Songs in the Key of Stevie Wonder’s Life Essay -- Biography

At the young age of twenty two, Stevie Wonder sang, â€Å"When you believe in the things you don’t understand / Then you suffer / Superstition ain’t the way†. He started his career in the early 1960s, but in 1972, Superstition established Stevie Wonder as one of the most recognizable musicians of his time in American and African-American culture and music. Although music was Wonder’s main priority, he also dedicated his time to a fight against racism throughout national and international borders. Musically, socially, and politically, Stevie Wonder was able to bring people together with his music and words. From the time of his birth to the present day, Stevie wonder sang his way into our hearts and remains one of the most influential people within African-American history. Steveland Hardaway Judkins was born on May 13, 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan to Calvin Judkins and Lula Mae Hardaway. As his current musical career was groundbreaking, his family life was not so perfect. The relationship between Calvin and Lula Mae was difficult and abusive; even before Stevie was born, Calvin was drunk, domestically violent with Lula and forced her into prostitution to support the family and Calvin (Ribowsky 10). After Stevie’s birth, Calvin’s mannerism did not change and simply regressed. However, Calvin agreed to move to Detroit with Lula, Stevie, and his two elder siblings to Detroit to work on the relationship and family dynamic (Ribowsky 18). Calvin and Lula’s relationship later terminated with a divorce and a name change for Stevie, as his birth name was changed to Steveland Hardaway Morris. As the third child out of six, he was the only one to be born blind. Wonder was blind shortly after his premature birth from staying in an incubator for... ...r and a legal separation of race does not mean it is acceptable (Jet). Through his actions across the United States and South Africa showed the world how to be open to African-American culture and people. Stevie Wonder also sings â€Å"Broke the lookin’ glass / Seven years of bad luck / Good Things in your past† in his 1972 hit Superstition. However, Stevie Wonder did not come across any bad luck within his musical and political career. Both an inductee for Rock-and-Roll’s Hall of Fame and United Nations’ Messenger of Peace, Stevie Wonder brought insight to the minds of the public. Sixty years later, on March 1, 2011, Berry Gordy, Stevie Wonder, and other Motown singers came together once again at the White House to honor Motown music and its beloved singers; this came a celebration of the soulful music that Stevie Wonder and among others once and continue to sing.

Prejudice and Stereotypes Essay

Everyone has dealt with being treated as an outcast at some point in their lives. Everyone has had an incident when we have been treated unfairly. Discrimination because of prejudice and stereotyping is one of the main problems that we must face in an ethnically and culture diverse world. Considering these beliefs and the means behind these actions may essentially help us be a step closer to resolving this social injustice. â€Å"Prejudice involves a negative attitude toward individuals based on their membership in a particular group†, (Feenstra, J.(2011). Prejudice takes place when a person has negative views about someone even if they do not have the complete background on the individual or group of people. Prejudice is mostly caused by a particular stereotype made about a person or group. A stereotype is â€Å"a fixed, over generalized belief about a particular group or class of people† (Cardwell, 1996). People make stereotypes by making generalizations such as females should only cook, clean and raise children. Or all Americans t are greedy, or all African Americans steal. â€Å"Discrimination refers to the treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit†( uslegal,2012).? An â€Å"ingroup† is a group to which someone belongs, and an â€Å"outgroup† is a group to which the person does not belong (hence, one person’s ingroup may be another person’s outgroup, and vice versa), â€Å"(Linville, 1998). On a personal level, I can relate to being placed in a stereotype. I can remember a time where I went to get my car fixed at a particular car shop. I could actually tell I was being treated different because I am a female. I think because they figured I was a woman I would not know about cars so the mechanic told me things were wrong with my car that were not actually wrong with it. I can also say I have discriminated against a certain group especially after 911. I would be scared to ride a plane if I saw someone from the Muslim community aboard the plane which I can see now it was a totally false accusation of mine. I had to realize just because there was one bad apple that decided to do such a horrific act everyone in that community was not that way. Society confirms prejudicial attitudes by focusing on personal differences such as ones nationality, race, gender, sexual orientation or their beliefs such as religion. Society seems to confirm it because people really don’t do anything to stop it. It seems that some prejudices are highly accepted in society. Individuals in society seem to accept some prejudices as opposed to being a team with your fellow neighbor, friend or coworker. One’s social identity contributes to prejudice based on the awareness of inadequate social control. One’s social identity contributes to prejudice because people in today’s society seem to have their own set of stereo types against other races, nationalities and genders. Some people associate certain actions or characteristics to a particular group. An example may be some people may think a woman should ever has a job as a mechanic and that should only be a man’s job, or think that a woman’s place is at home cooking , cleaning and raising the children. Another stereo type may be that all people from Iraq are violent and hate Americans. The more you have faith in that you can influence your surroundings or social status, the less of an influence social identity plays. Emotions encourage prejudicial attitudes because the majority of the time individuals make decisions from their emotions. The cognitive processes influence prejudice because cognitive thinking is the mental result of one’s opinion, learning and reasoning process. Discrimination is very prevalent, there are ways to improve our feelings, judgments and behaviors so that we are more accepting of individuals whom we view to be diverse from us. There are laws against discrimination such as the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Laws. These laws â€Å"prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA), which protects men and women who perform substantially equal work in the same establishment from sex-based wage discrimination; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), which protects individuals who are 40 years of age or old, (www.eeoc. gov, 2009) Differences will always be around but it will be our outlooks and behaviors concerning these issues that will make a difference. I think the way to beat discrimination if everyone were to just open their minds and get to know one another as their equal.

Essay on Sociological Perspectives on Unemployment

Sociologists study human society. Their studies include human behavior in many social contexts such as social interaction, social institutions and organization, social change and development (Abraham). Because of the broad spectrum of social circumstances that are studied, unemployment is an issue in which sociologists thrive. Conflict in the areas of age, race, gender, and disability is common among the employed as well as the unemployed. From a sociological perspective, unemployment can be studied through both the Functionalist Theory and Conflict Theory. It also touches upon the results of unemployment in societies and institutions such as family, education, government, and health. Unemployment affects almost everyone to some extent†¦show more content†¦Power is the emphasis is an employment situation. While employed you have a certain amount of power, both over your work environment and your own life. Once a you become unemployed, however, you become powerless, despera te for any source of an income. Once in this position, an individual is likely to take a job which is below their capabilities and for less pay. The difference in class and standing continues to increase. Those with money have the luxury of waiting for a job that strikes their interest, not just a job to make minimum wage. They can wait until an appropriate job comes up or they can further their education to improve their position even more. Economically, the world is entering into a new phase in which fewer workers will be needed to produce the goods and services for the global population. For most of the modern era, peoples worth has been determined by the value of their labor and skills. However, life has changed, globalization and feminism have had a huge impact on the work environment all around the world. Technology has also made many jobs easier, yet very, very similar. Because of these changes, unemployment has become an issue all around the globe. The government views th e unemployment situation as an individual problem. From the government’s perspective, unemployment is due to the lack of training of the individual. However, becauseShow MoreRelatedThe Sociological Imagination and Understanding Personal Troubles as Social Issues1259 Words   |  6 PagesThe Sociological Imagination and understanding personal troubles as social issues: The Sociological Imagination allows us to question â€Å"things† or issues which are common and familiar to us and to find its deeper meaning. With the Sociological Imagination way of thinking, we find reasoning and uncover why many things in society are the way they are. The Sociological Imagination does not attempt to understand the individual and his or her problems alone, but focuses on issues and problems as itRead MoreThe concept of sociological imaginations allows us to get out of ones own judgment zone with700 Words   |  3 PagesThe concept of sociological imaginations allows us to get out of ones own judgment zone with regards to how we think about social problems. C. Wright Mills argument is that we should develop a method or a way of looking at things in the society from the point of view of the person experiencing the sociological phenomenon. In essence, we cannot look at things from ones own moral point of view; we need to look at things from the point of view of the person experiencing it. Mills believes that cannotRead MoreSociological Imagination Essay865 Words   |  4 PagesFrom The Sociological Imagination by C. Wright Mills addresses a distinction between personal troubles and public issues. Mills uses specific examples like unemployment and societal development. Mills explains the ability to connect the individual problems with societal problems. Throughout the text, we can see how Mills uses the perspective of an individual to explain the perspective of society and vice versa. Using sociological imagination, I will explain how education is influenced by societyRead MoreThe Sociological Imagination Essay1065 Words   |  5 PagesPaper Grade: 75 / C The Sociological Imagination The sociological imagination is an idea or a way of thinking that interlocks an individual in a society with the society as a whole. Most people refer to sociology as the study of how people or individuals interact with each other. In order to fully understand sociology and the concept of the sociological imagination as proposed by C. Wright Mills, one has to be able to envision the individual and the society working together to better understandRead MoreThe Promise Of Sociology, By Charles Wright Mills1133 Words   |  5 Pagesof Sociology written by Charles Wright Mills explains that most men are unable to comprehend the effects of cultural and sociological changes that it can have on their lives. Mills introduces a concept that involves sociological imagination. Sociological imagination is the ability to see things socially and how they interact or show expressions to each other. â€Å"The sociological imagination enables its possessor to understand the larger historical scene in terms of its meaning for the inner life andRead MoreThe Sociological Imagination and Freedom from Feelings of Entrapment1133 Words   |  5 PagesThe sociological imagination is the â€Å"quality of mind† (Mills, 1959: 4) that enables individuals to look outside their private sphere of consciousness and identify the structures and institutions in society that influence or cause their personal experiences. In this way, by looking at the bigger picture, they can understand their place in society and explain their circumstance in terms of societal influence. It was developed by Mills in a time of great social upheaval – industrialisation, globalisationRead MoreThe Concepts Following Sociological Imagination675 Words   |  3 Pages In this essay I’ll be talking about Sociological Imagination and the concepts following it and more especially the importance of it. Sociological Imagination is one of the core concepts of Sociology whereas Sociology is all about studying people within the society and what they do. Sociological imagination is all about using one’s mind to see how people are affected by tangible and intangible things around them. Sociological imagination is affected by social forces which are forces that influenceRead MoreAnalysis of the sociological imagination and its use in sociology.1483 Words   |  6 PagesSociological Imagnation The sociological imagination is the ability to look at the everyday world and understand how it operates in order to make sense of their lives. It is a state of mind, which enables us to think critically about and understand the society in which we live, and our place in that world as individuals and as a whole. C. Wright Mills, first wrote of the concept in 1959. His understanding of it being that it was a quest for sociological understanding involving a form of consciousnessRead MoreSociology as a Perspective 1332 Words   |  6 PagesSociologist argue that â€Å"the sociological perspective is a way of thinking; a form of consciousness that challenges familiar understandings of ourselves and of others, so we can critically asses the truth commonly held assumptions† (Micionis and Plummer 2008:10). This essay supports this statement by analysing and discussing the significance of sociological perspective in our everyday lives. According to Peter L. Berger sociological perspe ctive is described as the link between societal events andRead MoreWhat Is Sociology?1062 Words   |  5 Pagesfacts and figures about society. Instead it becomes a form of consciousness a way of thinking, a critical way of seeing the social. Seeing the general in the particular. In his short book ‘Invitation to Sociology’(1963) characterized the sociological perspective as seeing the general in the particular. He meant that sociologists can identify general patterns of social life by looking at concrete specific examples of social life. While acknowledging that each individual is unique, in other words

Euthanasi Is It Ethical Or Not - 884 Words

Since last century, people have been debating about whether merciful killing is ethical or not. Some of the patients who suffered from deadly illnesses decided to end their life using prescribed medications from physicians, which is allowed and legal in only four states in USA. Is it actually an ethical thing for physicians and those who work in the healthcare field to be part of Euthanasia? In order to help ease patients’ pain and aid them to avoid euthanasia, palliative care was found. The main goal of hospice palliative care is to end patients’ pain or reduce it as much as possible because patients who turn to merciful killing are looking to end their pain and not their lives, according to â€Å"CultureWatch†. Euthanasia can be done today by special painless lethal prescribed medications to people with deathly untreatable sicknesses, which is only legal in some countries around the world. Euthanasia or Death with dignity is found by some to be the easiest and more effective way to end their pain. However, debates are rising on who is right. Palliative care systems are interested in preventing people from ending their lives, and they look for ways to comfort patients’ symptoms and pain. The Palliative care systems has improved drastically in recent years, and today most of the symptoms can be controlled. Moreover, why some patients are stil l thinking about the death with dignity option if most of their symptoms can be controlled. The depression state that some patients reachShow MoreRelatedEuthanasi An Ethical Way899 Words   |  4 Pagesmoney on painful procedures and treatments. They should have the right to go out a more comforting way. This paper will use the background of euthanasia, and talk about many of the controversial viewpoints to support the thesis that euthanasia is an ethical way to end a life. Euthanasia is defined as the intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit. The most important word in the definition is that the act or omission was intentional.Read MoreEuthanasi An Ethical Principle956 Words   |  4 PagesThe right to die is an ethical principle that allows a person to commit suicide or undergo intentional euthanasia, which is a Greek word that means an action of deliberately ending a life to ease pain. Many nations have adopted different euthanasia regulations meant to help patients end suffering from dangerous maladies. The British government was among the pioneers of the law since it aimed to relieve intractable suffering of critically ill patients (Hendry 13). In some European nations, such asRead MoreEuthanasi An Ethical And Logical Option952 Words   |  4 Pagesday after day, just to make them comfortable until they die as a result of their disease? Or, should we instead focus on the quality of one’s life, whose pain and suffering is a fate in which they consider worse than death? Euthanasia is both an ethical and logical option, because the result would bring peace to those suffering individuals who are otherwise facing a lengthy and sometimes horrific death, it would reduce health care costs tremendously, and vital organs can be saved and used on patientsRead MoreHuman Euthanasi An Ethical Dilemma1858 Words   |  8 Pagestopic of human euthanasia has increasingly become an ethical dilemma. Supporting and opposing arguments have been stated and continue to be analyzed without any resolution. The present paper is intended to give an overview of such arguments regarding human euthanasia, ethically and legally. In addition to the ethical dilemma, the importance of patient rights, advocacy, and sensitive nursing care is introduced. A Person’s Right to Die: An Ethical Dilemma A person’s right to die is defined as theRead MoreEuthanasi Ethical And Legal Issues Within The Australian Context1550 Words   |  7 Pagesbeen a pertinent issue in human rights discourse as it affects ethical and legal issues pertaining to both the patient and the health care practitioner (Bartels Otlowski, 2010). The following essay will define euthanasia and make the distinction between active, passive, voluntary, non-voluntary, involuntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Relevant legal issues within the Australian context will then be discussed. Ethical issues such as ‘sanctity of life’ versus ‘quality of life’, andRead MoreEuthanasi Ethical Accepted When Talking About Euthanasia Essay1770 Words   |  8 PagesVeronica Lopez Sister Lybbert FDENG 101 September 10, 2016 Euthanasia What is ethical accepted when talking about euthanasia? Is it acceptable to end a person’s life? Is it acceptable to make them suffer more than they can handle? Is it acceptable to withdraw any treatment to let the person die? What is then acceptable? In the USA, the states of California, Vermont, Oregon and Washington are of the few states that euthanasia has been legalized, with no existent law that require doctors to referRead MoreEuthanasi The Moral And Ethical Choices Faced By Medical Professionals2477 Words   |  10 Pagescondition any longer so he seeks to end his life by medical means. The movie ultimately makes his decision to end his life look almost beautiful, glorifying those partaking in the act. I found the topic compelling, particularly in regard to the moral and ethical choices faced by medical professionals. Euthanasia is defined as the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy. There are two types of euthanasia

The Causes of Substance Abuse Essay - 2376 Words

Substance abuse is an issue that has disseminated in the society and is often regarded as the relic of a thoughtless materialism. A false belief regarding addicted individuals seems to be ingrained in the minds of the majority of the population (Sadava, 1987). This belief is very often accompanied by appalling mental images of addicts and a highly judgmental attitude (Sadava, 1987). As a result, the causes of addiction are still wrapped in obscurity. This paper aims to outline the most basic reasons that lead to substance abuse and dependency, from the early developmental stage until late adolescence. First of all, when a child-bearing woman is using drugs, the substances are being transferred to the foetus through the umbilical†¦show more content†¦Parental substance use can be extended to â€Å"Mà ¼nchhausens syndrome†, as defined by Asher (1951). Individuals who suffer from this disorder, usually convince themselves that they are diseased and that they need medica tion (Asher, 1951). When this disorder is left untreated, the individual abuses over-the-counter medications or illegal drugs (Asher, 1951). Individuals who have this syndrome are usually characterized by poor parental strategies and they repeatedly abuse substances in front of their children (Haller Miles, 2004; Kent, 1994), who, later on, may be more likely to experiment with substances themselves (Mirlashari et al., 2012). What is more, research has shown that individuals who are addicted to substance use have experienced various forms of abuse in their childhood (Al-Kandari, Yacoub, Omu, 2001; Barnard, 2006; Brook et al., 2001; Dow Kelly, 2013; Sadava, 1987). More specifically, there appears to be a concordance of associations between early experiences of physical and sexual abuse and drug use (Harrier, Lambert, Ramos, 2001). In particular, individuals who have had abusive experiences in their past, are more likely than others to use drugs as a way to alleviate their emotion al trauma (Elster, 1999; Quinlivan Evans, 2005) and to escape a potentially painful reality (Elster, 1999; Mirlashari et al., 2012; Quinlivan Evans, 2005). However, physical or sexual abuse is not the only reason that leadsShow MoreRelatedThe Abuse Of Drugs And Alcohol1365 Words   |  6 PagesThe abuse of drugs and alcohol has been a known issue over past decades. The media paints the picture that alcohol and drug use is fun and the only way to have a good time. While alcohol in moderation is fine, many people find themselves going over board and abusing it. Elicit drugs like cocaine and heroin are highly addictive and have several adverse effects. People find themselves depressed and anxious so they ultimately try to use these drugs to mask the pain instead of getting help for theirRead MoreMany Women Across The World Cause Complications To Their1657 Words   |  7 PagesMany women across the world cause complications to their unborn child when they choose to abuse substance. There are many types of substance abuse such as alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse. Most likely when women choose to engage in these types of activities it cause s harm to the child and birth defects. Long term and short term deformities and conditions are present in the child. Other factors play a part into why women abuse, substance such as stress, depression, and mental issues. More treatmentRead MoreThe Effects Of Substance Abuse On Children1364 Words   |  6 Pagesare 50% more likely to abuse substances (Promises Treatment Center). Bullying is the act of physical or verbal tormenting over a set amount of time, usually targeted at one person or a group of people. Bullying is an international issue that ruins the victim s emotional well-being. Those who are victims of bullying can turn to drugs or other substances as a form of coping; people who bully can be shown to have abusive tendencies with these substances as well. Substance abuse is defined as being dependentRead MoreSubstance Abuse : A Social Problem1608 Words   |  7 Pages we must also take substance abuse into consideration because it is all too often neglected. According t o the World Health Organization, substance abuse â€Å"refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs† (Substance). Individuals who become victims of substance abuse become dependent on and overindulge in substances such as drugs and alcohol. The outside forces in our world today influence behaviors including substance abuse, ultimately displayingRead MoreDetrimental Social Problems: Substance Abuse Essays1197 Words   |  5 PagesSubstance abuse is one of the most detrimental social problems found in all societies. It has been the leading cause for generational breakdowns of families and communities, and is probably the most controversial social problem when developing corrective solutions. Substance abuse can be defined as the chemical dependence, or pattern of usage of both legal and illegal substances, that has adverse physical, psychological, and psychomotor effects on the human body. The use of substances does not alwaysRead MoreSubstance Abuse And Its Effects On The United States1050 Words   |  5 Pages4000 B.C. narcotics were used, but during the 19th century is when the active substances in drugs were found. Many of these substances were given over the counter and weren t regulated, which meant that people could easily obtain substances such as morphine, cocaine, landuam, and many others. During the early 1900s, an estimate of about 250,000 people were abusing a substance within the United States. Substance abuse is a serious problem which can affect one s physical and psychological capabilitiesRead MoreHow Substance Abuse Negatively Affects The Baby While During1328 Words   |  6 PagesHow substance abuse negatively affects the baby while during a woman’s pregnancy. Many women across the world cause complications to their unborn child when they choose to abuse substance. There are many types of substance abuse such as alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse. Most likely when women choose to engage in these types of activities it causes harm to the child and birth defects. Long term and short term deformities and conditions are present in the child. Other factors play a part into whyRead MoreSubstance Abuse And Addictive Behaviors760 Words   |  4 Pagesincluding those that have addictions or addictive behaviors. This is a challenging area, and school counselors must be able to understand causes and recognize signs of addictions, and provide services to support the needs of these students. Therefore, this paper discusses and evaluates the causes of addictions and addictive behaviors, analyzes possible sings of substance abuse and addiction in students, and designs and evaluates prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies for students with commo nlyRead MoreSubstance Abuse And Domestic Violence Essay1670 Words   |  7 PagesIn this paper I will be addressing the correlation that is between substance abuse and domestic violence. There are many factors that play a role in why domestic violence occurs in a home; this paper will be focusing on the factor of drug abuse in particularly. Early on in the course we learned that domestic violence does not only pertain to intimate partner violence but also to child abuse, elder abuse, and any other abuse of a person that occurs with inside the home. I will be providing researchRead MorePersuasive Essay On Drug Abuse1228 Words   |  5 PagesToday, drug abuse has become a controversial subject where various individuals have different views. Substance abuse is a substantial dilemma among people and easily spread in schools, work environments, and even in homes. Drug abuse starts in utterly reasons, but can begin in adolescence with peer pressure or friends using them, family environ ment that has violent, physical, or emotional abuse, and inherited genetics with mental health conditions as depression, anxiety, or ADHD (National Institute

Why I Want a Wife Free Essays

string(319) " who takes care of the needs of my guests so that they feel comfortable, who makes sure that they have an ashtray, that they are passed the hors d’oeuvres, that they are offered a second helping of the food, that their wine glasses are replenished when necessary, that their coffee is served to them as they like it\." Weddings are often a time of celebration, especially for my family. This past summer, as we prepared for my sister Gini’s wedding, the festivities extended to good-natured teasing of the bride- and groom-to-be. For example, WITH knowing smiles, my parents–self-proclaimed experts on marriage courtesy of their own wedding almost thirty years ago–dispensed advice about everything, including how to improve her cooking skills beyond instant rice and grilled cheese. We will write a custom essay sample on Why I Want a Wife or any similar topic only for you Order Now Gini’s typical responses included â€Å"That was a long time ago,† â€Å"Things are different now; times have changed,† and â€Å"Jason can do a lot of things for himself. † It was with particular delight that my family took to rubbing in one of Jason’s smoother moves. He waited until a few short weeks before the wedding to inform Gini that his Mom had always done his ironing for him, and now he expected Gini to take over that task—after all, he couldn’t wear wrinkled clothes to his new job, could he? Poking fun at the responsibilities involved in marriage is similar to the attitude presented in Judy Brady’s 1971 essay, â€Å"Why I Want a Wife. † In â€Å"Why I Want a Wife,† Brady offers hypothetical criteria for an ideal wife in a satirical commentary on how the work of wives is often taken for granted. The humor of the essay lies in its structure: on the surface it seems to accept the criteria it puts forth, while the meaning actually operates in the recognition that the narrator is being sarcastic. Using writing as one of her tools for activism, Judy (Syfers) Brady has established herself as a supporter of the women’s movement since she began more than thirty years ago. In â€Å"Why I Want a Wife,† she narrates a setting that mocks the situations and obligations wives find themselves immersed in. The narrator draws on her own experiences to present examples of how â€Å"good† wives are expected to behave. The satirical critique emerges as the narrator thinks through her reasons for wanting a wife. The language used has a satirical edge evident in both the author’s emphasis on certain modifiers (indicated by italics) and in the surface structure of the sentences, which belies the underlying criticisms. The audience should recognize the sarcasm from the language and attitude of the narrator. Now let’s consider all the elements supporting her satirical point, beginning with the author’s long history with this style of writing. Judy (Syfers) Brady has established herself as a supporter of the women’s movement, and critics point to this essay as typical of her career. â€Å"Throughout the article, [Brady] lists characteristics that she would like in a wife†¦She never comes out and says that the way that women are treated in family situations is wrong. She implies it by sarcastically creating her ideal wife. This technique works because it forces readers to realize it for themselves† writes Diego Vasquez on a webpage titled â€Å"A Rhetorical Critique of ‘Why I Want a Wife. â€Å"2 Vasquez’s analysis includes the supposition that the essay first appeared in pamphlet form, and suggests that Brady was a â€Å"†¦radical feminist writing for other radical feminists. † Vasquez also notes that Brady is reported to have said, â€Å"I am married, am a housewife, and have two female children; all three of those factors keep my anger alive,† and that â€Å"[Brady] t ried to persuade other housewives to take a step back and look at how they were being exploited. † Judy Syfers Brady, who was born in 1931 and later studied at the University of Iowa, now lives in San Francisco. In 1972, â€Å"Why I Want a Wife† appeared in the first issue of â€Å"Ms. â€Å"3 Although at that time, few critics expected the magazine to last4, almost twenty years later it (re-) featured â€Å"Why I Want a Wife. â€Å"5 Another decade later, almost thirty years after the essay first appeared in Ms. , Ms. Brady is still active in women’s movements. Her more recent work can be found in â€Å"Greenpeace Magazine†6 and in the â€Å"Women’s Review of Books. â€Å"7 Through all these works and critical commentary on it, we can see her personal focus on making a strong case for the feminist cause. Much as her personal life informs her recent article in the â€Å"Women’s Review of Books,† Judy Brady appears to have drawn on her own experiences when she wrote â€Å"Why I Want a Wife. † In the essay, the author/narrator drives home the amount and type of work expected of wives both by situating herself as involved in some it and by listing qualifications. In my reading, the setting of the over-worked housewife will take the form of the narrator both being such a wife and of describing such as wife through mimicry. To indicate this setting, I will use actions to reinforce the narrator’s words. For example, at the beginning, in the clause â€Å"while I was ironing,† the narrator slips in that she thought through her argument while engaged in domestic labor. When I read that line, I will direct a look at the audience that conveys just how thrilled I am to be pressing clothes. Which is to say, my look will suggest that yet again, while I was doing one of my many thankless jobs, I was thinking about that â€Å"poor† guy. A second way I intend to suggest the setting is to give the audience a withering look while I use my right hand to pick up and put away imaginary things as I read the lines â€Å"I want a wife who will keep my house clean. A wife who will pick up after my children, a wife who will pick up after me. I want a wife who will keep my clothes clean, ironed, mended, replaced when need be, and who will see to it that my personal things are kept in their proper place so that I can find what I need the minute I need it. Later, to show the perfect wife being the perfect hostess, I will offer up imaginary hors d’oeuvres with a graceful sweep of my hand when read the clause â€Å"I want a wife who takes care of the needs of my guests so that they feel comfortable, who makes sure that they have an ashtray, that they are passed the hors d’oeuvres, that they are offered a second helping of the food, that their wine glasses are replenished when necessary, that their coffee is served t o them as they like it. You read "Why I Want a Wife" in category "Essay examples" The gracefulness of the movement will hopefully reinforce the wife-seekers conception of feminine social skills in addition to suggesting and mimicking an actual setting where hors d’oeuvres are being offered. Also, to follow up that line and to show that the coffee is just right, I will bring up my right hand, holding my fingers folded down, except for my thumb and index finger, which will be touching at the imaginary point of perfection. This movement will signify the (anal) expectations about a wife’s responsibilities. In all these ways the author’s relationship to the setting supports the point of the essay through a performance of the character’s satirical tone. As a character, the narrator has chosen to view these (anal) expectations in a humorous, satirical light. To show this mark of a sharp mind and wit, I will read every line in light mockery. This sweet little wifey has a biting way of deftly masking her meaning in false agreement. The criticisms of the narrator aren’t malicious, but they are satirical, and I hope to project that satire in my reading. I imagine the narrator as someone with self-confidence and poise, dignified even in undignified circumstances, and I plan to portray that by standing upright, neither puffed with arrogance nor slumped with despair. That is how I will stand, too, when I read the brief paragraph on replacing the hypothetical wife (â€Å"If, by chance, I find another person more suitable as a wife than the wife I already have, I want the liberty to replace my present wife with another one. Naturally, I will expect a fresh new life; my wife will take the children and be solely responsible for them so that I am left free. â€Å") For that paragraph, I will assume the tone of a martyr, as if the wife-seeker is sacrificing him(/her)self for the well-being of the universe. Also, to show the narrator as parodying the self-centered concerns of a wife-seeker, I will gesture toward myself, occasionally laying my hand below the base of my throat, throughout my reading. This movement will direct attention to the self who is self-centered and will be a trifle melodramatic, as can be expected of someone who is over-acting to make fun of another person’s selfishness. And, to further express the overall satire of the essay, I will try to keep the hint of a smirk (a dubious, critical smirk-not a self-satisfied one) on my face. This smirk should put a sarcastic edge on my reading as the character considers all the benefits of having a wife which she would like to enjoy. Thinking about and sarcastically expounding on the thankless duties expected of â€Å"good† wives is how I envision the development of this piece’s â€Å"action. † I plan to show this action of â€Å"Thinking† in several ways. One way is to pretend as though I, the narrator, think some of my ideas are super, such as â€Å"I want a wife who is a good nurturant attendant to my children, who arranges for their schooling, makes sure that they have an adequate social life with their peers, takes them to the park, the zoo, etc. â€Å"). I will try to keep a fake, bland smile on my face to suggest how nice, easy, and convenient it must be to be able to rely on someone else for such tasks. Another way I will demonstrate the narrator’s thought processes will be to act as though some of my ideas have just occurred to me, including the somewhat random â€Å"I want a wife who will type my papers for me when I have written them. † I will pause before that line and try to look thoughtful before coming to the revelation that that would be quite handy. An additional way to indicate the narrator’s thinking will be to vocally (not verbally) suggest that some of my ideas are onerous duties I have long since grown tired of doing, such as â€Å"When I meet people at school that I like and want to entertain, I want a wife who will have the house clean, will prepare a special meal, serve it to me and my friends, and not interrupt when I talk about things that interest me and my friends. † I will adopt a haughty, superior tone to deliberately imitate how I have been told, in effect, to lower myself. Showing this process of reflecting on the expectations for wives will help to foster the sense of mockery the narrator employs throughout her satirical litany. This satire and sarcasm is evident in the language used even at the beginning of the piece, and I plan to play it up. For example, when I read the second line (â€Å"I am A Wife. â€Å"), I will say â€Å"I amm†Ã¢â‚¬â€œholding the â€Å"M† slightly longer than necessary for emphasis-before I punctuating â€Å"A Wife† with a demure smile to indicate the sublime pleasure I derive from the this, the most fulfilling of feminine roles. Also on â€Å"A Wife,† I will lower my voice to further emphasize the depth and fullness of my appreciation for my position. I plan this obviously exaggerated infusion of wife-dom with positive connotations to set up the satirical attitude toward â€Å"wife† in the rest of the piece. . Some other ways I plan to use the language of the essay to drive home the narrator’s voice is to take advantage of the author’s locations of emphasis. In two places, the author has italicized â€Å"my† when she writes â€Å"my physical needs† and â€Å"my sexual needs. In those two places I will particularly stress â€Å"my† to reflect the intensity of the selfishness being described, and I will gesture toward myself. The author has also italicized the â€Å"good† in â€Å"I want a wife who cooks the meals, a wife who is a good cook. † I will vocally stress the â€Å"good† and I will make an â€Å"Mmmm† face (quick raising of my eyebrows while smiling with my lips closed) to reflect the author’s intentional emphasis. These actions should help to make the satirical intention of the speaker clear to the audience. Making the sarcasm/satire of the narrator clear to the audience will be an essential part of my performance. To introduce the sarcasm in the opening, I will look over the audience’s heads, almost at an imaginary star that represents how dreamy my life as a wife is and how happy I am at my good fortune of being married when I read the lines â€Å"I belong to that classification of people known as wives. I am A Wife. And, not altogether incidentally, I am a mother. Of course, this dreamy look will be an act on behalf of the narrator, who is making fun of anyone who actually believes that that is the sum of how she feels. In the next paragraph, I will look at the audience as I brace them for my diatribe. I will be giving them a semi-serious look, with my eyebrows raised in a quizzical way, that matches the narrator’s dry tone. From this look, the audience should infer that the narrator actually judges her friend, or people like the friend, much harsher than the words bein g used would imply. Further into the essay, there is the paragraph about sexual needs (â€Å"I want a wife who is sensitive to my sexual needs, a wife who makes love passionately and eagerly when I feel like it, a wife who makes sure that I am satisfied. And, of course, I want a wife who will not demand sexual attention when I am not in the mood for it. I want a wife who assumes the complete responsibility for birth control, because I do not want more children. I want a wife who will remain sexually faithful to me so that I do not have to clutter up my intellectual life with jealousies. And I want a wife who understands that my sexual needs may entail more than strict adherence to monogamy. I must, after all, be able to relate to people as fully as possible. â€Å") When I begin that paragraph, I will give the audience a saucy, playful look. Then, I will look eager (chin and eyebrows raised, expectant smile) when I speak of making love eagerly, and I will look stubborn (eyebrows lowered, negative shake of my head) for when I am â€Å"not in the mood. † Although I will have maintained appropriate eye-contact throughout the reading, at the end, with the final sentence (â€Å"My God, who wouldn’t want a wife? ), I will pin the audience with a piercing look, looking them straight in the eye, as if to say, â€Å"Well, duh! ,† when the narrator’s true voice finally speaks. These actions should connect the audience directly to the progression of thought and satire as the speaker leads up to and makes her strong concluding statement. Judy Brady has strong opinions about what shouldn’t be automatically presumed as a wife’s obligations. Her opinion influenced her essay â€Å"Why I Want a Wife†, wherein she introduces the reader to an overworked housewife’s reasons for wanting a wife of her own. This housewife/narrator cleverly uses language to comment on the condition of wives by verbally condoning what she actually despises. Because the audience will be able to pick up on her sarcasm, they will understand her unsaid message. Although it might be possible to construe Brady’s essay as a bitter diatribe against the injustice of the way some wives are subordinated, I prefer to read this piece as the humorous product of a sharp wit, almost like Jonathan Swift’s â€Å"A Modest Proposal. Usually, when I read over this essay, a smirk finds its way to my face-the same kind of smirk I feel starting when I think back to the proud phone call my family received after my newlywed sister Gini succeeded in making meatloaf all by herself. Maybe Gini was right in those days before her wedding when she anticipated that things would be different for her and Jason, and that the two of them would share household responsibilities. They seem to be equally experiencing the hazards o f cooking. Recently, Gini told us about a kitchen disaster that involved them both. Ace-chef that she is, Gini failed to notice that some fresh-from-the-freezer sauerkraut was burning one of her (wedding gift) pans. Jason came to the rescue, though, convinced that he could save the day with his superior knowledge that only inorganic chemicals can clean up burned organic materials. And so, he set about â€Å"desperately† trying the salvage the pan using Gini’s nail polish remover. It does my heart good to know that the two of them work so well together in the kitchen. Although now I am torn about what to get them for Christmas: new cookware? Who knows, maybe I’ll get them a restaurant gift certificate. How to cite Why I Want a Wife, Essay examples

Similarities Between Islam and Christianity free essay sample

GENERAL PURPOSE: To inform. - SPECIFIC PURPOSE: To inform my audience about the similarities between the religion of Islam and Christianity. INTRODUCTION 1. (ATTENTION GETTER) Most of us do not know that the teachings of Islam and Christianity are related to each other. This is because our society do not open their minds to know about other religions and cultures. Now, there are lots of conflicts happened between these two religions because there is no understanding between us, the Muslims and the Christians. If you remember about the `Allah` issue which happened two years ago. The actual fact is the Christians also worship the same God as we, the Muslims worshipped. 2. (RELEVANCY STATEMENT) Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the Semitic religions, which means the religion that have their own Holy Scriptures which sent by God Almighty to His lovely Messengers, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad S. A. W. (Peace Be Upon them all). We will write a custom essay sample on Similarities Between Islam and Christianity or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page For example, the Torah for the Jews, the Gospel for the Christians and the Qur`an for the Muslims. 3. (CREDIBILITY STATEMENT) I have studied the Holy Qur`an and the Holy Bible for more than two years. I`m doing comparative religion study as my personal interest. Sometimes, I had a discussion and a dialogue with my Christian friends for them to share about their religion. I asked them some things that I do not know about Christianity and at the same time I also share things that they do not know about Islam with the knowledge that I have. From the discussion that we made, praise be to God, slowly the unity and prosperity take place between us. 4. (REVEAL TOPIC) Today, I would like to inform you about the similarities between these two Abrahamic religion. 5. PREVIEW) The similarities between Islam and Christianity can be revealed from these aspects. * Relationship with God Almighty * The origins of Islam and Christianity through the descendants of Prophet Abraham (Peace Be Upon Him) * Jesus (Peace Be Upon Him) sent only for the lost sheep of Israel (Bani Israel) (TRANSITION: Here are some explaination about these aspects that we have in common with verses quote from the Holy Scriptu res from both religions. ) BODY I. (MP 1) Relationship with God Almighty. (INTERNAL PREVIEW: This aspect is the common term in Islam and Christianity) A. SP 1) The followers of Islam which called as Muslims are the people who fully submitted to God`s will. Only to God we worship and only to Him we search for help. In the holy Qur`an Surah Al-Fatihah verse 5 explains about this. Surah Al-Ikhlas verse 1-4 also explain about the Oneness of God. â€Å"Say: He is God, the One and Only; God, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him. † B. (SP 2) In Christianity, there is also teaching about the Oneness of God, which means to worship only to God Almighty. In the Holy Bible, the teachings to worship God Almighty are told in Deuteronomy 6:4 and Mark 12:29, â€Å"The LORD our God, the LORD is One. † Jesus Christ (Peace Be Upon Him) is not God. He never claimed Divinity. Jesus (Peace Be Upon Him) said in the Holy Bible, Matthew 4:10 and Luke 4:8, â€Å"Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve. † II. (MP 2) The origin of Islam and Christianity through the descendants of Prophet Abraham (Peace Be Upon Him) (INTERNAL PREVIEW: Now, let us examine the descendants of Prophet Abraham (Peace Be Upon Him)) A. SP 1) Judaism, Christianity and Islam are known as Abrahamic religions because of their common origin through Prophet Abraham (Peace Be Upon Him). Muslims consider Prophet Ishmael [(Ismail)Peace Be Upon Him)], the first born son of Abraham, to be the Father of the Arabs and Abrahams second son, Prophet Isaac [(Ishaq) Peace Be Upon Him], is called Father of the Hebrews. The story of Prophet Abraham (Peac e Be Upon Him) and his sons is told in the Book of Genesis and the Quran but with certain differences. Prophet Ishmael (Peace Be Upon Him) is considered to be the ancestor of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) Muslims commonly refer to Christians and Jews as People of the Book (Ahlul Kitab), people who follow the same general teachings in relation to the worship of the One God (Tawhid) as known by Prophet Abraham (Peace Be Upon Him). III. (MP 3) Jesus (Peace Be Upon Him) sent only for the Jews; the lost sheep of Israel (Bani Israel) (INTERNAL PREVIEW: As you can see, Jesus (Peace Be Upon Him) sent by God only to guide the Jews; the lost sheep of Israel (Bani Israel). Jesus (Peace Be Upon Him) does not teach the religion of Christianity. He is sent by God to guide the Jews to worship God Almighty just like the other prophets before him. ) A. (SP 1) The Holy Qur`an, Surah Ali-Imran verse 49, â€Å"And (appoint him) an apostle to the Children of Israel, (with this message): I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Gods leave: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by Gods leave; and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe;† B. (SP 2) The Holy Bible, Matthew 10:5-7, â€Å"These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. † This verse tells us that Jesus (Peace Be Upon Him) sent his twelve disciples to go preach the Gospel of God to the lost sheep of Israel. If they follow and preach the laws and the commandments, the heaven will be rewarded. CONCLUSION I. (SUMMARY STATEMENT) As we have known, the religion of Islam and Christianity have a lot in common in certain aspects. Knowing other religions and cultures is important to build an understanding towards the others. We can unite the people from all aspect of life by understanding because by building understanding, we can talk from the hearts of the others. That is what I believe which is true. II. (MEMORABLE CLOSING STATEMENT) Take some time to realize that we are not different from each other. We are all the same because we are the servant of God and from one descendant, which is from the descendant of Prophet Adam (Peace Be Upon Him). So, I hope you guys can take some of your past time to do some research about the other religion to build understanding amongst each other so that hopefully we can unite to prevent any type of terrorism. Unity brings peace to the world. REFERENCES Yusuf Ali, Abdullah. (2008). The Holy Qur`an, Original Arabic Text with English Translation and Selected Commentaries. Malaysia: Saba Islamic Media. Version, King James. (2011, January 4). Alkitab Bible Study 2. 6. 1. Retrieved from http://www. kiyut. com/products/alkitab/ Zakir Naik, Dr. (2011, February 19). Similarities between Islam and Christianity. Retrieved from http://islam101. net/comparative-religion-mainmenu-34/41-christianity/145-similarities-between-islam-and-christianity. html