The 8 Scariest Days in America

Americans Divided Essay example - 2008 Words

In America we have two main political parties the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, each with different point of views. Democrats are labeled as liberals and the Republicans are considered conservatives. Neither of the two parties are made up of people who totally agree with everything the party stands for. Both parties disagree on three major issues abortion, same-sex marriage and universal health care. I found that my beliefs, ideas and views tend to lean more towards the Democratic side, and will be focusing on supporting the democrat party on these three main issues in association to civil rights. Abortions are currently legal in the United States and many Democrats believe it should remain legal and that women have the†¦show more content†¦Furthermore the 95-10 initiative provides support for women and families who are facing unplanned pregnancy. Part of the initiative is to help pregnant women stay in college, helping women provide food and health care for their children, and encourage adoption as an alternative to ending a life (Democrats for life of America). Abortions prior to January 22, 1973 were illegal. And many women made desperate and dangerous attempts to induce their own abortion or resorted to untrained providers in unsanitary conditions. This often led to complications needing emergency care that ranged from perforated uterus, retained placenta, hemorrhaging, cervical wounds, infections, poisoning, shock and gangrene. An estimated 68,000 women worldwide die each year from unsafe abortions in countries where abortions are illegal (National Abortion federation). Since the Supreme Court reestablished legal abortion in the U.S. in the 1973 Roe V. Wade decision, women have benefited from significant advances in medical technology and greater access to high-quality services. Generally, the earlier the abortion the less complicated and safer it is. Complications arising from aspiration abortions provided before 13 weeks are quite unusual. About 88 percent of the women who obtain abortions are less than 13 weeks pregnant. Of these women, 97 percent report no complications; 2.5 percent have minor complications that can beShow MoreRelatedSegregation And Economic Inequality : The Loss Of The Integrationist Dream By Gary Orfield846 Words   |  4 PagesIn America, segregation and economic inequality has divided the country in two. Not only has the citizens in this great nation suffered from these oppressing factors, but also the development of this great nation. In this essay, I will discuss how segregation and economic inequality has impacted America. I will also discuss how the ghetto was created from a deliberate plan to separate the â€Å"inferior races† from the â€Å"superior races†. The Three Most Important Aspects In Race and the Liberal Agenda:Read MoreBlack Boys And Girls Holding Hands With Little Brown Vs. Board Of Education1663 Words   |  7 Pagesunconstitutional, yet schools are still significantly segregated. Even though African American students are no longer legally bound to a learning institution separated from whites, a divide is still evidently present. It is not just litigation that keeps diversity out of public schools, but it is also the effects of a non-seizing cycle between economics, education, and environment that ultimately keeps American schools segregated. Contemporary segregation begins with the influence of education onRead MoreSeven Year War Paper1109 Words   |  5 Pages(Davidson, 2006). Famine, warfare, and religious persecution forced most of the non- English groups to leave from their homes in Europe and go to the American colonies. This immigration quickly increased the population and made the colonies more diverse. The diversity caused the colonies to be primarily divided along cultural lines. The colonist divided themselves according to their ethnic, regional, racial, and religious differences (Davidson, 2006). Because many of these immigrants had no money andRead MoreAnalysis Of The Community Is Anomic, By Kirst Ashman861 Words   |  4 Pagestreatment are just a few issues that plagued the community. Researchers Williams and Kristin (2010) states historically, trauma is the result of stressful events that overwhelms an individual ability to cope with stressors and life events. African Americans suffered from multiple i njuries as a result of slavery, racism, and discrimination. Community is defined as â€Å"a number of people who have something in common that connects them in some way and that distinguishes them from others† (Kirst-AshamRead MorePopulation Growth And The Population Essay1429 Words   |  6 Pages and Licandro 2002) . Discrepancies between races and gender roles have been smuggled over the years (Duncan 1961). Although, they still hold weight in some studies within ecology such as life expectancy. African Americans have shown that they have a lower age average than what American. This could possible be due to various reason such as health risks like hypertension and cardiovascular disease (Brondolo, Rieppi, and Kelly et al 2003). In this lab report, we are going to be focus in on targetingRead MoreAmerican History : The American Revolution1484 Words   |  6 PagesPhuong Dung Ngo History 101 Assignment A 09/17/2014 The American in 1606 History is important because it has always encouraged everyone to think creatively about their nation’s history and take them back to the past in order to learn. The American Revolution (1775-1783) is one of the most famous events in American history. Why did it happen and how did it happen? There are many reasons to explain the colonial feelings leading up to the American Revolution. When the thirteen colonies were founded inRead MoreEssay on The Whiskey Rebellion1304 Words   |  6 PagesThe end of the American Revolution wasn’t the end of political turmoil in the United States. In the years after the Revolution, political parties formed and disbanded, rebellions started, and even celebrations became increasingly political. Each political faction had a different idea of what the Revolution meant and what the future of the country looked like. The conflicting views of American politics began to manifest in holiday celebrations, governmental affairs, and even rebellio ns. The WhiskeyRead MoreSeven Years War Paper1331 Words   |  6 Pages(Davidson, J., 2006). Famine, warfare, and religious persecution forced many non-English groups to flee their homes in Europe to the American colonies. This immigration quickly increased the population and made the colonies greatly diverse in backgrounds. This diversity in backgrounds caused the colonies to be divided along the cultural lines. The colonists divided themselves according to ethnic, regional, racial, and religious differences (Davidson, J., 2006). â€Å"Since many of these immigrants hadRead MoreThe Football Is A Sport865 Words   |  4 Pages In New York, if you stand in the street and scream football, people in the streets will all understand what you mean, American football. That’s two team of eleven big players wearing protective pads and running holding an egg shaped ball, while if you do the same in Paris or London the locals will assume you are referring to soccer. Two teams of eleven players kicking and passing a perfectly round black and white ball. Though, the name â€Å"football† is used in both sides of the AtlanticRead MoreEssay on Revolution as a Product of the Enlightenment Period1070 Words   |  5 Pagessituations. The same can be said about the American and French Revolutions however these two revolutions end in very different situations. Both the American Revolution, (1775 -1783) and the French Revolution (1789 -1799) were the products of Enlightenment ideals that struck a large population of the people which emphasized the idea of natural rights and equality and led to many ch anges in society. It all ties together with the French Revolution and American Revolution in which people felt the need

The enforcement of EU law Essay Example For Students

The enforcement of EU law Essay To answer this question I will firstly explain how EU law became incorporated within the member states I will then explain the various types of EU legislations in circulation. This is important to define as the various types of methods will involve different enforcement procedures. Finally I will explain how EU law is enforced and the ways EU law will effect the member state and individual businesses. I will summarise my findings at the end of the essay, this will give details of all the key ideas I have ut across. The Schuman proposal began various European countries setting up the European Coal and Steal Community (ECSC), this was signed in 1951 by six countries. The countries that initially set up the ECSC were France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands. The idea behind the ECSC was the first serious institutional committee in Europe and was the start of integration, the aim was to provide a common market of coal and steel trade. This meant that each of the states would be able to have access to the various qualities of coal and steel that the members had with no tariff of importing and exporting to the various countries. This let the countries concentrate on their more efficient areas leading to specialisation. The ECSC began the beginning of supranational power because the High Authority could adopt binding decisions (1) as elements of decision making were carried out by ECSC committees. A supranational power is where the member state has to abide by the decisions made of the community, as they have power above the national level. When the EC makes a law it is up to the individual state to implement the legislation. An example of EU law which has been passed which has been adopted in the UK is that of the directive 75/117 which states that men and women should receive equal pay. The UK government adopted this directive with the 1975 Sex discrimination Act. There are a number of methods EU legislation is formed for instance regulations, directives and decisions are three different types of EU legislation. I am going to briefly explain these three as the way they will be enforced are different. Regulations have general application that means that all the member states have to adopt the regulation; the member state is expected to adopt the whole regulation. Regulations are directly applicable which means that the individuals have rights that they can enforce in their own name through national courts(2). Regulations have immediate effect in national law. Directives are binding to the member state that the directive is about. The EU will give an outline of the directive and will let the member state enforce the directive in the way they see fit. The member state may have a similar law already in its national law and therefore only has to introduce the segments of the directives and create new laws which are not written in national law. This allows the member states to react to legislation in accordance to the way countries would be carried out. Decisions are totally binding to whomever the decision has been made against. This normally occurs in the European Court of Justice (ECJ) when member states are being investigated the conclusions of the ECJ will come in the form of decisions whereby the member state will have to follow the decision when it is made. The decision becomes effected when the decision has been made. Community law has supremacy over the national law as it was a condition that had to be agreed before membership of the European union. Supremacy is whereby the European Community law will take superiority if there is a dispute between national and EU law. It is up to the state to adopt the EU legislation, if the member state is seen not to be enforcing the law then there are various methods for the EU law to be enforced. Ceremony By Leslie Marmon Silko EssayThere are two types of direct effect, horizontal and vertical. Vertical effect means that the individuals of the member state will be able to take their state to domestic court, as a way of making their state take on a particular EC law. Horizontal direct effect means that an individual is able to take another individual of the member state to national court as a method of getting the individual to implement the legislation. Direct effect is concerned with the impact of the rights of the individual, and mainly interested in the relationship between the different member states. Individuals are able to force the member states by taking them to court to change certain acts that will result in their national courts obliged to implement the act. For the enforcement to become direct effect then there are certain requirement that the EU law should have firstly the law must be clear and concise so no misunderstandings may occur and the law can be applied without trouble; secondly the EU law must be unconditional. The law has to be unconditional so that the law can be implemented without dependence of discretion on the part of an official authority (8) this factor backs up the first condition because it implies that the law has to be able to stand on its own. Finally for a law to be directly enforced the law in question is that the law must not be dependant for future action to be taken by either the member state or the EC. (these conditions taken and adapted from European union law)There are a number of types of legislation that cannot become directly effected they are directives, decisions and articles within treaties. The reason the previous sections are not directly effected is that they would require national or community l egislative action to implement them (9)Indirect effect is where national courts have to take into account EC law when interpreting national law and has to be sympathetic to the law. This means that when national judges are making decisions then they are obliged to look to see if there is any EC law is applicable in the situation if so then the judges have the obligation to interpret national law in relationship to the EC law. The European Court of Justice encourages the national courts to consider the directives of community law when considering the national laws. Indirect effect usually occurs due to the community not having enough resources to implement all laws. Indirect effect does not require the resources of the communities enforcement recourses to be usedBibliograghy and referencesEU Law: text cases and materialsBy P Craig and G De Burca(1) page 9(2) page 107(5) page 176(6) page 56European Union Law(3) page 10page(7) Article 211 of EC treatyIntroduction to European Union LawB y W.Cairns(4) page 106(8) page 85(9) page 95by l.eastwoodWords/ Pages : 1,788 / 24

Slavery in the South Essays (2078 words) - Slavery,

By 1830 slavery was primarily located in the South, where it existed in many different forms. African Americans were enslaved on small farms, large plantations, in cities and towns, inside homes, out in the fields, and in industry and transportation. Though slavery had such a wide variety of faces, the underlying concepts were always the same. Slaves were considered property, and they were property because they were black. Their status as property was enforced by violence -- actual or threatened. People, black and white, lived together within these parameters, and their lives together took many forms. Enslaved African Americans could never forget their status as property, no matter how well their owners treated them. But it would be too simplistic to say that all masters and slaves hated each other. Human beings who live and work together are bound to form relationships of some kind, and some masters and slaves genuinely cared for each other. But the caring was tempered and limited by the power imbalance under which it grew. Within the narrow confines of slavery, human relationships ran the gamut from compassionate to contemptuous. But the masters and slaves never approached equality. The standard image of Southern slavery is that of a large plantation with hundreds of slaves. In fact, such situations were rare. Fully 3/4 of Southern whites did not even own slaves; of those who did, 88% owned twenty or fewer. Whites who did not own slaves were primarily yeoman farmers. Practically speaking, the institution of slavery did not help these people. And yet most non-slaveholding white Southerners identified with and defended the institution of slavery. Though many resented the wealth and power of the large slaveholders, they aspired to own slaves themselves and to join the priviledged ranks. In addition, slavery gave the farmers a group of people to feel superior to. They may have been poor, but they were not slaves, and they were not black. They gained a sense of power simply by being white. In the lower South the majority of slaves lived and worked on cotton plantations. Most of these plantations had fifty or fewer slaves, although the largest plantations have several hundred. Cotton was by far the leading cash crop, but slaves also raised rice, corn, sugarcane, and tobacco. Many plantations raised several different kinds of crops. Besides planting and harvesting, there were numerous other types of labor required on plantations and farms. Enslaved people had to clear new land, dig ditches, cut and haul wood, slaughter livestock, and make repairs to buildings and tools. In many instances, they worked as mechanics, blacksmiths, drivers, carpenters, and in other skilled trades. Black women carried the additional burden of caring for their families by cooking and taking care of the children, as well as spinning, weaving, and sewing. Some slaves worked as domestics, providing services for the master's or overseer's families. These people were designated as "house servants," and though their work appeared to be easier than that of the "field slaves," in some ways it was not. They were constantly under the scrutiny of their masters and mistresses, and could be called on for service at any time. They had far less privacy than those who worked the fields. Because they lived and worked in such close proximity, house servants and their owners tended to form more complex relationships. Black and white children were especially in a position to form bonds with each other. In most situations, young children of both races played together on farms and plantations. Black children might also become attached to white caretakers, such as the mistress, and white children to their black nannies. Because they were so young, they would have no understanding of the system they were born into. But as they grew older they would learn to adjust to it in whatever ways they could. The diets of enslaved people were inadequate or barely adequate to meet the demands of their heavy workload. They lived in crude quarters that left them vulnerable to bad weather and disease. Their clothing and bedding were minimal as well. Slaves who worked as domestics sometimes fared better, getting the castoff clothing of their masters or having easier access to food stores. The heat and humidity of the South

Stephen Crane Essay Example For Students

Stephen Crane Essay Steven CraneSteven Crane : How his excellent setting and character description along with thephysical, emotional, and intellectual responses of people under extreme pressure and thebetrayal and guilt he shows for his characters helps the reader to better understand hisworks. Steven Crane is not one of the most liked authors in the world. He tends tobecome to engulfed in the scenery around the action that is taking place rather than theaction itself. Readers do not always follow and sometimes become lost in the sceneryinstead of the action. Details are very important for the readers because if the reader cannot see the same thing that the writer sees then the reader might lose interest in the story. We will write a custom essay on Stephen Crane specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Crane does not mean for this to happen. He is only trying to help the reader betterunderstand what is going on. In the story The Blue Hotel, and in his poem Do Not Weep, Maiden, for Waris Kind, Crane uses his excellent setting and character description along with the physical,emotional, and intellectual responses of people under extreme pressure and the betrayaland guilt he shows between the characters to help the reader better understand the story orpoem. Crane shows these characteristics in almost everything he writes. In The Blue Hotel, Crane does an excellent job of describing the setting to youin every way possible. For example in the beginning of the story The Blue Hotel, he saysthat the hotel was painted a light blue, a shade that is on the legs of a kind of heron,causing the bird to declare its position against any background. He does this type of depiction on every single thing he describes. Then in paragraph three he says A littleIrishman wore a heavy fur cap squeezed tightly down on his head. It caused his two redears to stick out stiffly, as if they were made of tin. All of that for a guy he just passedalong the street on the way to the hotel. In the end Crane even goes into an in depthdescription of the bitter cold snow outside. Why does he see that to be so important?Everybody knows that snow is cold. He strongly believes in very good details that is forsure. The setting is one of the most important elements of a literary work. If the settingdoes not catch your attention as a reader the n you are unable to get into the story. Thelocality has symbolic importance and could have been sketched without firsthandexperience. This means that you would not ever have had to have been where the storytakes place to understand what it looks like because of his excellent description of thesetting. Crane also does a good job of establishing his characters through one of his majorthemes. The physical, emotional, and intellectual responses of people under extremepressure. Crane shows this in his characters to help the reader better understand what thecharacter is going through. One example of this is when the Swede accuses Johnny ofcheating in a card game. This offends Johnny and his emotional and physical reaction is tochallenge the Swede to a fight. Each Crane shortstory is designed upon a single ironicincident, a crucial paradox, or an irony of opposition. Crane stories consist of that momentwhen the characters confront the inescapable impasse of their situation, they are caughtand boxed in by fate, and then nothing happens. That is what happens with the Swedeafter he whips Johnny in the fight. The Swede feels as if he is no longer wanted at thehotel since Johnnys father is the owner of the hotel. The Swede becomes boxed in aninescapable situation. Crane tends to show this in most all of his works. Crane must havefound himself in these situation many times himself. If not he thought that this was a goodway to captivate the readers attention. He did believe that the readers attention was anecessity in successful literary writing. .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc , .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc .postImageUrl , .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc , .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc:hover , .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc:visited , .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc:active { border:0!important; } .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc:active , .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ucf8d6e71dd3cf7a7b760749504eaabfc:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Drug and Alcohol Abuse EssayIt is believed that the fight in the story came from a fight Crane witnessed on histravel across the west. He tried to break the fight up that he witnessed instead ofencouraging it as everyone in the story does. Crane also shows his naturally used theme of betrayal and guilt through the Swede. He does this after the Swede leaves the hotel. The Swede goes into a bar and asks somegentlemen to drink with him to celebrate his victory over Johnny. When they refuse hebecome angry as if he is being betrayed by these men because they will not let him buythem a drink. The Swede then threatens one of the gentlemen and the man retaliates andends up killing the Swede. Without this betrayed feeling the Swede would have probablylived. This ,the blue hotel, could have been one of Cranes best works if it were not forthe puzzling ending, in which the Easterner offers a moral that baffles not only theCowboy , but the reader as well. He (the Easterner) does this by telling the Cowboy heseen Johnny cheating but never spoke up. If the Easterner would have spoken up soonerthe whole story would have changed drastically. In the poem Do Not Weep, Maiden, for War is Kind, Crane also shows thischaracteristic of betrayal. In the poem there is a wife, daughter, and a mother who feel asif they have been betrayed by their husband, father, and son for leaving them to fight fortheir country in war. The author tries to comfort them by telling them that everything willbe all right, for war is kind.Crane also uses his descriptive setting to help the reader see what it looks like inwar. For example in line eleven he says a field where a thousand corpses lie. In lineseight and nineteen he says these men were born to drill and die. You can just see themen running around everywhere. Screaming and hollering while their friends are dying allaround them. There is nothing they can do but pray they will make it out alive. Steven Crane is a very good writer and loves scenery. Although he does becometo involved in the scenery sometimes. For that reason some readers tend to draw awayfrom his work. Steven Crane does a good job establishing his common themes as well asthe scenery in both The Blue Hotel and Do Not Weep, Maiden, for War is Kind. Crane, Steven. Do Not Weep, Maiden, for War is Kind. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Editor. Edgar V. Roberts. NewJersey: Prentice Hall, 1998. 1039. Crane, Steven. The Blue Hotel. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Editor. Edgar V. Roberts. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1998.110 128. Narveson, Robert. (1969) Reprinted in Nineteenth Century Literary Criticism. Editor. Vottelec, Thomas. Detroit: Gale Research, 1991. Seven: 109Stallman, Robert Wooster. (1952) Reprinted in Nineteenth Century LiteraryCriticism. Editor. Vottelec, Thomas. Detroit: Gale Research, 1991. Seven :127

Civil War in Lebanon essays

Civil War in Lebanon essays Lebanon lived through its darkest era nearly twenty seven years ago when a severe civil war broke out. . Sectarian hatred developed as constant conflicts occurred resulting in a bloody devastating religious war. The war resulted in at least 100,000 deaths, ruined cities, and homeless and traumatized people. Lebanese fought with other fellow Lebanese people and killed one another due to their cultural differences. These internal conflicts led to the intervention of many outside countries seeking their own benefits. After fifteen wars of bloodshed, the war came to an end and peace talks were taking place. Since the war was over, the government is continuously working on rebuilding the country which could take decades to do. However, what is more important is erasing the bad memories and burying the segregated attitudes which built up among the people; such an issue could take a very long time to achieve. April 13, 1975 was the beginning of a gloomy era for Lebanon when an attempted assassination against Pierre Jumayyil, the ex-president of Lebanon, took place. Believing that the assassins were of Palestinian origin, a bus carrying Palestinian passengers was attacked killing twenty six of them; thus occurred the spark which ignited the Lebanese civil war. These events led to what was thought of as a religious war of Christian versus Muslim. Soon parties were being formed each following its own beliefs and attitudes; those in favor of the situation were known as the Lebanese Front and those against were the Lebanese National Movement. As the conflicts between the two sides intensified, the Lebanese army was mobilizing to end the conflict. In addition, bordering Syria began its involvement. As time passed, more groups were being formed and were forming alliances with either of the two sides. Battles were increasing in number and intensity resulting in more deaths and destruction . There came a point when the Chri...

Ommunicating sexuality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Ommunicating sexuality - Essay Example Until 1985, the definition of heterosexuality inferred that to be a heterosexual was natural. The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary of 1970 defined heterosexual as â€Å"pertaining to or characterized by the normal relations of the sexes† (Sullivan 2003, p. 119). In its 1985 publication, The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary defined the term heterosexual as involving and relating to â€Å"or characterized by a sexual propensity for the opposite sex† (Sullivan, p. 119). All indications are that the roots of prejudice against bisexuals and homosexuals are tied to the presumption that heterosexuality by definition is normal. By implication, the definition of heterosexuality means that any sexual identity that is not heterosexual in nature is decidedly abnormal. Despite this modification of the definition of heterosexuality, Western society for the most part continues to adhere to the belief that heterosexuality is the â€Å"norm† with the result that â€Å"homosexual relations are stigmatized† (Caplan 1987, p. 2). Caplan explains: Nonconformity to the norms of heterosexuality threatens the dominant ideology’s view of sex as ‘innate’ and ‘natural’ (Caplan 1987, p. 2). Therefore both historically and culturally, we live in and are exposed to a heterosexually driven world which forms the basis of the popular understanding of human sexuality. ... ern society for the most part continues to adhere to the belief that heterosexuality is the â€Å"norm† with the result that â€Å"homosexual relations are stigmatized† (Caplan 1987, p. 2). Caplan explains: Nonconformity to the norms of heterosexuality threatens the dominant ideology’s view of sex as ‘innate’ and ‘natural’ (Caplan 1987, p. 2). Therefore both historically and culturally, we live in and are exposed to a heterosexually driven world which forms the basis of the popular understanding of human sexuality. Essentially, that understanding for the most part is that heterosexuality is the ideal sexual identity. The construction of this normative heterosexual world was tested by Kitzinger (2006, p. 169) who analysed a series of conversations harvested by conversation analysts over approximately twenty years. The result was that co-conversationalists took for granted that the world was predominantly heterosexual. Regardless of their own sexual preferences or sexual identity, the co-conversationalists reflected and reproduced â€Å"a profoundly heterosexual social order† (Kitzinger 2006, p. 169). It would therefore appear that even homosexuals and bisexuals have resolved that heterosexuality is the norm. As a dominant norm, heterosexuality is â€Å"ageless† (Katz 2007, p. 8). In other words, historically, heterosexuality marked the underpinnings of sexual identity. Essentially, the male dominated institutions previously functioned to align heterosexuality with masculinity. This heterosexual masculinity is hegemonic and functioned to perpetuate an ideology which not only defines, but also sets standards for the sexuality of both young women and men (Holland, Ramazanoglu, Sharpe and Thompson 1998, p. 13). This historical and cultural background accounts for the