From The Moment Children Are Born They Are Instantly Assigned

From the moment children are born they are instantly assigned the gender that society considers appropriate, this can usually be characterized by the pink or blue clothes they are given. The immediate separation of gender emphasizes the importance of dividing gender and keeping strict constructs in our society. So when a man or woman diverges from how they are expected to act, they are seen as outcasts that need to be molded into what is acceptable in society’s eyes. In her book, An Introduction to Female Masculinity Judith â€Å"Jack† Halberstam examines the ideas and struggles surrounding masculine women, and those who deviate from society’s view of a normal male or female. One of the main ways Halberstam analyzes the struggles of masculine†¦show more content†¦Halberstam claims that gender deviance in girls comes mostly from desiring the greater freedoms and mobilities that boys tend to have. Through analyzing the arguments of Murnen on gender constru cts one can better understand the claims of Halberstam. Murnen asserts that the surroundings children are in have a great effect on how they see themselves so even the toys kids play with will influence their gender identities. The toys influence boys and girls in two different ways. Boy’s products usually encourage traits that include career-orientation, leadership, aggression, assertiveness, and independence, which are usually associated with higher status people. On the other hand, girl’s products encourage traits that include being emotional, warm, interested in children, sensitive to others, a good listener, friendly, and attentive to appearance, which are associated with being status neutral (Murnen). Looking back at Halberstam’s claim it only makes sense that tomboys want to escape from the belittlement of girls products and experience the dominant traits of boys products. By combining the ideas of Halberstam and Murnen the reasons behind why a girl wants to express masculine identity becomes slightly clearer, but they are not completely explained. After examining Craig and Lacroix’s essay the reader should have a complete understanding of why someone would identify as a tomboy. Craig and Lacroix explain the tomboyShow MoreRelatedThe Real Story Of Ah Q780 Words   |  4 Pagesauthors and artists along with the woodblock artists Li Hua and Hu Yichuan did more than just capture a moment in time, their artwork and literature was created to question the status quo, provoke new ideas and challenge governmental and societal ideologies. I read The Real Story of Ah-Q by Lu Xun. This was not one of my assigned readings, but when the story was summarized in class, I instantly found a connection between this story and the American play The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Reading theRead MoreGender, Race, And Ethnicity And Power Essay1507 Words   |  7 Pagesconcepts of gender, race and ethnicity and power. My journey began the moment I entered the world on May 25, 1996. I was born and raised in a small developed country called New Zealand. At birth, my biological sex was quickly determine as I was category as a baby girl. My parents, both immigrant from Hong Kong, China in the 1980’s. As a result, I automatically associates with an East Asian background which is dissimilar from the Western culture in New Zealand. I grew up as the youngest member inRead MoreGender Differences And Gender Inequality Essay2348 Words   |  10 Pagesaccording to Kimmel’s ideas, occurred due to the â€Å"division of labor around childcare† and the scientifically misguided idea of women being biologically very different than men (pg 67). The idea that because of a women’s biology she should be prevented from working for her own sake has been disproven almost entirely. However, this idea has become rooted into our society and perpetuated through our socially expected ideas of norm al family structure. What makes the family, as an institution, consideredRead MoreGender Differences And Gender Inequality Essay2322 Words   |  10 Pagesaccording to Kimmel’s ideas, occurred due to the â€Å"division of labor around childcare† and the scientifically misguided idea of women being biologically very different than men (67). The idea that because of a women’s biology, she should be prevented from working for her sake has been disproven almost entirely. However, this idea has become rooted in our society and perpetuated through our socially expected views of the typical family structure. What makes the family, as an institution, considered genderRead MoreMalcolm X Draft 21700 Words   |  7 Pagesas a civil rights activist among black Americans, which promoted social change. In his childhood, Malcolm X experienced blatant racism towards his family. Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little in Omaha Nebraska on May 19, 1925. He was the son of Baptist Minister Earl Little and his mother Louise Norton Little and one of four children. Malcolm Little’s father preached that black Americans deserved the same rights as white Americans, but as a result of the times blacks made less money and were persecutedRead MoreGender And Gender Identity Disorder2178 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Å"From the moment we re born, our gender identity is no secret. We re either a boy or a girl. Gender organizes our world into pink or blue. As we grow up, most of us naturally fit into our gender roles. Girls wear dresses and play with dolls. For boys, it s pants and trucks.† (Goldburg, A.2007) However, for some, this is not the case. Imagine for a moment that you are a two year old boy drawn to the color pink, make up, and skirts. If this is the case than most likely, you are expe riencing GenderRead MoreCreative Writing: The Live of a Teenage Girl During the Nazi Regime1486 Words   |  6 PagesImagine for a moment that you are a simple teenage girl. You wake up in the morning, tired from staying up too late the night before. You have to mentally cerce your body to allow yourself to get out of bed and get ready to go somewhere, and this somewhere is the last place that you want to be. You dread spending your entire day inside the same building in which you find yourself every other weekday. You practically fall asleep in the shower, in your car, and at your desk. You can easily describeRead MoreEssay On Kill Your Own By Toni Morrison Essay2007 Words   |  9 PagesOhio in 1873, tells of Sethes escape from slavery, and the fateful day her life took a drastic turn. To a stranger, from the outside looking in, Sethes life is as normal as it could be under the circumstances of being a runaway.. Morrison tells of Sethe s struggle of being enslaved not only in body, but in mind and spirit also. A woman with the need and desire to protect her children. After being found by school teacher the slave owner, she ran away from, rather than returning to Sweet HomeRead MoreThe Search For The Magic Lake2002 Words   |  9 Pages â€Å"The Search for the Magic Lake† is a folktale from Ecuador that takes place during the Inca Empire (Cole 767). The story starts by explaining that the emperor’s son is sick and nothing has been able to cure him. Distraught, the emperor goes to a priest and asks what can be done to save his child. The priest tells him that the only thing that can cure the child is water from a magic lake at the end of the world. The king is too old to make the journey himself so he offers a reward to anyone thatRead MoreEssay about The American Dream: John F. Kenedy2184 Words   |  9 Pagescommonly known as JFK, was born on May 29, 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was born into a very wealthy and politically driven, Irish-Catholic family. His father, Joseph Patrick â€Å"Joe† Kennedy Sr., was a very successful businessman and politician most notably remembered for his speculation in the stock market of the twenties. John’s mother, Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald, w as a philanthropist and socialite and daughter of mayor John â€Å"Honey Fitz† Fitzgerald. Kennedy was born into a large family with

Groundhog Day Statistics

Every February 2, tens of thousands of people gather in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to celebrate Groundhog Day. On this date the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil - that seer of seers and prognosticator of prognosticators - emerges from his burrow in a hollowed out tree stump at Gobbler‘s Knob. Legend has it that if he sees his shadow, the there will be six more weeks of winter. And if not, then there will be an early spring. Phil’s forecasts are spoken in Groundhogese to a member of the Inner Circle. This group of Puxatany notables not only translates Phil’s forecast into English, they are also responsible for the care and feeding of Phil throughout the rest of the year. This tradition is said to have started in 1887, and has grown in popularity in the years since. The groundhog‘s popularity was given an even greater boost following the release of the 1993 Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day. The origins of Groundhog Day come from the Christian celebration of Candlemas. This day, corresponding to 40 days after Christmas, celebrates the day the infant Jesus was presented in the Jewish Temple. February 2 also marks the midpoint of the coldest temperatures in the northern hemisphere. Historically a rule of thumb stated that in order to have enough food for livestock, farmers should have half of their stored provisions remaining on Candlemas day. Little to none of this remains in the modern day celebration of Groundhog Day. What follows is a collection of forecasts from Groundhog Days of years past, according to Punxsutawneys official Groundhog Club. Year Result 1887 Saw Shadow 1888 Saw Shadow 1889 No Record 1890 No Shadow 1891 No Record 1892 No Record 1893 No Record 1894 No Record 1895 No Record 1896 No Record 1897 No Record 1898 Saw Shadow 1899 No Record 1900 Saw Shadow 1901 Saw Shadow 1902 No Shadow 1903 Saw Shadow 1904 Saw Shadow 1905 Saw Shadow 1906 Saw Shadow 1907 Saw Shadow 1908 Saw Shadow 1909 Saw Shadow 1910 Saw Shadow 1911 Saw Shadow 1912 Saw Shadow 1913 Saw Shadow 1914 Saw Shadow 1915 Saw Shadow 1916 Saw Shadow 1917 Saw Shadow 1918 Saw Shadow 1919 Saw Shadow 1920 Saw Shadow 1921 Saw Shadow 1922 Saw Shadow 1923 Saw Shadow 1924 Saw Shadow 1925 Saw Shadow 1926 Saw Shadow 1927 Saw Shadow 1928 Saw Shadow 1929 Saw Shadow 1930 Saw Shadow 1931 Saw Shadow 1932 Saw Shadow 1933 Saw Shadow 1934 No Shadow 1935 Saw Shadow 1936 Saw Shadow 1937 Saw Shadow 1938 Saw Shadow 1939 Saw Shadow 1940 Saw Shadow 1941 Saw Shadow 1942 Partial Shadow 1943 No Appearance by Groundhog 1944 Saw Shadow 1945 Saw Shadow 1946 Saw Shadow 1947 Saw Shadow 1948 Saw Shadow 1949 Saw Shadow 1950 No Shadow 1951 Saw Shadow 1952 Saw Shadow 1953 Saw Shadow 1954 Saw Shadow 1955 Saw Shadow 1956 Saw Shadow 1957 Saw Shadow 1958 Saw Shadow 1959 Saw Shadow 1960 Saw Shadow 1961 Saw Shadow 1962 Saw Shadow 1963 Saw Shadow 1964 Saw Shadow 1965 Saw Shadow 1966 Saw Shadow 1967 Saw Shadow 1968 Saw Shadow 1969 Saw Shadow 1970 No Shadow 1971 Saw Shadow 1972 Saw Shadow 1973 Saw Shadow 1974 Saw Shadow 1975 No Shadow 1976 Saw Shadow 1977 Saw Shadow 1978 Saw Shadow 1979 Saw Shadow 1980 Saw Shadow 1981 Saw Shadow 1982 Saw Shadow 1983 No Shadow 1984 Saw Shadow 1985 Saw Shadow 1986 No Shadow 1987 Saw Shadow 1988 No Shadow 1989 Saw Shadow 1990 No Shadow 1991 Saw Shadow 1992 Saw Shadow 1993 Saw Shadow 1994 Saw Shadow 1995 No Shadow 1996 Saw Shadow 1997 No Shadow 1998 Saw Shadow 1999 No Shadow 2000 Saw Shadow 2001 Saw Shadow 2002 Saw Shadow 2003 Saw Shadow 2004 Saw Shadow 2005 Saw Shadow 2006 Saw Shadow 2007 No Shadow 2008 Saw Shadow 2009 Saw Shadow 2010 Saw Shadow 2011 No Shadow 2012 Saw Shadow 2013 No Shadow 2014 Saw Shadow 2015 Saw Shadow 2016 No Shadow

An Observation of a Bat Mitzvah Free Essays

The bar mitzvah is not actually a ceremony or rite of passage as many people believe. It is actually a boy of the Jewish religion who has attained the age of 13. It is thus a legal status that is automatically ascribed with no need for ceremony or any other religious rite. We will write a custom essay sample on An Observation of a Bat Mitzvah or any similar topic only for you Order Now A parallelism would be attaining adult age, typically 18 in most societies.The bar mitzvah pertains to males while a bat mitzvah is to females, and females become bat mitzvot (plural of mitzvah) at the age of 12. Bar or bat mitzvah translates to a â€Å"coming of age† and signifies the transition of the child to that of beginning adulthood insofar as religious practice was concerned, and be counted as part of the minyan or quorum for public prayer. While it is widely practiced, there is actually no direct mention of it in the Talmud. Because women are traditionally not allowed to read from the Torah, it was a momentous occasion when in 1922 the daughter of Rabbi Mordecai M. Kaplan was the first bat mitzvah to read from the Torah in celebration of her 12th birthday. (â€Å"The first American bat mitzvah†) Today, many young girls celebrate becoming a bat mitzvah with a grandiosity that rivals that of a Sweet 16 birthday party. I. The Ceremony The synagogue was a study of the diversity in the US. On one side was the families of the two girls who were to become bat mitzvot and since one of the girls was an adoptee of Chinese descent and the adoptive mother was not Jewish, there were quite a few who were not. Among the congregation, many were not Jewish as well, guests of the girls and their families who were to join in the celebration. (Schapiro) A box of commemorative yarmulke or distinctive skullcap enabled male guests to help themselves to one because it is expected that they cover their heads when participating in the service. However, only Jewish males over 13 wore the ritual fringes called the talit. Aside from this, there did not seem to be a distinction in dress for Jews and non-Jews. Some small children were present, and were quite surprisingly free to get up and roam as they pleased as long as they behaved. The unruly ones were quietly led away to what can only be supposed is a playroom. On the eastern wall of the synagogue, the Ark is evident. This is the repository of the Torah, and above the Ark is a light called the Ner Tamid or eternal light. There is also a representation of the Tablets of the Covenant. On the bima, the raised platform on which the service was to be conducted. The two girls were seated on the right side of the altar. The girls’ fathers laid the prayer shawl on their respective daughter’s shoulders, signifying a transfer of power, or responsibility, whichever perspective works, and the choir raised their voice in a welcoming song in Hebrew. The rabbi commenced with the reading, and at each part the congregation was told when to sit or stand. This was especially helpful for non-Jewish participants of the service. The girls then were directed to approach the Ark where the Torah scrolls were kept. Each took their scroll and carried it around the sanctuary, as each Jewish guest touch their prayer books to it to signify love and devotion to its teachings. The girls then took their place at the bima in front of the congregation to read out the scrolls in Hebrew. This is referred to as the aliyah. The girls each read part of Chapter 21 of Exodus which was the reading for the Shabbat for that week. Afterwards, each girl gave a speech in English, a d’rash about how the experience preparing for becoming bat mitzvot had meant to them. Each girl then touched the fringe of their prayer shawl to the Torah before kissing it and returning to their seat. The parents (excepting the non-Jewish mother) spoke before the congregation thanking God for the blessing of freeing them from the responsibility for their child’s sins. This part was spoken in English. The rabbi then said a few words directed at the new bat mitzvot and the girls then proceeded with the concluding prayers, the Haftorah and then the ceremony was over. The next part of the celebration was the fun part, the Kiddush and seudat mitzvah that translates today to a party held outside the synagogue, where speeches and advice are liberally given for the elucidation of the new bat mitzvah.   Traditional gifts with associations with the number 18 (considered a â€Å"lucky† number in Jewish tradition, means also â€Å"life†) and more generic gifts were given at the reception. (â€Å"Bar and Bat Mitzvah†; Rich â€Å"Gifts†) II. Discussion Mitzvah is the word for â€Å"commandment,† and bat is â€Å"daughter† so a bat mitzvah is a daughter of the commandment. The whole point of this rite is to commemorate the child’s coming of age but the way it is practiced tends to be highly adaptable to the particular societal context. The ceremony itself has no mention in the Talmud so the rituals have evolved over time and application. (â€Å"Bar bat mitzvah†) Preparation for the bar or bat mitzvah typically begins a year or more prior to the projected date, especially for modern Jews or those who are newly converted. This is to allow the child to become familiar with the Jewish commandments, prayer, history and the Hebrew language. A large portion of this education is overseen by the cantor, or scholar. The responsibilities of the bat mitzvah includes the keeping of the mitzvot or commandments as embodied in the Torah, all 613 of them. She is also expected to observe rituals such as fasting days. Interestingly enough, this is also considered the point in which the bat mitzvah can decide to remain or not within the faith. Because of this, a confirmation ceremony is slated for the 16th or 18th year of the bat mitzvah in   some communities. (â€Å"Bar/bat mitzvah†) More orthodox Jewish families prepare their male children for eventual emancipation by starting their preparations at kindergarten age and beyond the age of bar mitzvah. Orthodox Jews do not allow women to participate in religious services, so becoming a bat mitzvah in these communities does not include the service and is usually celebrated at home with a small party that merely commemmorates the child’s 12th birthday. Reformist sects take the cue from their spiritual leader, the rabbi. This was what happened to Judith Kaplan the daughter of Rabbi Mordecai M. Kaplan, who believed women should be given equal consideration and importance in the community. However, for the longest time bat mitzvot usually celebrated on a Friday rather than on the Shabbat, or did not read directly from the Torah, so deeply ingrained was the bias against women in the Jewish orthodoxy. (â€Å"The first American bat mitzvah†) With the influence of American society and growing diversity in religion, however practice has been inevitably affected. The number of religious intermarriages is rising and many religious groups have seen the wisdom of adapting to the changing society. This is especially apparent in the ceremony described above. The bar mitzvot are now allowed to read from the Torah, and are instructed in this by the cantor with the benevolent overseeing of the rabbi himself. They participate fully in the ceremony, and the fact that one of the parents is non-Jewish is no longer a big issue as long as they play a passive role in the service itself. Outsiders are welcome to participate in a passive manner as well, and religious scholars are more than willing to explain the intricacies of the service to the clueless. There is even a growing trend among newly converted Jews who become bar or bat mitzvah in ceremonies held at any point in their life, some as old as 80. Because these people came into the faith late in life, they are considered to have attained a â€Å"coming of age† when they have mastered the basics of the Jewish religion. III. Conclusion For all children, rites of passage are important highlights in their lives. For Jewish children in particular, the concept of becoming a bar or bat mitzvah and the formal celebration of the event focuses on the importance of having a good knowledge of Judaism. At the same time, it serves as inducting a sense of belonging for children, which at this particular point in their lives is crucial for optimal development. Because survival of the congregation that is yearly becoming diverse, even the most stringent religious traditions have been compelled to unbend and accommodate the evolving population. The practice of commemorating the becoming of a bat mitzvah is a particularly good example of this accommodation. Works Cited â€Å"Bar and Bat Mitzvah†. Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence. 20010406. FindArticles.com. 17 Jul. 2007. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2602/is_0000/ai_2602000074 Bar bat mitzvah. Jewish Celebrations. 2007. Mazornet.com. 18 July 2007 http://www.mazornet.com/jewishcl/mitzvah.htm. Bar/bat mitzvah. Patriarchy Website.January 2000. Israel CS Lim. 18 July 2007 http://www.patriarchywebsite.com/bib-patriarchy/bar-bat-mitzvah.htm. Rich, Tracey. Bar Mitzvah and bat mitzvah. Judaism 101. 2005. JewFAQ.org. 18 July 2007 http://www.jewfaq.org/barmitz.htm. Schapiro, Moshe. What is a bar or bat mitzvah? Jewish Lifecycles. 18 January 2000. Aish HaTorah. 18 July 2007 http://www.aish.com/literacy/lifecycle/what_is_a_bar_or_bat_mitzvah$.asp. The first American bat mitzvah. Jewish Virtual Library. 2007. The American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. 18 July 2007 http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/firstbat.html.       How to cite An Observation of a Bat Mitzvah, Essays