Pushing the Gender Boundaries in Sports :: Expository Essays

Pushing the Gender Boundaries in Sports When women and men participate in sports dominated by the opposite gender there is often overwhelming objection to individuals defying the norm. Often women are the people who attempt to participate in so called non-traditional sports. But just as importantly, men are struggling against a similar resistance. An example of this is when men participate on field hockey teams dominated by women, creating positive and negative implications to the game and also socially. However, individuals who make the move across gender boundaries in any sport are helping pave the way for equality in a sector of our society that is still bound to traditional sex roles. Historically field hockey was introduced in the United States to women. However, the game that originated in Europe and is played virtually all over the world is also played by men. The anomaly of only women playing field hockey is just an issue in the US and has lead to the recent controversy of men participating on all female teams from elementary school to the college level. Although title IX requires that equal opportunity for participating in sports be given to both males and females, the debate on the costs and benefits of this statute is still heated. Those who oppose men participating in field hockey claim that their presence on the field will change the nature of the "women's" game. The greater strength of men could make the game more aggressive or even violent, and potentially overpower the female athletes who are participating along their side. There has been a valid and long-standing claim, stating that female participation in sports provides an arena where girls and women can become empowered and gain confidence to face life's battles. Many people see men as a threat to this value suggesting that a mans presence on the field could intimidate the women, thereby dominating the game, and taking away a safe place for girls to grow and find their own strengths. Another argument in opposition to men participating in field hockey, as well as other female dominated sports is aligned with the idea of equality. It is suggested that despite title IX, females have yet to gain gender equality and are still not given the benefits that their male counterparts receive. Therefore, male participation in the traditionally female sports would be giving men opportunities that women are still fighting for.

Reasons for Devotion to Hindu Goddesses

Reasons for devotion to Hindu goddesses Hinduism portrays feminine divinity in a more exalted way than most other religions do. Though Hindu goddesses are usually depicted as consorts, wives or companions to a Hindu god, cases exist in which they are worshipped independently; Tantrism for example, where it is believed that women posses more spiritual power than men, thus men can achieve divinity through union with a woman (â€Å"Tantrism†).Most villages reinforce the mother aspect of goddesses and worship them individually as their protector, regarding them as having originated in the area and thus being tied to the health and prosperity of the village (Caldwell). Others who may devote themselves to a goddess might be in order to conquer or flourish in a particular area, like how someone who wishes to achieve higher wisdom would praise Sarasvati, goddess associated with learning. Many scholars question the origins of goddess worship, and it is argued that they most probably em erged in the Indus Valley civilization (2500-1500 B. C.E). The civilization, relying mainly on agriculture, likely worshipped female earth deities that represented fertility, regeneration, life and death, to aid in their harvests (Erndl 19). Scenes depicted in their seals also pointed to the fact that the Indus Valley people were perhaps â€Å"goddess-revering† (McDermott 3608). Some people have raised the point of feminism as a notion of commitment to a Hindu goddess, as goddesses that appear strong and independent exist in Hinduism, which is virtually unseen in other prominent religions. A popular question is then raised, â€Å"Is the Goddess a Feminist? Rita Gross acknowledges the difficulty of a concrete answer to the question, and responds with an ‘It depends’. She proposes that the answer lies in the definition of feminist that the person might have, and how the Goddess’s devotees are. The idea is simple enough; if the believer is feminist, then the y will worship their goddess as if they were feminist as well. If the believer is not feminist, then they will worship their goddess as if they were not feminist. She states that â€Å". . . gods and goddesses are created by devotees . . . † (104).Gross’s statement rings true, especially when we examine much of the confusion shrouding Kali. Kali is almost always depicted as having black skin, a near naked body, long, disheveled hair and a long, lolling tongue. She wears ghastly adornments like a necklace made from human heads, and her fangs are long and usually dripping with blood. Her illustrations are mainly intimidating, making her appear wild and uncontrollable nearly perpetually. She is, however, a popular deity to worship in Tantrism, and is revered as the highest deity, above Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.Millions regard her as Mother, and aspire to overcome the fear of death through confrontation. Kali’s origins are believed to have their roots in South Asia, where she was apparently worshipped through rituals and blood sacrifices. O’Flaherty distinguishes a figure, a demoness, in early Sanskrit literature called Long-Tongue, who he points to conceivably being a more ancient form of Kali. The first time the name Kali appears in texts is in Mundaka Upanisad, however, not as a goddess but as a tonguelike flame of sacrificial fire.The first mention of a goddess with the same name is in the Mahabharata, who appears in the dreams of warriors to give them a warning of death. However, it is through her later appearances in the Devimahatmya that Kali is brought closer into Hindu religion (Kripal 156). She is said to have sprouted when Durga, angered by the asuras who pointed their weapons at her, turned into an inky black color on her forehead and summons Kali. Kali then proceeds to kill all the asuras in a frenzied manner, later offering the heads of their leaders Chanda and Munda to Durga.Her second appearance is in the follow chapter, where she battles Raktabija, and assures success by sucking all of his blood so he could not reproduce anymore, per Durga’s command, while she slayed him (â€Å"Devimahatmya† ch. 7-8). Another myth ties Kali with Parvati, telling of an army of demons that threatens the safety of the world. Men cannot slay them, and so Shiva calls for his wife to aid them in battle. Parvati accepts the responsibility, swallowing the poison stored in Shiva’s throat and morphing into Kali.However, she becomes too drunk with the poison and, after defeating all the demons, threatens to destroy the world herself with her berserk dance. In an attempt to subdue his wife, Shiva then lays on the floor in front of Kali, who in her delirious state does not notice his presence and steps on him. Shamed that she had showed such disgraceful behavior, she bites her tongue in humiliation. The last scene of the above tale is illustrated in a lot of imagery, and while the tale itself has a lot of variations, many Hindus will arrive at the same resolution.It is in this perception that many contradictions lie. Another question rises, â€Å"What does Kali’s tongue-biting really mean? † Most Hindus will claim that it is to show shame, which is what the action means in Bengali culture, however the meaning behind the action might seem unlikely since Kali, who was previously interpreted as always being wild and threatening, that is, sporting qualities that an ‘ideal wife’ should not posses, was suddenly showing a submissive nature, ashamed of having disrespected her husband.From a Tantric view, Kali is mentioned to be standing on Shiva because she is engaging in reversed sexual intercourse with him, and â€Å"delighting in the waves of passion and arousal that flow from such an act. † It is evident that the feeling shame is rather unreasonable given the situation mentioned. Furthermore, a reading from Mishra of the Tantric reading suggests that, as Kali dances around madly, Shiva sleeps on the floor in front of her in an attempt to calm her and, In her blinded anger she did not see him and stepped on his chest.At that moment Siva’s penis became erect and entered Kali. At that instant Kali recognized her husband and pulled out her tongue in ecstasy and her anger disappeared. (Kripal 161) The above poses a wholly different view on the widely-known myth, and while it might not surely accept or reject any view, it inspires doubt on the real occurrence of the tale. Having explained the confusion around Kali’s popular myth and notorious tongue, a common misconception is brought to light which may or may not be the product of ‘believers believing what they want to believe’.Hinduism, having being shaped by a patriarchal society, might have sparked the want to dilute the image of the powerful and popular goddess Kali into one more acceptable for its community. An additional myth, telling of how Shiva defeats Kali in a dance match and succeeds in subduing her, resulting in her being more docile and calmer, doesn’t add up to the rest of the story around them as Kali is more often than not depicted as a wife that constantly provokes and encourages disruptive behavior from her husband (Kinsley 122).However, bringing up another point by Gross, she mentions, But, in the long run, if the goddesses’ devotees are feminists, then the goddesses will either come to be seen as feminists or will be abandoned by their feminist devotees. (104) It is plausible to arrive to the conclusion from the above stated that, if the religion a person follows does not satisfy or reflect their personal beliefs as well, they will abandon it; it is common sense.It should be mentioned as well that Hinduism is, rather than a single religion, a family of religions that are closely related to each other. Therefore, it should be plausible to assume that perhaps, the previously mentioned contradictory myths m ight be a result of this; that is, an effort to try to infuse one’s own beliefs into their religion to make it more acceptable to themselves. Looking and inspecting the gaps and problems in the religion can tell a lot about its believers’ culture and thinking.Having covered Kali’s disorder of facts, one can infer that Hindus probably place great importance in correct conduct of their wives, and the goddesses in their religion serve as a model for Hindu women to follow if they wish to be wed. Examples such as Parvati and Sarasvati can be mentioned, both portrayed as ideal, submissive wives to their partners, serving as counterbalances. Hindu gods and goddesses are sometimes portrayed as equals, and rather than husband and wife, they are shown to be male and female counterparts of the same being.The goddesses are by no means weak and disrespected; they are strong and revered, but their personalities inspire different, subtle ideas into their people. However, the i dea of whether or not something is ‘correct’ or ‘erroneous’ is highly subjective, and while Western feminists might argue on the essentials that a woman must possess in order to be well off, it is not the same for Hindu women who are the target of the religion, and for them the Hindu goddesses provide them a positive model to follow, and with it, psychological comfort which is important (Gross 106).

business studies essays

business studies essays The 1974 Health and Safety Act summarises that it is every employers duty to ensure so far as is reasonably practical, the employees health, safety and welfare at work. It is your employers duty to assess the risks that the employees and none employees are exposed to at work. Because artwork is expressive, when we do think about the practical aspects, we usually focus on how to increase our ability to express our ideas, rather than on how these creative activities might affect our health and safety. In work with media, harmful factors can affect the body in three ways, through ingestion, inhalation or skin contact. Ingestion: Substances, and even small tools, can enter the body if a person is accustomed to eating or drinking while at work. Using kitchen utensils to mix art materials is a dangerous practice, as it is not always possible to remove all traces by simple washing. Not washing hands after working and before eating can allow harmful, material to enter the mouth. Inhalation: Many small substances can be carried into the body through the respiratory tract, and are then absorbed into the lungs. Some of the symptoms are immediate, such as sneezing, coughing, burning, dizziness or headache. Smoking while working can intensify the rate and the effects of inhalation. Skin contact: Some materials can be absorbed through the skin directly, or through cuts or breaks in the skin. A more common occurrence is skin irritation resulting in redness, rash, itching or blisters. Accidents, which can result from unskilled or careless use of sharp tools or power equipment, are a major hazard in the arts and crafts. Prevention includes knowledge of, and skill in the use of sharp tools or power equipment, as well as practicing preventive maintenance. The following list of procedures may help prevent a serious accident. Use goggles to protect eyes from particles and heat. Wear pro...

Levis jeans Essays

Levis jeans Essays Levis jeans Essay Levis jeans Essay He then turns and sits down next to a large man, who wears dull clothes and doesnt stand out like the young man wearing the jeans. The man has an almost disapproving look upon his face. At the very end of the advert the young man who stripped begins to read a newspaper, which is a very everyday act, which is showing how the man doesnt feel like him stripping is anything out of the ordinary, indicating confidence and boldness. The music played throughout this advert is Heard it on the grapevine, which is how gossip is often referred to and suggests that the man is something to gossip about, and somebody that is talked about.  For young people, again they see somebody good looking wearing jeans, and in this advert the man wearing the jeans is admired by others, looks confident and stands out. Many people seeing this would believe that the jeans would make them stand out like that young man and purchase Levis jeans. Beach  Advertisement 74 is set on a beach, showing another good-looking man wearing Levis jeans, and carrying a surfboard. The man removes the jeans then leaves them on the beach. He bends down towards his dog and points at the jeans, as if he is telling the dog to guard the jeans for him. He then walks away with his surfboard.  A typically good-looking woman in a bikini comes along the beach and sees the jeans. She looks for a moment before putting them on. When she attempts to walk away the dog grabs her leg and barks at her. She tries in vain to shake the dog off, but isnt able to before the young man originally wearing the jeans comes back. The man laughs and then they walk away together laughing.  Again this advert shows the man who is wearing the jeans getting the woman. In all the adverts that I have written about so far it has been the man wearing the jeans every time, and usually the man who is admired by the woman. In this advert the woman does put the jeans on, and the man looks at her in an admiring way, but again it is the man wearing the Levis that gets the woman and the woman that is attracted to the man, or to his jeans, showing how the Levis are once again the reason that the man gets the woman. Summary  Many impressionable audiences would believe that buying the jeans would make them instantly attractive, as the people featuring in these advertisements are, and seeing the man in the Levis always getting the girl would be an incentive to many young men to purchase these jeans.  Throughout these adverts the men are all conventionally good-looking, the woman are usually fairly attractive also. They all appear to have confidence, such as the young man who strips in the laundrette. Also others always admire the men that are wearing the Levis for their jeans, and they always get the woman, as opposed to the men who arent wearing Levis which in one advert one such man got his woman taken away. Overall there is the portrayal of people that wear Levis being better looking, admired by others, and being attractive to others. This would convince many people to purchase the jeans.

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS AND CRITICAL INTERPRETATION Essay

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS AND CRITICAL INTERPRETATION - Essay Example This is a symbolic statement where the tongue that does not settle could be used to symbolize the people who kept hiding from the reality of their native language and as result they would use other languages to communicate even amongst themselves just because they were ashamed of their language and native culture. â€Å"but I could get a whiff of the stench when I gasped† this is a phrase that remind the culture escapists that they would still have the remains of the same culture that they disregarded. After all they would still have their Mexican accent even if they used English. Deep inside they knew they were Chicanos. Another case of symbolism is in the second page of the text where she writes â€Å"our tongues have become dry, the wilderness has dried our tongues and we have forgotten speech† here the wilderness represents the diverse linguistic jungle that the world is and trying to fit it drains you of your language. The writer uses multiple stories to pass the message about how Chicanos are disregarded and also to emphasis on her pride in her true identity. For instance she states that when caught speaking in Mexican while in school she get punished ,†gets three licks on the knuckles with a sharp ruler† and sent to sit at a corner for speaking back at a teacher. Her mother is also not confide about her daughters fluency n communication and keeps reminding her the â€Å"I want you to speak English’ since she had the Mexican accent even when she spoke

Corporate risk management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Corporate risk management - Essay Example If the quantum of investment is significant and depending on the size of the firm, sizeable enough to affect future earnings in a way that negatively affects the firm, then it is more preferable to go for risk transfer. Conversely, if the investment is not of a quantum that can affect the firm negatively it is better to go for risk retention. 2) Risk Transfer: Risk transfer, also known as Risk sharing is in many ways the complete opposite strategy of Risk retention. The principle of Risk transfer is the underlying tenet behind most insurance transactions. Risk transfer generally involves the shifting of risk to another party, most usually by means of insurance or through warranty. This method assumes the longevity of the third party and the ability of the insurer to maintain business continuity. Cash Flow Regularity: One of the biggest risks associated with investment decisions, particularly in light of whether or not to transfer risk or not, or to whether just bear with the uncertainty is how regular or irregular the earnings of that particular investment decision are. It follows then that the more irregular or uncertain the earnings of a particular investment decision are, the more likely a firm is to increase its security or safety in regards to that investment or that line of cash flows. Hence, the greater irregularity is seen in cash flows, or the higher risk factor involved, the more likely a firm is to transfer risk either via Insurance or Warranty. 3) Risk Avoidance: Risk avoidance, on the spectrum of Risk management activities is on one end of the spectrum, wherein the company decides to altogether excuse itself from all possibility of risk. Although this strategy is often considered the safest form of risk management it also entails the loss of any potential revenue that could have been gained from the investment, therefore while it is the safest strategy it

The Criminal Justice System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Criminal Justice System - Essay Example lations (LegalMatch, 2012) â€Å"Theft or common theft, assault and battery, drink driving, vandalism, public drunkenness, resisting arrests, obstructing or resisting a police officer, trespassing, disorderly conduct, breach of the peace, failure to appear in court, prostitutionâ€Å". These crimes normally have a penalty of no longer than one year and are not considered to be serious offenses. The serious offenses normally fall under felony charges such as (LegalMatch, 2012) â€Å"murder/homicide, rape, drug trafficking, child abuse, gun possession, burglary, money laundering, and child pornography†. Such serious offenses are considered highly serious and have punishments that vary from state to state, depending upon the courts deemed severity of the offense. Having clearly defined the difference of the two crimes based upon the description of offenses, it is safe to say that one would much rather be accused of a misdemeanor rather than a felony. That is if one finds himself facing legal action as a result of his own personal actions or reactions to situations concerning him. As per the police records submitted to us, you were charged with a Misdemeanor Breach of Peace charge. This was charge was the result of your involvement in the bar room brawl that occurred at last Friday between your boyfriend and another bar patron. You have asked me to advise you with regard to what kind of penalty you are looking at and for how long. I am please to inform you that since you are charged with a misdemeanor, your penalty will not be longer than one year. Our federal government has indicated that the punishment for misdemeanor offense such as yours â€Å"... carry a maximum punishment of one year of incarceration usually is served in a local jail. â€Å" (wiseGeek, 2012). I therefore advice you not to worry as there is even a very strong possibility that, should you plead guilty or be found guilty of involvement in the misdemeanor charge, â€Å"If a jail sentence is imposed, it is