Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Juno and the Paycock Essay Example

Juno and the Paycock Essay Example Juno and the Paycock Paper Juno and the Paycock Paper Essay Topic: Play In 1920s Dublin, men were considered more superior than women. The men had to support their families as they were the main source of financial income. In working class families, women also had to work. If they didnt, they wouldnt be able to pay the rent, or possibly not be able to feed their family. Women also had to look after the family and children, and had to do all of the housework. Men seemed to have control over women, who couldnt do anything to stop them. In Juno and the Paycock, Sean OCasey paints a different picture. Although the men believe they are in control, it is really the women who are in the drivers seat. OCasey believes that the women in his play are stronger, more enduring and unselfish than the male characters. OCasey himself believed that women were secretly in charge. He had a very strong relationship with his mother, as his father died when he was only six years old. He was also the youngest surviving child out of his other thirteen siblings. As he was brought up by his widowed mother, he sees that women are dominant and men are weaker. In Juno, we find that the Boyle family have come into a great deal of wealth. Almost immediately, Captain Jack Boyle spends most of it, hence, giving him the title of the Paycock. Johnny Boyle, his son, has a secret, which gradually unfolds as the story progresses. It turns out that he has been a government informer; you didnt think o that when you gave him away to the gang that sent him to his grave. This ultimately leads to Johnnys execution; where were you when me darlin son was riddled with bullets. Juno Boyle, Boyles wife, in the centre of everything, is feeling the burdens of life on her shoulders as she tries to keep her family together. Mary Boyle, Jack and Junos daughter, has found a new boyfriend. He is Charlie Bentham, and is very rich. We are later told that he has left Mary as she is now pregnant. We then learn that there was never any money for the Boyles; Theres no money comin to us at all the Wills a washout! Fed up, Juno, with a drunkard husband and a dead son, finally leaves Boyle, with Mary at her side. This is where Juno says to Mary about her baby; Itll have whats far betther itll have two mothers. This is good for the child as Juno is responsible and will be able to use her own experience to her advantage. I expect that Boyle will be left on his own, possibly with his best friend, Joxer Daily, at his side. Boyle has done nothing to help or support his family in any situation. Boyle is the head of the house, but it is Juno who seems to do all the work since Boyle would rather spend his time sipping lager and telling tales. Juno is very responsible and very reliable, while Boyle is completely undependable and irresponsible. Juno will protect her family with her life, but Boyle is plain lazy; If it werent for the terrible pains in me legs is always his excuse for not finding a job to help support his family financially. Johnny and Mary are the children of Boyle and Juno. Johnny, who was injured fighting for Ireland, and Mary, who is on strike for the principle of it, are both still trying to grow up. Mary, the elder of the two siblings, is stubborn, saying that she will stick to her principles, and Johnny is trying to hide from his comrades. Johnny has recently become very sensitive and quiet. He is worried about the death of Robbie Tancred, an old childhood friend. Mary however, is still as outgoing as ever. She enjoys a social life, and does not seem at all phased about being on strike, and having an awkward family. Mary and Johnny are both similar in the way that they both stand up for what they believe in. Mary is on strike, and Johnny stands up for his beliefs for Ireland. He lost an arm, and received a permanent limp from fighting during the Easter Rising. Johnny feels disgusted that Mary is pregnant and yet he hasnt told anyone what he has done. She should be dhriven out o th house shes brought disgrace on! He is being hypocritical. Mrs. Madigan, Mrs. Tancred and Joxer are all friendly with the Boyle family. Joxer is Boyles butty and drinking companion. Mrs. Madigan and Mrs. Tancred are the Boyles neighbours. Mrs. Madigan and Joxer are both very friendly and wish to help out. Yet, Joxer is a lazy lay-about. Mrs. Tancred is in grief when we meet her, but speaks passionately about wanting no more deaths and killings. When Mrs. Madigan hears of the Boyles inheritance, she has nothing but good words for them. Though when she finds out that there is no money, she angrily confronts Boyle for money she lent him, and then takes his gramophone as payment. She seems very two faced; nice and friendly one minute, then the next she is biting off Boyles head. Jerry Devine was Marys old boyfriend. He is still in love with her, but she has found a new boyfriend. He is called Charlie Bentham, a rich school teacher, now turning to work in law. Jerry doesnt realize that Mary doesnt want to be with him. He says to her; Let me kiss your hand when she refuses to go back with him. He is completely obsessed with Mary. Charlie is in love with Mary too and helps the Boyles with the will. However when Mary becomes pregnant, Charlie runs away to England, afraid of commitment and the results of his actions. When Jerry comes to Mary again, he wants her to return with him, as he knows that Bentham has left. He doesnt know that Mary is pregnant, and when he finds out, he leaves in shock. On the surface, Jerry and Charlie both seem to love and care about Mary, but when the worst comes to the worst, they quickly leave her to fend for herself. The women in Juno and the Paycock have many positive characteristics. They have strength, determination and are all friendly and caring. They all have strength to get through hard times (eg. Juno supporting her family; Mrs. Tancred during her bereavement). Juno is determined to make Boyle find a job and no matter what the situation, they are always loving (eg. Mrs. Madigan always wanting to help out). Women are completely different from the men. The men are lazy (eg. Boyle not finding any jobs; Boyle and Joxer in the snug all of the time), money wasters (eg. Boyle spending the money on a gramophone), and contradictive (eg. Boyle says he doesnt like the church or Father Farrell, then saying that the country would be nothing without them). Womens qualities outweigh their faults. They are stronger and better than what their faults says about them. Their negative qualities say they are vain and stubborn, but this is nothing in comparison to their positive qualities of being strong, resilient, loving, caring and determined. During this period in history, women were made to feel that they were inferior to men. But, OCaseys play defies this. Juno stands her ground against the men, and when she has had enough of them, she leaves Boyle. Juno and Mary decide to make their own way in the world, and forget about Boyle. Itll have whats far betther itll have two mothers. I feel that the baby will be better off with two mothers, especially if they are Juno and Mary. They are both wise enough not to fall into traps set by men, and know how not to raise the child. Juno was a good mother to Johnny and Mary, and so will be a great help to Mary and her child. They would raise the baby to be everything that Boyle was not. Yes, the women are more superior to the men. They are smarter and wiser. Although the men feel that they are in power, the women are weaving their way through the woodwork.

Sunday, March 1, 2020

U.S. Teen Pregnancy and Abortion Rates

U.S. Teen Pregnancy and Abortion Rates Preventing teen pregnancy is one of those perennial hot-button issues in the news, and countless sources cite the statistic that 3/4 of a million teens become pregnant each year. But what are the real facts and figures on teenage pregnancy in the U.S.? How current is the data and is teen pregnancy overblown by the media? What are the statistics for teen abortions and teen births? The February 2012 study U.S. Teenage Pregnancies, Births and Abortions, 2008: National Trends by Age, Race and Ethnicity, authored by Kathryn Kost and Stanley Henshaw and released by the Guttmacher Institute draws upon the most current estimates available and provides data on teen pregnancy rates in the United States in 2008 on a national level. Teen pregnancy rates differ from teen birth rates in that pregnancy rates include births, abortions, miscarriages and stillbirths. Current statistics including pregnancy, birth and abortion rates are outlined below. Number of Teenage Pregnancies In 2008, there were approximately 746,500 teen pregnancies involving young women and girls under age 20. The bulk of those pregnancies 733,000 were among teens age 15-19, while girls 14 and younger accounted for 13,500 pregnancies. Teenage Pregnancy Rate Among teens age 15-17, the pregnancy rate was 67.8 pregnancies per 1,000 women or 7% of the population. This rate was the lowest in over 30 years, down 42% from the peak pregnancy rate of 116.9 per thousand in 1990. Among girls 14 and younger, the pregnancy rate declined 62% from a high of 17.5 pregnancies per thousand in 1990 to 6.6 per thousand in 2008. Pregnancy Rate of Sexually Active Teens The pregnancy rate of sexually experienced teens (those who have ever had intercourse) was 158.5 pregnancies per thousand young women age 15-19, which indicates that the overall teenage pregnancy rate includes a significant proportion of teens who have never had sex. That rate reached its peak in 1990 when it was 223.1 per thousand a decline of 29%. Teenage Birth Rate In 2008 the teen birth rate was 40.2 births per 1,000 women, a drop of 35% from the peak rate of 61.8 per thousand in 1991. Teenage Abortion Rate In 2008 the teen abortion rate was 17.8 abortions per 1,000 women, the lowest rate since abortion was legalized. Abortion rates for teens peaked in 1988 at 43.5 per thousand; compared with the 2008 rate, that represents a decline of 59%. Although teen birth and abortion rates have been on a steady decline for more than two decades, in 2006 there was a short-lived increase in both the teenage birth and abortion rate. Both rates resumed their decline according to 2008 figures. Teenage Abortion Ratio The proportion of teen pregnancies that end in abortion (known as the abortion ratio) declined by a third from 1986-2008, from 46% to 31%. Teen Pregnancy Rates Across Racial and Ethnic Groups Although declines were seen among all three groups (white, black, Hispanic), the teen pregnancy rate remains higher among black teens and Hispanic teens as compared to non-Hispanic white teens. For non-Hispanic white teens, the pregnancy rate declined 50% since 1990 (from 86.6 pregnancies per 1,000 to 43.3). Among black women aged 15–19, the pregnancy rate dropped 48% between 1990 and 2008 (from 223.8 pregnancies per 1,000 to 117.0). Hispanic teenagers (of any race), the pregnancy rate fell 37% from its highest level between 1992 and 2008 (from 169.7 per 1,000 to 106.6.) Teen Pregnancy Rates and Racial Disparity When compared to each other, the disparity in teen pregnancy rates across racial and ethnic groups is apparent. Rates among black and Hispanic teens were 2–3 higher than that of non-Hispanic white teens. Among the different groups, in 2008 the pregnancy rate per thousand for young women age 15-19 was: 43.3 for non-Hispanic white teens106.6 for Hispanic teens (of any race)117.0 for black teens Teen Abortion Rates and Racial Disparity A similar disparity exists in teen abortion rates across racial and ethnic groups. Abortion rates among black teens were 4 times higher than that of non-Hispanic white teens; among Hispanic teens, the rate was twice as high. Among the different groups, in 2008 the abortion rate per thousand for young women age 15-19 was: 10.4 for non-Hispanic white teens20.1 for Hispanic teens (of any race)40.8 for black teens Teen Birth Rates and Racial Disparity Likewise, the disparity continues in teen birth rates across racial and ethnic groups. Birth rates among black and Hispanic teens in 2008 were twice the rate of non-Hispanic white teens. Among the different groups, in 2008 the birth rate per thousand for young women age 15-19 was: 26.6 for non-Hispanic white teens70.3 for Hispanic teens (of any race)60.1 for black teens Number of Pregnancies, Births, Abortions and Estimated Miscarriages In 2008 the following numbers for women younger than age 20 were recorded and/or estimated: Total number of pregnancies - 746,530Total number of births - 440,522Total number of abortions - 198,100Total number of estimated miscarriages (including stillbirths) - 107,910 Out of a total population of young women age 15-19 in the U.S. of 10,805,000, roughly 7% of teen girls were pregnant in 2008. Source:Kost, Kathryn and Stanley Henshaw. U.S. Teenage Pregnancies, Births and Abortions, 2008: National Trends by Age, Race and Ethnicity. Guttmacher Institute, Guttmacher.org. 8 February 2012.