Annotated Bibliography Report
By: Marissa Kuroda
Spring 2003 – Generation 18
Dr.
Leon James, Instructor
Instructions
for this report can be accessed here
Introduction
The
following report focuses on a range of things from television & sexism,
conflicts of adolescent girls, sexist jokes & men, and even the effects of
Coca-Cola with Aspirin. I am also going
to discuss a little about the Talents of Successful people and self-efficacy
& optimism.
Research
Television Characters & Sexism
Introduction:
There are characters portrayed on television that may seem sexist. TV programs should incorporate more females being the positive lead roles to decrease sexism in the media.
Stages in Search
Development:
In doing research for this topic, I used www.google.com
as my search engine. I typed in the
words ‘television characters and sexism’ as my search words. I found several good articles relating to
this topic. http://www.bluedojo.cm/papers/sexism/
Findings:
I
found that not only can culture affect television, but television can also
affect our culture. We can learn to alter our culture to change the thinking of
the people our society. The reason why sexist shows even exist is because there
still seems to be a demand for them. Sexist shows are dominated by male characters.
There is little improvement in the past few years with movies such as
'Charlie's Angels' and other movies that portray women just as heroic and
strong as men. There are also some TV programs such as 'Powerpuff girls' and
'TV shows that are incorporating females in positive lead roles that are
helping to create the equilibrium among of males and females. Incorporating
females into positive lead roles will cause some changes in society. We need
more nonsexist TV programs and movies. We need less of 'Howard Stern', 'Who
Wants to Marry a Millionaire', and those TV shows that portray women as being
weak, battered, abused, and bored housewives. It's the year 2003 and yet
television shows and movies still need more improvement on creating a sense of
equality among males and females. In this research, I used the online article
"Sexism and Culture in Television" by Jim Winn.
Conclusion:
With
more TV shows that incorporates females in positive leads, this will lead to
cause some changes in society. TV shows
should not portray women as being weak and submissive, but it should display
women as being just as strong and heroic as men.
Advice to future
generations:
My
advice to the women and men in future generations is to be more aware of sexist
TV shows and the hidden message those shows are trying to convey.
Conflicts of Teenage Girls
Introduction:
Teenage girls experience conflicts from body image disorders, attitude changes, eating disorders, and other conflicts dealing with their true selves vs. false selves. Teenage girls need to learn to overcome these problems by seeking to find themselves and learning to be comfortable in their own skins.
Stages in Search Development:
I used www.google.com for my search engine. I didn’t encounter any problems during my search engine. I typed in ‘conflict of teenage girls’ as my search words. I came across several good sites and one in particular http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/nowread/apr01/
Findings:
In this article, it talks about "Ophelia" who is a Shakespearean character from the play "Hamlet". As an adolescent, Ophelia loses her sense of self. Mary Pipher who is the author of the book "Reviving Ophelia" quotes that "During adolescence, girls lose themselves." There is a conflict between the true self and the false self. Culture plays a big part of the conflicts that young women face today. Many teenage girls are or had experienced depression, eating disorders, body image disorders, and attitude changes such as rebelling against parents/authority figures. I think that teenage girls experience conflicts in order to really find out who they are and will become. When these conflicts go away or are resolved, it enables these teenage girls to be stronger.
Conclusion:
Teenage girls go through a lot because they are in a transitional stage in becoming women. Teenage girls not only have to deal with puberty, but other issues such as eating and body disorders because of the pressure for women to be thin. Young girls are in the process of finding out who they really are.
Advice to future generations:
If you know of any teenage girls who are currently experiencing the crisis of identifying who they are, you may want to help them by encouraging them to stay on the right path in life. Sometimes they may stray and go off onto the wrong path.
Sexist Jokes & Men
Introduction:
Sexist
jokes are not appropriate when its used to be demeaning. Telling sexist jokes should not be targeted
towards a specific group. Sexist jokes
may lead to ignorance and violence against women. If the sole purpose of sexist jokes was for entertainment, then
the one who is telling the sexist joke must make sure that the other person
will not take offense to it.
Stages of Search
Development:
In this search, I specifically
looked for the reasons why men enjoy sexist jokes. I used the search term
reasons+men and sexist jokes. I didn't encounter any problems with this search. I used www.google.com for this search.
http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/5819/menstop3.html
Findings:
In
this short article, I found that Men who tell sexist jokes are trying to build
themselves up at the women's expense. Many sexist jokes are targeted to women
or in some situations gay men. Sexist jokes cause pain and even violence among
women and gay men. In this situation, I don't agree with supporting sexist
jokes. If the sole purpose of sexist jokes were to entertain, then it would be
OK. Unfortunately sexist jokes may give rapists or sadist men out there
inspiration and motivation to rape women or abuse them. In this case....quoted
from the article: "We don't need a laugh at that cost."
Conclusion:
Sexist jokes are meant
usually for entertainment, but there are also people who tell sexist jokes as a
way to demean others. When sexist jokes
are targeted toward a specific group, then that is wrong. In the case of violence or rape, sexist
jokes should not be an inspiration to be the motivation of abuse of any kind.
Advice to future
generations:
We must learn to recognize
when and when it’s not appropriate for sexist jokes. Sexist jokes may carry a heavy price to promote abuse or
violence. In the case of promoting
violence or abuse, we should definitely refrain from it.
Painkiller Combination
Introduction:
The combining of coca-cola and aspirin is not scientifically proven to get you high. There is no scientific evidence to support this claim, but some may say that this combination of coca-cola and aspirin may work. Whatever it is, it’s an urban legend.
Stages of Search Development:
In this search I looked for the affects of combining Coca-Cola with aspirin. I used the search words Coca-Cola + Aspirin. I used www.google.com for my search. I came upon this web site that I thought was pretty good. I didn't encounter any problems with my search today.
http://snopes.com/cokelore/aspirin.asp
Findings:
In this article, combining Coca-Cola and aspirin will not get you high. There are several myths or urban legends about the effects of Coca-Cola and aspirin. Some people believe it's an aphrodisiac, a great way to get high, could cause instant death, and/or it cures headaches. No other products will do, it is always Coca-Cola and the aspirin. No other soft drink or medication will do. These beliefs have been around for decades. High school students usually spread these myths. There has been incidents in which some girls in the U.S. kept an eye on their coke drinks fearing that someone might slip aspirin into their drinks making them fall weak and prey.
Other kids believed that downing aspirin and cokes will make them lightheaded and silly. The teen years are a time of experimentation. Everything seems to be a mystery, so they seem to fall for myths. A teen is enchanted by the notion of getting high from combining Coke and aspirin. What is a benefit of combining Coke and aspirin is that Coke helps rehydrate an alcohol-dried body, and aspirin eases the physical suffering of a pounding head. When served together, it seems to have a greater pain-killing effect
Conclusion:
There are many urban legends. Some are believable and some are not, but we must pay attention in not being too gullable. Some urban legends are very popular and we may not even know how it got started. We must be careful because some urban legends may also be true. Curiosity may sometimes kill the cat. What if the combination of coca-cola and aspirin was something else like coca-cola and cocaine?
Advice to future generations:
We must be smart in not believing every urban legend out there. There are tons of them, but we must learn not to believe in all of them.
Talents to Success
Introduction:
Everyone has their own talents to success. One’s success is subjective to what he/she deems as successful. Being able to take on challenges with an optimistic outlook is a great talent to success.
Stages of Search Development:
I was searching for the secrets
to successful people. I used talents of successful people as my search words on
www.google.com .I didn't encounter any
problems during my search.
http://www.minorityaffairs.com/articles.htm
Findings:
Success is about improving the things you do and always accepting greater challenges in life. Attitude and persistence will lead to success. Everyone can be successful, they just need to learn how to acquire the traits needed to be successful. There are 10 keys to success: 1. Ambition - Successful people have pride, commitment, and self-discipline. 2. Focus - Concentrate on goals and objectives, being productive and not distracted. 3. Motivation/accomplishment - Being proactive and achieving results, not excuses. 4. Experience - Use skills, talents to the fullest extent possible. Do things because it needs to be done. 5. Opportunity - look for opportunities and seize them. 6. Make decisions - Think about the issues & facts, and the consider to make a decision. 7. Accepting mistakes - Admit it, fix it, and move on! 8. Being self-reliant - Successful people don't let anything slow them down. 9. Sending the right message - Successful people often cooperate with others and are positive and out-going. They surround themselves with supportive people who offer support and encouragement. 10. Enthusiasm - being excited and passionate about what you are doing.
Conclusion:
We must learn from other why they are successful in being in
successful. Sometimes by observing
others behaviors, we may learn a lot to what attributes they have in becoming
successful. We must also take into account
that we may all have different ways in reaching our success.
Advice to future
generations:
Challenge yourself and find your strengths and weaknesses. Recognize what your strengths are and use it
to your advantage. Don’t ever be
discouraged in attaining your goals.
Optimism & Self-efficacy
Introduction:
Optimism and
self-efficacy goes hand in hand. When
you are optimistic, then you should have a better self-efficacy of
yourself.
Stages of Search
Development:
In this research, I used www.google.com . I didn't encounter any problems during my search. I used the search words self-efficacy+optimism for my search.
http://www.css.edu/users/dswenson/web/OB/attributionth.html
Findings:
In my search, it talks about an internal locus of control and an external locus of control for self-efficacy. It also talks about the development of self-efficacy. People with an external locus of control may believe that successes or failures come from luck, chance, or fate. People with an internal locus of control may believe that their success is attributed to themselves. People with an external locus of control also tend to have more of a negative outlook in life with an emotional instability vs. people with an internal locus of control who are more optimistic, independent, and motivated. A high sense of self-efficacy will lead to higher levels of aspirations in life. People with self-efficacy will want to take on tasks as challenges and they persevere to get the job done. You can learn to acquire to have self-efficacy by role modeling, verbal persuasion (moral support and encouragement), and physiological arousal (anxiety vs. comfort). This search sort of ties in with the Talents of Successful people discussion. To be successful, one must learn how to have self-efficacy and be optimistic.
Conclusion:
The key here is believing in yourself. I think that almost nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself. Believing in yourself may cause more positive outcomes for yourself. When you are being optimistic, good things should more easily come your way.
Advice to future
generations:
Keep in mind that there are other factors that attribute to success such as one’s environment and individual personality.
Overall Conclusion
This
report made me realize more about the reality of sexism on television shows and
the media. It made me more aware of
sexism in real life as well. I also
learned why it is so hard being an adolescent female. I went through it once and I will never want to relive my teen
years again! I also learned something new about the painkiller combination of
Coca-Cola and aspirin. Last but not
least, I learned about the talents of successful people and self-efficacy and
optimism.
References
http://www.bluedojo.cm/papers/sexism/
http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/nowread/apr01/
http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/5819/menstop3.html
http://snopes.com/cokelore/aspirin.asp
http://www.minorityaffairs.com/articles.htm
http://www.css.edu/users/dswenson/web/OB/attributionth.html