`` Bros Before Hoes The Guy Code `` By Michael Kimmel

â€Å"A man is at his youngest when he thinks he is a man, not yet realizing that his actions must show it.† Was said by a famous english writer named Mary Renault.In the reading â€Å"Bros before Hoes:The Guy Code† by Michael Kimmel he explains this unwritten yet critical set of rules guys follow through out their lifetime. Society has taught young men that every gender has certain roles and to properly fulfill the role of being a man they have to abide by these rules. Kimmel calls this set of rules the guy code and it explains what guys believe what it takes to be a â€Å"man†. Kimmel goes over what the guy code is, where it comes from, and who influences young boys to follow this set of rules as well as how this guy code is regulated and enforced. In these rules it specifically states young men cannot be gay. The word gay is defined as being weak and girl like to young men. So in order to continue fulfilling the duties of a man, young men must follow these se t of rules.These rules prove that young men are pressured to offer constant proof that they are not gay. In â€Å"True Women and Real Men: Myth of Gender† by Colombo he goes over the â€Å"culture myths of gender and the influence they wield over human development and personal identity†(467). Cultural myths do shape the roles of men and women play in our public and private relationships. Colombo then goes over how these roles are taught and enforced as well as the effects it has on men s and women s health. Gender roles are culturalShow MoreRelatedMasculinity in American Society and Hip-Hop Essay766 Words   |  4 Pagestake it like man, do not get mad, get even. These along with many other rules are makeup â€Å"the Guy Code† believed to shape what masculinity in American society. â€Å"’Bros before Hoes’: The Guy Code† by Michael Kimmel discusses a set of epigrams and analyzes American masculinity. These ideals of what is takes to be a â€Å"man† are often portrayed by hip-hop artists in today’s mainstream music industry. Kimmel attended many different workshops and high school assemblies asking young men in every state â€Å"WhatRead MoreThe Not So Secret Code Essay1936 Words   |  8 PagesThe not so Secret Code Imagine a world in which men could act feminine and women could act masculine without being judged. Now try and identify why this may never happen. Men and women are both taught at an early age what they can and cannot do because of what gender they were born as; they are markedly similar in this aspect. There is a known gender stereotype for girls and boys, and the parents of these children enable these stereotypes from the day that they are born. girls are given pinkRead MoreThe Not So Secret Code Essay1933 Words   |  8 PagesThe not so Secret Code Imagine the world in which men could act feminine and women could act masculine without being judged. Now try and identify why this may never happen. Men and women are both taught at an early age what they can and cannot do because of what gender they were born as; they are markedly similar in this aspect. There is a known gender stereotype for girls and boys, and the parents of these children enable these stereotypes from the day that they are born. girls are given pink

Platos Allegory of the Cave and Perceptions of Reality...

The basic premise of Plato’s allegory of the cave is to depict the nature of the human being, where true reality is hidden, false images and information are perceive as reality. In the allegory Plato tells a story of a man who is put on a Gnostics path. Prisoners seating in a cave with their legs and necks chained down since childhood. They are chained in such a way that they cannot move or see each other, only look into the shadows on the wall in front of them; not realizing they have three dimensional bodies. These images are of men and animals, carried by an unseen men on the background. Now imagine one of the prisoners is liberated into the light, the Gnostic path will become painful and difficult, but slowly his eyes will begin to†¦show more content†¦Many want a vampire boyfriend, not distinguishing that it’s just fantasy not reality. I myself once became the victim of this imperfect reality, when I was in elementary school I used to watch many Soap Opera s and soon I started to behaving like one of the characters. It just goes to demonstrates the power the media and movie directors have over us, because they are capable of creating stories that many us can’t distinguish whether it’s a story, fantasy or reality, some will continue to live in that darkness of perception and believe everything they see on the screen, and never grasp true reality. In George Orwell novel â€Å"1984† one can see this behavior, Plato depicted in the allegory the idea of false reality and world, that’s created by the government of Oceanian for it’s citizen to perceive as reality. In the novel Big brother, the head of the country, that’s never seen beside on poster, similar to people who carry the figures. He Possesses complete control of the citizen through censorship, propaganda and thought crime to annihilate anyone who was a threat or tries to contaminate the controlled minds of the citizen. â€Å" if they caught anyone trying to free them and lead them up to the light, they would try to kill him.† If the liberated prisoner is caught trying to enlightened the other prisoners, he is seen as threat and people will try to kill him to make sureShow MoreRelatedThe Allegory Of The Cave872 Words   |  4 PagesAlthough The Allegory of the Cave was mentioned in relation to the Republic, Plato also used it to describe â€Å"the divided line† and being and becoming. In describing and explaining the Divided Line, Plato creates an analogy or allegory to describe his Theory of Forms and his ideals of Being and Becoming (Allegory of the Cave). To d o so he created his famous Allegory of the Cave. It begins in a dark cave in which prisoners have been bound to their entire lives. Being bound to this cave, they have beenRead MorePlatos Allegory of the Cave Compared to the Human Condition Essay1025 Words   |  5 PagesThe Allegory Because of how we live, true reality is not obvious to most of us. However, we mistake what we see and hear for reality and truth. This is the basic premise for Platos Allegory of the Cave, in which prisoners sit in a cave, chained down, watching images cast on the wall in front of them. They accept these views as reality and they are unable to grasp their overall situation: the cave and images are a ruse, a mere shadow show orchestrated for them by unseen men. At some point,Read MoreThe Form Of Truth : Plato s Theory Of Knowledge893 Words   |  4 Pagespresent reality. However, seeing is not believing. The perception we develop through the senses (seeing, smelling, tasting, touching, and hearing) does not consist of real truth. Real truth is not what is in front of us, but of absolute concepts and unchanging truths. Plato encouraged looking past what is directly visible in order to find truths that exist independent of the physical world. The understanding of the idea of rea lity through the discussion of the Divided Line and the allegory of theRead MoreThe Reality Of The Beholder From The Ancient Dialogues From Plato And Socrates1263 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is Reality? I plan on discussing each section of this essay; however, they do coincide with each other in the topic. I will try to explain my reasoning on how they would question relates to one another. First, what is the difference between appearance and reality? What is the reality of being in a new place, instead of being in a society of other people around you? Does one person think they can another’s perception of their world? Does everything lead to good, and what is good in theRead MoreEssay about Platos The Allegory of the Cave818 Words   |  4 PagesPlatos The Allegory of the Cave In Plato’s â€Å"The Allegory of the Cave,† he suggests that there are two different forms of vision, a â€Å"mind’s eye† and a â€Å"bodily eye.† The â€Å"bodily eye† is a metaphor for the senses. While inside the cave, the prisoners function only with this eye. The â€Å"mind’s eye† is a higher level of thinking, and is mobilized only when the prisoner is released into the outside world. This eye does not exist within the cave; it only exists in the real, perfect world. The â€Å"bodilyRead MoreSummary Response to Platos Allegory of the Cave630 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿SUMMARY RESPONSE TO PLATOS ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE (625 WORDS) The main idea presented by Plato in his infamous Allegory of the Cave is that the average persons perceptions are severely limited by personal perspective. Plato uses the metaphorical situation of prisoners chained together in a way that limited their visual perception to the shadows projected from behind them onto a wall in front of them. He uses that metaphor to illustrate that perspective determines perceptions and also that onceRead MoreAllegory Of The Cave By Plato1722 Words   |  7 PagesAllegory of the Cave Human experiences are an everyday aspect of individuals lives. The way individuals see, touch, smell, feel, and even remember is through unique experiences. People do not realize it, but our everyday life and community shape how the mind experiences certain events. Because of these, the way individuals see the world is different from person to person. The mind interprets the world around the individuals, however, it can only interpret what it is exposed to. It is up to the individualsRead MoreTrue Reality In Platos Allegory And The Matrix873 Words   |  4 PagesIn the Plato’s Allegory of The Cave, prisoners are kept since child birth in a cave, they are only able to see nothing but shadowy figures move on the wall of the cave. They perceive that as their true reality. A prisoner breaks free from his shackles and is blinded by the light of the sun. He realized that his reality in the cave was not real, he sees people and understands what reality is now. The prisoner goes back to explain to the others what he has seen but they don’t believe him. The WachowskiRead MoreSimilarities in Platos Allegory of the Cave and A Tale of Two Cities674 Words   |  3 Pages The Allegory of the Cave by Plato also goes along with this theme. It is a symbolic depiction of prisoners held in a cave without a true perception of reality. They are brought up looking at only the shadows of what really exists until finally one is released and travels out of the cave into the radiant world above. The theme of light vs. dark is portrayed as metaphors, as the characters Sydney Carton, and the prisoner in Plato’s Allegory, as well as the idea of resurrection. Plato’s AllegoryRead MoreEssay on Examining Reality1144 Words   |  5 Pagesnetworks, which implies men cannot help living in another incubator till death although they cannot recognize they live in the incubator. Plato’s allegory of the cave is analogous to the story line found in ‘The Matrix.’ People live in a cave, looking at their shadows reflected on the cave wall. They never realize they are in a cave. Plato’s allegory of the cave assumes key words leading the story such as chained prisoners, a puppet handler, and a prisoner trying to find a light. These terms are comparable

Kafka Essay Paper Example For Students

Kafka Essay Paper Mistreatment from the 1800s is Still Reflected in Modern Day SocietyThe fathers explanations were to some extent the first pleasant news that Gregor got to hear since his imprisonment. (p. 1654) In the story The Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka, the character Gregor undergoes a metamorphosis into an insect and experiences what its like to feel imprisoned and mistreated within his own home. Throughout the story he continuously is mistreated by his family and sadly still reflects modern day families and society. Gregor family consisted of his father, his mother and his sister Grete. Before Gregor had turn into an insect he was the main provider of income and covered all expenditures for his family. Gregor was the only person that worked in his family and was a traveling salesman. Therefore, his parents and sister stayed at home and did nothing while Gregor worked everyday. Kafka describes Gregors father as having an unsuccessful life and he had grown very fat, becoming rather clumsy.(p. 1 655). His father at one point owned his own business but it had collapsed five years earlier from the day of Gregors transformation. However his father still remained to have a strong sense for business. His mother was lazy and found to be less intelligent then the rest of the family. She also was not working. Kafka states, And perhaps the old mother go to work-she, who suffered from asthma, who found it strenuous just walking through the apartment, and who spent every other day on the sofa grasping for air by the open window? (p.1655). His sister was seventeen, kind to Gregor, beautiful, and musical. She played the violin. Grete soon took over as head of the house hold when Gregor turned into an insect. With Gregors transformation thus brings about the problem of whos going to now provide for the family. This problem then brings upon mistreatment towards Gregor. Many times throughout the story he is forgotten about, attacked, and made to feel dehumanized and no longer apart of the family. In the beginning of his transformation Grete is the only one who takes care of Gregor. She feeds him twice a day and tries to make sure his food is of his liking. His mother in the beginning seems to still care for him but however, cannot bear to look at him or enter the room. The father has no part in his life what so ever and seems to discourage his wife and daughter from entering Gregors room however does nothing to harm him just yet. Overtime these feeling tend to change as times become harder. Grete soon finds herself overwh elmed with working and being in charge of the household that she then starts to forget about Gregor and eventually stops feeding him all together. The father becomes more irritable towards Gregor because he is old and now has to begin working again. He feels this way because he has resentment towards his son and feels that it is his fault that he has transformed and can no longer work. At one point in time he attacks Gregor after coming home from work and finding Grete and his wife upset. Without asking what went wrong he assumes it Gregors fault and tries to kill his own son! His father does this first by trying to crush him with his boots and when he finds himself to be tired he then starts to throw apples at him. His father then finally succeeds and hit Gregor in the back with an apple. He was only harmed but if he mother did not step in to stop his father there is no doubt his father would have killed him. This however is not the sad part. His father hit him with the apple so ha rd that it pierced his skin, and stuck into his body. It then stayed like this for over a month because no one in his family cared enough to help heal the damage they had done to their son/brother. Kafka writes Gregors serious injury, from which he suffered for over a month (since no one had the nerve to remove the apple, it stayed lodged in his flesh as a visible memento) (p.1661). In the end before Gregor took his life his family became withdrawn and gave up on him all together. They no longer feed him or visited him. They took everything that belonged to him and that he cherished from his room. He then was left in loneliness and bare walls. It was like he no longer existed. .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff , .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff .postImageUrl , .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff , .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff:hover , .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff:visited , .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff:active { border:0!important; } .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff { 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; } .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff:active , .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff .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; } .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u153d01a7e917f21d86be5fd44fa9a4ff:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Charles and the Open Window EssayI found Gregors family to be very selfish and heartless. Throughout the entire story his parents and sister only thought about what was best for them and did not take into consideration of Gregors needs. I find them selfish also because they wanted Gregor to do all the work and when he was no long able to his family then had to find jobs they became angry towards him and complained about how hard they had to work. When Gregor worked he never was angry towards his family he only wanted to help them as much as he could. Even when he transformed he was not worried about the fact that he was an insect instead he thought about his family and how he still wanted to help and worried what might come for the in the future. His family also was never grateful. From his hard work as a traveling salesman he made enough money to pay all his families expenditures and also put money aside to save and gain interest incase something happen to him. In the story it states Furthermore, since the money that Gregor had brought home every month had never been fully spent, it had accumulated into a small principal (p.1655). This money then helped his family have some money until they found jobs. However this meant nothing to them and they still were upset at the fact that it now was their turn to work. I also find them to be very cruel human beings. I could anyone treat their own family in such a cruel manner. They dehumanized Gregor by calling him it, and by leaving him in a room isolated from the rest of them. He not just some creature he is their son and a brother to Grete. Overall my impressions of them are that they are lazy, cruel, and ungrateful. Gregor and his family can be related to modern day families and society today in many ways. First we see Gregor working a horrible job to support his family. He could easily leave his family to suffer and work to support only himself. Many times we see in modern day families that there is one person working to support the family and are willing to sacrifice their happiness so that their family is secure and happy. Also with this we see a family member taken for granted. Gregors family did not realize how much of an asset he was until he was no longer able to work and thus leaving them to find jobs. I see this in many families today. Many times people today take advantage of others and never fully understand their worth and value. A second way in which the story relates to modern day families is they way in which we dont except people because they are maybe act different or dress different. When Gregor transformed into an insect his family was ashamed and hide him from the rest of the world. In todays society we still continue to be closed minded and not welcome to those who are different. This then leaves those who are different to feel isolated like Gregors family made him feel. Although he was an insect he still was the same person on the inside. A third and final way in which Gregors family relates to modern day families is how we deal with those who are sick or dieing. Within some families today we see at first they want to help care for that sick family member because they feel sorry for them. In the story we see this when Gregors mother and sister in the beginning want to feed him and clean his room. When then see Later Gregor becoming a burden on his mother and sister. Many times with the ill we will take care of them and later on down the road find them to be a burden. Sadly some even go as far to take out their aggression onto the ill like we see Gregors father do when he attacks him with the apples. In this story we see Gregor to as somebody who feels very isolated from the world and his family. We also see him as someone who can easily be taken advantage of. He is a hard worker who wants to help his family by providing his income to keep his family secure. He was some one who thought about others and truly cared abou t others happiness. However many times he felts pressured by his family to work and feels that helpless and guilty when he can no longer provide for his family. To me this is way he transforms, because he is so pressured he fears it so much that its almost like he willed it to happen. I feel this could have all been avoided. I feel that Gregor should have left his family and started his own life and paid for his own bills. His family did not appreciate him and all that he provided for them so there was no need to put himself under that kind of pressure. .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d , .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d .postImageUrl , .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d , .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d:hover , .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d:visited , .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d:active { border:0!important; } .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d { 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; } .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d:active , .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d .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; } .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uaeed572c58b174c0b323af76ebb5565d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Hard Times Introduction EssayI felt The Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka, proved to be an excellent science fiction writer through the use of details. His many legs, wretchedly thin compared to his overall girth, danced helplessly before his eyes (p. 1641); this is just one of many example that Kafka uses detail to help the reader visualize Gregor as an insect. Overall this story provides ideas and activities of society during the late 1800s and modern day life still today. Because of pressure from society and our families we tend to mistreat those around us.

What is it to be Homeless Essay Example

What is it to be Homeless? Essay Homelessness, it carries strong connotations of poverty, abandonment, and despair, yet it is still a major problem in American society with no end in sight for the people who find themselves in its midst. In 2004, over 7% of Americans found were defined as homeless, a number which continues to grow in connection with job losses and housing unavailability (Donohoe, 2004). Growing up in an upper middle class family, homelessness is something I’ve never had to experience firsthand but have witnessed time and again in people pandering for money in parking lots and on street corners. I have seen men, women, and children huddled together as they brace themselves for a night on the streets but until this point had largely kept myself separate. Through my field work and research for this project, I have come to a better understanding of the causes and effects of homelessness not only on the individual but on the family and society as a whole. Defined as sleeping in shelters, on the street, in cars, abandoned buildings, train or bus stations, homelessness is a constant reminder of the inequalities of society (Donohoe, 2004). In Kentucky, where the homeless rate has climbed steadily, it is a growing problem. In 2005, the number of homeless persons seeking assistance in Kentucky was 19,908 a noticeable jump from the previous year when the number was 15,226 (Kentucky Statistics). The question is posed in viewing these statistics, as to what happened to cause such a high increase in individuals and families finding themselves without a home during a time when the economy was in an upturn. Now, in recent light of the recession and overall jobless problem in the United States, the outlook does not seem promising. We will write a custom essay sample on What is it to be Homeless? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on What is it to be Homeless? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on What is it to be Homeless? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The primary causes of homelessness range from domestic abuse, lack of housing, poverty, low wages, post-traumatic stress disorders, etc (â€Å"Factors Contributing to Homelessness†). The causes are as varied as the people who find themselves in this situation. Annually there are anywhere from 2.3 million to 3.5 million people nationwide who are homeless, 39% of which are children (â€Å"How Many are Homeless,† 2006). Their day to day lives center around finding food and shelter for themselves, of which are becoming scarcer as public assistance continues to decrease. As part of my research I conducted several interrelated field studies, each meant to give me a better understanding of the homeless in Kentucky and to better ascertain the reasons behind their homelessness. The best way to understand this, I reasoned, was to place myself in their shoes. My experiments involved viewing the public’s response to homelessness. Dressing down in jeans, a t-shirt/sweatshirt combination, and a pair of old gym shoes with an old baseball cap borrowed from a friend, I set out to downtown Lexington to try and pander for loose change. As this had been my most common experience with the homeless, I sought to dispel my own stereotypes as well as experience through action what it means to be reduced to these circumstances. Standing on the corner of S. Broadway and Main streets, I scanned the area and saw a man farther down the street dressed in rags and holding a cardboard sign. I momentarily regretted my decision to forego the sign myself as it would be help ful in drawing people to me. However, I reasoned that as this was meant as a means of interacting with the public as a homeless person I had a better chance at verbal communication without the sign. Having chosen both a high traffic area and a busy afternoon, I was soon watching people pass me without so much as a backward glance. Unsure of myself, I tried to remember my own experiences with being asked for money. It had seemed almost an effortless endeavor, lending to the stereotype I have heard most commonly thrown about that people begged no out of necessity but laziness. I soon discovered that pandering was no easy task. Seeing an elderly woman, who reminded me of my grandmother, I called to her, asking the standard question, â€Å"can you spare some change?† Maybe I called it too loud in my nervousness or possibly the dirt I had purposely smeared and worked into the fabric of my clothes and my general appearance of disarray but she moved away from me seeming to hold her breath. I smiled, trying to dispel her unease but it was too late. Surprising me with her speed and agility, she quickly made her way past darting between other ongoing pedestrians. Trying not to lose my nerve, I quickly turned my attention to the other people crossing in front of me. A man in a business suit, out of place himself on a Saturday afternoon, stopped in front of me as I called to him trying this time to temper my voice and not appear over enthused or worse disingenuous. â€Å"Why don’t you get a job?† he asked. â€Å"I work 50 hours a week to support my family, and you can’t go to McDonald’s and flip burgers for some cash? No! You expect me and all of these other hardworking people to give you theirs!† and with that he dug in his pocket, tossing a handful of pennies and pocket lint on the sidewalk in front of me. This was not easy. Pandering required that you have not only a tough skin but also that you set aside your pride. I found myself struggling with tears, wanting to call out to the man as he plowed his way down the street that I wasn’t really homeless. I wanted to call, but I’m a college student, I have a job, I have a home but this would only stunt any further work I wished to accomplish in this area. I needed to blend. A young woman, not much older than myself, stopped in front of me as I struggled with my own ego trying to reconcile the humiliation of the research with understanding I knew I would gain. I looked up and she appeared the very opposite of the man in the business suit. Dressed similarly to me, though clean with freshly washed hair and fashionably distressed jeans and a bright green sweater, she held a cup of coffee in one hand and a few dollar bills in the other and on her face was a sympathetic smile. â€Å"Don’t let him bother you,† she sai d handing me the coffee and forcing the bills into my hand. â€Å"I know where you are coming from. I lost my job two years ago and was in the exact same spot as you. I was evicted from my apartment and lived in my car and the shelter for 2 months before I was able to get back on my feet. Just be happy you don’t have kids, I still feel guilty that my daughter had to go through all of that with me.† With this, she smiled and waved to me before crossing to the other side of the S. Broadway. Within minutes of each other, I had experienced the two extremes of the human interaction side of pandering. Though the man in the business suit had almost discouraged me to the point of blowing my cover, the kind young woman’s kindness made me feel a new kind of guilt. She did not seem a financially well off woman but she had still tried to help. Even more than the embarrassment and loss of pride at the man in the business suit judging me all from a simple request, â€Å"can you spare some change† I felt guilt at having taken money from this woman and her daughter. I made a mental note to try and ask the homeless people I encountered how they felt at asking for money from strangers. First, I had the day to worry about. I had purposely set off on my research without money or other means of procuring food and drink. For the moment, if I wanted to eat, I would have to continue to pander for a little more cash. As it went from morning to afternoon, I had no repeat encounters with the anger of the businessman but also did not experience any more of the kindness of the young woman. Many people either ignored my call for spare change or reach into their pockets without looking in my direction. One man asked why I needed the money. I tried to reply that I just needed enough to get a meal or two, at which he laughed before tossing some loose change my way, â€Å"Sure. Last time I checked, crack wasn’t a meal.† The audacity of the man completely surprised me. Did I look like a drug addict? Did he think people only became homeless because of personal mistakes? I realized I was taken aback because he had asked a question aloud that I had only thought in my own head as I gave spare change to people in the past. Though drug addiction is a major problem for the homeless community, it is not the root of the problem. Given the discrepancies in statistics though it is understandable that this would be associated with   and even blamed for the continually growing rate of homelessness. In information published by the National Coalition for the Homeless in 2005, it is noted that early statistics for substance abuse and addiction among the homeless were incorrectly calculated leading to an assumption that over 60% of the homeless suffer from one form of substance addiction of another. However, recent statistics from US Conference of Mayors in 2005 puts the number as being closer to 30% (â€Å"Who is Homeless† 2005). The question is though, did their drug addiction lead to their homelessness or is it a result? After collecting almost $15 dollars, I set off to find a homeless person or people who would talk to me about the circumstances that led to their current state. Walking toward the man with the cardboard sign, I thought at first to speak with him as I had grown to feel a certain kinship with the man having worked the same street this morning. As I approached him, I saw a group of teenage boys stopped in front of him. They were laughing as one of them tore the man’s sign from his hands and proceeded to tear it in half. The man, obviously angered, kept his head down to the verbal abuse that rained from the teens mouths. No one it seemed was in the least concern. Pedestrians kept a wide breadth of the scene and kept their eyes to the ground. Finished with their fun, the boys threw the sign at the man’s feet and continued walking, still laughing at the humiliation of the man. Seeing the anger of the man, I decided that now would not be a good time to speak with him. Instead, I continued walking past him knowing that while his pride may be hurt, he had been spared any actual physical violence. I knew that this man had been one of the lucky ones. From 1999-2005 there were 472 acts of violence committed against homeless individuals (â€Å"Hate Crimes.† 2006), targeted specifically because of their homeless status. Of that number, 169 were murders. Shelter workers and advocates have heard increasing stories of harassment, beatings, being set on fire, and even decapitation (National Coalition for the Homeless. â€Å"Hate Crimes.† 2006) as the years have gone by. After walking for several blocks, I stopped in a corner store to buy myself some water. Walking to the back of the store where the refrigerators were,   I could feel the clerk’s eyes follow me. I guess, making sure I was not shoplifting. With this, I understood yet one more stereotype and misconception of homelessness namely the role of criminal. Though I had the money to buy the water, though I had spent a day being verbally abused and ignored in order to scrounge together the change for this very water, the clerk assumed I would steal it. I walked to the counter, feeling his eyes on me, I assume checking my body’s silhouette for bulges of pilfered food. â€Å"1.47† he said, simply, still not taking his eyes off of me, his nose curling at the smell he assumed must be wafting off of me. Counting the change onto the counter, I saw my hands with the fingernails lightly ingrained with dirt and the grime of the street. Reaching forward to hand him the change, I sa w him recoil slightly and I instead placed the change on the counter where it was carefully counted. Expecting the â€Å"have a nice day† I had come to rely on as part of the retail experience, I was surprised when after processing my order, I received no more than a nod. Later that afternoon, I found myself sitting on a park bench beside a young homeless man, trying to find his life story in the sometimes incoherent ramblings. John was an Iraq War veteran who after returning from his stint in the Army, found himself increasingly anxious and unable to forget the bloodshed. Now a methamphetamine addict, he is thin to the point of starvation. Under his beard, I could see sores where the meth was surfacing and his front teeth were rotted to nothing. John is just one of many veterans who make up the homeless population. With approximately 11% of the total homeless population veterans, comprising 40% of the total male population of homeless persons (National Coalition for the Homeless, â€Å"Who is Homeless,† 2005), John is the embodiment of the what happens to veterans when resources become limited and their problems too big to be handled effectively by the system. â€Å"A lot of the guys you see out here who are veterans were in ‘nam, they’ve been back and forth between the veterans hospital, group homes, and the street. When I first came back, I went back to working in my uncle’s garage fixing engines and changing oil. I hadn’t really had many plans before I signed up following 9/11. When I came back, my mom and girlfriend were pushing me to go back to school. Use the G.I. bill, you know. But I just couldn’t concentrate. I couldn’t sleep at night. When I did sleep, I had bad nightmares, bodies piled to the ceiling, blood everywhere. I started drinking, so I could sleep but it just made things worse. I slept but when I was awake nobody wanted to be around me. I went to the V.A. and they diagnosed me with post traumatic stress, gave me a couple prescriptions and a list of counselors and sent me on my way. For a little while the pills helped, but I was still drinking and had started to smoke meth. It kep t me awake a lot but I thought I was getting things done. But then I lost my job, my girlfriend left me and I was stuck living in my parents’ basement. I started snorting meth and then shooting up,† with this, John pulls up his sleeves to show me the track marks running along his forearms. â€Å"Eventually, even my parents had enough. I wrecked their car, stole $4,000 worth of jewelry and computer equipment that I pawned for half that to buy more meth and booze. This is where I ended up.† I told John about my earlier experience pandering and asked him if he ever felt bad for asking strangers for money. To this he shrugged and smiled, showing blackened gums above where his two front teeth once were, â€Å"You must be new. When I first started asking, sure I felt bad. I never thought I’d be asking for handouts. I wasn’t raised that way. Shit, if my dad saw me on a street corner begging he’d probably kick my ass. But you gotta do what you gotta do. I mean, come on, who is going to hire me? I stink, I’m paranoid, I have a meth addiction and no teeth. If I want to eat or get more drugs, I have to beg or steal. I’d rather beg than steal any day. I still have some scruples,† he laughingly explained. Had he ever tried rehab or contacting on the programs that helps the homeless? â€Å"Sure. I’ve gone down to the shelter and filled out the paperwork but they don’t have a whole lot of money either so I couldn’t stay forever and the rehab program they tried to get me into was full. I tell myself everyday that this will be the last. Once I’ve shot up the last of my bag, I just won’t buy anymore but it never works out that way. I start jonesing and the nightmares come back. I sat over in there one night,† he said, pointing to a pavilion on the other side of the park, â€Å"and cried because I thought I was back in Iraq. I could hear the mortars exploding around my head and the screams of children in my ears. My friend found me after a couple of hours and offered me his needle and it all melted away. Of course, I found out a couple months later that he had hepatitis and had passed it onto me but he was just trying to help, I guess I can’t blame him too much. I’ll die sooner than later anyway.† When I asked him what he meant, he shrugged again. â€Å"Look at how I live. I’m lucky to eat every other day. I’ve shot up so much meth that itâ€℠¢s coming out my pores and am lucky to find a vein anymore. I’ve been beaten up, pushed in front of cars, spit on. I had pneumonia last winter, almost died from that. And I want to die. I should have died in Iraq, I think of that every day. If I knew then what my life would become,   I would have shot myself when I still had a gun. The day I don’t wake up, will be the best day of my life.† Shaken, I thanked John for talking to me and tried to make sense of what he had told me. Before talking, he had taken a quick dose of meth to loosen his tongue but what he let loose was more than just his own story. Between John’s veteran status, gender, drug addiction, and mental illness he is unfortunately a prime example of homelessness in America. Approximately 22% of the homeless population suffers from one form of mental illness or another (â€Å"Why Are People Homeless,† 2006). Though it has been said that the increase in mentally ill homeless people is due to the deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill, this is false. Most of this was done between the 1950s and 1960s but homeless rates did not begin to reach their current rates until the 1980s. According to a 2003 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, many of the mentally ill homeless could and can live within the community and receive treatment from outpatient facilities. Many however , are unable to receive treatment or housing because of the lack of availability (â€Å"Why Are People Homeless,† 2006). As John noted, with waiting lists and the unpredictability of street life, finding ones next meal is hard enough. Finding help with housing and medicine is even more of a challenge. Having been shaken by my experiences at pandering, moving through regular daily activities like making a small purchase at a convenience store, and John’s own tales I knew I was neither prepared nor willing to spend my night as a homeless person. Before going home, I ventured to the bus station, where I had originally planned to spend the night. Walking towards the entrance, I saw a man holding a cardboard sign. Thinking he was the man from earlier, I hurried forward to try and see how he had fared after his run in with the teenagers. I was wrong. Though similar in dress and situation, this was a new man. Much older, appearing to be in his sixties or seventies. I braced myself for a request for spare change, forgetting my own appearance, but he ignored me. I knelt down to ask him some questions, figuring that this would be my last chance as I was now determined after my brief experience before returning to my normal life. No one, I now knew would knowingly choose homelessness. Asking his name, he eyed me warily, â€Å"you ain’t a cop are you?† Deciding to blow my cover, such as it was, I explained that I was a college student trying to understand what it means to be homeless. â€Å"Why would you do that? You think this is a game?   Just go home, at least you have one. I been sleeping on park benches and in bus stations for 5 years, count your blessings.† With this he turned away from me, his eyes fixed on a couple walking along the sidewalk. Speechless, I left him to his pandering. Regardless of my experiments, I had still only had an outsider’s experience of his daily life. I could, as he put so bluntly, go home. I had a home. Even as I begged on the street, I knew that I had a bank account across town with more money in it than this man would see in a week. I would finish my education and get a job, buy a home and build a family. For this man, that kind of life must seem a dream. I now knew, however, that the future I have so long imagined and planned for can just as easily be taken from me. It can start with something as seemingly changeable as losing a job and spiral into a hopelessness that left some dead, others wishing for death. For John the tipping point had been a combination of factors: mainly his drug use and trying to cope with post-traumatic stress. The causes, I now realized were encompassing of us all in one form or another. I now was able to understand through my experience that just like the woma n from that morning find myself living in a car one day and begging on a street corner for real next time. â€Å"Kentucky Statistics.† Homeless in Kentucky. Retrieved March 30, 2009 from http://www.kyhousing.org/homeless/KH.asp?ID=602. Donohoe, M. (2004, July 7). â€Å"Homelessness in the United States: History, Epidemiology, Health Issues, Women, and Public Policy.† Medscape. Retrieved March 30, 2009 from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/481800. â€Å"Who is Homeless.† (2006, June) National Coalition of the Homeless. Central Kentucky Housing and Homeless Initiative. Retrieved March 30, 2009 from http://www.ckhhi.org/Who%20is%20Homeless.pdf. â€Å"Why are People Homeless.† (2006, June) National Coalition of the Homeless. Central Kentucky Housing and Homeless Initiative. Retrieved March 30, 2009 from http://www.ckhhi.org/Why%20are%20people%20homeless.pdf. â€Å"Hate Crimes and Violence Against People Who Are Homeless.† (2006, June) National Coalition of the Homeless. Central Kentucky Housing and Homeless Initiative. Retrieved March 30, 2009 from http://www.ckhhi.org/Hate%20Crimes.pdf. â€Å"Factors Contributing to Homelessness.† Homeless Resource Network. Retrieved March 30, 2009 from http://www.homelessresourcenetwork.org/causes.html.