According to the life course perspective, individuals’ life pattern could be viewed from vertical and horizontal dimension, including “preparation”, “establishment” and “culmination”; family, education/work and leisure respectively. There is prevailing gendered division of household labor that “men’s out, women’s in” in patriarchal societies, like Hong Kong. For men, paid work tends to affect the household labor and leisure time. While women’s career aspiration and leisure consumption tend to be influenced by their family duties during their employment life. Life patterns often change when people retired, as there are generally only family and leisure life left as work and children are no longer present. As such, retirees may enjoy leisure. It has been suggested that retirement serve as a milestone to credit the completion of role duties and it presents a chance to free people from obligation, to pursue personal goal, restoration, or to open a new page for leisure or resume their family role. However, whether this experience applies to retired women remains uncertain as past research on retirement experiences have been centered on men, which yields generalization problem. Thus, this research adopted the life course perspective to study how retirement brings on changes to life patterns. In doing so, the thesis examines whether retirement open opportunities for retired women in Hong Kong to enjoy more leisure/social activities. A total of twenty-four retired women, aged 46 to 68 were interviewed. Participation observation methodology was also adopted to enrich the findings and to enhance the reliability of data. The findings show that the women have a family-focused life patterns during employment period where family is placed as the first priority. They experienced triple burdens, unstable career path, and insufficient or no retirement income. The findings showed that respondents perceived themselves as supportive wives and devoted mothers. Respondents’ were willing to sacrifice personal interests to benefits their family members and to maintain family harmony that justified the gendered division of household labor. Besides, the poor socio-economic background, strong patriarchal ideologies and the unstable political, social and economic environment limited these women’s accessibility to education and undermined their career aspiration. Nonetheless, all respondents showed strong work values and undervalued leisure pursuit, which had affected their retirement life attitude and patterns. The lack of pre-retirement planning and preparation undermined respondents’ retirement adaptation. Respondents had negative feelings toward retirement and they usually relate this with disengagement. It is suggested that bridge jobs facilitated the adjustment process. However, many respondents reported that they viewed retirement as a turning point to change life style and to reward their long years of work. In general, retirement derived mixed impacts on respondents. There are more and more interactive elements in the relationship between family, education/work and leisure after retirement. Respondents were eager to have personal development and social participation despite they are expected to and willing to suspend these engagements when family need arise. To a certain extent, retirement open opportunities for retired women in Hong Kong to enjoy greater freedom in designing life schedule.

This study examined the participants' level of jealousy towards their significant other and how it affects the longevity and commitment of their respective relationships. Based on a review of the literature, the research filled the gap of explaining the factor that affects the level of jealousy in monogamous relationships, particularly gender, and sexual orientation. Attachment theory was the theoretical construct that informed the research that addressed the gap in the literature. The research employed a quantitative method that used Rubin's Love Scale, Hendrick's Relationship Assessment Scale and Pfeiffer and Wong's Multidimensional Jealousy Scale. Self-reporting questionnaires and surveys were used to measure the attachment process of all participants who are involved in a romantic, close relationship. Participants were assessed using 2 different methods to determine their level of relationship satisfaction and perceived jealousy they exhibit. The dependent variables were the level of relationship satisfaction and jealousy while the independent variables were gender and sexual orientation. It was hypothesized that gender and sexual orientation can be main determinants to understand the dynamics of jealousy and relationship satisfaction in monogamous relationships. The sample of the study was 132 individuals who were currently involved in a romantic, close monogamous and committed relationship in Colorado. The data from this study were analyzed using MANOVA, correlation analysis, and central tendencies. The results indicated that heterosexual samples had the highest level of relationship satisfaction, and the lowest levels of jealousy. In contrast, the bisexual samples had the highest level of jealousy. Homosexual samples had the lowest level of jealousy and had significantly greater levels of relationship satisfaction. These results and the limitations of the study are discussed.

Sexualization happens when agency is taken away from the individual being sexualized, where one is seen, depicted, and treated like a sexual object rather than a person. This thesis aims to explore celebrities' reactions to their own public sexualization. To do this, an inductive approach was used when analyzing first-person narratives (written and video) and interviews (podcast, magazine and newspaper) by those whose sexualization is a notable feature of their career in the United States. I used a nonprobability sampling technique in order to cast a wide net to find the sample (prior knowledge, Google searches, and Google alerts). This thesis explores the common reactions, emotions, and perceptions of young women and nonbinary people in the entertainment industry. The sample included, Lori Mattix, Brooke Shields, Soleil Moon Frye, Tami Stronach, Mara Wilson, Natalie Portman, Thandiwe Newton, Ariel Winter, Mischa Barton, Rivkah Reyes, Sophia Bush, Vanessa Hudgens, Emily Ratajkowski, Megan Fox, Taylor Momsen, Zendaya, Billie Eilish, and Millie Bobby Brown. My analysis yielded three main themes: Celebrity Culture, The Good Girl/Bad Girl Dichotomy, and The Perfect Victim Narrative. The celebrity culture theme shows a lack of privacy for these young entertainers. This theme also discusses how various institutions (the media, the public, parental figures, and powerful men) ignore, participate in, or lack enough power to dismantle the sexualization entertainers face. The good girl/bad girl dichotomy creates very narrow and toxic ideas of appropriate gender and sexuality expression. Lastly, the perfect victim narrative shows how victims must fit a specific narrative of what a victim looks and acts like to be "believed." My analysis found there is an intense pressure put on young entertainers (primarily female) to conform to be aesthetically consistent with their branding and to be authentic.

Enacting gendered behaviors and using gendered resources has been a way for boys to "do masculinity." One place where boys do masculinity is the public school system. It plays a large role in facilitating adolescent youths' exposure to peer groups where they learn gendered behaviors. Our culturally imposed social script for hegemonic masculinity emphasizes strength and social dominance which can be seen to influence a variety of psychological areas. This thesis examines the relationship between hegemonic masculine traits and mental health. Mental health and masculinity were operationalized and measured using the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey containing measures of masculinity, mental health, and school connectedness. A univariate analysis was initially performed using the survey frequency procedure. Then a bivariate analysis was performed with the Chi-square test. A weighting factor was applied to adjust for nonresponse and the oversampling of Black and Hispanic students in the sample group. Weighted frequency and percentage were reported. The p value at a level 0.05 was considered significant. Finally, a logistical regression analysis was performed to understand whether hegemonic masculinity can predict the odds of reporting poor mental health in the sample controlling for other sociodemographic variables. Findings indicated that masculine ideals exert influence on mental health outcomes and raises concerns for adolescent boys

Claude Cahun, born Lucy Renee Mathilde Schwob, was an author, playwright, surrealist photographer and anti-fascist activist who spent most of their lives in France and the Isle of Jersey from their birth in 1894 to their early death in 1954. Throughout their career they went by various aliases and pennames, settling on Claude Cahun in 1917, a gender-ambiguous name in French. While they considered themselves a writer before a photographer it is their photography that they are probably best known for today, becoming popular for their "modern" content that explores gender identity and its presentation. These self-portraits, along with their personal writings, support the conclusion that Cahun was (or could be considered, as they did not have the language of gender and sexuality in their lifetime) a transgender, nonbinary individual, possibly gender fluid. For this reason, throughout this research I will be using the singular they/them pronouns in reference to Cahun as well as their partner Marcel Moore. This thesis will investigate and analyze the photographic work of Claude Cahun as their own personal exploration of their sexuality and gender identity. I will use both the context of their writings, and those of other contemporaries within a framework of early 20th cenrtury culture to better understand their content.

The current study examined the relationship between the sexualization of women in the media and its effects on women's self-objectification and sexual priming with sociodemographic variables as a mediator. It was hypothesized that (1) exposure to increased sexual content in music videos would positively correlate with increased sexual priming among viewers and (2) increased sexual priming among females would be associated with increased self-objectification and increased objectification of other women. Additionally, the current study aimed to examine sociodemographic factors and if they correlate to the impact of sexual priming on self-objectification and the objectification of other women. The results of the current study indicated that the participants results to sexual priming when exposed to sexual music videos whether censored or not were significantly different than those who were not exposed to any content prior to answering any questionnaires.

Throughout history, men have responded to feminist progress with political backlash. Pre-internet men's groups used biological constructions of gender as a method of reinforcing patriarchal power by restricting the rights of women. Today, the same methods are used in a loose collection of men's rights groups online called 'the manosphere'. Within the manosphere, men who identify as involuntarily celibate (incels) blame women for their perceived loss of masculine power. Some incels have taken their anti-feminist backlash offline through acts of mass violence, suggesting an emergent need for social science research into the incel identity. This paper outlines the theoretical orientation of hegemonic masculinity then applies it to past men's movements and their extensions found online today. Data for this study was found on the public online forum, Incels.co, the forum's wiki page, and in news articles related to incels. A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted on 50 forum posts. Themes that emerged from forum data were compared to wiki entries and news articles to provide a comprehensive understanding of incels' identity development. Findings include narratives that describe incels' experiences of devalued masculinity on the heterosexual marketplace through lookism, or perceived discrimination by physical appearance. A subcategory of lookism emerged in observed performances of masculine entitlement over women and their bodies. This study's findings suggest that incels frame their perceived devalued masculinity as a justification for their political position of anti-feminism. A sub-category of anti-feminism emerged in incels' sense of lost hope for life, with narratives that describe experiences of depression, suicidal ideation, and fantasies about mass violence. Findings also suggest that incels reify their own power using narratives about marginalized masculinities that subordinate men and women.

Women face sexual harassment and sexual assault far too often with one in every six women sexually assaulted during their life (Tjaden & Thoennes, 1998). In the anime and comic community, women face sexual assault and harassment, often in open public spaces, due to these spaces being labeled as men's (Cote, 2015; Fox & Potocki 2015; Rodriguez 2015; Schott & Horrell 2000). Policies such as Cosplay is not Consent (Facebook, 2018) are not upheld or enforced by anime and comic conventions. Policies that are enforced, have clear and concise wording, and are enforced by staff and volunteers, who have been educated or trained to deal with sexual assault and harassment, may likely promote safer sexual assault and sexual harassment free anime and comic conventions. A total of 27 participants (20 women, 6 men, and 1 non-binary) were recruited via a snowball technique through Facebook social media groups. Participants were interviewed in-depth either face-to-face or through written interviews. The results showed that: (1) cosplay is a form of embodiment it does not negate the person's identity or bodily autonomy while wearing the cosplay; (2) women are generally the targets of sexual assault and harassment; (3) policies are often not enforced or enforced well due to lack of clear policies or consequences; (4) staff and volunteers are not educated, trained or equipped to deal with sexual assault and harassment; and 5) anime and comic convention organizers need to be responsible for helping to create safer environments for their attendees, staff, and volunteers.

This text examines the health-related experiences of transgender and gender nonconforming persons assigned female at birth within the criminal justice system. It moves through a transgender-centric approach to explore the ways gender nonconformity relates to experiences of violence and healthcare disparities for those interacting with law enforcement and incarcerated in women's prisons. The study utilized statistical analyses of nationally representative data in the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey carried out by the National Center for Transgender Equality. Multivariate analyses suggested significant connections between race and education and experiences of harassment and assault within the criminal justice context. There were largely mixed results regarding the direct connections between gender conformity and transition status and experiences of violence. These findings provide initial exploratory quantitative data for the realities of transmasculine and nonbinary persons assigned female at birth within the criminal justice system and provide starting points for future research.

There are many possible sources for youth to become educated about sexuality and reproduction, however the media are cited as particularly powerful and prominent sources of information (Jaworski, 2009). Particularly in an era in which abstinence-only messaging dominates sex education, media become a source to which young people turn and where they receive much of their sex-based messaging. Due to backlash over problematic content that perpetuates gender stereotypes and relays harmful messages about sex and sexuality, some magazines, including Teen Vogue, have attempted to shift towards more feminist-minded content (Keller, 2011, Milkie, 2002). This study is a qualitative critical feminist media analysis that examined the framing of sex, sexuality, and reproduction content in a sample of 60 Teen Vogue articles, an online publication that targets adolescents and young adults. The analysis revealed that overall, articles conveyed positive representations of sexuality, advocating for affirming and evidence-based sex education, self-empowerment through knowledge, and comprehensive reproductive healthcare for all. However, contradictory frames of sex stigmatization and a reproductive rights framework that advocates primarily for abortion rights were still highly prevalent in the data. Considering media is a significant component of the sexual socialization of youth, Sex Positive framing of sexuality which prioritizes pleasure, healthy relationships and sexual dynamics, and inclusive and affirmative sex education helps to create new narratives in media concerning how sex is viewed. These messages may have positive impacts by creating healthier sexual scripts and becoming dominant narratives in the future. However, articles in the data also utilized fear-mongering tactics that are notoriously used in abstinence-only sex education. These messages aid in further stigmatizing young people not only for having sex but also for not being informed of the potential associated risks, creating a harmful paradox that may counteract the goals of sexual health and sex positivity. Additionally, reproductive rights and reproductive justice messaging and the presentation of policy updates relevant to young readers has the potential to inform and socialize young people to be better informed about sex and sexuality, which may, in turn, lead to greater sexual empowerment. Such messaging may also empower youth activists in a time of political turmoil, connecting teen readers to what is going on around them, and providing concrete actions they can take to create political change.