Review of A Worn Path by Eudora Welty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Review of A Worn Path by Eudora Welty - Essay Example Subsequent to that, she begins to consider it a ghost. Later, she concludes that it was a scare crow. After moving from there, she goes to the ravine and she drinks water. While meditating, a big black dog attacks her. Interestingly, that big black dog does not further chase Phoenix as soon as she throws a cane at the dog. Subsequently, a white man appears with a chained dog. He talks to her. And, at some point of time, she becomes so courageous to face the threat of a pointed gun raised by the white man. In the later part of story, she comes to meet her grandson. This entire story does not depict a reality. Had she wanted to meet her grandson, what caused her to go to hill, go to the field of dead corn, and the ravine? At some point, she becomes so bold to push away an attacking dog! Works cited Welty, Eudora, â€Å"A Worn Path†, New York Times, 1941, Available at: http://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/41feb/wornpath.htm [accessed on 20 July, 2011]

Teenage Cosmetic Surgery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Teenage Cosmetic Surgery - Essay Example Branded clothes have firmed their place in the wardrobes of the teens. Apart from that, many teenager girls develop anorexia, a condition, which was earlier attributed to models, and actors who were in their mid twenties. In addition, the self-consciousness has elevated to such a high level that many teenagers indulge in cosmetic surgery at a very young age to enhance their looks. According to Quart, the rate of cosmetic surgery rate has increased from 1% to 3% of the total 4.6 million surgeries during the period of 2001 to 2003. In this study, the attempt is to explore the various aspects of cosmetic surgery among teenagers and how it has affected their lives. Consumerism and Teenage Cosmetic Surgery Consumerism does not always correspond to physical goods, but it propagates itself through other notions too. For example, the television programs, which show teenage prodigies in music and movies looking glamorous, teenage magazines, that show girls with a great body clad in skimpy clo thes, advertisements that appeal to teenagers with young girls and boys who have the perfect smile, nose, face and body (Quart, 2003). These tendencies send out a message showing that these are the elements that would make the popular among their own group and among the opposite sex. This phenomenon applies to teenage boys as well, as they want to look as masculine as possible at the earliest. While the boys resort to excessive gym sessions, protein shakes and steroids, the teenage girls typically take the route of cosmetic surgery. For teenagers and adolescents, the two major cosmetic procedures, liposuction as well as breast enhancement are gaining immense popularity. In 2003, around 223, 000 cosmetic surgeries were performed on teenagers and out of that, around 39,000 were enhancement procedures such as breast enhancement, silicone implants, tummy tucks and nose reshaping (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2003). Hence, it is necessary to take a detailed look, under stand and evaluate the circumstances in which cosmetic surgery is appropriate and can be recommended to teenagers. While, there is very less research on this topic, it is necessary to explore it, in light of increasing number of surgeries. Cosmetic Reconstructive Surgery – When is it recommended? It goes without doubt that reconstructive surgery is a great boon for many teenagers as well as preteens. The surgeries that are conducted to correct conditions like cleft lips or palates can be classified under those. In addition, surgery to remove big warts or moles on the face that mar the appearance is also popular. These procedures are necessary because they help the teenagers and the children lead a normal life and prevent them from being objects of ridicule. Hence, removal of these conditions can help the teenagers get rid of any psychological negative effects because of the deformity. However, with the advent of showbiz world and television programs, it has become very challe nging to define what constitutes a ‘normal’ physical appearance and when the desire to look stylish and noteworthy takes dominance in such a way that they consider opting for surgery. The definition of this ‘normal’ appearance has various facets as the teenage girls become increasingly conscious if the nose is slightly small or if the breasts are not as large as of their favourite teen diva. Cosmetic surgery and Teenagers The biggest concern with regard to teenagers and plastic surgery is that the body is not fully

Tale of Genji-Evanescence of Life Essay Example for Free

Tale of Genji-Evanescence of Life Essay Man has always been the one that chases the woman, and the harder the woman is for them to get the more the man wants her. People tend to not appreciate what they have in front of them until they don’t have them anymore. The evanescence of a man’s relationship with a woman of importance is a recurring theme throughout the book. This is demonstrated frequently through Genji’s relationships with the women and people he cared about throughout his life. In Genji’s life he encounters a variety of women through which the same routine occurs; he falls in love, he loses her then he suffers. An important aspect of this evanescence of women is the consolation phase which follows where male characters seek comfort for lost from women of similar physical traits. In The Tale of Genji, Murasaki Shikibu convey the idea of evanescence of important relationships through Genji’s life. Genji’s mother Kiritsubo, who is the Emperors true love, died when Genji was only three years old. Genji had very little time with his birth mother; this foreshadows Genji’s whole life as he matures of how he continuously suffers from losing the women he cares about. When Kiritsubo passed away the Emperor was filled with unending sorrow, he â€Å"had clung all too foundly to his old love, despite universal disapproval, and he did not forget her now, but in a touching way his affection turned to [Fujitsubo], who was a great consolation to him† (Murasaki14). The Emperor seeks a substitute for his wife while Genji seeks a mother. The Emperors grief over Kiritsubo is eased when he meets Fujitsubo because she almost exactly resembles Kiritsubo. Although Genji does not remember his mother much, when the Dame of Staff told him that Fujitsubo resembled his mother, Genji â€Å"wanted always to be with her so as to contemplate her to his heart’s content† (Murasaki14). In order to find comfort, both Genji and his father seek substitution after losing the women the y love. Genji’s relationship with Fujitsubo was short lived. Fujitsubo was a mother replacement when Genji was young, and when Genji came of age he was denied access to her. Genji had an affair with Fujitsubo, falls in love with her and got her pregnant; even though no one found out he still cannot marry her because she is his father’s wife. When Genji was eighteen, he discovers Murasaki in the hills north of Kyoto. Though Murasaki was only ten years old, she already looked extremely similar to Fujitsubo. To Genji, Murasaki is a subsitude for Fujitsubo; he is drawn into her from the moment he saw her and was determined to adopt her no matter what. Genji told the nun that, â€Å"There is an unfathomable bond between her and me, and my heart went out to her the moment I saw her† (Murasaki 99). He falls in love with Murasaki because of her physical resemblance to Fujitsubo. In the end, Genji successfully took Murasaki away to his household before her birth father could make his proper claim. Genji was a father status to Murasaki when she was young, but when she came of age Genji married her. Genji and his first wife Aoi’s romantic relationship is short lived, Genji and Aoi is married for a while, she passed away when he just began to care about her. Genji did not have a good married relationship with Aoi because he finds her cold and unsympathetic, but when Aoi died Genji was depressed. After giving birth Aoi became very sick, Genji went to visit her, â€Å"The sight of her lying there, so beautiful yet so think and weak that she hardly seemed among the living, aroused his love and his keenest sympathy. The hair streaming across her pillow, not a strand out of place, stuck him as a wonder, and as he gazed at her, he found himself unable to understand how for all these years he could have seen any flaw in her† (Murasaki176). Genji did not appreciate or notice Aoi’s beauty until he loses her. After the Emperor died, Genji’s power and influence d eclined. Genji and Oborozukiyo also had a short relationship. They were caught in the act of making love by the Minister of the Right. After knowing that their affair was found out, Genji sent a message to Oborozukiyo saying that, â€Å"I am not surprised to have heard nothing from you, but I am sorrier and more disappointed than words can say now that I am leaving all my world behind† (Murasaki 235). Genji was refrained from seeing her and was exiled to Suma by Lady Kokiden. Throughout Genji’s life, he always falls in love with the women, then loses her and suffers in the end. It is also human nature that the harder it is to get something the more we want to get it. Genji fell in love with Utsusemi when he visited the governor of Kii in Kyoto. Utsusemi’s little brother Kokimi appealed to Genji, therefore, he took him into his personal service. Kokimi helped Genji deliever letters to Utsusemi, and Genji â€Å"learned that there was no hope, her astonishing obduracy made him so detest his own existence that his distress was painfully obvious† (Murasaki 44). He tried hard to seduce her but kept on getting rejected. Genji got hurt when he was rejected by Utsusemi, â€Å"It infuriated him that her amazing resistance, far from disappearing, had instead risen to this pitch, and he was beside himself with outrage and injury, although he also knew perfectly well that strength of character was what had attracted him to her in the first place† (Murasaki 44).When Kokimi was unable to set up Genji to meet with Utsusemi, Genji tells him, â€Å"Very well, then you, at least shall not leave me† and had him lie down with him (Murasaki 44). Since Genji was unable to get Utsusemi, in a way Kokimi became a replacement for her. In The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, Genji’s always have short lived relationships with the women he cares about. When it comes to love, Genji tends to not have self-control. He knew he should not pursue Fujitsubo, Oborozukiyo, and many other women, but still he does it. Therefore, Genji has to suffer from constantly losing the woman he loves as the consequence to his actions. After falling in love, losing his love, and suffering, Genji always looks for someone who is physically similar as a subsitution. When the first object of desire proves to be out of reach, attention is naturally transferred to the next best thing. Bibliography Murasaki, Shikibu, and Royall Tyler. The Tale of Genji. New York: Viking, 2001. Print.

How Far Kim Is An Indian English Literature Essay

How Far Kim Is An Indian English Literature Essay Kim is a fine artistic creation written by Rudyard Kipling. It has a strong impact on the readers mind that gives a strong sense of spirit for adventurous journey, whereby the two main characters are on the way for searching their respective goals. Kim wants to find his fortune where as Tahsoo Lama wants to discover a certain river of arrow. All the characters in the novel, are part of Great Game. For Mahbub Ali, Hari Babu, Creighton Sahib it means a spy game, a political one i.e. a part of British imperial system. For Tashoo Lama it is a wheel of life, wheel of things in its spiritual and philosophical meanings. For Kim it is a fulfillment of his personal curious desire and nature. Throughout the novel Kim faces a problem of his identity. The problem arises due to his identification with different identities, cultures and ideologies. We are informed that he is a white born orphan who wears some charmings in his neck which are his only heritage to prove him British. His indigenious characteristics place him with Indians. He is brought up in Lahore by a poor half-caste Hindu woman. Our point of study here is to see to what extent he is an Indian? Kipling is determined him to be a white, a British. In the very first page of the novel he says : Though he was burned black as any native; though he spoke the vernacular by preference and his mother tongue in a clipped uncertain sing-song, though he consorted on terms of perfect equality with the small boys of the bazaar; Kim was white a poor white of the very poorest.[Chap.-1] Thus in this way he has denounced absolutely all the cultural and social elements which make a man and give him identity. To prove him British, is to isolate him. The birth and the parents do not create the identity only. It is designed by society and culture, and his interactions in it. Most necessarily Kipling introduces Kim with Indianness, Indian objects, Indian ideas, and thinking. He is grown up in the society of Lahore city. He lives the wild life of Arabian Nights and he is able to see the beauty of it. He discards English style of remaining alienated from commonness. It is his nativity which separates him from his ancestors. Kims society includes Abdullah, Mahbub Ali, the Muslims; Chote Lal, the Hindu; the fakirs; the small boy of bazaar; the native policeman; water carrier; Jawahir Singh the carpenter. He is not different from all these members of Lahore city society. He is looked after by a half-caste Hindu woman who wished that he should wear the European garments but Kim found it easier to slip into Hindu or Mohammedan garb[Chap.-1] In company of his native friends he is at ease. He knows their language and all castes. It is his society in which he grows up learning the very native knowledge of it. Often natives are defined with their characteristics like simplicity, down to earth, knowledge which comes out of every day practical life, curiosity, excitement, innocence. Kim has all these qualities. He is very curious to know about the new things. He behaves in native manner and the wisdom he shows is more Indian. He quotes the proverbs which maintains deep understanding, knowledge and life long experience. If we consider Kim a monolithic character he is less Indian than British. But he is not a universal white man because he hates missionaries, he prefers vernacular and he is always able to attain sympathy from others. He hates going school where the classrooms are gloomy for him. He lives his life among street boys begging for food, which he can surely attain accepting the white society. He wants to live a free life as do the Indians, so he remains away from missionaries or any white person who can take possession over him, in order not to indulge in unadventurous life of routine and seriousness. He is born white Christian and he is well conscious of it but it bothers him to enter again in white society. He entertains his life with Indians without any limitation. He is happy in living with them and treats them equal to him though his nature is to take over anybody is only due to his highly experienced and open-minded out spoken personality. Contrary to it,the Britishers know nothing of India. He has adventures there and every secret activity attracts him. So he is shown always interested in moving in streets in dark, climbing high on the roof of houses to explore somewhat of his interest. The darkness and his colour black both are associated with the Indians by the Britishers in context of India.He knows Indian sensibility because he has lived with them.His alliance with Mahbub Ali started only with his need of food and his curious nature leads him to new experiences. He has nothing to do with Britishers and with their game. He is appears as a secular personality. He says to Mahbub Ali that he is neither Muslim nor he is Hindu even he does not say that he is chrisitan. He may criticize a Lama or a Hindu but he never claims his views about religion. When he is introduced to Catholicism he sees it a new set of Gods and Godlings [Chap.-7].Even the idea of being a Sahib or a White vexes him.He says to Lama-Thou hast said there is neither black nor white.Why plague me with this talk?'[Chap.-15]. He is alien to a British and has framed himself in Indian style. Indianness has ripen in him and if we want too see Britishness in him we can see only reflections of it. He gives the characters but more the readers to feel at home in their native environment. His wisdom is common with the priests in village who take possession of the minds of all villagers. He is confined to India. If he would have another identity or from another place this could not have happened. There would be some connections from outside. He is responding to both Indians as well as English in a way which may suit them but he takes no responsibility of it. Typically he belongs to the class of people in India who had firm faith in appropriateness of British rule over India, whose ideas are inspired by west but actions limited to their own cultural environment The relationship between Lama and Kim is also a typical Indian relation between Guru and Shishya.He is a chela, not a disciple of Lama. Kim insists on his being chela. He says to Lama I am your chela. Am I not?Am I not your chela? Kiplings use of words contextualize him in certain periphery. The symbolicism also suggests the Indianness in Kim. How can a man follow the way or the great game when he is so always pestered by women?, he says. The way or the great game symbolize the sacred path to reach the ultimate truth. The words cannot be taken only for spy game. Kipling says that Kim thought in the vernacular on this occasion.And this is possible only by his relation with Lama and his Indian roots, which made him able to think spiritually. He loves the country. Mahbub asks him And who are thy people friend of all the world? Kim replies This great and beautiful land. The orality of characters and speeches connects the story, the character and even the author to the land upon which it does perform itself. The proverbs must come out from that specific place to which the user belong and its user must have also the wide sense and understanding for using it. It is not a days work and he who knows it and uses is more of that place than other. Kim uses the proverbs and language splendidly. The significant thing is that the proverbs, have their particular tone and sense that they are not found in another languages. They are more Indian than any other things in the novel can be. The colloquial speeches also gives it an Indian colour. Orality and meaning of dialogue both are performative and context bound, and moves away from European styles and influences. These are situated outside the European or English perfiery. It has its own Indian social space. Language which is given to Kim by Kipling is Indian in meaning and context. The language of English priests, Lurgan Sahib and Creighton sahib is different from that of Kim. Kims language is hybridization of English, Hindi and Urdu. There we can clearly see the dominance of pure English over the English mixed with vernacular hence two different levels are created and Kim is attributed lower one i.e. more identified with Indians, specially at that time. The language teaches about ones status and identity. English priests sends him for learning English means that so far he is not an English. He has learned and accepted Indian culture and values. His acception of guru-chela relationship with Lama and his treatment of a sick boy at Banaras are the best example of it. He thinks in Hindi (Hindustani), in the tongue he knows best as the writer says[Chap.6]. It means that primarily he is Hindustani than it does not matter what other language he speaks.His use of Urdu and Hindi language maintains Indianness in him. He is a local legend. If Kim can use aurhoritative language then it does not mean that he is Britisher because it can be practiced by any other Indian also. Being a part of Great Game also does not identify him with Creighton or Lurgam Sahib. If it is the case then what you will say about Hari Babu who is a part of Great Game and speaks English Kim has split consciousness of being both an Indian and a British. His frequent desire for companionship of Lama and the road, his disinterestedness in being a Sahib, and going to school are the strong example of his re-assertion of native cultural identity. His identity can be constructed only in according to his socio-political economic binaries under in which he lived. Kims blackness is first point which separates him from Britishers. Socially he is a part of Indian world. Kim in his early childhood is given to a full grown manliness. Perhaps it will not be wrong to say that he seems to be character of authors imagination, not from the real world. But, what the reality is, that he is offspring of Indian soil. He is moulded in Indian form. He is formed by Indian society and culture not by English. He inherited his body from white parents but it is laid upon circumstances what will happen to his body in future. He enjoys his position well in his society but he is also a person who looks for future. His father had prophesized for his future and he sets himself to go for the search of his future. He is a native hero who is on his mission for making a better life. So he, joins the Madrissah though it is not of his test. There he will be a Sahib but to be a Sahib is not his dream. He thinks that after his schooling he will be more able to play his adventures. Being left by Hari at Rani Sahibas house he feels that he is out of game, the game of adventure. He cant bear it and leaves the house. He knows his birth and in playing games he uses this white racial birth in a political use. It is only a impression on native Indians but he presents himself in his native garbs so to not differentiate with them. His continuous search to find an answer of who is Kim? at last results in humanistic approach that he is only a Kim not a Sahib or a English imperialist one. He is self-centered Indian in his pursuit of joy and adventurous life. Creighton, Burton and Bennett are the part of White world. They cannot part themselves from it. Only after confirmation of Kims white origin they are ready to adopt him. The evidences of this white origin are only his fathers clearance certificate and a note.If Kim had not these proofs he had to remain only an ordinary Indian. Then his colour black, vernacular tongue, his habits, his outward presentation would construct his identity. Thus, language and culture supersedes over race and ethnicity. From Lama he learns myths of Buddha and makes it own objective to search for river. -Oah it was made by our lord Buddha à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. I am his disciple and we must find that riverà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ it is so veree valuable to us.[Chap-5] His joys are the broad land and fields he felt,were a cog-wheel unconnected with any machinery.But I shall argue that he is not an absolute Indian.He knows his British origin but frequently he neglects to be a British.He is conscious of his high birth and goes with Lama only for his own search for red bull. He shows his European egoism, tries to take over everybody. To his native friends, also to Britishers he is a White and superior to all other Indians. Kim hates them Bennett thinks that once a Sahib is always a Sahib; but he avoids Sahibs and Madrissah. To him, for a moment, he may be Sahib but no longer he wants to remain a Sahib. He has crossed all the whites who want war, rule etc. and thinks them fools and wants to see new things. Lama says But no white man knows the land and the customs of the land as thou knowest. Writer seems to make him an Indian without loosing any Whiteness / Britishness in him. There is a White boy by the barracks waiting under a tree who is not a White boyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. He is not like other boys'[Chap-6]. It is the Madrissah where his one identity replaces another. By teaching and learning identities are created. It is Madrissah where a second type of learning starts. Kim says In Madrissah I will learn. In Madrissah I will be a Sahib. In Madrissah for the rest of the day Kim found himself an object of distinguished consideration among a few hundred white men.[Chap-6] Madrissaha becomes the distinguishing point. Mahbub and Creighton Sahib fears that being long in madrissah he can loose his original personality. It is madrissah where the process of making him a Sahib starts. After his discovery of red bull and confrontation with officers he still, is not ready to accept himself a Sahib. He writes to Mahbub Ali By means of charm about my neck. It was established that I was the son of some Sahib in regiment.[Chap-6] A priest gave me a new name and clothed meà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Later he says to himself à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ and I am a Sahib. No I am Kim. This is great world and I am only Kim. Who is Kim?[Chap-6] Here Kim seems to establish his identity beyond the Sahib/White world. He knows the world is great. He asserts himself Kim of any place. He is the man of all the world who does not create distances and differences. After all he can not be said as a whole (full) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.Indian nor he can be a English because his parents were Irish and author gives stress upon his Irishness when he says his mother has been Irish too. He is a great synthesis of the East and the West. British and India.He comes out from madrissah in form of British agent. He can no longer remain an Indian. He becomes a hybrid of heterogenigenious elements, Indian and English, high and low. The hybridity and heterogentiy glitters but further it can produce nothing. Kim also leaves us in state of puzzlement. He does not give any idea to whither he moves. He himself can not solve himself that who is Kim? He leaves Rani Sahibas house in meditation. The words struck to his ear I am Kim. I am Kim. But what is Kim? He cant find answer. Kipling also tries for a solution but he fails with his words Roads were meant to be walked upon, houses to be lived in, cattles to be driven fields to be tilled and men and women to be talked.[Chap-15]

Medicinal Herbs and Pharmaceutical Drugs :: Health, Medication

A herb-drug interaction is defined as any pharmacological modification caused by a herbal substance(s) to another exogenous-chemical (e.g. a prescription medication) in the diagnostic, therapeutic or other action of a drug in or on the body (Brazier and Levine, 2003). This relates to drug-drug interactions, herb-herb interaction or drug-food interaction. A herb can potentially mimic, magnify or reduce the effects of co-administered drugs and the consequences of these interactions can be beneficial, undesirable or harmful effects (Fugh and Ernst, 2001). It should be pointed out that both the putative active ingredient(s) and other constituents present in that herbal mixture have the potential to interact with various classes of drugs (Miller, 1998). Many medicinal herbs and pharmaceutical drugs are therapeutically active at one dose and toxic at another. Interaction between herbs and drugs may increase or decrease the pharmacological or toxicological effects of either component. Synergistic and therapeutic effects may complicate the dosing of long-term medication. e.g. herbs traditionally used to decrease glucose concentrations in diabetes could therapeutically precipitate hypoglycemia if taken in combination with conventional drugs (Fugh, 2000). Plausible cases of herb-drug interactions include: bleeding when warfarin is combined with ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), garlic (Allium sativum), danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) and decreased bioavailability of digoxin, theophylline, and cyclosporine when they are combined with St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) etc.,(Shu-feng et al., 2007). Health–care practitioners should caution patients against mixing herbs and pharmaceutical drugs (Fugh, 2000). Cardiovascular diseases particularly myocardial toxicity is one of the leading causes of mortality. Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases are many, like hypertension, atherosclerosis, drugs like doxorubicin & catecholamines like isoproterenol, isoprenaline etc (Gupta et al., 2004). Doxorubicin/Adriamycin (Dox) is a powerful, well established and highly efficacious drug in the fight against many kinds of cancers like solid tumors, leukemia’s, soft tissue sarcoma, breast cancer, small cell carcinoma of the lung and esophageal carcinomas. But its clinical usefulness is still restricted due to its specific toxicities to cardiac tissues (Zhon et al., 2001). Congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and electrocardiographic changes were demonstrated after cumulative Dox administration (Lenaz and Page, 1976). The possible mechanisms proposed for myocardial toxic effects of Dox include free radical induced myocardial injury, lipid peroxidation (Myers et al.

Memories of the Titanic :: Sinking of the Titanic

I remember my childhood years quite well. I had lived with my big brother, Colby Winston, ever since I was five, I don’t remember much before that though. We traveled all around Europe; Colby was a big gambler and loved to make bets. He lied, he cheated, everything was always changing. Colby promised me one thing though, â€Å"Reagan,† he would say, â€Å"one days it gunna be you and me, in the United States.† I really wanted to believe him, but I never saw it coming true. But then one day, one lucky day, Colby won the biggest hand of poker. Along with money, cigars, and a bracelet for me, he won two tickets to get aboard the Titanic! On April 10, 1912, Colby and I boarded the Titanic from the Southampton Harbor. It was my first time on a ship but I wasn’t that scared, Colby would describe me as a girl without fear. There were thousands of people lined up to board, Colby made me hold his hand so we wouldn’t get separated. After we put our bags into our third class room I wanted to explore. Colby didn’t mind that I wondered around but before I left he would always say, â€Å"If anything bad happens, you know where to find me.† He would be at one of the gambling tables testing his luck again. I loved to go watch the first class people through the ballroom windows. They were so proper and perfect. Sometimes I would wish that Colby would get rich so we could live like that, things would be a lot easier for us considering we didn’t have much money. The next day, Colby and I ate lunch on the deck with some of his gambling friends. It was really interesting to listen to their conversations, one of the guys they called Cash brought up that the Titanic was an unsinkable ship. â€Å"That’s not true,† I said, â€Å"no ship can be unsinkable, if it crashes it will sink.† They all just laughed at me, Colby said I just didn’t understand, and he was right, I didn’t. I went to bed early that night, after my walk around deck watching the sun set. I was so tired that I drifted into a deep sleep. â€Å"Reagan, wake up!† Colby was shaking me as if something terrible had happened â€Å"We got to go, get our shoes! Quickly!† I did as he asked, even though I didn’t know what was happening.

Cultural Differences Essay

Sexual development is a natural part of life. Sex is a biological form of the male and female make up. Sexual development is considered a universally biological aspect of life. Although, sexual development is the foundation of human existence everyone that is biologically labeled as a male or female do not identify themselves as such. Also social encounters that an individual experience develops gender identity. In this paper I will discuss the implication of the sociopolitical factors of gender and sexual identity/orientation in multiculturalism. I will address the following questions; what is gender identity and sexual identity/orientation? What is the role of gender identity in cross-cultural societies? What is the role of sexual identity/orientation in cross-cultural societies? Finally what of their significance in understanding cultural difference? Gender identity has been defined as the possession by somebody of a conviction of belonging to a particular sex, regardless of whether this corresponds to his or her anatomical sex (Segall, pg 227, 1999). The universally acceptable definition is the specification of a sexual role whether male or female it is not the biological make up as of sexual identity. There are many different perceptions of cultures within gender identity given it is socially-cultured influence for example the LGBT community which is a socially created group in result of behaviors developed from external factors. Gender identity is a socially driven aspect of sexual make up. â€Å"Gender refers to the meanings attached to being male or female, as reflected in social statues, roles, and attitudes regarding the sexes†¦gender roles, gender identity, and sex-role ideology are not inherently biological. Therefore gender identity is not an inherently developed part of the human. In fact it is a psychologically developed discipline because it is a behavior and can be influenced by external factors. Given that gender is easily manipulated and not manifested, male and female react to their gender roles in different ways. â€Å"Conditions in subsistence-level societies that can produce sex differences  in psychological differentiation through socialization practices that may differentially influence the two sexes† (Segall, pg 232, 1999). Sexual identity is how an individual sexual identify them as and sexual identity has a direct correlation to refers to whom one is sexually and romantically attracted to. Sex alone is the biological make up of a human genital. In today’s society many cultures will consider a person sexual identity as identification of sexuality. Also in a more traditional conservative culture sexuality identity is of what GOD created one as at birth. Yet for evolutionist sexual identity is how one identifies one’s self as. In contrast sexual orientation is the nature of sexual preference, the direction of somebody’s sexual desire, tow ard people of the opposite sex, people of the same sex, or people of both sexes (Segall, pg 229, 1999. Unlike gender identity sexual identity is a physiological make up of human sexual desires and orientation. The difference between gender identity and sexual identity is the nature vs. nurture concept. Gender identity is a product of nurture, and learned behavior while sexual identity/orientation is nature and apart of biology it is inherent. Gender identity is a universally accepted termed that is used in most cultures. Gender is a very controversial topic is conservative cultures. â€Å"The perspectives on the politics of difference obtained from poststructuralist queer theory underdetermine identity as it is experienced by a distinct subset of individuals, emblematized by non-traditional, non-conforming, and transgressive black queers† (Phillips & Stewart, pg 379, 2008). In mainstream society the ideology of gender identity has transitioned from male and female roles into gender confusion roles, which birth the LGBT population. In terms of cross-cultural correlation gender identity has a ethnocentric concept, meaning identity is very one side and biased. The groups that does not fall in the null group has to from a negative opinion of why they choose to have a gender iden tity verse a normal mainstream male female given identity. â€Å"Identity allows [groups] to attain voice and visibility against a context of social repression as did discussions concerning the identities of people†¦reinforcing social ascription and categorization† (Phillips & Stewart, pg 380, 2008). Sexual identity/orientation as it relates to cross-culturalism is an inherented from of humans. Sexual formation as a biological form has very little  variance across cultures due to the intangibility of sexual make-up. Yet in today’s society the relaxed notion of sex has transition into a not so culturally acceptable concept. Sexual identity/orientation is now the freedom of choice. A individual has the ability to decide which sex they want to identify which also the partner they want to share that identity with. â€Å"Behavior differences between the sexes are not identical in every society is enough to suggest that culture plays a role in shaping sex differences† (Segall ect, pg 227, 1999). External factors has shape to roles of sexual and how it impact each specific group, for example the LBGT population. In traditional perspective of sexual identity/orientation cultures associate sexuality with religion and considered sexual promiscuity as a sin. â€Å"Social articulation of sexuality had been organized primarily by religion and it was fundamentally the religion monopoly over the sins of the flesh† (Parker, pg 253, 2009). Finally the significance of gender identity and sexual identity/orientation in understanding cultural difference are the generalizations associated with the terms. Across cultural both factors have played a significant role in the liberal society from conservative. As children each culture bestow key gender roles as a form of upbringing from simply playing with dolls or truck to assisting the women in the kitchen and the men at work, each culture has a general ways of teaching socially accepted roles into their children. â€Å"All societies observed different inborn behavioral tendencies in males and females and shaped their socialization practices to reinforce such biologically determined tendencies† (Segall ect, pg 237, 1999). In conclusion although, sexual development is the foundation of human existence everyone that is biologically labeled as a male or female does not identify themselves as such. Also social encounters that an individual experience develops gender identity. The universally acceptable definition is the specification of a sexual role whether male or female it is not the biological make up as of sexual identity. Reference Nuttbrock, L., Bockting, W., Hwahng, S., Rosenblum, A., Mason, M., Macri, M., & Becker, J. (2009). Gender identity affirmation among male-to-female transgender persons: a life course analysis across types of relationships and cultural/lifestyle factors. Sexual & Relationship Therapy, 24(2), 108-125. Parker, R. (2009). Sexuality, culture and society: shifting paradigms in sexuality research. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 11(3), 251-266. doi:10.1080/13691050701606941 Phillips, L., & Stewart, M. R. (2008). â€Å"I Am Just So Glad You Are Alive†: New Perspectives on Non-Traditional, Non-Conforming, and Transgressive Expressions of Gender, Sexuality, and Race Among African Americans. Journal Of African American Studies, 12(4), 378-400. Segall, M. H., Dasen, P. R., Berry, J. W., & Poortinga, Y. H. (1999). Human behavior in global perspective: An introduction to cross-cultural psychology (2nd ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.