A Woman’s Smile Essay

â€Å"Why Woman Smile† is a persuasive essay written by Amy Cunningham, an essay that explores the theme of gender differences in our society, specifically the difference between the frequency that women smile compared to men. She believes the frequency of a woman’s smile has more to do with the social pressure put on her to smile than it does her actual state of happiness. Cunningham uses historical, biological and cultural examples as evidence to support her opinion that these types of influences are to blame for the persistent smiling of women. Women smile â€Å"promiscuously† and often insincerely and the tradition of this behavior is heavily influence by the combination of social pressures in society and human biology. Women need to speak up and start fighting their instinct to smile constantly and say what’s really on their mind. â€Å"Why Woman Smile† discusses a woman’s smile and examines the natural and nurtured causes for the behavi or. Cunningham approaches this topic from a logical, feminist’s perspective. Her stance throughout the piece is one of frustration with society’s pressure on woman and its dictation of woman’s behavior. Cunningham points out the irony that women have legally taken control of their bodies and destinies, but have failed to take control of the two tiny muscles on their faces. She states that â€Å"too many of us smile in lieu of showing what’s really on our minds† (189) and â€Å"that the Smiling Woman has become a peculiarly American archetype† (190). She urges women to stop giving insincere smiles and show their true emotions. Psychology’s most persistent issue and oldest debate is over whether or not human traits and behavior are natural and inherited or if they develop as a product of one’s experience and environment, nurture. Modern day psychologists believe that nurture works on what nature endows. Cunningham agrees with these psychologists and argues in her essay that the behavior to smile is natural when a person is happy but that it has been nurtured by society, conditioning it to become a constant behavior among women. She supports her argum ent by providing examples that indicate smiling is a natural instinct as well as a product of our society. To support this theory that smiling is a natural instinct she includes examples of monkeys and their social behavior. Cunningham writes that â€Å"monkeys pull their lips up and back to show fear of attack as well as their reluctance to  vie for a position of dominance† (190). She goes on to point out that babies begin to smile around 3 months of age and even blind babies know to smile when they are feeling pleasure. These statements are evidence that smiling is a natural instinct and humans are hard-wired to smile from birth. Cunningham argues that this natural behavior has been nurtured and conditioned to become an automatic, constant reaction in social situations. She discusses this by pointing out how mothers coach their girls to be well mannered and polite. They are encouraged to always wear a smile and leave their true emotions at the door. She goes on to say if a woman isn’t wearing a smile then she is stopped in the streets ad asked if something is wrong or she is portrayed as too serious or unfriendly. This is society nurturing the behavior to become more frequent among women. She summarizes that as a consequence, a woman’s smile rarely has to do with the state of her happiness. Her major point of the essay is that a woman smiles because it is an instinctual behavior that has been nurtured by society to become a habit, a repeated behavior she must participate in so she can become the ideal image of what a woman should be. In a blog post included with the essay Cunningham informs her audience that she now disagrees with most of her article. She informs the reader that she had approached the subject from the wrong point of view and let her feelings get in the way of seeing things clearly. She admits she didn’t observe the topic from a neutral standpoint. She has now discovered that woman actually had the right idea all along. Cunningham argues that women smile to spread positive energy and happiness to others around them, and that smiling makes you happy. She concludes her article with a message to woman everywhere. She encourages her audience to be happy and start smiling. A smile means the same thing in every culture; it is a universal symbol for pleasure, contentment, and non-dominance. In our society, women are constantly smiling no matter what is on their minds. They smile when they are happy, panicked, nervous, holding back anger, frustrated and a long list of other emotions. Women of all social classes are told to be nurturing, kind, polite and friendly. At a young age girls are coached to display these traits and most importantly to always sit up straight and smile. As a woman matures this behavior to smile is nurtured into a mask and shield for her to wear so she can conform to these high standards society expects of her. When wearing a smile, a  woman can appear to be poised and polite, happy and approachable, things that our society demands a woman to be. Rarely does a smile from a woman indicate her state of happiness. Cunningham included a quotation from Oscar Wilde in her essay, a quotation that illustrates this point. He wrote, â€Å"A woman’s smile is a work of fiction† (190). This describes the argument perfectly. Women wear their smiles to hide all of the feelings and emotions that don’t serve them well and if revealed would hurt their images and attempts to be the ideal women society demands them to be. Cunningham’s blog post mentions that women should keep smiling and get happy. This is true; it would do a great disservice to a woman if she actively tried to stop smiling. It would damper her mood, hurt her spirit and have a negative impact on those around her. Cunningham remarks that â€Å"women are still expected to be magnanimous smilers, helpmates in crisis , and curators of everybody else’s morale† (193). There has to be a point at which a woman’s individual needs outweigh the needs of those around her. A woman can spread happiness and smile like Cunningham later suggested, but only to the point where it does not harm the woman. Hiding emotions behind another smile is dangerous to a woman’s mental wellness and health and the relationships she has. If a woman believes she is being treated unfairly by various people throughout her life and continues to conceal her feelings and not work through them, eventually they will wear on her and explode at an inappropriate time, causing severe damage to the relationships. By then, the small things have added up to a huge problem that could have been avoided if it had been address at the time they occurred. Often the problem or problems have become so massive they are often not repairable. Negative feelings need to be put out in the open at the right time and place and quickly dealt with. These emotions can eat away at a person if kept inside. Women should be encouraged to smile and provide a nurturing energy to the people around them, but only if it is healthy to do so and not harming anyone. Cunningham’s original argument was correct: women smile constantly and often insincerely because society dictates they should. The behavior is a nurtured, natural instinct and women shouldn’t fight it. Women need to stop giving insincere smiles so people around them can realize when something is wrong so they can help to fix it. The social pressures that weigh heavily on women are nearly impossible to maintain. Women are human;  they have the same feelings and emotions men do. It is unfair and unhealthy that women are not encouraged to show these emotions and instead instructed to smile constantly. It is impossible to maintain this image of eternal happiness and woman should stop trying to. A smile can uplift and help people, but the deception of an insincere smi le can cause more harm than good. Women should keep smiling but only when they want to. Works Cited Cunningham, Amy. â€Å"Why Women Smile.† The Norton Reader: an anthology of nonfiction. Ed. Linda Peterson, John Brereton, Joseph Bizup, Anne Fernald, Melissa Goldthwaite. New York: Norton, 2012. 189-195. Print. Cunningham, Amy. â€Å"All Smiles Now.† Beliefnet.com. N.p., 29 Dec. 2006. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. Works Cited Cunningham, Amy. â€Å"All Smiles Now.† Beliefnet.com. N.p., 29 Dec. 2006. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. Cunningham, Amy. â€Å"Why Women Smile.† The Norton Reader: an anthology of nonfiction. Ed. Linda Peterson, John Brereton, Joseph Bizup, Anne Fernald, Melissa Goldthwaite. New York: Norton, 2012. 189-195. Print.

Comparative Essay The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Essay

Any movie based upon a piece of literature can make or break its source of inspiration. Some movies do no mercy toward the book, while some exceed the quality of the novel. The movie, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, directed by Norman Mc Lean, was a much better piece of work than the short story, â€Å"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,† written by James Thuber, because the video had a satisfying conclusion, more action, and a much more developed and advanced plot. The conclusion of the story left you unsatisfied and discontent because it didn’t really tell you what happens to the protagonist; it just ends, while the movie ends with Walter, the protagonist, finding love. Walter also overcomes his low self-esteem towards his boss and says, â€Å"The smartest thing you ever did was hire me!† He goes further in saying that all his boss does is make money of his ideas. The confidence Walter shows at the end of the movie gets him to a higher a position at work. In addition, the movie also leaves you feeling satisfied because the bad guys, the antagonists, are caught and put in prison. Therefore the movie had a more rewarding conclusion than the short story’s inconclusive ending. The movie had much more action, partly because it was more developed, interesting and exciting. The plot involved more than just Walter going to the store to pick up some items for his wife, as in the story. The movie included bad guys chasing Walter throughout the movie because he accidentally took possession of a precious notebook. In addition, it also incorporated Walter committing death-defying feats such as falling out of, and climbing through sky-high building windows, and tiptoeing along the edge of these buildings. Action was also added through the extra daydreams Walter  experienced during the movie, such as the shoot-out near the end of the movie and the Mississippi gambler. Moreover, action was added with Walter running from the bad guys while setting up various booby traps, consequently getting caught in them himself. This caused skepticism in the audience’s faith of Walter’s defeat of the bad guys, but in the end Walter pulled through. As a result of thes e qualities in the movie, action was added, while the short story was dry and exclusive of action. A well-developed plot must have some sort of love interest, action, and a climax, and humor can help. The story did not include these fundamentals. On the other hand, the movie stuck Walter in a very awkward position, which advanced the plot tremendously. Walter’s mother chose Walter’s fiancà ©, whom he did not have feelings for. Then he met Virginia Mayo, the woman of his dreams, with whom he fell in love and ended up marring by the end of the movie. The short story didn’t have a plot; it was just a series of thoughts and daydreams with no climax, conclusion or real development of setting. There was nothing to the book; it just explained a day in the life of Walter Mitty, compared to the movie which involved Walter overcoming chases through windows and through warehouses, his nasty boss, and his over protective, bossy mother. The movie also had a lot of humor in Walter’s clumsy attics, such as when he was running from the bad guy and knocked over the water dispenser, when he broke the window after slamming it behind him, and when he fell through the window in the office during the business meeting. Another example would be when he set up the booby traps for the bad guys and then ended up setting them off himself! With all of these modifications to the short story, the movie’s plot was much more enhanced and developed. The movie, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, was a more enhanced composition than the story because the movie had a much more fulfilling conclusion, more action and a more complex and advanced plot. The quality of the movie, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, far exceeded that of the short story upon which it was based.

Cyp 3.2 Promote Young Person and Child Development

CYP 3. 2 Promote Young Person and Child Development Be able to assess the development needs of children and young people and prepare a development plan What are the most relevant factors to be aware of when assessing a child or young person’s development? All children and young people are different and have different needs. Similarly, a family’s ability to respond to and meet all their needs may also differ. In some circumstances, professional assessment may be required to identify strengths and needs, to ensure that all children, young people and their families receive appropriate support.Assessment may take place in a wide range of situations and for a variety of purposes, for example:  · A teacher’s assessment of a child’s educational attainment at key stages of the national curriculum, to determine future learning plans.  · A paediatric assessment to ensure that a child has reached the appropriate developmental milestones and to monitor progress. à ‚ · A Connexions personal adviser’s assessment of a young person’s strengths and barriers to participation in learning to provide feedback and motivation. An educational psychologist’s assessment of a child or young person’s special educational needs to identify their educational strengths and needs.  · A social worker’s assessment of a child’s home situation, to determine if they are at risk of harm. Each of these types of assessment has a clearly defined purpose and it is important to note that the role and function of assessment may vary according to the context. Factors to take into consideration are: Health General healthThe unborn, infant, child or young person's current health condition (for example, conditions of relevance to an infant, child or young person, including growth, development, physical and mental well-being). Also includes consideration of: * health conditions or impairments which significantly affect everyday life fun ctioning whether chronic or acute, including obesity; unborn child is not developing adequately; * access to and use of appropriate health services (by mother in case of unborn), uch as those provided by a GP/dentist/optician, immunisations and appropriate developmental checks; * number and frequency of hospital admissions and accidents (of mother where unborn); * Access to and use of appropriate health advice and information, for example, diet, sexual health and management of any health condition such as diabetes or asthma (where unborn, mother is following advice). Physical Development: â€Å"Physical Development† refers to the infant, child or young person's means of mobility, level of physical or sexual maturity/delayed development.Factors to be taken into consideration include: * being well-nourished, being active, rested and protected, gaining control of the body, acquiring physcial skills; * vision and hearing; * fine and gross motor skills including: –  Ã‚  Ã ‚  Ã‚  crawling, walking, running and climbing;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  participation in football or other games;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ability to draw pictures, do  jigsaws etc. Speech, Language and Communications Development The ability to communicate effectively, confidently and appropriately with others.Also includes consideration of: * preferred means of communication; * use of first language; * ability to gain attention and make contact, access positive relationships, be with others, encourage conversation; * the impulse to communicate, exploring, experiment, labelling and expressing, describing, questioning, representing and predicting, sharing thoughts, feelings and ideas; * listening and paying attention to what others say, making playful and serious responses, enjoying and sharing stories, songs, rhymes and games, learning about words and meanings; * vision and hearing; abil ity to communicate meaning, influence others, negotiate and make choices, understanding of others; * language for communicating and thinking; * linking sounds and letters; * reading and writing; * willingness to communicate; * articulation skills and language structure; * vocabulary and comprehension; * fluency of speech and confidence; * appropriateness of social and communications skills, for example, body language, excessive use of expletives or inappropriate language. Emotional and Social Development The emotional and social response the infant, child or young person gives to parents, carers and others outside the family.Also includes consideration of: * the importance of being special to someone, being able to express feelings, developing healthy dependence, developing healthy independence; * nature and quality of early attachments; * self-harm or risk of self-harm; * phobias or psychological difficulties; fears or psychological difficulties such as persistent sadness or tearfu lness; * temperament, coping and adjusting abilities for example, after experiencing domestic violence, bereavement or family relationship breakdown; * disposition, attitudes and motivation to change.Behavioural Development The behaviour of the child or young person and whether behaviour occurs in a particular setting or all settings. Also includes consideration of: * lifestyle and self-control (including participation in reckless activity and need for excitement); * behaviour in class or other environments where the child or young person comes into contact with their peers; * whether undiagnosed conditions may be impacting on behaviour (eg. earing or visual impairment); * substance misuse (includes alcohol and volatile substance misuse and controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971); * anti-social behaviour for example, destruction of property, aggression towards others, harm or risk of harm to others; * sexually inappropriate behaviour and attempts to manipulate or contro l others; * early sexual activity, unprotected sex, lack of reflection or positive decision making about sex and relationships; * offending behaviour and risk of re)offending; * violent or aggressive behaviour at home or school; * attitudes to offending; * over activity, attentiveness, concentration and impulsive behaviour Identity, including self-esteem, self-image and social presentation   The growing sense of self as a separate and valued person.Also includes consideration of: * growing awareness of self, realisation of separateness and differences from others, recognition of personal characteristics and preferences, finding out what they can do; * importance of gaining self-assurance through a close relationship, becoming confident in what they can do, valuing and appreciating their own abilities, feeling self-assured and supported, a positive view of themselves; * knowledge of personal and family history; access to recognition, acceptance and comfort, ability to contribute to secure relationships, understanding they can be valued by and important to someone, exploring emotional boundaries; * sense of belonging, being able to join in, enjoying being with familiar and trusted others, valuing individuality and contributions of self and others, having a role and identity within a group, acceptance by those around them; * race, religion, age, gender, sexuality and disability – may be affected by bullying or discriminatory behaviour; understanding of the way in which appearance and behaviour are perceived and the impression being created.Family and Social Relationships The ability to empathise and build stable and affectionate relationships with others, including  family, peers and the wider community. Also includes consideration of: * stable and affectionate relationships with parents or caregivers; * sibling relationships; * involvement in helping  others; * age-appropriate friendships; * association with predominantly pro-criminal peers or lack of non-criminal friends; * understanding of  others and awareness of consequences; * association with substance-misusing friends/peer groups.Give examples of how you can assess a child or young person’s development in the following areas. Physical development- When we refer to physical development we are looking at factors such as gross motor(which indicates large muscle development such as walking or swinging our arms) and fine motor (more intricate movements such as picking up objects or writing). This is a relatively easy assessment to carry out. If we have regular contact with the child or young person we can usually measure and weigh that individual on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Over a short period of time it would soon become apparent if there was any cause for concern.We can also observe children as they play and interact. For example can they climb, skip, use a rope and coordinate their hand to eye movements. Communication and speech development: By speech we mean * The speech sounds children use to build up words, saying sounds accurately and in the right places. * Speaking fluently, without hesitating, prolonging or repeating words or sounds. * Speaking with expression and a clear voice, using pitch, volume and intonation to support meaning. By communication we mean the way in which language is used to interact with others * Using language in different ways; to question, clarify, describe and debate. Using non-verbal rules of communication: listening, looking, knowing how to take verbal turns and how to change language use to suit the situation. * The ability to take into account other people’s perspectives, intentions and wider context This can be assessed by observing the way in which a child or young person interacts with us, their parents or their social groups. We can also spend time with younger children by getting them to repeat words or have short, fun conversations with them.When assessing them we can look out for any irreg ularities such as stutters, speech impediments or factors that may be affecting listening skills etc. Cognitive or intellectual development Cognitive development is the construction of thought processes, including remembering, problem solving, and decision-making, from childhood through adolescence to adulthood. It was once believed that infants lacked the ability to think or form complex ideas and remained without cognition until they learned language. It is now known that babies are aware of their surroundings and interested in exploration from the time they are born.From birth, babies begin to actively learn. They gather, sort, and process information from around them, using the data to develop perception and thinking skills. Cognitive development refers to how a person perceives, thinks, and gains understanding of his or her world through the interaction of genetic and learned factors. Among the areas of cognitive development are information processing, intelligence reasoning, l anguage, development and memory A broad range of assessment measures should be used to gain a full understanding of a pre-schooler’s functioning (e. . , parent and teacher reports, behavioural observation, detailed developmental history, and play-based assessment, in addition to traditional cognitive tests). Social/behavioural/emotional development Healthy social-emotional development includes the ability to: * Form and sustain positive relationships * Experience, manage, and express emotions * Explore and engage with the environment Children with well-developed social-emotional skills are also more able to: * Express their ideas and feelings * Display empathy towards others Manage their feelings of frustration and disappointment more easily * Feel self-confident * More easily make and develop friendships * Succeed in school Social-emotional development provides the foundation for how we feel about ourselves and how we experience others. This foundation begins the day we are born and continues to develop throughout our lifespan. The greatest influence on a child’s social-emotional development is the quality of the relationships that he develops with his primary caregivers.Positive and nurturing early experiences and relationships have a significant impact on a child’s social-emotional development. We can assess the emotional, social and behavioural development of the children who are in our care by recording behaviour patterns such as temper tantrums, physical confrontations and playful interactions.. These findings can be recorded on charts and in diaries on a regular basis. Moral development Moral development focuses on the emergence, change, and understanding of morality from infancy through adulthood.In the field of moral development, morality is defined as principles for how individuals ought to treat one another, with respect to justice, others’ welfare, and rights. In order to investigate how individuals understand morality, it is essential to measure their beliefs, emotions, attitudes, and behaviors that contribute to moral understanding. The field of moral development studies the role of peers and parents in facilitating moral development, the role of conscience and values, socialization and cultural influences, empathy and altruism, and positive development.The interest in morality spans many disciplines (e. g. , philosophy, economics, biology, and political science) and specializations within psychology (e. g. , social, cognitive, and cultural). Moral developmental psychology research focuses on questions of origins and change in morality across the lifespan Essentially it is the process in which children learn right from wrong, this is learned behaviour as a child will learn from its primary carer. We can assess what a young person or child is learning with regards to their morale’s by observing their behaviour towards thers. It is also possible to present certain dilemma’s under cont rolled circumstances to that child. Example: â€Å"Who is Naughtier? † Piaget determined that younger children judge bad behavior by the amount of damage caused by a person's behavior. He would tell children a story with a moral dilemma. He would ask them to tell him â€Å"who is naughtier:† a boy who accidentally broke fifteen cups or a boy who breaks one cup trying to reach a jam jar when his mother is not around.Younger children attributed the â€Å"naughty† behavior to the boy who broke the most cups regardless of the other child's intent. This type of moral reasoning was called Objective Morality or Moral Realism. Older children attributed bad behavior to the boy who broke only one cup because his motives where bad. This, more advanced form of moral reasoning was called Subjective Morality or Autonomous Morality. Piaget did not feel that children fully achieved this stage of moral development before the ages of twelve or thirteen. Similar essay: How Different Types of Transitions Can Affect Children

Are Enlightenment values universal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Are Enlightenment values universal - Essay Example For this ground, Enlightenment values have by far, to this point, been inevitably embedded on culture under several aspects of living. The post-Renaissance curiosity in an in-depth study of man and the world after the rebirth of learning and rigorous inquisitions herein designate emphasis on humanities and the quest for means to put knowledge to practical use. Such movement toward intellectual revolution, which was mostly regarded as secularistic by nature, causing progressive changes to humanity proceeded out of several factors. For one, increase in the number of academic institutions across the 18th century Europe and North America generated more intellectual people and scholars capable of questioning the prevailing ideologies of the time based upon prominent fields as science, politics, and religion. Enlightenment was also promoted via the extensive publication of printed texts either as periodicals or books where the bulk of information read prompted and encouraged the general pu blic to express various opinions or insights on the subject matter of worldwide interest. People of middle-class society augmented in number as well and favored being financial supporters of scientists, inventors, and humanism artists. Moreover, men became further inclined to adopt materialism in the form of industries, objects of scientific innovation, and ideas the trade for prosperity of which had been made feasible by the pioneering geniuses of the socio-political, economic, and scientific disciplines. These causes primarily developed the foundations of Enlightenment along with its associated values found through the process of rationalization. At this crucial stage, 18th-century life and beyond was bound to experience and appreciate a profound sense of critical and creative mode of thinking in seeking to be stimulated by the beauty of reason. Eventually, there emerged a growing individual advocacy for human freedom upon discovery of the universal impact of reasoning according t o the basic principles of Enlightenment as perceived in rationalism, naturalism, materialism, optimism, and humanitarianism. By considering reason and science in the systematic process of acquiring knowledge and solving problems of humanity within diverse culture, Enlightenment is claimed to free humanity from the darkness of ignorance. With this end came departure from the burden of false beliefs and the destructive influence of illogical prejudices and superstition on the argument that secular society where liberty, equality, and democracy exist with scholastic endeavor potentially transforms human condition in which the miserable state of poverty and sickness is addressed. Universal ethical norms proposed by the 18th-century intellectuals thereafter transcend the narrow confines of race, color, sex, religion, and ethnicity for instance and such would not have been possible in the absence of Enlightenment values which altogether illumined Europe and brought the Western World to th e heights of drastic progress and advanced rate of modern civilization (Igwe). On the basis of one of the seven core ideals, ‘all human beings possess the ability to be enlightened’. Therefore, ‘enlightenment is universal’

Case Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 12

Case Analysis - Essay Example His legacy as a leader illustrates how he used the values in different circumstances. Walton always empowered people and ensured that he maximized on people’s potentials besides inspiring people around him. He was also innovative, creative, and acknowledged people’s initiatives. Similarly, he closely related with his juniors whom he involved in his personal interest such as offering then a stake in his business. Walton also understood leadership’s impact as a long-term initiative and made long-term investments such as training people (Robinson, p. 1). This identifies â€Å"freedom,† â€Å"equality,† and â€Å"an exciting life† as his most important terminal values (Mio, p. 1). Freedom was his fundamental value as he demonstrated through hard work to self-liberalization and economic stability. After achieving his personal freedom in the corporate world, Walton offered an environment that promoted other people’s freedom in his work environment. He achieved this through his concept of creativity and innovation that allowed employees the freedom to apply their potentials, independently, towards developing required solutions. His value for equality was also demonstrated through his leadership style that lacked a strict organizational structure but involved all members in innovative problem solving processes. His interaction with junior employees that included offering them stake in his organization as well as relating well with them also demonstrated his value for equality among people regardless of their p ositions. An exciting life that is active and enriching is another evident value in Sam’s life and was demonstrated by his hard work that established his enterprise. He also empowered people around him and particularly promoted innovation and creativity among people with whom he worked. His long-term value for training was another illustration of his goal

Consumer Behaviour consumption Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Consumer Behaviour consumption - Essay Example 1). The innovative ways of using mass-production goods are conceptualized as 'styles' which are expressive of the individualities/identities of the users. In the construction of lifestyles, the use-value of an object of consumption is secondary to the object's signifying effects, to its 'sign-value', organized around what Hebdige calls, 'a theology of appearances' (1993:89, p.1). Within this cultural politics, beyond the individual styles, social collectives are deemed to be constituted of a 'series of narrowly defined markets, targets, consumption, taste and status groups' (Hebdige 1999, p. 1). The concept of identity is useful for conceptualizing interrelations between tastes, social and organizational factors, and consumption. Anthony Giddens (1991, p.37) pointed out that in typical societies, lifestyles, social roles, relationships, and daily activities were monitored by religion, ascribed status, and accepted practices. Post-modernism created more scope for people to establish their own identities by adopting lifestyles, self-manifestations, and self-concepts that have symbols, pleasures, and values significant to them. In this situation, consumption plays a crucial and defining role: given the fragmentation of socioeconomic life, observable aspects such as clothing, the type of vehicle, place of residence, and eating and drinking habits provide compact signals of how one wants to be seen, what resources one commands, and what one's values are. (Dolfsma 1999, 1993:88). SHOPPING AS A CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY The retail sector as a whole has been studied through analyses of 'shopping' as a social, cultural and economic activity (Falk and Campbell 1997), of shopping mall as a location of consumption of dreams and hopes, helped by architectural designs and display technologies, and of the interactions between the sales-person and customers in closing the sale (Peretz 1995). Consumer desires have been prompted by exposure to the possessions and lifestyles of a reference group. The reference group is a comparison group located nearby in the social hierarchy. In Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste, the Pierre Bourdieu discovered a striking regularity in French consumer patterns in the 1960s and 1970s. Bourdieu discovered that a person's educational level and father's occupation revealed much about that individual's taste in music and art, what kinds of shops they patronized, and the type of cooking they did. In the

International Trade & Institutions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

International Trade & Institutions - Essay Example Whether or not free trade is fair is a concept that demands a great deal of attention and concentration, and especially by the people who are directly involved under such aegis. The question that arises here is that whether or not free trade assists in the developing countries or it just brings about success touch points for the world’s biggest superpowers (Johnson, 2009). Free trade theory was devised by several economists for the sake of economic growth. Proponents of free trade regularly cite the theories of eighteenth century Scottish economist Adam Smith and David Ricardo, a nineteenth century British economist. They argued that if government stays out of trade, then wealth created by private businesses and trade will benefit the public at large. The gentlemen also asserted that countries need to specialize in the goods that they can produce most efficiently and cheaply. Also when countries trade their specialties, nearly all the stakeholders receive the benefits undoubte dly (Condon, 2002). Free trade theory claims that economic competition with minimal government intervention will lead to greater efficiency, productivity, and innovation; will reduce costs for consumers; and will free up more capital for further investment. First of all, the role of free trade is removal of trade barriers such as tariffs which should promote economic growth, foster a cooperative spirit among nations, help developing nations into becoming independent economies, and end poverty around the world. Free trade benefits developing countries because it provides economic opportunities, improves working conditions, and advances their technology, becoming more globally conscious. As far as the undertakings of the developing countries are concerned, free trade provides them different opportunities for economic growth. If free trade becomes a universally acceptable economic system, provisionally wealthy countries and developing countries both gain a number of benefits to grow th e worldwide economy. Quite rightly so, trade is the greatest factor that leads to economic growth across all segments within the society that one can speak of. When trade occurs as a result of true demand and supply, the economic growth that occurs also truly reflects the increase in economic welfare. Thus, free trade brings about increased economic growth, which means better and more jobs; advanced standards of living and so on. Free trade is not only beneficial for wealthy countries, but also developing ones. The growth is the solution to world poverty. Additionally, free trade improves working conditions for workers in the developing nations. Free trade can help global workers who are working under torrid conditions. In a hypothetical situation, if a person came up with an explanation that free trade was bad as the workers are laboring under life-threatening conditions to produce the goods that normal people buy, then there could be a number of reasons to suggest in the wake of s uch a discussion. Perhaps the consumer habits need to be changed or something that is totally new and comprehensive in its own right. Even though people realize a large number of workers are laboring under bad conditions, everybody wants to buy cheaper priced goods. I think it is essentially one unchangeable habit on the part of the global consumers. And there are a number of reas

Treatment for Autism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Treatment for Autism - Essay Example Because the cause is uncertain, there is no precise remedy for the disorder. Treatment approaches are primarily for improvement, rehabilitation and education on appropriate social, vocational, and communication skills. This paper will discuss Asperger Syndrome in adults, their characteristics; impairments in social functions and social and emotional factors that affect their behavior. Likewise, this paper will talk about their direction towards diversity through possible employment. Treatment and management will also be highlighted. Asperger Syndrome Asperger Syndrome (AS) was initially recognized in the early 1940s by Austrian pediatrician, Hans Asperger. In his practice, he observed four of his young male patients with typical intellect and verbal communication development but demonstrating autistic traits. Abnormalities in social interaction and communication, together with restrictive and repetitive behavioral patterns were noted. It was in 1944 when the disorder was officially n amed Asperger Syndrome. Asperger Syndrome falls under â€Å"Pervasive Developmental Disorders,† as stated in Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) of the American Psychiatric Association (1994) (Myles et al, 2005). Asperger Syndrome is a developmental disorder under the scope of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). AS individuals generally have normal or superior intellect. The disorder is typified by qualitative impairment in communication, social interaction and cognition; peculiarities in sensory input; restrictive number of extreme and highly focused interests; and difficulties in organization and motor movements (Attwood, 2003). Asperger Syndrome characteristics may be manifested to a bigger or smaller extent. AS individuals may have a tendency to experience exclusion and isolation and may have difficulty understanding the world around them, eventually resulting in disappointment, despair, resentment and self-disrespect (Attwood, 2003). Common Characte ristics of Asperger Syndrome Adults Asperger Syndrome individuals frequently display a restricted ability for natural social communications, difficulty in initiating and maintaining friendships, repetitive behavioral patterns, and a narrow topic of interests. While a few of them may exhibit definite dilemmas in communication, such as poor nonverbal communication and obscure speech, several of these individuals demonstrate good and even higher cognition and verbosity. Asperger Syndrome comprises delays in gross and fine motor development, including walking abnormalities and peculiar gestures (Brasic, 2009). Individuals with Asperger Syndrome have normal or above average intellectual capacity but may not show social sensitivities or sympathy towards family and friends. Evidences were reported that AS individuals manifest excellence in the fields of music, mathematics, physics, and computer science. Whereas the delays demonstrated are usually devastating, several of these individuals e xperience optimistic results, particularly those performing extremely well in matters independent on social interaction (Brasic, 2009). Majority of AS individuals are actually proud to be diagnosed with the disorder. It is strongly believed that famous men of history such as Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison both have Asperger syndrome features (Hamilton, 2010). Qualitative Impairments in Reciprocal Social Interaction AS individuals are usually socially detached; not sensitive to the feelings of

Death Penalty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Death Penalty - Essay Example Punishments are meant to rehabilitate the criminals and enable them to reform. Therefore, if the criminal is killed, the punishment loses its worth. The measure is effective because it scares off other potential criminals. The opponent perspective terms death penalty as immoral, uncivilized and ineffective in curbing crime. The proponent perspective portends that some crimes are so affront to humanity such that they can only be punishable through death. This paper is an opinionated argument detailing why the death penalty should be retained and the reasons causing the controversy. Death penalty is applied for vicious crimes such as murder and treason. Some of the methods of execution include lethal injection, electrocution and hanging. The 15th century witnessed widespread public executions in Britain, which fuelled a movement that was geared towards abolishment of the penalty. Death penalty was introduced in the United States by the country’s colonial masters, the English. Ac cording to Stuart Banner, the first American State to ban the death penalty was Michigan in 1846 (Hood 2). In America, the penalty was first opposed by Ben Franklin when writing the Bill of Rights in the Eighth Amendment. Michigan was the first American state to repeal the penalty in 1846, and by 1917 the norm was adopted by ten states. The 1960s witnessed almost complete extinction of the death penalty – only one execution was performed in 1966. However, the penalty’s near extinction was retracted in 1976 in the case of Gregg vs. Georgia, on which the court ruled that the death penalty does not violate the constitution. Although the death penalty is constitutional, the practice has been characterized by controversy due to the conflicting opinions among the opponents and proponents. The controversy on the use of the death penalty is related to the effectiveness and moral acceptability of the practice. The use of the death penalty in curbing crime is the most controvers ial measure taken as far as jurisprudence and human rights in a democratic nation are concerned. Proponents and opponents differ over whether the punishment violates human rights and if it is fair to both the victim and the criminal. Application of the penalty towards perpetrators of this vice is a reprieve to the victims. Additionally, it is more effective than other measures such as imprisonment, as criminals fear death more that prisons. Opponents portend that the practice is unusual and cruel as it undermines human dignity. However, the idea of referring the penalty as undermining the human dignity is a one sided school of thought; the victims view is opposite. Some of the disadvantage of the death penalty is that it does not decrease the rate of murder crimes. The most prominent challenge related to its application is its finality. Discussing finality in CatholicPhilly.com, Chaput portends that once the sentencing is carried out there is no retracting like in the case of lesser punishments. The contradicting views among the opponents and proponents revolve around which crimes are vicious enough to merit the death penalty. The obvious crime in this case is first degree murder. However, the dilemma revolves around what is meant by intent and preplanning to warrant the murder as the first degree. For instance, if the murder occurs when a person is committing a lesser crime, does it include intent and planning? When considering treason, should the death penalty be imposed at any

Plant experiment only methodology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Plant experiment only methodology - Essay Example f fertilizers on plant growth by measuring parameters such as shoot height, stem diameter and root length in two groups of the same plant grown over two months: one grown with fertilizers, and the other without. In one plot, sixteen equidistant holes were dug to a depth of around 20cm. The spacing between the holes was 0.5m. Into each hole, a maize seed was placed. The hole was then covered with soil and compacted gently. In the second plot, sixteen equidistant holes were dug to a depth of 20 cm. The spacing between the holes was also 20cm. One seed was placed into each hole, along with a little fertilizer. Caution was observed to ensure the fertilizer did not come into contact with the seeds. The holes were then covered with soil and then compacted gently. The plots were adequately watered each day. After two months, the shoot heights, root length and stem diameter of the plants were measured and recorded. Using the measurements, the root/shoot ratios were determined for the two groups of plants. The results obtained should support the idea that fertilizers accelerate plant growth by providing the essential nutrients. The measurements made will indicate that the maize plants grown with fertilizers have taller shoots, larger stem diameters and longer roots compared to those grown without fertilizers. The root/shoot ratios for the two groups of plants will not be largely different because the shorter roots are compensated for by the shorter shoots, and taller shoots compensate for by the deeper roots. 1. Huifeng, N., et al. 2009. Effect of nitrogen fertilizer application on grain phytic acid and protein concentrations in japonica rice and its variations with genotypes. Journal of Cereal Science

Nationalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Nationalization - Essay Example Nationalization also occurs if there is a change in government and the political ideology of the government demands a dramatic change in the country’s economic policy. Many times nationalization has been used to promote industries in the country which cannot be made dependent on foreign companies as they cater directly to the people. For example, after Independence from British rule India nationalized its steel industries although it took help from Russia to build steel plant in Rourkela and Bhilai. The most important reason of foreign intervention is the geopolitical and economic interests of powerful states. The interventions don’t necessarily have to be of military nature. Economic sanction is a weapon often used to punish the country for being too closed for foreign companies. Recently U.K. has imposed economic sanctions on Iran because of its nuclear programs. Other countries are to follow soon. Another case of geopolitical interests is Iraq where the allied forces invaded on the pretext of Weapons of Mass Destruction. But even after the Hans Blix’s report on absence of WMDs, the allied forces continued their operations. Many people argue that the main reason behind the invasion was oil. In a similar manner corporate interests influence foreign policies of a country. China has been very interfering in the internal matters of its neighboring country Nepal because of the corporate interests. Nepalese market is flooded with Chinese goods. Corporate interests may not lead to military invasions but they certainly influence countries to adopt protectionist measures. Ideological interests in democracy are also as major factor which leads to interventions. Human welfare is also cited one of the major reasons but there is considerable debate about the authenticity of such claims. While U.S. intervention in Iraq was justified for removing

Quitting Cigarettes Essay Example for Free

Quitting Cigarettes Essay Are you a smoker? Do you know anyone who smokes and struggles with quitting smoking? I am credible to explain the process of quitting the bad habit of smoking because I myself was a smoker for five years and quit â€Å"cold turkey.† The first thing you must acknowledge when deciding to quit smoking is to quit for your own good and not for your girlfriend or your parents. The second step would be to rethink the advantages and disadvantages of smoking. At last, the final step to quitting smoking is to stay strong and consistent to your decision. The basic step of quitting smoking is recognizing the fact that you want to quit. You should never force yourself to do something you don’t want to or not ready for. If the reason you you’re trying to quit is because your girlfriend is asking you too, then it will not last very long until she gets you ticked off and you’ll start smoking again. Same concept with anyone else such as your parents or even your friends, the moment someone gets on your bad side you’ll be doing the same thing you were. I know, because I have experienced trying to quit for the satisfaction of my ex-girlfriend and it didn’t work, the moment we broke up I began smoking again. So it is extremely important that you quit for your own self and not one else’s. The next important step is to think about the advantages of smoking. You get to relax for a few minutes, take a few drags, get a slight head change for a moment and take some stress off your mind. Now think of the disadvantages of smoking cigarettes. Your body health is endangered with chances of different kinds of cancers and diseases. Your immune system is lowered and you risk of getting sick more often. You spend a huge amount of money on packs of cigarettes a month, which you could use to pay some bills or get something nice to eat. The money you will later be spending in life on health bills, for doctor visits for your bad health conditions cigarettes put you through. You’re always easily tempered because of lack of nicotine in your body, causing stress on your mind and body. If you think about comparing the advantages and disadvantages of smoking it will be easier for you to quit. The final step of quitting smoking isn’t so easy if you have been smoking for a long period of time. Remember last time you tried quitting smoking what made you to start again? Was it the alcohol you consumed that made you crave a cigarette so much or did someone get you upset? The fact is you must learn to control your actions and to be able to say â€Å"no† to the things you know you shouldn’t do. If you stay consistent with telling yourself you don’t want or need the harmful cancer stick, eventually will get easier. The more days you stay strong to resist the craving, the easier it gets further into the future. Also replacing your bad habits with better ones is also a great way to stay away from the harmful ones. Quitting smoking seams like an easy process to those whom never have been hooked on smoking. When I was younger I didn’t understand what addiction of smoking was until I tried quitting many times. It took me many tries until I figured out the process to quit smoking. The first step is to quit for you and not for anyone else. The second step is to compare the advantages to the disadvantages of smoking and keep in mind that there are so many more disadvantages to  smoking then the advantages. The last step is to stay consistent with your good choice decision and stay away from the bad habit. Good luck to you!

Hybrid and electric cars Essay Example for Free

Hybrid and electric cars Essay Several types of vehicles which use alternative sources of energy have already been developed. These are mainly aimed at controlling the levels of air pollution and to provide a cheaper means of technology, especially with the increasing oil prices. With today’s current economic situation, many money saving cars have hit the road, such as hybrids from Toyota and Honda. However, our society thinks that the hybrid or electric car is a recent advancement, when in fact there were actually more electrics than gas fueled cars on the road in the 1800s. The aim of this research paper is to find out why the society is oblivious to this fact. The history of the electric car The history of the electric vehicle started from the first successful attempt to store electrical energy made by Alessandro Volta in Italy in 1800. The next event of major significance was in 1921, when Michael Faraday demonstrated that wire rod carrying electric current supplied by a Volta pile would rotate around a fixed magnet of one end and was unconstrained by allowing it to hang in a bath of mercury. He also showed that the magnet would rotate around the wire if the fixed and moving elements were reversed. Furthermore, the direction of rotation was reversed if the polarity of the electric current was reversed. This was the principle of the electric motor. In 1832, an electric motor was operated by having a bar magnet mounted on a shaft rotating inside stationary coils of wire in which the electric current was successfully switched by contacts on the shaft. The first electric motor was first constructed in 1968, but it was not until 1973 that the first road vehicles were driven. Interest had also developed in competitions between internal combustion-engine vehicles to show which was superior in speed and reliability. Leitman etal, pg 62-67) While all these developments in electric vehicles were going on, the gasoline fueled internal combustion engine vehicles were also being rapidly developed, so that by 1900, the market for automobiles was almost equally divided between the three contenders of steam, electricity and gasoline. Enthusiasm of the electric vehicle was strong at this time; primarily because of its ease of starting without tiresome need to hand crank the engine. The12 years from 1900 to 1912 was the golden age for electric vehicles, although gasoline-powered vehicles were developing rapidly over this period. In 1903, there were more electric vehicles in London than these powered by the internal combustion engine, but this situation did not last for long. By 1909 when the model T was launched it was already clear that the race for personal transport had been won by internal combustion engine This did not stop the number of electric vehicles in use in the USA increasing to a peak of 30,0000 in 1912. However, by this date, there were 900,000 gasoline engine vehicles on the road in that country, and comparable numbers in Europe. Slowly, the electric car manufacturers went out of business, or started manufacturing gasoline powered vehicles. Leitman etal, pg 62-67) Pollution in the modern era From the 1970s, the interest in electric cars began to appear again; air pollution caused by gasoline engines was beginning to be of concern and a number of small firms were set up to try and met the new demand of electric vehicles. The Ford Motor Company of Britain was asked to look at the possibility of designing a small electric car for urban use which was small enough to occupy minimum road and parking space, had high maneuverability, minimum pollution, was simple to operate and had low initial and running costs. Plant etal, pg 234) The 1990 mandate At the beginning of the 1990s, the electric vehicle had already been improved. They became more marketable, and people preferred them more than the other vehicles. One of the reasons that people preferred to use these vehicles was the fact that they did not use fuel. It was also cheaper and easy to recharge them. These cars were more effective in the 1990s, when the concerns for the environment were on the rise. This forced most car manufacturing industries, being led by General Motors to start manufacturing the electrical vehicles. Since the rate of emissions from gas fueled cars was increasing, the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 was enacted. This Act required a reduction in the vehicle emissions (so called Tier 1 controls) by the 1994 model year. It also authorized even stricter Tier II controls on a contingency basis, which was to be imposed by 2004 by the EPA administrator, if further studies showed that they needed, technically feasible, and cost effective. The 1990 Act also put up standards to check the evaporative emissions (emissions that occur after engines are shut off. ) (Collantes etal) California, being the leading state in air pollution, was required by the 1990 law to impose stricter vehicle emissions standards. The state therefore made it a requirement that the manufacturers achieve in stages, fleet-weighted average emissions that would have been lower than the ones mandated by the federal Tier I regulations, beginning with the 1994 model year. All The car manufacturers were authorized to manufacture several zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs, effectively electric-powered cars) by 1998. They were also required to have achieved a total market share of at least 10% by the year 2003. The Clean Air Amendments Act of 1990 also stated that other States should opt to voluntarily set the Environmental Conservation standards that had been set by California. Some of the North Eastern States, including New York and Massachusetts imposed similar rules in their states. The Ozone Transport Commission, through another provision of the 1990 Act, was also persuaded by some of its members to ask the EPA to pass the auto technology measures on the whole region. The imposition of the laws was required because some of the states had no intention of passing the Californian standards voluntarily. If EPA had passed these auto technology measures on all the states, then the electric cars would have taken over 40% of the entire U. S auto market. (Collantes, etal) However, this petition was debated on a lot. It was said that the technology then was not ready to meet such high targets. Another reason the proposal was rejected was due to the fact that the battery technology could only give a little range to the vehicles, besides this, the infrastructure to meet them was inadequate. The industry instead proposed an alternative to the Californian standards, which was to market a national low-emitting vehicle (NLEV) in 49 states. This alternative was tougher than what the law had required the automakers to do, and could meet only the first two levels of the Californian standards. It is clear that the industry was definitely opposed to the idea of an electric vehicle, because it passed the alternative laws, which required all states to ignore the zero emissions Act. For several years, the EPA was unable to make an agreement with between the thirteen jurisdictions and the industry. Also, California was successful in delaying the implementation if the zero electric vehicle mandate until model year 2003. Of all the states, only Massachusetts, Mine, Mew York and Vermont adopted the Californian requirements and refused to accept the NLEV as a substitute to the law, and the industry would not produce it either, unless they did. In the beginning of 1998, there was stiff competition among the â€Å"Big Three† U. S. and three major Japanese companies manufacturing cars. This therefore pushed them to pledge voluntarily to market the NLEV vehicles in the forty-five states which had not mandated Californian cars. This shows that the auto industry was among the reasons why the electric car was not so successful in the market. Collantes, etal) Were it not for the fact that the U. S. levels of air pollution are increasing every day, the industry would not have realized the need to manufacture the electric vehicles. Although the gasoline-electric cars were also a way to reduce the air pollution, the electric cars would have been more effective. This also shows the extent to which people and the auto industries disliked the electric car. Benefits of the electric cars Although the electric cars are a bit inferior compared to the petrol engine or diesel engine vehicles, they have several attributes. They are quiet, and therefore provide an appealing driving feel to the user. The major benefits are however on air pollution, the cars reduce the energy use and the green house emissions; they are zero emitting. The pollution benefits are also large, considering the amount of pollution generated at the power plant. The electric vehicle batteries have the capability to practically eliminate the carbon monoxide emissions and volatile the unburned hydrocarbons and hence diminish the nitrogen oxide emissions regardless of how electricity is generated. (Nakamura etal, pg 223-228) The pollution benefits would be greatest in places like California where most of the electricity comes from tightly controlled natural gas plants and zero-emitting hydroelectric and nuclear plants. They could also be of help to a country like France, which gets most of its electricity from nuclear power. Highly populated cities like Mexico City, Beijing, Bangkok, and Kathmandu, which also source their electricity from nucleus power, could also take advantage of the electric vehicles. Another advantage is that with an electric vehicle, all you have to do is to recharge the battery at home. You don’t have to worry of the increasing fuel prices or that you have to pass through the gas station on your way to work. In the 1990s, people used to worry that their batteries will run out of charge and cause them inconveniences. However, this has changed, as there are new and better batteries nowadays, with the ability to store charge for longer periods. The battery powered vehicles should be effective today, especially with global warming on the increase. With all these benefits, the electric vehicle needs to be marketed and manufactured in large scale. The government and the manufacturers need to promote the car, as much as they do to the fuel powered vehicles. A former employee of general motors in the 1990s said that one of the reasons why the electric vehicles did not sell well is because enough advertising was not done. The government has greatly contributed to the low popularity of the electric vehicles. Realizing that cars manufactured in foreign countries could attract more demand than those produced in the U. S. , it opted to support the manufacture of the fuel powered cars, which were more preferred by the public, to the electric powered vehicles. It was also ineffective because it failed to enact the 1990 Clean Air Enforcement Act. Fuel manufacturing companies, on the other hand, fearing that they would lose the market for fuel, sided with the government in the support for the manufacture of the fuel powered vehicles. The lack of vigorous campaigns to market the electric vehicles is one of the reasons why they are so unpopular today. The fact that the electric cars were once crushed to pieces shows the extent to which their popularity was. Americans have also been ignorant to the idea of promoting the electric car. They have preferred the hybrid cars to the electric cars, ignoring the fact that they have more benefits. (Paine) Conclusion For the past few years, General Motors has been trying to revive the popularity of the electric vehicles. One of the reasons that brought the realization that there was a need to bring back the electric car was the attack of the World Trade Centre, the Pentagon, and the plane that clashed in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. All these instances showed that complete reliance on imported oil is a big threat to the financial and the national security. Also, the onset of the global economic crisis, which resulted to an increase in the oil prices, made Americans realize the importance of the electric car. America faces the challenge of energy security, reduction of its reliance on imported oil and the ways in which global warming can be reduced. Electric cars could be the solution to these challenges. The ironic twist of events about national security, oil and the climate change has at last brought the understanding that to stabilize our economy; we need to use the electric cars.