Gender

The opening line in the book Paradoxes of Gender, by Judith Lorber states, “Talking about gender for most people is the equivalent of fish talking about water” (13). Gender has become such a part of our everyday life that we do not take the time to notice. We do not notice that gender is structured through our everyday activities and routines. For example, the clothes we wear, jobs, toys, sports, and many others are all based around gender. Lorber writes “…gender, like culture, is a human production that depends on everyone constantly ‘doing gender’” (13). People “do gender” by dressing their babies in blue or pink, or by a women settling for an office job while the men settle for the higher paying construction jobs. Gender starts at being based on the genitals, from that point on individuals are taught how do “do gender” by certain actions and behaviors.
The first chapter in Lorber’s book explains how gender is “done” and gives supporting evidence that people do not take the time to think about. According to Lorber, “For the individual, gender starts with assignment to a sex category on the basis of what the genitalia looks like at birth” (14). When babies are born, their gender is based on their genitals. From that moment on, gender is done by how they are dressed, named, and even how they are treated. Gender is also shown by the way the parent treats the child. Girls are treated differently than boys, so therefore they respond in a different way when they are adults. Girls are treated softer, and receive more sympathy than boys, where as the boys are taught to be “tough” and to just shake things off. From birth to death, gender is part of everyday life. Gender is done in the sports world; there are girls’ sports, like volleyball, and boys’ sports like football. Gender is also done in the clothes, shoes, and perfume/cologne we wear. When you walk into a clothing store, gender is done by having the store split up into Boy/Girl, and Men/Women’s sections. Gender is even done at some schools or universities; Stephens College in Columbia Missouri is an all girl school.
Gender is a social status, meaning it is learned through different processes. Lorber puts it as, “Social statuses are carefully constructed through prescribed processes of teaching, learning, emulation, and enforcement” (17). Cultures are different, so there are different social statuses out there. For example, Western societies have only two genders (man and woman), but other societies have three genders (men, women, and hijras). Hijras are simply males who dress, behave, work, and are treated as social women (17). This leads to gender bending, which is very common in some cultures like Egypt. In Egypt women dress as men and are treated as men. Gender bending is also common in theatre; where men play women’s roles, like Shakespeare. Lorber explains how people are born sexed, but not gendered, and that individuals have to be taught to be masculine of feminine. She says, “Children learn to walk, talk, and gesture the way their social group says girls and boys should”(22).
One of the main things I liked that Lorber talked about was how gender means sameness. It is about how individuals are born sexed but not gendered. The sex is a physical characteristic, and there are many different physical characteristics that vary between humans like body shapes and clothing. The gender part of humans however, is taught, and humans are taught to be either masculine or feminine. Teaching certain traits like walking and talking begins at a young age. Children are taught to act as “boys and girls should”. When children are young, the gender starts developing personality and sexual orientations through their interactions with parents (22).

xanax

Xanax is a drug used that is commonly prescribed to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety caused by depression. It is classified as a depressant and belongs with the medicines called benzodiazepines which act on the brain and central nervous system to produce a relaxing feeling. It affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety. It is consumed orally by the mouth, and the prescribed amount is based on your medical condition. Xanax is a controlled substance under the Controlled Substance Act by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is a schedule IV drug, meaning there is a low potential for abuse, but it can lead to limited physical or psychological dependence. Prescriptions may be filled up to five times.
Some side effects of Xanax occur more often than others. Less common side effects involve trouble in sleeping, nervousness, and trouble in thinking. More common side effects include abdominal cramps, blurred vision, constipation, increased thirst, and vomiting.
The molecular formula for Xanax is C17H13ClN4, and its molecular weight is 308.76g/mol.
Here is some information about the disorders treated by Xanax. A panic disorder can be characterized by unexpected panic attacks and a period of fear or discomfort. A few major symptoms of a panic disorder include an accelerated heart rate, sweating, trembling or shaking, shortness of breath, chest pain, and feeling dizzy. Treatment for many people with panic disorders has been achieved with doses of Xanax greater that 4 mg daily. The average dosage is about 5 to 6 mg a day.
An anxiety disorder is characterized by extreme anxiety and worry. The worry is usually about life circumstances and if it lasts for a period of six months or longer then it is time to get help. Some of the major symptoms for anxiety include muscle tension, aches, or soreness, dry mouth, dizziness, frequent urination, sweating, and flushes or chills. Treatment for patients with anxiety should be initiated with a dose of 0.25 to 0.5 mg three times a day. The dose may be increased to feel the maximum effect.
Xanax is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States that have great benefits if used right, but the abuse of it is on the rise. Valium is the only other prescription tranquilizer that has a higher abuse rate that Xanax. A patient’s body can develop a tolerance to the amount they are taking and may require larger doses to reach the desired effect if the drug is taken for long periods of time. Between 1995 and 2002, drug abuse-related trips to US emergency rooms involving benzodiazepines increased by 41 percent, which is from 71,000 to 100,000. Xanax is usually abused in oral pill form, but it can also be injected and is often abused when used with alcohol, another central nervous depressant.
According to The Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, up to 25 percent of patients who stop taking their medication of Xanax experience withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, irritability, insomnia, chills, fatigue, moodiness, crying, and tremors. A good way to avoid withdrawal symptoms is to slowly reduce the dose taken.
The people that risk Xanax addiction the most are those who drink alcohol and women in their mid forties who experience lots of stress and who are going through menopause. Treatment for Xanax addiction is very similar to the treatment of many other drugs. The first stage of Xanax Treatment will sometimes involve detoxification, if it is deemed necessary to help stave off the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms. For some benzodiazepine addicts, including those on Xanax and especially if the dosage or amount is high, detox is not only recommended but may be considered necessary, due to its seizure potential. Consultation with a qualified health professional is the best way to determine whether or not detox is right for each individual person. The next step may involve treatment centers, psychosocial treatments involving individual or group counseling and therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy or 12 step-based meetings. A variety of inpatient residential treatment centers, as well as outpatient programs, are ready to help Xanax addicts overcome their addiction. Detox addresses the body’s addiction and psychosocial treatment addresses the habits, behaviors and other psychological factors that led to addiction. Treatment should also include issues relating to diet and nutrition, since addicts often ignore nutrition during their addiction.
In conclusion, Xanax can be a big benefit to society by helping those who suffer from anxiety and depression. Xanax can also hurt society by individuals abusing the drug and taking more that recommended. Xanax abuse has risen over the years, with some cases resulting in death. It is important to be responsible and not abuse a substance because it can control a person’s life, their decisions and thinking.