Essay on Sayo Masuda’s Autobiography of a Geisha - 765 Words

Sayo Masuda’s Autobiography of a Geisha Autobiography of a Geisha was originally written for a memoir competition run by the Japanese magazine Housewife’s Companion. Sayo Masuda wrote and submitted her manuscript in hopes of winning the monetary prize offered. She won second place in the competition and came to the attention of an editor who helped her expand her story and publish it as a book. Riding on the wave of interest stirred by Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha, G. G. Rowley translated Sayo Masuda’s tale for the American market. Rowley did an excellent job of capturing Masuda’s voice in his translation. If English had been Masuda’s native language, the result might easily have been Rowley’s translation. Masuda’s tale†¦show more content†¦Readers will also come away with an understanding of the hot-spring geisha’s life, but caution should be taken. It is easy, as many critics have done, to presume that Masuda’s tale is the unvarnished truth about the entire geisha world, rather than merely the unvarnished truth about a part of it. Reviewer Kimberly Shearer Palmer wrote that Autobiography of a Geisha â€Å"resolves the ambiguity over whether or not geisha are prostitutes†¦ [Masuda] leaves little doubt in the reader’s mind that even the most talented geisha are forced to sleep with men for money, a fact glossed over in many accounts of the profession.† (14). Palmer leaves little doubt in the minds of those who read her review that she takes M asuda’s experiences of geisha life as true for all classes of geisha, regarding sources such as Mineko Iwasaki’s Geisha, A Life as tainted. Many other reviewers follow in the same vein, calling reports of higher-class geisha’s lives â€Å"romanticized† (Napier) and â€Å"Hollywood version[s]† (Gavin). Perhaps these attitudes stem from a culture clash which prevents many Americans from understanding the differences between Japanese prostitutes and geisha, and the gradations within the flower and willow world. The tendency seems to be to lump all geisha together with the term â€Å"prostitute,† an attitude which is all too eager to use Masuda’s biography to support generalized, culturally skewed assumptions about geisha. Kirkus Reviews gets it right inShow MoreRelatedThe Geisha1551 Words   |  6 PagesGeisha The geisha has been the subject of innumerable books and films focusing on the myth of the profession and the culture in which she represented. Various portrayals of the geisha have focused on different aspects of their lifestyle and the different versions also have varying degrees of accuracy in their depictions. In three different films and one book, four different groups try to explain exactly what it was like for people who lived as geishas or alongside these women. Some versions of

Case Study The Panera Bread Company - 1891 Words

Penera Bread Company Case study Analysis Company’s Background The Panera Bread company was started in 1981 as Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. Established by Louis Kane, and Ron Shaich, the organization thrived along the east shore of the United States and universally all through the 1990s and turned into the predominant administrator inside the pastry shop bistro classification. Units were opened in the mall, shopping centres, and airport throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In 1993, Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. bought Saint Louis Bread Company ®, a chain of 20 pastry shop bistros situated in the St. Louis range. Near 1993 and 1997 normal unit volumes expanded by 75%. At last, the idea s name was renamed to Panera Bread in 1997 in every market outside St.†¦show more content†¦In 2016, there are 2,024 bistros in 46 states, British Columbia, and Ontario working under the Panera Bread, Saint Louis Bread Co. and Paradise Bakery and Cafà © names, selling fresh, authentic artisan bread. In 2016, co. ranked #4 in Fast Casual s Top 100. Panera Bread’s Strategy Panera Bread’s strategy is â€Å"to give premium quality bakery and cafà © experience to urban and suburban dwellers†. The company’s breads and baked products were a major basis for making them unique from its competitors. Prior to bringing that concept, owners did cross market survey and came to conclusion that people like quick service meal and high-class dining experience. Upper board members believed that success depends upon â€Å"being better than the guys across the street†. SWOT Analysis SWOT investigation is a procedure that recognizes an association s Strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat. Company’s Strength †¢ Word of mouth communication †¢ Capable and efficient customer services †¢ Offering price at affordable price †¢ Distinctive menu †¢ High quality fresh food cooked every day †¢ Artisan and specialty bread baked daily †¢ Bakery and cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s designing was pleasing and inviting Company’s Weakness †¢ Other rivals have more popular name (Applebee’s, Starbucks, Mcd) †¢ Insufficient layouts †¢ Leased Land †¢ Long waiting time for customers Company’s Opportunity †¢ Open more outlets-Currently operating in United States, Canada and District of B.C and Ontario. †¢ MenuShow MoreRelatedPanera Bread Company Case Study1075 Words   |  5 PagesCase 8: Panera Bread Company 1. Panera Bread’s strategy is to make great bread broadly available to consumers across the US. The vision was to provide consumers with a high quality, authentic, fresh-dough artisan bakery and upscale quick-service dining experience. The following key elements comprise the Panera Bread strategy: a. Capitalize on market potential by opening both company-owned and franchised Panera Bread locations as quickly as possible. Management planned to expand theRead MorePanera Bread Company Case Study1302 Words   |  6 Pages Introduction Panera Bread Company is a healthy up and coming business that is only continuing to grow. However, with the following recommendation Panera Bread could become and even bigger success and see more expansion. With everything from culturally diverse foods, larger dining areas, and customer survey programs Panera Bread Company can out run its competitors and stay on top for years to come. Mission Statement Panera Bread Company has not done a very well job of living up to their mission statementRead MoreCase Study : Panera Bread Company1663 Words   |  7 PagesCase 8: Panera Bread Company (2010): Still Rising Fortunes? Case Analysis Executive Summary Synopsis of the Case By 2010, Panera Bread Company (PBC) stood ahead of the crowd; once a pioneer in the fast casual concept of dining, the organization has now far surpassed its competition (Vincelette Fogarty, 2010). Enduring economic challenges that only strengthened the organizations position as industry leaders while competitors struggled to exist, Panera’s co-founder and majority shareholder RonaldRead MoreThe Panera Bread Company: A Case Study2046 Words   |  9 PagesPanera Bread Company Background The Panera Bread Company began in 1981 as Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. Founded by Ron Shaich and Louis Kane, the company thrived along the east coast of the United States and internationally throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s and became the dominant operator within the bakery-cafà © category. In the early 1990’s, Saint Louis Bread company, a chain of 20 bakery-cafes were acquired by the Au Bon Pain Co. Following this purchase, the company redesigned the newly acquired companyRead MoreCase Study: Panera Bread Company Essays1267 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to the Panera Bread website (2011), the company mission is simply â€Å"A loaf of bread in every arm.† (para 7). Panera Bread Company is a bakery-cafà © that serves specialty sandwiches, gourmet soups, and sweet treats. The founders of Panera, Shaich and Kane, have consistently developed the company around a strategy of growth. The Shaich and Kane initially operated Au Bon Pain; a bakery served large urban areas. Seeking to extend into other markets, the pair obtained St. Louis Bread Company, seeing theRead MorePanera Bread Strategy Essay1230 Words   |  5 PagesRunning head: PANERA BREAD CASE Title: Panera Bread Strategy Ron Johnson March 1, 2009 Southwestern College Professional Studies Abstract This case study is about Panera Bread Company and its strategy it wishes to employ to become the best brand name of fresh bread in the United States. Panera Bread’s use of a broad differentiation strategy has helped their profitability and growth and rivals have found it hard to compete with the competitiveness of Panera Bread. A SWOT analysis will revealRead MorePanera Bread Company Swot Analysis Essay1501 Words   |  7 PagesStrengths of the Organization This case study identified many strengths Panera Bread has including those dating back to Au Bon Pain Company; however, this section will only identify those strengths associated with the current position of Panera Bread Company. First and foremost is customer service. The company has been awarded with two major customer service awards including the J.D. Power and Associates’ restaurant satisfaction study which ‘‘ranked Panera Bread highest among quick-service restaurantsRead MoreEssay on Panera Bread Company1279 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ Analysis of Panera Bread Companys Leadership A company must have sound leadership to be successful in today’s global market. There are many types of leadership styles that one can perform such as transformational and visionary. However, there is not any one style of leadership that is greater than the other. True leaders, no matter what style they choose, have the initiative and drive to out-perform the competition. Today’s business market has forced leaders to become changeRead MorePanera Bread Case Study998 Words   |  4 PagesPanera Bread Company is a national bakery-cafe with 1,504 locations across the US and Canada. This case study provides information regarding the past performance, current analysis, stock valuation, market evaluation, and industry comparison. In this analysis and case study, we hope you, the reader, will gain usable insight on Panera Bread and its value. We will give a recommendation to our readers according to our given information. Panera Bread is a chain of bakery-cafe quick service restaurantsRead MorePanera Bread case study966 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Case Study Panera Bread Synopsis Panera Bread is a casual made-to-order fast food restaurant that offers specialty breads, sandwiches, tossed salads and soups. Established in 1981, with 1,562 company owned and franchised locations, Panera Bread has moved into the forefront of the restaurant business, and has strategically penetrated the market while acquiring a robust amount of loyal customers. Most of the restaurants offer the choice of indoor and outdoor dining. A fireplace inside the

Organizational Behavior for HRM Department- myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Organizational Behavior for HRM Department and Programmers. Answer: TechBrim Business Techbrim is a software business company that mainly provides software services to all the electronic and mechanical companies. Just like any other business organization, this company also needs a proper management system for the smooth and interrupted functioning. The structure of the business comprises of the HRM Department, the programmers, software testers, marketing department, training department and the management team. Figure1: Organizational Structure (Source: referenceforbusiness.2013) Managing the business In order to carry on the business successfully, there must a proper communication maintained among each and every department. The first and foremost thing that needs to be implemented and followed within the business is a clear, quick and easy to access communication system. This communication system will be very much helpful in carrying exchanging messages and information among all the departments. There are two different kinds of communication modes used by the Company (Suh et al 2016). The first is the very traditional method where the manager will conduct a meeting with all the officials. The second one is that of usage of an app called SUDHAR, which can be used by the employees to forward all their concerns and issues and their feedbacks to the respective heads. The SUDHAAR app indeed is a very useful app that can be used by all the employees as and when they need. There must be a special attention given by the helpline departments to see that none of the employees are being bul lied or harassed due to their age, race, caste, gender and other such demographic parameters. There must be a total equality and justice maintained throughout the department. The company must make sure that there is equal pay for all their workers irrespective of their sex. In other words, there must never be any discrimination made between the male and the female workers. They must be given equal amount of salary and also equal respect. The leaders of the company must make sure that their behavior towards the employees must be polite and understanding. The leaders must understand that if they expect their employees to give in their hundred percent in order to increase their efficiency, then they also are to be rewarded in exchange for it. The leaders must also adopt the transformational leadership style in order to inculcate the efficiency and the mutual cooperation. The leaders must not be too much bossy or rude over the employees (Sollie et al 2017). They must know that they can use the tool of persuasion rather than using the tool of commanding or ordering. It is only when the employees get a free and friendly attitude from their leaders that they tend towards increasing their efficiency. There must not be a feeling of hesitation or fear among the employees. Rather they must always be made to feel very much comfortable with their superiors. The leaders or the supervisors must always try to motivate their follower s. The leaders must try their level best to support the employees in every way possible. Maslow motivation theory The Maslow motivation theory must be used by the company to motivate their employees. Psychological needs The company must try to solve the psychological needsof the employees first. These include the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, sleep. The company must at first try to make their employees feel at ease by providing them ample scope for taking breaks in between their working hours. The working hours that are set must be reasonable enough so as not exert excess pressure on the employees. Giving them time to eat drink, visit the washroom and take necessary breaks to refresh themselves from the work load. Safety Needs The company must make sure that all the employees are feeling safe and secure within their working place. There must be personal as well as the financial security given from the side of the Company. The company must provide the employees safe working conditions with the accumulation of proper medical aid, fire fighting device and all other emergency staffs as and when needed. Social needs The social needs employees must also be looked after by the company itself. The company managers must make sure that all the employees are socially interacting with each other. The company must make sure that the employees know each other, communicate with each other and have a good cooperation and mutual understanding. These are the very essence of working together as a team (Makvand and Fernndez Alarcn 2016). Esteem needs Apart from the mutual respect that every employee deserves, there is something called esteem needs as well. The company must make sure that all the employees are getting appreciated and rewarded for their efforts and contributions. There must be promotions, rewards, appreciations and special recognitions given to all the employees based on their performances. Self actualization needs This will automatically be inculcated within each and every employee when the leaders make them feel wanted and important within the organization. The employees must never be left out. Transformational leadership is very much important over here. The leaders must always motivate their employees by inviting them to be a part of all the important business decisions. They must always not be controlled or ruled (Jonas 2016). They are to be given freedom and autonomy in order to make themselves self dependent and reach the self fulfilling point. References Jonas, J., 2016. Making practical use of Maslows Hierarchy of Needs theory to motivate employees: a case of Masvingo Polytechnic.Journal of Management Administration,2016(2), pp.105-117. Makvand, A.F. and Fernndez Alarcn, V., 2016. Effects of social media on organizational behavior in non-democratic countries.Journal of Business and Economics,7(2), pp.306-313. Sollie, H., Kop, N. and Euwema, M., 2017. Mental resilience of crime scene investigators.Criminal Justice and Behavior,10(X), pp.1-24. Suh, K.S., Suh, E.K., Lee, S., Lee, H., Hong, G. and Yoo, S.M., 2016, June. Design and Evaluation of Social buttons for News Comments. InPACIS(p. 253).

The Concept of Leadership in Organizational Success

Introduction It is apparent that leadership style is what dictates the nature of work environment within an organization and ultimately the business success of any organization. Additionally from the situation and resonance as well as the nature of contribution to the work climate, there are some styles that contribute positively and other negatively. There is need to clearly understand the concept of leadership and how it impacts on the success or failure of organizations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Concept of Leadership in Organizational Success specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This assignment is very important since it will give me an opportunity to understand the meaning of leadership, its importance, difference from management, the desired qualities for an effective leader and finally the various styles of leadership (Koestenbaum, 2002). All this will play a bigger role in ensuring that I fully appr eciate the whole concept of leadership usually applicable in all spheres of human life. Leadership importance The concept of leadership has been in existence ideally since the beginning of mankind. Nonetheless, there has been a tremendous change and what was deemed to be the best leadership styles in the past is totally not accepted at present. By definition, leadership has been thought as; â€Å"a process whereby an individual can influence thoughts, ideas and actions of others in achieving a set of preset goals, tasks, duties and responsibilities† (Kouzes Posner, 2007). From the definition provided it is evident that leadership is of importance not only to the individual workers but the entire organization and ultimately to all other stakeholders. It is leadership that creates a desired environment in the workplace that will see to it that vision, mission and core values are set and strictly having best strategies to accomplish them. Issues dealing with change management, motivated and satisfied employees, organizational success and performance can only be realized if the leadership in place is effective and all encompassing. It is no doubt that leadership makes use of all the resources especially the human capital to make organizations achieve competitive advantage vital for future survival of businesses in the presence of competition. There is need to distinguish between leadership from management. The later has been defined as the methods employed to control, plan, direct as well as organize all the resources at the disposal of an organization so that the same are in line with the values as well as principles that guide the organization. It is no doubt that the concept of management is responsible for ensuring that laws, procedures and guidelines are strictly adhered to. Together with leadership, management utilizes preset values and principles to tune the human resource in order to achieve the mandate bestowed to it.Advertising Looking for e ssay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Leadership qualities According to Koestenbaum, 2002 all leaders are not equal since there are those who will be seen to be more successful than others. The secret behind this rests on the combination of leadership qualities possessed. In this section, various leadership qualities are succinctly covered. Having effective presentation skills is vital for leaders to be successful. It is no doubt that information sharing within and outside the organization is very important. The ability to express ideas in the most effective manner, answering questions satisfactorily, delivering presentation confidently by using visual aids go an extra mile in making a good leader. The ability to make effective decision making usually differentiate between leaderships. Strict adherence to certain steps while making decision for instance establishing the problem as well as identifying goals to be objective, engaging intuition and collecting relevant data contribute to a successful leader when it comes to making rational decisions. Additionally acting assertively is key in making an effective leader. This entails the idea of making one’s views, opinion and beliefs known in the most genuine manner while having in mind the concerns of others. It generally entails showing utmost respect for others. Another quality that makes one to be a better leader is the ability to successfully manage personal time. It is no doubt that each and every task bestowed to managers and leaders have time bound. Leaders who are deemed successful will have in place mechanisms to set goals that are achievable realistic and measurable. Interestingly the ability to build trust is attained by leaders practicing what they preach. For instance world re-known leaders not only tell followers to keep time, actively listen but also put the same in practice. This idea makes the leader and his or her f ollowers to have a mutual understanding (Griffith, et al., 2006). The ability of a leader to create a democratic work place climate ensures that the subjects are free to air their views, opinion and beliefs that might challenge those of their leaders results to a more successful organization. Last but not least, being able to adopt various styles of learning is one important leadership quality. The possession of various learning styles such as activists, reflectors, theorists among others makes a leader to be more rational when making decisions (Kittle, 1994). Leadership styles Based on the various combinations of leadership qualities there are different types of leadership style. One of them is visionary leadership style in which the one at the helm of leadership believes in vision and shows empathy. Followers are made to understand that they are important to the organization and any success is attributed to them. Motivation is key thus this style has unmatched contribution to succ ess. This kind of leadership is very good in situations where firms are undergoing dramatic huge changes. An example of a leader who uses this leadership style is Mark Hurd the chief executive officer of HP Company. He allowed free flow of information as well as motivating his subjects towards attaining the common goal.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Concept of Leadership in Organizational Success specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Democratic leadership style is where the leader creates an environment in which the subjects are allowed to freely air their views and opinions. Thus the same are utilized by the leader in arriving at a decision. In situations where these views are seen in the decisions arrived at, the subjects will feel part and parcel of the decision hence support it to the bitter end. Additionally team work is highly encouraged where strengths and weaknesses will be known. Ideas are cultivated a nd encouraged. However, the style might lead to waste of time in making timely decisions (Griffith, et al., 2006). Another style of leadership is pace-setting where the approach used is carrot and stick. In this performers are rewarded while failures are punished. Individuals strive to personally gain at the expense of the organization. Leaders in this category expect their subordinates to be position to carryout their duties and responsibilities. Leaders can role up their sleeves and rescue the situation in case things seems to go hey wire. Lastly, commanding leadership is where those in the forefront hold a stance that is firm while commanding and giving directions to the subordinates. Leaders expect followers to fully comply with the principles, guidelines as well as procedures set by the relevant bodies (Kittle, 1994). One is not allowed to come in with a new idea and the subordinates are always under surveillance. Interestingly, there is no time to actively engage in conversati on to reach consensus. This kind of leadership is only applicable during crisis situations. One leader that utilized this kind of style is the British Airways CEO when the cabin crew went on strike mid 2010. The two styles to be compared are commanding and visionary leadership style. The former is more advantageous than the later since it allows free flow of information, a working environment in which all followers are highly motivated is created. Additionally through sharing of information, each and every person is at par with the happenings within the organization hence able to raise concern early enough (Griffith, et al., 2006). On the other hand, commanding style of leadership has been shown to be very detrimental since talent is not nurtured. Information is not shared accordingly hence there are those who are left in the dark when making decision which might later lead to resistance for instance in adopting change (Kouzes Posner, 2007).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Conclusion There is need to clearly understand the concept of leadership and how it impacts on the success or failure of organizations. This assignment is very important since it given me an opportunity to understand the meaning of leadership, its importance, difference from management, the desired qualities for an effective leader and finally the various styles of leadership. Leadership qualities such as effective communication, adopting different learning styles as well as building trust are key to shaping successful leaders. The various styles of leadership discussed include visionary, pace-setting, commanding and democratic. Leadership is indeed different from management but the two go hand in hand in ensuring an organization succeeds. References Griffith, B., et al. (2006). Effective groups: Concepts and skills to meet leadership challenges. New York: Allyn Bacon. Kittle, E. (1994). Leadership skills: Developing volunteers for organizational success. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo Press. Koestenbaum, P. (2002). Leadership: The inner side of greatness a philosophy for leaders. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Kouzes, J., Posner, B. (2007). Leadership Challenge 4th Ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. This essay on The Concept of Leadership in Organizational Success was written and submitted by user Wilson Fisk to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on A Reflection On The Narnian Chronicles

. He spoke the world into existence. He spoke into the vast expanse and created night, day, seas, land, sky, animals, and everything He saw fit for His purpose. Though there was already land in existence in the magical other world, the notion of â€Å"Narnia† was born simply through Aslan’s use of both song and speech. By singing, Aslan brought about the stars and the sun. He began another song, and all around him as he walked grass sprouted underfoot and quickly spread all around, and trees began to take root and grow in the valley. Aslan’s song is analogous to the voice of God during the creation of the world. God breathed life into Adam, the first human to walk the earth. Aslan as well gave life through his breath into the animals of Narnia. Though the animals were already physically alive, their lack of knowledge and speech prevented them from being characterized as true citizens of Narnia. That is until Aslan breathed the ability of speech into the chosen... Free Essays on A Reflection On The Narnian Chronicles Free Essays on A Reflection On The Narnian Chronicles A Reflection on the Narnian Chronicles Throughout the C.S.Lewis series, The Narnian Chronicles, there are many indirect references to the Christian faith and the Bible itself. Through the use of allegories, Lewis provides his readers with a link to explore and contemplate this â€Å"other world.† Though allegorical instances are prevalent throughout the entire series, they are particularly ubiquitous in both â€Å"The Magician’s Nephew† and in â€Å"The Silver Chair.† Aslan the lion is portrayed as the Christ figure in Lewis’ books. As you progress through the novels, it becomes more and more apparent that there is a strong connection between God (or Jesus) and Aslan. This first becomes evident in â€Å"The Magician’s Nephew.† The first connection that is established between â€Å"The Magician’s Nephew† and the Bible (particularly Genesis 1) is the notion of and occurrence of creation. In the Bible, everything was created merely from God’s words. He spoke the world into existence. He spoke into the vast expanse and created night, day, seas, land, sky, animals, and everything He saw fit for His purpose. Though there was already land in existence in the magical other world, the notion of â€Å"Narnia† was born simply through Aslan’s use of both song and speech. By singing, Aslan brought about the stars and the sun. He began another song, and all around him as he walked grass sprouted underfoot and quickly spread all around, and trees began to take root and grow in the valley. Aslan’s song is analogous to the voice of God during the creation of the world. God breathed life into Adam, the first human to walk the earth. Aslan as well gave life through his breath into the animals of Narnia. Though the animals were already physically alive, their lack of knowledge and speech prevented them from being characterized as true citizens of Narnia. That is until Aslan breathed the ability of speech into the chosen...

Adult Educational and Training Opportunities Essay

Adult Educational and Training Opportunities - Essay Example Research has proven that baby boomers who approach the retiring age of 65 often find themselves in good health and willing and able to work (Kelch & Harris, 2000). Hence, there is enormous potential for adult education and training opportunities for them. Keeping in view the above scenario, the dilemma lies in how to steer educational and training efforts of adults towards helping the older adults (baby boomers) maintain their skills at workforce. A training need analysis would reveal that there are three key aspects involved in doing so: preparing the in-service, current pre-professional and paraprofessional educational and training opportunities, training certifications, funding and cultural issues as well as issues in climbing up the corporate ladder (New York State Office for Ageing, 2011). Research also shows that the baby boomers tend to be more ethnically diverse and have higher education level than preceding generations (New York State Office for Ageing, 2011). Shortages in l abor supply are likely to result as people providing ole age care will be simultaneously retiring in large numbers.

VIRTUAL WORLDS, VIDEO GAMES &GAMES Research Paper

VIRTUAL WORLDS, VIDEO GAMES &GAMES - Research Paper Example It does mean that a great number of relationships are built on false ideas about the other, the identity created in order to support an ideal that the user has defined. The following paper will take a look at the identity of the user in relationship to social identity theory and in the way in which gender is utilized as an aspect of play. The paper first explores the nature of the created identity through examining the development of the avatar. The gaming avatar is the virtualized visual element that represents the online created identity. This includes the aspect of gender which is explored through the choices that are made and the reasons behind those choices. Finally, sexuality and the representation of the created identity as a shield to the real identity are discussed. This creates a discussion about how the online created identity reflects and also does not reflect the real self through social identity theory and a variety of other theories that have an impact on the topic. The use of the examples of Second Life and World of Warcraft to provide for two different types of games will round out the exploration of this paper. The final discussio n will include ideas of gender, sexuality, and the created online identity in order to form an analysis of the phenomenon. The avatar gives the individual the opportunity to define themselves through choices that are consciously made rather than imposed. The individual can become whomever they choose in the context of the game while using the tools that are provided in order to create the sense of identity that is intended within the game environment. The online game identity is a pure creation in which only what a person chooses to show will be revealed. This is not to say that elements of the true self will not come through, but it does mean that there is a great deal of control through which the development of the identity can be