Gender identity Essay Example for Free

Gender identity Essay Gender identity is a term which is used to refer to a person as a female or a male. It is the personal conception of a person of either being a male or a female while in rare circumstances one may manifest both the female and male characteristics. Gender identity is usually defined by a person depending on how such a person feels concerning his identity in terms of gender. Gender identity is different from gender role in that while gender identity refers to an individual’s feeling’s about his or her gender, gender roles are usually defined by the society and they are based on the physical appearance of a person as well as behavior of a person. As such, gender roles serves as outward expressions of a person’s gender identity. A person who claims to be a male for example must exhibit male behaviors in deed, dressing and also his behavior. Normally, gender and sex are always used interchangeably although scientifically and medically they are different words which are not even synonyms (Ghosh, n. d). Influence of hormone and behavior interaction on determination of gender identity The interaction between the behavior of a person and their hormonal composition is the most complex ideology of gender identity especially because it is difficult to truly ascertain that hormones directly influence the behaviors of an individual. However, there exists a relationship behind the two components of gender determination with this relationship having a reciprocal form. Presence of high levels of certain hormones in a person may influence or lead to certain behaviors while some behaviors may also lead to changes in the hormonal composition of an individual thus affecting their gender identity (Litosseliti Sunderland, 2002). Gender development of a child begins before he or she is born, that is, gender identity matures even before a child is born. After birth, the gender identity of an individual is determined by psychological, biological and sociological factors. Male and females have different hormones which affect the development of a person thus affecting or influencing the gender identity. In males, testosterone is the dominant hormone which leads to the development of male organs in a person. Testosterone is responsible for the development of major features found in males which included breaking of the voice, development of the genital organs and it also governs the distribution of fats in a person. On the other hand, estrogen is the dominant hormone in female which leads in development of feminine characteristics in females. This hormone aids in breast formation, formation of sexual organs and it also aids in development of other features common with the females like fat distribution in the body. These hormones also determines how a person behaves whether as a male or as a female. The behaviors of a person are also indicators of the gender identity of a person (Wolfe Mash, 2005). Some of the major determinants of gender identity are the hormones and the behaviors. Usually, hormones are the ones which influence the behavior of a person. People with more concentration of testosterone are more masculine while those with high levels of estrogen are more feminine. Testosterone and estrogen hormones are responsible for the sexual behavior of an individual which determines the sexual orientation of an individual. Interaction between the hormones and the behavior of an individual determines or influences to a great extent the gender identity of a person. Children reared in a neutral environment learn from an early age what are the acceptable roles and behaviors of the two different genders. As the hormones of a person correlate with the acceptable behavior of a certain gender, a person forms an idea of his or her gender identity. Also, at very tender age, parents also play a major role in shaping the behavior of a child. Parents usually buy cars and balls for the boys while girls are bought for baby dolls and other feminine toys. The behavior that the children are taught by the society determines how a person identifies himself or herself in terms of gender. Consistency in behavior may influence a person’s gender by influencing hormones release to the body. However, hormones also play a major role in formation of gender identity. Males with higher female hormones tend to behave like the ladies and may often wish to be a woman which forms his gender identity. This is also the case with females who find themselves interested in male activities. They exhibit behaviors similar to that of the males which is as a result to hormonal composition of such a person. When the hormones interact with the behavior of a person, such an individual is able to determine his or her gender identity (Jacobs, Thomas Lang, 1997). Psychological factors also affect gender identity of a person. It is believed that all persons are born with some intrinsic level of testosterone that is whether male and female. However, the level of this hormone varies from individuals and is usually exhibited through such behaviors as dominance. Testosterone hormone is directly and positively correlated to dominance and this affects the gender identity of an individual. All persons who are higher in the rank have an innate urge to dominate while those who are lower in the rank are less dominating. This is a psychological aspect and it also contributes to how a person views herself or himself in terms of gender. Ladies or women who are higher in the rank may exhibit male characteristics which may form their gender identity. Likewise, men who are lower in rank tend to behave more like women which influences their gender identity (Lee, 2005). Environmental factors are also contributors while forming our gender identity. The environment in which a person is reared in determines or influences his gender identity formation. The treatment one gets from different gender groups shapes his or her gender identity. In an environment characterized by clearly defined gender roles for the males and the females, people are likely to identify with either of the genders mostly through association and task performance. In a neutral community or society, gender identity tends to be more influenced by personal interaction and hormonal composition rather than environmental forces. Biological composition of a person also greatly influences the gender identity of a person. Unlike the psychological and environmental factors, biological influences are innate which a person is born with. The biological factors influencing gender formation cannot be influenced by the environment in which a person is reared though they may lead to discomfort especially when the outside pressure is more on a person. It is believed that the gender of a person is determined during prenatal development and as such it is a biological condition. Genes of a person determines his gender identity which cannot be reversed especially when these genes are very strong (Sonderegger Anastasi, 1984). In gender identity determination, the biological influence is stronger than all other influences. Most of males who have feminine characteristics being dominant continue to behave like women despite their environment or psychological exposure. This also applies to women who are more masculine than feminine. Usually, such people end up looking for sex re-alignment to transform them to the different sex. Also, a person who is has different sex characteristics as being dominant in them always feel uncomfortable while identifying with the gender the society view them to belong to. As such, biological influence is much stronger than all other influences while defining the gender identity of a person (Ehrhardt Meyer-Bahlburg, 1981). Reference: CREWS, D. WILLIAMS, E. E. (n. d): Hormones, Behavior, and Speciation. Retrieved on 7th April 2009 from, http://icb. oxfordjournals. org/cgi/content/abstract/17/1/271 Ehrhardt A. A Meyer-Bahlburg, H. F. (1981): Effects of prenatal sex hormones on gender-related behavior. Journal of American Association for the Advancement of Science, Vol 211 Ghosh, S. (n. d): Sexuality: Gender Identity. Retrieved on 7th April 2009 from, http://emedicine. medscape. com/article/917990-overview. Jacobs, S. , Thomas, W. Lang, S. (1997): Two-spirit people: Native American gender identity, sexuality, and spirituality. ISBN 0252066456, Published by University of Illinois Press Lee, J. W. (2005): Psychology of gender identity. ISBN 1594542147, Published by Nova Publishers Litosseliti, L. Sunderland, J. (2002): Gender identity discourse analysis. ISBN 902722692X, Published by John Benjamins Publishing Company Sonderegger, T. B. Anastasi, A. (1984): Psychology and gender. ISBN 0803241526 Published by U of Nebraska Press Wolfe, D. A. Mash, E. J. (2005): Behavioral and emotional disorders in adolescents: nature, assessment, and treatment. ISBN 1593852258, Published by Guilford Press

Homecoming by Bruce Dawe Essay -- Poem Poetry Poet Bruce Dawe Home Com

Homecoming by Bruce Dawe The poem 'Homecoming' originates from Bruce Dawe. Its journey depicts the aspects of war and its devastations upon human individuals. Using mainly the Vietnam War as a demonstration for its destructions. Within this poem Bruce Dawe dramatizes the homecoming of Australian veterans' bodies from Vietnam. This is clearly an anti-war poem, reproducing the sentiments of those who opposed the time when this war occurred. The poem starts of in what seems to be a monotone. With many simple verbs such as 'picking... bringing.... rolling ... whining...' are used to depicts how days after days, it is all the same. The bodies of the soldiers, days after days are all monotonously follow the same routine and being treated in a somewhat a seemingly cold and offhanded way. These simple words are repetitive; they aim to enhance the effect of imprinting a strong image within the readers? visual imagination of the relentless pace. Forcing the readers into feeling this great injustice for these soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for their country, within the war. Yet their bodies are treated no less than animals, following a strict routine of piling up in trucks, convoys, tagging them, giving them names, and boarding them onto the jets so they can finally return to their beloved home. This is their homecoming. The tone of this particular poem is apparent here. Within the title itself ?Homecoming? is irony. W hen homecoming is spoken of, an image of happi...

Close Up Brand Analysis

BA 170 Midterm Paper Never settle for second best. And yet, since its inception in the Philippine market, second place has been Close Up’s niche. Though the brand has indeed been successful in differentiating its use and targets from the irreplaceable number one, the dream to finally land the gold continues to linger. Overview of the Brand Close Up was launched by Unilever in 1967 as the first gel toothpaste in the world. The product’s unique structure made it easy to market it as a new and diverse product, all other brands having manufactured the same opaque white consistency toothpaste normally has.Furthermore, the brand made sure to put the blue ocean strategy to their advantage. While competitors were going the more medical approach, Close Up branded itself as the more relatable brand to the youth. Currently, Close Up has eight variants out in the market. All their lines are made to function as the ‘fresh breath maker’, promising consumers long-lasting fresh breath. The variants mostly just differ in flavor apart from the Close Up Milk Calcium, which adds the teeth strengthening function to their product. Company Vision Close Up envisions itself as the number one toothpaste brand for the youth.Their goal is to get young adults to feel how much the brand can help them achieve fresh breath, which, in turn, can boost their confidence to face their everyday challenges. Close Up’s goal is to be the youth’s first choice when it comes to toothpaste brands. The Close Up Mission In line with the company vision is their mission to give the youth that confidence to make ‘the moment’ happen. Much of Close Up’s brand identity revolves around the concept of ‘the moment’, which they define as that special instant of interaction between two or more individuals.It may be as simple as asking someone to be their date to the high school prom or as big as saying I love you to their special someone for the first time. Close Up makes sure to be the factor that pushes the consumer’s insecurities aside in order for them to be confident enough to pursue that perfect moment. Target Market The brand associates itself with Filipinos aged 18-24 who are both sociable and optimistic. These young adults need that confidence to get up close and personal with others and believe that white teeth and fresh breath are important for social confidence and intimacy.Market Analysis The Toothpaste Market Based on Datamonitor, the toothpaste market in the Philippines has increased at a compound annual growth rate of 3. 3% between 2004 and 2009, with Colgate leading the pack with a share of 51. 7%. But after two decades of continuous growth, the toothpaste industry saw a decline in market usage causing most companies to cut prices. Currently, Close Up stands as the industry’s number two with a market share of approximately 20%. What are the factors that affect toothpaste choice in the market? A journal published by Ben Paul Gutierrez shows that there are thirteen attributes consumers look for when selecting their toothpaste. These include variables such as the ability to clean teeth properly, ability to give smooth and white teeth, ability to prevent cavities and the approval of dentists. (insert table of complete list here). Furthermore, the research shows the characteristics of the decision maker (ultimately, the one who chooses and purchases the product) and connects them to two behaviors, namely switching and involvement.Switching refers to the consumer’s brand loyalty whereas involvement refers to the buying behavior. (show table of high involvement/low involvement) Close Up and Colgate are both able to achieve high switching and brand involvement, which are expected of brand which have high market shares. Close Up’s Position In terms of age, Close Up has been consistent in marketing itself to the young adults. Map A shows the relationship between pric e and age and proves that Close Up is unique in its choice of age segment. This is particularly evident in their advertising, which will be discussed further in this text. insert perceptual map a) Looking at functional benefit (Map B), however, we see that Close Up lags behind Colgate, who has, over the years, developed more and more products to address different oral needs. This is also because Close Up has continuously focused on producing toothpaste with the same functional benefits, a few outliers aside. Though this is good for brand reinforcement, meaning that consumers quickly associate the same need to the brand, this may be a factor as to why the brand has stayed a challenger. insert perceptual map b) On the other hand, Map C illustrates the relationship of price and size. Here, Close Up is generally positioned in between two markets, with Colgate at Sensodyne being the higher priced brand (MORE ANALYSIS HERE) Lastly, Map D shows the relationship between price and functional benefits, which may also be interpreted as the consumer’s value for money. (insert perceptual map c) (insert more analysis) generally -toothpaste market, positioning, pricing, market behavior, segmentation breakthrough Consumer Insight -target market, trends, insight Current strategies Recommendations

Informative Speech The Fundamentals Of Baseball

Informative Speech Topic: How to Properly Throw a Baseball General Purpose: Inform the audience Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about three key points on properly throwing. Thesis: The Fundamentals of baseball can result in a successful pitcher is proper mechanics, good arm motion to hit your target and lots of flexibility/mobility that can result in high velocity meaning speed. Introduction A. Attention Getter: 1. Hi class today I will be disusing on how to properly throw a baseball (throw to Luis) We see these days that many young kids want to play the game of baseball but more importantly who wants to learn the mechanics. Id say that be the older kids especially ones in high school or higher. B. Reason to Listen: 2.†¦show more content†¦3. Also making sure you have a good grip on the baseball and placing your fingers on the â€Å"horseshoe† with both index fingers being perpendicular to one another 4. The ideal purpose of holding this is either to have all fingers touching all four laces or just only two and with a light grip Transition into my next point: After discussing the proper ways to hold a baseball I will now discuss the proper steps in order to do all of this such as the proper mechanics. (Discuss PowerPoint Picture) *Looking at the PowerPoint provided by pictures by John Guido and Sherry Werner in their article â€Å"You need stronger legs to pitch then we thought† this image describes the 10-step process I will be explaining for you today They also explain â€Å"During this mechanic Process both legs are vitally important in order to produce and redirect the necessary force. In my humble opinion we should place a strong emphasis on the deceleration component of the pitching mechanics with the use of some eccentric single leg work† 1. Wind up or even the stretch 2. Knee Up 3. Stride 4. Foot Contact with ground 5. Arm Cocking Backwards (Arm Acceleration) 6. Reach that 90 degree angle with your arm 7. Then we come down to the Arm Deceleration 8. Release Point 9. Follow Through 10. Repeat *John Guido and Sherry Werner make a point that â€Å"The stride leg functions to dynamically stabilize the hip and knee joints in a single leg stance to maintain standing posture forShow MoreRelatedPeculiarities of Euphemisms in English and Difficulties in Their Translation19488 Words   |  78 Pagesman. It is necessary not only to transmit every word, thought, but also to express the emotive state and courage of certain article; to save its national color and expressiveness having set out a system of the language and peculiarities of foreign speech with the help of the native language. People have to broaden without bounds their opportunities of translation, to create irreproachable and immense storehouses of information. 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