What does it mean to be ‘free’? The simple and immediate answer that comes for many people is probably, ‘I am free if I am able to choose what I do.’ Whilst this may be true, it fails to address...Show moreWhat does it mean to be ‘free’? The simple and immediate answer that comes for many people is probably, ‘I am free if I am able to choose what I do.’ Whilst this may be true, it fails to address key issues in the discussion of freedom, such as how or if freedom can be attainable if others are hindering your will. This paper will seek to examine what is meant by ‘freedom’ beginning with an overview of free will and how this relates to freedom itself. The works of Isaiah Berlin (1909-1997) will be used to examine freedom alongside some of his critics such as Rousseau and Kant. Further to this the ethical question of freedom of speech will be remarked upon with relation to Jordan Peterson, a professor of psychology. Finally Berlin’s ideas about freedom will be applied to Peterson’s arguments for the protection of free speech as well as those who argue against Peterson in the public forums of a televised debate and a televised discussion panel, in which Peterson was a participant. This research combines the disciplines of philosophy, culture and socio-politics to attempt to reach a well formulated and in depth conclusion answering the question, “How does the philosophical concept of ‘liberty’, as understood by Isaiah Berlin, relate to the ethical and socio- political freedom of speech debate, specifically pertaining to discussion of freedom of speech versus usage of gender pronouns in the discussion of gender identity and identity ethics?”Show less
This thesis is a qualitative analysis of the clothing of Japanese Gothic Lolita women supported by six remarks. The study hypothesises that the statements made were meant to redefine gender...Show moreThis thesis is a qualitative analysis of the clothing of Japanese Gothic Lolita women supported by six remarks. The study hypothesises that the statements made were meant to redefine gender identities, societal values, and gender role expectations for women in the Japanese society and to find empowerment within the societal structures. It hypothesises that the statements were meant to signify a rebellion against the idea that dressing in a stereotypically feminine, childlike, and kawaii way is disempowering for women. Furthermore, this research finds that Japanese Gothic Lolitas lay the foundation to rethink the gendered structures embedded in the Japanese society through the signifiers of their clothing and the discourse within their statements by defining themselves not in relation to others, but to themselves. Thus, a framework is created that allows women to rebel against the traditional constraints of gender role expectations and to redefine their identities as influential, assertive individuals.Show less
The following thesis uses Critical Discourse Analysis to perform a qualitative examination of four statements made by pro-choice campaigners during the 2018 abortion legalisation campaign in...Show moreThe following thesis uses Critical Discourse Analysis to perform a qualitative examination of four statements made by pro-choice campaigners during the 2018 abortion legalisation campaign in Argentina. On August 8th, 2018 the Argentinian Senate held a historic vote in which they rejected the request to make reproductive laws less restrictive. The following work hypothesises that the statements released by pro-choice campaigners were made to rebel against the concepts of marianismo and motherhood in order to attempt to reconstruct the traditional female gender identity in Argentina. It finds that the campaigners used the discourse within their statements to try to create a new framework for Argentinian women in which they could rebel against the traditional constraints of marianismo and redefine their position in society. Furthermore, within the statements, the research identifies the formation of a collective sisterhood against patriarchal institutions and oppressive structures.Show less
Cosmetic surgery in China has become particularly popular in the last decade. The country has faced a great economic development, which has led to the birth of the new Chinese consumer. Consumption...Show moreCosmetic surgery in China has become particularly popular in the last decade. The country has faced a great economic development, which has led to the birth of the new Chinese consumer. Consumption is particularly tied to self-representation and identity. To complete their identity through their appearance, individuals consume cosmetic surgery. For this reason, the beauty industry has developed new means to attract future clients: online advertising. Since few of the previous studies deal with the online aspect of cosmetic surgery in China, this dissertation aims to analyze how the new agents of advertisements (in this case websites) are used to compel clients. By employing discourse analysis to two cosmetic surgery platforms: Yuemei and Soyoung, the research demonstrates how the main means of these websites’ advertising are the users themselves.Show less
