To Be Someone, To Belong:The Black Womyns Experience in Rastafari :: essays papers

"To Be Someone, To Belong":The Black Womyn's Experience in Rastafari Introduction Upon seeing various Jamaican films and listening to various reggae artists, a constant question running through my mind was,"Where are all the womyn?"In all of the films it seemed as though there were virtually no womyn in Jamaica, and those that were there were only on the periphery, not playing a main role in everyday life. Those films that depicted the Rastafarian way of life seemed to show no womyn in them either. I was somewhat confused about the seeming absence of womyn, and it forced me to question their role in Jamaican and Rastafarian society. My questions regarding this issue were pushed further when a friend of mine returned home from Jamaica and expressed the same kinds of concerns. She said that during the few weeks she spent there she had seen maybe a dozen or two dozen Jamaican womyn altogether. As I moved further into my studies of Rastafarianism and reggae music, I noticed how gendered the language in both the religious tenets and music lyrics was. As a western womyn, this was peculiar to me. As you can notice, I don't even write the word"womyn"with the"man"in it. I find it insulting that my identity should be bound up in that of the opposite sex. I am entrenched in the world of political correctness and gender neutrality. However, reggae music and other rhetorical pieces of literature from Rastafari do not contain the same element of neutral gender identity as the United States has been moving towards. Rather, much of it is framed in a male or masculinist language. This implanted a few suspicions within me about the possibility of Rastafarianism being somewhat patriarchal, but, I was at first unwilling to accept the idea. I felt that this was impossible due to the fact that Rastafarianism was such a socially conscious movement dealing with the horrors of oppression and ex ploitation of blacks. However, it seems as though the impossible is possible, or at least mostly possible, and traditional Rastafarianism enforces rules and cultural norms that keep womyn in the subordinate, domesticated realm of everyday life. Yet, in the last thirty years or so, those rules and norms have been slowly challenged by a new generation of Rastafarian womyn who no longer accept their inferior position and are demanding greater equality. These womyn, some of whom turn to reggae to promote their own socially conscious ideas, symbolize the growing consciousness of womyn in Jamaica and other majority world countries who have experienced centuries of oppression.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a painful, chronic disease that affects at least 6. 3 million women and girls in the U. S. It occurs when tissue that lines the uterus is found outside the uterus, usually in the abdomen on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and ligaments that support the uterus. The cells of endometriosis attach themselves to tissue outside the uterus and are called endometriosis implants. In endometriosis, displaced endometrial tissue continues to act as it normally would; it thickens, breaks down and bleeds with each cycle. And because this displaced tissue has no way to exit your body, it becomes trapped. Surrounding tissue can become irritated, eventually developing sace tissue and adhesions. The cause of endometriosis is unknown. One theory is that the endometrial tissue is deposited in unusual locations by the backing up of menstrual flow into the fallopian tubes and the pelvic and abdominal cavity during menstruation; also called retrograde menstruation. Another possibility is that areas lining the pelvic organs possess primitive cells that are able to grow into other forms of tissue, such as endometrial cells. Another cause of endometriosis might be the direct transfer of endometrial tissues during surgery and may even be seen in surgical scars. Transfer of endometrial cells via the bloodstream or lymphatic system is the most likely explanation for the rare cases of endometriosis that has develop in the brain and other organs distant form the pelvis. Research by the Endometriosis Association revealed a startling link between dioxin exposure and the development of endometriosis. Endometriosis affects women in their reproductive years. The exact prevalence of endometriosis is not known, since many women may have the condition and have no symptoms at all. While most cases of endometriosis are diagnosed in women aged around 25-35 years old, endometriosis has been reported in girls as young as 11 years old. Most women who have endometriosis, in fact, do not have symptoms; the most common symptoms are pain before and during periods, pain with sex, infertility, fatigue, painful urination during periods, and painful bowel movements during periods. Pelvic pain however depends partly on where the implants of endometriosis are located. Endometriosis can be one of the reasons for infertility for otherwise healthy couples. Endometriosis can be suspected based on symptoms of pelvic pain and findings during physical examinations in the doctor’s office. Unfortunately, neither the symptoms nor the physical examinations can be relied upon to conclusively establish the diagnosis of endometriosis. Tests to check for physical clues of endometriosis include: Pelvic exam, ultrasound, and laparoscopy. Treatment for endometriosis is usually with medications or surgery. The approach you and your doctor choose will depend on your age, severity of symptoms, severity of disease and whether you want children in the future. There are also hormonal therapies used to treat endometriosis like: hormonal contraceptives, Gonadotropin-releasing hormone, danazol, medroxyprogesterone, aromatase inhibitors, conservative surgery and hysterectomy. Endometriosis is more common in infertile, compared to fertile women. However, the condition usually does not fully prevent conception. Most women with endometriosis will still be able to conceive, especially those with mild to moderate endometriosis. It is estimated that up to 70% of women with mild and moderate endometriosis will conceive within three years without any specific treatment.

John F. Kennedys Life and Accomplishments - 857 Words

The first Roman Catholic president, John F. Kennedy, fought through many hardships. Becoming the president at the age of 43, he went through many difficult trials to get that role due to his religion and health. Although he died early, he still managed to go beyond his presidential duties and accomplished a lot during his short term. John F. Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts. Ever since he was little, he has had very poor health. He suffered from a variety of diseases and conditions such as mumps, German measles, chicken pox, infections, and repeated bronchitis. When he was three, he almost died from scarlet fever. At the age of fourteen, he only weighed one-hundred seventeen pounds and had such a thin†¦show more content†¦Johnson, to be his running mate(source 4). Kennedy faced many problems running for president. He was only 43 when he ran for presidency, so many were worried about his lack of experience. There were also many concerns abo ut his religion. Non-Catholics often worried that, as a Catholic, Kennedy would listen to the pope and that the pope would basically be running the country. He chose to face the issues openly and directly, giving a series of speeches made to address any uncertainties about his faith and subjecting himself to a round of questioning about his views on church-state relations by leading Protestant clergy in Houston. He also won over many voters in Wisconsin, which was predominantly Protestant, to show that his Catholicism was no barrier to his being elected in a largely Protestant country. In order to deflect the worries of his young age and inexperience, he presented himself as a person with a lot of energy and open to ideas. He cast himself as a liberal in the model of Franklin D. Roosevelt(source 4). He promised more housing and jobs for veterans. He also promised to lead America out of what he called the â€Å"conservative rut† into which he accused Nixon of running the country(source 1). On September 26, 1960, Kennedy and Nixon engaged in the first of four televised debates on issues of national importance. It was the first time T.V. Had been used to beam presidential debates where people could watch it fromShow MoreRelatedJohn F. Kennedys Life, Struggles, and Accomplishments Essay872 Words   |  4 Pages John F. Kennedy’s beginnings These words said by a powerful president, who had helped this country not only be successful but a very strong country. John F. Kennedy said these words to tell Americans, you need to care for your country not just yourself. John F. Kennedy was not only a president but he was in the U.S. Navy, which I think means he has pride in his country and was willing to do anything he could do to make it a better place. In chronological order I will discuss John F. Kennedy’sRead MoreJohn F. Kennedy: An Influential Person Essay1335 Words   |  6 PagesJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy led the start of a new era in human history. He was born on May 29, 1917 in the small Boston suburb of Brookline, Massachusetts. He majored in government and international relations at Harvard University. In 1961 Kennedy served as President until his assassination in 1963. John F. Kennedy influenced and touched the lives of people everywhere through his efforts with the Apollo 11 space mission, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the founding of the Peace Corps. Kennedy wasRead MoreJohn F. Kennedy s Speech871 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"John F. Kennedy was elected in 1960 as the 35th president of the United States. At 43-years-old JFK became the youngest man and the first Roman Catholic to hold that office.† President John F. Kennedy gave his inaugural address on Friday, January 20, 1961. In his speech he addresses many issues faced by society during that time, as well as today. Kennedy expresses his presidential intentions by saying â€Å"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear anyRead MoreSummary Of A Quilt Of A Country And The Immigrant Contributions1113 Words   |  5 Pagesfamiliarities with their homeland in search of a better life in America, where jobs were easy to find and the economy was booming. These immigrants formed almost the entire American population, a demographic anomaly in which people from nationalities separated by land and sea; these people come from countries separated by expansive distances can live within the same neighborho od. Both Anna Quindlen with her essay â€Å"A Quilt of a Country† and John F. Kennedy with his essay â€Å"The Immigrant Contribution†Read MoreThe Leadership Styles And Behavioral Analysis1532 Words   |  7 PagesDemocratic answer but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past—let us accept our own responsibility for the future† -John F. Kennedy, 35th US President. This paper describes about the Leadership styles and Behavioral analysis of former U.S. president John F. Kennedy. Elected in 1960 as the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy was the youngest man to hold that office. He was born on May 29, 1917, in Brookline, Massachusetts to Joseph P. Kennedy, a self-madeRead MoreEssay on Rhetorical Analysis of Jfk Civil Rights Address862 Words   |  4 PagesAddress was one of the most influential speeches President John F. Kennedy has ever presented to the American people, and was one of many of his many accomplishments during his presidency. America was experiencing racial discrimination and racial inequality, and Americans needed a leader who would unite them. John F. Kennedy was a sincere, honest, inspirational individual whose duty was to influence equality to Americans. President John F. Kennedy’s address inspires and pulls on the passion of Americans;Read MoreCritical Analysis Of John F Kennedy994 Words   |  4 Pagesdefined by the accomplishment of authentic progress. In the United States of America, this socio-political transformation has been displayed through the civil rights movements, the sex revolution and the Vietnam war protest. Among the figures that helped shape this revolution is John F. Ken nedy; he is widely perceived as a man whom reflected the ideals and aspirations of that era. However, this sentiment was not shared among each and all. As a result, on November 1963, President John F. Kennedy wasRead MoreKennedy Is an American Tragic Hero1695 Words   |  7 Pagesclass was kept afloat for about four hours by Kennedy, who swam three miles to a small island with McMahon’s life jacket between his teeth. My stepfather often told me that he begged Kennedy to just leave him there, that the rescue was too difficult†¦He thought the world of President Kennedy, who saved his life, no doubt about it. (Granberry, Michael). Kennedy not only saved McMahon’s life but he also saved the lives of almost a dozen of his crew men. JFK’s rescued men talked about this event at anRead MoreThe Leadership Styles And Behavioral Analysis1687 Words   |  7 Pagesthe Democratic answer but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past—let us accept our own responsibility for the future† -John F. Kennedy, 35th US President. This paper describes about the Leadership styles and Behavioral analysis of former U.S. president John F. Kennedy. Elected in 1960 as the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy was the youngest man to hold that office. He was born on May 29, 1917, in Brookline, Massachusetts to Joseph P. Kennedy, a self-madeRead MoreLife And Death Of John Fitzgerald Kennedy Essay1413 Words   |  6 Pages Life to Death of John Fitzgerald Kennedy Hailee Barnwell Central High School Abstract John F. Kennedy lived a very hard, but famous life. In his life he batted many deaths and illnesses. He was in the navy, in congress, the Senate of the United States, and the 35th President. Even though most people think Mr. Kennedy lived a very easy and flowing life, they are all wrong. He struggled through life, but never let its show through to many people. While he struggled through all