hiv affected parents Essays

hiv affected parents Essays hiv affected parents Essay hiv affected parents Essay Lapriah Morrison soc 482 Dr. Donna Cole December 4, 2013 HIV-lnfected Parents and Their Children in the United States HIV has an insightful influence not only on the people it infects, but also on their families. Children who are dependent on their parents are particularly vulnerable. Because of the effects of HIV disease and the social conditions that are often associated with it, parents living with HIV may have limited financial, social, and emotional resources to draw upon in raising their children. Additionally, if parents become incapacitated or die, others need to take over the role of caring for the children. Children and families of people with HIV may depend on public and charitable resources that cover such services as income supplementation, health care, child care, housing, bereavement support, foster care, and adoption. These services are not always available, and the dishonor associated with HIV can complicate access to such services. To address the needs of children and families affected by HIV, they needed to know the extent and importance of the problem. Analysis Nationally representative data have not previously been available to describe this population, although the percentage of HIV infected adults with hildren has been reported for regional and convenience samples. 10-12 studies have estimated the number of children with vertically acquired infection and the percentage of childbearing women who are HIV infected. 4-16 several researchers have used modeling techniques to estimate the number of children in the United States who have lost or will lose their mothers because of HIV. These studies have drawn attention to the fact that HIV affects more than Just those who are infected. To gain a better understanding of parenthood and family responsibilities among HIV nfected adults in the United States, they used data from a national probability sample of men and women who are receiving health care for HIV to dete rmine who had children the ages of the children, and with who the children lived with. Methods The HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study used multistage national probability sampling to select a random sample of adults with known HIV infection who had at least one visit for health care at a facility other than a military, prison, or emergency department facility during a two month population definition period in 1996. They also sampled geographical areas, medical providers, and then patients. In the first stage of sampling, they sampled metropolitan statistical areas with the largest AIDS caseloads, along with an additional 20 metropolitan statistical areas and 24 clusters of rural counties. In the second stage of sampling, they sampled 58 urban and 28 rural known providers from list of all providers known by local informants to sampled 87 urban and 23 rural other providers who had affirmed caring for HIV patients in a screening survey of approximately 4000 physicians randomly selected rom the physician master file maintained by the American Medical Association. In the third stage of sampling, they sampled patients from anonymous lists of all eligible patients who had visited participating providers during the population definition period. Women and members of staff model health maintenance organizations were oversampled. Data collection began in January 1996 and ended 15 months later. Their overall rates were 68% for full interviews and 87% for people with abbreviated interviews or information supplied by others. In total they gained 2864 full interviews. Living Arrangements for Children Fifty-two percent of children lived with the respondent, and 28% lived with their other parent, for a total of 80% living with at least one parent. The remaining children lived with their grandmother (9% of all children), with another relative (5%), with an unrelated foster or adoptive parent (4%), or in another situation. Living situation varied a lot by the sex of the respondent. Sixty-nine percent of children of a female respondent lived with the respondent and 6% lived elsewhere with their father, whereas 32% of children of a male respondent lived with the respondent and 53% ived elsewhere with their mother. There was no significant decrease in the proportion of children who lived with their parent. Infected Adults Living With Their Children HIV- Women were much more likely than men to be living with their children: 76% of women with children (and 45% of all women) and 34% of men with children (and 6% of all men) lived with at least 1 child. Among women and men living with children, 15% and 21%, respectively, had at least 1 child living elsewhere. The possibility that a respondent lived with his or her children varied by household income for women and en and by the respondents level of education. Percentages of Children Younger Than 18 Years in Various Living Arrangements, by Sex of Respondent: HIV Cost and Services utilization study, 1996-1997 Living Arrangement Female Male Respondent parent 69 32 Other parent 6 53 Grandmother 10 8 Another relative 3 Unrelated adoptive/foster parent 2 Other Health of and Available Support for Parents Living With Children Many parents were at a fairly advanced stage of illness that could have been affecting their ability to take care of their child. Twenty-three percent of parents living with children eported that their lowest CD4 count was 50 to 199, and 22% reported less than 50. Sixty percent of parents living with their children had symptomatic HIV, and another 30% had AIDS. Many of the parents may have been too sick to tend to their childrens needs or may have had other conditions that interfered with their ability to take care of their children. For example, 21% of parents living with children had been hospitalized during the previous 6 months, including 10% who had been hospitalized for 7 or more days. 0% of parents who had been hospitalized during the previous 6 onths were also living with a spouse or partner. Eighteen percent of parents living with children had needed home health care in the previous 6 months; 45% had symptoms consistent with a psychiatric disorder; 10% showed evidence of probable past drug dependence; 5% had been heavy alcohol drinkers in the previous 4 weeks; and 10% had needed drug or alcohol treatme nt in the previous 6 months. Although many parents appeared to have resources available to draw upon, some parents lacked social networks that could pick up the slack if they were unable to take care of heir childrens needs, and some had limited financial resources. Twenty percent had no close friends, and 16% saw family members once a month or less. Twenty-five percent had no one to lend them money, and 16% had no one to help with chores. Thirteen percent had gone without needed health care at least once in the previous 6 months, because they needed the money for basic necessities such as food, clothing, and housing, and 8% had gone without basic necessities because they needed the money for health care. Some put off going to the doctor because they were too sick 19%), they were taking care of someone else (16%), or they did not have a way to get there (23%). Twenty percent had had to find a place to live in the previous 6 months. Sixty-seven percent were participating in 1 or more government supplemental income programs and 31% received Supplemental Security Income, 31% received Social Security Disability Insurance, and 39% received Aid to Families with Dependent had private insurance, and 17% had no health insurance. Conclusion In this sample of HIV-infected adults in care, we have shown that many throughout the country have children and some continue to conceive and have hildren after diagnosis. HIV-infected parents generally continue to live with their children even as their disease progresses. If there are any future plans of the epidemic they will need to consider the impact on parents of having responsibility for children and the impact on children of having parents with a chronic, stigmatizing, and potentially fatal condition. Parents may need support in meeting conflicting responsibilities of looking after their own health needs while also taking care of their children. 51 the children, as well having needs related to their parents HIV infection, ncluding financial assistance, emotional support, and supervision when the parent is incapacitated or dies. HIV-infected adults could also benefit from counseling and support when making decisions about having children. Unfortunately, even if transmission rates decrease many parents are already infected, and the disease will continue to have a large impact on families and on how society treats them. Reference Page 1 . Caldwell MB, Mascola L, Smith W, et al. Biologic, foster, and adoptive parents: care givers of children exposed perinatally to human immunodeficiency virus in the United States. Pediatrics. 199Z90:603-607. 2. Carten A], Fennoy I. African American families and HIV/AIDS: caring for surviving children. Child welfare. 3. Cohen FL, Nehring WM. Foster care of HIVpositive children in the United States. Public Health Rep. 4. Forsyth BW, Damour L, Nagler S, Adnopoz J. The psychological effects of parental human immunodeficiency virus infection on uninfected children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 5. Mark A. Schuster, MD, PhD, David E. Kanouse, PhD, Sally C. Morton, PhD, Samuel A. Bozzette, MD, PhD, Angela Miu, MS, Gwendolyn B. Scott, MD, and Martin F. Shapiro,

Siege of Fort Stanwix in the American Revolution

Siege of Fort Stanwix in the American Revolution Siege of Fort Stanwix - Conflict Dates: The Siege of Fort Stanwix was conducted from August 2 to 22, 1777, during the American Revolution (1775-1783). Armies Commanders Americans Colonel Peter Gansevoort750 men at Fort StanwixMajor General Benedict Arnold700-1,000 men in relief force British Brigadier General Barry St. Leger1,550 men Siege of Fort Stanwix - Background: In early 1777, Major General John Burgoyne proposed a plan for defeating the American rebellion. Convinced that New England was the seat of the revolt, he proposed severing the region from the other colonies by advancing down the Lake Champlain-Hudson River corridor while a second force, led by Lieutenant Colonel Barry St. Leger, moved east from Lake Ontario and through the Mohawk Valley. Meeting at Albany, Burgoyne and St. Leger would advance down the Hudson, while General Sir William Howes army advanced north from New York City. Though approved by Colonial Secretary Lord George Germain, Howes role in the plan was never clearly defined and issues of his seniority precluded Burgoyne from issuing him orders. Siege of Fort Stanwix - St. Leger Prepares: Gathering near Montreal, St. Legers command was centered on the 8th and 34th Regiments of Foot, but also included forces of Loyalists and Hessians. To aid St. Leger in dealing with militia officers and the Native Americans, Burgoyne gave him a brevet promotion to brigadier general prior to embarking. Assessing his line of advance, St. Legers largest obstacle was Fort Stanwix located at the Oneida Carrying Place between Lake Oneida and the Mohawk River. Built during the French Indian War, it had fallen into disrepair and was believed to have a garrison of around sixty men. To deal with the fort, St. Leger brought along four light guns and four small mortars (Map). Siege of Fort Stanwix - Strengthening the Fort: In April 1777, General Philip Schuyler, commanding American forces on the northern frontier, became increasingly concerned about the threat of British and Native American attacks via the Mohawk River corridor. As a deterrent, he dispatched Colonel Peter Gansevoorts 3rd New York Regiment to Fort Stanwix. Arriving in May, Gansevoorts men began working to repair and enhance the forts defenses. Though they officially renamed the installation Fort Schuyler, its original name continued to be widely used. In early July, Gansevoort received word from friendly Oneidas that St. Leger was on the move. Concerned about his supply situation, he contacted Schuyler and requested additional ammunition and provisions. Siege of Fort Stanwix - The British Arrive: Advancing up the St. Lawrence River and onto Lake Ontario, St. Leger received word that Fort Stanwix had been reinforced and was garrisoned by around 600 men. Reaching Oswego on July 14, he worked with Indian Agent Daniel Claus and recruited around 800 Native American warriors led by Joseph Brant. These additions swelled his command to around 1,550 men. Moving west, St. Leger soon learned that the supplies Gansevoort had requested were nearing the fort. In an effort to intercept this convoy, he sent Brant ahead with around 230 men. Reaching Fort Stanwix on August 2, Brants men appeared just after elements of the 9th Massachusetts had arrived with the supplies. Remaining at Fort Stanwix, the Massachusetts troops swelled the garrison to around 750-800 men. Siege of Fort Stanwix - The Siege Begins: Assuming a position outside the fort, Brant was joined by St. Leger and the main body the next day. Though his artillery was still en route, the British commander demanded Fort Stanwixs surrender that afternoon. After this was refused by Gansevoort, St. Leger began siege operations with his regulars making camp to the north and the Native Americans and Loyalists to the south. During the first few days of the siege, the British struggled to bring their artillery up nearby Wood Creek which was blocked by trees felled by the Tryon County militia. On August 5, St. Leger was informed that an American relief column was moving towards the fort. This was largely composed of the Tryon County militia led by Brigadier General Nicholas Herkimer. Siege of Fort Stanwix - Battle of Oriskany: Responding to this new threat, St. Leger dispatched around 800 men, led by Sir John Johnson, to intercept Herkimer. This included the bulk of his European troops as well as some Native Americans. Setting an ambush near Oriskany Creek, he attacked the approaching Americans the next day. In the resulting Battle of Oriskany, both sides inflicted substantial losses on the other. Though the Americans were left holding the battlefield, they were unable to push on to Fort Stanwix. Though a British victory, it was tempered by the fact that Gansevoorts executive officer, Lieutenant Colonel Marinus Willett, led a sortie from the fort which attacked the British and Native American camps. In the course of the raid, Willetts men carried off many of the Native Americans possessions as well as captured many British documents including St. Legers plans for the campaign. Returning from Oriskany, many of the Native Americans were irate over the loss of their belongings and the casualties sustained in the fighting. Learning of Johnsons triumph, St. Leger again demanded the forts surrender but to no avail. On August 8, the British artillery finally deployed and began firing on Fort Stanwixs northern wall and northeastern bastion. Though this fire had little effect, St. Leger again requested that Gansevoort capitulate, this time threatening to turn loose the Native Americans to attack settlements in the Mohawk Valley. Responding, Willett stated, By your uniform you are British officers. Therefore let me tell you that the message you have brought is a degrading one for a British officer to send and by no means reputable for a British officer to carry. Siege of Fort Stanwix - Relief at Last: That evening, Gansevoort ordered Willett take a small party through the enemy lines to seek help. Moving through the marshes, Willett was able to escape east. Learning of the defeat at Oriskany, Schuyler resolved to send a new relief force from his army. Led by Major General Benedict Arnold, this column was composed of 700 regulars from the Continental Army. Moving west, Arnold encountered Willett before pressing on to Fort Dayton near German Flatts. Arriving on August 20, he wished to wait for additional reinforcements before proceeding. This plan was dashed when Arnold learned that St. Leger had begun entrenching in an effort to move his guns closer to Fort Stanwixs powder magazine. Unsure about proceeding without additional manpower, Arnold elected to use deception in an effort to disrupt the siege. Turning to Han Yost Schuyler, a captured Loyalist spy, Arnold offered the man his life in exchange for returning to St. Legers camp and spreading rumors about an impending attack by a large American force. To ensure Schuylers compliance, his brother was held as a hostage. Traveling to the siege lines at Fort Stanwix, Schuyler spread this tale among the already unhappy Native Americans. Word of Arnolds assault soon reached St. Leger who came to believe the American commander was advancing with 3,000 men. Holding a council of war on August 21, St. Leger found that part of his Native American contingent had already departed and that remainder was preparing to leave if he did not end the siege. Seeing little choice, the British leader broke off the siege the next day and began withdrawing back towards Lake Oneida. Siege of Fort Stanwix - Aftermath: Pressing forward, Arnolds column reached Fort Stanwix late on August 23. The next day, he ordered 500 men to pursue the retreating enemy. These reached the lake just as the last of St. Legers boats were departing. After securing the area, Arnold withdrew to rejoin Schuylers main army. Retreating back to Lake Ontario, St. Leger and his men were taunted by their erstwhile Native American allies. Seeking to rejoin Burgoyne, St. Leger and his men traveled back up the St. Lawrence and down Lake Champlain before arriving at Fort Ticonderoga in late September. While the casualties during the actual Siege of Fort Stanwix were light, the strategic consequences proved substantial. The defeat of St. Leger prevented his force from uniting with Burgoyne and disrupted the larger British plan. Continuing to push down the Hudson Valley, Burgoyne was halted and decisively defeated by American troops at the Battle of Saratoga. The turning point of the war, the triumph led to the critical Treaty of Alliance with France. Selected Sources National Park Service: Fort Stanwix National MonumentNew York State Military Museum: Fort Stanwix Revolutionary War: Siege of Fort Stanwix

Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 41

Essay Example The rate at which Digital networks is transforming workplace is incredible. The networked business entities have created a virtual business environment where by employees can now work from home. Work groups are distributed around the entire globe in almost all the fields of works. Their convergence is achieved through hosting meetings over the internet through videos and audios, regardless of their location (Davenport, 2005 p.56). The advancement of these efforts has enabled them to share thoughts, goals and common interests of their respective fields of professions. This virtual environment has proven to be a positive impact to businesses since it enhances flexibility of work and duties. Organizations must shun the old and outdated models which they usually engaged in. The tendency of employees converging at the central place of work is boring since a few numbers of employees can keep up with that model today (Regan & Oconnor, 2002 p.8). Proper organization structure, resource management and staffing are the key strategies for the success of any business of the company need to be motivated to make them enjoy their duties which enhances productivity of the organization. Adoption of Information Communication Technology in businesses fosters overwhelming business relationships. The relationship among the customers, the employee and the business shareholders have to be strong. The time factor at which the customer receives his /her services is also paramount since if acts as a motivation factor to attract more customers. A good technological system ensures all these necessities are taken into account (Regan & Oconnor, 2002 p.12). In a networked business setup, workers can access all the information they need from the powerful PCs of the company. The presence of Wide web’s opens up the enterprises to the world thus creating more opportunities on their services. Business inventions are also important aspects for its

Buying Verses Renting A House - How Will One Choose Essay

Buying Verses Renting A House - How Will One Choose - Essay Example Possessing a home frequently binds up hundreds of thousands of amount that may be spended more securely and more profitably somewhere else over the next decade. And whilst property brokers or dealers might disgust to admit it, home possession engages its own descriptions of fling money away, like assets taxes and the costs of scrounging. The study illustrates main costs and profits of possessing and renting, together with tax breaks - and possessing a home nowadays is more luxurious than renting (The Economist, 2005, Issue 8416). There are perceptibly turnovers to home possessions further than the monetary criteria, like serenity and a feeling of constancy. Proprietors cannot have their home pulled away by a property-owner who has assured to shift back in. Owners can also alter the paint of their living room walls or place doors or windows without asking any authorization. Merge these paybacks with the contractual expenses of a house sale, and renting almost certainly does not make wisdom for most people who previously own their home and feel established in it. But the computation can look fairly diverse for those who are in view of moving anyhow or who do not up till now own a home. At the least, renters in bang markets, who frequently mourn that they are wasting wealth, should be familiar with that their option has as influential a financial justification as buying does at present. (The Economist, 2005, Issue 8416) In U.S a 1,000-sq.ft, two-bedroom apartment on the rental fee is for about $3,700 per month. Purchasing a comparable apartment cost approximately $1.1 million, which can decode into monthly expenses of $6,000 or accordingly. To evaluate the cost of renting, the analyst summed up monthly rent and renters' cover. For possessing, the analyst incorporated particular costs for home insurance, main repairs, assets taxes and credit payments, as well as the tax subtractions they generate. This evaluates that owning is more expensive every month; therefore purchasers are gambling completely on price admirations. (Buying Or Renting A House, Online, P1) But to countless people, the psychosomatic profits of purchasing are more or less not possible to conquer. Possessing makes them sense that they have attained a dream come true, or it gives them the protected sense that, if not anything besides, they have a concrete asset where they can slumber in darkness. These are pleasant thoughts, certainly. The question is how greatly they are meaningful to you. Advantages And Disadvantages - Buying Or Renting A House Breathing in one's personal home is an essential part of one's dream. However, scores of people hold fallacy about the monetary features of purchasing and possessing a home. It is for eternity healthier to purchase a house; paying rent is like driving money along the drain. For decades, such suggestion has confident communities to have a loan like mad to get on the possessions ranking at earliest. But as one observes around the world House prices are at present at very high levels in comparison to rents in a lot of parts of the world and at this time, it over and over again makes more monetary sense, particularly for first-time purchasers, to rent out instead. Home purchasers are liable to undervalue their cost. Formerly maintenance costs, insurance and

Believe and Culture Build Awareness Research Paper

Believe and Culture Build Awareness - Research Paper Example However, despite this seemingly important trend, many other security concerns are also emerging, which threatens the effective use of these technologies (Erickson 2008). This paper examines some of the challenges being associated with the process of establishing firm security systems in individual and corporate information systems. According to Scambray & McClure (2001), hacking can be described as the unauthorized entry into a person’s information database online. In the need for creating and using technology as a leveraging point for organizational effectiveness, individuals and organisations have developed websites and other online databases where they develop and store their confidential information. In this regard, the information is supposed to be kept away from the reach of unauthorized persons. In order to ensure that this information is secured safely, it is often expected that one uses effective and reliable passwords among other important approaches that can ensure that this information is safely secured (Scambray & McClure 2001). Additionally, the process of hosting these websites is supposed to be done on secure networks, which ensure that hackers and other malicious attackers do not gain entry into these information systems. Just like in normal aspects of life, intruding into someone’s physical space without his/her permission or context amounts to security threat. Culturally, it is important that one seeks permission before entry into a house or an office, in the same way, hacking can be seen to be violating the cultural ties that concern respect for one’s space and freedom. In all societies across the world, good mannerism involves several subsets including observing and respecting people’s physical space among others. In the same way, the development of online systems like websites and social sites is supposed to incorporate this important security concern. Across the world, many issues have so far been raised about the

The Life of Ethan and Zeena Today

The Life of Ethan and Zeena Today If Ethan and Zeena lived in todays modern world their lives would be different because gender roles, social customs, and divorce customs are different from the nineteenth century. Reasons for Isolation during the nineteenth century Environmental factors Technology Life in the nineteenth century Womens roles Marriage responsibilities Education Work Mens roles Marriage responsibilities Education Work Divorce Social customs rates Life in Todays World Womens Roles Mens Roles Divorce Social customs Zeenas nineteenth century life vs. her modern life Married life Financial situation Education Social life Ethans nineteenth century life vs. his modern life Married life Financial situation Education Social life Zeenas and Ethans Lives compared to Todays Modern Age In Edith Whartons Ethan Frome, Ethan and Zeena suffer because of the social expectancy during the nineteenth century. People who lived in rural areas during the nineteenth century were very isolated and had little interaction with neighbors. Life during the nineteenth century was based on social status and customs. Marriage was believed to be a womens main purpose in life. Women had no choice, but to seek marriage because women had little opportunities to work and were expected to live from a husbands income. If Ethan and Zeena lived in todays modern world their lives would be different because gender roles, social customs, and divorce customs are different from the nineteenth century. Isolation played a major factor in the characters lives during the nineteenth century. Isolation was very frequent in rural areas. People who lived in rural areas had little knowledge of social interaction. One reason for isolation in rural communities was population decline (Frome 126). Population had decreased because people moved to larger cities were more jobs and better technology was offered. Farmers who decided to stay in their farms with their families, lived in smaller, emptier communities (Frome 126). People ended up very isolated because the environment was lonely with very few residents. People were not able to interact because the isolation in the environment was very depressing. Married couples spent most of the time with each other in isolated farms. Life was very depressing for people who lived in rural communities. Secondly, technology was one of the causes for isolation in rural New England. Ethan Frome states: Both the telephone and automobile would greatly reduce feelings of isolation once they came to rural areas; people would be able to converse with neighbors much more easily and travel to nearby towns. However, it took a long time for these inventions to reach even middle-class homes in isolated areas such as the one in Ethan Frome. In fact, phone and automobiles would not come to many farm families until the mid-1910s, after the time of the novel.(128) People were very isolated in rural New England because they did not have many luxuries we have today like the telephone, cars, and computers. Life during the nineteenth century was very oppressing for men and women. Gender roles were very precise during that era. According to Elizabeth Ammons, women were not allowed to vote during the Ethan Frome era (n.pag.). Women faced discrimination during the nineteenth century because men were considered the authority of the household. Women depended on men for income, food, and shelter (Frome126).Women roles during the nineteenth century were very different from todays modern world. Women had to deal with many hard situations. For example, A wifes responsibilities included a comfortable home, performing household chores, and bearing and caring for children. She was expected to remain chaste, modest and frugal in household expenses and to abstain from conduct that reflected badly on her home or her husbands good name (Frome 126). Women were treated like animals because they were not allowed to have a decent human life. Women did not have the opportunity in making decisions. Life for women was very sad because women had no rights on their persona. Women had a very hard role in life because they were expected to follow the gender roles that society imposed. Education is another factor that affected womens lives during the nineteenth century. Women rarely had an education and if they did they were not allowed to work (Frome126). If women did not have an education there was no way they could make a living without a man. Women felt obligated to their husbands because they had no way of earning an income. Womens only education included housewife duties, which were the only things they knew how to do. Mens roles were very significant in rural New England. Men had big responsibilities because It was the duty of husbands like Ethan Frome to provide their families with the necessities of life, to treat their wives with courtesy, and to behave responsibly in financial affairs (Frome126). The mans main purpose was to take care of his wife economically. Men knew that a woman could not live by herself during that era; there was no way she could survive by herself. Men felt obligated to his wife because society imposed it. Many men feared of violating social norms because they treated social norms as laws. Men thought if they violated societal rules they were breaking the law. It is known that men were the ones who usually had an education and if they did not, they usually worked outside of the home like in Ethans case. Men had more opportunities of receiving an education than women. Many critics say that during the Ethan Frome era, divorce was rare and socially criticized. Many couples who did not love each other felt forced to live with one another because of societal rules. Many couples during the Ethan Frome era did not divorce because divorces became permissible after that era. Life in todays world is very different from the nineteenth century. Today womens roles are not like back then. In todays world women have the same rights as men. There are many women that decide living in singlehood. Many women live better lives in singlehood because some women are not wife like. Women do not depend on men for a living. Womens roles in todays era do include housewife duties but not all women work as housewives. Many women today are the ones who provide the family financially and some men do the duty of a housewife. There are also women who are single mothers that provide for their children by themselves. Many women in todays world decide to receive an education and end up receiving high salaried jobs. Today, there are laws that prohibit job discrimination because of gender, race, or color. Many women today have better work positions than males. In todays modern world women are admired for working outside of home because they also perform the duty of a housewife. Mens roles are similar and different from the early nineteenth century. Some still feel obligated to provide for their families financially, and others do not. In todays modern world men do not feel obligated to stay with a person they do not love. Men do not have the same responsibilities like in Ethans case. Men know that a woman can sustain herself without him. Mens marriage responsibilities include working and providing family with love and necessities. Education for men is still viewed the same like in the nineteenth century. Many men attend school to pursuit a degree. Men in todays world are offered different types of jobs. People without an education can also have a decent living. Divorce is not seen rare in todays world. Divorces occur almost every day. Women do not feel obligated to stay married because they do not depend on a mans income for a living. Many couples divorce after a couple of months or even days. Divorce is not socially criticized like in the early nineteenth century. People think of divorce as something natural that occurs every day. Divorce rates keep on rising because some people marry too early, without having nurtured their relationship. Some people today do not take a marriage as something serious that lasts for life. Zeenas life would be different if she lived in todays modern world. Zeenas life would be different because she seems to be the type of woman that lives in singlehood. Zeena does not seem to be a good marriage partner. Zeena did not comply with a womens responsibility during the nineteenth century. According to Helen Killoran, Zeena only causes Ethan problems by complaining about her health and spending money on medicines (n.pag.). A woman was not supposed to cause her husband any financial problems like Zeena did to Ethan. Zeena believes she does not have to do house hold chores because it is Ethans duty to pay her back for all the caring she did for his parents (Travis n. pag.). Zeena would be better off alone in todays world because she only ruins her partners life by having a negative attitude. Kathy A. Fedorko describes Zeena as an adult incapable of showing or receiving love (57). In todays modern world divorced women can survive without a male partner, Zeena does not need to be stuck with Ethan. Most likely Zeena would be in better health and financially stable. Zeena has good nursing skills which would give her good income in todays world. Zeena would not have economic, social, or matriarchal problems. People today interact with one another all the time. Zeenas social isolation would not be a problem because technology in todays world has been modernized. Ethans life during the nineteenth century is very terrifying. R.B. Hovey states that, Sex among the Ethan Frome people was hardly casual; divorce if not unthinkable, was most unlikely proceeding (n. pag.). It is evident that Ethan did not have sex with his wife because she was always in bed complaining about her health. Ethan suffered in his marriage because Zeena gave him no love or intimacy. Ethan has many matriarchal responsibilities that prevent him from finding happiness with the woman he loves. Ethan feels financially obligated to Zeena because of gender differences and social norms. Ethan knows Zeena depends on him financially, therefore he cannot abandon her. Another obstacle for Ethan is his inability to break social customs. Ethan would not care of breaking social customs in todays world. Lionel Trilling believes Ethan is trapped when he must choose between his habituated duty to his wife and his duty and inclination to the girl he loves (45). Ethans life would have more me aning if he lived in todays modern world. Ethan would not feel forced to live with a woman he does not love. Ethan would have the opportunity of meeting someone who gives him passion and tranquility. Ethan never has tranquility with Zeena because she always finds a way to make his life miserable. Ethan feels socially obligated toward Zeena. Another reason for Ethans miserable marriage is his silence. Ethan is always silent and never expresses his feeling to Zeena. Ethans financial status would also be different in todays world because Ethan would have a degree in engineering, which was one of his dreams. Ethans social life would be better because, life is not isolated like in the nineteenth century. It seems clear that the cause of Ethans isolation is the environment. Ethans house is described as being one of those lonely New England farmhouses that make the landscape seem even lonelier (Wharton 8). The houses in rural New England describe the lives of the citizens. People today interact with one another every day. Ethan always dreamed of living in a big city with big libraries, he could have fulfilled his dreams in todays world. Life during the nineteenth century was very hard because of isolation, gender roles, and responsibilities. Ethan and Zeena would be stable financially and socially because life today is extremely different from the nineteenth century. Ethan and Zeenas marriage was deteriorated because of the environment and social customs during their lifetime. People today must feel lucky to have all the luxuries such as cars and telephones that did not exist during Ethans life.

Anomalies are Not Always Wrong :: Transexual Transvestite Essays

Anomalies are Not Always Wrong Transsexualism, as well as transvestism, has had a long yet obscure history. Bryan Tully in Accounting for Transsexualism and Transhomosexuality writes, "In Antiquity, Hippocrates considered transvestism in men to be an illness sent by the Gods" (1). His comments indicate how long transvestism has existed and been recognized. Tully also explains that the first report of transsexualism in medical history took place around 1853, yet neither transsexualism nor transvestism were scientifically researched until after the Second World War. Around the 1950's the most famous account of transsexualism, meaning an actual operation, occurred when a Danish man named George Jorgensen was surgically castrated to make him "feel" more like a woman. He also got his name changed to Christine Jorgensen. By using these accounts, it can be understood that these are not "new" fads, but true dilemmas that have their own history. Transsexualism and transvestism are variations from society's views of "normal" sexual behavior. These variations of the norm are explained as being disorders and are almost exclusively found in men. Transvestism is the activity of cross-dressing for sexual arousal from that specific object, whether it be clothing, shoes, or what. This can simply be called a fetish. The reasoning behind the few cases reported of female transvestism is explained in the following statement. "The culture apparently permits a greater range of fashion to women. The male transvestite wears female undergarments and uses makeup to achieve a female appearance" (Feinbloom 17). The only reason transvestites do not cross-dress for is to "transform themselves temporarily into an entity that more closely matches their own identity" (Brown 36). This is a description of why a transsexual would cross-dress. This is the difference between transvestites and transsexuals. Transvestites feel that their assigned gender is "correct" for them, and transsexuals do not feel that theirs is necessarily "correct". This mind and body incongruity of the transsexual has also been recently referred to as gender identity disorder (GID). Male cross-dressing can be divided into three groups: homosexual (attracted to the same sex) transvestites, heterosexual (attracted to the opposite sex) transvestites, and bisexual (attracted to both sexes) transvestites. Homosexual transvestites dress for egotistical reasons or to be sexually attractive to other men. Heterosexual transvestites are compulsive cross-dressers. In the beginning their cross-dressing is purely for erotic purposes. "To use as a measure of the sources of genital pleasure and self-identity, both the homosexual and heterosexual male transvestite see themselves as male and would be most uncomfortable at the thought of sex-reassignment surgery" (Feinbloom 18). Anomalies are Not Always Wrong :: Transexual Transvestite Essays Anomalies are Not Always Wrong Transsexualism, as well as transvestism, has had a long yet obscure history. Bryan Tully in Accounting for Transsexualism and Transhomosexuality writes, "In Antiquity, Hippocrates considered transvestism in men to be an illness sent by the Gods" (1). His comments indicate how long transvestism has existed and been recognized. Tully also explains that the first report of transsexualism in medical history took place around 1853, yet neither transsexualism nor transvestism were scientifically researched until after the Second World War. Around the 1950's the most famous account of transsexualism, meaning an actual operation, occurred when a Danish man named George Jorgensen was surgically castrated to make him "feel" more like a woman. He also got his name changed to Christine Jorgensen. By using these accounts, it can be understood that these are not "new" fads, but true dilemmas that have their own history. Transsexualism and transvestism are variations from society's views of "normal" sexual behavior. These variations of the norm are explained as being disorders and are almost exclusively found in men. Transvestism is the activity of cross-dressing for sexual arousal from that specific object, whether it be clothing, shoes, or what. This can simply be called a fetish. The reasoning behind the few cases reported of female transvestism is explained in the following statement. "The culture apparently permits a greater range of fashion to women. The male transvestite wears female undergarments and uses makeup to achieve a female appearance" (Feinbloom 17). The only reason transvestites do not cross-dress for is to "transform themselves temporarily into an entity that more closely matches their own identity" (Brown 36). This is a description of why a transsexual would cross-dress. This is the difference between transvestites and transsexuals. Transvestites feel that their assigned gender is "correct" for them, and transsexuals do not feel that theirs is necessarily "correct". This mind and body incongruity of the transsexual has also been recently referred to as gender identity disorder (GID). Male cross-dressing can be divided into three groups: homosexual (attracted to the same sex) transvestites, heterosexual (attracted to the opposite sex) transvestites, and bisexual (attracted to both sexes) transvestites. Homosexual transvestites dress for egotistical reasons or to be sexually attractive to other men. Heterosexual transvestites are compulsive cross-dressers. In the beginning their cross-dressing is purely for erotic purposes. "To use as a measure of the sources of genital pleasure and self-identity, both the homosexual and heterosexual male transvestite see themselves as male and would be most uncomfortable at the thought of sex-reassignment surgery" (Feinbloom 18).