The construction of sexuality through culture and history Essay Example for Free

The construction of sexuality through culture and history Essay Introduction The queer theory has led to questions on the sexuality in various cultures. Teresa de Lauretis is the person [www. cddc. vt. edu]who came up with the phrase â€Å"Queer Theory†. It was at a working conference on theorizing lesbian and gay sexualities that was held at the University of California, Santa Cruz in February 1990. Once the term queer was, at best, slang for homosexual, at worst, a term of homophobic abuse. Today queer has come to be used differently, sometimes as an umbrella term for a coalition of culturally marginal sexual self-identifications and at other times to describe a theoretical model which has developed out of more traditional lesbian and gay studies. Queer focuses on mismatches between sex, gender and desire. Institutionally, queer has been associated most prominently with lesbian and gay subjects, but its analytic framework also includes such topics as cross-dressing, hermaphroditism, gender ambiguity and gender-corrective surgery. In many respects, Queer theory is grounded in gender and sexuality. Due to this association, a debate emerges as to whether sexual orientation is natural or essential to the person, as an essentialist believes, or if sexuality is merely a construction and subject to change [www. cddc. vt. edu]. The essentialist theory was introduced to Queer Criticism as a by-product of feminism when the criticism was known by most as Lesbian/Gay Criticism. The feminists believed that both genders have an essential nature (e. g. nurturing and caring versus being aggressive and selfish), as opposed to differing by a variety of accidental or contingent features brought about by social forces. Due to this belief in the essential nature of a person, it is also natural to assume that a person’s sexual preference would be natural and essential to a person’s personality, who they are. The Constructivists counters that there is no natural, that all meaning is constructed through discourse and there is no other subject other than the creation of meaning for social theory. In a Constructivist perspective, it is not proper to take gay or lesbian as subjects with objective reality; but rather they must be understood in terms of their social context, in how genealogy creates these terms through history. Foucault explains in his The History of Sexuality, 200 years ago [www. ipce. info] there was no linguistic category for gay male. Instead, the term that applied to sex between two men was sodomy. Over time, the homosexual was created through the discourses of medicine and especially psychiatry. What is conventionally understood to be the same practice was gradually transformed from a sinful lifestyle into an issue of sexual orientation. Foucault argues that prior to this discursive creation there was no such thing as a person who could think of himself as essentially gay. Queer theory is mainly addressing the issues on gender and sexuality. Due to this question, a debate arises as to whether sexual orientation is natural or essential to the person, or if sexuality is merely a construction and subject to change. This theory has led to criticism known by most people as Lesbian/Gay Criticism. The feminists believed that both genders have an essential nature for example nurturing and caring versus being aggressive and selfish as opposed to differing by a variety of accidental or contingent features brought about by social forces. so natural to assume that a person’s sexual preference would be natural and essential to a person’s personality, who they are [www. ipce. info]. The Constructivists counter, that there is no natural, that all meaning is constructed through discourse and there is no other subject other than the creation of meaning for social theory. In a Constructivist perspective, it is not proper to take gay or lesbian as subjects with objective reality; but rather they must be understood in terms of their social context, in how genealogy creates these terms through history. Sexuality and gender identity-based cultures This refers to the behaviors, beliefs, knowledge, and references shared by members of sexual minorities or transgendered people by virtue of their membership in those minorities. Not all members of a particular sexual minority participate in, or are aware of, the subculture that may be associated with them. In addition to simply not knowing that the culture exists, non-participants may be geographically or socially isolated, they may feel stigmatized by the subculture, they may simply dislike it (feeling it is outdated, corrupted, or does not align with their personal taste or style), or they may prefer to affiliate with some other culture or subculture. The sexual minorities [Kaahumanu and Yaeger]defined by sexual orientation and gender identity include: lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people (LGBT). they are often seen as having a common culture. The existence of (LGBT) has also been questioned by noting the exclusion of some of these groups by others; for example, biphobia among gays and lesbians, transphobia among non-trans LGB people, or lack of inclusiveness of lesbians in gay milieu. For example, in some cities, especially in North America, gay men and lesbians tend to live in certain neighborhoods. This culture is mainly associated with the people of North America or Europe. LGBT communities also organize a number of events to celebrate their culture, such as Pride parades, the Gay Games and Southern Decadence the largest LGBT street fair in North America [Kaahumanu and Yaeger].

Good User Interface :: essays research papers

A Good User Interface Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The majority of today ¡Ã‚ ¦s businesses use the internet to expand their customer base. However, there are several companies who will publish their site on the World Wide Web, before reviewing its user friendliness. And in doing so, they may be losing a customer, due to the poorly designed aspects of that web interface. So, what makes a website a good user interface? Which sites are examples of this, and which sites are not? In the following information, there will be descriptions, benefits, and examples of both types of interfaces.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The most important aspect of a user friendly site is the speed of loading the site. For some new surfers, a fast internet connection does not exist. Therefore, it is important to limit the graphics on a web site. Those sites that fill the home page with mostly graphics and images, may find their potential client dropping the page at 50%. An example of such a site is the following wedding photography site: http://www.mindysonshine.com/ Its home page contains mostly digital pictures which take a while to load, before the end user can view what the photographer has to offer. Obviously, a photographer ¡Ã‚ ¦s web site should contain images of their work. However, the requirement would have been better accomplished by limiting the digital images to a link off of the home page as opposed to the opening page. In doing so, a potential customer would be able to open the home page to learn what services are offered, package pricing, and the studio location, prior to becoming impatient, thus moving onto another photographers site.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A website with a well-designed layout is also important to users. It is their window to view what the company has to offer. If the website ¡Ã‚ ¦s layout and appearance is confusing and inefficient, most customers will simply go elsewhere. According to KarenHolman, Information Specialist for Outreach Communications and Technology,  ¡Ã‚ §A good web site puts the needs of its users first.  ¡Ã‚ § Her site lists the following recommendations for attaining this goal „ «Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Know your audience: Who is the end user for the site? „ «Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Satisfy the users' basic questions: Is the information complete and up to date? „ «Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Content remains king: The content answers questions, has no spelling and punctuation errors, is dated and signed, and contains a contact. „ «Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Page Design: Loads quickly, presents information in first one or two pages, and limits special effects. „ «Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Working links: Links are tested regularly to ensure they are working.

A study of anatomy and physiology of movement of upper limb

The procedure in lifting the hand to drink water is a complex one which involves a huge amount of technology inter-transfer between the brain and the eventual skeletal muscle.There is initiation of the movement at the brain which is transmitted via specialized white fibre tracts to the hip flexors via the intermediate spinal cord, involving a very complex mechanism at the cellular levelThe initiation of the   process is at the motor cortex (Ms I) of the brain. The primary motor area is located at the precentral gyrus of the frontal lobe. The area controlling the motion of the lower limbs lies towards the superior surface of the brain. Within this area lies the cell body of the primary neuron. These neurons are known as upper motor neurons (UMN).These UMNs receive modulating impulse from the inputs from the cerebellum and the basal ganglia via the extrapyramidal pathways. These tracts modulate the gross movement initiated at the frontal cortex. In turn these areas are modulated by a fferent signals from ascending spino cerebellar, and spino-thalamic pathways.   The signal initiated at the nucleus of the cell body is transmitted electronically via the axon of the myelinated neuron via the mode of salutatory conduction.The myelin sheath which surrounds the axon of nerves that involve fast transport, breaks at intermediate regions known as Nodes of Ranvier. The electrical impulse moves in   a jumping manner at these nodes nerve transmission as a neural impulse, generated by the formation of a nerve action potential. Like all excitable tissue, nerves maintain a resting membrane potential that is the difference of voltage across the membrane of the neuron. In neurons this value is   – 70 mV.This voltage difference is maintained by the Na/K pump on the membranes. This impulse generated at the axon hillock is transmitted via the depolarizing phase which allows sodium ions ingress into cells via opening of the Na channels. This entry of Na in one portion a llows activation of other Na channels, causing depolarization of the adjacent region of the neuron. Subsequently repolarization occurs via the opening of K channels, which restores the membrane potential.Thus this process continues which allows the transmission of impulse. Many such nerves together descend as the descending cortico spinal tract in the pyramidal system, which travels through the midbrain into the spinal cord, decussating at the level of midbrain( 90% of the fibres decussating and forming the lateral spinothalamic tract) and again at the level of spinal cord ( the other 10%, forming the anterior spinothalamic tract) .It is the former which is responsible for the upper limb movements. The cortico-spinal tract travels in the anterior horn cell of the spinal cord till the brachial plexus where they synapse with the spinal ventral root neuron (lower motor neuron). A single post-synaptic neuron receives signals from many neurons. At the axon terminal, the propagation of im pulses leads to release of neurotransmitters, which are stored in specialized vesicles.The released Ach diffuses into the synaptic cleft and binds with receptors on the post synaptic membrane to produce excitatory post synaptic potentials. This leads to generation and propagation of impulse in nerves which are destined to innervate the neuro-muscular junction. At the neuro-muscular junction, Ach is released, which diffuses into the synovial cleft and binds to receptors in the motor end plate, and triggers a muscle action potential.The released Ach is destroyed by the acetylcholinestrase. At the level of the sarcolemma of the muscles, the muscle AP travels along T-tubules, opening Ca release channels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Ca binds to troponin-tropomysin complex, which releases the myosin heads, these then bind to the actin thin filaments, and draws them closer to the M line. Meanwhile bringing the Z disc closer.This leads to muscle fibre contraction. This is a self propagati ng sequence eventually leading to the contraction muscles involved in the movement. Each nerve fibre innervates many musle fibres ( about 150). This is the motor unit.The greater the number of motor units recruited by the nerve action potential, the greater the force of contraction of the muscles. In the spinal cord, nerve impulse travels along the brachial plexus (C5 – T1) to innervate the Pectoralis major (Arm adduction and flexion – reaching out to hold the glass), Flexor digitorum superficialis and profundii of all fingers, the interossei and the lumbricals of all digits, opponens pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis , adducor pollicis and abductor pollicis brevis ( gripping of the glass by the fingers flexion at metacarpophalangeal.Proximal interphalangeal and the distal interphalangeal joint of the fingers; the carpometqcarpal joint, metacarpophalangeal and the interphalangeal joint of the thumb); then contraction of the biceps brachii ( elbow flexion) and the supina tor ( supination at the elbow joint); finally the contraction of the triceps muscle ( elbow extension, to put the glass back).This excitatory impulse is also associated with the production of inhibitory action potential ( hyperpolarizing impulse) in the antagonists (eg triceps during elbow flexion, and biceps during elbow extension)   

Analysis Of `` The Ways Of Oppression `` By F. Nelson Mandela

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall† – Nelson Mandela. It takes high risks and a lot of vitality to overcome oppression. In Martin Luther King’s essay, â€Å"The Ways of Oppression,† there are three distinct ways on how to deal with oppression, which are acquiescence, violence, and non-violent resistance. All of these strategies of dealing with oppression are established in both the film and novel adaptation of the â€Å"Unbroken,† as Louie Zamperini spends many years as a POW in Japan enduring cruel oppression. Throughout the story, the three strategies alternate amongst Louie and his fellow POWs, however, towards the end it’s clear that non-violent resistance is the most successful form of overcoming oppression because it makes Louie the bigger man in learning how to forgive and understand more openly. The first way of dealing with oppression King mentions in his essay is acquiescence. He describes the acquiescence method as the oppressor becoming accustomed to the unjust treatment. In the novel, Unbroken, it became a daily routine for the men to carry tons of coal on their backs. â€Å"They pushed aboard one another, and the hauling went on, punishing their bodies and numbing their minds† (187). This shows how Louie and his fellow POWs grew accustomed to the painful labor their endured at the camp. They couldn’t do anything but continue working because their lives were at risk from the deadly conditions. Another characteristic of theShow MoreRelatedIf Inequality Is Increasing, Are We Likely to See More Armed Conflict?4618 Words   |  19 Pagesmy claim for complexity. In recent times, inequality has been even increasing, yet violent conflict has been comparably less numerous and widespread. How this instance corresponds with the inequality/conflict link will constit ute the last point of analysis. 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