Abstract
The paper discusses the reasons put forth to explain why boys underachieve in school. The paper specifically looks at the following explanations: the feminising of the curriculum, the low expectations boys have of themselves, the crisis of masculinity, and the Marxist theory, which sees the education system as repressing working class children. The paper concludes with the opinion that it not gender that is the main factor for boys' underachievement, but class. An annotated bibliography is included with the paper.

From the Paper
"In the academic year 2004/05, 62 per cent of girls achieved five or more GCSE grades A* to C, compared to only 52 per cent of boys. Many people would suggest that this sort of data represents the crisis that is 'male underachievement'. Male underachievement is the failure of boys to do as well in the education system as their female counterparts. And yet the 'crisis' only a few decades ago was that of female underachievement. So what has happened to account for this shift in achievement?"

Tags:gender, class, masculinity, rebels

Abstract
This paper begins with an overview of the problems facing feminist theorists regarding terminology, such as the persistent risk of 'essentializing' woman's culturally specific situation into an immutable truth. It then discusses Kristeva's conception of the culturally and temporally specific woman in "Le Temps Des Femmes" (Women's Time) and compares it with Cixous' work in 'La Jeune Mee' (The Newly Born Woman) in terms of the theorists' similar approaches to the constructed, 'symbolic' woman. It then looks briefy at Simone Beauvoir's early work, "Le Deuxieme Sexe" (The Second Sex), adding her conception of ontology as a perpetual state of becoming and political analysis of woman's situation to the constructivist debate. Finally, it examines Irigaray's more post-structuralist work (including "Speculum" and "Ce Sexe Qui N'en Est Pas Un") in order to discuss the further complication of housing the material aspect of woman within langage.

From the Paper
"Kristeva's thought on feminism provides a useful point of departure for a discussion of how a useful feminist understanding of the term woman, especially if taken from an "essentialist" point of view, is far from simple. In her 1982 essay Le temps des femmes , Kristeva postulates that the concept of "woman" desiring men and desired by them is created in the symbolic by the concept of desire founded on a lack with the penis as its major referent. She believes that the "meaning" of the woman object, the female body only exists in the symbolic and that any attempt to deny, or re-traverse the separation between this symbolic nature and something contained within the physical nature of "woman" merely magnifies this separation and perpetuates the myth which allows oppression to occur."

Tags:beauvoir, cixous, feminism, gender, irigaray, kristeva

Abstract
This paper assesses the hypothesis that gender difference contributes to attitudes towards learning. It looks at how learning styles inevitably play a vital part in this study as men and women tend to learn more effectively through various types of learning. It proposes a non-experimental study with a mixed opportunity sample of 30 male and female students, who were asked to complete a questionnaire. It concludes that females have a more positive attitude in reference to learning.

Outline
Abstract
Introduction
Hypothesis
Method
Results
Discussion and Conclusion

From the Paper
"There are many theories upon the concept of learning, in terms of how and why a person learns. Learning is individual to a person, and the best style for that person is developed throughout years. Some have the natural ability to be able learn, take in and store information for a future purpose, and naturally learning will be of a more positive experience. Those, however, who lack this natural ability or the ability to want to learn may find the learning process tedious and thus research suggests that a persons learning style and ability is variable upon many factors. The concept of learning styles is rooted in the classification of psychological types."

Tags:students, ability

Abstract
This paper examines how the play "Twelfth Night" by William Shakespeare, is concerned essentially with deception on various levels. It looks at how although deception is often a comic device, in this play it is often a means of deepening the ideas, allowing the audience to explore gender and sexuality, mainly through Orsino and the Viola/Cesario plot.

From the Paper
"With the part of Viola, Shakespeare immediately presents the idea of gender confusion and interchangeability between the sexes. When the play was first performed, the cast would have been entirely male, so by the end of the first scene, the audience is aware that we have a boy playing a girl who is playing a boy on the stage. These levels of ambiguity suggest that gender roles will be important. Shakespeare then continues to explore this throughout the play, through the character of Cesario (Viola in disguise) and his relationships with other major characters such as Orsino and Olivia. Orsino sends Cesario to seduce Olivia on his behalf, and, unfortunately for the duke, Olivia falls in love with Cesario. The reasons for this are dramatised at the end of act one, scene five. Olivia asks Cesario to explain what he himself would do if in Orsino's position of lust towards her, so effectively asking his opinion of Orsino's technique and encouraging him to imagine that he loved her himself."

Tags:cesario, viola, orsino

Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that in 'Howards End', the sense of gender boundaries is so vividly written that one can not only gain an in depth understanding of this novel but also of the age. The writer discusses that the reader is introduced to an unfair society within England that holds so many flaws, yet the feminist political movement is identifiable throughout. The novel itself seems to be building up to some type of significant revolution or cultural change. It does this through the excellent creation of characters like Helen, Margaret and Mr Wilcox who represent figures within the social system. The writer notes that one can see the turbulent lives of these people gradually evolve through the three main families in this novel and not only by gender boundaries but also social class. The writer concludes that the events seem to signify a divided nation that shows a clash of interests, gender and class but ultimately something has to change.

From the Paper
"A perfect example is when Helen visits the Wilcox's and brings into the family discussion the idea of equality. Her description and opinion of Mr Wilcox's response shows just how much she fits back into the mould of the 'perfect woman', maybe without even knowing it. The simple fact that she feels ashamed of voicing a perfectly reasonable idea is brilliant in showing just how controlled women of that time were. What is even more significant is that fact that Mr Wilcox is the one doing the controlling. The final parts of the novel are in a way very different to the beginning, as the women are presented as much more libertaed especially Helen. The novel may well be representing the progression of female equality which was taking place during that period. Helen is a romantic and spontaneous but these are arguably qualities that a woman were condemned to have. Margaret has broken through by using the gift of peacemaker that she so carefully uses to make other characters closer. Despite the original feelings of many of the Wilcox family such as Charles and Dolly, it is Margaret who has succeeded in getting Howard's End along with the respect of her husband. At the very end of the novel she appears to mirror the first Mrs Wilcox through her gained experience, giving the appearance of wisdom yet has developed a larger sense of self worth and independence."

Tags:Wilcox, characters, male, sexism

Abstract
This paper examines how issues raised by cross-dressing and transgender identities in film are largely dependent on the way in which they are treated. It looks at how the mainstream cross-dressing comedy finds reasons to dismiss the potential danger of cross-dressing, while independent and foreign films such as "Ma Vie en Rose" and "All About My Mother" tend to offer a representation which is crude and possibly more accurate.

From the Paper
"Tootsie also highlights the way in which women are treated in the workplace, as he learns submission as an actress who has to obey. He used to be hard to work with as an actor but as Dorothy Michaels, he has the door shut to his face by the director and is also refused a drink when the director just says 'no, no, she's fine'. Moreover, he says that he would hit the director if he wasn't dressed as a woman, which points out to the social boundaries and expectations of what a woman should do and should not do, mainly that women do not hit and men should not hit women."

Tags:crossdressing, en, feminism, ma, queer, rose, transsexual, theory, tolerance, transvestite

Abstract
This paper examines how critics have argued that 'much of the novel's great appeal derives from its hostility toward female sexuality' and how arguably, there are instances in the text where female sexuality is indeed viewed negatively: It is seen as animalistic, masculine and frightening. It critically discusses the way gender roles are portrayed, including attraction and repulsion between the sexes and the ways in which Stoker uses images to signify religious themes and sex.

From the Paper
"Contrastingly, after Lucy's transformation, it is precisely her womanliness that is focussed upon, with Seward observing that 'she was, if possible, more radiantly beautiful that ever' (p. 240). In fact, Lucy's fate epitomises the treatment of female sexuality in the novel. She is considered to be sweet and 'pure' (p. 253) until Dracula awakens her sexuality, then the men hate, fear her and cannot believe she is the same person: 'the remnant of my love turned into hate and loathing; had she then to be killed, I could have done it with savage delight' (p. 253). Literally, she rejects stereotypical femininity, as 'with a careless motion, she flung to the ground, callous as a devil, the child that up to now she had clutched strenuously to her breast' (p. 253)."

Tags:evil, gothic, rape, religion, stereotype, vampire

Abstract
This paper discusses the two contrasting theories regarding gender differences in speech: the Dominance approach and the Difference approach, by reference to Deborah Tannen?s study "You Just Don?t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation" and West and Zimmerman?s study "Sex Roles, Interruptions and Silences in Conversation". The paper critically evaluates these positions and considers explanations for the differences in male and female languages usage. In conclusion, the paper reviews possible strategies to decrease the confusion, frustration and hurt that is caused by men and women?s contrasting speech styles.

From the Paper
"A wide range of socio-linguistic research shows that men and women do use speech in different ways. Yet interpretations of these differences, and arguments concerning what causes them are complex and varied. The two main stances taken when analyzing gender and language are a Dominance approach or a Difference approach, with some linguists taking a position somewhere in between the two. This paper evaluates two studies that demonstrate a Difference and a Dominance approach and explores the different ways in which they analyze gender differences in speech."

Tags:feminist, sociolinguistics, speech, tannen, west, zimmerman

Abstract
The author of the paper argues that the twentieth century has seen significant improvements for women in Britain. The issues and events mentioned in support of this are the Suffragette Movement, the two world wars, the decline of industry and the freedom given to women in all spheres of society.

From the Paper
"By the end of the twentieth century women can now go into virtually any job they want, they can serve in frontline armed forces, become doctors, scientists, editors, managers and politicians. In the year 2000, 1 in 5 women earn more than their working partner and on average women earn 75% of a male workers hourly wage. In some professions women still say there is a "glass ceiling" but in time, through the continuing change of peoples attitudes there will be an equal playing field. All this has been made possible because women now have choice, events and people throughout the century have made this possible, from Emmeline Pankhurst's militant tactics to mass employment for women during two world wars." .

Tags:Emmeline, Pankhurst, Social, Political, Union, 1913, Cat, Mouse, Act, World, War, I, Representation, People, World, War, II, feminism

Abstract
This paper discusses how "Thelma and Louise" strayed from the typical "road movie" formula in terms of casting, theme and storyline. It shows how the film not only helped to redefine gender stereotypes but also paved the way for other women, as well as gays, people of color and other traditionally underrepresented groups, to become "road movie heroes" as well.

From the Paper
"The conventional road movie twosome, which is usually comprised of either two young males or a male and female with a romantic connection, has permeated the genre since its inception. Thelma and Louise broke that tradition by not only using two female protagonists, but by portraying men in a consistently negative light; essentially as either "rapists", "bullies" or "boy toys"."

Tags:action, adventure, film, gender, roles, theme, gay, color