Masculine Hierarchy: One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest

Masculine Hierarchy: One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest Mental Castration:Â  The Masculine Hierarchy in Mental Wards as Seen in One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest Gender has developed as a social construct that dictates the expectations of a sexes actions. Men, for example, are expected to emulate a hegemonic masculine ideal that emphasizes positions of authority, strength, and the accumulation of material goods (Connell 1987).However, the establishment of a masculine identity does not depend entirely on possessing these characteristics. Gender is also a performance of sorts. (Kessler and McKenna 1978; West and Zimmerman 1987) . Without certain signifiers, people could have a hard time distinguishing a persons sex. Men and women display gender and obtain information about what is an appropriate display in different contexts. Ken Keseys novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest examines a delicate balance between genders as well as the emasculation of male patients within a mental ward, a social commentary focusing on Keseys concern of the gender dynamic of the world. Focusing on an emasculating female character and vulnerable, emasculated male characters, Kesey used the mental institution as a narrowed observation; a smaller more manageable look at the dynamic between people. The way men portray their gender often depends on the resources they have available, in this case, these mens resources are severely limited and monitored. An example of the effect of resources would be men coming from relatively privileged statuses can afford to take weekends off and construct an alternative world out in the woods (Schwalbe 1996). The different and more limited resources available to less privileged can create a type of masculine hierarchy. Not only do the characters in Keseys novel come from varying social backgrounds, but they enter with differing levels of mental stability. These vulnerabilities coupled with supervised access to basic necessities could alter a mans masculinity and the power dynamic of a landscape, and effectively does. Nurse Ratched is described from the observant Chief Bromdens point of view. Ratched tends to get real put out if something keeps her outfit from running like a smooth, accurate, precision-made machine. The slightest thing messy or out of kilter or in the way ties her into a little white knot of tight-smiled fury. (Kesey 1959). Chief then describes her to have a doll-like exterior, but a dry and manipulative interior with very calculated expressions. This harsh, feminine character is juxtaposed by men with limited control over their mental abilities. Nurse Ratched-a distant, oppressive, and sterile female influence who figuratively and psychologically castrates her male patients. This dynamic represented the fear of a cold war era that would foster a feminine masculinity in America through a climate of conformity and fear. This culture of fear that permeated the cultural landscape of the fifties came with gender and homosexual connotations (Meloy 2009). Americans were warned that they were becoming pink basically a negative term denoting this feminine masculinity. This was also related to homosexuality. Also within this decade was the circulation of theories warning Americans of their latent homosexuality, and Alfred Kinseys Sexual Behavior in the Human Male suggested that many more men than what was traditionally known either thought about or performed homosexual acts. Kinseys work undermined traditional notions of what was considered normative sexuality, contributing to a relatively national obsession with sexuality and more specifically, homosexuality. Sexual attraction was placed at the forefront of Americas thoughts on masculinity and the relationships between genders. Kinseys theories were aided by masculine figures of the 1950s like David Riesman and Hugh Hefner, who, in their own way, altered masculinity by participating in a cultural transformation in freedom of sexuality and the materialism and pageantry of secual attraction. They legitimized a sexuali zed conception of masculinity that privileged virility, sexualperformance, and sexual aggresion as the defining criteria for manhood. Unlike the free sexual spirit these moguls portrayed, Cuckoos Nest showed restrictions set by government institutions within the novel and in actual mental wards can be material like doors. However others are ideological, like values or social norms. Some doors are locked, blocking access to staff rooms, the office from which Ms.Ratched observes the patients is described. There is also a lack of doors entrances to a room, restricting the privacy of the residents. A small amount of people within the facility have the authority and power to uphold the interests of the institution, or what they believe to be the interests of the institution. This limited amount of people creates a hierarchy of power. They were protecting interests that did not necessarily benefit the residents. Interests of the residents were squashed because of this balance of power, creating social distance between those in positions of power and in positions of subordination. Staff in a mental institution most likel y assume that residents are indeed insane; this prognosis may or may not be agreed upon by the residents (Rosenhan 1973). Unfortunately the residents are relatively powerless to achieve sanity. McMurphy in Cuckoos Nest does not see himself as insane, as he was admitted to serve time for rape, but he is being treated as if he is broken. He does not see himself in this way. Because of this disagreement there is already a difference between the staff and the patient.There is such a large amount of power held above the patients, and the power dynamic is so strictly enforced, that even the simplest of tasks must be complicated. The books portrayal of mental disorders and disabilities is impressive in its avoidance of stereotypes. It represented characters as individuals, as opposed to merely characterizing the symptoms of their disorders. Through the novels investment in these characters, however, it becomes clear that disability and emasculation are intrinsically linked, at least within this novel if not fundamentally. This created a patriarchal underscore to the text: Nurse Ratcheds control is a direct result of her continual emasculation and her de-feminized domination of the all-male patients (Leach 2008). McMurphy is a stark contrast, a celebrated liberator in the eyes of the emasculated despite his grim reality of being admitted for rape. Using a character committed due to his execution of a sexual, it equates the rebellion headed by this sexual deviant have a sexual connotation. Ir almost compares the rebellion to rape. This seems to be a product of the fear of this mental castration, and a suggestio n that this masculine and forceful rebellion was the best way to overcome subordination and effectively regain patriarchal power. These portrayals of characters show that a matriarchy abolished is a satisfactory conclusion to the plot, and is seen as a cure for the patients mental illnesses, one of the most troubling messages of this book. Whether this conclusion is spawned from the authors fears, or feelings of hostility due to the fragile social landscape of mental wards, this division of gender is destructive. Culture is linked with sexuality. Masculinity has become an industry itself. Perhaps more than ever before in American history, sexual behavior symbolizes ones identity. Symbols and signs encourage sexual expression.Magazines of the fifties, such as Playboy and Esquire, are now the grandparents to countless publications glamorizing sexuality. Keseys work exhibits masculinity that can possibly help us understand the obsession with masculine virility and violence in our time, a new generation in which male sexuality and female sexuality alike have become products of conspicuous consumption. Works Cited Kesey, Ken. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. 40th Anniversary Edition. Meloy, Michael. Fixing Men: Castration, Impotence, and Masculinity in Ken Keseys One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest. The Journal of Mens Studies. SAGE publications, 01 Oct. 2009. Web. 02 Feb. 2017 Leach, Caroline. Disability and Gender in Ken Keseys One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest | Leach | Disability Studies Quarterly. Disability and Gender in Ken Keseys One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest | Leach | Disability Studies Quarterly. DSQ, 2008. Web. 03 Feb. 2017. Connell, R. W. 1987. Gender and power. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. West, C., and D. H. Zimmerman. 1987. Doing gender. Gender Society 1:125-151. Schwalbe, M. 1996. Unlocking the iron cage. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press

Deception Point Page 4

Although the job was difficult and required long hours, the position was a badge of honor for her, a way to assert her independence from her father. Senator Sexton had offered many times to support Rachel if she would quit the post, but Rachel had no intention of becoming financially beholden to a man like Sedgewick Sexton. Her mother was testimony to what could happen when a man like that held too many cards. The sound of Rachel's pager echoed in the marble hall. Again? She didn't even bother to check the message. Wondering what the hell was going on, she boarded the elevator, skipped her own floor, and went straight to the top. 4 To call the NRO director a plain man was in itself an overstatement. NRO Director William Pickering was diminutive, with pale skin, a forgettable face, a bald head, and hazel eyes, which despite having gazed upon the country's deepest secrets, appeared as two shallow pools. Nonetheless, to those who worked under him, Pickering towered. His subdued personality and unadorned philosophies were legendary at the NRO. The man's quiet diligence, combined with his wardrobe of plain black suits, had earned him the nickname the â€Å"Quaker.† A brilliant strategist and the model of efficiency, the Quaker ran his world with an unrivaled clarity. His mantra: â€Å"Find the truth. Act on it.† When Rachel arrived in the director's office, he was on the phone. Rachel was always surprised by the sight of him: William Pickering looked nothing like a man who wielded enough power to wake the President at any hour. Pickering hung up and waved her in. â€Å"Agent Sexton, have a seat.† His voice had a lucid rawness to it. â€Å"Thank you, sir.† Rachel sat. Despite most people's discomfort around William Pickering's blunt demeanor, Rachel had always liked the man. He was the exact antithesis of her father†¦ physically unimposing, anything but charismatic, and he did his duty with a selfless patriotism, shunning the spotlight her father loved so much. Pickering removed his glasses and gazed at her. â€Å"Agent Sexton, the President called me about a half hour ago. In direct reference to you.† Rachel shifted in her seat. Pickering was known for getting to the point. One hell of an opening, she thought. â€Å"Not a problem with one of my gists, I hope.† â€Å"On the contrary. He says the White House is impressed with your work.† Rachel exhaled silently. â€Å"So what did he want?† â€Å"A meeting with you. In person. Immediately.† Rachel's unease sharpened. â€Å"A personal meeting? About what?† â€Å"Damn good question. He wouldn't tell me.† Now Rachel was lost. Keeping information from the director of the NRO was like keeping Vatican secrets from the Pope. The standing joke in the intelligence community was that if William Pickering didn't know about it, it hadn't happened. Pickering stood, pacing now in front of his window. â€Å"He asked that I contact you immediately and send you to meet with him.† â€Å"Right now?† â€Å"He sent transportation. It's waiting outside.† Rachel frowned. The President's request was unnerving on its own account, but it was the look of concern on Pickering's face that really worried her. â€Å"You obviously have reservations.† â€Å"I sure as hell do!† Pickering showed a rare flash of emotion. â€Å"The President's timing seems almost callow in its transparency. You are the daughter of the man who is currently challenging him in the polls, and he demands a private meeting with you? I find this highly inappropriate. Your father no doubt would agree.† Rachel knew Pickering was right – not that she gave a damn what her father thought. â€Å"Do you not trust the President's motives?† â€Å"My oath is to provide intel support to the current White House administration, not pass judgment on their politics.† Typical Pickering response, Rachel realized. William Pickering made no bones about his view of politicians as transitory figureheads who passed fleetingly across a chessboard whose real players were men like Pickering himself – seasoned â€Å"lifers† who had been around long enough to understand the game with some perspective. Two full terms in the White House, Pickering often said, was not nearly enough to comprehend the true complexities of the global political landscape. â€Å"Maybe it's an innocent request,† Rachel offered, hoping the President was above trying some sort of cheap campaign stunt. â€Å"Maybe he needs a reduction of some sensitive data.† â€Å"Not to sound belittling, Agent Sexton, but the White House has access to plenty of qualified gisting personnel if they need it. If it's an internal White House job, the President should know better than to contact you. And if not, then he sure as hell should know better than to request an NRO asset and then refuse to tell me what he wants it for.† Pickering always referred to his employees as assets, a manner of speech many found disconcertingly cold. â€Å"Your father is gaining political momentum,† Pickering said. â€Å"A lot of it. The White House has got to be getting nervous.† He sighed. â€Å"Politics is a desperate business. When the President calls a secret meeting with his challenger's daughter, I'd guess there's more on his mind than intelligence gists.† Rachel felt a distant chill. Pickering's hunches had an uncanny tendency to be dead on. â€Å"And you're afraid the White House feels desperate enough to introduce me into the political mix?† Pickering paused a moment. â€Å"You are not exactly silent about your feelings for your father, and I have little doubt the President's campaign staff is aware of the rift. It occurs to me that they may want to use you against him somehow.† â€Å"Where do I sign up?† Rachel said, only half-joking. Pickering looked unimpressed. He gave her a stern stare. â€Å"A word of warning, Agent Sexton. If you feel that your personal issues with your father are going to cloud your judgment in dealing with the President, I strongly advise that you decline the President's request for a meeting.† â€Å"Decline?† Rachel gave a nervous chuckle. â€Å"I obviously can't refuse the President.† â€Å"No,† the director said, â€Å"but I can.† His words rumbled a bit, reminding Rachel of the other reason Pickering was called the â€Å"Quaker.† Despite being a small man, William Pickering could cause political earthquakes if he were crossed. â€Å"My concerns here are simple,† Pickering said. â€Å"I have a responsibility to protect the people who work for me, and I don't appreciate even the vague implication that one of them might be used as a pawn in a political game.† â€Å"What do you recommend I do?† Pickering sighed. â€Å"My suggestion is that you meet with him. Commit to nothing. Once the President tells you what the hell is on his mind, call me. If I think he's playing political hardball with you, trust me, I'll pull you out so fast the man won't know what hit him.† â€Å"Thank you, sir.† Rachel sensed a protective aura from the director that she often longed for in her own father. â€Å"And you said the President already sent a car?† â€Å"Not exactly.† Pickering frowned and pointed out the window. Uncertain, Rachel went over and gazed out in the direction of Pickering's outstretched finger. A snub-nosed MH-60G PaveHawk helicopter sat idling on the lawn. One of the fastest choppers ever made, this PaveHawk was emblazoned with the White House insignia. The pilot stood nearby, checking his watch. Rachel turned to Pickering in disbelief. â€Å"The White House sent a PaveHawk to take me fifteen miles into D.C.?† â€Å"Apparently the President hopes you are either impressed or intimidated.† Pickering eyed her. â€Å"I suggest you are neither.†

The Great Baby Einstein Scam Essay

The text â€Å"The Great Baby Einstein Scam† was written by Mira Jacob. This text is an argumentative issue giving details supporting why parents should not buy materials, such as videos, in hopes of their babies becoming geniuses. The sole purpose of this article is to inform the public of Disney’s inconspicuous way of apologizing for their attempt at misleading parents to believe that they had developed a â€Å"Baby Einstein† video for babies, in whom these videos hopefully would turn your baby into little geniuses, was to issue out refunds. This video, called â€Å"Baby Einstein,† have had a disappointing outcome, which caused an upset, especially with parents. This video used a known genius â€Å"Einstein† to promote its sales. The readers are parents with babies six months to two years, wanting their children to have an advantage of being very smart. These readers are those that knew Einstein was a genius, which gave the scammers leverage for the â€Å"Baby Einstein† video scam. The readers are those who wanted to believe that there is a magical, wondrous, no parental-guidance-required product that will turn their kids into Mensa members. Mira Jacob, is an editor at the online magazine Shine. She was intrigued by an article in the New York Times that said Disney was offering a refund to buyers of â€Å"Baby Einstein† videos that did not do as it promised. The author wants the parents not to depend on every â€Å"educational† toy out there. One constraint is a large number of parents with babies ages six months to two years were convinced to buy the â€Å"Baby Einstein† videos. Another constraint is parents believing that if their babies watched the video the babies would become geniuses. Another constraint is the combination of our lack of time, our paranoia over our kid’s performance, and our faith in technology that caused this generation of parents to accept the clever advertising of the video to be considered as truth. The Exigence of this article is parents with babies six months to two years bought the videos that help their child a chance at becoming a Genius? The only problem with all of this is the video didn’t work.

Business IT Courses and Accompanied Expectations 2019

Business IT course is quite an interesting major. A number of students opt for this to make a better future for them. So what should you know if you plan to do a course in such a subject? While it is a good course to undertake, it also has a few negative points. There are some important things to remember in case you are opting for a course like this. Reason being, the level of preparedness helps in better performance. Business IT Impacted Courses My father always advised me during my college years that, I should join only those classes which are full. Rather do anything to be in there. He even recommended me to meet the professor and tell him that I will gladly sit on the floor if there is no seat available. Well my father did not have to face the hardships I was facing and professors are not there to negotiate. In the world of business IT course, not only the seats are necessary but the computers are absolutely compulsory. Because business IT is concerned with computers and one cannot learn the course until he/ she has a computer to put the teachings into practice. This is a demanding course so obviously expect competition to start in the class. Everyone wants to do most recommended course. Classes might take some more time to book, but if you want to succeed have patience and keep trying. Frustrations and Unexpected Challenges in Business IT Education .ud3009bec5df2974b0c3919b911b0356e { padding:0px; margin: 0; padding-top:1em!important; padding-bottom:1em!important; width:100%; display: block; font-weight:bold; background-color:#eaeaea; border:0!important; border-left:4px solid #34495E!important; box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); -moz-box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); -o-box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); -webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); text-decoration:none; } .ud3009bec5df2974b0c3919b911b0356e:active, .ud3009bec5df2974b0c3919b911b0356e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; text-decoration:none; } .ud3009bec5df2974b0c3919b911b0356e { transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; } .ud3009bec5df2974b0c3919b911b0356e .ctaText { font-weight:bold; color:inherit; text-decoration:none; font-size: 16px; } .ud3009bec5df2974b0c3919b911b0356e .post Title { color:#000000; text-decoration: underline!important; font-size: 16px; } .ud3009bec5df2974b0c3919b911b0356e:hover .postTitle { text-decoration: underline!important; } READ With a Psychology Degree, Coalition Fights for Expanded Scope of Practice for Healthcare ProfessionalsJust as the IT students identify with the computers, business majors know the different aspects of a business. Combining the two will result in students finding difficult to deal with the subject they are not familiar with. Be prepared to face the problems, they may appear to be unsolvable initially but if you are prepared to learn and learn well, you will no doubt emerge as a winner. It will decide your future as an employee. Organizations usually have limited resources and are always on the lookout for people who are knowledgeable and posses all the knowledge required, rather than finding someone and then train them. Therefore the difficult world of IT or business is important to study. It is better to sl og now than slog later. People Skills and Business IT Instructors Technical people usually lack the people or social skills. They didnt require it in their day to day work atmosphere. IT instructors usually come to teach in a classroom after they have practiced for years. Therefore their presentation may not be as entertaining or inspiring as your English poetry professor of the undergrad years. Do not expect your business IT teacher to be entertaining like your other professors. He/ she will be someone you go to learn and, a number of times he will help you and support you to solve problems for yourself. .uba7f68cf46cc0f3f62259b86398d48eb { padding:0px; margin: 0; padding-top:1em!important; padding-bottom:1em!important; width:100%; display: block; font-weight:bold; background-color:#eaeaea; border:0!important; border-left:4px solid #34495E!important; box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); -moz-box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); -o-box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); -webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); text-decoration:none; } .uba7f68cf46cc0f3f62259b86398d48eb:active, .uba7f68cf46cc0f3f62259b86398d48eb:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; text-decoration:none; } .uba7f68cf46cc0f3f62259b86398d48eb { transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; } .uba7f68cf46cc0f3f62259b86398d48eb .ctaText { font-weight:bold; color:inherit; text-decoration:none; font-size: 16px; } .uba7f68cf46cc0f3f62259b86398d48eb .post Title { color:#000000; text-decoration: underline!important; font-size: 16px; } .uba7f68cf46cc0f3f62259b86398d48eb:hover .postTitle { text-decoration: underline!important; } READ Succeed with a Marketing DegreeThis is a great course to build a successful future for you. Be aware of the problems you may encounter. Related ArticlesUniversity of Phoenix Nursing School How to Combine the Best of Online and Campus-based LearningHow to Prepare for an InterviewSuccessfully Earn a Distance Education Master DegreeStudent Health Care Plans for School NursesCriminal Justice Associate Degree Virginia Campuses Compliment Online Learning at the University of PhoenixA Degree in Criminal Justice Will Advance Your Career