Cultural Feminism What is the Essence of Being a Woman

Cultural feminism is a variety of feminism which emphasizes essential differences between men and women, based on biological differences in reproductive capacity. Cultural feminism attributes to those differences distinctive and superior virtues in women. What women share, in this perspective, provides a basis for sisterhood, or unity, solidarity and shared identity. Thus, cultural feminism also encourages building a shared womens culture. The phrase essential differences refers to the belief that  gender  differences are part of the  essence  of females or males, that the differences are not chosen but are part of the nature of woman or man.   Cultural feminists differ as to whether these differences are based on biology or enculturation. Those who believe differences are not genetic or biological, but are cultural, conclude that womens essential qualities are so ingrained by culture that they are persistent. Cultural feminists also tend to value qualities identified with women as superior or and preferable to qualities identified with men, whether the qualities are products of nature or culture. The emphasis, in the words of critic Sheila Rowbotham, is on living a liberated life.    Some cultural feminists as individuals are active in social and political change. History Many of the early cultural feminists were first radical feminists, and some continue to use that name though moving beyond the model of transforming society. A kind of separatism or vanguard orientation, building alternative communities and institutions, grew in reaction to the 1960s movements for social change, with some concluding that social change was not possible.   Cultural feminism has been linked with a growing consciousness of lesbian identity, borrowing from lesbian feminism ideas including the valuing of female connectedness, women-centered relationships, and a woman-centered culture. The term cultural feminism dates back at least to the use of it in 1975 by Brooke Williams of  Redstockings, who used it to denounce it and distinguish it from its roots in radical feminism. Other feminists denounced cultural feminism as betraying feminist central ideas.  Alice  Echols  describes this as the â€Å"depoliticization† of radical feminism. The work of Mary Daly, especially her Gyn/Ecology (1979), has been identified as a movement from radical feminism into cultural feminism. Key Ideas Cultural feminists argue that what they define as traditional male behaviors, including aggressiveness, competitiveness, and domination, are harmful to society and to particular fields within society, including business and politics. Instead, the cultural feminist argues, emphasizing caring, cooperation, and egalitarianism would make a better world. Those who argue that women are biologically or inherently more kind, caring, nurturing, and cooperative, also argue then for more inclusion of women in decision-making processes in society and in particular fields within society. Cultural feminists advocate for equal valuing of female occupations including parentingrespecting child care in the homepaying wages/salaries so that staying home is economically viable;respecting female values of care and nurturingworking to balance a culture that overvalues male values of aggression and undervalues â€Å"female† values of kindness and gentlenesscreating rape crisis centers and women’s shelters, often in cooperation with other kinds of feministsemphasis on the shared values of women from white, African American, and other cultures, more than on the differences of women in different groupsa female sexuality that is based on an equality of power, based on mutuality rather than control, based on nonpolarized roles, and refuses to recreate sexual hierarchies Differences With Other Kinds of Feminism The three main aspects of cultural feminism that are critiqued by other kinds of feminism have been essentialism (the idea that male and female differences are part of the essence of male and female), separatism, and the idea of a feminist vanguard, building the new culture rather than transforming the existing one through political and other challenges. While a radical feminist might critique the traditional family as being an institution of patriarchy, a cultural feminist might work to transform the family by focusing on the nurturing and caring that a woman-centered family can provide in life. Echols wrote in 1989, â€Å"[R]adical feminism was a political movement dedicated to eliminating the sex-class system, whereas cultural feminism was a countercultural movement aimed at reversing the cultural valuation of the male and the devaluation of the female.† Liberal feminists critique radical feminism for essentialism, often believing instead that male/female differences in behaviors or values are a product of current society.   Liberal feminists oppose the depoliticization of feminism which is embodied in cultural feminism.   Liberal feminists also critique the separatism of cultural feminism, preferring to work â€Å"within the system.† Cultural feminists critique liberal feminism, claiming that liberal feminists accept male values and behavior as the â€Å"norm† to work for inclusion into. Socialist feminists emphasize the economic basis of inequality, while cultural feminists root social problems in the devaluing of womens natural tendencies. Cultural feminists reject the idea that oppression of women is based on the class power exercised by men. Intersectional feminists and black feminists critique cultural feminists for devaluing the different ways that women in different racial or class groups experience their womanhood, and for de-emphasizing the ways in which race and class are also important factors in these womens lives.

Branching Out With Stem Cells - 1400 Words

Anonymous Duck Hour 8 Edited by Branching Out With Stem Cells Imagine a child, no more than six years old, with a failing liver. There is no way for that child to receive a functional liver because of the waiting list for organs. That child will almost certainly die waiting for that liver, and never get close to the top of the list. The main reason for this is quite simple: there are not nearly enough organs available for transplant to save the people that need them. Because the research of stem cells isn’t developed or funded well enough for functional organs to be made, many people will die waiting for the organs. But, if funding and support was provided, lives would be saved instead of lost. Stem cells should be used in more clinical†¦show more content†¦Those people also argue that society would begin to accept the concept or destroying one potential life in order to save another. The final source of embryonic stem cells is opposed only because people find creating an embryo only to destroy it l ater is morally wrong and inhumane. Those that are in favor or neutral to creating the embryos point out that it is acceptable for an embryo that is created accidentally to be destroyed as a consequence of pregnancy, but to create an embryo with the intent to use the stem cells it is composed of to save a life is wrong (Hug). The second type of stem cell are pluripotent stem cells. Pluripotent stem cells come from fetal tissues instead of the embryo itself. Fetal tissues include the umbilical cord and the blood inside it, and the placenta. There is also a second kind of pluripotent stem cell. These stem cells are called induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs. iPSCs are stem cells were adult stem cells, but have been reprogrammed into their embryonic stages. Though iPSCs resemble human embryonic stem cells, they are not usually accepted into the body, and so they are introduced to other adult stem cells with a virus that has caused some cancers to develop (National Institutes of He alth). Also, there is the concern for the risk of disease caused by stem cells that has people standing against the use of the stem cells. The number one concern with the iPSCs is cancer, due to the virus used toShow MoreRelatedPlant Tissues981 Words   |  4 Pagesmature  vascular plant  (any plant other than mosses and liverworts), contains several types of differentiated cells. These are grouped together in tissues. Some tissues contain only one type of cell. Some consist of several. Tissue  is a cellular organizational level intermediate between  cells  and a complete  organism. A tissue is an ensemble of similar cells and from the same  origin, that together carry out a specific function. 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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Essay Example For Students

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Essay A pregnant womans lifestyle ultimately affects the development of her baby. Excessive exposure to alcohol during pregnancy can inflict serious, permanent physical and mental damage on her child. When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol she is making her child drink also. In knowing how Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can be prevented, what the symptoms are, and who and what make up the risk factors fetal alcohol syndrome can be better understood. The National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome states Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the name given to a group of physical and mental birth defects that are the direct result of a womans drinking during pregnancy (NOFAS 1). Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the only disease that is one hundred percent preventable if the mother refrains from drinking while pregnant. Drinking liquor at all during pregnancy is not advisable. There is no way of measuring how much alcohol one can consume before defects occur, and no proof that small amounts of liquor are safe. As little as one drink a day can cause a baby some degree of harm and interfere with their normal development. The more the mother drinks the greater the risk of damage to the baby. The Syndrome occurs in anywhere from point five to three live births per thousand in western countries†¦It is estimated that between thirty and forty percent of all woman who drink heavily during pregnancy will have a child afflicted with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome†¦Fetal Alcohol Syndrome outranks Downs Syndrome in prevalence and is the leading case of mental retardation (Britanica 1). Once the damage is done it cannot be undone. Babies who are born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome suffer symptoms that are permanent. Without a doubt the easiest way to prevent these defects is to not drink alcohol at all during pregnancy. Education also plays a vital role in prevention. The more people know about the effects of maternal drinking, the less likely they will drink while pregnant. The risks of drinking as little as one or two drinks a day may not seem like much yet they can cause a lifetime of birth defects. Symptoms of Fetal Alcohol syndrome are present not only at birth, but also during gestation. Low prenatal growth, and birth weight are common primary signs. A small head, small eye openings, droopy eye lids, a short upturned nose, thin upper lip, and small jaw are just some of the many physical abnormalities that can occur with chronic drinking. The physical birth defects are devastating yet just as much damage is unseen by the naked eye. Central nervous system defects such as Mental Retardation and behavior disorders can be seen. Poor concentration, impulsiveness and lack of judgment have a severe impact on the childs overall development. Children with behavior problems also do worse than normal children in school. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome children have problems paying attention, score lower in mathematics and spelling, and have lower I.Q scores. Not only do these defects get worse as the child ages, the vicious cycle of alcohol abuse is also very likely to continue. Fetal Alcohol syn drome children are more likely to become alcohol dependant adults than children of mothers who did not drink. All the devastating disabilities last a lifetime. Early and accurate diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is crucial. The National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome states, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is widely misdiagnosed and under diagnosed, less than ten percent of medical schools require students to complete a course on the proper diagnosis and referral of individuals with alcoholism and other drug related addictions (NOFAS 1). Knowing who is at risk can help our knowledge of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552 , .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552 .postImageUrl , .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552 , .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552:hover , .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552:visited , .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552:active { border:0!important; } .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552:active , .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552 .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud6192e5ff5570aa47d385be8904ae552:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: College and Tuition: Is it worth It? EssayPregnant woman can compromise the health of their children by drinking alcohol. Not only does exposure cause severe birth defects, but also certain people are more at risk than others for developing Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Age, race, social class and occupation play a big part in determining who is more at risk. Yet Fetal Alcohol syndrome does not discriminate, every one who drinks alcohol while pregnant is at risk. Certain other issues can also increase a mothers chances of her baby developing the Syndrome. Certain people are genetically predisposed to be vulnerable to alcohol; this may increase the effects of drinking liquor on t he fetus. Also drinking large amounts of alcohol combined with lack of nutrients can also make the unborn child severely malnourished. This leads to the fetus being more susceptible to the effects of alcohol as it tries to get its nutrients from the liquor. The dangers of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are entirely preventable if the pregnant mother abstains from drinking alcohol while pregnant. There is no known cure for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The series of physical and mental defects that comprise this Syndrome are irreversible. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the only cause of birth defects that are totally one hundred percent preventable. Drinking any amount of alcohol during pregnancy is not advisable. Through education and intervention these defects can be stopped. Knowing who is at risk and how to prevent it is the first step. It is everyones responsibility to encourage friends and family not to drink while pregnant. Nine months of drinking alcohol by the mother can cause a lifetime of irreversible damage for the child. Bibliography: