Abstract
This paper discusses the effect of patriarchy on the female body based on Foucault's theories stating that the emergence of a new "counter" discipline against the body corresponds with the emergence of society's increased political liberty. The author points out that, although women have historically existed within a state of permanent visibility, the new age of bodily discipline introduces a more oppressive set of patriarchal values, which, upon internalization, intensified the effects of permanent visibility on women. The paper states that shame and self-hatred prevent a woman from finding self-confidence and becoming more than the ideal, and thus she is forever subjected to patriarchal definitions and masculine domination.

From the Paper
"If the images of women presented through the mass media are indicative of ideology, then the current patriarchal ideal of
feminine beauty is quite specific. To be beautiful, a woman's body must be thin. Models today weigh on average twenty-five percent less than the weight of the "average" woman. The ideal feminine body is also usually white. Women are more often than not taut, with "no wobbly bits", but cannot possess noticeable muscle bulk as this would counteract the feminine beauty ideal of vulnerability and weakness."

Tags:anorexia, foucault, panopticon, myth, sacrifice

Abstract
Philosopher Michael Foucault has had an extraordinary impact on the way in which power and sexuality are understood in modern society. This paper aims to enlighten the reader towards a broader understanding of sexuality and power according to Foucault. It also tests and questions Foucault's theories as they exist when practically applied.
Outline
Introduction
Foucault on Power
Foucault on Resistance and Freedom
Foucault and Sexuality
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Foucault has gone on in his later work to clarify the practice of freedom. Foucault talks of a subject as a work of art and as being ruled by the self upon the self, with intentional and voluntary acts . It is within this later work that Foucault appears to contradict himself. He requires that this rule not be prescriptive from an outside source and yet in his earlier work he made it clear that self-regulation with regards to an external, prevailing discourse is so prevalent in modern society as to be barely discernible. Whilst it may not be a true contradiction, it is hard to marry the two theories and to distinguish between the negative self-regulation and the positive rule applied by self upon self. "

Tags:pleasure, domination, compliance

Abstract
This paper discusses cinema's representation of transvestism in films such as, "All About My Mother", "Ma Vie en Rose" and "Tootsie", to name just a few. Moreover, the expected reaction of audiences to, predominantly, men dressed as women, is explored. Furthermore, the reasons for cross-dressing within society is evaluated. Also, to critique these films in a scholarly manner, academics such as Yvonne Tasker, Richard Dyer and Stella Bruzzi are consulted and cited to strengthen and support this paper. Importantly, the reinforcement of gender codes and gender identity, through a persons clothing, is discussed and examined.

From the Paper
"Bruzzi (1997 P.147) defines cross-dressing as, "The questioning and blurring of gender identities that occurs when characters do not wear the clothes deemed socially appropriate to their sex" while Stoller argues that "Transvestism should only refer to fetishistic cross-dressing and 'drag' is exclusively applied to cross-dressing as theatrical performance" (1985 P.176). In the mainstream cross-dressing comedy, the male dresses as a woman to generate comic effect based on the ridicule, whereas in the French film Ma Vie en Rose (Berliner; 1997), the implications of a little boy thinking he is a girl is explored, while All About My Mother provides us with a more accurate representation of the world of transvestites and transsexuals."

Tags:Transgender, gender, tootsie, cross-dressing

Abstract
This paper discusses feminism in post-modern, neo-liberal, post-feminist Australia. The paper argues that while many women in Australia have benifited from feminism, this is not true across all socio-economic, generational and ethnic groups. The paper discusses a variety of reasons that in spite of gender inequality young women deride feminism.

From the Paper
"The current political economy of post-modern, neo-liberal, post-feminist society is imbedded with reaffirmation of masculine hegemony, where feminism is ridiculed, feminists are stigmatised and everything is relative to nothing. The changing face of femininity is most commonly represented by a newly empowered young womanhood that is, above all else, imbued with post-feminist agency and distanced from outmoded notions of female disadvantage. However, many groups of women are still subordinated by their unequal power relationships with men, and the extent to which young women have benefitted from the feminist movement, varies greatly between socio-economic and cultural groups. In reality, young women may deride feminism, due to ignorance of the complexities of the movement, as they have little access to various feminist discourses, which may, in fact, be consistent with their own beliefs and ideology. Internal disputes within the movement have also contributed to its demise from the public sphere, as its power to defend itself from opposition reduced. On top of that, there has been a backlash against feminism from the beauty industry and many young women hold anxiety that being a feminist means they will be less likely to have a successful relationship. This article argues that the discourse of such a highly individuated new femininity leaves little room to raise questions of gender inequality, to articulate the experience of difficulty and disadvantage, or to compose a powerful collective identity. The central argument of this essay is that the current political economy is detrimental to the women's movement as it transfers the onus back to individual women, where many of these young women do not have the power to create change in their lives."

Tags:gender, inequality, abuse

Abstract
This article is a critical and scathing review of poet Robert Bly's attempt at a non-fiction, self-help book for men. Included is an examination, as an aspect of Bly's work, of the mytho-poetic men's movement. The article outlines Bly's contentions within the book, which revolve around a self-conceived crisis in masculinity and his solutions for resolving and restoring masculinity for men. This essay examines Bly's assumptions regarding masculinity and the way in which he signifies patriarchal domination and misogyny toward women as a solution to the masculine 'crisis'. It examines general essentialist theory, extending to a discussion of Jungian archetypes as an example of essentialism.

From the Paper
"How is it possible, in today's gender aware society, that the writing of one author can be simultaneously described as "expos[ing] ... patriarchal domination" and "blocked by ... sexist stereotypes" " This is the conundrum which surrounds Robert Bly, his nonfiction text "Iron John: A Book About Men" (Bly 1999), and the mythopoetic men's movement which has sprung up as a result of Bly's work with, what he terms, "soft males" (Bly 1999: p.2). All three have focused on reclaiming masculinity; a masculinity which, according to Bly, is not only in crisis, but with which there is "something wrong" (p.2). However, in the task of reclaiming a truer form of masculinity for men, is it possible that Bly is simply reasserting his idea of patriarchal domination as a defensive response to feminism (Connell 1992: p.31)" Or does Bly indeed, as he claims, not wish to return men to the "domineering mode that has led to the repression of women" (p. x) " To ascertain the answer to this question, it is vital to return to the source and examine the foundations upon which Bly bases his contentions and solutions regarding the supposed masculinity in crisis."

Tags:critique, essentialism, hegemonic, jung, masculinity, mens, movement, mytho, patriarchal, poetic, robert

Abstract
This paper explores the issue of prostitution and explains that it has always been intrinsically linked to and shaped by broader sexual attitudes, practices and cultures. The paper specifically explores the history of sexuality and prostitution within an Australian context. For instance, in approximately two hundred years of European settlement, prostitution has been affected extensively by factors such as demographic patterns, class and gender biases, immigration, race and age biases and economic and social crises. This essay outlines the dominant factors responsible for shaping prostitution, while including references to legislative initiatives that sought to regulate and control prostitution and which were, in themselves, a reflection of societal attitudes.

From the Paper
"The first major factor affecting prostitution is changing demographic patterns, reflected in the type of clientele, services demanded, and reasons for the need of prostitutes. During the convict era, and later colonial period, the numerical predominance of males was considered a serious problem. As men outnumbered women six to one until the 1840s, the authorities believed that, "without a sufficient proportion of that sex [female] it is well known that it would be impossible to preserve the settlement from gross irregularities and disorders." These disorders included homosexual contact, or sodomy which was an offense, "against the order of nature," according to the prevailing sexual mores of the time, and the risk of rebellion if male lusts were not satiated."

Tags:gender, sex, society, media, women, men

Abstract
This essay examines the emerging trend and, indeed, necessity to distinguish between the two terms "gender" and "sex". It examines the introduction and usage of both terms and the subsequent historical development, including the power benefits that the biological reductionism of "sex theory" encompasses. Through specific reference to sociological schools of thought, such as structural functionalism, feminist critique, role theory, social constructionism and post-structuralist theory, an argument for the need for distinction between "gender" and "sex" is established. With references to Foucault, Derrida, and Judith Butler, this essay examines the need for a biological ("sex") and social ("gender") specificity of sexuality, proposing a conceptually accurate path forward for the future.

From the Paper
"The terms "sex role," "sex role socialization," "gender role," and the term "role" itself, have become so confused and definitionally abstract that it is often inadequate or even incorrect to use such terms. Many individuals do however. The terms "sex" and "gender" are infinitely bandied about, consistently interchanged, and often stand proxy for one another, in every imaginable discourse and social institution. This is because "sex" and gender" are the foundational concepts upon which society is built. Sex and gender is integral to every social structure, having far-reaching implications that shape individuals' opportunities for safety, employment, education, family, legal access, fecundity, knowledge production and much, much more. However, the challenge here is to understand such implications within a conceptually accurate framework. The development of sex/gender theorizing has met this challenge, and the fact that some sociologists today reject the terms "sex roles" and "sex role socialization" is a reflection of the changing and developing nature of the theoretical framework. It is only through an examination of the history of sex/gender theory however that it is possible to determine how and why these same sociologists have rejected the frameworks that they have."

Tags:biological, critique, feminist, functionalism, gender, post, reductionism, sex, structural, structuralist, theory

Abstract
Using Sandra Lee Bartky's theory of internalization, which is based on Michel Foucault's 'Panopticon' theory, this essay discusses quite complicated theories regarding the effect of patriarchy on a woman and her experience of her own body. This is written from a feminist perspective, but quite simply and passionately. The essay goes into much detail regarding the ways in which women internalize patriarchal standards and desires, so that women come to punish themselves for not living up to the male-imposed bodily standards of beauty. Foucault's theory of the Panopticon is only employed to demonstrate this 'internalization' process; the Panopticon is a prison where each prisoner is permanently visible. When one believes they are permanently on display, whether they are actually being watched or not, they will internalize the standards of the 'watcher' and self-monitor. This essay's contention is that the internalization of patriarchal standards of feminine beauty on women causes women much stress, pain and anxiety medically, physically and psychologically.

From the Paper
"In contemporary patriarchal society, a woman lives her body from outside-in. She is perpetually conscious of how she looks to another, because she knows she is perpetually watched by a patriarchal Other, and it becomes her duty to stand outside her own flesh and monitor her body's movements for him. A woman comes to watch herself as though she too were a patriarchal Other. She becomes both the seer and seen, the "object of desire," internalizing his values regarding her body and making them her own values about her own body. Her embodied experience will reflect this knowledge that she stands always before his gaze and under his judgment; her body is not her own. Similarly, her own sexuality is not self-defined, and she will not experience herself as beautiful or sexual unless she complies with the patriarchal ideals of feminine beauty."

Tags:anorexia, bartky, beauty, feminist, foucault, myth, panopticon, patriarchal, sexuality

Abstract
This paper presents a number of central themes that help to outline how the current sexual assault laws are falling short of meeting community expectations because of the environment in which they operate and the way in which they are implemented. The paper discusses the law itself and explores the myths that pervade society illustrating how these affect the implementation of the law both outside and within the courtroom. The paper examines evidentiary procedures in sexual assault trials, the notion of consent, the belief of the accused, the chaste woman and sentencing.

From the Paper
"It is impossible to accurately measure whether the majority of society is more, or less, supportive of rape prone behavior. In any case, it is not that simple to draw the distinction. What I can say with a degree of optimism though, is that just as you didn't have the same level of acceptance for alternative sexual preferences forty years ago, you also didn't have the openness and sheer volume of discussion about sexual assault and the experiences of women who enter the legal system. It is my opinion that community attitudes, while they may always be diverse and divided, are generally becoming more sympathetic to the needs of women and less likely to tolerate a society that allows female subordination. It is a time of transition for the Western world and that is the positive stance I will be taking when I refer to "society's" attitudes. While the laws in their current form are an improvement and a beginning, it is the attitudes of those members of society who fall out of my definition, that need to change before they can be implemented in a way that is truly valuable to women."

Tags:rape, women, abuse

Abstract
This essay outlines the way in which popular representations of sexuality (i.e., masculinity) must reproduce a specific kind of 'normal' in order to appeal to the masses. It establishes the definitions and 'appearance' of the differing types of masculinity, highlighting the nature of these as social constructs, but also the continual need and perpetuation of such constructs as natural or 'fact'. The essay highlights, through the use of two modern representations, the movie, "The Siege", and the series, "Ally McBeal", the way in which differing masculinities are unconsciously propagated in modern culture. NOTE: Hilarious use of Ally McBeal material, dialogue included in appendix.

From the Paper
"The mass media is produced and consumed in a commercial context. To reap the most financial gain it is therefore imperative that the material to be consumed is comprehensible for the intended audience. The more comprehensible and recognizable the material, the higher chances of consumption and subsequently, profit. This often means that representations of masculinity will continually reproduce the established conventions of masculine behavior and norms (Bignell 1997:196). As a result, hegemonic masculinity, which can be defined as the dominant masculinity performed at any given time, is continually reinforced as dominant and therefore reasserted as normative in society (Cheng 1999:297-301). Subsequently, marginalized masculinities, which are perceived as lacking in relation to the supremacy of hegemonic masculinity, are continually presented as subordinate and therefore remain oppressed (Buchbinder 1994: 33). In the following examination of masculine representations, two dramatizations have been analyzed for the extent to which their characters reproduce or challenge conventional masculine behavior and norms."

Tags:ally, construct, dominant, domination, film, gender, hegemonic, male, mcbeal, representation, social