the necessity of observation in his writing, where he commemorates what he calls ‘an eye for country’, something which he feels that should be promoted in geographers from a young age: ‘The fundamental  principle is that the ground, not the map is the primary document†¦. From this first principle I pass to the second, that the essence of training in geographaphical fieldwork is the comprise of the ground with the map, recognising that the latter at its best is a very partial and imperfect picture of the ground, leaving it as our chief stimulus to observe the wide range of phenomena which the map ignores or at which it barely hints. (cloke pg 11/12) Empirical methods are still used to a certain extent today; Traditional information has been trusted for too long, they help integrating research and practice and because the Educational process or Instructional science needs to develop. The benefits of Empirical methods include the ability to comprehend and respond more accordingly to the ways of a situation, to give respect to relative contrasts, aid the building of knowledge and to give the chance to reach the professional level of research that has already been achieved. http://explorable.com/empirical-research The Empirical Cycle consists of the following stages: Observation- which involves gathering and organising of empirical data to for a Hypothesis. Induction- this is the way of creating a hypothesis  Deduction- these consequence with newly acquired empirical data Testing the hypothesis with new empirical data Evaluation of the outcome of testing . However Empiricism was criticized for not being very scientific and unreliable. That its methods has many limitations compared to other approaches i.e. Positivism. It is notably negligent of theory. The perception of something, which Empiricism relies on, is not universal. What one person sees as being correct can be incorrect for another. However, pure empiricism is not possible; one always enters the field of research with some preconceived ideas of what one is observing. In the absence of pure empiricism, one will alternate anything that would enable theory to emerge from data that has been acquired. Geography is concerned with spatial and temporal distribution of phenomena, processes and features. It is highly interdisciplinary. The concept of empiricism is indeed quite different to the methods of empiricism. The idea of empiricism is indeed quite an ideal concept where one would separate all thoughts and preconceptions from their  field of study; however in reality this is not fully possible. Although empiricism no longer plays such a dominant role in geography, induction is still used to generalise from our observations. It’s not as rigid as the ‘theory will emerge from data gathered’ belief as existed before. The falseness of hypotheses remains predominant to the question of science. It also enables the ability to separate science from non-science. It is what often separates science and non-science However, issues still arise today with this concept, such as when empirical data collection begins without proper knowledge of underlying theory. It also has the tendency to over-simplify often more complex questions. Overall empiricism has played a major role in the progress of research in Geography throughout the centuries, although problems arise in different circumstances such as what I have previously mentioned, it being not theoretical enough or providing simple answers for complex questions, if it is not fully relied on, instead used in conjunction with other concepts such as Marxist, Positivism or Humanism it can prove to be very useful in the further progression of the Geography today and in the future. Bibliography:

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.

Masculinity in Paul Laurence Dunbar's The Sport of the Gods Essay

Masculinity in Paul Laurence Dunbar's The Sport of the Gods - Essay Example Regardless of race, class or even geographic location, Dunbar presents the white men’s model of masculinity as the only embodiment of manhood. Responsibility represents an important aspect of masculinity the novel points out. This responsibility requires men to be heads of households and take care of their family. In fact, the South expects its men to be strong and hardworking in order to manage and secure their family needs. For instance, Maurice Oakley, a white man who owns a plantation, believes in this principle and urges his employees to follow his example. Married to Leslie Oakley, a docile and obedient woman who respects her southern values, Mr. Oakley fully plays his role. He especially encourages Berry Hamilton, his butler, to get married: It is then possible to see how Oakley's desire for Berry to find a wife (as he has found one) necessitates that Berry find a wife that is like his, one that embodies the role of an "appropriate" wife and has the disposition that wil l allow Berry to be the head of the household--or in this case, the house in the back of the "big house." Ultimately, Oakley wants Berry to become a black version of himself within the constraints of his own household. (Tsemo) Mr. Oakley wants his servant to marry a woman who will obey and respect him so that he can become a head of household. As the landlord, he urges his employees to follow his steps. When Berry Hamilton marries Fannie, he fulfills Mr. Oakley’s wish and becomes himself a head of household with all the responsibilities and expectations involved. Even though the two households differ because of the social status involved, both men exercise some authority over their wives. Despite their different racial and class background, their southern roots grant them power over their wives who also accept and even expect such role. Mr. Oakley and Berry not only share this privilege their gender grants them over their wives but they also share the same values. Born and ra ised in the South, they believe in the same set of principles and rules of conduct. Berry even raises his children, Joe and Kit, to respect and cherish these values as they grow up. Already a hardworking and trustworthy servant, Berry emulates his employer in his deed, actions and values (Tsemo). Despite their different social status, Berry even tries to follow Oakley’s economic principles by putting aside some money after his family expenses have been met. This economic organization allows him to live decently and save his family from need compared to other black men struggling to survive. This mild success costs him the envy and jealousy of the African American community that accuses him to imitate white people’s way of life. Even though both Oakley and Berry share the patriarchal powers they believe in, some of Oakley’s beliefs will ultimately cause Berry’s destruction. Accused of stealing money from Oakley’s cabinet, Berry is sentenced to 10 ye ars of prison. He therefore loses his head of household status as he leaves his helpless wife and children. This arrest affects his dignity, his reputation and even his manhood. The Southern Values he so much believes in fail to protect and save him and actually makes him an easy target for the accusation. Despite his 20 years of devoted and loyal service to Oakley, his race and class render him a suspect of a crime he did not commit. Convinced of his innocence, the loss of his freedom comes as a surprise.