Abstract
Historians have always looked to literature for insight into how a culture functioned, what it valued, and how its people lived. Today, when studying the Middle East, many would not only read the Qu'ran, but also "The Arabian Nights", the folklore. The paper shows that when we read "Arabian Nights" we understand a great deal more of how the Arabic people actually lived. Perhaps the most evident discrepancy between the teachings of the Qu'ran and the "Arabian Nights" tales pertains to the view and treatment of Middle Eastern women.

From the Paper
"This method of seclusion is dramatically illustrated in The Arabian Nights where we hear the story of the demon that locked his wife in a chest and carried her about as if she were his private property. Yet ironically the authors of the Arabian Nights convey in this same story that not even this extreme could prevent a willful woman from knowing other men."

Tags:koran, sha'aban

Abstract
The writer of this paper details the symptoms as well as the media's contribution to body dysmorphic disorder, also known as distorted body image. Body dysmorphic disorder has become a tremendous problem in today's society due to the barrage of negative messages sent to women by the media. This paper discusses the effect of the media, in all its forms - television, radio, print advertising, internet, etc., which has an enormous influence on what people deem as attractive in today's society. The unnecessary emphasis the media places on appearance tends to adversely affect the mental and physical health of those it comes in contact with. Body dysmorphic disorder can lead to damaged self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. This paper details the manner in which advertisers place heavy emphasis on physical appearance as a means of selling products. Too often in doing so, unnecessary pressure is placed on women to conform to unrealistic and oftentimes, unhealthy standards of beauty.

From the Paper
"Women want someone they can relate to. The Body Shop, a supplier of natural beauty products, offered a much-needed change from the typical message provided by advertisers; "There are three billion women who don't look like supermodels, and only eight who do. The Australian magazine New Woman included a picture of a heavy-set model on its cover recently. This action produced a lot of positive comments from the magazine's female readers. Despite this fact, advertisers threatened to pull their sponsorship. This shows that advertisers know what they are doing when they include a woman whose body is unattainable to society at large."

Tags:body, disorder, dysmorphic, image, media, women, anorexia, marketing, advertising, media, bulimia

Abstract
This paper examines Oprah Winfrey's leadership style, identifying her charisma and love for her audience as major factors in her success. It briefly discusses her professional and personal life and her special skills, including her ability to organize.

From the Paper
"In the list of the world's ranking mega-leaders there are few women. This is undoubtedly not for any lack of talent or leadership ability among women but more likely because the step between being a good leader and being a ..."

Tags:Oprah Winfrey, leadership, charismatic

Abstract
Steinbeck's short story "The Chrysanthemums" can be read as a feminist diatribe against women's commonly misplaced self-worth. The paper discusses critics who hold this view, and how it comes through in the story itself. Feminist interpretations of Steinbeck rely on a dualism that puts woman away from the labor of the land, but closer to the purity of art and society. This is an artifact of the era in which Steinbeck wrote, but also provides the inner conflict for the character of Elisa in the short story.

Tags:steinbeck, the, chrysanthemums

Abstract
This paper argues that the advertisements by the pharmaceutical companies structure gender roles or appropriate ways of being a woman and imply inappropriate gender behavior through a highly selective and limited portrayal of the ways in which female sexuality can be expressed. Next, the author relates the conflicts and contradictions that arise between what is considered appropriate female sexuality in birth control advertisements and what is considered appropriate by other areas of American society, such as religious institutions and the institution of family. The paper explains that the intersections of gender with ethnicity, class and ability may influence how different women perceive these advertisements and thus perform their gender roles. Based on these insights, the paper includes a suggested policy brief by the author regarding oral contraceptive advertisements.

From the Paper
"Second, and specific to the context of an oral contraceptive advertisement, not only are the lacking types of women in the alesse advertisements made into others, but they are made into others who are less likely to be sexually active or sexually desired. Since only one type of female body is depicted in the ads, there is an implication that women who do not have this type of body are not in need of, or at least less likely to be in need of, a product that allows women to be sexually active while preventing pregnancy. The use of only women conventionally attractive women in the ads sends a message that those types of women are most likely to frequently engage in sex for non-reproductive purposes, and therefore, are the women most likely to be desired by men, able to express themselves sexually and experience sexual pleasure most frequently. Women who are not white, thin, under the age of 30, able-bodied are left out entirely, as if they are unlikely to have opportunities to engage in sex for pleasure because they do not meet superficial standards of femininity. Tied into the first implication that conventionally attractive women are more in need of oral contraceptives is a second implication that those women are more likely to have successful careers, high levels of education, or any position where preventing pregnancy is an asset."

Tags:sex, restrictive gender roles, physical appearance, spontaneous romance, de-privatized

Abstract
This paper discusses gender socialization, explaining the differences between the way males and females behave and how they are perceived in our society. The paper also identifies different types of socialization, that is by parents, peers and teachers and identifies some negative effects that can result.

Outline:
Socialization in by parents
Gender Socialization by Peers
Gender Socialization by Teachers
Socialization by media
Effects of Socialization

From the Paper
"Early on in children's lives, they are subject to pressures to learn gender roles as well to acquire an identity specific to their sex. Gender roles are initiated sometimes even before the birth of a child, as seen by the fact that many parents purchase certain clothing that fit certain gender stereotypes. For example parents expecting a girl may purchase more "feminine" clothing such a pink outfit with a teddy bear logo whereas a boy would be more incline to receive a blue outfit with a race car logo on it, which would signify "masculinity" (O'Barr, 1989).
"Parents also tend to treat their kids differently depending on their sex. A baby boy tends to be treated less diligently than would a baby girl. A addition baby girl would tend to receive quicker responses from their parents when distressed than would a boy of the same age. Children also receive different toys from their parents that reflect their parents gender expectations. Girls' toys are typically dolls, play houses and cosmetic related toys. Boys also receive gender appropriate toys like toy cars, blocks, action figures, etc."

Tags:individuals, stereotypes, expectations

Abstract
This paper discusses what body image is, what exactly is being viewed by women in women's magazines and then why these images have the effect that they do. It then discusses women's reactions, how they make them feel and how viewing women's magazines can affect their self-image. It then goes into detail of what could be done to fix this.

From the Paper
"Flip absent-mindedly through any young women's magazine and in between the titles and pages of "4 Hot New Makeup Looks" and "Little Signs He's The One", you'll see dozens and dozens of women who all look the same. Women advertising one thing or another, all with the exact same incredible makeup, all with skin highlighted with professional lighting and computer touch-ups, all pouting in that sexy manner and leaning in the same seductive poses? all perfectly sweet, sexy, and skinny. All with perfect bodies."

Tags:dieting, disorders, eating, esteem, media, self

Abstract
This paper discusses fat phobia in Western society and how it affects girls and women of all ages. The paper specifically demonstrates how overweight women are the targets of discrimination, hatred and fat-phobia. The paper defines the terms 'fat', 'overweight' and 'obese' and then examines the ways in which fat women are discriminated against.

Table of Content:
Body Image Issues Since 1900
Fat Oppression and Women

From the Paper
"Women are far from merely oppressed from the outside. They have internalized the fears and phobias towards fatness, maintaining lives of undue discipline and self-policing of behavior. How many women count their calories or read nutrition labels for fat content while insisting they are not dieting? Women manipulate their lives so that food appears to be a non-issue for them. Men will often whine that they are annoyed when women won't eat in their presence, yet women believe they are doing that so men will find them more attractive. The oppression of fatness in our culture is not one that only affects those deemed 'medically overweight.' Pick up any magazine or watch any television show (particularly during daytime TV) and you will realize how prevalent notions of 'thin is the only option' are. The fat woman in the ad is often portrayed as lonely, searching for a new career and looking for that perfect love. The only way she can ever achieve these goals is to be thin, at any cost."

Tags:diet obesity oppression, body image

Abstract
This paper explores the struggle of Del and Esther to understand and assert their sexualities in a society that pressures them to repress their desires and submit to men's desires. It shows how both characters succeed in becoming actively sexual people, even though they are pressured to stay virginal until they are married, to subdue and ignore their sexual desires, and to be submissive to male sexuality.

From the Paper
"For a young woman, coming of age and exploring her own sexuality is confusing enough without being bombarded by sexual stereotypes and gender-specific expectations. Del and Esther, the respective protagonists of Munro's Lives of Girls and Women and Plath's The Bell Jar, are two such women, who are faced with the pressure of conforming to a certain "feminine" expectation of sexual behavior (or lack thereof). As much as Del an Esther fumble their way through their first sexual experiences, they manage to take control of their sex lives by overcoming the burden they feel to resemble the image of society's sexually passive woman."

Tags:control, marriage, men, sex, society, virgin, women

Abstract
This paper discusses how "Thelma and Louise" strayed from the typical "road movie" formula in terms of casting, theme and storyline. It shows how the film not only helped to redefine gender stereotypes but also paved the way for other women, as well as gays, people of color and other traditionally underrepresented groups, to become "road movie heroes" as well.

From the Paper
"The conventional road movie twosome, which is usually comprised of either two young males or a male and female with a romantic connection, has permeated the genre since its inception. Thelma and Louise broke that tradition by not only using two female protagonists, but by portraying men in a consistently negative light; essentially as either "rapists", "bullies" or "boy toys"."

Tags:action, adventure, film, gender, roles, theme, gay, color