Gender and sex Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Gender and sex - Essay Example A term associated with describing gender roles is androgyny- denoting the display of both male and female behaviour. A number of terms have emerged portraying behaviors arising in this context. For instance, the "sensitive new age guy" is described as a traditional male gender role with a more typically "female" empathy and correlated emotional qualities. The "metrosexual male" adopts or claims to be born with similarly "female" grooming habits. This have given rise to arguments in various quarters that such new roles are mere rebellion against tradition and hence do not form a distinct role. Sociological research points out that the conventional feminine gender roles have become less relevant in Western societies. This trend is attributed to the starting of industrialization. Indeed, the notion that women do not follow a career no more valid in a majority of Western and many of the Oriental societies.For a long time now, gender roles have occupied a central place in the nature-nurture debate. Traditional theories argue that a person's gender identity, and thus gender role, is a product of nature. For instance, in patriarchal societies it is often claimed that women are naturally better placed to nurture children. Various circles in the scientific community have come to support the concept that differences in gender roles originate in differences in biology. Many nineteenth century anthropologists refer to the life of primitive hunter- gatherer societies for evolutionary explanations for gender differences. For instance, they assert that the need to take care of offspring may have limited the females' freedom to hunt and hence assume the role of the gatherer. Current trends in...Crises demand the kinds of strength and intelligence associated with hunting. Fleeing a natural disaster or fighting a band of attackers requires strength, speed, and strategic thinking. In wake of such situations, people naturally follow and rely on those who are physically strong and strategically intelligent. These leaders are usually males. Repeated and frequent crises have a severe impact on the social organization of communities. There are anthropological and archaeological evidence, which indicate that in times of prosperity hunting-gathering communities tended to organize around groups of related females. Egalitarian collaboration was the norm in such communities. Frequent crises resulted in organization around strong and strategically intelligent males not only during the crises, but also at other times. This hierarchical organization tended to exist side by side with, be overlaid on, and to intertwine wi th the egalitarian one. Thus, for instance, in villages, most casual everyday encounters were egalitarian, but people made formal decisions affecting the whole tribe only in meetings ruled over by a male leader and in which elite males exercised more power than do females. It may be inferred that gender roles are mainly conditioned by social value systems. Men and women are made to behave the way they are. Right from childhood, men are expected to grow up to be powerful, encouraged better for careers. They are expected to be tough, independent, demanding, aggressive, good problem-solvers, and so on.

History 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History 1 - Essay Example He understood the weaknesses of Germany and came to the realization that conflicts within the European region were not possible anymore because all the superpowers would be engaged in a more large-scale conflict. Based on this assumption, Bismarck laid out the essential guiding principles of German policy. First, Bismarck argued that Germany should refrain from continuing its territorial expansion; rather, all the powerful nations excluding France should compete with one another for Germany’s alliance. Moreover, the conflict among these powerful nations would be massive enough to prevent them from collaborating against Germany. Second, Bismarck had a rational understanding of international relations and the importance of the balance of power. Third, he regarded it crucial to prevent the Russians from building an alliance with France which would consequently pressure and endanger the Reich on both sides. Initially, Bismarck focused on Germany’s alliance with Russia and A ustria. This alliance facilitated the realization of Bismarck’s foreign policy objectives: it effectively secluded France and gained the friendship of two European superpowers. He took advantage of alliances to control his allies. Bismarck believed that it was crucial for Germany to cut off a resentful France from European relations. Hence, he built an alliance with Austria-Hungary. Afterward, the Triple Alliance with Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Italy was formed. He also strived to sustain a diplomatic agreement with Russia so as to prevent an alliance between Russia and France that would pressure Germany to wage war against these two superpowers. Basically, the Triple Alliance was meant to keep France at bay. It declared that if France attacked Italy without any reasonable purpose, Austria-Hungary and Germany would help Italy. Accordingly, if France attacked Germany, Italy would help the latter. In summary, Bismarck’s major foreign policy goal was to strengthen and build up the Second Reich, and his foreign policy was therefore aimed against France. 2) However, in these chapters, as well as Chapter XVI, â€Å"Emperor William II†, he also revealed the difficulties he actually experienced in carrying out his policies, both within Germany at the highest levels, as well as in his diplomatic dealings with Russia. Which of the two did he imply posed the greater danger to the stability, safety, and survival of the Second Reich? The economic gains of subsequent years were able to conceal the major problems of the Second Reich, particularly after the rise of Wilhelm II to power. In his letters, Bismarck clearly revealed what he perceived are the real threats to the Second Reich: his diplomatic relations with Russia and his relationship with Germany’s monarchy. But he named the latter as a greater threat to the survival of the Second Reich. Wilhelm II did not have sufficient strategic and political skills. In foreign policy, Bismarck strug gled to help the young Reich develop in terms of diplomacy. Yet, his plan for the future of Germany was grander than sheer peace. His alliances with Russia and Austria not merely strengthened the Reich’s international influence, but also protected monarchies against the pressure of radical socialism. However, paradoxically, it was the growing influence of Germany’s social democracy that created the problems for the Second Reich.