Gender Socialization Essay Example for Free

Gender Socialization Essay The term, gender, refers to the socially learned expectations and behaviors associated with being male or female. Gender affects socialization in many ways, and begins primarily at birth. Gender affects how parents treat their children, how the work field treats males and females, and how each gender chooses friends. The gender of a child is extremely important to the parent. The gender will guide the parent on how to raise and treat the child. Parents are more likely to be more stern and rough with a baby boy rather than a baby girl. Parents of a girl are likely to be more gentle, soft, and patient with the new baby. This gender socialization example is due to our masculine and feminine culture. The most important and obvious gender socialization example is in the work field. Gender greatly affects the socialization process between males and females. Males are considered to be strong and powerful, while females are thought to be weak and secondary. From the beginning of time, men were to work hard and provide for the family, while females were to take care of the home and children. Today, men are still more likely to be powerful leaders, CEO’s, etc†¦ however; many women are top executives and are very capable of being so. Finally, gender affects the way people choose friends and social activities. Men are more likely to choose other men as friends, and same with women. Humans enjoy spending time with people that are similar to themselves. Men will also engage in masculine activities such as hunting, fishing, and running, while women engage in feminine activities such as shopping, tanning, and reading. Gender subconsciously helps make our daily decisions. I’ve never thought about gender being such an important aspect in our daily lives. Gender affects socialization in so many different ways; parents raising their children, the work environment, and choosing friends. Gender socialization is extremely important in today’s society.

Essay --

Mekanism is a San francisco-based creative digital agency that is founded in 2000 by Tommy Means. Mekanism is derived from a company named Complete Pandemonium. Means saw a big opportunity of the internet for a great media platform that was not being deployed and understood by people and company back in 2000. Means started to grow his view to an independent integrated creative production studio to develop the branded content outside traditional marketing communication channels. Means aimed the mission to place the web media at the center of all advertising, and to make marketing more effective among all the other platforms. Immediately the agency was founded as an independent entity, he added three partners. Pete Caban as a head of digital, Ian Kovalic as an executive creative director, and Jason Harris as an executive producer. Pete Caban leads technology development, new media initiatives and business operations. Focusing mainly on projects surrounding emerging content platforms, Caban directs the technical development of Mekanism’s client campaigns by leveraging the industry’s latest innovations to deliver targeted content to the widest base. Ian Kovalic brings an artistic and creative background in design, interactive and animated storytelling. As executive creative director, he oversees most of the design execution across commercial, web and branded entertainment. Jason Harris leads the strategy and production of branded entertainment campaigns. His core focus is fostering Mekanism’s position as the premiere storyteller for emerging media. Harris represents a unique mix of strategy, management and production expertise. He works attentively with brands to help make hit content, develop community platforms, and enhance reach a... ...Super bowl, Mekanism continued engagement with the audience, with the contests where hundreds of thousands additional fans came to watch the spot frame by frame and hunt for planted easter eggs. Average times on Pepsi.com was unbelievable, 4 minutes and 35 seconds. The program garnered press eventually every outlet from USATODAY, to the New York Times to the Today Show. Through paid, owned , and earned media, it received over 5.5 billion impressions. In the end, Mekanism created a Fan-made film that looked stunning, and delivered on the creativity and passion of its audience which generated buzz long before and after the Super Bowl. But most importantly, Makanism amplified the voice of the now generation, and Pepsi put its marketing focus on the people who really matter, its consumers. http://youtu.be/a6YjAWU6_Qw>

Cat Evolution

The felids are a rapidly evolving family of mammals that share a common ancestor only 10–15 million years ago,[26] and include, in addition to the domestic cat, lions, tigers, cougars, and many others. Within this family, domestic cats (Felis catus) are part of the genus Felis, which is a group of small cats containing approximately seven species (depending upon classification scheme). [1][27] Members of the genus are found worldwide and include the jungle cat (Felis chaus) of southeast Asia, European wildcat (F. silvestris silvestris), African wildcat (F. s. lybica), the Chinese mountain cat (F. bieti), and the Arabian sand cat (F. argarita), among others. [28] All the cats in this genus share a common ancestor that probably lived around 6–7 million years ago in Asia. [29] The exact relationships within the Felidae are close but still uncertain,[30][31] e. g. the Chinese mountain cat is sometimes classified (under the name Felis silvestris bieti) as a subspecies of the wildcat, like an African variety F. S. lybica. [4][30] As domestic cats are little altered from wildcats, they can readily interbreed. This hybridization poses a danger to the genetic distinctiveness of wildcat populations, particularly in Scotland and Hungary, and possibly also the Iberian Peninsula. 32] The domestic cat was first classified as Felis catus by Carolus Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae in 1758. [1][3] However, because of modern phylogenetics, domestic cats are now usually regarded as another subspecies of the wildcat, Felis silvestris. [1][4][33] This has resulted in mixed usage of the terms, as the domestic cat can be called by its subspecies name, Felis silvestris catus. [1][4][33] Wildcats have also been referred to as various subspecies of F. catus,[33] but in 2003 the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature fixed the name for wildcats as F. ilvestris. [34] The most common name in use for the domestic cat remains F. catus, followin g a convention for domesticated animals of using the earliest (the senior) synonym proposed. [34] Sometimes the domestic cat has been called Felis domesticus[35] or Felis domestica,[1] as proposed by German naturalist J. C. P. Erxleben in 1777, but these are not valid taxonomic names and have only rarely been used in scientific literature,[36] because Linnaeus's binomial takes precedence. [37] Cats have either a mutualistic or commensal relationship with humans.However, in comparison to dogs, cats have not undergone major changes during the domestication process, as the form and behavior of the domestic cat are not radically different from those of wildcats, and domestic cats are perfectly capable of surviving in the wild. [38][39] This limited evolution during domestication means that domestic cats tend to interbreed freely with wild relatives,[32] which distinguishes them from other domesticated animals. [citation needed] Fully domesticated house cats also often interbreed with fe ral F. atus populations. [25] However, several natural behaviors and characteristics of wildcats may have pre-adapted them for domestication as pets. [39] These traits include their small size, social nature, obvious body language, love of play, and relatively high intelligence;[40]:12–17 they may also have an inborn tendency towards tameness. [39] There are two main theories about how cats were domesticated. In one, people deliberately tamed cats in a process of artificial selection, as they were useful predators of vermin. 41] However, this has been criticized as implausible, because there may have been little reward for such an effort: Cats generally do not carry out commands and, although they do eat rodents, other species such as ferrets or terriers may be better at controlling these pests. [4] The alternative idea is that cats were simply tolerated by people and gradually diverged from their wild relatives through natural selection, as they adapted to hunting the vermin found around humans in towns and villages. [4]

Essay about P4 M2 D1 - National Initiatives Unit 2

Unit 2- Equality, Diversity and Rights In this assignment I am going to design a booklet explaining of how national initiatives promote anti-discriminatory practice. I am going to explain an assessment of the influences of a recent national policy initiative promoting anti-discriminatory practice in health and social care settings. Then I am going to evaluate the success of a recent initiative in promoting anti-discriminatory practice. P4 I am going to write about 4 legislations, these are the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Age Discrimination Act 2006. Sex Discrimination Act 1975 is to protect men and women against discrimination or harassment on the†¦show more content†¦It requires reasonable adjustments to be made in various areas, so that disabled people are not being discriminated against. The human Rights and Equality commissions assist that individual to up hold their rights as set out in the DDA. The Act covers all four main areas such as; transport, housing, education and employment. Also it is unlawful under the DDA for an employer to treat a person with disabilities less favourably that someone else just because of their disability. The DDA provides a legal protection from any discrimination in employment, access to buildings or transport. Human Rights Act 1998 covers all of the Human Rights and ensures that all individuals have rights on their side and that they can take legal actions against any other individual or any organisation that disrespects their Human Rights; this includes the health and social care settings. This act came into force in England and Wales. This enables children, young people and adults to seek protection of their rights both nationally and internationally through the European court of human rights. It gives people the power to challenge perceived discrimination by public bodies. As an employee within the health and social care sector you would have to be aware of the human rights issues. You would need to know how to report any incidents. This act looks at individual’s rights. It also ensures vulnerable people are being cared for, and have rights to protection and privacy. Age Discrimination ActShow MoreRelatedBusiness Economic1655 Words   |  7 PagesLevel 3 Health and Social Care Unit 2: Equality, Diversity and Rights in Health and Social Care Assessor: Important Dates | |Assessment Criteria |Issue Date |Formative Assessment |Summative Assessment | |Task 1 |P1, M1 and D1 | | | | |Task 2 |P2 and P3 Read MoreUnit 21672 Words   |  7 PagesLevel 3 Health and Social Care Unit 2: Equality, Diversity and Rights in Health and Social Care Assessor: Important Dates | |Assessment Criteria |Issue Date |Formative Assessment |Summative Assessment | |Task 1 |P1, M1 and D1 | | | | |Task 2 |P2 and P3 Read MoreEssay on Work: Goal and Social Care949 Words   |  4 PagesUnit 6: Personal and Professional Development in Health and Social CareUnit 44: Vocational Experience for Health and Social CareBTEC NATIONAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL CAREExtended Diploma Student Name: Abigail bowes Group: BStudent Number: 20138903 | Unit 6 (P2, P5) half 1. Provide an up-to-date CV at the start of the course. 2. Provide an updated CV at the end of the first year. You will required to completed the following * Completed Units * Work Experience * New Skills and QualificationsRead MoreTitle: Discrimination and Social Care3818 Words   |  16 Pagesnew Unit 2: Equality, Diversity and Rights in Health and Social Care Unit code: D/600/9222 QCF Level 3: BTEC Nationals Credit value: 10 Guided learning hours: 60 Aim and purpose This unit aims to develop learners’ understanding of concepts related to equality, diversity and rights in health and social care. Learners will be able to gain knowledge of discriminatory practice and means of combatting this. They will also develop understanding of national initiatives thatRead MoreUnit 38 Business and Economic Environment4792 Words   |  20 PagesUnit 38: Unit code: QCF Level 3: Credit value: Business and the Economic Environment T/502/5500 BTEC National 10 Guided learning hours: 60 Aim and purpose The aim of this unit is to introduce learners to the interaction between the general economic environment and business activity and how the interactions generate national wellbeing. Learners will study how government activities regulate and influence business activities and how business activities influence government action and policyRead MoreAnti Discriminatory Practice2108 Words   |  9 PagesUnit:2 Leeanne Norman Task 2 Anti-discriminatory practice Contents * An explanation of how national initiatives promote anti-discriminatory practice (P4) * A description of how ant-discriminatory practice is promoted in health and social care (P5) * An assessment of the influence of a recent national policy initiative promoting anti-discriminatory practice (M2) * A discussion of the difficulties that may arise when implementing anti-discriminatory practice in healthRead MoreHotel and Hospitality Industry22258 Words   |  90 Pagesto meet customer expectations. It is also a very diverse industry, ranging from stays in a ï ¬ ve-star hotel to meals in a fast-food outlet. In these ï ¬ rst two units, you will develop your knowledge and understanding of this exciting and fast-moving industry. You ï ¬ rst consider the different types of businesses in hospitality industry at national and local levels. You will explore the types of hospitality jobs, and the skills needed to work in the industry. You will then go on to look at the productsRead MoreUnit 2 P5,M2,M3,D1,D13313 Words   |  14 PagesUnit 2 – Equality, Diversity and Rights within Health and Social Care P4 For this task, I am going to explain how two national initiatives promote anti-discriminatory practice. Sex discrimination act 1975 This act applies for both men and women. It promotes that both men and women should be treated equally. For example, in transport, education, jobs etc. It promotes anti-discriminatory practice by making sure those men and women are treated equally, if this act applies didn’t exist, men andRead MoreUnit 2 - P4, P5, M2, M3, D1, D23271 Words   |  14 Pagesï » ¿Unit 2 – Equality, Diversity and Rights within Health and Social Care P4 For this task, I am going to explain how two national initiatives promote anti-discriminatory practice. Sex discrimination act 1975 This act applies for both men and women. It promotes that both men and women should be treated equally. For example, in transport, education, jobs etc. It promotes anti-discriminatory practice by making sure those men and women are treated equally, if this act applies didn’t exist, men and women

The Character Of Sarah Develope From The Film Labyrinth (...

How does the character of Sarah develope due to those surrounding her in the film labyrinth? â€Å"A complicated irregular network of passages or paths in which it is difficult to find one s way; a maze:† (Oxford Dictionaries:2017) In the 1986 fantasy/action film Labyrinth (Jim Henson:1986) The plot closely follows the story of the protagonist Sarah in this coming of age film. The story follows Sarah on her quest to find her younger brother Toby, who has been kidnapped by the Goblin King, Jareth. Sarah is introduced to a variety of fantasy creatures on her travels through the Labyrinth.(Wikipedia 2017). A few of which assist her on her quest. I am going to analyse how the characters in, labyrinth impact Sarah s character development.The†¦show more content†¦Throughout the first act of the film, just by being introduced to Sarah s family the audience can see that Sarah is a stubborn and selfish character. However, as Sarah is first implied as being elaborate and mean we also see Sarah s considerate side come out as she begs the Goblin King to give Toby back to her. The first character from the labyrinth Sarah is introduced to is the Goblin King Jareth himself, who is the antagonist in the film. Jareth takes Toby as he believes this is what Sarah wants. Throughout the film we see that Sarah is drawn to the character of Jareth, however she also shows annoyance towards the character. We see she initially has an connection to Jareth at the start of the film as she s reading the book. Jareth gives Sarah the opportunity to grow courage and heroic characteristics throughout the film. He does this by taunting her. We see that Sarah s character develop as she gains courage and becomes heroic in the last act when she defeated Jareth. Jareth says at the beginning of the second act when they are both outside the labyrinth â€Å"Go back to your room, play with your toys. When Jareth says this, it suggests Sarah is childish. However this can also be perceived as Jareth taunting Sarah into taking up his challenge of the labyrinth. We then see Sarah pluck up the courage to follow out this challenge. Another example of Jareth testing Sarah is when he makes Hoggle give Sarah the peach. Sarah eats the peach

The Bitch Manifesto By Joreen Freeman - 898 Words

Feminist Movements started long before 1960, with the advancement of women earning the right to vote. However, it did not stop with that change. There were many other items that the women in history hoped to change, not only to better their own lives, but also the women of the future. With the use of many documents, such as flyers, letters, and boycotts, women of the past changed many different aspects of life for women in the world today. Boycotting the Miss America Pageant in 1968 and 1969, circulating flyers around America, was just the beginning of this second movement. They also used to write to convey their thoughts. One of which was titled â€Å"The Bitch Manifesto† and was written in 1968 by Joreen Freeman. The second was a spin- off from a children’s book entitled â€Å"There was a Young Women Who Swallowed a lie† which was written in 1970 by Meredith Tax. â€Å"Slavery Exists!† Reported by a flyer that circulated around America in 1968. At this time, slavery as we remember was over, so to many at the time, what the women were proclaiming may have been confusing to some. This circulated around before the Miss America pageant. The Washington Women’s Liberation were portraying the pageant to slavery because Miss America was a slave to cultural norms of the time, â€Å"the image of sex, virginal prettiness, glory of war, mindless conformity, acceptance of racism, cult of youth, the competitive spirit, and the capitalistic system.† With this flyer, they were hoping to gather others who

The Hunters Moonsong Chapter Forty-One Free Essays

string(27) " from one foot to another\." It seemed like he and Bonnie had been waiting forever in the tiny back office of the library, Matt thought. They had strained to catch a sound, to try and learn anything at al about what was happening down there. Bonnie paced, wringing her hands and biting her lips, and he leaned against the wal , head lowered, and kept a good grip on Samantha’s stave. We will write a custom essay sample on The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Forty-One or any similar topic only for you Order Now Just in case. He knew about al the doors and passages and tunnels down there, many of which he had no idea where they led, but he didn’t realize the soundproofing was so good. They hadn’t heard a thing. Then suddenly the trapdoor was pushing up, and Matt tensed, raising the stave, until he saw Elena’s face. Meredith, Elena, Stefan, and Damon climbed out, covered in blood, but basical y fine, if the eager way Elena and Meredith were tel ing Bonnie what happened, their words tumbling over each other, was any indication. â€Å"Ethan’s dead,† Stefan told Matt. â€Å"There were some other Vitales down there in the fight, but none of the pledges. He’d sent them out to hunt.† Matt felt sick and weirdly happy at the same time. He’d pictured them dead at Damon and Stefan’s hands, Chloe, al his friends from pledging. But they weren’t. Not dead, not real y. But transformed, vampires now. â€Å"You’re going to hunt them,† he said, aiming his words at Stefan and Damon, and at Meredith, too. She nodded, her face resolved, and Damon looked away. â€Å"We have to,† Stefan told him. â€Å"You know that.† Matt stared hard at his shoes. â€Å"Yeah,† he said, â€Å"I know. But, if you get a chance, maybe talk to some of them? If you can, if they’re reasonable and no one’s in danger? Maybe they could learn to live without kil ing people. If you showed them how, Stefan.† He rubbed at the back of his neck. â€Å"Chloe was †¦ special. And the other pledges, they were good people. They didn’t know what they were getting into. They deserve a chance.† Everyone was silent, and, after a moment, Matt looked up to find Stefan regarding him, his eyes dark green with sympathy, his mouth pul ed taut in lines of pain. â€Å"I’l do my best,† he said kindly. â€Å"I can promise you that. But new vampires – vampires in general, real y – can be unpredictable. We might not be able to save any of them, and our priority has to be the innocent. We will try, though.† Matt nodded. His mouth tasted sour and his eyes burned. He was beginning to realize just how tired he was. â€Å"That’s about the best I can expect,† he said roughly. â€Å"Thank you.† â€Å"So there’s a whole room ful of dead vampires down there?† Bonnie asked, wrinkling her nose in disgust. â€Å"Pretty much,† said Elena. â€Å"We chained the doors closed again, but I wish we could close the chamber off more permanently. Someone’s going to go down there eventual y, and the last thing this campus needs is another murder investigation, or another gruesome legend.† â€Å"Ta-da!† Bonnie said, grinning brightly and pul ing a little bag out of her pocket. â€Å"Final y something I can do.† She held the bag up. â€Å"Remember al the hours Mrs. Flowers made me spend studying herbs? Well, I know spel s for locking and warding, and I’ve got the herbs to use right here. I thought they might come in handy, as soon as Matt told us we were going to a secret underground chamber.† She looked so pleased with herself that Matt had to smile a little despite the heaviness inside him at the thought of Chloe and the others somewhere out in the night. â€Å"They might not work for more than a day or two,† she added modestly, â€Å"but they’l definitely discourage people from investigating the trapdoor for that long.† â€Å"You’re a wonder, Bonnie,† Elena said, and spontaneously hugged her. Stefan nodded. â€Å"We can get rid of the bodies tomorrow,† he said. â€Å"It’s too close to dawn to do it now.† Bonnie got right to work, sprinkling dried plants across the trapdoor. â€Å"Hyssop, Solomon’s seal, and damiana leaves,† she said when she saw Matt watching her. â€Å"They’re for strengthening of locks, protection from evil, and general protection. Mrs. Flowers dril ed me on this stuff so much I final y got them al down. It’s too bad I didn’t have her helping me with my homework in high school. Maybe I would have learned some of those French verbs.† Damon was watching them, his eyes half hooded. â€Å"We should look for the new vampires, too,† he said. â€Å"You know vampires aren’t pack animals. They won’t hunt together for long. Once they split up, we can pick them off,† he told Stefan. â€Å"I’m coming, too,† Meredith said. She looked at Damon chal engingly. â€Å"I’l just walk Matt home and then meet up with you both.† Damon smiled, a peculiarly warm smile that Matt had never seen him direct at Meredith before. â€Å"I was talking to you, too, hunter,† he said. â€Å"You’ve gotten better.† After a second, she smiled back, a humorous twist of her lips, and Matt thought he saw something that might be the beginnings of friendship flickering between them. â€Å"So the Vitales were definitely behind al the murders and disappearances?† Matt asked Stefan, feeling sick. How could he have spent so much time with Ethan and not suspected that he was a murderer? Bonnie’s face went so white that her few freckles showed like little dark dots on plain paper. And then her color came flooding back, her cheeks and ears turning a bright pink. She climbed unsteadily to her feet. â€Å"I should go see Zander,† she said. â€Å"Hey,† Matt said, alarmed, and moved to block the door. â€Å"There’s stil a whole bunch of vampires outside, Bonnie. Wait for somebody to walk you over.† â€Å"Not to mention that you have other commitments,† Damon said dryly, looking meaningful y at the herbs scattered across the trapdoor. â€Å"After you work your witchy mojo, then you can go see your pet.† â€Å"We’re sorry, Bonnie,† Meredith said, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to another. You read "The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Forty-One" in category "Essay examples" â€Å"We should have trusted you to know a good guy when you saw one.† â€Å"Right! Al is forgiven,† Bonnie said brightly, and plopped down in front of the trapdoor again. â€Å"I just need to say the spel .† She ran her hands through the herbs. â€Å"Existo signum,† she muttered. â€Å"Servo quis est intus.† As she scooped some of the herbs back into her bag, Bonnie kept smiling, and stopping, and staring into space, and then bouncing a little. Matt smiled at her tiredly. Good for Bonnie. Someone ought to have a happy ending. He felt a strong, thin hand take his and turned to see Meredith beside him. She smiled sympathetical y at him. Nearby, Elena laid her hand tentatively on Stefan’s arm, and they both had their eyes on Bonnie. Damon stood stil , watching them al with an almost fond expression. Matt leaned against Meredith, comforted. No matter what happened, at least they were together. His true friends were with him; he had come home to them at last. The sun was low in the east when Bonnie climbed up the fire escape, her feet clanging on each step. As she came over the side of the building, she saw Zander sitting with his back against the rough concrete wal at the edge of the roof. He turned to stare at her as she came toward him. â€Å"Hi,† she said. She’d been so excited to see him on her way over here, enough so that Elena and Meredith got over their guilt and started to laugh at her, but now she felt weird and uncomfortable, like her head was too big. It was, she realized, total y possible that he wouldn’t want to talk to her. After al , she’d accused him of being a murderer, which was a pretty big mistake for a girlfriend to make. â€Å"Hi,† he said slowly. There was a long pause, and then he patted the concrete next to him. â€Å"Want to sit down?† he asked. â€Å"I’m just watching the sky.† He hesitated. â€Å"Ful moon in a couple of days.† Mentioning the ful moon felt like a chal enge, and Bonnie settled next to him, then squeezed her hands together and jumped right in. â€Å"I’m sorry I cal ed you a kil er,† she said. â€Å"I know now that I was wrong to accuse you of being responsible for the deaths on campus. I should have trusted you more. Please accept my apology,† she finished in a little rush. â€Å"Because I miss you.† â€Å"I miss you, too,† Zander said. â€Å"And I understand it was a shock.† â€Å"Seriously, though, Zander,† Bonnie said, and shoved him a little with her hip. â€Å"You just tel me you’re a werewolf? Did you get bitten when you were a kid or something? Because I know getting bitten is the only way to become a werewolf without kil ing someone. And, okay, I know you’re not the kil er now, but Meredith saw you with a girl who’d just been attacked. And †¦ and you had bruises, real y bad bruises everywhere. I think I had every right to think something was hinky with you.† â€Å"Hinky?† Zander laughed a little, but there was an edge of sadness to it, Bonnie thought. â€Å"I guess it’s kind of hinky, if you want to put it that way.† â€Å"Can you explain?† Bonnie asked. â€Å"Okay, I’l try,† Zander said thoughtful y. He reached down and took her hand, turning it over in his and playing with her fingers, pul ing them lightly. â€Å"As you apparently know, most werewolves are created either by being bitten, or by having the werewolf virus in their family and activating it by kil ing someone in a special ritual. So, either a terrible attack, which usual y screws the victim up, or a deliberate act of evil to grab the power of the wolf.† He grimaced. â€Å"It kind of explains why werewolves have such a bad reputation. But there’s another kind of werewolf.† He glanced at Bonnie with a sort of shy pride. â€Å"I come from the Original pack of werewolves.† Original. Bonnie’s mind raced. Immortal, she thought, and remembered Klaus, who had never been a human. â€Å"So†¦ you’re real y old, then?† she asked hesitantly. It was fine, she guessed, for Elena to date guys who had seen centuries go by. Romantic, even. Sort of. Despite the crush she’d had on Damon, though, Bonnie always pictured dating someone close to her own age. Even Meredith’s cute, smart Alaric seemed kind of old to her, and he was only in his twenties. Zander snorted with sudden laughter and squeezed her hand tight. â€Å"No!† he said. â€Å"I just turned twenty last month! Werewolves aren’t like that – we’re alive. We live, we die. We’re like everybody else, we just†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Turn into superstrong, superfast wolves,† Bonnie said tartly. â€Å"Yeah, fine,† Zander said. â€Å"Point taken. Anyway, the Original pack is like, the original family of werewolves. Most werewolves are infected by some kind of mystical virus. It can be passed down, but it’s dormant. The Original pack is descended from the very first werewolves, the ones that were cavemen except during the ful moon. It’s in our genes. We’re different from regular werewolves. We can stop ourselves from changing if we need to. We can learn to change when the moon’s not ful , too, although it’s difficult.† â€Å"If you can stop yourself from changing, do some of you stop being werewolves?† Bonnie asked. Zander pul ed her closer. â€Å"We would never stop being werewolves, even if we never changed at al . It’s who we are. And it hurts to not change when the moon is ful . It’s like it sings to us, and the song gets louder and clearer the closer it gets to being ful . We’re aching to change by the time it happens.† â€Å"Wow,† said Bonnie. Then her eyes widened. â€Å"So, al your friends are members of the Original pack, too? Like, you’re al related?† â€Å"Um,† Zander said. â€Å"I guess. But the relationship can go back pretty far – it’s not like we’re al first cousins or anything.† â€Å"Weird,† Bonnie said. â€Å"Okay, Original pack, got it.† She snuggled her head comfortably against Zander’s shoulder. â€Å"Tel me the rest.† â€Å"Okay,† Zander said again. He pushed his hair out of his eyes and wrapped one arm around Bonnie. It was getting a little cold sitting on the concrete, and she nestled grateful y against the warmth of his side. â€Å"So, Dalcrest is on what’s sort of a hot spot for paranormal activity. There’s these things cal ed ley lines, see†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Already know it,† Bonnie said briskly. â€Å"Go on with your part.† Zander stared at her. â€Å"O †¦ kay,† he said slowly. â€Å"Anyway, the High Wolf Council sends some of us to Dalcrest every year as students. So that we can monitor any dangers. We’re kind of like watchdogs, I guess. The original watchdogs.† Bonnie snorted. â€Å"The High Wolf Council.† Zander poked her in the ribs. â€Å"Shut up, it’s not funny,† he said. â€Å"They’re very important.† Bonnie giggled again, and he elbowed her gently. â€Å"So, with al the disappearances and attacks, things have been bad on campus this year,† he continued, sobering. â€Å"Much worse than they usual y are. We’ve been investigating. A pack of vampires in a secret society on campus is behind it, and we’ve been fighting them off and protecting people when we can. But we’re not as strong as they are, except at the ful moon, even if we change. And so the bruises. And your friend seeing me guarding a girl who’d just been attacked.† â€Å"Don’t worry. We took care of the Vitale Society tonight,† Bonnie said smugly. â€Å"Well, the leader at least, and some of the others,† she amended. â€Å"There’s stil a bunch of vampires on campus, but we’l get rid of them.† Zander turned and stared at her for a long moment before he spoke. â€Å"I think,† he said at last in a careful y neutral voice, â€Å"that it’s your turn to explain.† Bonnie wasn’t actual y that great at properly organized, logical explanations, but she did her best, going back and forth in time, adding side notes and remembering things as she went along. She told him about Stefan and Damon, and how everything had changed when the vampire brothers came to Fel ‘s Church last year and Elena fel in love with them. She told him about Meredith’s sacred duty as a vampire hunter, and she told him about her own psychic visions and her training as a witch. She left a lot of stuff out – everything about the Dark Dimension, and Elena’s bargain with the Guardians, for instance, because that was real y confusing, and maybe she should tel him about it later so he didn’t just overload – but the tel ing stil took a long time. â€Å"Huh,† Zander said when she was finished, and then he laughed. â€Å"What?† Bonnie asked. â€Å"You’re a weird girl,† Zander said. â€Å"Pretty heroic, though.† Bonnie pushed her face into his neck, happily breathing in the essential Zander smel of him: fabric softener, worn cotton, and clean guy. â€Å"You’re weird,† she said, and then, admiringly, â€Å"and the real hero. You’ve been fighting off vampire attacks for weeks and weeks, to protect everybody.† â€Å"We’re quite a pair,† Zander said. â€Å"Yeah,† Bonnie said. She sat up and faced him, then reached out and ran her hand through his soft pale hair, pul ing his head closer to her. â€Å"Stil ,† she said, just before their lips touched, â€Å"normal is overrated.† How to cite The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Forty-One, Essay examples