For this essay, you have your choice of one of the following three topics. However, since you

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Question:

For this essay, you have your choice of one of the following three topics. However, since you are assigned to a Discussion Board group, you would probably want to write your paper about the topic your group is assigned. However, if you do not like your assignment, you can switch with someone else, if the other person is amenable to the switch. I wouldn’t become overwhelmed by your topic since each of them is interesting. Your essay only has to be three pages, but you MUST QUOTE, PARAPHRASE, OR SUMMARIZE information from each of the articles. You do not have to use outside resources, but you can if you wish.

1. Articles: “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All,” “Why Men Still Can’t Have It All,” “Teaching Men to Be Emotionally Honest”

1. In “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All,” Anne-Marie Slaughter discusses the frustration and guilt of sacrificing Family needs for a productive and high-level position, However, she also admits that she is a member of a privileged group of women who don’t have to work but choose to. What are some of the responses she receives from other women to her views about work versus family? On page 543, she proposes a means of improving a lot of all women. What is her proposal?

What do you think about the two issues in the above question?

2. “Why Men Still Can’t Have It All,” by Richard Dorment, focuses on the work-life balance for men. He seems to be slightly fixated on the position that men would do more if women appreciated it. He brought up the point that on the average, men work more hours than women; therefore; they have less time to take part in household activities. He also states that men want to be closer to their children now than the fathers of the past, but they are often judged in their role as fathers. Do you think that it is more difficult for a man to have a role in their children’s lives than women? Why, and what seems to be working against them?

3. Andrew Reiner places the blame on the dishonesty of men on how society views masculinity. Boys are discouraged from an early on showing emotion and vulnerability. They are caught in the “masculinity trap” which equates showing emotion with weakness. Do you agree with the premise of this article? What points do you consider the strongest?

2. Articles: “I’m Ga y and African American. As a Dad, I still Have It Easier Than Working Moms,” What about Gender Roles in Same-Sex Relationships” and “From He to She in First Grade”

1. In “I’m Ga y and African American…,” the author states that one of the reasons he has it easier is that “because openly ga y men in leadership positions with young children remain relatively unusual, and society has yet to develop any strong norms of acceptable choices in his position.” He also says that being in the black middle class during the 1960s and 1970s the world prepared him to defy expectations. He concludes by saying that society needs to change its view on towards parenting and career choices. After reading his article, do you agree that there should not have to be a choice between a career and parenthood? If corporations and professional level jobs recognized the ability for women to work in high profiles jobs with exceptions made for family isues, everyone would benefit including the business.

2. “What about Gender Roles in Same-Sex Relationships? By Stephen Mays Stephen Mays writes of the absurdity of assigning gender roles in same-sex relationships. Although the article is short, he makes an important point. What traits (besides the physical) are definitely female or male. Do you agree with his premise. If a male likes to cook and sew or dress nicely, does that constitute feminine qualities, and if a woman likes to play and watch sports and work out with weights, does that constitute masculine qualities? Why should there be masculine and feminine roles in same-sex relationships?

3. “From He to She in First Grade” by Laurie Frankel Laurie Frankel writes very honestly about the time her son decided he preferred to be recognized as a girl. He knew he would be made fun of in school, but he was willing to go through that to dress the way he wanted to dress. On page 586, she writes a very telling paragraph about how she handled the situation as a parent. If you choose this topic, please reread it. It starts “The question I couldn’t stop asking myself was…” Do you agree with Frankel’s decision to allow her son to make the decisions about how he wanted to dress and appear at school? She believes that gender identity is a very personal issue that should not be influenced by anyone else. Do you agree even though her child is only six years old?

3. Articles: Exploitation of Women – “Killing Us Softly 4” – You Tube ( a longer version is available), Overrated Masculinity of Men (again several additional You Tube videos are available as well as articles), “Teaching Men to Be Emotionally Honest,” pages 589-595 If you choose to do this question, which is very interesting, you will have to find at least 3 additional sources. You will be given credit for the extra work involved. Models feel pressure to be so thin that many of them become sick with anorexia. They look almost like skeletons, and awful messages are given to them to maintain such a low weight. Kate Moss, who was a super-model, wrote an article about how these young women are manipulated into staying unnaturally thin.

2. We watched a video about how the fictitious ideals of masculinity are often pushed on to men starting when they are children and told to “Man up” if they cry. Men feel they often have to hide their real emotions in order not to be soft or effeminate. Again, you will need to find additional sources, which will be taken into consideration in your graden

3. In “Teaching Men to Be Emotionally Honest,” Andrew Reiner states that boys are taught to mutate their emotional suffering into anger. He states that this begins the male identity at war with itself; if they show emotions, it is interpreted as soft, but if they show anger, it shows strength and masculinity. The designation of involvement in cultural activities, such as music, art, and drama is often considered unmasculine. The entire article deals with the difficulty men have in showing their emotions for fear of appearing effeminate. Do you think men are up against an unwinnable situation? Why should it be so wrong for a man to show emotion? Is there a possibility of change, and how would it come about?