4. Alternate Reading Prompt
For an alternate blog assignment (as opposed to Rubin et al in our text) you may choose to do some reading on ERES: Gender, Sexuality and Health: The first essay in part I AND the first TWO essays in part II (they are short). Analyze the rhetorical aspects of audience, purpose, and tone. Note the different genres. Are they fact-based or opinion? Aftter analysing the pieces, write your reaction: do you agree or disagree and why?
posted by DrEmmerling at 8:28 AM
11 Comments:
In the essay, "How Men Have a Sex," the author speaks to anyone concerned with their sexual identity in society, saying that there are actually as many genders as there are people, but that society teaches us to fit ourselves into a mold where you must be one of two separate sexes. What the author purposes is that "people with penises" should not stress themselves by trying to have sex in a so-called masculine way, but rather, in an alert, respectful way. His tone is that of an essayist; opinionated, but logical. The essay is opinion-based. I strongly agree that sex should not be so much a gender statement or claim, but rather a mutual interaction that results in the partners feeling closer than before.
The essay titled "Sexual Healing" is inteded for people who are interested in their own health. She purposes the different ways in which she believes sex prolongs and enriches life. The tone is instructive, yet light. The essay does contain some facts, but I would say that it is mostly opinion-based. Although I do not believe that everyone's health or life depends so much upon their sex life, I can agree it is true for many people, especially those with a positive outlook on sex. However, I believe there are many people with traumatic associations to sex who would not benefit from having it on a regular basis for at least a certain portion of their lives.
The essay titled "Male Contraception" speaks to an audience of people who are interested in methods of contraception, not just for women, but also for men. The author discusses the scientific progress of male contraception, along with the possibilities of new methods. The tone is informative. The essay does contain some opinion, but I would say that it is mostly fact-based. I am glad to have read the essay because my knowledge of methods of contraception has been broadened.
The first essay "How Men have (a) Sex" sounds as someone giving advice to people who might be suffering from restrictions and pressures from soicety. The author shares experiences and tries to get across the fact that there is no such thing as having a specific sex. He claims that sex is something that people have set up for you, and that it serves as a label that involves the way you might be treated by others.
He talks about a lie. The lie has to do with men who believe they are more important than individuals having no male genitalia. Men who like to see women being objectified.
The author talks about this lie because it seems that what others label you as is really not how you are. I feel like he claims that by following sterotypes having to do with gender roles, is lying to yourself.
I found the second article "Celebrating the Collapse of Homosexual Identity" as very informal. It talks about how people find it hard to identify themselves as a specific orientation. There was a case that I had not heard before. It was about a male who belived he was a woman trapped in a man's body. And that he, as a she, was a lesbian. It is one of those situations that is hard to follow at first, but then realize that if I get confused, then the person going through this must be even more confused. It is sad that the general label of "male" and "female" has to be followed by gender roles when it simply describes the kind of sexual organs one has.
In John Stoltenberge’s article, he begins by seemingly addressing a general audience then gradually narrows his attention to self-identified men. His approach is direct, towards the end he even speaks directly to the targeted audience by using language like “you.” His purpose is to get people to question the common perceptions of genitc=al and genetically “determined” sex and our expression of those sexes in gender. The tone is urgent yet informative.
The first of the short articles, on the other hand, is more of an overview of the scientific debates about love, relationships and intercourse. It is more of an objective tone than the Stoltenberge’s article and does directly offer any of the authors opinions. The language used is more intended to inform than to persuade. Similarly, the last article is rather dry and uses the same informative, and relatively objective scientific rhetoric.
It seems to me that the 2 short articles were a little too brief to seem complete and imparted little or no new knowledge; therefore, I feel pretty neutral about them. However, Stoltenberge’s article was a little more insightful and offered, I think, some important perspective on how gender/sex are perceived and constructed by our culture. He starts out very strong with an interesting and compelling argument but I think the writing dwindles towards the end. The language becomes a little to simple to be taken seriously by the age group he is writing for and turns almost into an authoritative and demanding tone towards the end. I also do not think that his direction for young men not to look at pornography is unnecessary and unrealistic; instead he should advise towards watching porn that does not depict either party in a violent or demeaning manner. I do like, nonetheless, how he connects the problems with rigid gender categories to rape.
In the essay, "How Men have a Sex," the author is speaking to anyone who may be concerned with trying to fit themselves in to the strict sexual structure that society has given us. The author gives people an alternative to the clear cut, masculine and feminine frameworks. I think he purpose to try to change the way our society thinks about sex and the sexes. The tone of his essay is very methodical and persausive. The paper is opinion based, and the author's goal would definetly be to move. I agree that our society needs a little more flexibility when it comes to sex, however, i think this essay might be a little to bizzare for many people to seriously consider.
In the "Sexual Healing" article, the author is speaking to the scientific coummunity, and anyone else interested in the topic. The article is very fact based, and th author's intent is certainly to inform. The purpose of the author is to convince people that having an active sex life with help keep you healthy. I don't think you can prove without a doubt that this is true, but I find it intuitive. Humans are supposed to have sex, it makes sense that we should be healthy while doing it.
For the article on male contraception, the audience is anyone interested in contraception, not just males or females. The tone is very informative, and the article is fact based. The purpose of author is to inform people of the situation surrounding male contraception.
In the piece "How Men Have a Sex," the author directs his writings to people who are confused or worried about their sexual identity and their expected gender roles that are to be followed in society. His tone is refelcts his opinion but everything he writes is logical. I feel this piece brings up a good point, that your sexual identity whould not always have to be associated with your gender.
In the essay "Sexual Healing" the author talks about how sex is important to your health. Although the author does back up some of her writings with facts, I feel this piece is mostly opinion -based. I do feel sex is a big part of life, but I wouldn't go as far to say that it is necessary for your health.
In "Male Contraception" the author's purpose was mostly to inform the audience about birth contorl and prevention. There isn't really an opinion in this piece and is pretty much facct based.
Jessica Ryan
The “How Men Have a Sex” sounds as if it the author want to inform males and females alike that they can free themselves from the restrictions of today’s society. He writes about his own experiences and achieves in giving the reader the perfect view of the masculine and feminine frameworks. His intention is, without a doubt, to move. I agree with the general message, but the delivery is a little too unusual to be taken seriously by the
“Sexual Healing” is a self-heath article, using a fun tone. It is mostly opinion based, forming arguments not as strong as they could be. I do not agree with all the points made in this article, but it might work for a small part of the population. For some people, this advice might even cause for damage. I agree with Rachael, that some people might have had sexual crimes committed against them, and the absence of sex would be better.
“Male Contraception” is definitely a fact-based, with hardly any opinion to support the arguments. I, for one, enjoy a fact based article for once. I am able form my own opinions, based on the real situation, and not a biased opinion. I know new methods of contraception now that I have read this.
i completely agree with rachel. i feel that in the essay "How Men Have a Sex" is opinion-based, but it does have some truth to it. We as a soceity have been forced to label ourselves as either male or female, and there is no room for anything else. The purpose for this paper is to get the reader to question the idea of sex and who it includes and why. Male and Female? Why are those the only two forms? Also, why does sex for men have to be "manly"? The author's tone shows that he feels its an interaction between people, instead of a labeling.
The exxay titiled, "Sexual Healing" was probably my favorite piece. Although it was almost purely opinion based, i liked that it was mostly geared towards people concerned in their health. It made me laugh at first, but then when i thought about it, it makes complete sense. A good sex life is what keeps couples happy. Most of the time when couples are in counceling, the problem always comes down to the sex issue. This would solve it.... i mean, look at Hugh Heffner! he looks amazing.
"Male Contraception" was an enjoyable piece, and i think i liked it the most becasue it was more based on fact with a little opinion thrown in. This was targeted toward men, informing them of the the new contraceptive.
In the essay "Sexual Healing," the author writes to people who are generally concerned with their health. The author believes that having sex will bring about positive health conditions including living a longer life, having a better heart, and enriching immune systems. I found this artile somewhat persuasive but I think it was more opinion-based than fact based which made it harder to believe her opinion.
The article on male contraception is intended for anyone interested in the subject or anyone wanting to be informed about contraception. This article is very fact based and has an informative tone. It is nice to read an article on such a topic that is not solely intended for female audience.
The essay, "How Men Have a Sex," is written to anyone who is concerned with how their sexual identity fits into society. The author points out that there are so many formations of chromosomes and so many variations in gender roles and sexualities; however, society forces people into two categories: female or male. These categories are restriction on people in society and he wants to transform the perception of sexes. The tone is persuasive and informative but I think that the essay is a little over the top and unrealistic in a sense.
in the essay "How Men Have Sex" the author explains how humans have been expected and molded into the idea of fitting into a world with only two different type of sex. the author brings up a great point that your sexual orientation doesn't always have to match up to you gender roles.
In "Sexual Healing" the author talks about how sex is very important to your health. althought i disagree, the other does back up his ideas with some facts but i felt that this essay was mostly based on personal opinions.
In "Male Contaception" i felt that it was more based on facts. i found this essay very informative, it explains how there is scientific progreass of male contraception. i find it very interesting that males are now becoming interested in contraception.
It is easy to infer that in the essay “How Men Have a Sex” is the mirror opinion of what the author believes. I do agree with the author’s arguments because I believe that our society only accepts two kinds of genders and sexes, which are male and female or men and women. This essay helps readers questioned why society has only adopted two genders and sexes, and why it refuses anything that is in between.
In the second essay “Sexual Healing” the author is trying to persuade people to believe that being sexually active is good to the human health. This essay had some concrete facts, but it is mostly opinion based. I do not completely agree with the author because I believe that sex is nature, but it is not necessary to maintain a healthy life.
I found the essay “Male Contraception” very interesting. The essay discussed various ways of contraception not only for women, but also for men. This essay was very informative, I was not aware of some contraception that was available to men. I believe that this essay will broaden the old believe that birth control is more available to women than men.
The first essay in part I AND the first TWO essays in part II (they are short). Analyze the rhetorical aspects of audience, purpose, and tone. Note the different genres. Are they fact-based or opinion? Aftter analysing the pieces, write your reaction: do you agree or disagree and why
1. Stolenberg's article discusses the importance of sexual acceptance. He notes that current gender roles are taught and learned, and that these practices force us to assume roles accordingly. I think that this article is directed at a very broad audience of both men and women because the information he is supplying is necessary to each sex. He knows that there is a difference between being "masculine" and "feminine" but he does not feel that each word has a set definition regarding gender roles.
2. "Sexual Healing" is a great article to read. The author has a light tone, even though I believe she is targeting a professional audience. The article discusses the benefits of safe and steady sexual relationships and the ways to achieve them. I think the author makes a great point, because many times women are taught that being sexual is being sinful. Men are not the only ones who should enjoy having sex, and women's bodies were not created for male entertainment. The author empasises the importance of loving sexual relationships in adult life to increase happiness and healthiness. Sex is a normal and necessary part of adulthood.
3. The article regarding male contraception was the most interesting for me to read, because I was not the intended audience. The article was directed towards men in an effort to increase participation and responsibility in administering birth control. In our society, it is the woman who is seen as the partner who deals with the percursors and the consequences of using or not using contraception. This article alerts men that they too have to play a role in the practices of safe sex. Since it takes two, its refreshing to see someone relay to men that they are just as responsible for protecting themselves and their partner as women.
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