Posted by Kuromi on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 3:53pm.
quotes I'm choosing (2-4):
Appearances by Carmen Vazquez
"Men who are not pursuing sexual conquests of women at every available opportunity, who disdain sports, who choose to stay at home and be a house-husband, who are employed as hairdressers, designers, or house cleaners, or who dressin any way remotely resembling traditional female attire, are very likely to experience the taunts and sometimes the brutality of ' bashing.'"
"I would add that men look like all men and all men look like men. There is no guaranteed method for identifying sexual orientation."
"Mickey pulled off his wash-faded black denim jacket and wrapped it around his waist. An iridescent blue tank top hung easy on his shoulders. Micky steered his girlfriend onto the dance floor."
Becoming Members of Society by Holly Devor
"People are believed to be unable to change genders without sex change surgery, and those who do change sex are considered to be both disturbed and exceedingly rare."
I have to do a research paper later on Gender roles and Disney movies, so I want to save that other topic (such as men's traditional roles now taken on by women and vice versa) for that one.
I want my paper to be about how over the years society has changed a great deal as gender roles, gender identity, how people dress and what not. And even though people may seem or look like a homesexual, it is not always the case. Americans need to realize that every person is a human and no matter what they are on the outside, we are all the same on the inside. People cannot judge someone's sexual orientation by how they look or how they dress, because "all men look like all men and all men look like men."
I would like to my introduction my topic on how children are taught to dress and act like their own genders. and then my first supporting paragraph will talk about the difference between gender (sexes), gender roles, and gender identities and quote "people are believed to be unable to change genders without sex change surgery, and those who do change sex are considered to be both disturbed and exceedingly rare."
my second supporting paragraph may talk about how homosexuals dress, that even though they may dress a certain way or act a certain way, it does not mean that they are .
and the third maybe talking about the dangers and violence (-bashing) of homesexuals and even innocent people who are perceived as but are not .
And then conclusion. It will be a 3-4 pg paper.
Is this more of a specific topic?
I might still need to narrow down the argument a bit.
English1A - Need to think of an argument/thesis - Writeacher, Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 4:49pm
I think you need to find a different topic. This is just too emotionally charged, IMO, for any student to write about -- it's too subjective (and almost ephemeral). You'll be trying to argue points that simply cannot be made. Or you'll be writing such generalities that it will be next to meaningless.
I did not allow any of my students to take on any of these emotionally charged topics, and my advice to you is to find a topic that is far more factual to deal with.
English1A - Need to think of an argument/thesis - Writeacher, Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 4:54pm
PS -- I think your premise is off. You wrote, "I want my paper to be about how over the years society has changed a great deal as gender roles, gender identity, how people dress and what not." I don't believe this is true. Too many young people in today's society think all aspects of our culture weren't around in the 1900s, 1800s, 1700s, etc. Think again!! And do some research.
english1A - Need to think of an argument/thesis - Ms. Sue, Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 5:04pm
I agree with Writeacher.
If you want to research something about clothing and culture, you might try researching the history of women wearing pants.
My mother (born in 1905) was in the generation of women to first wear pants. Yet her mother would never wear them, even when gardening. It wasn't until the 70s, I believe, that girls were allowed to wear pants to school, except on the coldest days of Michigan winter. It was about that time that a local restaurant/bar made the news because it wouldn't permit a woman wearing a tunic and pants into it. She simply took off the pants and went in without them.
english1A - Need to think of an argument/thesis - Kuromi, Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 6:30pm
But I'm not in High School, I'm in college and my professor encourages to write about anything we feel. These are the stories we are reading about this week and she wants our essays to be related to the stories somehow. Our discussion last class period was all about how people in today's society dress. How men may be perceived as but it might not be the case. How some men shave, wear pink, wear accessories, do their hair, take ballet, work as a hair dresser, but it does not mean that they are a homosexual.
The textbook we are reading this semester is Rereading America and the Topic this week is True Women and Real Men: Myths of Gender, which I believe covers 11 stories which includes the two that I'm quoting from above.
Should I be in a different category since I'm in college level English? maybe I'm in the wrong place if it is too emotional? which part? the -bashing?
And I really thought that society has changed over the decades, as far as gender roles and how we dress and what not. People weren't so open with their sexuality as they are today, and people didn't dress back then as they do today. So I'm really not sure what you mean by:
Too many young people in today's society think all aspects of our culture weren't around in the 1900s, 1800s, 1700s, etc. Think again!! And do some research.
I'm aware it was not around. So doesn't that mean it changed throughout history? I don't understand that part.
My intentions was to write an essay that is related to the stories we were assigned for the week. It just makes it that much easier for me plus this is not a research paper. We have to stick to stories we have discussed in class to support our essay and must quote from them. There is no rule to what we are not allowed to write about as far as violence, race, religion, it all about opinion and argument and what the write believes in.
Let me know if I'm in the wrong category or if I'm even allowed to be on this site for help. Thanks.
Of course you're allowed on this site.
However, you probably would have gotten a more useful response if you had posted your assignment and its background in your first post.
I did post my assignment in my first response
Ms Sue, You did not read the previous posts, I did post my assignments. On Thursday October 1, 2009 at 2:04am.
It appears that you are looking for assistance with developing an argument/thesis for your college-level English paper. I can certainly help you with that. It seems like you want to explore the topic of how society has changed in terms of gender roles, gender identity, and how people dress. You also want to address the misconception that appearance can determine someone's sexual orientation.
To develop a strong argument/thesis, you can focus on how societal attitudes towards gender roles have evolved over time. You can discuss the historical context and contrast it with the present day. You can also analyze the influence of media, popular culture, and education on people's understanding of gender roles and identities. In addition, you can address the harmful effects of stereotypes and the importance of accepting diversity and individuality.
Here's an example of an argument/thesis statement for your paper:
"Through an examination of the changing societal attitudes towards gender roles, identities, and appearances, this paper will explore how individuals are no longer strictly defined by traditional gender norms. The paper will also challenge the misconception that one's appearance can determine their sexual orientation, emphasizing the need for acceptance and understanding in a diverse society."
Remember, the argument/thesis statement is the central idea of your paper that you will then support with evidence and analysis in your body paragraphs. It is always a good idea to consult with your professor to make sure your chosen topic and argument align with the requirements of the assignment. Good luck with your paper!