There's only one hacker in the world who can break this code.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

DBQ for the updated version for Mrs. Cole.

Access the validity of the following statement:

During the 1990's until now, women have been degraded in pop culture.

The 1990's sparked a time of new age music and culture throughout America. The "90's generation" truely is a generation unlike any other; however, the 90's also began a time where women were sexualized by the media. While this process began in the 80's with women like Madonna and Janis Joplin, it spread through all of society in the 1990's. The ideal of degradation has been common throughout America for centuries. In the past women were degraded by being kept at home to do the "home chores" and raise the children, while the men worked. The level of degrading women have experienced in recent times, however, has been one of a sexual means, and to an extent where females are still seen as inferior to males. Throughout the 1990's until 2008, it has been apparent that, throughout pop culture, women have been degraded both by men and the media.

The biggest source of mortification on women's behalf is by far the media. The media has the ability to twist and turn their photos and articles to portray women however they want. Generally speaking, women are portrayed as scantily clad with supermodel bodies; such as in document one for instance. Document one shows singer Christina Aguilera in a Sketchers shoes advertisement. One of the Aguilera representations is not even fully in frame, therefore you cannot actually see her shoes in the footware ad. However both models in the ad are only slightly dressed, and are posed in seemingly sexual positions. Of course the maker of this ad would create a sexual aura around the scene because, now days, sex sells. If the designers of the ad had simply shown a picture of shoes, the advertisement would not have jumped out as much and screamed "if you get these shoes, you'll be hot!" In document two, a student from the University of Kansas analyzes how women are constantly portrayed as sex symbols in the media, and how celebrities use it to their ability to gain momentum in their careers. Jenna Mittelmeier states in her article, "today's society is no stranger to sexuality and controversy." This statement presumably sums up modern times in a simple scentence. She also goes to say "...we have far surpassed subway grates and short white dresses. In today's age, tabloids are no stranger to crotch shots of women without underwear (Britney Spears, anyone?) or women kissing women at the Video Music Awards." This statement gives examples of media productions and low points that the media has stooped to in order to gain their headliners, at the expense of the women celebrities. Of course, there is always a possibility that Mittelmeier was writing the article for an "anti-media" reason or simply is just against the media altogether, and so she wanted to point out only negative points. Document three shows various lyrics from three different types of bands, all three songs regarding women. In the first set of lyrics, a rap bands portrays women as "players" and states that "they got a man to meet at least for every day of the week." The second set of lyrics is the infamous "Barbie Girl" song by Aqua. The song has a female singer pretending to be "Barbie" and claiming that "Life in plastic, it's fantastic You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere." This song takes the sexualization of Barbie to entirely new level. The song is twisted and contains multiple puns throughout the entire song, making women up to be a "toy" for men to play with. The third set of lyrics, by Tupac Shakur, portrays a woman in a different light. Generally women are seen as put down by men and the ones that are constantly getting "played"; however, in Minnie the Moocher, a female named Minnie is seen as a genuine player, that completely walks all over men. While the song is showing women in a different light, it is still degrading to women in the sense that it says "Maybe it was her smile, her personality or the way she shook her shimmy or the clothes she wore But whatever it was, Minnie the Moocher was an expert." The song refers to Minnie taking off her clothes (shook her shimmy) to men, which is not exactly showing women in a "positive" light. Document 4 contains only a picture. It shows a photogrpah of a Barbie doll still in the package. The portrayl of the "Barbie doll" is a negative one on it's own. Many women in America look at Barbie like the "perfect female." They are constantly trying to acheieve that level of "perfection" with their bodies, which is where the supermodel looks originates from. However, this body type is not extremely common around the world. and it gives off the attitude that "if your body does not look like this, then you are not beautiful." This gives women from every region a complex that if you do not fit into the "Barbie mold" you are seen as ugly in society. The "Barbie mold" is also generally what advertisements portray as beautiful as well. Most models in ads of all kinds fit the Barbie body type, giving American women even more of a complex, and degrading the actual "real" women of society.

While the media fills the ideal of women being degraded, women themselves on the other hand, are not always so quick to give into society's "perfect woman." In document 5, a female writer named Naomi Wolf describes how the media has set up what a "beautiful woman" is, and how it has affected women around the country. She states, "eating disorders rose exponentially and cosmetic surgery became the fastest-growing specialty... thirty-three thousand American women told researchers that they would rather lose ten to fifteen pounds than achieve any other goal." This document gives two different viewpoints. Naomi Wolf points out how the media affects women is in a negative way, while the document itself shows how there are a number of women out there that feed off the media, and feel that if they in fact do not look like what the media says they need to, then they have failed. In document 6, writer Elizabeth Wurtzel, also female, shows how women need to step up in society, and make a stop to their oppression still felt today. She claims that, "We should be comfortable with the idea of wielding power. We shouldn't feel that it detracts from our femininity." The quotation shows that women feel if they take action, then they are no longer seen as "womanly" or "feminine." These ideals were more than likely instilled by the media; but, Wurtzel attempts to break women away from these beliefs, and she says that we need to end our ambivilence to weilding power, that if we do not step up, we will be forever seen as the "lesser gender." However, Wurtzel could just be saying this because she wants women to step up, we don't know for sure that women are ambivilent to holding power, she could simply be saying that to gain momentum for women to start gaining control of power.

Finally, while the media has the prospect of degrading women on a daily basis, there are still men in the world that continue to do so as well. In document 8, a character named Borat, from Da Ali G show, states that the only job for a woman is prostitution. While the character is a satirical one, and while it is a comedy show, the statement shows how Americans feel foreigners view us as a country (or, how they actually do). The "prostitution" remark degrades women as a whole because it makes it seem that women have absolutely no abilities aside from hopping into bed for men's pleasure. Of course, Da Ali G show attempts to try and get people on the edge of their seat, and to complain about it's jokes, that's where it's humor lies, therefore it is a possibility that this was simply said to irk the women of America into causing a scene about it. In doucment 9, an anonymous male posts in his blog about how he views women. In the middle of his rant he states that, "Then come the kids. She wants them to go the the (sic) fancy private schools, away from the inner city riff-raff (most likely the offspring of the badboys she used to *sleep with* when she was younger). " The idea of women wanting to protect their children simply because of their pasts is not only degrading, but is also stretching it quite a bit. It is possible that this man was actually a "player" and he used to sleep with tons of women and knows how the urban areas are, but he places the blame on the woman to protect his own image. Finally, in document 10, another anonymous male numbers off his reasonings for pitying women, one of them is " I pity them for making men the enemy and not loving partners." Not only is rambling off all the reasons you pity women completely degrading towards women, but it also makes this guy look like a genuine moron. Not all women make men seem like the enemy, but instead follow what they say and "obey" them in a sense. It seems possible that this male got broken up with and then he listed off all the reasons he "pitied" women simply out of anger.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

During the period of 1990 until now, how have women been portrayed in pop culture?

Historical Context

Beginning in the 1980's women started being seen as "sex symbols" in society. This is partially due to both women gaining freedom and independence within their lives, and women such as Madonna and Paula Abdul becoming prominent in the pop culture scene. From there women transformed into the "modern day" woman, and relished in their new found rise of momentum.

Document 1

Source: Sketcher advertisement, 2005.

Document 2

Source: Jenna Mittelmeier, a writer for The University Daily Kansan, an article titled A Generation of Sex Symbols, 2007.

Progressing way past the days of Elvis' hip shaking, today's society is no stranger to sexuality and controversy. From the Internet age of celebrity pornography (Paris Hilton, Chyna Doll, etc.) to Janet Jackson's 2004 "wardrobe malfunction,*" we have far surpassed subway grates and short white dresses. In today's age, tabloids are no stranger to crotch shots of women without underwear (Britney Spears, anyone?) or women kissing women at the Video Music Awards.

*In the 2004 Superbowl half time show, Janet Jackson's top "fell down" exposing one of her breasts. Her agent and other sources claimed it was not a planned stunt, but instead a "wardrobe malfunction."

Document 3

Minnie the Moocher was a legend on the block I'm from
A dream girl to many brothers, but true to none
Her reputation was enormous - a real go getter
And once a brother met her, he wanted to get with her
Maybe it was her smile, her personality or
the way she shook her shimmy or the clothes she wore
But whatever it was, Minnie the Moocher was an expert

2PAC Minnie the Moocher, American rapper, 1994.

Document 4

Source: Picture of Matel's Barbie doll, early 1990's version.

Document 5

Source: Naomi Wolf, female American writer, from The Beauty Myth, 1991.

The more legal and material hindrances women have broken through, the more strictly and heavily and cruelly images of female beauty have come to weigh upon us...During the past decade, women breached the power structure; meanwhile, eating disorders rose exponentially and cosmetic surgery became the fastest-growing specialty...pornography became the main media category, ahead of legitimate films and records combined, and thirty-three thousand American women told researchers that they would rather lose ten to fifteen pounds than achieve any other goal...More women have more money and power and scope and legal recognition than we have ever had before; but in terms of how we feel about ourselves physically, we may actually be worse off than our unliberated (sic) grandmothers.

Document 6

Source: Elizabeth Wurtzel, female American writer and actress, from New York Time's bestseller Bitch, 1998.

"The biggest problem that women have is being ambivalent about their own power, ... We should be comfortable with the idea of wielding power. We shouldn't feel that it detracts from our femininity."

Document 7

Source:

Document 8

Source: Anonymous post by user LoveShark Baby, Inc., from Yahoo Answers, 2008.

In the 1900s: Woman, where's my food?
In the 1910s: No, you can't vote
In the 1920s: OK, you can vote, but no smoking
In the 1930s: DOOOH - I said no smoking, but OK, if you insist
In the 1940s: Thanks for the "Dear John" letter. That's just what I needed here in this piss-filled trench
In the 1950s: I said, Woman where's my food?
In the 1960s: Woman where's your bra?
In the 1970s: Woman where are you going?
In the 1980s: Child Support? You make twice as much as I do!
In the 1990s: OK, The SitComs and TV ads have me convinced - we men really are doofuses (sic). You win. I'll sit here on the Barcalounger™, being hopelessly irrelevant.

Document 9

Source: Borat, a satirical character from popular the British show, Da Ali G Show, broadcasted in America, 2000's.

There are many job opportunities in the US and of A. For men, construction worker, taxi driver or accountant. For woman, prostitute.

Document 10

Source: Post from Anonymous, from the Rantings of a Young Man in a Feminized Society, May 2006.

"What's money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do." Bob Dylan
Sadly though, I find that a significant number of men slaving away are not doing it for themselves, but they are doing it because of their nagging wives. They had to move into the suburbs, buy a house with a white picket fence that was way beyond what he could afford. He had to buy the gas guzzling minivan and SUV. Then come the kids. She wants them to go the the (sic) fancy private schools, away from the inner city riff-raff (most likely the offspring of the badboys she used to *sleep with* when she was younger). Then it's ballet and dance recitals, little league baseball and football, and then you have to start putting money away for their college education. From marriage until death, he will always be making payments of some sort. A sad existance (sic) indeed. That is no way to live life.(*edit*)

Document 11

Source: Anonymous male, from a blog American Women Suck, 2008.

I am not angry with American women. I merely pity them. I pity them for embracing feminism without any critical thought. I pity them for making men the enemy and not loving partners. I pity them for their unsuccessful struggle with their own rules. I pity them for not understanding that life is about compromise and that compromise is not weakness.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

I hate life.

uDuring the period of 1980 until now, how have women been portrayed in pop culture?

Historical Context

Beginning in the 1980's women started being seen as "sex symbols" in society. This is partially due to both women gaining freedom and independence within their lives, and women such as Madonna and Christina Amphlett becoming prominent in the pop culture scene. From there women transformed into the "modern day" woman, and relished in their new found rise of momentum.

Document 1

Source: Photograph of 1980's pop sensation, Madonna, 1980's.

Document 2

Source: Jenna Mittelmeier, a writer for The University Daily Kansan, an article titled A Generation of Sex Symbols, 2007.

Document 3

I wouldn't if I were you
I know what she can do
She's deadly man, she could really rip your world apart
Mind over matter
Ooh, the beauty is there but a beast is in the heart
(Oh-oh, here she comes) Watch out boy she'll chew you up
(Oh-oh, here she comes) She's a maneater
(Oh-oh, here she comes) Watch out boy she'll chew you up
(Oh-oh, here she comes) She's a maneater
HALL & OATES "Maneater", a "rock and soul" band from Pennsylvania that gained most of their fame during the 70's and 80's.

Document 4

Source: Picture of Matel's Barbie doll, early 1990's version.

Document 5

Source: Swami Ram Charran, a writer, from the novel The Power of a Woman, 1990's.

In today's world of chaos, turmoil, and destruction; only a restored respect for women can rescue this world out of distress and take it out of its present predicament towards a new century of peace and love. A woman is needed in a leadership position to perform this task. Wherever the woman is disrespected chaos exists in that location. Did you ever stop to think what would happen if today there were no women in the world.

Document 6

Document 7

Source: Stephen Stills, an American musician, from an interview with Rolling Stones Magazine, late 1990's.

There are three things men can do with women: love them, suffer for them, or turn them into literature.

Document 8

Document 9

Document 10

Document 11

Monday, May 26, 2008

Another Final Attempt

How have Americans perceived the relationship between women and power in American society since the 1980's?

Historical Context

Throughout the 20th century women have gained rights and equality in America. For example, in 1920 women gained the right to vote. Also women have achieved the right to more equal job oppurtunities and career options in all fields. During this time men's attitudes towards women have changed.

Document 1

Source: Bureau of Justice: National Crime Victimization Survey, 1997

"Rape is a serious problem in the United States today. The United States has the highest rape rate among countries which report such statistics. It is 4 times higher than that of Germany, 13 times higher than that of England and 20 times higher than that of Japan."

Document 2

Source: Elizabeth Wurtzel, female American writer and actress, from novel Bitch, 1998.

"The biggest problem that women have is being ambivalent about their own power, ... We should be comfortable with the idea of wielding power. We shouldn't feel that it detracts from our femininity.”

Document 3

Source: Post from Anonymous, from The Rantings of a Young Man in a Feminized Society, May 2006.

"What's money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do." Bob Dylan
Sadly though, I find that a significant number of men slaving away are not doing it for themselves, but they are doing it because of their nagging wives. They had to move into the suburbs, buy a house with a white picket fence that was way beyond what he could afford. He had to buy the gas guzzling minivan and SUV. Then come the kids. She wants them to go the the fancy private schools, away from the inner city riff-raff (most likely the offspring of the badboys she used to *sleep with* when she was younger). Then it's ballet and dance recitals, little league baseball and football, and then you have to start putting money away for their college education. From marriage until death, he will always be making payments of some sort. A sad existance indeed. That is no way to live life.(*edit*)

Document 4

Source: Anonymous post by user LoveShark Baby, Inc., from Yahoo Answers, 2008.

In the 1900s: Woman, where's my food?
In the 1910s: No, you can't vote
In the 1920s: OK, you can vote, but no smoking
In the 1930s: DOOOH - I said no smoking, but OK, if you insist
In the 1940s: Thanks for the "Dear John" letter. That's just what I needed here in this piss-filled trench
In the 1950s: I said, Woman where's my food?
In the 1960s: Woman where's your bra?
In the 1970s: Woman where are you going?
In the 1980s: Child Support? You make twice as much as I do!
In the 1990s: OK, The SitComs and TV ads have me convinced - we men really are doofuses. you win. I'll sit here on the Barcalounger™, being hopelessly irrelevant.

Document 5

Document 6

Document 7

Source: Jenna Mittelmeier, a writer for The University Daily Kansan, an article titled A Generation of Sex Symbols, 2007.

Document 8

Source: Stephen Stills, an American muscian, from an interview with Rolling Stones Magazine, late 1990's.

There are three things men can do with women: love them, suffer for them, or turn them into literature.

Document 9

Source: Swami Ram Charran, a writer, from the novel The Power of a Woman, 1990's.

In today's world of chaos, turmoil, and destruction; only a restored respect for women can rescue this world out of distress and take it out of its present predicament towards a new century of peace and love. A woman is needed in a leadership position to perform this task. Wherever the woman is disrespected chaos exists in that location. Did you ever stop to thinkwhat would happen if today there were no women in the world?

Document 10

Source: Borat a satirical stereotype of a kazakhstani immigrant, British Television from Da Ali G Show, 2000's.

There are many job opportunities in the US and of A. For men, construction worker, taxi driver or accountant. For woman, prostitute.

Document 11

Source: Picture of Matel's Barbie doll, early 1990's version.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

DBQ Documents Drafts

How have male attitudes towards women in America changed during modern times?

Historical Context

Document 1

Source: Bureau of Justice: National Crime Victimization Survey, 1997

Document 2

Document 3

Document 4

Source: Anonymous post by user LoveShark Baby, Inc., from Yahoo Answers, 2008.

In the 1900s: Woman, where's my food?
In the 1910s: No, you can't vote
In the 1920s: OK, you can vote, but no smoking
In the 1930s: DOOOH - I said no smoking, but OK, if you insist
In the 1940s: Thanks for the "Dear John" letter. That's just what I needed here in this piss-filled trench
In the 1950s: I said, Woman where's my food?
In the 1960s: Woman where's your bra?
In the 1970s: Woman where are you going?
In the 1980s: Child Support? You make twice as much as I do!
In the 1990s: OK, The SitComs and TV ads have me convinced - we men really are doofuses. you win. I'll sit here on the Barcalounger™, being hopelessly irrelevant.

Document 5

Document 6

Source: Various Musicians lyrics

Oh you don't think you need game, homey you better have it
Cause women cheat like men, only they better at it
You kiss your girl on the cheek, thinkin she sweet
She got a man to meet at least for every day of the week
RHYMEFEST All girls cheat, American Hip Hop band, 2006.

I'm a Barbie girl in the Barbie world
Life in plastic, it's fantastic
You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere
Imagination, life is your creation
I'm a blonde single girl in the fantasy world
Dress me up, take your time, I'm your dollie
You're my doll, rock and roll, feel the glamour and pain
Kiss me here, touch me there, hanky-panky
AQUA "Barbie Girl", Popular BubbleGum Dance Band, 1997.

Under my thumb
The squirmin' dog who's just had her day
Under my thumb
A girl who has just changed her ways
It's down to me, yes it is
The way she does just what she's told
Down to me, the change has come
She's under my thumb
Ah, ah, say it's alright
THE ROLLING STONES Under My Thumb, British Rock Band, 1966.

Document 7

Source: Bella Abzug, well-known American political figure and a leader of the women’s movement, from a speech, mid 1900's.

The test for whether or not you can hold a job should not be the arrangement of your chromosomes.

Document 8

Source: Clare Boothe Luce, an American editor, playwright, social activist, congresswoman, journalist, and ambassador, in a speech to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., mid 1900's.

Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, "She doesn’t have what it takes." They will say, "Women don’t have what it takes."

Document 9

Document 10

Source: Swami Ram Charran, a writer, from the novel The Power of a Woman.

In today's world of chaos, turmoil, and destruction; only a restored respect for women can rescue this world out of distress and take it out of its present predicament towards a new century of peace and love. A woman is needed in a leadership position to perform this task. Wherever the woman is disrespected chaos exists in that location. Did you ever stop to thinkwhat would happen if today there were no women in the world?

Document 11

Document 12

Source: Picture of Matel's Barbie doll, early 1990's version.

Further research for positive stuff

How have male attitudes towards women in America changed since 1940-2008?

"In today's world of chaos, turmoil, and destruction; only a restored respect for women can rescue this world out of distress and take it out of its present predicament towards a new century of peace and love. A woman is needed in a leadership position to perform this task. Wherever the woman is disrespected chaos exists in that location. Did you ever stop to thinkwhat would happen if today there were no women in the world?"
- The Power of a Woman by swami ram charran

"With so many advantages that women possess, how can we talk about the equality of gender? Should we not conclude that women are superior?"
-Anonymous post by manoharv2001
http://hubpages.com/hub/The-greatness-of-women

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Further Research

How have male attitudes towards women in America changed since 1940-2008?

Women often perceive barriers and role conflicts as obstacles in their career development process (Albert & Luzzo, 1999;
Brown & Barbosa, 2001; Luzzo & McWhirter, 2001; Stitt-Gohdes, 1997). Common barriers faced by women included sex-typing of
occupations and sex discrimination, both of which women felt they were unable to control (Stitt-Gohdes). Inadequate occupational
skills, poor academic achievement, and lack of transportation were also found to be major reasons women failed to succeed in the
workforce. Childcare was another issue women saw as a potential barrier to career success (Brown & Barbosa; Stitt-Gohdes). Despite
these perceptions by women, findings from recent studies revealed that females showed an interest in a greater number of careers and
exhibited more gender-role flexibility in their career aspirations than males (Francis, 2002; Mendez & Crawford, 2002; Wahl &
Blackhurst, 2000

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:fj8JaaGL1csJ:scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JCTE/v22n2/pdf/domenico.pdf+positive+attitudes+towards+women+in+the+20th+century&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=us

"Women thrive on novelty and are easy meat for the commerce of fashion. Men prefer old pipes and torn jackets." -Anthony Burgess, You've Had Your Time, 1990. A british novelist that lived in teh USA

"There are three things men can do with women: love them, suffer for them, or turn them into literature." - Stephen Stills an American muscian in an interview with Rolling Stones Magazine.

“Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, ‘She doesn’t have what it takes.’ They will say, ‘Women don’t have what it takes.”
-Clare Boothe Luce, (speech to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.) an American editor, playwright, social activist, congresswoman, journalist, and ambassador

"Women have been trained to speak softly and carry a lipstick. Those days are over."
-Bella Abzug

"The test for whether or not you can hold a job should not be the arrangement of your chromosomes."
-Bella Abzug well-known American political figure and a leader of the women’s movement

There's only one hacker in the world who can break this code.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

DBQ for the updated version for Mrs. Cole.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

I hate life.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Another Final Attempt

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

DBQ Documents Drafts

Further research for positive stuff

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Further Research

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