Gender Issues within Fairy Tales Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research

Gender Issues within Fairy Tales    Why is it that in a time when women were considered an inferior gender, they would become the main characters in fairy tales? One reason could be that fairy tales are one of the few genres created by women. The fairy tale originates in the seventeenth century when aristocratic women would gather in salons and play a game of who could make up the best story. This gave women a chance "to demonstrate their intelligence and education," and "to picture themselves, social manners, and relations in a manner that represented their interests" (Zipes 20). Many of these oral stories were later published by men, and through the years have been rewritten by men. Perhaps the most popular writers of fairy tales are the brothers Grimm. The women in their renditions are portrayed as either beautiful, tortured women who must find a way out of their situation (usually through the aid of a man) or the woman is the villain who is usually causing the torture for the beautiful woman. The villainous woman is usually a stepmother who embodies "the many faces of maternal evil" (Tatar 140). Also, Tatar states that "instead of functioning as nurturers and providers, cannibalistic female villains withhold food and threaten to turn children into their own source of nourishment, reincorporating them into the bodies that gave birth to them" (140).    This cannibalistic female is seen in tales such as Hansel and Gretel where the old witch lures the children into her house made of candy and tries to cook Hansel for her supper and make Gretel a maid. The female villain, however, is not always a cannibal; "many are experts in the art of weaving spells: these are the witches and enchantresses." (T... ...ce on adults; which I had never thought of because they are so marketed to children. During the Vietnam War students turned to "fairy tales as a revolt against the reality of the Vietnam War and the rationalizations of the so-called military-industrial complex that the younger generation could not trust" (Oxford XXX). Mainly through my research I regained my love for fairy tales because I could see the good side of them as well as the bad. Works Cited Luthi, Max. Once Upon a Time On the Nature of Fairy Tales. NY: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1970. Tatar, Maria. The Hard Facts of the Grimms' Fairy Tales. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1987. Zipes, Jack. Fairy Tale as Myth: Myth as Fairy Tale. Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky, 1994. Zipes, Jack ed. The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales. NY: Oxford University Press, 2000.

Dialogue “Modern Attitude to Love and Marriage” Essay

* Hi, Lucy! Do you know Johnny and I are getting married? * Oh, great! I think it’s about time. You have been living together for†¦for†¦ * For 6 years. * Yes, for 6 years already. I’m so happy for you, Sarah! * And I’m so happy for myself too! * And are you going to have a gorgeous wedding ceremony? * No, Johnny and I are going to register our marriage at the Registry Office. No wedding ceremony, no veil and no bridesmaids. * I got it. But how could you force Johnny to marry you? I know he is supporter of free love. * Yes, but as you’ve said before we have been living for 6 years already. He is used to my wishes and I’m used to his habits. And after all he has steadied down. * It means that he’s not such philanderer as before, isn’t he? * I’m not sure but I hope. * Well, he is from the ‘90s generation. And I think it’s the reason for all problems. * But the same I can say about you and about me. We belong to this generation too. * Yes, but you know that men are more light-minded in relations than women. Moreover, they are more inclined to be unfaithful. And talking about the ‘90s generation†¦well, I reckon it’s the most immoral and dissolute generation. * Partly you’re right. Fidelity means nothing nowadays. But at the same time you have more freedom. For example, sex doesn’t necessarily involve marriage. * You do see it, it’s better for men again. You know the majority of men don’t need the wedlock at all; they are completely content to be free and to have sex with anybody. But women are more serious in relations, that’s why all of them still want to be married by thirty years. * Yes, you’re right of course. But anyway there were some advantages as a result of the sexual revolution. For example you can have sex before marriage; I think it’s a great freedom for everybody. * Well, it’s indisputable. As for me, so I’m quite old-fashioned person. You know I want absolute faithfulness in my relationship. It’s very important for me when my partner and I can talk with each other, and it’s even insulting when my boyfriend fools around with anybody else. * I see. But I don’t share your point of view. I’m sure it’s necessarily to give some freedom to your husband. You stake your  partner by limiting his freedom so strictly. Loving a person means allowing him to be himself. * Maybe you’re right. In any case I consider that a steady relationship is based on trust, understanding and faithfulness. * Well, I won’t make you change your mind. But if you, suspicious of your husband unfaithfulness, keep complaining, weeping and nagging, I can assure you your spouse will commit adultery with more probability. * I’m with you here. Now I want to ask you about your future life with Johnnie. Have you decided already where you would live? * Don’t you know that he has his own apartment? * Really? It’s awesome!  * Yes, he is a very independent, self-made man. I’m so proud of him! * Yes, young people stand on their two feet earlier today than they did in the past. I believe that’s great. * That’s where you’re right! I reckon that young people should think about marriage only after they have become independent of their parents. * As for women, so I’m sure they have to complete their education, build labor force skills and develop career interests before getting married. * Too true. Actually it’s normal for the modern world, especially for urbanized countries that people postpone marriage in order to build a career and make a fortune. * Unfortunately, there is the other side of the coin. These career interests may, in turn, motivate women to limit family size. That’s why we have such a low birth rate in all developed countries. * Oh, I agree entirely. It’s too bad. Oh, I can’t help worrying about our living together! * Calm down and don’t talk nonsense. You have been living for 6 years and now you’re worrying! * Yes, but it wasn’t a wedlock, but only a cohabitation. * Don’t worry! I think people should get know each other well before getting married. And I believe your marriage will be successful and strong. * So do I. But anyway I’m afraid that all these mere formalities and papers will spoil our relations. * If you really love each other then there is nothing to worry about. Sarah, when are you going to have a baby? Have you discussed already this question with Johnnie? * Oh, I’m so happy that I have Johnnie! He is just an ideal man. Besides, he adores kids. He wants to have a big family. Can you imagine he wants to have four children, two girls and two boys! * And what about you? You know childbearing spoils a  figure. Do you want to put on weight and have cellulite? * Oh, I think it’s very silly to think about such trifles of life. You have only one life and I’m sure you should devote your life to children. I’ve had enough time for living it up. Now I’m almost 27 and I want to give all my love to my children and my husband. * I see. It’s such a wise decision. But as for me, so I wouldn’t want to have so many kids. It will be enough to have only two children. But also I’d like to adopt an orphan child. * Really? It’s very brave of you. * Yes, I really want to love and raise a child, which was deprived of motherly love. And what’s your parents’ attitude to your forthcoming marriage. * You know my mom considers immoral to live with the man under the same roof if he’s not your husband. And my father is the opponent of the common-law marriage. * So they must be really delighted with this news.

Social Work Interventions Free Essay Example, 3750 words

The social work intervention in the situation of Ruksana Awan seeks a solution to many problems the hapless disabled people in our society have to face. It is also an opportunity to think about the attitude of society and the government machinery towards these less fortunate people and the effectiveness of care and protection given to them. This particular case of Ruksana Awan who is disabled in many areas deserves special attention and the possible interventions to support her are explained below. The care assessment of Ruksana points to the fact that she receives some degree of care and support from different sources even though not all are adequately executed and not in full favor of Ruksana as an individual who needs special attention. The author of the paper states that a social worker s role in this situation is to establish a professional relationship with these resources such as family, the staff of the institution and her friends and encouraging them to adopt more creative measures in dealing with Ruksana. A better understanding of her condition as a physically and phonologically disabled will definitely assist the helping people in providing quality care to Ruksana. We will write a custom essay sample on Social Work Interventions or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page