Sex Is A Matter Of Chromosomes And Biology Essay - 1365 Words

Sex is biological, but culture is also embodied as food ways, health and activities which shape the body and influence secondary sex characteristics. Sex is anatomical and physiological attributes that refer to functions of reproduction. Sex is a matter of chromosomes and biology, genders are roles constructed socially, they can be variously interpreted changed, bent made ambiguous or heightened. Although genders are malleable, they must be understood by others in order to function. Understanding may be by all who see, or just by these with sufficient cultural insight. Properly recognized gender provides culturally defined rights, responsibilities, and expected behaviors. Among these may be a person’s choice of sex partners, but also the day to day navigation of divisions of labor engendered spaces. Throughout time there tends to be a male-female duality suggesting just two sexes and two gender roles, people are taught gender expectations and their gender is signaled to others . The western idea that gender behaviors are on a continuum between masculine and feminine is predicated on a cultural ideal which sees male and female as diametrically opposed and non-overlapping.. In â€Å"Allah Made Us: Sexual Outlaws in an Islamic African City† (2009) Rudolph Pell Gaudio works with men who are perceived as acting like women. Condemned by the Muslim and Christian majority, the ‘yan daudu form a minority group defined by their male bodies and feminine spirits, but in other ways carry outShow MoreRelatedThe Current Day And Age Essay1266 Words   |  6 Pagestopic. Back in the early 1950’s, there were very clearly defined gender roles for males and females. It is no longer as simple as it once was to define gender. Factors such as sociocultural influence, the scientific difference between â€Å"gender† and â€Å"sex†, and politics all play into gender roles and gender identity. America’s cultural idea of masculinity and femininity can also differ from other cultures making it a unique definition. It is very important for people to discuss gender in order to exploreRead MoreHow Hermaphrodite Children Should Not Have Gender Assignment Surgery1050 Words   |  5 PagesStage 1 Biology Issues Investigation – Cells and organisms Hermaphrodite children should not have gender-assignment surgery as an infant but should rather have the choice to do so as an adult. Introduction: Believe it or not, hermaphrodites are more common than you would think. But at birth, their parents think they’re doing their child a favour by having them undergo surgery to being just one gender rather than both. Is this justified? Are parents and doctors right to do this to the life of a childRead MoreA Study On Genes And Function Of Complex Eukaryotic Genomes Like Humans1504 Words   |  7 Pageseukaryotic genomes like humans. If the genes can first be studied and experimented on in good model organisms then they can progress to helping solve human’s genome mysteries. The specific gene in this study was the sex-linked white-eyed trait and it has been used by others to solve human recessive sex-linked diseases. The goal was to use the knowledge of genetics to find the parent generation’s genotype when only been given the F1 generation’s phenotype. If the F2 generation were to show any double recessiveRead MoreHomosexuality: A Natural or a Chosen Life923 Words   |  4 PagesHomosexuality, Natural or A Chosen Life? Today, America is still faced with segregation issues, only today it isn’t about the color of skin but about your sexual orientation. A private matter that is suppose to be between two individuals, whether they are heterosexually or homosexually married, has become an issue of society. When it comes to finding a job, getting married, and all the legal rights involved in a marriage, homosexual couples are criticized and in some states not allowed. If it isRead MoreThe Effects of Hormones and Behavior on Gender Identity1598 Words   |  7 Pagesunderstood as it is much more complex than just getting a sperm and egg cell to join; an XX or an XY genotype is only the first part in gender identity. There are many biological, psychological and sociological factors involved. The biological includes chromosomes, gonads, prenatal hormones, internal accessory organs, external genital appearance. The psychological includes assigned gender role and gender identity. The sociological could come from family, mass media and society (Kenyon, PhD, 2006). SammonsRead MoreThe Boy and Girl Dilemma: Sex and Gender Dismantled1279 Words   |  5 Pagesconsequences of this autocratic ‘gender/sex binary exclusive’ mindset are deadly. The feminist movement, as well as the anti-feminist reaction, has sparked an incline in the study of gender, sex, sexuality, and the differences between what is considered ‘male’ and/or ‘female’. To define the origin and legitimacy of gender, begin first by understanding ‘biological sex’, the binary (male vs female) in which our society as selected our cultures gender roles. Chromosomes (male: XY, female: XX), genitaliaRead More Gender Identity Disorder Essay1594 Words   |  7 PagesGender, Sex, Sexuality: Separate and NOT equal. First and foremost, a few key terms to keep in mind while reading this paper. Sex†: refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women.[1] â€Å"Gender†: refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women.[2] â€Å"Gender identityâ€Å": an individuals self-conception as being male or female, as distinguished from actual biologicalRead MorePhysical Body And Genitali The Biological Perspective1452 Words   |  6 Pageswomen’s roles in society because it always was that way. A simplistic explanation of chromosomes states that those with Y chromosomes are male and those without are female but as we know, it’s more complicated than that. Chromosomes have a big influence in the development of children within the womb, as well as hormones like testosterone and estrogen. When genitalia’s appearance begins to contradict chromosomes and sex hormones, identity becomes much less clear cut. Historical practice has been to useRead MoreHomosexuality, Genetics or Preference? Essay800 Words   |  4 Pagesand or behavior between people of the same sex. In origin the word homosexual comes from the Greek word for â€Å"same† with the Latin word for â€Å"sex†. In my o pinion, homosexuality can be classified into two groups - one being sexual orientation and the other being sexual preference. Homosexuality as a sexual orientation refers to an enduring pattern or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or amorous attractions primarily towards people of the same sex. It also refers to an individual’s sense ofRead MoreThe, Ideas, Interactions And Institutions By Lisa Wade And Myra Marx Ferree905 Words   |  4 Pagessociety and biology, and that they come hand in hand. That both nature and nurture make us human because there are too many facts from each side of the argument to say that one is more influential than the other. Our biology is what differentiates males and females, and our sense of self develops from the interaction with other humans and society. To start off I am going to break down each side of the argument. On the nature side of the debate many people will argue that it is our biology that differentiates

A Critique Of An Intake Form - 1216 Words

Intake Form Critique In this paper, I will provide a critique of an intake form typically utilized by community behavioral health agencies in the state of Arizona. For providers managed by Cenpatico, the regional behavioral health provider (RBHA), the intake process involves completion of the CORE assessment. When a Case Manager or Recovery Coach refers a client to other specialty agencies, a copy of the CORE assessment is required. In a way, it is standard form utilized by many providers. Each agency may have different procedures whether the CORE is completed by staff on paper or via a computer through respective electronic health record systems. For our agency, the CORE is completed online with conditional logic where it allows the†¦show more content†¦This leads to an intake session extending beyond two hours, hindering the rapport between the Clinician or client. Intake sessions that take considerable time may also discourage the client to return to the next session due to fear that all services will be lengthy and tedious. To reduce these incidents but to also ensure a comprehensive assessment, the Clinician should be well versed with the order of questions to transition effectively. A Clinician who is also familiar with the CORE can jump to various sections as the client provide relevant data, which is more effective than asking to hold their thoughts until the appropriate section is reached. Are the questions reading level appropriate for the clients? Please explain your answer. The CORE is designed to be utilized in an interview or discussion format, not as a self-report questionnaire to be written in by the client. But in regards to the reading level, the CORE is appropriate for staff and clinicians with at least a high school diploma. The language utilized is also meant for a lay audience with minimal mental health jargons. Some examples of questions within the CORE include: â€Å"what are you seeking help for today?†, â€Å"how often are these an issue for you?† and â€Å"how will you know if things are better/improving?† (Cenpatico Integrated Care, 2006, pg. 14-15). Are the intake forms available in the language appropriate for the population the agency serves? In addition to English, the COREShow MoreRelatedIntake Form Critique : Intake1332 Words   |  6 PagesIntake Form Critique Intake is an important first step in developing a helping relationship with clients. Hepworth et al. (2013) note that as social workers, we must conduct multidimensional assessments of the problem in order to â€Å"identify the systems that play a significant role in the difficulty,† and also be able to â€Å"identifying relevant resources that can be tapped or must be developed† in order for treatment to occur. Conversely, if these assessments lack important information, cliniciansRead MoreMental Health Intake Form Critique. After Reviewing Several1545 Words   |  7 PagesMental Health Intake Form Critique After reviewing several mental health intake forms on the Internet, I selected the intake form from The Maple Counseling Center (TMCC) which is located in Beverly Hills, CA. The Maple Counseling Center focuses on delivering a variety of mental health services to clients of all ages, including youth, adults, couples, families, and group therapy. The actual intake form is four pages long. The intake packet that I downloaded was a total of 13 pages, but the additionalRead MoreThe Mental Health Multidimensional Intake Form For Clients Beginning Services At Fairview Counseling Centers Essay1248 Words   |  5 Pages Intake Form Critique Shelli J. Ness SWG 510: Foundation Practice I Arizona State University Online Fall 2016  Introduction In this critique, I will examine the mental health multidimensional intake form for clients beginning services at Fairview Counseling Centers in Minneapolis, MN. According to their website, this center encourages clients to have the intake forms completed before their initial intake appointment (2016). There are different forms depending on the client’s age and needs. ForRead MoreNutrition and Food Guide Servings1201 Words   |  5 Pagesadvertising pamphlet or the Internet. The article is to be from the popular press (directed at consumers) not from scientific literature. A copy (or photocopy) of the article must be submitted with your assignment. [1 mark] Write a critique (in point form) on this article. Include the following information: a. Identify the topic (this is not always the title of the article) of your article and where it was published (i.e. where you found the article). [2 marks]. b. Describe theRead MoreThe Navajo Nation Division Of Social Services1088 Words   |  5 PagesIntake Form Critique The Navajo Nation Division of Social Services (NDSS) intake form is used by three agencies under the NDSS umbrella for various services including child welfare for reservation residents, Indian Child Welfare for ICWA/state collaboration, local and off reservation adoption, as well as clinical treatment services. The intake form was developed in 2011 with the intent to gather and report Adoption, Foster Care, Analysis Reporting System (AFCARS) data to the federal government andRead MoreThe Health Issue Of College Students965 Words   |  4 Pagesdrinking rates within college have been know to sky rocket after transitioning out of high school, and moving forward as and adult. A critique of Berg, Ritschel, Swan, An, and Ahluwalia (2011) study, examines the correlation of hope in relations to alcohol use, binge drinking, smoking, exercise, and limiting of dietary fat among undergraduate college students. Critique of Research Problems, Research Questions, and Hypothesis The purpose of the study was to test the â€Å"hope in engaging in healthy behaviorsRead MoreCritique of an article from the Journal of Applied Physiology1124 Words   |  5 PagesCritique of an article from the Journal of Applied Physiology Effect of different protocols of caffeine intake on metabolism and endurance performance Introduction In 2002, a group of Australian researchers published a paper entitled the Effect of different protocols of caffeine intake on metabolism and endurance performance. Caffeine use during sporting events has become much more popular and has widely studied. The purpose of the research was to examine the work increasing (ergogenic)Read MoreDietary Counseling As A Platform For Preventive Therapy Essay1708 Words   |  7 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Over the years, there has been an emphasis on the need to watch one’s dietary intake in the wake of the many lifestyle and sedentary diseases. As a result, many healthcare practitioners have undertaken dietary counselling as a platform for preventive therapy to many diseases. In recent times, one key area that has received extensive attention in regards to nutrition is cancer. Despite the existence of many forms of cancer, global studies in conjunction with the National Cancer Institute agreeRead MoreAlcohol COnsumpt ion and the Risk of Dementia1341 Words   |  5 Pagesfor centuries, mainly due to its sometimes damaging effects on consumers. However, there are those who believe that consuming alcohol could actually prove to have health benefits as well. A study by Dutch scientists suggests that a low-to-moderate intake of alcohol could actually reduce the risk of dementia in elderly victims from age fifty-five and up. The article that outlines the study, titled Alcohol consumption and risk of dementia: the Rotterdam Study, introduces the experiment as a part ofRead MoreThe Health Risk Appraisal Tool1123 Words   |  5 Pages Link Completion of the Tool The health risk appraisal tool that I choose to complete and critique is titled My Life Check (American Heart Association, n.d.). Below is the link to access the tool. http://mylifecheck.heart.org/AssessmentTools2/main_en_US.html. This health risk appraisal tool provides great explanations and is easy to comprehend and can be completed rather quickly. I completed the assessment tool in five minutes. The appraisal tool asks simple questions that pertain to daily lifestyles

Cello Suites free essay sample

I will argue that It was due to one exceptional cellist, Pablo Calls who helped ring the pieces to the attention of the classical music community and express their musical appeal in the concert hall idiom. With Calls intuitive stylists, the cello suites infiltrated their way Into popular culture Bachs cello suites are among the best known works of classical music (Sibling, 2009: Would, 2007), however, this was not always the case. It was not until a young Catalan cellist, Pablo Calls, discovered these monumental baritone works and performed them in 1901, that they rose onto concert platforms, Justified as real musicmonsoons, 000. . 660: Sibyls, 2009). This exploration of the unaccompanied cello suites was a new revelation in the music community, partly because for the best part of two centuries they were only used, almost exclusively as common practice exercises Monsoons, 2000, p. 660: Blue, 1980, After a decade and a half of perfecting the pieces, Calls toured over twelve cities in 1903 and 1904 promoting his evident romance with the suites (Sibling, 2009). We will write a custom essay sample on Cello Suites or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As the knowledge of the suites increased, more cellists took on the challenge of perfecting these works. Eke Dutch cellist Manner Balsam, who dedicated a good part of his life to the cello suites.In this way, a new medium emerged which saw composers become more interested in the cello as a solo Instrument. Thus Bachs cello works consequently became more popular among performers and listeners alike Monsoons, 2000, p. 660). The unaccompanied cello suites popularity Increased substantially after Calls reinvigorated interest in them, not only was his performance considered revolutionary, so was his interpretation (Blue, 1980, p. 143). Because these pieces ere thought only as technical exercises they were only ever performed with little musical depth Monsoons, 2000, p. 60), however Bach was never one to create something without meaning (Window, 2007). It Is hard to specify how the suites were Intended, as Bachs original manuscript is lost and the copy that closely depicts his Is Anna Magdalene Bachs transcription (Johnson, 2000, up. 660-661 ). Like most Baroque music there was little indication of how the piece should be played in the scores, so it was almost expected of the performers to Intuitively add it themselves. When Calls was presented with the Anna Magdalene copy he had the opportunity to reinvent the suites (Woodlot, 2007).Calls embellished, expressively accentuated and romanticists the pieces in accordance to his interpretation (Window, 2007). He added slurs and rubout to the prelude (Window, 2007), which were styles developed throughout the romantic era (Stilwell, 2002), styles that he grew up with, so it was only natural for him to play the pieces that way. This aided in the development of the pieces popularity as they had a Tory and a character about them, which made them more relatable to the audiences that were already accustomed to and fond of romantic music (Sibling, 2009).In the last ten years, Bachs unaccompanied cello suites, particularly the prelude, have found a place in popular culture with an appearance in the film Master and Commander (Universal Pictures, 2003) and in an advertisement for Volvo cars (2010). In doing so, audiences became more commercially exposed to Bachs Cello suites to such an extent that in 2007, the suites reached number one on the tunes classical USIA chart (Sibling, 2009, p. 8). But the fashionably of Bachs cello suites may lie more in the intrinsic beauty of the pieces more so than their use in films and ad campaigns.There is a multiplicity of genres suggested throughout Bachs cello suites (Sibling, 2009, p. 9). Eric Sibling argues that even though the music is from the baroque period one can hear peasant tunes with Juxtaposing post- modern minimalism, spiritual lamentations contrasting with heavy metal riffs, medieval Gigs and movie soundtracks (Sibling, 2009, p. 9). With such variety in the music and the stories created in each suite (Sibling, 2009, p. ), it may well be that Bachs pieces have found a place in popular culture due to this musical complexity and cultural versatility. If it were not for Pablo Calls intuitive performances the pieces, the piece may not have risen to their status today and may well have been relegated as mere exercise. His romantic rendition introduced Bachs cello suites to the world as concert pieces, which in turn inspired more cellists, composers and other musicians to delve into the interpretation of the cello suites.

Power Corrupts Essay free essay sample

APower Corrupts All Essay Throughout our life, a normal person’s life, we will have someone who we follow or look up to. Those types of people could either be your boss, a president, or maybe even one of your parents. What if your boss suddenly told you that now every morning you come into work you had to leave a dollar at his office door for working for him? That would not make you very happy that it would cost you a dollar just to go to work. This is just one example of how power can corrupt anyone. Even the most gentle and honest people can be corrupt by power and the need to control others. In the Green Mile, Percy uses his ability to push around the criminals, who came into the Green Mile. In Animal Farm, the pigs are able to use their knowledge to control the other animals through fear and changing rules. We will write a custom essay sample on Power Corrupts Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Finally, in the Lord of the Flies, the children began as innocent and gentle children, but turn into savages who want to kill and control the other children, again, through the need to control others. In Animal Farm, Napoleon and Squealer use their superior minds, and perfectly executed persuasion, to control and rule the other animals of the farm. The first time they used this ability was to control the others in the meeting that was held in the barn. Snowball and Napoleon were arguing over the idea of building a windmill or whether it was a good idea, and were just worrying about whether or not their needs were going to be met. It looked like Snowball was going to win the argument to build the windmill, but then, after Napoleon gives a strange whistle, nine enormous dogs come charging into the barn and chase Snowball off the farm. After the dogs had chased Snowball off the farm, they returned to Napoleon’s side. Napoleon then said that there would be no more meetings, therefore no more debates, therefore no windmill. This would mean that Napoleon and the pigs would now be making all the decisions. Now that Napoleon had all control over the farm and its future, he was able to change the rules that were first set up when the farm was taken over by the animals, called the â€Å"Seven Commandments†. They basically stated that they should not be like humans and that animals should do no harm to other animals. These rules were quickly broken by Napoleon and the pigs. The most important rule of all the seven rules were that â€Å"All animals are equal†, but this was changed near the end of the book to â€Å"All animals are equal but some are more equal than others†. This is important because it meant now that Napoleon and his fellow pig members were now ‘more equal† really meaning more important, than all of the other animals. This meant now that Napoleon had complete control over all the other animals and could now have them do whatever he wants. In the Lord of the Flies, the children who crash landed on the island, begin to lose control of themselves and turn into savages. Two children, who were named Ralph and Jack, fight over who will be the leader. Ralph, the first child to take control of the children through the use of the â€Å"giant conch†, and his new friend Piggy, want the children to form a camp and sustain life by eating the fruit that the island was offering them. Jack, a rogue child, who only wants to control the children and hunt for food, begins to offer the children meat instead of just fruit. This makes the children become more close and friendly towards Jack. Jack uses this power later in the book to raid Ralph’s camp and take Piggy’s glasses which are used to make a fire. Piggy’s glasses are thought to possess power because the glasses can make fires. Ralph decides the next morning that they will travel to Castle Rock, the home of Jack’s tribe, and request them to return Piggy’s glasses. Ralph brings the conch and when they reach the castle he blows it to get the attention of the guards. Jack returns from a hunt and tells Ralph to leave his camp, but Ralph refuses until Piggy’s glasses are returned back to him. Jack and Ralph begin to fight each other. Jack orders his men to capture Eric and Sam and to tie them up. Ralph becomes enraged at this and attacks Jack once again. While they fight, Roger pushes a boulder down the hill, but Ralph dodges it, but Piggy is not as lucky, and is struck by the rock which throws him off the edge of the mountain and breaks the conch into a million pieces. This ends the importance that the holder of the conch be the leader since there is no longer a conch. Jack then throws a spear at Ralph, and then captures Eric and Sam, whom he tortures until they join him. This scene shows how Jack has lost control of himself and has forgotten that they are all children who are scared and just want to make it home safe. In the Green Mile, Percy uses his ability to push around the other criminals who are chained up and can do nothing about it. Percy is thought to be a bad person throughout the Green Mile. He works at a penitentiary called Cold Mountain Penitentiary. One of his jobs is to escort the new death row criminals onto the â€Å"Green Mile†. One time he does this in the book, is when he is walking Delacroix onto the â€Å"Green Mile†. As Delacroix is getting out of the van he was put in to transport him there, he trips, because Percy is pulling him too fast and he accidently grabs onto the genitals of Percy in an attempt to break his fall. Percy is enraged by this and uses his baton to beat Delacroix. Percy again uses his power over Delacroix during his execution. Now, before the cap is placed onto the criminals head, a wet sponge is supposed to be placed onto the forehead. This acts as a conductor so that all the electricity passes through the skin and goes to the prisoner’s brain to make the execution quick and painless. Percy did not do this, but not because he forgot to do it, but because he wanted to have revenge for Delacroix laughing after he had urinated himself when he was scared. Now, since he had left out the wet sponge, when the electric chair was turned on, Delacroix’ face burst into flames and he began to scream in pain. It was one of the most gruesome executions that Paul, the Warden of the â€Å"Green Mile†, had ever been a part of. Percy regretted what he did, but was still happy that he had got his revenge using the power he had to lead the execution. You may say, well why didn’t anybody say anything after Percy did all these horrible things? Well, it is because Percy used the old and I quote from the Green Mile, â€Å"my uncle is the governor so if you say anything I’ll make sure you are on the breadline by the end of the week†. By doing this Percy was able to make sure that he both didn’t get beat up by the other guards and also to be able to stay at the â€Å"Green Mile†, or to continue to stay in power. These three books are all examples of how power can and does corrupt someone’s thoughts and mind. Even the most innocent of children in Lord of the Flies were able to be corrupted by power. Some people enjoy having power though, like Percy. He enjoyed controlling the prisoners and having the ability to beat them. Then there is Napoleon, he used his intelligent mind and changing the rules to control the other animals. Power is something that only people who have the ability to reject the temptations that comes with having power. That is why people should just stay away from power in general.

Napster essays

Napster essays There are many different controversies when consulting the topic on Napster. Napster is a computer program that lets people download mp3 music files from other people with the program. Lots of people and music companies believe that this is bad and Napster should be stopped or should charge people. Many other people believe that that Napster is a good thing and should remain free of charge. There are many people who think that the way Napster is distributing music is bad. One reason they think it is bad is because they consider it stealing the copyrighted music. These people also believe that Napster should be shut down or they should start to charge people for the service. The way these people see Napster is that it is stealing their copyrighted music and then distributing it for free. There are other people who believe that Napster is a good thing and should stay the way it is, free of charge. These people think that the music on Napster is a great way for advertising that is also free. This is also a great way for new bands to get discovered and get more people to listen to them. These are the people that are fighting to try to keep Napster the way it is and keep it free of charge. Napster has gone to court to try and make a deal with the companies and the people against them. Napster has offered to try and block the copyrighted music to make the people happy but that was impossible to block all of them. The court ended up ruling for Napster to start to charge people to use the computer program. In conclusion, even thought there are many different controversies consulting the topic of Napster and the people, the court has now made a decision to make Napster charge people. There are still many people that strongly believe in both sides, but it is just time until Napster has to start charging people. ...

At a Crossroads

At a Crossroads At a Crossroads At a Crossroads By Maeve Maddox A reader is confused about this expression: Kindly explain the usage and difference, if any, of at a crossroad, at crossroads and similar phrases. Literally, a crossroad is a road that crosses another. â€Å"A crossroad† is the place where two or more roads intersect. â€Å"A crossroads† is also the place where roads intersect. In remote areas where roads lack signage, travelers at an unfamiliar intersection are faced with a directional decision that could have unpleasant consequences if they choose incorrectly. Figuratively, to be â€Å"at a crossroad† or â€Å"at a crossroads† is to be at a stage in one’s life–or the development of a country or an industry–when it is necessary to choose a course of action that will affect one’s future in significant and irrevocable ways. Both the singular and plural forms are seen, but the Google Ngram Viewer indicates that the plural form is more common. The expression is popular with writers who compose headlines and book titles: Trucking Industry at a Crossroads Cuba: Island at a Crossroad The Caspian Region at a Crossroad: Challenges of a New Frontier of Energy Global Health Governance at a Crossroads Cancer research at a crossroads in Germany Writers of novels and memoirs are also fond of it: I think you will agree that lifes plans are not always tied up in neat little packages. Occasionally we find ourselves at unexpected crossroads with more than one opportunity from which to choose. –Linda Lee Chaikin I see myself at crossroads in my life, mapless, lacking bits of knowledge then, the Moon breaks through, lights up the path before me  Ã¢â‚¬â€œJohn Geddes And having once chosen, never to seek to return to the crossroads of that decision-for even if one chooses wrongly, the choice cannot be unmade.  Ã¢â‚¬â€œJacqueline Carey To be at a crossroads is to be on the verge of making a decision: We stand at an absolutely pivotal crossroads in our nations history  that may well determine our future and way of life for decades to come. Three idioms that refer to the moment after the decision has been made are: 1. to cross the Rubicon This expression means to make an irrevocable decision. Its figurative meaning comes from Julius Caesar’s literal crossing of a small Italian river in 49 BCE. By leading an army across the Rubicon–the boundary between Gaul and Italy–Caesar disobeyed Roman law and began a civil war. Crossing the Rubicon is final. That’s the whole point of the expression. The following quotation suggests that the speaker doesn’t quite understand that once the Rubicon is crossed, there’s no turning back: I think the Port Authority, from a transparency/media point of view, has crossed the Rubicon as the result of recent controversies and its not going to be possible to re-cross it. 2. casting the die According to Suetonius, once he had crossed the Rubicon, Caesar said â€Å"Alea iacta est!† The Latin is usually translated as â€Å"The die is cast.† Die is the singular of dice. In those days, dice were used for gambling, but also for determining the will of the gods. Either way, once the dice have been thrown, the outcome has been determined. Example: â€Å"The Die is Cast: Russia’s Intentions in Ukraine† 3. no turning back The phrasal verb â€Å"turn back† means â€Å"to reverse the course of† or â€Å"to cause to go in the opposite direction.† Example: â€Å"For open government, there is absolutely no turning back.† In addition to representing a place where a crucial decision is made, a crossroad has sinister associations in history and in folklore. A place where two roads crossed was often chosen as the site of pre-Christian sacrifice. Recipes for black magic often include directions to bury something at a crossroads at midnight. Gallows were placed at a crossroads. The bodies of the executed–especially those of highwaymen–were left hanging as a warning. Suicides and others for whom Christian burial in consecrated ground was forbidden were buried at a crossroads. Related post: One Die, Two Dice Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Punctuating â€Å"So† at the Beginning of a Sentence30 Baseball IdiomsNominalized Verbs

The Status of German Women under Nazism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Status of German Women under Nazism - Essay Example The end of World War I harkened the birth of several political groups in Germany possessing extreme views, such as those professing ultra-nationalistic and anti-democratic ideas. Adolph Hitler joined one of these groups known as the German Workers' Party. In the years following 1920, he became the leader of the party, later reorganizing and reorienting it to reflect his personality. He also renamed the party to the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP) or, as translated into English, the National Socialist German Workers' Party. Nazism was the term by which the party's ideology, its doctrines, and its policies came to be known. (Columbia Encyclopaedia 2004) The ideology of Nazism was based on an amalgam of doctrines of racism, nationalism, and what was known as the "hero-cult" espoused by various writers and interpreted by Hitler and others in works such as Hitler's Mein Kampf. Instead of a set of well-described principles, Nazism was a vague ideology glorifying myth, prejudice, and nihilist views. Control was paramount and democracy was viewed as a corrupt form of government that served to protect the mediocre and weak elements of society. Under Hitler, Nazism became national law in Germany. (Columbia Encyclopaedia 2004) Nazism was a reaction to the emancipation of society, which occurred as monarchies throughout Europe fell and as Marxist ideology grew in popularity. Nazism, contrasted to the Marxist emphasis on the desire for equality in property ownership, focused on issues of social equality, primarily the issues of racial superiority and inferiority. (Harvey 1999: 77+) The anti-feminist spirit of Nazism was related in a significant manner to the movement's racist ideology, according to Stibbe (1993: 35+), who writes that "[l]ike the Jew, the modern 'emancipated' woman was seen as an agent of degeneracy and national decline, bringing in her wake the 'destructive' forces of Bolshevism, democracy, and parliamentarianism." A hint of Hitler's perspectives on the role of women became apparent shortly after his assumption of power in January of 1933. In his government's handbook for Nazi leaders and their organisations and members, entitled and translated as The ABCs of National Socialism, the following translated entry, which was directed at Jewish women, appeared: "[T]he Jewish housewife, herself, is no picture of cleanliness, but idly sits around, painted up and powdered and adorned in silk and baubles" (Rosen 1933, cited in Guenther 2004: 92). But Hitler's views of women in German society were not restricted to Jews alone. Women, in general, were cri ticised for purchasing cosmetics, perfumes, and other luxury items rather than saving the money or spending it on household items. Hitler, both through the ideology he promoted and the policies he enacted, insisted that German women must "return to their pre-emancipation roles" (Guenther 2004: 93). The ABCs of National Socialism, as translated, stated (Rosen 1933, cite

Atermath of Katrina, Returning to a Workplace Essay

Atermath of Katrina, Returning to a Workplace - Essay Example My primary concern as an Industrial Hygienist deputed to clean up the hospital in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina would be to prevent or control the spread of infectious diseases such as diarrhea, flu, cold and TB. Because as evidence from similar natural catastrophes suggests, the people returning to New Orleans are likely to suffer from these diseases in the immediate aftermath of Katrina. Gastroenteritis is also likely to be prevalent. Hence I would order my team and also avail of services from other disaster relief personnel and design an basic hygiene awareness program for the hospital. For example, proper hand-washing techniques will be demonstrated to all concerned. Along with practical demonstrations, I would make posters, fliers and email postings to reiterate the proper technique of hand washing. I would place bottles of Gel hand sanitizers at important access points within the hospital. Other infectious diseases that I would try to prevent or control include rashes and skin infections. Once any of these diseases is identified in the surrounding population, it is imperative that diseased individuals are separated from the crowd so as to stop further spread. All the beds and chairs within the hospital will be scanned for fomites. It is advisable to remove soiled cots, mattresses and bed spreads from the premises. (Chew, et. al, 2006) I would also be concerned about the mold and endotoxin levels in the hospital environment. I will involve the two technicians in my team to bring samples and perform tests for ascertaining mold and endotoxin levels. It is imperative that they wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as respirators. The advice would be to wear elastomeric respirators. Alongside mold and endotoxin level measurement, I would implement the process of deconstruction, which entails removal of soiled and muddied carpets, removal of

Diversity and Multiculturalism Essay Example for Free

Diversity and Multiculturalism Essay Minority is a word describing a group representing a population smaller than the State. They are people of distinct culture, religion, language and ethnicity from the norms of the Society. Any group resembling the stated characteristics is a Minority. This description clearly emphasizes the rebuttal of Human Rights to people who are not living within the standards of the society. Group Rights or Minority Rights, in a popular manner, speaks of the Ethnic discrimination to some and a due right to others. Moreover, a conflict begins when an individual claims of his/her minority group and yet, the State does not recognize a Minority. The group rights tend to protect a certain group and reflects the other laws excluded on their existence, which for many individuals is a direct discrimination. Primarily, rights are powers to act in accordance with the existing system having values and principles approved by the society. It is a claim or title, whether legal, descriptive and moral (Sutton, 2001). The controversy exists regarding group rights on the term called Multiculturalism. This kind of group right often pertains to a member of an ethnic or religious group. Scholars perceive this kind of group right as a barrier to the actions that most ethnic groups have before there was â€Å"civilization. † It is a form of oppression because the majority opposes those traditional beliefs and pursues the so-called â€Å"equality† to such people. Group rights exist to discriminate, oppose and eliminate the traditional acts for the satisfaction of the majority. MULTICULTURALISM Multiculturalism is the opinion that all cultures, from tribesmen and modern civilization, to be equal. However, equality does not address the century old problem because of diverse conditions. Thus, multiculturalism confers with egalitarianism. The objective of multiculturalism is to obliterate the value of free, industrialized civilization, by declaring such civilization no better than the primitive tribalism. It wants to incapacitate the mind’s ability to differentiate good from evil, to differentiate life promoting to what life is negating. Some oppose this principle because they reason out that everyone has a right to moral judgment. The ideas and culture of a specific community should have recognition and respect. ISSUES ON MULTICULTURALISM Many question how the individuals would respect such minority rights if the problem remains on cultural differences. The argument of the multiculturalists’ defenders is that all cultures are equal and some factors coming from this culture are superior to the universal values. Some fruits of Enlightenment and egalitarian movements root from the cultural proponents. Colorful ethnic attire and interesting cuisine may seem interesting and attractive. Nevertheless, with the reality of women and childrens oppression worldwide, multiculturalism is increasingly a policy to maintain that oppression (Kamguian, 2005). The crimes against women become the celebration of traditional cultures and religions with the ignorance on it disadvantages. Governments of Western foundation utilized the policy of multiculturalism in the past, which encourage and uphold the demands for group rights coming from native populations, ethnic minorities or religious groups. However, these cultures have societal cultures that employ members of meaningful ways of life across the full range of human activities, including social, educational, religious, and recreational life. Because these societal cultures play an essential role in the lives of members and because these cultures face extinction, they should have special rights for protection. This accord with group rights but that is not the case with the societal norms like slavery, female genital mutilation, forced marriages, honor killing and other horrors respected by the society. These horrible practices are within the multicultural principle but it the proper action is to eradicate it. The argument begins with multiculturalism, which acts as a substitute policy to ensure a tolerant and democratized compliance in a world that conflicts between cultures eradicate such values. Moreover, the argument leads to racism and tyranny, as the dominant group want to create a universal norm. Another argument consists of the human basic need for cultural attachments. This need then should have protection from validating and protecting different cultures. The supporters of multiculturalism contrast that individual rights is sufficient enough for protection of minority cultures or their way of life that has a consequence of having special group rights and privileges such as arbitrations from Sharia in Canada and allowances fro polygamous men in France. In other cases, group rights claim to have political exclusions, govern their principles and exempt them from the general law. Often, cultures are patriarchal and many cultures claim group rights are more patriarchal than the surrounding cultures. Examples are the common gender inequalities like child marriages, forced marriages, divorce systems biased against women, polygamy and clitoridoctomy. These cases violate women and children’s individual rights of the society. This respect for cultural traditions resulted to lack of support and voices for women and children and the marginalization of progressive forces. When one observes the culture of these minority groups, they would see how oppression and repression reside within their own communities. Not all cultures are equal even though humans’ possess culture, some may be better that the other cultures and others may possess values unacceptable to the society. Indeed the very idea of equality is the product of the Enlightenment and the political and intellectual revolutions that it unleashed (Kamguian, 2005). Forcing equality means to challenge accepted practices and believing in possibility of transformation. However, permitting the differences by the dominant culture is the acceptance of the society as a whole. The diversity movement is not imparting knowledge to students, but promoting racism. – Michael S. Berliner Racism is a notion directing one race as superior to another race. The affirmative action viewed by some is a form of ethnic diversity, a form of politically correct disguise. The belief of racism is that one’s convictions, values and character is particularly based on anatomy or â€Å"blood† and not by judgment. This view tends to see people of different pigmentation as different from the superior pigmentation. The spread of racism causes destruction of the individual in one’s mind. This individual then clings to another race, wanting to have that belongingness because of race diversity. Proponents of diversity seem to be the true racists because they see the world through the color of lens, hair and skin. To multiculturalists, values, thinking and human identity all cling to race. Multiculturalism establishes the oppression in equality. Proponents of diversity teach the youth that people having different cultures also have different capacities resulting to recognition of separatism and glorifying a specific race. This revolutionizes â€Å"racial identity† that aims to erect an unbridgeable perception on race differences. Hence, any cooperation between races is impossible because of their differences being emphasized. ETHNICITY AND GROUP RIGHTS The Ethnic Group has group rights that defend their members who want to exercise their right to behave and enables them to act diversely from the majority. The ethnic group supports their group rights and their representatives, subsequently. It is unnecessary and undesirable to put these rights in a metaphysical entity, which bear their independent human characteristics. In addition, the right in question resorts to be a negative claim. The majority should not forbid such groups to defend their rights. In fact, for the reason that they have the utmost power in defense, they should assist the minority to respect and bear the minority rights in a positive way. However, this can apply to a situation where the ethnic group does a grave misconduct not prevented by the existing rules and regulations. Another is that the ethnic group should observe the group rights, voluntarily and autonomously. People cannot defend a right not chosen by them. Sutton defines that in order to enact such rights they must show the capacity to understand to successful claimants (Sutton, 2001, p 21). The ethnic group rights should correspond with the human rights, as it would give them the right to protect such liberties whenever the majority, which also has human rights, opposes their ethnic habits. Nonetheless, the civil liberty of individuals and ethnic group rights come from the principle of prima facie rights, which explains the liberty experienced by the ethnic group due to these rights has limitations whenever the ethnic habits impose grave suffering or serious restrictions of liberty on other human beings. In general, the obligation of the majority has a duty not to restrict freedom when they wish to observe harmless habits and if the majority’s opposition puts a grave suffering to the ethnic group, then, they have to restrict such opposition (Hayry, 2007). Ethnic minorities do not have a group right to force or coerce their members into observing duties, which are not required by the principles of liberty and the avoidance of suffering (Hayry, 2007). Individuals have three duties, the duty not to inflict harm to another individual, the duty not to restrict unreasonably the freedom of others and the duty not to breach voluntary, harmless contracts. The first duty means for the individuals to act accordingly to the rule of the group without coercing such right. The argument then is the term ethnic group coerces their right because they did not choose the term themselves but a group will not defend a right not made by them. Hence, the general implication is to coerce such freedom, which they themselves have not freely assumed. The second duty restricts any enforcement of freedom, which proves to be unnecessary to the ethnic group. The majority would see that being a member of a minority group would enforce the second duty that is false in belief that will alter the norms. Conversely, everyone has the duty to restrict or condemn habits that will impose suffering and unwarranted restrictions of freedom. In general, the second argument gives the majority the right to restrict ethnic habits given that it will impose harm to the society but it should exceed the principles of equality and fairness. Most of the majority will regard the thesis of defense concerning ethnic habits, which they find different from the norms, false. This is natural, as the dominant groups want a homogenous society supplying the best foundation for human flourishing, even if it costs the principle of liberty and avoidance of suffering. Nonetheless, the significant patterns that endow social conformity should have actions in eliminating cultural diversity (Hayry, 2007). INDIVIDUALISM VERSUS MULTICULTURALISM The principle on individualism is the individual as the primary unit of reality and the ultimate preference of value. Contrary to what other opinions say, individualism does not deny the existence of a society rather the society as a group of individuals not above those individuals. Individualism sees every person as the end of himself and there should be no sacrifice of an individual for another (Stata, 1992). The achievement of an individual credits for himself/herself and not based on the achievements of others. Even though the society believes of individualism as isolation, it does not deny the cooperation but is a theory of the conditions living and working with other people as beneficial. In general, individualism gives credit to an individual and not on the individual’s membership with a society. The probable cure for racial differences is individualism or seeing the person not because of his/her race but because of his/her abilities. The diversity movement aims to teach the following: diversity awareness, diversity training, diversity hiring and submissions and diversity accommodations, which all refer to racial preference. The proper dose on racial issues is to appreciate individually and treatment of collective merits (Locke, 2000). CONCLUSION Protection of human rights in various fields becomes depressing in the past century. Many have resulted to war, as they protect their community from discrimination and sustenance of group rights. Before group rights, many institutions protected the safety of minorities. Three major periods existed in favor of minority group rights. The first period appeared in a non-systematic protection comprising mainly of incorporation of protective clauses, particularly in favor of religious minorities. The second period existed after World War I within the framework of the League of Nations. Lastly are the developments following World War II (Lerner, 2003) on group rights. With all these developments in minorities and group rights, still the existing truth on racial discrimination is emerging. Many say of diversity as an act of racism, that employing group rights does not prove to be efficient in eradicating discrimination. Briefly, group rights is not a power rather a suppression, racial diversity and oppression hiding in equality. References Berliner, M. Diversity and Multiculturalism. 24 May 2000 14 November 2007 http://www.aynrand. org/site/News2? JServSessionIdr009=rpsx4ci8k4. app7apage=NewsArticleid=5195news_iv_ctrl=1076 Sutton, P. Kinds of Rights in Country: Recognising Customary Rights as Incidents of Native Title. 2001. 14 November 2007 p. 29 National Native Title Tribunal. Hayry, H. Ethnicity and Group Rights, Individual Liberties and Immoral Obligations. 14 November 2007 http://www. bu. edu/wcp/Papers/Soci/SociHayr. htm Minority. 14 November 2007 http://www. terralingua. org/Definitions/DMinority. html Kamguian, A. Universal Rights versus Individual Rights. 6 July 2005 14 November 2007 http://www. iheu. org/node/1691 Culture and Multiculturalism. 14 November 2007 http://www. aynrand. org/site/PageServer? pagename=media_topic_multiculturalism Locke, E. Individualism – The Only Cure for Racism. 12 December 1997 14 November 2007 http://www. aynrand. org/site/News2? JServSessionIdr009=rpsx4ci8k4. app7apage=NewsArticleid=6167news_iv_ctrl=1076 Lerner, N. Group Rights and Discrimination in International Law. Boston: Martinus Nihjoff Publishers, 2003.

Compaison Of Any Two Search En :: essays research papers

Comparison of any two Search Engines (e.g. Yahoo, Magellan, AltaVista, Infoseek, Lycos, Bigfoot†¦ ) The single, most frequent piece of search advice for using Web search engines is to always search more than one engine to answer your question. No two engines are the same-each offers a unique set of features and indexes or crawls the Web differently. It’s no surprise the results vary. Good searchers triangulate output from several engines to acheive relevent results. The emergence of meta search engines is a credible antitode to the time-consuming practice of sequential search engine searches. By using a meta search engine to search several search engines at once and obtain ranked, clickable results, Web searchers can accomplish the Internet equivalent of doing a Dialog OneSearch. From one search screen, a searcher can select several search engines, formulate a search, click the Search button, and quickly receive ranked, compiled results. Meta search engines vary widely in which engines they search, how they process queries, and how they compile and display results. Some search sequentially, others simultaneously; some translate queries into target engine’s language, and others just send the query â€Å"as is†. The best metas offer an esily viewable list that can be customized, and it is a plus to see a checkbox feature on the first screen that allows you to choose the engines you want for a specific search. Ideally, a metasearch Web site would allow you to send a single query to multiple databases simultaneously, then retrieve, combine, and organise the results. This is more myth than reality. The majority of metasearches can query multiple database, but only one at a time. SavvySearch is the amazing exception to the rule. It can perform parallel searches on upto five databases at once. Results are retrieved and combined on one page, with duplicates eliminated. That alone would make it one of the better meta searches. There is more! SavvySearch uses your search terms, its own data about past searches, and other factors to create a search plan. SavvySearch allows the searcher to customize a selection of engines to search and in what order-and then save the customized selection for future use. SavvySearch Limited’s technology also enables users to 1) dramatically speed up browsing of the World Wide Web, 2) quickly target and retrieve relevant information from the internet, and 3) communicate seamlessly with a virtually unlimited number of databases worldwide. Compared to the current leading search engines and directories, SavvySearch.

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance are the two important inevitable corporate practices all over the world today. Once voluntary acts, these practices have now been made mandatory in the wake of various corporate scandals that shook the corporate world in the past decade. 1. 1 Aims and Objectives With the above background, it is proposed enquire into the corporate practices in the realms of Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance that are prevalent in the U. K. and to ascertain how effective the practices are in achieving the objectives behind the said concepts and finally conclude whether U. K has established standards of these practices or still lagging behind. This paper shall be a proposal to determine feasibility of such an exercise. 1. 2 Problem Statement As the term suggests Corporate Social Responsibility is an obligation of the corporate entity in addition to the duties owed to its shareholders. Maximising profit for the shareholders is not the only goal of a company. It owes responsibility to all the stake holders in the company. The group of stake holders are share holders, employees, suppliers, customers, Government agencies, and Environment. It implies that while maximising the value of the firm for the sake of shareholders, interests of these stake holders should not be sacrificed in the process. Hence ensuring the social responsibility of a corporate entity is part of Corporate Governance. Corporate Governance is a wider term encompassing the corporate social responsibility also. Hence the managers of the companies must establish sound standards of corporate governance based on the combined code of corporate financial reporting. A corporate entity must comply with code or explain why it has not, in its annual reports as per the guideline set out by Cadbury report. Prior to the Cadbury report, there was no requirement as such on the part of the U. K. Corporates. It was only after the surfacing of corporate scandals in U. K, that the Cadbury report was required to be made by the Government. This proposal therefore gains significance to make a study on the practices of UK companies complying with their social responsibility and other aspects of corporate governance. That there is a Minister in the U. K. for corporate social responsibility would show the importance attached to it by the Government. The two aspects of CSR and Corporate Governance are part of business ethics. Chapter2 Literature Review Literature review is an exercise to justify this research proposal. This involves examining the literature available on the subject of this proposal which will form part of secondary data for the study. 2. 1 Corporate Governance It is a system by which the corporate entities are directed and controlled. Thus accountability is required on the part of the board to make sure that te corporates are managed in the best interests of their shareholders. (Higgs 2003) There must be an effective board which while providing for entrepreneurial leadership should also at the same time control the incumbents of the board. To achieve this, the board must consist of a balanced structure of directorship with executive, non-executive, independent non-executive in right proportion to ensure against concentration of power and at the same time ensure balanced decision making. Where there are conflicts of interests likely, the board should appoint sub-committees for nomination and remuneration of directors and auditors to make proposal to the board for approval. The board is expected to deal with shareholders effectively ensuring transparency and accountability. The combined code issued by the Financial Reporting Council and revised from time to time prescribes general principles and procedures of Corporate Governance for listed companies. (CSR) However Corporate governance is not a new concept. Adam Smith’s(1776) ‘An Enquiry into the Nature and Causes of Wealth of Nations’ gave rise to Berle and Means’(1932) agency theory which enunciated separation of corporate ownership from control. Corporate Governance is precisely that. Bruce (2006) states that it is a myth that concentration of power improves firm value. Rather dispersed ownership enhances firm performance. This warrants corporate governance. 2. 2 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Rather than shareholder interests, CSR principle requires companies to have a wide range of stakeholder interests. In pursuit of its business activities, a company should keep in mind the interests of the stake holders as well so that maximisation of firm value in the long run is consolidated. In the process, key relationships with consumers, employees, and other stakeholders are improved. Interaction with consumers results in better understanding of their needs and improvement in the quality of the products besides becoming more competitive in the market. Efficiency increases through cost minimisation. Corporates such as BT and Cooperative Bank are in the practice of giving feed back on their competitiveness as a result of their CSR initiatives. Similarly showing the company’s concern towards its employees in whatever ways possible including facilitating their work-life balance and giving of additional benefits to physically challenged employees would result in increased productivity and over all improvement in the company’s image. Company’s environmental concern also is demonstrated through its practice of energy saving , participation in greening projects, compliance with pollution control requirements, minimising carbon consumption and taking part in carbon credit programs. Desisting from giving bribes to Government officials is also considered a part of CSR. 2. 3 Corporate Governance Practices in UK The Corporate governance gained more significance in the U. K. ever since the collapse of BCCI bank and the Robert Maxwell pension funds during 1991. In order to put its own house in order, Government set up a committee under the chairmanship Sir Adrian Cadbury which gave a report known as Cadbury Report with ‘comply or explain’ directives. It was later followed by Greenburg Report in 1995 concerning remuneration to directors. And both the reports together were integrated to make a combined code in the year 1998. And this has been twice updated once in 2003 after Enron and World com scandals of the U. S. and again in 2006. The Financial Reporting Council enlists the following as key aspects of corporate governance in the U. K. There is a single board of directors with collective responsibility to the company’s success. A balancing act is achieved by a separate chief executive and chairman. A right proportion of executive and non-executive directors to ensure balanced decision making in the affairs of the company. Presence of independent audit and remuneration committee. Evaluation annually by the board of its own performance. Maintaining transparency in the matters of appointments and fixation of remuneration. ‘Comply or explain’ are the basic guidelines when making annual reports for compliance or failure to comply any of the codes recommended by the financial reporting council as regards corporate governance. As a result, the U. K. is the leading country with best standards of corporate governance as per the report by FISE ISS in 2005. National Association of pension funds as also certified in the same year that 94% of the U. K. pension funds complied with corporate governance measures in more efficient manner. Compliance cost for companies is also reported to be lower than in other countries. This positive corporate governance makes investors to prefer the U. K. for listing their companies in preference to the U. S stock exchange as per the Oxera report of 2006 (FRC 2006) As a part of its corporate social responsibility, the company Procter & Gamble has introduced a product ‘turn to 30’ as a substitute to its own ‘Ariel’ in order to reduce carbon consumption while people washed clothes. This is as part of their commitment towards removing carbon foot print in their product. The company was awarded with Ethical Marketing Prize by the U. K. marketing society. The company found that rather than the presence of carbon foot print in their product, the carbon emission took place when people washed clothes in hot water. So the company developed ‘turn to 30’ which could be used for washing in cold water without giving rise to emission of carbon while washing. As a result the percentage of population using cold water for washing rose from 2 percent to 17 percent. This could amount to a great deal in terms of carbon emissions that were saved. (Baker 2008) Chapter 3 Methodology The methodology for the research chosen will be qualitative. The literature review will be the major contributor for arriving at conclusions though about 25 companies will also be randomly selected for the sake of primary data to gain first hand knowledge of the subject of research. And to corroborate the findings in the secondary data gathered through literature review. Chapter 4 Conclusion The Brief literature review above proves to be of immense value as an indicator of practices in the U. K. as regards Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance. Commitment of the companies and the Government in the U. K. towards the CSR and Corporate Government encourages further detailed research in the discipline so as to understand the implications fully and suggest measures to increase the present compliance rate in the U. K. by identifying bottle necks still faced by the corporates in that connection. With this in view, the researcher hopes to make a substantial contribution to the field through this proposed research. References Baker, Mallen. 2008 How to make friend and influence customers: Buisness Respect issue 129 June 10 Berle, A. A, & Means, G. C. (1932) The Modern Corporation and Private Property, Larcourt, Brace & World Inc. , New York, N. Y. Bruce N Douglas. , 2006 Corporate Governance, Capacity Utilisation and Growth CSR Corporate Social Responsibility: A government update. Accessed 17 June 2008 FRC 2006 Financial Reporting Council: The UK Approach to Corporate Governance Higgs, Derek. 2003 Review of the role and effectiveness of non-executive directors. Accessed 17 June 2008

The Movie Django

Gary L. Willis AFRS 55T (T&[email  protected]:30) Dr. T. Hasan Johnson 02. 23. 13 Extra Credit The Movie â€Å"Django Unchained† The objective of this paper is to review some of the results of the discussion-panel’s analysis of certain aspects of this movie that relate to the Hip-Hop culture. On Thursday, February 21, 2013, I attended a panel discussion hosted by the Africana Studies Department of Fresno State University. It was conducted at the African American Museum, Fresno California. Its purpose was to evaluate this movie’s effect on us (basically Black-Americans), by analyzing elements of this movie.This movie presents Black masculinity and femininity during the 1860s slavery era of America using characters that portray slaves as childish and stupid (the Betina or D'Artagnan), violent (the Mandingo or Django), hypersexual (Sheba) and cowardly (all the black male slaves). These slavery created representations of Black masculinity (the Buck) and femininity (the Jezebel/Mulattoe) are relevant to Hip-Hop because they are the predominate characters being proffered as entertainment in the overwhelming majority of Hip-Hop videos.The stereotypical persona of â€Å"The Buck† in the videos is the Gangsta/Thug and â€Å"The Jezebel/Mulattoe† is the Bitch/Ho— both are slavery created stereotypes. The Jezebel/Mulatto (Bitch/Ho) The Buck (Gangsta/Thug) Another aspect of this movie relevant to Hip-hop culture is the word â€Å"nigger†, used incessantly in the movie, just as, its morphed version, â€Å"Nigga† is used incessantly by Hip-Hoppers, in conversation and in their videos.Since language is one of the seven essential element of all cultures, the usage of the word â€Å"nigger† was discussed by the panel and audience and as a result of this discussion, we agreed that—without the use of the word â€Å"nigger†, â€Å"Django Unchained† would not be authentic; because, in this movie, â€Å"nigger† is a descriptive term, used to describe property, e. g. a slave or slaves—with no malice intended. Here are two examples, horse or horses and house or houses—ergo, nigger or niggers.The only character that uses â€Å"nigger† other than as a description of property is Stephen (the â€Å"Uncle Tom† played by Samuel L. Jackson). He used the word â€Å"nigger† to degrade his fellow black slaves. As with the movies use of â€Å"nigger†, the same can be said about Hip-Hop videos, they would lose its authenticity without the use of the word â€Å"Nigga† because â€Å"Nigga† in Hip-hop is a descriptive turn, but unlike â€Å"nigger† it versatility. For example, it can be used describe a relationship and its meaning changes depending on who is saying it and to whom.For example, in the movie when a Slave-master says â€Å"My nigger†, it does not have the same meaning as a Gangsta/thug or Jezebel/Mulatto e in a Hip-Hop video saying, â€Å"My Nigga†. The Slave-masters are describing their property, while the Hip-Hoppers are describing their relationships. During the audience participation portion of this discussion, a young black- man in the audience (Christopher Jackson) described how much the movie upset him.He also shared with us, the extent to which it made him realize how horrible slavery was; and how much suffering his ancestors had to endure; so that he can enjoy the civil rights he has today. He said, â€Å"Now I truly appreciate my ancestors and men like Martin and Malcolm, who made the ultimate sacrifice so that I can enjoy the freedom I have today. † Personal Reflections If the motives for making â€Å"Django Unchained† are to make us aware of how much our ancestors suffered under the yoke of slavery and to make us cherish our freedom; then, Christopher Jackson’s words are a testament to this movie’s success in both endeavors!In conclusio n—I, along with many participants in this discussion, enjoyed â€Å"Django Unchained† and hope that there will be more movies made that expose the horrors of slavery, and that, also promote positive images of black men and women. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. This paper was submitted as extra credit for AFRS 27, 55T and 144 [ 2 ]. Heretofore, us, we, and our refers to Black-Americans [ 3 ]. Donald Bogle, Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies & Bucks

Free Essays on Sociology Family

Many people have been socialized to believe that the definition of a family looks a lot like an old fashioned telivision sitcom, consisting of a nuclear family, which is "a family group comprising only the wife, the husband, and their children However, a family is a relativist concept, meaning it varies from place to place and through time. One detail of families that is definite is that they are extremely varied. Conventional kin is the definition of a family that the government and society uses [for social benefits, etc] people related by blood or law. Discretionary kin are people related by blood or law at some point, but whom the individual may or may not recognize as family. Fictive kin are people or pets that have no blood or legal relation, but whom the individual recognizes as family. Political, economic, legal, religious and emotional interests are all factors that help shape this definition. In contemporary society, families are labeled as nuclear, single-parent, blended, adoptive, foster, extended, non-traditional and gay/lesbian. In many cultures a family can include multiple spouses. A family of procreation is created through marriage [and] a family of orientation is the one in which a child grows upA functionalist perspective would define family based on the functions it performs such as; to raise children responsibly, provide economic support, provide emotional security and to control sexual activity. I have come to the conclusion that a family is a unit to whom an individual feels ties of obligation. This may include blood relatives, husbands, wives, adopted children, friends, mentors, teammates, pets, etc. On the other hand, I believe that marriage in our culture, is defined by solely legal aspects, the authorized binding of two persons. It may seem unreasonable to distinguish marriage as exclusively a legal matter, however as I expressed ... Free Essays on Sociology Family Free Essays on Sociology Family Many people have been socialized to believe that the definition of a family looks a lot like an old fashioned telivision sitcom, consisting of a nuclear family, which is "a family group comprising only the wife, the husband, and their children However, a family is a relativist concept, meaning it varies from place to place and through time. One detail of families that is definite is that they are extremely varied. Conventional kin is the definition of a family that the government and society uses [for social benefits, etc] people related by blood or law. Discretionary kin are people related by blood or law at some point, but whom the individual may or may not recognize as family. Fictive kin are people or pets that have no blood or legal relation, but whom the individual recognizes as family. Political, economic, legal, religious and emotional interests are all factors that help shape this definition. In contemporary society, families are labeled as nuclear, single-parent, blended, adoptive, foster, extended, non-traditional and gay/lesbian. In many cultures a family can include multiple spouses. A family of procreation is created through marriage [and] a family of orientation is the one in which a child grows upA functionalist perspective would define family based on the functions it performs such as; to raise children responsibly, provide economic support, provide emotional security and to control sexual activity. I have come to the conclusion that a family is a unit to whom an individual feels ties of obligation. This may include blood relatives, husbands, wives, adopted children, friends, mentors, teammates, pets, etc. On the other hand, I believe that marriage in our culture, is defined by solely legal aspects, the authorized binding of two persons. It may seem unreasonable to distinguish marriage as exclusively a legal matter, however as I expressed ...

Life and Work of Jenny Holzer, Artist of Text-Based Truisms

Life and Work of Jenny Holzer, Artist of Text-Based Truisms Jenny Holzer is an American artist and political activist. Best known for her series of Truisms, text-based art exhibited in public spaces in the form of plainly worded statements written in bold, her work ranges in content from the neutral to the political. As both an exhibitor in public and private spaces, Holzer is keenly aware of the effects of her work on both the intentional and the casual passerby. She is inspired by reading, world events, and the contexts of her own life, though she seeks to be â€Å"out of view and out of earshot† in order to lend her work a voice of truth and trustworthiness. Fast Facts: Jenny Holzer Occupation: ArtistBorn:  July 29, 1950 in Gallipolis, OhioEducation: Duke University (no degree), University of Chicago (no degree), Ohio University (BFA), Rhode Island School of Design (MFA)Selected Works: Truisms (1977–79), Inflammatory Essays (1979–1982)Key Accomplishments: Golden Lion for Best Pavilion at the Venice Biennale (1990); member of the American Academy of Arts and LettersSpouse:  Mike Glier (m. 1983) Early Life and Education Jenny Holzer was born in Gallipolis, Ohio, where she grew up the oldest of three children. Her mother was an active participant in the community and her father was a car salesman. Holzer’s upbringing was rooted in Midwestern traditionalism, an attitude from which she believes the frankness in her art derives. â€Å"They want to get things done so they do it in the most expeditious way,† she has said of her fellow Midwesterners. â€Å"Expeditious as in fast and right.† It is perhaps for this reason that  her work is so often reproduced, as its split second appeal is derived from its keen ability to distill truths about our culture into digestible phrases. As a teenager, Holzer moved to Florida to attend Pine Crest Preparatory in Boca Raton before enrolling at Duke University for college. Holzer’s next few years were itinerant, seeing her leave Duke to enroll at the University of Chicago and then at Ohio University in Athens, where she received her BFA in Painting and Printmaking. Holzer would go on to receive her MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence. She married fellow RISD student Mike Glier in 1983 and had her daughter Lili in 1988. Early Artwork Holzer did not arrive at using text as the base of her artistic career without a few detours along the way. She began her life as an artist as an abstract painter, inspired by many of the great painters of Abstract Expressionism. By her own admission, she was only a decent third generation American abstract painter, as she felt that there was a more relevant way to communicate the fast-paced media culture that was on the rise in the late 70s and early 80s. Motivated by the conviction that her work ought to include discernible content (rather than the formal content of abstraction), but feeling the genre of social realism to be increasingly of the past, Holzer began placing words in her work, often in the form of found objects such as scraps of newspaper and other clippings. It was at this point that she began placing her work in public spaces to test their effect on passers-by. The realization that art could engage people who did not intend to see it, moving them to think or even provoking them to argue, motivated her to pursue text-based work. Truisms and Inflammatory Essays In her last year as an MFA student at RISD, Holzer rethought the inclusion of words in her work by using her own. She wrote a selection of one liners which were meant to distill truths encountered almost daily in Western civilization, which she then assembled into a series of posters. Though the phrasing of these posters was original, she sought to tap into universal sentiments that would seem familiar as ideas. â€Å"I want them to be accessible,† she said, â€Å"but not so easy that you throw them away after a second or two. Among these statements are phrases like â€Å"ABUSE OF POWER COMES AS NO SURPRISE,† â€Å"PROTECT ME FROM WHAT I WANT,† and â€Å"MONEY MAKES TASTE.† The Truisms, as they are known, have been posted in various locations throughout the world and have been translated into several languages. From Holzers Survivor Series.   Getty Images Thinking the Truisms too bland, Holzer began a series of political works also printed on posters in capital letters, which she called the Inflammatory Essays. With the allotment of a paragraph per poster, Holzer was able to dive into more complex ideas and explore more controversial topics. Art, Technology, and Public Space Holzer’s work has always been intertwined with technology, and in 1992 she began using LED signs for a project commissioned by the Public Art Fund for Times Square. Enthralled by their ability to display text in motion, she continued using the signs as they lent her words a neutral authority that the posters could not, as posters carried with them the connotation of anarchist protests. Since 1996, Holzer has worked with light based projections as installations, using the facades of monumental buildings as the canvas onto which she projects scrolling text. Holzer’s use of the institution as the base upon which her work rests has been the inspiration for numerous political protests since Holzer developed the method. Though Holzer’s work is largely concerned with text, its visual expression is a key element of her work. From the deliberate eye catching colors of the Inflammatory Essays laid out in grids to the speed and font of her scrolling texts, Holzer is a visual artist who has found her voice in words, an artistic medium she found best expressed her views on the culture of media in which she came of age. The material of these signs- whether they be LED lights of the carved stone of her Sarcophagi series- is equally as important as their verbal content. Jenny Holzers light projections on the faà §ade of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.   Getty Images Holzer’s work centers around text and its placement in public spaces. Using billboards, jumbotrons, lighted signs, and walls, Holzer uses city streets and areas of public interaction as her canvas. She is interested in the ability of public art to provoke a reaction and perhaps start a conversation. Not all Holzer’s work is staged outdoors, and when she does exhibit in gallery spaces, she is equally deliberate with their curation as she is when planning work publicly. As she is conscious of the museum goers slowed pace, she takes the opportunity to construct more complex interactions among her works, often juxtaposing different mediums. Reception and Legacy Holzer’s work has been presented in countless exhibitions and retrospectives across the world. She has won numerous prizes, including the Golden Lion for Best Pavilion at the 1990 Venice Biennale (where she represented the United States), and has been honored by the French Government with a diploma of Chevalier from the Order of Arts and Letters. In 2018, she was selected as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, one of 250 living members. Sources Art 21 (2009). Jenny Holzer: Writing Difficulty. [video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?vCxrxnPLmqEsKort, C. and Sonneborn, L. (2002).  A to Z of American Women in the Visual Arts. New York: Facts on File, Inc. 98-100.Waldman, D. Jenny Holzer. (1989). New York: The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in association with Henry N. Abrams.Tate (2018). Jenny Holzers Inflammatory Essays: Why I Love. [video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?vONIUXi84YCc

Disc Week Six Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Disc Week Six - Essay Example A typical inductive reasoning relation to what Hacker describes would be the probability that it will be sunny at 12 noon. If for the case that the past three days it has been sunny at noon, then through generalization or inductive reasoning, then the fourth day would also be sunny. That is based on facts or a certain pattern that has occurred sequentially over a period of time. So upon collected facts that for three days it has been sunny, we can be assured to make a concrete assumption that the same will occur on the fourth day. Thus this is defined as inductive reasoning. Another assumption would be generalizing that an employee from company MMM who resides far from the work place will always come to work 30 minutes late. The assumption is that, if the employee has reported to work late on several instances that means through the generalization theorem, it’s probable that they are likely to do a repeat of same. The main motion behind inductive reasoning is that the assumption is based on a set of facts that have been previously encountered and the end product is a general

Clinical laboratory science Scholarship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Clinical laboratory science - Scholarship Essay Example King’s’ mission of preparing graduates intellectually, morally and spiritually for a satisfying future life particularly interests me. My interest in the field of Clinical Laboratory Science started way back in my childhood and is significantly inspired by the family background with parents in the medical field. As a small child I began admiring the work done by my parents of assisting patients and ensuring they lead a quality life. This made me to work hard in school so to attain grades that would enable get a college opportunity to further my studies in the area. The nationwide deficiency of professionals in the area of Clinical Laboratory Science has also contributed significantly as I feel by graduating in the field I will be able to positively impact by helping in the process of saving lives which will give me great satisfaction. I therefore want to be part of the solution and not the problem thus believes as a professional CLS will be better placed to serve and positively influence humanity. I strongly believe in the power of knowledge in transforming society and hence participate actively in extracurricular activities such as club clubs, academic forums and games in which I believe lies opportunity for information exchange. I also participate with the intention of growing holistically and maintaining personal health both physically, mentally and psychologically which I believe is very important to my life especially as a student. I will therefore utilize all available facilities on the campus to enrich my graduate experience and emerge as a responsible person in the

How to raise self-esteem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

How to raise self-esteem - Essay Example Theories have viewed self esteem as a basic human need or motivation (Maslow, 1987). This paper will discuss how people may raise their self esteem, with an emphasis on single, homeless mothers. Experiences in people’s lives are key factors of self esteem development. The negative or positive life experiences people have create attitudes toward the self which may be favorable, developing positive self worth feelings. They may also be unfavorable, developing negative self worth feelings. Single mothers go through emotional experiences like feelings of isolation and loneliness (Jordan, Spencer, & Zanna, 2003). The frustrations accompanied by being a single mother may lead to harmful levels of anxiety and stress, which can also affect the children. Dwelling on events that led to single motherhood and blaming oneself makes the process of gaining self esteem and moving on difficult. To assist single mothers improve their self esteem, and, therefore, reduce stress in their lives, they need encouragement to change how they view themselves. Practicing tolerance on themselves is a key point, which starts by accepting their strengths and weaknesses as part and parcel of them ( Jordan, Spencer, & Zanna, 2003). They should then employ the use of power of positive thinking while focusing on successful parts of their lives, which could be a devoted family or the influence they have once had in their community. Another step towards building high self esteem is learning to accept positive and constructive criticism (Branden, 2001). Criticism need not be seen as diminishing, rather as an eye opener to what individuals can improve in themselves. Single mothers should take the initiative to invite and accept criticism and use it to change and improve their overall image (Jordan, Spencer, & Zanna, 2003). Those with low esteem must learn to set challenges and goals for themselves and be optimistic about achieving them. Failure

Define empowerment, capacity building and participation

Define empowerment, capacity building and participation in the context of your research. Describe the dependent and independent variables in your research and justify the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The understanding of the concept of empowerment varies among disciplines. It is a cross-disciplinary term, mainly used in fields of Education, Psychology, Community Development, Economics, among others. Based on this many meanings of the term, it has been seen as a construct easy to define by its absence but difficult to define in action, based on the fact that it takes different forms in different people and contexts (Rappoport, cited in Page Czuba, 1999). Therefore, how we define empowerment within our projects and programs will depend upon the specific people and context involved. In the context of community development, a general definition of empowerment was proffered by Page Czuba (1999) as follows: Empowerment is a multi-dimensional social process that helps people gain control over their own lives. It is a process that fosters power (that is, the capacity to implement) in people, for use in their own lives, their communities, and in their society, by acting on issues that they define as important. From the above definition, three basic components are necessary to any understanding of empowerment, namely multi-dimensional, social, and a process. By multi-dimensional, empowerment is frequently connected to the four development dimensions of equity, capacity building, participation and self-reliance. According to Adams (2002) these four dimensions are regarded as the common denominators in most definitions of empowerment and debates regarding the role of empowerment in the development process. It also occurs at various levels, such as individual, group, and community. And it is a social process because it occurs in relationship to others. Embedded in this definition of empowerment is that the individual and community are fundamentally connected. The importance of individual empowerment is such that it is a prerequisite for community and social change and empowerment (Speer Hughey, 1995), and a bridge to community connectedness and social change (Wilson, 1996). With specific reference to the current study which looks at Youth development as a strategy for Poverty reduction, empowerment in this case entails the acquisition of power and the ability to give it effect (Swanepoel, 1997). Theron (2005) buttresses this view by looking at empowerment in terms of dual perspectives, namely empowerment as a process of skills and abilities development; and secondly, empowerment as a process that equips people to decide on and take action regarding the issues of concern to them. In the same vein, Burkly (1993) states that empowerment is a process that releases power to the people which they can use to access resources in order to achieve desirable goals. Although empowerment as a concept can be examined in the context of both individual and collective aspects, the concept as used here is operative at the individual level, rather than collective or organizational. While individual empowerment relates to the way people think about themselves, as well as the knowledge, capacities, skills, and mastery they actually possess (Staples, 1990, p. 32), collective empowerment refers to processes by which individuals join together to break their solitude and silence, help one another, learn together, and develop skills for collective action (Boehm Staples, 2004). For the purpose of this study, empowerment is defined as a process whereby individuals develop the skills and capacity for gaining some reasonable control over their lives. From the foregoing, empowerment in the context of this study does not only imply capacity building, by which is meant the building up of peoples knowledge, skills, and ability to enable them take actions correctly, it (empowerment) is also an effect of this process of capacity building where the individual participants of the capacity building process overcome their poverty situation and attain self-determination. Self-determination is consistent with notions of personal control (Greenberg Strasser, 1991); and it refers to an individuals sense of control over his or her own work (Wagner, 1995). As a major component of individual empowerment, self-determination is most frequently reported in the literature (Sprague Hayes, 2000). Fetterman (1996, p.92) believes that self-determination, defined as the ability to chart ones own course in life, forms the theoretical foundations of the components of individual empowerment. Against this background, the individual participants, who have become self employed and are economically empowered, having acquired skills via capacity building, are enabled to be in control of their lives. Therefore, empowerment here is an outcome of the process of capacity building. Individual empowerment is a development that involves many changes whereby an individual is able to strengthen and exercise the ability to act to gain control over his or her life. Hence, the goal of individual empowerment is to achieve a state of emancipation strong enough to impact ones power in life. Capacity Building As with the concepts of globalization, development, and sustainability, the term capacity building is an ambiguous concept that means different things to different people, groups and organizations. Although many people use these terms, their definitions do not conform to the same, as each puts emphasis on a certain aspect of capacity development (James, 2001). However, definitions of capacity building emphasize that capacity building is a tool to build and improve the skills, resources and ability of people to implement, monitor and assess a project. The United Nations (UNDP, 1997) sees capacity building as a process by which individuals, groups and organizations, institutions and societies increase their abilities to perform core functions, solve problems and define and achieve objectives; to understand and deal with their development needs in a broad context and in a sustainable manner. Eade (1997) sees capacity building as an approach to development which encompasses all the fields that influence the development sphere. In this approach to development, capacity building identifies the weaknesses that people experience in achieving their basic rights, and finding proper means through which to increase their ability to overcome the causes of their exclusion and suffering. In the context of this study, capacity building comprises the skills acquisition that the youth undergo in the process of their empowerment. Capacity building here is an intervening variable, which by its nature surfaces between the time the independent variable (participation) starts operating to influence the dependent variable (empowerment). It helps to explain the relationship between the IV DV. Thus, by participating in the development programmes, youth are equipped with the capacity, skills, knowledge that will enable them become economically empowered, employable and self-employed, thereby reducing unemployment and poverty among them. Capacity building as used in the study is not concerned about implementing a project or enhancing a particular aspect of life; it is a comprehensive empowerment process which builds the capability of people with relevant skills needed to find meaning in their lives. Consequently, the concept of capacity building as used in the study is a process where people are developed in order to manage themselves. To this end, empowerment of the participants becomes the ultimate output of capacity building process. On this understanding of capacity building as a process, Eade and Williams (1995) elaborate the concept as: Men and women becoming empowered to bring about positive changes in their lives; about personal growth together with public action; about both the process and the outcome of challenging poverty, oppression and discrimination; and about the realization of human potential through social and economic justice. Above all, it is about the process of transforming lives, and transforming societies. In this process of capacity building, people acquire the skills, which in turn create an avenue for them as individuals and as members of the community to achieve their development objectives and improve the quality of their lives. Hence, capacity building is a response to community development needs. Participation Participation is one of the essential aspects of community development associated with empowerment. It is a people-oriented approach to development, where people play an important role by feeling a high degree of ownership; and are subjects rather than objects in the process of their development. According to De Beer and Swanepoel (1998), participation leads to empowerment and empowerment results in vulnerable people or oppressed groups achieving sufficient power or authority to be able to influence decisions that affect their lives and livelihoods, so that they can attain ownership of their lives. Participation in this study is the input variable or independent variable, where, through involvement in youth development programmes like auto mechanics, electrical work, and welding, the participants acquire the capacity (skills, knowledge and training) that enable them to become self-employed and employable. By participating in the programmes, youth have enhanced their capacity to alleviate poverty. They have also built partnership with others by widening their employment opportunities. As marginalized members of the society, being involved in their development programmes enabled them to voice their concerns, hopes, and grievances. Adams (2008) asserts that participants are able to contribute to their development by giving feedback on programmes that are aimed at them. With empowerment in mind, the youth are able to collaborate with the project providers, thereby paving way for a more active role, having greater choice, exercising more power, and contributing in decision-making and management (Adams, 2008, p.17). Their participation has also broadened their support network, resulting in opening up new opportunities through programme development and social action. By participating in their development process, youth not only gain skills and knowledge, but also gain self-confidence, pride, initiative, responsibility and cooperation which without such development components in people all efforts to alleviate poverty will be difficult. An important attribute of participation is community empowerment, which requires a people-centered approach that culminates in self-reliance. Chambers and Freire (1996, p. 77) envisage that participation and empowerment can enable the poor to express and analyze both their individual and shared multiple realities. According to the World Health Organization (2002), community members should participate in their development because they have a right to have a say about decisions that affect their lives; and will also lead to better decisions being made, which are more appropriate and more sustainable because they are owned by the people themselves. Dependent and Independent variables of the study The conceptual framework below illustrates the variables of the study Youth empowerment as a strategy for poverty reduction in Niger Delta, Nigeria. In a nutshell, participation is the independent variable, where youth, through their involvements in skills acquisition programmes in auto mechanics, electrical work and welding develop/acquire the capacity in skills, training, knowledge and competence that led to their empowerment (DV); hence, becoming economically empowered, self-empowered and having a reduction in poverty. Empowerment Economic Empowerment Self-employment Individual Empowerment Unemployment reduction Poverty reduction Participation Involvement in youth development programmes Capacity Building Skills Knowledge Awareness Competence * Sense of community Input Auto mechanics Electrical work Welding a. Independent variable: Participation Based on the definitions and framework given above, the concept of participation will be the independent variable (IV) of the study, which will be manipulated in order to determine its influence or effect on the dependent variable (DV). As an input variable which influences the dependent variable, participation of the youth in development programmes will constitute the IV of the study, to see their relationship with the dependent variable. In other words, the youth participation in such programmes as auto mechanics, electrical work and welding will be operated to see how they lead to empowerment, which is the DV. Participation as employed in the study therefore is the social element whose characteristics or variations shape and determine the dependent variable. In other words, it is through the participants involvement in the development programmes that they are eventually empowered. Thus, participation causes the outcome of involvement in development programme which is empowerment (the DV). Economic empowerment b. Dependent variable: Empowerment Self-employment Unemployment reduction The dependent variable (DV) is a variable of primary interest to the researcher, whose task is to understand and describe it (the DV). And it is through the analysis of the dependent variable that the researcher is likely to find answers or solutions to the issues under study which is done by measuring the dependent variable as well as the other variables that influence this variable. In this study, empowerment is the dependent variable (DV) because it is a response to the action of participation (the IV). The DV depends and responds to the action of the IV. Empowerment in this study is the variable that reflects the influence of the independent variable. As illustrated in the framework above, economic empowerment, self-reliance (self-employed), unemployment reduction and poverty reduction are the effects or outcome of participation of youth in development programmes. These outcomes are necessitated by the skills, knowledge, training and competence which the participants have acquired in the process of their capacity building via the development programmes. Capacity building therefore becomes the intervening variable that brings about the effect of the independent variable (participation) on the dependent variable (empowerment). Justification of the relationship of variables The independent and dependent variables are related based on the dependency relationship, where one variable, the dependent variable depends on the independent variable. It is a cause and effect relationship where the DV is an effect of the IV. In this study, empowerment resulted as an effect of participation. Participation (the IV) causes the change (effect) that resulted in the empowerment of the youth. To elaborate further, the relationship of participation (IV) and empowerment (DV) is such that the variation of the IV influences the DV. The dependent variable changes when the independent variable changes the dependent variable depends on the outcome of the independent variable. Further, capacity building relates to both the IV and the DV as an intervening variable by linking the independent and dependent variables. In this study, capacity building resulted as a function or operation of the IV (Participation) and helps to explain the influence of the IV on the DV. Capacity building here explains the relationship that exists between the action of the IV and the DV. As the diagram shows, the participants involvement in the skills development programmes equipped them with the enabling capacity (capacity building skills, knowledge, and training) that led or transformed them into empowered members of the community. 2. Based on the main concepts of your research, provide a theoretical framework that can best explain the research that you will be undertaking. What are the theory/ies that can be used to support your research? Discuss the rationale for choosing the theory/ies and the strengths and weaknesses of the theory/ies. With regard to the main concepts of the research, Keiffers theory of empowerment as a process was considered relevant and suitable for handling the study. The theory illustrates the elements and stages of empowerment as well as the phases that the individuals undergo in the process of acquiring skills, which translate into full realization of empowerment. The theory was considered appropriate for the study as it has been extensively used in several related study. Keiffers theory of empowerment as a process The theory applies to individuals in the process of empowerment; where the (empowerment) process passes through several phases in the participants. It shows the patterns and processes of the participants transition from a state powerlessness to empowerment. The theory is suitable to this research, which focuses on empowering the youth of the Niger Delta, who are ravaged by poverty and unemployment, coupled with what Keiffer (1984) referred to as a feeling of alienation from resources for social influence, an experience of disenfranchisement and economic vulnerability, and a sense of hopelessness in socio-political struggle. Understanding empowerment in the light of Keiffers theory starts by examining the concepts of power and powerlessness (Moscovitch Drover, 1981). Power is conceived as a multi-dimensional social process that helps people gain control over their lives (Page Czuba, 1999, p. 25). The Cornell Empowerment Group (1989, p.2) define power as the capacity of some persons and organizations to produce intended, foreseen and unforeseen effects on others. Underscoring the need to produce these expectations or effects on others, some sources of power were identified as a panacea. Moscovitch and Drover (1981), for instance believe that the class-dominated nature of our society indicates that a small proportion of the people have enormous economic and political power as opposed to the greater number of the people that have little or none. Therefore, power is required to influence the outcome of life events. On the other hand, powerlessness is seen as an objective phenomenon, where people with little or no political and economic power lack the means to gain greater control and resources in their lives (Albee, 1981). Keiffer sees powerlessness at the individual level as the expectation of the individual that his or her own actions will be ineffective in influencing the outcome of life events (Keiffer, 1984). Lerner (1986) distinguished between real and surplus powerlessness. While real powerlessness emanates from economic inequities and oppressive control exercised by systems and other people, surplus powerlessness derives from an internalized belief that change cannot occur a belief which results in apathy and an unwillingness of the person to struggle for more control and influence. Keiffers (1984) effort on individual empowerment is one of the prominent studies which examine individual empowerment as a process. He conceives empowerment as a developmental process which consists of four stages: entry, advancement, incorporation, and commitment. These stages are: era of entry (characteristics: powerlessness, sense of integrity, rootedlessness, sense of attachment, and support within a caring community of peers, experience of injustice); era of advancement (centrality of mentoring relationships, more critical understanding of social and political relations); era of incorporation (developed self concept, increased strategic ability, and matured critical comprehension, improved organizing and leadership skills, and constructed survival skills); and era of commitment (application of new abilities to the reality and structure of everyday life worlds, commitment to adapting recent empowerment to continuing proactive community mobilization and leadership) (Keiffer, 1984). From the above, the individual is prompted at the entry level by his or her experience of certain disturbing self or family situation, which Keiffer refers to as an act of provocation. The advancement stage possesses three important characteristics that are necessary to the progress of continuing the empowerment process, namely, a mentoring relationship; supportive peer relationships with a collective organization; and the development of a more critical understanding of social and political relations. While the focal point of the third stage is the development of a growing political consciousness, the era of commitment, which is the fourth stage is such that the acquired participatory competence is applied by participants to ever expanding areas of their lives. Consequently, Keiffer believes that empowerment at the individual level is the experience of gaining increasing control and influence in daily life and community participation (Keiffer, 1984). A major strength of this theory is that the author worked on the premise that the existence of powerlessness or alienation is a given at the very first step of individual empowerment; and this underscores the need for participation in view of acquiring skills. As with the area under study which requires a source of power to alleviate their poverty and unemployment, the author confirms that such a state of powerlessness becomes evident prompting a group of empowerment agents recognizing the alienated and oppressed. In this first stage of empowerment, both the alienated and the empowerment agents have come to true knowledge of the formers powerlessness, coupled with such social pathologies as disadvantages, oppression, alienation, and stratification. The process of participation, thus, was both empowering and advanced in the process of empowerment for the participants. As participants got involved in development programmes, they see it as a process towards the reduction of their povert y. It is in this way that participation advanced the process of individual empowerment (Keiffer, 1984). On capacity building, the theory underscores the fact that the transition towards individual empowerment was an exceptionally ongoing process towards skills acquisition. And that the skills which the participants acquired will function as catalysts for the empowerment process, making them become aware of their own capacities and developing new directions for themselves while in the process of emancipating from the experience of powerlessness. Here participants have to gain the skills and the potential to change their circumstance. As participants gain mastery over their lives and learn and utilize skills, which are the skills (capacity) for gaining some reasonable control over their lives, they become empowered. With the foregoing, individuals become empowered when they develop capabilities to overcome their social obstacles and attain self-determination. Self-determination, defined as the ability to chart ones own course in life (Fetterman, 1996) is repeatedly presented in the literature and considered as a sole and vital component of individual empowerment (Sprague Hayes, 2000). Boehm and Staples (2004) advocated mastery and self-determination as the components of individual empowerment. Mastery is understood as: full control over someone or something, and through in-depth understanding or greater skills, can be a variety of types, such as physical mastery, mastery of emotion and behavior, mastery of information and decision making, mastery of social system, efficient mastery of time, mastery as connected to autonomy and individual freedom, and planning mastery, thus enabling consumers to prevent negative situations and to actualize positive ones (Boehm Staples, 2004). As components of individual empowerment, self-determination is associated with the power that enables individuals to meet the challenges of different life situations; mastery on the hand is concerned with increased levels of the individuals ability to understand reality and the capacity to make decisions that impact the conditions and quality of life. Conversely, one of the limitations of Keiffers theory is the fact that it did not elaborate how the individuals impact their community with their acquired participatory competence. He limited individual empowerment as the experience of gaining increasing control and influence in daily life and community participation. It was earlier noted that sustaining involvement in participation deepens the competence and control of the participants leading to the advancement of the process of personal empowerment (Keiffer, 1984). Although empowerment can exist at the individual level, yet one would have expected that the theory incorporated how the participatory competence can impact the larger community bearing in mind that community development entails improving the community life in its wider sense. Another weakness of the theory emanates from a theme which the theorist identified as underlying the movement through all phases of the empowerment process: the view that conflicts and growth are inextricably intertwined (Keiffer, 1984). The suggested dynamics of praxis advocated by the theorist for resolving these conflicts may, after all, be time-consuming and ineffective in the empowering process. Praxis, for him: refers to the circular relationship of experience and reflection through which actions evoke new understandings, which then provokes new actionsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The building up of skills only progresses through repetitive cycles of action and reflection. In other words, crucial for the building of empowerment is time and practice (Keiffer). There is a likelihood that conflict may degenerate and also prove irresolvable by the praxis within a given period of empowerment process; thereby hampering the skills developing process of participants which should have a time frame. 3. Compare and contrast 2 different research methods (qualitative and quantitative) that might be used in your study. For each approach, discuss: how the research question are formulated/arrived at (what kind of questions are posed) the approach to data collection; the approach to data analysis; how the findings might be triangulated; and how the findings might be presented and discussed. There are two broad approaches in the collection of information for research purposes, namely quantitative and qualitative methods. A basic understanding of both methods will be highlighted to show their differences. First quantitative data: It is an objective, formal, systematic process in which the enquiry is based on numerical data findings. It derives from the scientific method used in the physical sciences (Cormack, 1991). Quantitative method describes, tests, and examines cause and effect relationships (Burns Grove, 1987), using a deductive process of knowledge attainment (Duffy, 1985). In other words, it tests theories deductively from existing knowledge, through developing hypothesized relationships. On the other hand, qualitative research differs from quantitative approach as it develops theory inductively. Qualitative researchers are guided by certain ideas or perspectives regarding the subject to be investigated (Cormack, 1991). It is used as a vehicle for studying the empirical world from the perspective of the subject, not the researcher. Benoliel (1985) buttressed this aspect, describing qualitative research as modes of systematic enquiry concerned with understanding human beings and the nature of their transactions with themselves and with their understandings. The aim of qualitative research is to describe certain aspects of a phenomenon, with a view to explaining the subject of study. Unlike the quantitative method, qualitative research derives from the social sciences such as sociology, anthropology, psychology and philosophy, (Cormack, 1991). For sampling, both research approaches require a sample to be identified which is representative of a larger population of people or objects. Quantitative research employs random selection of the sample from the study population and the random assignment of the sample to the various study groups. Results obtained from random sampling have an advantage, which is an increased likelihood of the findings being generalizable. Its disadvantage stems from the fact that random selection is time-consuming, with the result that many studies use more easily obtained opportunistic sample (Duffy, 1985). This hampers the possibilities of generalization, especially if the sample is too small. Qualitative research uses non-random sampling, which is a selective sample, because of the in-depth nature of studies and the analysis of the data required. Hinton (1987) confirms that the strength of this approach is seen when the sample is well defined, for then it can be generalized to a population at large. A disadvantage of this approach can be suspicion that the researcher could have been influenced by a particular predisposition; hence having a tendency of affecting the generalizability of the study. a. how the research questions are formulated/arrived at (what kind of questions are posed) Based on the statement of the problem, the research questions were formulated with a focus on what the researcher expects to achieve in the study. They show close relationship to the statement of the problem and arise from issues raised in both literature and on the ground, not deviating from the objectives of the study. The questions were arrived at to establish a clear purpose for the research in relation to the chosen field. The issue of manageability was considered in formulating the questions. This relates to the researchers ability to tackle the scope and scale of the project. For instance, the ability to access people and documents from which to collect the data required to answer the questions fully; and whether the data can be accessed within the limited time and resources available to me. b. the approach to data collection This study will adopt both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to collect data, through questionnaire survey and in-depth interview. The study will be primarily quantitative, while the qualitative aspect will complement it in order to increase understanding of the study, and to generate richer and deeper research findings. Both approaches will be concurrently undertaken. The research design therefore relies on a mixed-method approach to investigate the topic under study. The primary method of data collection will be through questionnaires. A Likert scale questionnaire survey will be the major instrument for quantitative data collection; and the questions will be formulated based on the research objectives, as a means of exploring respondents views on the topic under study. Likert scale provides researchers a way of measuring the degree of agreement or disagreement of the respondents to a question. It is also very convenient for the respondents due to the non-ambiguous nature of the format of the questions. The research variable will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale, with a score of 1 representing strongly disagree, and a score of 5 representing strongly agree. A pre-test will be conducted with a convenience sample to ensure the clarity and validity of the questions. Respondents will also be asked to comment on any difficulties encountered in completing the ques