The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf

The Beauty Myth, first published in 1991, is an excellent book by Naomi Wolf that looks at the concept of outer appearance as a demand as well as a standard of passing judgment upon women in the developed world. Subtitled How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women, the book is carefully thought out and supported by extensive investigations.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In 2002, the book was published again to include a new introductory note by the same author. The Book provides explanations on the role of the beauty myth in the spheres of employment, traditions, religious affiliation, and in sex and sexual relations. Wolf also examines the hostile behaviors that exist between women and men and between women themselves, which comes in the way of eating disorders and cosmetic surgery. Wolf categorically asserts that to concede to the beauty myth pr oblem can assist in advancing it with more devastating results instead of alleviating the situation. In the last chapter, Wolf plainly states practical suggestions on how to get rid of the societal machinery that insists on upholding standards of physical beauty among women. She argues that beauty myth exists to induce the society to regard women’s look above everything they may have. The Beauty Myth looks at the scope to which attractiveness has influenced females search for equality and how the same scenario occurs in our own lives as well as in the larger society. The concern that Wolf raises about the issue is personal, since it is applicable to any female, and it is backed by historical data and the necessary statistics to illustrate her views. In this publication, the author’s thesis statement draws a relationship that exists between female liberation and female physical appearance. She writes: â€Å"The more legal and material hindrances women have broken throu gh, the more strictly and heavily and cruelly images of female beauty have come to weigh upon us. During the past decade, women breached the power structure; meanwhile, eating disorders rose exponentially and cosmetic surgery became the fastest-growing medical specialty. Recent research consistently shows that inside the majority of the attractive, successful working women, there is a dark vein of self-hatred, physical obsessions, terror of aging, and dread of lost control (Wolf, 2002, p.10)† The author’s main point of argument is drawn from the fact that there exists no historical or biological validation for what she terms as the beauty myth. Wolf posits that the beauty myth came into the public limelight soon after the emergence of the second wave of feminism. In view of the fact that women were subsequently unlimited to their responsibilities of being wives and mothers, another input was required to maintain them in their positions in the society.Advertising Lo oking for report on gender studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The myth postulates that beauty â€Å"objectively and universally exists† and is a vital ingredient that women must posses to win men to their side. Although grounded on the notion that beautiful women have high fertility rates and are therefore more advantageous to the world, this false claim influences most things from power relations to fitness standards thus depriving women the capability of appreciating their own womanliness. The falsehood puts good looks, sexuality, aptitude, and power to be at loggerheads, complicating the possibility of females acquiring all these attributes at the same time. To be more precise, if a woman has a predetermined standard of attractiveness, she is usually categorized to own these attributes. No recognition is based on the inner â€Å"beauty† that a woman may posses as the emphasis is laid on perfecting the outward appearance. This excellent book shades more light on the emerging cultural issues encountered by women in this century. The book tells women’s magazines off for not making enough efforts to lessen the force of the myth, in spite of the fact that they are one of the important fundamental tools for transforming the role of women in the society. Naomi Wolf records her dissatisfaction with these publications as most of their advertisements have models, who present themselves as the perfect women. This practice only serves to propel the fallacy of the myth instead of assisting the vulnerable females who are trying to run from it. The message that these publications carry are influential because they stand for the female mass culture. The magazines have acted as a vehicle of spreading the feminist ideas at an increased rate in modern times. Since the publications are common among women from all lifestyles, they are capable of setting the standards of physical beauty faster than an y other means of communication. The claim that Wolf puts forward is true, because it is in the course of interacting with these visual media that women discover what the â€Å"correct† physical attributes they have to posses even if they have to injure themselves to get it. Women find out that they have to resemble the images they see in the magazines even if they adore their men. The author states plainly that females get the shaft due to the beauty standards, that women are their bodies and that they are initially perceived as women, then secondly as human beings. Wolf even goes ahead to equate the moisturizers with wrinkle-preventing ingredients to â€Å"holy oils.†Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More At this point, she gets so much into the myth such that she asserts that the quest for physical attractiveness is a religious conviction in its own right. Women ought to become conscious of the fact that with or without the beauty products, they would remain to be women who need to feel better about themselves. Women are not to take precedence at how Hollywood or Cosmopolitan has a very different view of their femininity; they are to believe that their own delight in beauty will ultimately triumph. The worst part of this notion of enhanced beauty is that it makes females to go up against one another. It opposes the objective of the feminist movement as it makes women to disregard the importance of others. The society must allow women to be human beings first and women must have the faith that what can be of benefit to one of them is able to benefit all of them. A distinct separation has to be made to distinguish between sexuality, femininity, aptitude, good looks, and power from one another and assessed according to their own terms. Currently, the beauty myth is still being enforced in our society, and may persist if the women do not combine efforts to alleviate its force. We are anticipating for a time when every woman would value her own beauty and simultaneously acknowledge other women’s beauty. That is the concern raised by Naomi Wolf, in The Beauty of Myth, and it is a concern that should trouble every one of us. Reference List Wolf, N. (2002). The Beauty Myth. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. This report on The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf was written and submitted by user Marcelo E. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Barbaric vs. Barbarous

Barbaric vs. Barbarous Barbaric vs. Barbarous Barbaric vs. Barbarous By Mark Nichol What’s the difference between barbaric and barbarous? The terms are nearly interchangeable, though for two connotations, one term is preferred over the other. Barbaric or barbarous behavior or other characteristics are those that suggest a cultural attainment between savagery and civilization. These adjectives also refer to unrestrained actions or those a civilized person would consider primitive, strange, or uncouth. Barbaric, however, is more appropriate in the sense of cruelty or harshness, while barbarous more strongly implies unsophisticated behavior. Barbarian, the noun form, is also used as an adjective. The origin of these terms is the Latin word barbaria, meaning â€Å"foreign country†; this meaning derives from the Greek term barbaros, meaning â€Å"foreign† or â€Å"strange.† Ultimately, it likely stems from the idea that utterances in unfamiliar languages sound like meaningless babble and can be recorded as something close to â€Å"bar-bar.† (Babble and blabber may be related to barbarian.) Latin usage referred to anyone outside the cultural influence of the Roman Empire, and later connotation of barbarian implied someone who does not speak one’s language; these senses, still later, extended to identify any ill-mannered person. The name Barbara shares this etymology, with the appealing sense of â€Å"exotic† rather than the unattractive one of â€Å"strange†; a saint by that name prompted its popularity among Christians. The root of the proper noun Barbary, which referred to the lands along the north coast of Africa, is of disputed origin. It derives from Berber, an Arabic term for the inhabitants of North Africa outside Egypt, which might have a local origin, might stem from Arabic (with the same sense of â€Å"babbler†), or might be borrowed from Greek. Barber is unrelated to these words and names; it stems from the Latin term barba, meaning â€Å"beard.† That word itself is probably cognate with barber through a common ancestor word. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Types of RhymeConfusing "Passed" with "Past"Drama vs. Melodrama

Exploring the use of space Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Exploring the use of space - Essay Example Students eventually end up in places that speak to their inner preferences and the areas that reflect the most amount of qualities subconsciously desired. The fitness obsession that has gripped America for the past several years appears not to have passed up Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning because at Humber, the gymnasium currently appears to represent a larger slice of students' needs, judging by attendance, rather than the gamesroom, which may have been a more popular choice in the past. In the gamesroom, arcade machines play sentry along the walls, offering students dozens of different choices ranging from pinball to the latest combat tournament. Though there is limited seating, the room is designed for standing and moving about and boasts modern features and a large, bright, well-lit space for students to socialize in. Those who patronize the gamesroom do so to relax and socialize in the casual atmosphere. The pressure is off here, and students of all sorts pay a small fee to use the pool tables and arcade games to unwind from their studies and de-stress from life. The every-day gender of the room tends to lean toward the male side of the scale, probably because video games and billiards are more of engaging activities for males rather than females. Thus, the course representation has more of a limited focus around the subjects that men tend to study, such as science or math. The gym, however, attracts all walks... The bright spaces complement the vibrant atmosphere and the fluorescent lighting further promotes the upbeat mentality that young people exude when exercising, be it on rowing machines or at indoor soccer matches. Though the places were built to accommodate students participating in activities on the opposite ends of the entertainment spectrum, the bright, well-lit, modern facilities sported by both structures cultivate a positive atmosphere, whether students play Duke Nukem or badminton. Both buildings also offer students a laid-back area to mutually socialize and perhaps meet up with a new friend or convene with a club. Though there is limited seating, the wide range of diversions offered at each facility give students choices that appeal to many senses. Since students arrive at Humber from all different backgrounds, the variety of activities offered by the school is an important factor when considering higher education. The gamesroom at Humber appeals to many students who like the problem-solving aspects of the digital world and utilize video and arcade games as a way to wind down from the stresses of everyday life for just fifty cents. The pool tables are another diversion well known in the student world for a place to convene and involve one another in the complicated aspects of potting balls with a stick. At a dollar twenty-five per game, billiards engage many students who while away an afternoon or evening with relaxed banter. The gym at Humber allows students to banter while doing whatever fitness activity they prefer, though the conversation isn't quite as loose as that in the game room due to the generally more hurried quality that exercise assumes. However, the programs

Human Rights and Catholic Church Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Human Rights and Catholic Church - Essay Example The present age has been marked by the attempts of different types that ultimately aim at human rights. Catholic community has been safeguarding the human right endeavors universally. As opposed to the general conception, Catholic Church has always been advocating for the Human Rights and other privileges that make the life of the human beings better and easier. The Church has always given priority to the necessities of all the men and has stood for the well-being of the humanity. This humanity-based approach of the Church has been made clear through the various types of teachings and preaching of the Church. It is, by nature, driven by the better living standard of its followers as well as the entire human race. This is the same reason why the Catholic Church has always raised chorus of disapproval whenever there is a violation of human freedom and threat to the peaceful existence of human. Such uproars for the cause of the humankind have been powerful voice that has touched the uni versal conscience. Among the many examples of this human concern of the Catholic Church stands the contribution made by Pope John XXIII who made a major appeal for the universal Human Rights through the encyclical Pacem in Terris or, to use the English full title, On Establishing Universal Peace in Truth, Justice, Charity and Liberty which was issued on 11 April 1963. The encyclical that addressed the faithful of the Catholic Church as well as "All Men of Good Will" obviously aimed at the human race as a whole. (John XXIII, 1963). Apart from the reaction to the political situation of the time, the encyclical also intended to emphasize the significance of respect of Human Rights as an indispensable corollary of the Christian understanding of men. In the encyclical the Pope emphatically states, "By the natural law every human being has the right to respect for his person, to his good reputation; the right to freedom in searching for truth and in expressing and communicating his opinions, and in pursuit of art, within the limits laid down by the moral order and the common good; and he has the right to be informed truthfully about public events." (John XXIII, 1963, para 12). The first section of the encyclical that aims to establish a vital relationship covers the issues of human rights and moral duties. It is the relationship between man and man as individuals. The encyclical, in the next section, goes on to address the relationship between state and man residing on the shared authority of the former. In the third section, the encyclical makes clear the necessity for equality among the different nations and the need for the state to be subject to rights and duties that the individual has to oblige by. The fourth and the final section of the encyclical clarifies the inevitability for greater relationship between world nations thereby mutually assisting for the cause of the humanity. The universally acclaimed encyclical ends with a plea to the entire Catholic community to assist the non-Catholics as well as the non-Christians in political and social aspect.

The Downfall of a Dictator Essay Example for Free

The Downfall of a Dictator Essay Ferdinand Marcos, the man who would be President: his was a story of success. It was a long, arduous climb to the highest office in land. He worked hard to achieve it. It was not an easy road – there were frustrations, obstacles, and public scandals along the way. But he made it. Despite seemingly irreversible defeats, he fulfilled what he promised his mother: â€Å"For every tear you shed now, there will be victory.† (People Power: The Philippine Revolution of 1986) Ferdinand Marcos: The unforgettable among the Presidents of the Philippines, even over the world, then and now. When we here this name the first thing that always come to our mind is Marshall Law or the dictator. In Marcos time corruption reached its apex. The Marcos government was labeled a kleptocracy, literally meaning that it was a government ruled by thieves. A kleptocracy can be defined as a dishonest form of governmental corruption where the government exists solely to increase the personal wealth and power of its officials and the ruling class without regard for the wider population. On September 21, 1972, Marcos declared Martial Law. This marked the beginning of the Marcos dictatorship. Proclamation 1081 placed the entire country under the military. It was signed on September 21, 1972 and announced to the nation in the evening of September 23, 1972. His main reason for declaring Martial Law as to save the Republic and to reform society. He explained that the growing violence in the nation, caused by the leftists and the rightist’s elements had come to certain magnitude that required martial law. During this time, violation of human rights of the people in the rural areas was rampant. Upon his orders, the military picked up and detained thousands of Filipinos suspected of rebellion. Hundreds of detainees were tortured by their captors. Some disappeared and were never found again. Many were held in military detention camps for years without trial. As a result of the foregoing measured, the crime rate in the country was reduced significantly. People became law-abiding. But these good gains did not last long. After a year of martial law, crime rates started to soar. By the time Marcos was removed from power, the peace and order situation in the country had become worse. The rampant violation of human rights of the people in the rural areas suspected of being NPA sympathizers, the injustices committed by some government officials and powerful and influential persons, and the continuing poverty of the people were used as propaganda of the NPA in attracting idealistic young people. Even priests and nuns who were witnesses to the oppression of the Marcos dictatorship join the NPAs. The assassination of Aquino was reported to have awakened the Filipinos to the evils of Marcos as a dictator. Millions of Filipinos who sympathized with Ninoy’s bereaved family, joined the funeral march to mourn for the death of an intelligent leader and to express their feelings against Marcos. August 13, 1985 was the beginning of the end for Marcos. Fifty-six members of Parliament called for his impeachment for graft, corruption, and other high crimes. Marcos called a new election for 1986. His opponent was Corazon Aquino, the widow of Benigno. Marcos claimed a 1.6 million vote victory, but observers found a 800,000 win by Aquino. A People Power movement quickly developed, driving the Marcoses into exile in Hawaii, and affirming Aquinos election. Ninoy Aquino was a great lost to the Philippines. I think that he could have been a great president. Even though some say that he was a â€Å"fake hero† because he really didn’t accomplish anything and that he was â€Å"fighting for himself only† which is according to some comments that I read in some sites, for me he’s really a hero and these things that they said is absurd in my opinion.

Human Resource Challenges of the 21st Century Essay examples -- Huma

The traditional administrative role of human resource practices are a thing of the past and new roles for HRM are emerging at an alarming rate in the 21st century. HR is increasing its support for business goals and objectives while at the same time becoming strategic business partners. Challenges for the 21st century include, changing roles, shifting demographics, and globalization. In order for HR to stay current they must adapt and make necessary changes in retraining, alternative work schedules and technological advancements. Then, these successes have to be analyzed and evaluated for effectiveness. HUMAN RESOURCE CHALLENGES With the 21st century in motion human resource management will face some of the old struggles and HR will be forced to face many new challenges. The main objective of HR is to recruit, retain, train, retrain and keep workers satisfied. Indeed, these responsibilities can be challenging in the 21st century, especially with changing roles, a multi-generational workforce, and globalization. Changing Roles. Traditionally, HR has been an administrative position-processing paperwork, benefits, hiring and firing, and compensation. However, recently HRM has moved from a traditional to a strategic role, the emphasis is on catering to the needs of consumers and workers. Before, HR was seen as the enemy and employees believed that HR’s main purpose was to protect management. Now, the position requires HRM to be more people oriented and protect their human capitol, the staff. In addition, human resource management has to be business savvy and think of themselves as strategic partners in the 21st century. Multi-generational workforce. Another major challenge human resources department’s face in the 21s... ... but will continue to transform. Just as HR has changed from 10years ago the same will be true 10 years from now. Works Cited Effron, Marc, Robert Grandossy, and Marshall Goldsmith (eds). "Chapter 3 - The 21st Century Workforce". Human Resources in the 21st Century. John Wiley & Sons, Â © 2003. Books24x7. Web. Apr. 6, 2012. Greengard, Samuel. "Technology Finally Advances HR." Workforce 79.1 (2000): 38. Academic Search Elite. Web. 6 Apr. 2012. Gueutal, Hal G., and Dianna L. Stone (eds). "Chapter 9 - The Next Decade of HR—Trends, Technologies, and Recommendations". The Brave New World of eHR: Human Resources in the Digital Age. Jossey-Bass, Â © 2005. Books24x7. Web. Apr. 6, 2012. Noe, Raymond A., John R. Hollenbeck, Barry Gerhart, and Patrick M. Wright. Human Resource Management: Gaining a Competitive Advantage. 7th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2010. Print.

Knowledge without application is worthless Essay

A great philosopher once said, â€Å"Without knowledge action is useless and knowledge without action is futile†Good morning ladies and gentlemen I’m Abdul Rafae and today I’m going to speak on ‘knowledge without application is useless’Humans have a common ability of applying almost everything in their life. Talking about new fashions, trends, innovations but when it comes to applying knowledge, situation is slightly different. Not all people r experts but the qs is what lacks in most knowledgeable humans that becomes an obstacle for them to become an expert. Ladies & gentlemen the answer is as simple as that, they simply lack the ability to use that knowledge just wen it is requird.. I’ve often been hearing an old saying†¦knowledge is power. However, I never agreed with it. I knew it had to be corrected to application of knowledge is power because this is what’s important. Cramming us with useless knowledge contributes to no added value. Rote learning of the books particularly ends up is ruining one’s life. I don’t say being a knowledgeable person is bad but if one has the knowledge yet fails to implement it where required†¦he’s a man of no worth!Considering the competition prevailing in our society today, we’re now in a much more complex state where everybody is seeking knowledge either by book or crook, but when it comes to application of that knowledge we fail to see ‘those geniuses’ getting successful. I’ll support my idea by a very well-known example which I know would be acceptable to all my fellow friends sitting here. This example is of Bill Gates. Yes I’m talking about one of the richest men on earth today who is not even a high school pass out yet is controlling consumers around the globe. Now what exactly do you think is the key to his success? Luck†¦ Source†¦ Or excessive knowledge? Let me tell you it was none of these three. In fact for being another Bill Gates you need to have a passion and you need to know how to apply your skills with respect to the need†¦.and ladies and gentlemen trust me it maybe possible that application along may get you to success. However knowledge alone may not do so. Now let me define the difference between having knowledge & applying it. Lets suppose for e.g. you have a novel of your favourite author but you don’t know how to read the words in it. Would you be able to ever finish it?That’s exactly my point, when u don’t know how to apply ur reading skills how wud u read?Interestingly every student wants an exam free life, don’t we hate exams? Yes we do†¦ its bitter but a fact that if we are not tested on what we acquire from our respected teachers we may never learn to apply it. Hence instead of considering them as a nite mare take exams as a step towards applying whatever ur taught. As time is limited I would like to end my speech by saying that I Abdul Rafae have 2 A’s in my o’levels till now and a successful educational background. My purpose is not to show off but I’m proud to say that I’m not only a knowledge person but I’m a man above that†¦ because I believe knowledge is just the information and only by applying that information we make ourselves what we are. Thank you!