Linda Hogans Dwellings

Introduction The book Dwellings by Linda Hogan gives the reader a chance to look at life from a different angle or perspective. Linda explains how human beings look at their communities in a way that allows them to live in happiness and ignoring the things that might not matter in their lives.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Linda Hogan’s Dwellings specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The book brings a new concept and encouragement for people to learn how to compare their lives with anything else that surrounds them. The outstanding thing about this text is that it presents several themes like language, knowledge, animals, loss, and history. It is notable that Hogan’s exploration and analysis of language and human communication in the text reveals to us the limits of understanding our place in the universe. In this essay, the theme of language to explore how Hogan has used it to teach people how they ca n find a new way of being in their world. The Theme of Language in the Book Human beings use language to communicate, share ideas, and explore the surrounding nature. In the book, Hogan has explained a lot about the use of language and used it to explore how human beings have continued to misinterpret and understand their position in the universe. In the book, the author believes that different aspects of nature have their own language, something which makes it possible for animals, human beings, and other creature communicate effectively and be in a position of surviving in the world (Hogan 45). However, it is through the way we use this language that we have failed to understand our place in the world. For example, the author says the hills are a place where the starry skies tend to turn inward to thousand holes, a place where the solitary bees might have lived all long and died. This explains our kind of ignorance as humans. Human beings have consistently ignored the existence of animal language. The ignorance has led to denial thereby making it impossible for us to understand these marvels of nature. We have also chosen to ignore the way animals communicate.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More By so doing, the use language in the work explains why as humans we have not managed to learn much about our environment and the things that affect us on earth as human beings. This means that the theme of language as used in this book by Linda explains how humans have continued to misunderstand their unique place in the world (Chomsky Rizzi 72). The way human beings use language as a tool for communication offers a lot towards understanding how humans have ignored the surrounding nature completely. The theme also explains how humans treat nature with some form of prejudice (Hogan 57). For instance, the author explains how humans use language to categorize nat ure as something that is non-human. Human beings are ready to use ‘less than’ to show the kind of connection they offer between other forms of nature and human beings. By so doing, we understand that the use of language to explain and categorize nature is an idea that has led to our wider misunderstanding of values of natural hierarchy. The author has also used language to explore the co-existence of humans and nature. Human beings use language to view animals as powerless therefore making them appear less meaningful in the world. However, this makes it hard for us to co-exist and learn much about the role of animals in the universe. Linda has expressed her opinions on the idea of disempowering animals and mistreatments of other forms of creatures. When we do this, Linda believes that we remain ignorant creatures thus making it hard for us to understand the universe as our dwelling place much better (Dasgupta 49). This explains why human beings have continued to find th emselves in trouble with nature during the time of disasters and other natural calamities.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Linda Hogan’s Dwellings specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Humans therefore use language as a tool for disempowering the powerless forms of creation such as land and animals occupying our dwelling environments. When this happens, it becomes impossible for us to learn about these animals. We lose touch with the animals and therefore find it hard to understand our natural environment better. As human beings, we should never let such a chance pass or continue to take it for granted. The author, therefore, encourages us to begin learning the language of the powerless such as animals and other creatures if we are to understand our environment much better. From this kind of knowledge, we agree that Hogan’s exploration and analysis of language and human communication in the text reveals to us the limits of understanding our place in the universe (Chomsky Rizzi 78). In the book, Hogan has explored human ignorance of Nature itself. As a result, more people have continued to miss out in knowing the importance of nature. Because we have denied the language of nature, the theme of language makes us understand that human beings will always remain separated from Nature and animals in the world (Hogan 91). If we separate ourselves from these animals, Hogan believes that we will never get the chance to learn about the animals or nature itself. This explains why as human beings we will always continue to limit our chances and potential of understanding our unique place in our society and the universe as a whole. When we separate ourselves from nature and animals, we limit our chances of learning about the surroundings, and how they might affect us as human beings. We cannot learn about the natural environment if we ignore the language of nature as used by different animals and nature itself. When this happens, we realize that we are at a loss and disunity with the universe as a whole. We therefore lose our integrity of the land that makes our community (Hogan 127). The disrespect or ignorance of the non-human through language has undermined the human ability or potential to learn about the surrounding environment.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Since language is our main tool for communication, we have used it selfishly by ignoring the possibility that other creatures and forms in nature have their own form of language. Because of this, we have ignored, or denied, the language of creatures including animals and nature itself. This has made it impossible for use to understand our universe better. As a result, our relationship with the universe has remained ineffective and unrewarding. Humans have disempowered the native people and treated them with prejudice. This has led to disagreements in the social order in our communities (Dasgupta 63). Linda has therefore offered insightful approaches and views through which we can decide to learn about the language of nature and be in a position of learning much about our nature. Through our kind of language, Linda has managed to explain how our use of language and ignorance of other forms of language has limited our understanding of the world around us. This has also affected our ki nd of relationship and attachment with the world thereby limiting the much we benefit from it. If we were to change this situation, it is necessary that we learn how to categorize everything in nature and represent everything equally. If we do this, definitely we will widen our scope of the universe around us and thereby learn much about everything that surrounds us. This is the best way to achieve a contended and fulfilled life in our universe. We can therefore rely on our human language and communication to learn new things about the surrounding environment and by so doing widen our understanding of our place in the universe (Hogan 94). Conclusion The theme of language is evident throughout the book Dwellings by Linda Hogan. Through our inability and ignorance to learn about the language and nature of the non-human, Linda believes that we have only lost our integrity and knowledge of the universe as our dwelling place. The author has used the theme of language to explore how human beings have continued to use language selfishly as the powerful creation. As a result, humans have seen themselves as powerful creatures thereby ignoring the other forms of languages as used in nature and by other forms of creation. Through the exploration and analysis of the theme, we understand that our form of communication and language has limited our knowledge and understanding of our unique place and position in the world. Works Cited Chomsky, Noam. Rizzi, Luigi. On Nature and Language. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. Print. Dasgupta, Partha. Human well-being and the natural environment. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2008. Print. Hogan, Linda. Dwellings: A Spiritual History of the Living World. New York: W.W. Norton Company, 2007. Print. This essay on Linda Hogan’s Dwellings was written and submitted by user Kyan Knox to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Narssist

Narcissist personality disorder or npd can be found in everyone. It protect the ego from severe damage inflicted by others. NPD occurs when narcissistic traits become exaggerated in an individual’s personality. Psychiatrist believe that unmet basic childhood needs is the cause of npd. One theory suggest that during the first eighteen months of life the infant experiences being the center of his mothers world and a oneness with the mother developes. This make the child feel powerful and omnipotent. If a mother is non-responsive and insensitive to the child’s needs during the first eighteen months of life npd will develop. Other theories suggest that during the first seven years of life the amount of abuse or trauma, not necessarily caused by their parents can cause npd. Although there are several charateristics of npd a pattern of grandiosity, excessive need for admiration, entitlement, and lack of empathy are the chief components of diagnosing npd. A narcissistic person is grandiose in their sense of self importance and exaggerates their achievements and talents. He expects to be recognized as superior without achieving any great accomplishments. He requires excessive admiration and constantly seeks it. Narcissistic person has a sense of entitlement and expect others to automatically comply with his wishes. He lacks empathy and does not identify with the feelings or needse of others. Narcissists are constantly searching for a narcissistic supply. This supply is what nourishes the narcissist and they will take it from whatever source is at hand. They want someone inferior, gullible and most importantly not demanding. There are two sources of supply, primary and secondary. The primary source is derived from their profected notoriety and fame, the illusion of mystery they weave around theirself, sex which they perceive as demonstrating their virility, the projection of their wealth, their closeness to power ( mone... Free Essays on Narssist Free Essays on Narssist Narcissist personality disorder or npd can be found in everyone. It protect the ego from severe damage inflicted by others. NPD occurs when narcissistic traits become exaggerated in an individual’s personality. Psychiatrist believe that unmet basic childhood needs is the cause of npd. One theory suggest that during the first eighteen months of life the infant experiences being the center of his mothers world and a oneness with the mother developes. This make the child feel powerful and omnipotent. If a mother is non-responsive and insensitive to the child’s needs during the first eighteen months of life npd will develop. Other theories suggest that during the first seven years of life the amount of abuse or trauma, not necessarily caused by their parents can cause npd. Although there are several charateristics of npd a pattern of grandiosity, excessive need for admiration, entitlement, and lack of empathy are the chief components of diagnosing npd. A narcissistic person is grandiose in their sense of self importance and exaggerates their achievements and talents. He expects to be recognized as superior without achieving any great accomplishments. He requires excessive admiration and constantly seeks it. Narcissistic person has a sense of entitlement and expect others to automatically comply with his wishes. He lacks empathy and does not identify with the feelings or needse of others. Narcissists are constantly searching for a narcissistic supply. This supply is what nourishes the narcissist and they will take it from whatever source is at hand. They want someone inferior, gullible and most importantly not demanding. There are two sources of supply, primary and secondary. The primary source is derived from their profected notoriety and fame, the illusion of mystery they weave around theirself, sex which they perceive as demonstrating their virility, the projection of their wealth, their closeness to power ( mone...

Music, Folklore,and Nationalism (Music Appreciation) Essay

Music, Folklore,and Nationalism (Music Appreciation) - Essay Example Musical nationalism as a separate movement emerged in the mid-19th century. Most frequently the movement is linked to Russia, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Scandinavian countries, and it is represented in the works of Smetana, Dvorak, Grieg, Sibelius, Glinka and The Five, including Mussorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov.(Harvard Dictionary of Music) For the most part, the movement coincided with political changes in Europe of that time and the birth of new nations. Sometimes, unfortunately, national pride instigated by folklore and music that carries a note of nationalism, led nations on the wrong path. Richard Wagner, one of the greatest German composers, used folklore and history in his work a lot. Among his many admirers was Adolf Hitler. â€Å"Richard Wagner was Hitlers favorite composer. During World War I, it is reported, he carried Wagners music from Tristan in his knapsack. Often Hitler had Wagners music performed at party rallies and functions.†(fcit.usf.edu) Hitler’s admiration with Wagner was strengthened with composer’s political views and anti-Semitic writings during his life. When it comes to pointing at what element of music describes the best particular cultures, I believe it is the combination of factors. Folk melodies when quoted in classical music pieces have a strong effect. Some cultures rely heavily on specific instruments to express the tradition. Rhythm and harmony are important too. However, I believe that people feel most national pride when listening to folklore music if the music is strong, heroic and grandeur. It is not a coincidence that most national anthems are written in a way that appeals to feelings of belonging and unity. It is not a surprise that Nazi Germany adopted Wagner and his heroic and deeply Teutonic music. Folklore is not limited by boundaries between countries and nations. It travels along with people when they migrate. In that regard, United States, are a great example of how folklore have transcended over thousands

Influence of Parents in the Development of Children Essay

Influence of Parents in the Development of Children - Essay Example Elders expect them to 'behave'. Nature versus nurture is a catch-phrase for the roles played by heredity and environment in the development of a human being. To get into more details, first let's discuss the very meaning of both the terms. The Nature theory is based on the idea of the animal instincts. 'Nature' indicates nativism, innatism, etc.-what the children acquire from the parents. 'Nurture' means what they adopt from what they are taught, especially from outside the home. On reaching the age of two, a normal child develops the basement for a lifetime-learning. This is the period when it is 24*7, in the shield of the parents. Every parent is concerned about their kids. They want the best for their kids. They implant everything the child needs to know so as to make its future an efficient one. Thus they act as the key to their intellectual growth. Parental influences differentiate one child from the other. They are indeed, the most important educators. Their actions with the child are the most obvious ones. "Parents, who regularly talk and read to their children, usually produce children with the largest vocabularies, the highest intelligent scores, and the best academic grades" (Gottfried, Fleming &Gottfried, 1998; Ninio, 1980). Likewise, "parents who reason with their children while making requests for obedience usually end up with more civil children" (Baumrind, 1967). Now let's glance at the Nurture part. ... They learn as they grow. Depending on what they want in their lives, they develop their personalities. They find it impossible to grow up without the influence of the surroundings. Some researchers have given proofs too. "Children who spent most of their first three years in day-care centers do not differ in behavior or adjustment from children who spent that time at home" (NICHD Early Child Care Researcher Network, 1998). Judith Harris, Psychologist, points out that, a child raised by book loving parents need not be smarter than the child from opera loving parents. "Children who speak Polish or Korean at home but English with their peers end up as English speakers. The language learned outside the home takes precedence over the one their parents taught them and they speak it without an accent" (Harris, 1998). At times, Nature and Nurture creates a catch 22 situation. Nature gives us abilities. Nurture moulds them. The inheritance of the same eye color, hair color, etc. owe to the Nature. "The Nature theory takes things a step further to say that more abstract traits such as intelligence, personality, aggression and sexual orientation are also encoded in an individual's DNA", so notes Kimberly Powell, a Genealogist. American Psychologist John Watson challenges, "Give me a dozen healthy infants and my own specific world to bring them up in, and I'll guarantee to take anyone at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select-doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant, chef and Yes, even beggar and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations and raise of his ancestors." We have seen quite a few examples. For the proper development of a

India’s Classical Age Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

India’s Classical Age - Essay Example It is believed that Kalidasa was one of the nine gems in the court of the great Vikramaditya. Therefore, it is evident that some influence of the socio-political elements of the period can be traced in the plot of the great drama as no literature is free from the local and contemporary social influences. The great drama by Kalidasa, in the similar fashion, captivates the rich and glorious heritage of India and its tradition. We come to know that kings were fond of hunting and as the opening scene shows the king set out for hunting and chasing the antelopes, Sakoontala indeed is a great material to be incorporated as a film. The plot of the drama and its narrative structure captivates great dramatic element. Along with that character portrayal and character development of the drama give the play a total cinematic dimension. All the characters are portrayed brilliantly and coherently for the support of the plot and its development. A thorough focus on the main characters that of Sakoontala and Dushyanta launches its readers to a better understanding of the play incorporated as a film. The tender and innocent Sakoontala at the lap of nature falls in love with the king. Her love is fresh and pure as the nature. Amid the charm of the nature and enchantment of the nature girl Sakoontala, the king is enamoured in the love of the nature and the young tender girl with the ferocity of lightening and charm of an antelope. But their departure and the trajectory which the tender girl from the lap of the nature, Sakoontala undertakes launch her to a n evolved character of a matured fighter of her social rights and give a complete coherence to the plot and trajectory of the character development. On the other hand, the character transformation of Dushyanta, the king also is worth appreciation. His journey from falling in love to forgetting it and finding the lost love once more supports the plot development and trajectory of Sakoontala’s character equally

Isopropyl Alcohol Can Be Oxidized Environmental Sciences Essay

Isopropyl Alcohol Can Be Oxidized Environmental Sciences Essay Being a secondary alcohol, isopropyl alcohol can be oxidized to acetone, which is the corresponding ketone. This can be achieved using oxidizing agents such as chromic acid, or by dehydrogenation of isopropyl alcohol over a heated copper catalyst: (CH3)2CHOH ? (CH3)2CO + H2 Isopropyl alcohol is often used as both solvent and hydride source in the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction and other transfer hydrogenation reactions; it is oxidized to acetone. Isopropyl alcohol may be converted to 2-bromopropane using phosphorus tribromide, or dehydrated to propene by heating with sulfuric acid. Like most alcohols, isopropyl alcohol reacts with active metals such as potassium to form alkoxides which can be called isopropoxides. The reaction with aluminium (initiated by a trace of mercury) is used to prepare the catalyst aluminium isopropoxide.[3] Isopropanol becomes increasingly viscous with decreasing temperature. At temperatures below -70C isopropanol resembles maple syrup in viscosity. [edit]Production In 1994, 1.5 million tonnes of isopropyl alcohol was produced in the United States, Europe, and Japan.[4] This compound is primarily produced by combining water and propene in a hydration reaction. Of minor significance is the hydrogenation of acetone.[4][5] There are two routes for the hydration process: indirect hydration via the sulfuric acid process, and direct hydration. The former process, which can use low-quality propene, predominates in the USA while the latter process, which requires high-purity propene, is more commonly used in Europe. These processes give predominantly isopropyl alcohol rather than 1-propanol because the addition of water or sulfuric acid to propene follows Markovnikovs rule. Indirect hydration The indirect process reacts propene with sulfuric acid to form a mixture of sulfate esters. Subsequent hydrolysis of these esters by steam produces isopropyl alcohol, which is distilled. Diisopropyl ether is a significant by-product of this process; it is recycled back to the process and hydrolyzed to give the desired product.[4] Direct hydration Direct hydration reacts propene and water, either in gas or liquid phases, at high pressures in the presence of solid or supported acidic catalysts. Higher purity propylene (> 90 %) tends to be required for this type of process.[4] Both processes require that the isopropyl alcohol be separated from water and other by-products by distillation. Isopropyl alcohol and water form an azeotrope and simple distillation gives a material which is 87.9% by weight isopropyl alcohol and 12.1% by weight water.[6] Pure (anhydrous) isopropyl alcohol is made by azeotropic distillation of the wet isopropyl alcohol using either diisopropyl ether or cyclohexane as azeotroping agents.[4] Hydrogenation of acetone Crude acetone is hydrogenated in the liquid phase over Raney nickel or a mixture of copper and chromium oxide to give isopropyl alcohol. This process is useful when coupled with excess acetone production, such as the cumene process.[4] [edit]Uses In 1990, 45 thousand tonnes of isopropyl alcohol were used in the United States. The vast majority of isopropyl alcohol was used as a solvent for coatings or for industrial processes. Isopropyl alcohol in particular is popular for pharmaceutical applications,[4] presumably due to the low toxicity of any residues. Some isopropyl alcohol is used as a chemical intermediate. Isopropyl alcohol may be converted to acetone, but the cumene process is more significant. In that year, a significant fraction (5.4 tonnes) was consumed for household use and in personal care products. It is also used as a gasoline additive.[4] [edit]Solvent Isopropyl alcohol dissolves a wide range of non-polar compounds. It also evaporates quickly and is relatively non-toxic, compared to alternative solvents. Thus it is used widely as a solvent and as a cleaning fluid, especially for dissolving oils. Examples of this application include cleaning electronic devices such as contact pins (like those on ROM cartridges), magnetic tape and disk heads (such as those in audio and video tape recorders and floppy disk drives), the lenses of lasers in optical disc drives (e.g. CD, DVD) and removing thermal paste from heatsinks and IC packages (such as CPUs.[7]) Isopropyl alcohol is used in keyboard, LCD and laptop cleaning, is sold commercially as a whiteboard cleaner, and is a strong but safer alternative to common household cleaning products. It is used to clean LCD and glass computer monitor screens (at some risk to the anti-reflection coating on some screens[citation needed]), and used to give second-hand or worn non-vinyl phonograph records newer-looking sheen. Isopropyl alcohol should not be used to clean vinyl records as it may leach plasticizer from the vinyl making it more rigid[citation needed]. It is effective at removing residual glue from some sticky labels although some other adhesives used on tapes and paper labels are resistant to it. It can also be used to remove stains from most fabrics, wood, cotton, etc. In addition it can also be used to clean paintballs or other oil based products so that they may be reused, commonly known as repainting. It is used as a wetting agent in the fountain solution used in lithographic printing, and often used as a solvent for French polishing shellac used in cabinet making. [edit]Intermediate Isopropyl alcohol is esterified to give isopropyl acetate, another solvent. It reacts with carbon disulfide to give sodium isopropylxanthate, a weed killer. Isopropyl alcohol reacts with titanium tetrachloride and aluminium metal to give titanium and aluminium isopropoxides respectively, the former a catalyst, and the latter a chemical reagent.[4] This compound may serve as a chemical reagent in itself, by acting as a dihydrogen donor in transfer hydrogenation. [edit]Medical Disinfecting pads typically contain a 60ÃÆ' ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½70% solution of isopropyl alcohol in water. A 75 % v/v solution in water may be used as a hand sanitizer.[8] Isopropyl alcohol is used as a water-drying aid for the prevention of otitis externa, better known as swimmers ear.[9] [edit]Automotive Isopropyl alcohol is a major ingredient in gas dryer fuel additives. In significant quantities, water is a problem in fuel tanks, as it separates from the gasoline, and can freeze in the supply lines at cold temperatures. It does not remove water from gasoline; rather, the alcohol solubilizes water in gasoline. Once soluble, water does not pose the same risk as insoluble water as it will no longer accumulate in the supply lines and freeze. Isopropyl alcohol is often sold in aerosol cans as a windscreen de-icer. Isopropyl alcohol is also used to remove brake fluid traces from hydraulic braking systems, so that the brake fluid (usually DOT 3, DOT 4 or mineral oil) does not contaminate the brake pads, which would result in poor braking. [edit]Laboratory As a biological specimen preservative, isopropyl alcohol provides a comparatively non-toxic alternative to formaldehyde and other synthetic preservatives. Isopropyl alcohol solutions of 90ÃÆ' ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½99% are used to preserve specimens. Isopropyl alcohol is often used in DNA extraction. It is added to a DNA solution in order to precipitate the DNA into a pellet after centrifuging the DNA. This is possible because DNA is insoluble in isopropyl alcohol. [edit]Safety Isopropyl alcohol vapor is denser than air and is highly flammable with a very wide combustible range. It should be kept away from heat and open flame. When mixed with air or other oxidizers it can explode through deflagration.[10] Isopropyl alcohol has also been reported to form explosive peroxides.[10][11] Like many organic solvents, long term application to the skin can cause defatting.[12] [edit]Toxicology Isopropyl alcohol and its metabolite, acetone, act as central nervous system (CNS) depressants. Symptoms of isopropyl alcohol poisoning include flushing, headache, dizziness, CNS depression, nausea, vomiting, anesthesia, and coma. Poisoning can occur from ingestion, inhalation, or absorption; therefore, well-ventilated areas and protective gloves are recommended. Around 15 g of isopropyl alcohol can have a toxic effect on a 70 kg human if left untreated.[13] However, it is not nearly as toxic as methanol or ethylene glycol. Isopropyl alcohol does not cause an anion gap acidosis (in which as lowered blood serum pH causes depletion of bicarbonate anion) unlike ethanol and methanol. Isopropyl alcohol does however, produce an osmolal gap between the calculated and measured osmolalities of serum, as do the other alcohols. Overdoses may cause a fruity odor on the breath as a result of its metabolism to acetone, which is further metabolized to produce the nutrients acetate and glucose.[14] Isopropyl alcohol is oxidized to form acetone by alcohol dehydrogenase in the liver.

Understanding Gender Roles in School-Smart and Mother-Wise Essay

Understanding Gender Roles in Wendy Luttrell's School-Smart and Mother-Wise "I had went so far I just got tired. I had got to the place where I didn't care if I learned anything or not" (59). This quote expresses quite plainly but strongly what many of the women in Wendy Luttrell's School-Smart and Mother-Wise felt in regards to their educational experience. Though Lilly put the thought into words, any number of these women probably had the same feelings concerning their school-age years. This paper will focus on Chapter 5 from that book, "Storied Selves and School Mission". I believe that many of the strongly established gender roles we have in society today are predominantly socialized and implanted in the impressionable minds of youth in school. Through examples from the book, as well as my own personal anecdotes, this paper will examine how schools institutionalize these gender roles; how this affects the self-concept that students (especially female students) have; and what we, as a society, have learned from this. Luttrell's study consisted of interviewing working class women who had decided to return back to school in their middle-aged years. She conducted the study with two groups, one from rural North Carolina, and one from urban Philadelphia. While there were many differences in the two groups' sentiments on many aspects of school, not one of the women she interviewed said they felt comfortable in school. Many of the women attributed this to class differences between them and their teachers, and these class differences very often involved geographic distinctions. For the Philadelphia women, it was an "suburban-urban" (55) issue, and for the women from North Carolina it was an "urban-rural" (55) issue. These c... ...implement. In my opinion, gender stratification in society-at-large is the issue at hand, not the mirroring of that in the school system. But, ultimately, the discussion of gender stratification in society, or the reflection of that stratification in the schools is a chicken or egg question. I think that an entire overhaul of the school system and curricula is necessary to help the schools emerge from the 1960's (which was the last time much of the curricula was seriously revised, including my high school in Baton Rouge) and into the 21st century. This rethinking would take out hidden assumptions about gender and place boys and girls on a more even footing in an academic setting. This egalitarian classroom would then be translated into the society-at-large and we would finally become a society in which gender equality is not only talked about, but actually exists.