Fascinating Tidbits about Female Bodies from GROSS ANATOMY

Fascinating Tidbits about Female Bodies from GROSS ANATOMY Women are socialized into having a fraught relationship with our bodies: forever scrutinizing, shaming, and sucking it in (or sticking it out). What makes a spate of new nonfiction books so refreshing is the gleeful way they lean into the female body’s complexity, warts and all. The emphasis is in fact on the warts in these entertaining books: Samantha Irby’s We Are Never Meeting in Real Life, a frank and humorous essay collection that includes plenty of Irby’s signature poop talk Tallulah Pomeroy’s A Girl’s Guide to Personal Hygiene, an illustrated collection of hygiene-related confessions from anonymous internet commenters Aline Kominsky-Crumb’s Love That Bunch, a compilation of autobiographical  comics from a pioneering gross-out cartoonist   Then there’s Mara Altman’s Gross Anatomy: Dispatches from the Front (and Back). Gross Anatomy is a breezy text stuffed with jokes, personal anecdotes, and fascinating facts. This memoir-esque approach is endearing but has its problems, as it narrows the perspective. For instance, the chapter on sex noises is distractingly heteronormative. It doesn’t express any curiosity about nonâ€"penis-in-vagina sex (or even why there would be such a gendered difference in the “copulatory vocalizations” American women are socialized into making, yet American men are socialized into suppressing). The book is also extremely western-focused. It talks about menstruation, for instance, as a culturally defined problem in European and European-descended cultures. But menstruation remains a more extreme taboo in certain non-western traditions, sometimes mandating the physical isolation of a woman on her period. Gross Anatomy is full of an appealing curiosity, but this curiosity generally only extends as far as Altman’s own environment. Even with these quibbles, the book is chock-full of interesting information and quotes from an impressive number of researchers. Here are some of Gross Anatomy’s more WTF moments: American women in the first half of the 20th century went to X-ray epilation clinics to remove their body hair, even after this practice was banned in 1940. Altman writes, “Many women suffered gruesome disfigurement, scarring, ulceration, cancer, and death, all because of the extreme pressure to become hairless. The women who were adversely affected were dubbed the North American Hiroshima Maidens, named after the women who suffered radiation poisoning after the nuclear bombs hit Japan in World War II.” Since 2000, the popularity of Brazilian waxes and smooth genitals among women has led to a massive reduction in pubic lice. Pubic hairs are the homes and transport systems of pubic lice, better known as crabs, in their two- to three-week lives. We humans find it really hard to see ourselves accurately. One study by a University of Chicago researcher involved taking photos of people and changing them into more attractive and less attractive versions. When the research subjects looked at the photos of themselves, most thought that the altered-to-be-hotter photos were the genuine ones. The Kama Sutra contains this gem of a sentence: “Cries like those of doves, cuckoos, green pigeons, parrots, bees, moorhens, geese, ducks, and quails are important options for use in moaning.” This is quoted in a chapter of Gross Anatomy on sex noises, which also notes that yellow baboons make the exact same noises during sex as they do during defecation. Altman writes: “When I feel bad about something â€" like the woes of having a large belly button â€" I often think about Demodex folliculorum, a type of mite that lives on our foreheads. At night, it has sex on our faces. The microscopic beasts don’t have an anus, so when they fill up to capacity, they explode. Your face is a literal shitstorm. Somehow that puts whatever issue I’m having back into perspective.” Ancient Greeks believed that menstruation was a crucial means of releasing blood, and that women would die without this release. So late periods were a concern. One way to kickstart some healthy bleeding was removing the toxic parts of poisonous beetles, stuffing them in wool, and sticking them into the vaginal canal, which would make a woman scratch until she bled. Sign up for True Story to receive nonfiction news, new releases, and must-read forthcoming titles. Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox.

Comparing Constructivist and Direct Theories of Visual...

Comparing Constructivist and Direct Theories of Visual Perception Two of the main theories of visual perception are constructivist and direct. Gregory is associated with the constructivist theory, while Gibson supports the direct theory. The both theories differ in their explanation of perception, however there are some aspects that relate them. Gregorys theory is a top down theory of perception, in the sense that he considers prior knowledge and experience to be crucially important in making sense of what we see. Perception is not determined simply by stimulus patterns. Rather, it is a dynamic searching for the best interpretation of the available data..... which involves going beyond†¦show more content†¦He says that even a minimal amount of bottom up data can produce detailed hypothesises, which is shown in Johanssons study in 1975, whereby in darkness, just a few lights attached to a moving person evoke clear perceptions of people walking or dancing. However, Gregorys theory is questioned by many. For example, if perception is essentially constructive, then how does it gets started and why is there such commonality among the perceptions of different people, all of whom have had to construct their own idiosyncratic worlds. Also, given that perception is typically accurate, it seems unlikely that our retinal im ages are really as ambiguous and lacking in detail as Gregory suggests. Gibson disagrees with Gregorys theory, Gibson, in his theory describes perception as being all direct, he doesnt think that there is any need to use prior knowledge to make sense of things that we look at. Gibson argued that the cognitive input theories of perception, which stated that perception depended on prior knowledge, were only relevant for artificial laboratory situations where the available stimuli was very limited. Naturally, in those situations people would have to use guesswork or prior information to work out what they were looking at. 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Through outlining each theory and describing the research, a better understanding will be gained in how each can be applied within a primary classroom. Within the sociocultural theory of development lies terms which will be discussed and critiqued in regards to education. The main terms which will be reviewed are the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD),Read MoreMetz Film Language a Semiotics of the Cinema PDF100902 Words   |  316 PagesA Note on Terminology The special terminology of European semiotics and structural linguistics may be unfamiliar to many American readers. It is impossible to give full definitions of all the terms that occur in this book without discussing the theories behind them at considerable length. It is hoped, simply, that the following explanations will give the reader a basic orientation. 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These innovations allowed Dell to build its computer business volume and success by blindsiding the industry’s existing marketing, production, and retailing practices. IBM’s approach to emphasizing

The Health Belief Model And The Theory Of Planned Behaviour

When considering health psychology it is important to recognise the various models it is made up of. The basis of this essay will be to take a look at the health belief model and the theory of planned behaviour, considering their historical origins, the positives and negatives of applying these approaches and examples of when they have been used. After some analysis it may offer some insight into possible improvements that could be implemented from further research. Also included will be an overview of how the models compare to each other and critical evaluation of research from this field. Conner and Norman, 1995 describe the health belief model as ‘the oldest and most widely used model in health psychology’. It originated in the 50’s and was developed further by Hochbaum, Rosenstock and Kegals throughout the 1980’s for health education programmes and to predict different health behaviours and responses to treatments. The four terms that are the basis for the HBM are perceived susceptibility, perceived barriers, perceived severity and perceived benefits. The behaviour of the individual depends on their belief that they are susceptible to a health problem, how serious they deem it to be, whether they think that treatment will benefit them and if there are barriers that may get in the way. Although there has been much support for the HBM, there has been two large scale reviews carried out on studies using the HBM and Abraham and Sheeran (2005) reported that although theyShow MoreRelatedHealth Belief Model1640 Words   |  7 Pagesadvantages and disadvantages of the Health Belief Model in explaining Health-related behaviour. Although the importance of preventive health cares, many people do not behave in a manner that will look after their own health. 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Strengths and weakness will be coveredRead MoreMotivations for Young People to Engage in the MLM-Business Vemma2614 Words   |  10 Pagesthis phenomenon to Ajzens Theory of Reasoned Action and Planned Behaviour. Firstly, in order to apply this phenomenon to the theory, the general framework needs to be explained. The general concepts of the given theory will be explained. Following, the actual theory of Reasoned Action/Planned Behaviour will be further clarified. At last, an attempt will be made to apply the model to the described phenomenon by applying the three main antecedents of the general theory. Throughout this report, I

Brought to Bed by Judith Leavitt Free Essays

Two Hundred years of American history of childbirth has been fairly, thoroughly and sensitively examined by Leavitt. The main argument she focuses on in the book is the shrewd common commencement of giving birth to a child. This phenomenon is not only a natural event but an important part in the common description of womanhood. We will write a custom essay sample on Brought to Bed by Judith Leavitt or any similar topic only for you Order Now In the Past, natural differences have been preserved in the sexual dissection of labor. The communal globe resolutely given to men, being a mother is the center of women’s survival with giving birth to a baby her most appreciated work. The emphasis of Leavitt is on the childbearing centrality to women living her life which guides her to center on the altering personality of giving birth and the relationship a women has to it. The story of Leavitt clarifies from the viewpoint of women giving birth and also of the medical occupation. Cautiously and creatively, she discloses the attractive interaction between the different damage of common and medical changes have affected the lives of women usually and in particular childbirth. The dialectical association between society and medicine is lit up in the discussion of Leavitt of the entry of a physician into the room where children are born and the means by which women on their own resolute the limit of medical contribution in this customarily area of women. Distant from extension unreceptive losses of their own ecology, for the better part of the era women who gave birth got the emotional power from the normal female’s support systems. In the 1930s childbirth moved permanently to the hospitals, before those women themselves who gave birth were the liveliest causes of alteration in the history of American Childbirth. The preservation of determination of women and traditions of females to form events in their own rooms of childbirth imitated a basic feminist desire. Even though giving birth is the sign of customary womanhood, it was the focal point of the arrangement women constructed to conquer the restrictions of custom and eventually to extend the sphere of females. The use of Leavitt’s confidential writings of women of America maintain her analysis that women had the control in the child birth room and only gave up this authority to the medical occupation after cautious thought of the options. Leavitt’s argument is realistic that medical experts did not come in without an invitation nor they forced their knowledge, their pincers, asepsis or anesthesia on their miserable patients. The middle and upper class American women would comprise the first line of the fresh medical and social development. Therefore they were active in changing birth of a child from a conventional concern of females into a medical occupation where attention is needed of the experts and eventually the patient is hospitalized. The women who gave birth knew about the options they had with respect to medical intrusion and male attendance. Nothing was forced upon them. The feminist viewpoint of this book does not mean to bash a doctor. The author points that physicians in America were largely male and they were very alert of their proposition in the mortality rates and maternal morbidity. They struggled to enhance the technique and training of obstetric for the well being of the infant and mother. As a result the occupation has keenly known a better path which is safe and it allows nature to do its work and unwarranted medical intrusion. The result of any intense was often a tragedy for the family. Regardless of the substantial influence that women had for a long time in the room which children were born, by early 1950s they had given their authority and their support system for birth of a child only amongst strangers. As the author challenges the medical side of child birth involved some decisive achievement and losses. By the middle of the 20th century, childbirth was as safe like never before. For the women of America, the individual cost was a isolation from their own experience of childbirth and a callous of the bonds which had conventionally combined them with all the other mothers. Now the pendulum had turned from a customary childbirth to childbirth as a problem of medical experts. The study of Leavitt confirms that physicians and women should divide the liability for the development of childbirth like we are now used too. According to Leavitt, if more changes are made this will allow women to regain the familiarity. The two hundred years covered by Leavitt and her efforts to believe childbirth from the viewpoint of the medical profession as well as women, the book is amazingly logical. As normally the case is the approach loans itself to recurrence of arguments, instances and also quotes but these are small arguments. More significantly, like all the other ground breaking analyses, this one raises a bit of debatable questions. One can be that, given the undividable life of infant and maternal transience, a bit more thought of the childbirth impact on its final creation would have been valuable. As many women faced the tragedy of losing a child either during or after birth, some would face this tragedy more than once in her life; this seems to be one of the emotional sides of childbirth which requires more expansion. The accessibility of different basis has also prohibited any but transient thought to the familiarity to the women in the working class, who had a lesser choices when giving birth. How can these sorts of women sense the rising violation of medication in the childbirth room? Do they have the same kind of luxury network that upper and middle class women have? Did they eagerly pursue their luckier sister to the hospital? Even though the author cannot be held responsible for setting up limits on her complete study, these questions can make up an exciting follow to her book. However Brought to Bed is an astonishing donation to the women history and also of medicines. It does really tell about the transfer from a self done childbirth to a childbirth done medically. Reference page †¢ Judith Walzer Leavitt (1988) Brought to Bed: Childbearing in America, 1750-1950. Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA How to cite Brought to Bed by Judith Leavitt, Papers

Kate Chopin Essays (2418 words) - American Women In Business

Kate Chopin Kate Chopin is a brilliant writer. Her writing career is during the late 1800's. She lives in a time where women are sexually suppressed and their opinions are not valued. Her writing holds more in common with our time than the time just after the Civil War. Although her life was full of death, she still lived as happy a life as she could by writing in such a bold and daring way. Kate Chopin was born as Catherine O'Flaherty. She was born July 12, 1850. She is the daughter of Thomas and Eliza O'Flaherty. Kate's father, Thomas O'Flaherty, was born in Ireland in 1805. He came to the United States in 1823. In 1825 he became a merchant in St. Louis. In 1855 he died suddenly in a train wreck when she was only four. His sudden death pushed all his family into new relationships with each other and the world. Thomas' first wife, Catherine de Reilhe, married Thomas in 1839. She was a French-Creole girl, who died after giving birth to their son, George. In 1844, Thomas married Eliza Faris. They had three children together: Jane, who died at childbirth; Thomas Jr.; and Catherine, who we know as Kate Chopin. After the father's death, Eliza had to cope with being a widow. Kate's childhood consisted of a widowed mother, and a widowed great-grandmother. As a child, Kate experienced many deaths. She became emotionally close to her half brother George O'Flaherty. George was a Confederate solider during the Civil War and died from typhoid fever after being released from prison in 1862. After her father and brother's death, Kate seemed to have collapsed. She became faintly ill, and it took her two to three years to recover the traumatizing events of her childhood. These events changed her permanently which made her very wary. Kate's great-grandmother, Madame Charleville, taught her French. In fact, that was the only thing she would speak around Kate. Madame Charleville would tell Kate stories about the French. Giving Kate a history lesson about how the French founded the city along the banks of the Mississippi. Some of these stories were false, but Kate didn't know the difference. They were just, ?being no more than the scandals of another day? (Magill 205). In the end, Kate received an altogether unconventional education from her great-grandmother. Kate began a more conventional education at the Madames of the Sacred Heart Convent in 1860. There, the nuns taught her discipline and a respectable academic curriculum. Kate also along with English, learned French literature as well. Kate began to play the piano at an early age. ?Kitty Garesche recalls Kate being an accomplished pianist with an exceptional musical memory? (Baechler 68). Kate began her music with her great-grandmother supervising her piano playing. The great-grandmother would sit patiently with Kate as she practiced her scales. She done this to teach her the importance of discipline and technique. During her schooling with the Madames of the Sacred Heart, the nuns encouraged Kate to continue with her piano playing. ?By the time she reached adolescence, Kate O'Flaherty was an accomplished musician? (Unger 205). ?In June 1868, Kate graduated from the St. Louis Academy of the Sacred Heart. She then plunged into the fashionable life, and for two years she was?'One of he acknowledged belles of St. Louis'? (Skaggs 2). After Kate's graduation, she emerged from the dark period of her brother's death, Kate became a popular young woman. In 1869 she began to smoke, which is highly unusual for a woman in those days. ?For two years Kate lived a life of an attractive girl in the ?high society' (of French Origin) in which her mother moved? (Kunitz 150). She was greatly fascinated by all the varieties of people she met in New Orleans.?She met aristocratic Creoles, unpretentious Cajuns (or Acadian: French pioneers who in 1755 had chosen to leave Nova Scotia rather than live under the British), Redbones (part Indian, part white), ?Free Mulattoes' (so called because they had never been slaves), blacks, and a cosmopolitan assortment of Germans, Italians, Irish, and Americans? (Baechler 68). Kate would sometimes roam the city unaccompanied. She had a liking to take a streetcar or just simply walk on foot. There in New

Autism, Asperger Syndrome (AS), and Pervasive Developmental Disorder †Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) Essay Example

Autism, Asperger Syndrome (AS), and Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD Autism, Asperger Syndrome (AS), and Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) Essay Autism, Asperger Syndrome (AS), and Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) Essay Autism, Asperger Syndrome (AS), and Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and PDD-NOS are all kinds of mind disorders. Mind disorders are illnesses in which the normal function of the mind is hindered by some reason, depending on the illness. They disrupt daily activities and may at some point turn a person into a dysfunctional individual. Although these illnesses all occur in the brain, all possess characteristics that distinguish one from the other. Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and PDD-NOS are all mental disorders which have symptoms that identify each accordingly. Autism   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Autism is a disorder which affects all the mental developments. Unlike Asperger Syndrome and PDD-NOS, autism’s symptoms and characteristics that a patient exemplifies may vary depending on the age. Due to this characteristic as well, the only means to recognize autism immediately is by comparing a patient’s action and comprehension to the typical ways of thinking of a person of the same age as the patient. When a person’s brain functions do not tally with the typical brain functions and development of people in the same age bracket, autism disorder may be diagnosed (Frith, 2003).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   People with autistic disorder may be distinguished from those with Asperger Syndrome as the latter does not have significant delay in language development. An autistic person also has a hard time comprehending the actions and words of other people interacting with them. Autism also has symptoms similar to PDD-NOS (First, Frances, Pincus, 2002). Asperger Syndrome Disorder   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Compared to autism, Asperger syndrome is considered as milder. It also hinders normal brain functions, but unlike autism, Asperger does not cause as much dysfunctionality as autism. As stated earlier, it does not significantly delay the language development of a person. However, people with Asperger also have difficulty in speaking. Mostly, inflection and repetition occurs. Another one of its characteristics is that most patients of the disorder isolate themselves from society and they are more eccentric than usual. In other countries, Asperger is considered as another name for PDD-NOS (First et al., 2002). PDD-NOS   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   PDD-NOS or Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified is a condition in which some characteristics of autism is exhibited. In the fourth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) (2002), a person is diagnosed with PDD-NOS only if the full symptoms or features of autism are not met. This suggests that, like Asperger, PDD-NOS is similar to autism. It is also a developmental disorder. It has no direct and distinguishing feature. The patients suffering from this disorder also have a hard time socializing with others. Communication is also difficult for them. They are also hypersensitive. However, like Asperger, PDD-NOS may be regarded as a milder form of autism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   From the given characteristics for each illness, it may be found that the three given disorders are quite similar. They only vary from each other in terms of the severity of the non-development of the brain and the dysfunctionality each disorder causes to the person suffering from it. Autism may be considered as the worst among the three. It causes severely impaired social interaction and speech disorder. Unlike Asperger and PDD-NOS, autism greatly delays the brain development. On the other hand, Asperger syndrome does not cause a significant delay in language development. However, socialization is still impaired. This is almost similar to PDD-NOS. It also causes social impairment, but compared to autistic disorder, the impairment is only mild; there still remains hope for better communication and socialization. In addition, PDD-NOS is not commonly diagnosed unless the patient exhibits symptoms that do not qualify as symptoms of autism. Table 1 – Similarities and Differences in the Symptoms of Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and PDD-NOS Autism and Asperger Syndrome Autism and PDD-NOS Asperger Syndrome   and PDD-NOS Symptom Similarities social interaction impairment speech impairment underdeveloped communication skills Brain underdevelopment speech impairment social interaction impairment Milder speech impairment milder impairment of social skills milder communication skills impairment Symptom Differences Autistic patients exhibit worse underdevelopment charcateristics inability to interact is worse speech defects are more pronounced asperger patients have milder communication defects PDD-NOS exhibit speech defect that are milder and brain underdevelopemnt signs are not as pronounced autistic patients have slower comprehension skills Asperger patients tend to repeat and stutter speech defect is more pronounced but not as much as it is with autism PDD-NOS exhibits underdevelopment signs in a milder way References First, M., Frances, A., Pincus, H.A. (2002). DSM-IV-TR Handbook of Differential Diagnosis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Virginia: American Psychiatric Publishing Frith, U. (2003). Autism. New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell

7 Business Buzzwords to Avoid! - Writing Tips with Proofed

7 Business Buzzwords to Avoid! - Writing Tips with Proofed 7 Business Buzzwords to Avoid! Jargon is an inescapable part of business writing and office life in general. But there are certain buzzwords you should avoid unless you want to sound like a corporate clichà ©! Here, then, are seven buzzwords words you might want to avoid for the sake of not driving your colleagues to despair. 1. Thinking Outside the Blue-Sky Box We’ve combined a couple of terms here, but â€Å"thinking outside the box† and â€Å"blue-sky thinking† are both so overused that we need to put them to rest. After all, they’re meant to be demands for innovative thinking, so at least use some imagination when you ask for it! 2. Shoot the Puppy To â€Å"shoot the puppy† is to do something desperate or unpleasant (similar to â€Å"bite the bullet†). And while we agree that shooting a puppy is â€Å"unpleasant,† we really don’t want to picture canine violence when we’re already in a stressful situation! How could you pull the trigger on something this cute? 3. Bio Break Sure, you don’t want to go into detail about your bodily functions in the office. But what was wrong with â€Å"going to the bathroom†? When people say they’re taking a â€Å"bio break,† it sounds like they’re going on an environmentally friendly vacation. And it must stop here. 4. Synergy Does anyone really know what â€Å"synergy† means anymore? It used to have quite a specific meaning: the increased value and performance produced when two companies work together. Nowadays, though, we’re pretty sure people are using it just because it sounds fancier than â€Å"cooperation.† 5. Open the Kimono When we first heard someone offer to â€Å"open the kimono,† we immediately left the office for fear of what was to come. But even if we had known that it means â€Å"share information,† we’d still have made a quick exit, as weird buzzwords scare us almost as much as threats of public nudity. Kimonos are great, but please keep them closed at work. 6. Motivated/Driven Look at any resume and you’ll see people boasting about being â€Å"driven† or â€Å"motivated.† But shouldn’t these be the default? Whatever your job, you should want to do your best! So adding â€Å"motivated† to your resume is a bit like specifying that you’ll be â€Å"awake† or â€Å"breathing† at work. 7. Mindshare Technically, â€Å"mindshare† refers to how much buzz there is around a product or service in the public consciousness. To us, though, â€Å"mindshare† sounds more like the name of a futuristic social network that has been implanted directly into our brains to force us to worship Mark Zuckerberg. Scary stuff. After he gained laser vision, we had to treat him as a god.(Photo: Modified from original by Jason McELweenie) Have we missed an awful buzzword? Or do you want to defend some of the jargon above? Leave us a comment or get in touch to let us know!