The Color Purple (1982) focuses on highlighting Celie’s journey throughout life as an oppressed black woman living in the South in the United States in the early 1900s. Celie is abused mentally, physically, and sexually by her stepfather Alphonso and her husband Mr. _____. This is the oppression she has faced, which holds back her search for her own identity. Black feminism, lesbian feminism and queer theory are explained and used in order to understand how to analyze The Color Purple. Gender performance, compulsory heterosexuality and lesbianism are all important concepts that are used to analyze Celie’s oppression and development. This paper highlights the factors that have aided Celie in her search for selfhood, which are motherhood, female solidarity, black lesbian shamelessness and especially her lesbian relationship with the singer Shug. The analysis concludes that Shug was both the catalyst and one of the driving forces which enabled Celie to find her voice.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this paper was to review the available literature concerning how low-income women experience their heterosexual relationships. Particular attention was paid to the constructs of social support and intimacy which have both been cited as important variables for coping with stress. It was found that, despite there being more stressors associated with poverty, very little research has been conducted on lowincome women. However, when comparing the available literature, there seem to be important differences between low-income and middle-class women's expectations regarding heterosexual relationships. The literature suggests that for low-income women, heterosexual relationships can often be experienced as an additional source of stress, particularly as traditional gender roles playa greater role in expectations regarding the provision of social support. It therefore seems as though some low-income women, in a bid not to submit to traditional role expectations, choose to stay single and strive for financial independence in order to retain power within heterosexual relationships. The need for intimacy was not clearly articulated by low-income women but a desire for a sexually faithful partner was expressed. Although it seemed as though low-income women did not expect social support or intimacy from their male partners, they did articulate other specific expectations. The literature suggested that low-income women could reliably expect sex and the conception of children. from their heterosexual relationships but that their other expectations were often disappointed. However, heterosexual relationships are considered an important means for low-income women to gain status within the community. Finally, the current review of the literature highlighted the considerable overlap between the constructs of social support and intimacy. In conclusion, further research needs to be conducted (particularly in South Africa) in order to determine how low-income women experience their heterosexual relationships. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om 'n oorsig te kry van die beskikbare literatuur oor laeinkomstevroue se ervaring van hulle heteroseksuele verhoudings. Aandag is in die besonder gegee aan die konstrukte van sosiale ondersteuning en intimiteit, wat albei as belangrike veranderlikes tydens die hantering van stres aangedui is. Daar is bevind dat, ondanks die feit dat daar meer stressore is wat met armoede in verband gebring word, baie min navorsing nog oor lae-inkomstevrouegedoen is. Wanneer die beskikbare literatuur egter vergelyk word, lyk dit asof daar belangrike verskille is tussen die verwagtinge wat onderskeidelik laeinkomstevroue en vroue uit die middelklas het ten opsigte van heteroseksuele verhoudinge. Die literatuur voer aan dat lae-inkomstevroue heteroseksuele verhoudings dikwels as 'n addisionele bron van stres beleef, veral aangesien tradisionele geslagsrolle 'n groter rol speel in verwagtinge rondom die verskaffing van sosiale ondersteuning. Dit lyk dus asof sommige lae-inkomstevrouein 'n poging om hulle nie aan tradisionele rolverwagtinge te onderwerp nie, verkies om nie te trou nie, maar om eerder na finansiële onafhanklikheid te streef in 'n poging om die mag in heteroseksueleverhoudings te behou. Die behoefte aan intimiteit is nie duidelik deur lae-inkomstevroue aangedui nie, maar wel 'n behoefte aan 'n enkelvoudige heteroseksuele verhouding. Alhoewel dlt gelyk het asof lae-lokomstevroue nie sosiale ondersteuning of intimiteit van hulle mansvriende verwag het nie, het hulle ander spesifieke verwagtinge genoem. Uit die literatuur wil dit lyk of lae-inkomstevroue met redelike sekerheid seks en die verwekking van kinders van hulle heteroseksuele verhoudings kon verwag, maar dat hulle ander verwagtinge dikwels teleurgestel word. Nogtans word heteroseksuele verhoudings as 'n belangrike manier gesien waarop lae-inkomstevroue status in die gemeenskap kan verkry. Die huidige literatuurstudie belig ook die aansienlike oorvleueling tussen die konstrukte van sosiale ondersteuning en intimiteit. Ten slotte is dit duidelik dat verdere navorsing gedoen moet word (veral in Suid-Afrika) om te bepaal hoe laeinkomstevrouehulle heteroseksueleverhoudings beleef.

The purpose of this qualitative, in-depth interview, study was to understand the experiences of heterosexual male Resident Assistants (RAs) from a gendered perspective taking into account their leadership position and identity development. The significance of this particular topic is underrepresented in literature. Heterosexual male RAs have not been subjects for most masculinity studies and little research actually has considered the identities of heterosexual men as gendered individuals. Therefore, heterosexual males in a compassionate leadership position may suffer from being ignored and dismissed as not having developmental situations imposed upon them directly by this position. The results of this study include an understanding of how heterosexual male RAs identify their masculinities and the pressures they feel from societal gender norms. Implications include suggestions for how to advocate for male RAs and improve training to promote greater success for heterosexual men. / Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community. / Department of Educational Studies

The aim of the theoretical part of the thesis is emotional intelligence and the overview of changes in understanding this construct since its establishment. Furthermore, the thesis provides a summary of two significant models of emotional intelligence as well as a survey of existing means of its measurement and enumeration of studies focused on the connection between emotional intelligence and particular aspects of life. Finally, the theoretical part of the thesis explores the possibilities of developing emotional intelligence. The practical part uses quantitative research to analyse individual differences in emotional intelligence by comparing the levels of emotional intelligence between homosexual and heterosexual population. The findings revealed a significant difference between trait emotional intelligence of homosexual and heterosexual men. Moreover, the results also verify the difference in overall emotion regulation and emotion regulation strategy of emotion suppression between heterosexuals and homosexuals. The findings also support the claim that women have higher emotional intelligence than men and that the individuals who regard themselves as physically healthy have higher emotional intelligence than those who consider themselves as seriously ill. Keywords: Emotional intelligence,...

This dissertation analyzes visual representations of Canadian women war workers during the Second World War, examining the intersections of labour, gender, beauty culture, bodies, media, consumer culture, advertising, class, whiteness, and sexuality featured in these images. It argues that without considering each of these themes, it is impossible to fully understand wartime representations of women workers. In examining these intersections, the dissertation highlights the power of visual representations and demonstrates the key roles of beauty culture and heterosexuality in munitions plants. By comparing images of women war workers in nationally-circulated magazines and advertisements, locally-produced newsletters from three southern Ontario war plants, archival photos, and newspaper coverage of the Miss War Worker beauty contest, this study shows that the beautiful woman war worker was a visual icon who symbolized the tensions, worries, and hopes around labour, beauty, and femininity, in wartime as well as in the postwar period, when war workers’ presumed next step into white motherhood was of particular importance to the national project. Women workers were constantly encouraged and pressured to engage with beauty culture and participate in self-fashioning. Probing the relationship between how war workers were depicted and what they experienced points to the power of images as well as the opportunities women had to exercise agency by pushing back against visual ideals as well as by emulating them. / Graduate / 2017-08-29

<p>Under ungdomsåren sker stora förändringar, både fysiskt och psykiskt. Utforskandet av sexualiteten blir mer aktuell och den sexuella identiteten och den sexuella läggningen kan genomgå förändringar. Viktiga aspekter för att identifiera sig med den sexuella läggningen anses av vissa forskare vara självkänsla, nära socialt stöd och ifrågasättande. Syftet med denna studie är att finna svar på hur mönster av dessa faktorer kan påverka den sexuella identiteten bland gymnasieungdomar. Studien genomfördes med en kvantitativ ansats. En klusteranalys genomfördes för att söka svar på vilka mönster som ökar sannolikheten för att ungdomarna skall identifiera sig med sin egna sexuella läggning. Studien fann att den faktor i mönstret som följer identifiering med den egna sexuella läggningen är självkänsla.</p>

<p>Many reports infer that questions of HBT and homophobia are either poorly addressed or not addressed at all in schools today. This study is based on interviews with teachers of students aged 13 to 15. It is an inquiry to the teacher's thoughts about, knowledge of, and sense of responsibility to inform students of the subjects 'Queer', 'HBT', and 'Homophobia'. Who is responsible for educating the students regarding these subjects and what do teachers think about including these subjects in their curriculum? How do the teachers describe their knowledge of the subjects? Do they require further knowledge themselves in order to educate others in a proper way? The study is grounded in queer theories. This study shows that teachers do have some knowledge and are interested in teaching the subjects. Unfortunately the subject matter presently lacks support and status in schools and as a result is left behind.</p>

Under ungdomsåren sker stora förändringar, både fysiskt och psykiskt. Utforskandet av sexualiteten blir mer aktuell och den sexuella identiteten och den sexuella läggningen kan genomgå förändringar. Viktiga aspekter för att identifiera sig med den sexuella läggningen anses av vissa forskare vara självkänsla, nära socialt stöd och ifrågasättande. Syftet med denna studie är att finna svar på hur mönster av dessa faktorer kan påverka den sexuella identiteten bland gymnasieungdomar. Studien genomfördes med en kvantitativ ansats. En klusteranalys genomfördes för att söka svar på vilka mönster som ökar sannolikheten för att ungdomarna skall identifiera sig med sin egna sexuella läggning. Studien fann att den faktor i mönstret som följer identifiering med den egna sexuella läggningen är självkänsla.

Many reports infer that questions of HBT and homophobia are either poorly addressed or not addressed at all in schools today. This study is based on interviews with teachers of students aged 13 to 15. It is an inquiry to the teacher's thoughts about, knowledge of, and sense of responsibility to inform students of the subjects 'Queer', 'HBT', and 'Homophobia'. Who is responsible for educating the students regarding these subjects and what do teachers think about including these subjects in their curriculum? How do the teachers describe their knowledge of the subjects? Do they require further knowledge themselves in order to educate others in a proper way? The study is grounded in queer theories. This study shows that teachers do have some knowledge and are interested in teaching the subjects. Unfortunately the subject matter presently lacks support and status in schools and as a result is left behind.

Our society is based on a heterosexual norm. This may lead to the fact that LGBT-persons have a poorer health status than the heterosexual population. The nurse education lacks information and courses that highlights sexual identity. This is defective since healthcare staff needs knowledge on the subject to be able to treat patients in a professional and respectful manner. The purpose of this study was to illustrate how heteronormativity influences the treatment of patients within a healthcare context. This paper is a survey of literature based on 12 articles and one dissertation. The results showed that the healthcare staff and the healthcare students had both positive and negative attitudes towards non heterosexual patients. The majority had positive attitudes. It is thus important to highlight the negative attitudes and derive them to heteronormative ways in a healthcare context. The non heterosexual patients experienced problems dealing with homophobia, the issue of coming out or not and poor heteronormative communication. The healthcare staff needs to get accurate education regarding heteronormativity and sexual identities. The negative attitudes towards non heterosexual patients would thus lessen and the treatment towards these persons would improve. More research on the subject of nursing and heteronormativity is needed. Research focusing only on the nurse’s work and how it is influenced by heteronormativity is wanted. / Vårt samhälle är heteronormativt och detta kan vara en orsak till att HBT-personer har sämre hälsa än den övriga heterosexuella befolkningen. Sjuksköterskeutbildningar runt om i Sverige saknar till stor del kurser som belyser sexuell identitet. Detta är bristfälligt då vårdpersonal behöver kunskap kring ämnet för att kunna bemöta patienter på ett professionellt och respektfullt sätt. Syftet med föreliggande studie var att synliggöra hur heteronormativiteten påverkar bemötandet av patienter inom vården. Studien är utförd som en litteraturstudie baserad på 12 artiklar samt en avhandling.Resultaten visade att det fanns både positiva och negativa attityder hos vårdpersonal och vårdstudenter gentemot icke heterosexuella patienter. Majoriteten hade positiva attityder. Det är dock viktigt att belysa de negativa attityderna och härleda dessa till heteronormativa förhållningssätt inom vården. Icke heterosexuella patienterna upplevde problematik kring homofobi, att komma ut eller inte, samt bristfällig och heteronormativ kommunikation. Vårdpersonal behöver få aktuell utbildning angående heteronormativitet och sexuella identiteter. De negativa attityderna gentemot icke heterosexuella patienter skulle på så sätt minskas och bemötandet gentemot dessa förbättras.Det behövs vidare forskning inom området omvårdnad och heteronormativitet. Forskning som enbart fokuserar på sjuksköterskans arbete och hur det präglas av heteronormativitet efterlyses.