HBO's Sex and the City is a programme known for its controversial portrayal of gender issues. Yet one should question whether its polemical stylings in relation to gender ascription are deserved or perhaps inflated. Employing aspects of both media-and gender-based theory, this article analyses character, dialogue and cinematographic imagery in regard to the show's gender messaging in efforts to discover whether the series symbolically parades a 'new', empowered female role. Alternatively the series could undermine its aspirations by simultaneously reinforcing traditional standards of the female gender. We explore this argument by concentrating on the show's portrayal of fashion and female alliance, alongside an incongruous depiction of hetero-socialization and female sexuality.
Objectives: This study is a 1-year follow-up investigation of the retention of the knowledge, attitudes and skills acquired after empathy training. Methods: Eight otolaryngology residents completed 5 assessment measures before and after empathy training and at 1-year. They attended a 90-minute focus group assessing clinical usefulness of the training, attitudes and factors that affect empathy. Results: Qualitative analysis revealed a positive response to the training and application of skills to clinical practices. Quantitative analyses suggest improvement in empathy after training was maintained at 1-year follow-up (p = 0.05). Knowledge of the neurobiology and physiology of empathy remained significantly greater than before the training (p = 0.007). Conclusions: Qualitative data indicate that the training program was well-received and helpful and, follow-up focus groups provided physicians with opportunities for self-reflection and support from peers. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that improvement in self-reported empathy and objective knowledge of the neurobiology of emotions persist at 1-year follow-up. Accordingly, we recommend that empathy training and follow-up booster sessions become a standard component of residency training.
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