Is Adolescence a time of 'storm and stress' (individual development Essay

Is Adolescence a time of 'storm and stress' (individual development module) psychosocial study degree - Essay Example The adolescent is confronted with many different changes and is able to adapt to these changes in a constructive fashion, and in a way that results in developmental advance. Considering the large variety of tasks and problems encountered, adolescence is characterized by impressively effective coping in the majority of young people, a fact that has been widely neglected. Coping is the effort to manage (i.e., master, reduce, minimize) environmental and internal demands and conflicts which tax or exceed a persons resources and this shows that coping is a hypothetical construct that is sufficiently complex to take into account both person-specific and situation-specific aspects. Stressors and social resources are also two important concepts. The significance of coping behavior is evident in resiliency research showing that it is coping that makes the difference in both the adaptational outcome and in research on symptomatology, illustrating that the most reliable predictor for mental health is not so much a lack of symptoms, but the competence with which age-specific developmental tasks are handled (Compas & Hammen 1993) More than any other developmental period, adolescence has been characterized in the psychological and sociological literatures as fraught with struggles that are both intrapersonal and interpersonal in nature. In the intrapersonal domain, adolescence has been described as a period in which identity formation is a central developmental task. Achieving a sense of personal autonomy and an identity that is separate from the family is of utmost importance. Significant interpersonal tasks during adolescence are thought to include increased involvement with the peer group balanced against continued attachment to the family. Adolescence is a period in which relationships outside of the family multiply, take on new meanings, and deepen in intensity. These new bonds broaden and enrich the

Brain Function Essay Example for Free

Brain Function Essay A Neuron is a specialized nerve cell that receives, processes, and transmits information to other cells in the body. Basically, it is the messenger cell responsible for receiving and transmitting information. Neurons are the information processing components of the brain, each part of the neuron is responsible for receiving and transmitting information. Each neuron please do use role in the communication of the flow of information throughout the body. Neurotransmitters neurotransmitter Chemical substance through which one neuron sends a message to another. A neurotransmitter is a chemical substance that helps communicate information throughout our brain and body by relaying signals between neurons. neurons to occur. Numerous neurotransmitters affect the way a person behaves, learns, emotions, and sleep. Some also affecti mental illnesses. Some examples of neurotransmitters which affect our learning and development are; Acetylcholine affects a persons voluntary movement, learning, memory, and sleep. Dopamine affects a persons movement, attention, and learning. Axon An Axon is a long, slender projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, that typically conducts electrical impulses away from the neurons cell body  transmiting neuroal signals. The axon is the tail-like part of the neuron where sinformation exits the cell. It helps in the transmit information. The function of the axon is to transmit information to different neurons, muscles and glands. Myelin sheath Myelin sheath is an insulating envelope of myelin that surrounds the core of a nerve fiber or axon and that facilitates the transmission of nerve impulses, formed from the cell membrane of the Schwann cell in the peripheral nervous system and from oligodendroglia cells. Myelin sheaths three main functions include are protecting the nerve fiber, insulating the nerve fiber and increasing the rate and efficiency of the transmission of conduction of the nerve impulse. Dendrites Dendrites are a short branched extension of a nerve cell, along which impulses received from other cells at synapses are transmitted to the cell body. Dendrites are treelike extensions at the beginning of a neuron that help increase the surface area of the cell body. These tiny protrusions receive information from other neurons and transmit electrical stimulation to the soma. Dendrites bring information to the cell body and axons take information away from the cell body. Synapses The area where two neuron connect allow transmission of information to occur from one to the other. The messages flow across one neuron to the next through this small gap which separate the pair. . 1. In order for neurons to properly communicate, an electric pulse must occur. It happens as it travels down an axon to the synaptic terminal where the impulses trigger the vesicles to move which contain the neurotransmitter. It is said that most learning is though to involve the change between neurons and synapse. Learning consists of strengething synapses that are already there or by the creation of new ones. Sometimes, eliminating some helps. By learning new things we must realize that our old thoughts aren’t accurate and replace them with new ones in order to change the thoughts and behaviors we once exhibited. (Bruer Greenough, 2001;Lichtman, 2001; Merzenich, 2001). â€Å"Historically, theorists and researchers have believed that the physiological basis formost learning and memory lies in changes in the interconnections among neurons— in particular, in forming new synapses, strengthening existing ones, or eliminating counterproductive ones.†(e.g., Merzenich, 2001; M. I. Posner Rothbart, 2007; Trachtenberg et al., 2002) progress . Cortex cortex Upper part of the brain; site of where complex, conscious thinking processes takes place. It is the large lumpy area that covers the sides of our brains. â€Å"The  area of the brain immediately behind the forehead—the prefrontal cortex—seems to be the primary headquarters for working memory and its central executive, although all of the cortex may be active to a greater or lesser extent in interpreting new input in light of previously acquired knowledge† (Byrnes, 2001; Gonsalves Cohen, 2010; Huey, Krueger, Grafman, 2006; Nee, Berman, Moore, Jonides, 2008). This is the main area that the learning process occurs. Synaptogenesis Universal process that occurs in early brain development in Which cause the formation of numerous synapses. Being able to think more complex and eddicent thoughts, development change in this brain must be the first thing to happen, which is done by synaptegeneis. â€Å"neurons begin to form synapses long before a child is born.  But shortly afterbirth the rate of synapse formation increases dramatically. Neurons sprout new dendrites in many directions, †¦life. Much of this early synaptogenesis appears to be driven primarily bygenetic programming rather than by learning experiences. â€Å" (Bruer, 1999; C. A. Nelson, Thomas, de Haan, 2006). Synaptic pruning Synaptic pruning is the process when old formed synapses wear away due to universal process in the brain development. A developmental process that eliminates â€Å"nuisance† synapses that are inconsistent with typical environmentalevents and appropriate responses. Synaptic pruning, then, may be Mother Nature’s way of making the brain more efficient (Bruer Greenough, 2001; Huttenlocher Dabholkar, 1997; Spear, 2007). Adults and children happen to form new thoughts and synaose based on expierence and new discovery. They replace one thought with the other they learning through these developments. Myelination Myelination is the formation of fatty substance around the axons of the neurons. This is what helps speed up the electrical pulses therefore speeding up the transmission of the messages and information shared between the pair of neurons. As myelin is created over neuron transmissions more quickly, greatly enhancing the brain’s overall efficiency. Myelination continues throughout childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood, especially in the cortex (Lenroot Giedd, 2007; Merzenich, 2001; Paus et al., 1999).

Burlesque :: essays research papers

Mayor LaGuardia’s Campaign during the 1930s against burlesque performances in New York City   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What is obscenity? According to Webster’s New World Dictionary, obscenity is the state or quality of being obscene which means that is offensive to modesty and or decency. During the 1930s and 1940s, New York City was infected with burlesque shows. During these times this shows were considered indecent and immoral by Mayor LaGuardia, his license commissioner Paul Moss, and John Sumner. Women were used as objects of entertainment. In 1934 Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia took office. Fiorello LaGuardia was a decisive and objective man. Mayor LaGuardia saw a very problematic situation for New York City when it came to this kind of performances. The targets of LaGuardia ‘s wrath were burlesque houses, where strippers had alternated turns with stand-up comics and the other acts since at least the turn of the century (Newyorkmetro.com). Clearly, LaGuardia was focused on stopping these displays of female degradation. It is important to mention that were two kind s of entertainments displays during this time. One group was the burlesque shows, which degraded females by displaying them as sexual objects. These shows were targeted towards the low income and illiterated people. The other group was called Ziegfeld Follies, which was aimed for the high elite people. This form of entertainment was a very refine and elaborated, but also did contain degrading displays. Regardless, Fiorello LaGuardia’s campaign unfairly opposed Burlesque performances instead of the Ziegfeld Follies, since it was politically easier to take action against shows that were supported by the lower class.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What actually was Burlesque? It was a popular and inexpensive form of entertainment whose basic ingredients were girls, gags, and music (Minsky’s Burlesque,26). These shows where aimed for mostly low income and illiterate people. One of the most controversial facts that Burlesque performances confronted was when one of their actresses had an accident on stage. She had a detachable collar that as soon the audience saw her pulled off they started applauding for an encore. As Mae (the actresses) came back to bowed they clapped like crazy. For a moment Mae lost her head and decided to came back to the stage and unbuttoned her bodice as she left the stage again (Minsky’s Burlesque,34). The audience couldn’t believe what just happened that night. It is possible that the Mae’s came back fact was one of the first nudity displays at that time.

U01A1 Zara Rapid Fire Fullfilment

U01a1 Zara Rapid-Fire Fulfillment Steven A. Shapiro Capella University European clothing retailer Zara has been highlighted in several publications as a model for its supply chain management. This retail chain exists as a subsidiary of â€Å"Spain’s largest apparel manufacturer and retailer† (Chopra & Meindl, 2012, p. 14). The most telling account of Zara’s success is detailed in an article for Harvard Business Review entitled, ‘Rapid-Fire Fulfillment’. Here, authors Ferdows, Lewis and Machuca (2004) describe three key principles that Zara relies on to maintain its success†¦ * Close the communication loop Stick to a rhythm across the entire chain * Leverage your capital assets to increase supply chain flexibility (Ferdows, et al. , 2004) The first of these principles, ‘Close the communication loop’, outlines the processes by which information is transferred quickly between its valuable customer base and the designers. This open and nimble communication allows Zara to have a better understanding of the pulse of its customers; which in turn, allows the company to stock its stores with clothing the customer wants when they want it.The next principle, ‘Stick to a rhythm across the entire chain’ is outlined by Ferdows, et al. (2007) when they wrote, â€Å"at Zara, rapid timing and synchronicity are paramount† (p. 107). The authors go on to highlight the rigidness by which Zara holds its retail stores to time-bound deadlines for things like product ordering. Missing a deadline is highly frowned upon and can result in a retail store losing that opportunity to obtain additional products.The third principle, ‘Leverage your capital assets to increase supply chain flexibility’ is fairly self-explanatory. The concept is that Zara funds the supply chain not only to run at an efficient manner with their in-house processes, but it outsources the easier parts of the processes as well. The auth ors of the article write, â€Å"[Zara] produces complicated products in-house and outsources simple ones† (Ferdows, et al. , 2004, p. 107). These guiding principles allow Zara’s supply chain to drive the company’s growth and success versus its less agile competitors.One example of this is given in the text, Supply Chain Management, by Chopra and Meindl (2012), these authors demonstrate this, saying, â€Å"Whereas design-to-sales cycle times in the apparel industry have traditionally averaged more than six months, Zara has achieved cycle times of four to six weeks† (p. 14). That difference is significant and is what allows Zara to take action based on the communication they receive above and rapidly react to customer demand in a way their competitors cannot.The most unique aspect of Zara’s supply chain model is its level of control over all aspects of its business; far more than its competitors. The authors of the HBR piece build on this point, stat ing, â€Å"Instead of relying on outside partners, the company manages all design, warehousing, distribution, and logistics functions itself. Even many of its day-to-day operational procedures differ from the norm† (Ferdows, et al. , 2004, p. 106). Another component of Zara’s success, beyond just its maniacal control, is its belief in ensuring its processes and departments are funded for success.This is especially true for the information technology department. A fact which Chopra and Meindl (2012) conveyed when they wrote, â€Å"Zara has also invested heavily in information technology to ensure that the latest sales data are available to drive replenishment and production decisions† (p. 14) In conclusion, though Zara has been highly praised for its innovative supply chain management techniques, this praise is well deserved. It is clear from reading these two disparate accounts of Zara’s practices that they have truly developed a successful and unique sup ply chain to enhance their business.The three principles that are at the core of the Zara philosophy serve to enhance their customer’s experience and continue to deliver value for their customer where competitors cannot. References Chopra, S. , & Meindl, P. (2012). Supply chain management (5th ed. ) [Electronic]. Indianapolis, IN: Prentice Hall. Ferdows, K. , Lewis, M. A. , & Machuca, J. D. (2004). Rapid-Fire Fulfillment. Harvard Business Review, 82(11), 104-110.

Love between People Essay

In the novel The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks, love is portrayed in many ways. By looking at the characters, Taylor McAden, Kyle Holton, Denise Holton and Mitch Kindle, it is clear that love is inevitable and although they try to ignore fate, it will be very difficult to overcome. This is shown through the lives of Kyle and Denise, Taylor and Denise, and Mitch and Taylor. The characters in the novel all reveal the theme of being rescued by love; as a result it proves that although there are people who try to ignore their fate, there are those who are willing to follow their fate, knowing that there will many difficult obstacles to overcome. Kyle and Denise are one of the many characters in the novel The Rescue to help portray the theme of love through their relationship with one other and their actions towards each other. Denise helps to reveal the theme throughout the novel with many different characters. Denise reveals the theme of love through her son Kyle, by the way she interacts with him, and this is also known, when Denise is thinking, â€Å"You’ve got to help me find my baby! He’s only four.† (Sparks 22). This quote states that Denise has a very close relationship with her son, Kyle and she cares very deeply for his well-being. This quote also states that since Denise is very concerned about finding her child, that she is a mother who has a special bond with her child and that she is a parent who is willing to do anything for her child. Kyle also helps to reveal the theme through his actions and words. This is known, when Kyle says, â€Å"I wuff you, Money† which is translated into â€Å"I love you, Mommy† (274). This quote states that Kyle indeed, loves his mother very much, because saying you love somebody, is the most precious thing you can say to somebody. The quote also states that Kyle is expressing his feelings and emotions to his mom, who he loves very much. Both Kyle and Denise help to portray the theme of love towards each other; this is also portrayed between the relationship between Denise and Taylor. Denise and Taylor are also one of the many characters who help to uncover the theme of love. They help to uncover the theme of love in their relationship towards each other sexually, and verbally. Denise bares the theme of love towards Taylor, by the way that they interact with each other, and their sexual relationship. This is known when Taylor tells Denise, â€Å"I care about you more than I ever cared about anyone† (269). This quotation states that Taylor really cares for Denise, and that he wants to let her know that he is there for her. Denise helps to reveal the theme, when she shows Taylor that she loves him and cares for him, when she gives him a kiss (278). That states that both Denise and Taylor have a deeper relationship, where the theme of love is expressed between the two of them more. Taylor and Denise both add on to help reveal that the theme of the novel is love. This is also portrayed through the relationship between Mitch and Taylor. Taylor and Mitch are another set of characters that help to reveal the theme of love through their relationship. The author helps to uncover the theme of love, through the relationship statues of the two males. This is known, when Mitch tells Taylor, â€Å"I’ll always forgive you Taylor†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (236) this states that Mitch loves Taylor so much that he is willing to forgive him no matter what he does. It also states that their relationship is very strong and that they are always there for one another. Taylor also helps to reveal the theme of love, when he says, â€Å"Mitch was like a brother to me† (246). This quote states that Taylor loves Mitch so much, that he considers Mitch as his brother; as part o his family. This proves that the author reveals the message through the characters, so that the readers can have a better understanding of what the theme is going to be, or about. In the novel The Rescue, the characters show that love is inevitable, and no matter what they try to do, it will always be there, and that there is no way to avoid it. Although love exists in the world, there are people in this world who will try to avoid their fate. It is inevitable, because there will always be love surrounding us, and no matter how hard we try to push it away and ignore it, it will always find its way back to us.

Free Essays on Pro Choice

An onlookers view of Pro Choice amongst women Many clinics provide abortion services for women with unplanned or uncontrollable pregnancies. Some women find themselves with an unplanned pregnancy rather than an uncontrollable one. Unplanned in fact that a contraceptive failed, or may not have been easily accessible: uncontrolled in the sense of factors being greater than limited contraception. Abortion has been performed in many clinics as a treatment for unfit or unhealthy women, and for women who may have been molested or raped. Abortion shouldn’t be used as a form of contraception, nor should women’s lives be sacrificed to bear an infant before morally ready to commit. If a woman is raped, and the outcome incurs pregnancy, then abortion is an alternate form of controlling the unwanted pregnancy. Abortion should stand as only the woman’s choice, never as a decision adverse to Pro-Life activists. Pro-Choice advocates seem to vindicate abortion, accepting that abortion is not considered a form of birth contr ol, but merely a method of controlling the woman and fetus future. Women are the sole determinate persons in stating if they are capable of withholding a full term pregnancy. As an advocate of women’s right’s to Pro choice, I am extending my viewpoints to you in this proposition. Many people have their opinions on abortion, usually being one extreme or the other. Advocates or Pro choice often finds themselves swaying their opinions of when abortion is morally ethical dependent upon the controlling factors. Advocates of Pro Life are consistently perusing abortion, stating that it is morally wrong, and unethical in all matters, even if the pregnancy is inadvertent. There are factors remaining in today’s society that are very forthcoming and are unanticipated by women in the prevention of pregnancy. If medical doctors abolished the procedure, or if the government made it even more difficult to obtain an abortion, we wouldn... Free Essays on Pro Choice Free Essays on Pro Choice An onlookers view of Pro Choice amongst women Many clinics provide abortion services for women with unplanned or uncontrollable pregnancies. Some women find themselves with an unplanned pregnancy rather than an uncontrollable one. Unplanned in fact that a contraceptive failed, or may not have been easily accessible: uncontrolled in the sense of factors being greater than limited contraception. Abortion has been performed in many clinics as a treatment for unfit or unhealthy women, and for women who may have been molested or raped. Abortion shouldn’t be used as a form of contraception, nor should women’s lives be sacrificed to bear an infant before morally ready to commit. If a woman is raped, and the outcome incurs pregnancy, then abortion is an alternate form of controlling the unwanted pregnancy. Abortion should stand as only the woman’s choice, never as a decision adverse to Pro-Life activists. Pro-Choice advocates seem to vindicate abortion, accepting that abortion is not considered a form of birth contr ol, but merely a method of controlling the woman and fetus future. Women are the sole determinate persons in stating if they are capable of withholding a full term pregnancy. As an advocate of women’s right’s to Pro choice, I am extending my viewpoints to you in this proposition. Many people have their opinions on abortion, usually being one extreme or the other. Advocates or Pro choice often finds themselves swaying their opinions of when abortion is morally ethical dependent upon the controlling factors. Advocates of Pro Life are consistently perusing abortion, stating that it is morally wrong, and unethical in all matters, even if the pregnancy is inadvertent. There are factors remaining in today’s society that are very forthcoming and are unanticipated by women in the prevention of pregnancy. If medical doctors abolished the procedure, or if the government made it even more difficult to obtain an abortion, we wouldn...

Free Essays on McDonalization

McDonald’s is a huge fast-food restaurant chain that you can find all over the world. You can go to China or to Europe no matter where you are at you will be able to find a McDonald’s. McDonald’s is not just a fast food restaurant in the United States, but it is more a symbol of our way of life. ...McDonaldization,...is the process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as of the rest of the world. (Ritzer 1993) The central concepts employed in the fast-food industry have spread to all types of restaurants. Everything from pizza to lobster, from ice cream to bread, from alcohol to fried chicken is dominated by the chain mentality. It’s not only the food industry that represents this process of McDonalization. Toy stores (Toys R’ Us), bookstores (Barnes and Noble), newspapers (USA Today), and learning (Sylvan Learning Centers) have all followed this process. All these developments have four things in common according to George Ritzer (1993) efficiency, calculability, uniformity and predictability, and control through automation. Efficiency means the choosing of means to reach a specific end rapidly, with the least amount of cost or effort. The idea of efficiency is specific to the interests of the industry or business, but is typically advertised as a benefit to the customer. There are plenty of examples drive up windows, ATMs, self-service gas pumps, and even scanning our own groceries. Efficiency is the central way of our life, and we think that if it is done quickly that makes the changes positive. â€Å"Calculability involves an emphasis on things that can be calculated, counted, quantified. Quantification refers to a tendency to emphasize quantity rather than quality. This leads to a sense that quality is equal to certain, usually (but not always) large quantities of things." (Ritzer 1994)† This includes such things as th... Free Essays on McDonalization Free Essays on McDonalization McDonald’s is a huge fast-food restaurant chain that you can find all over the world. You can go to China or to Europe no matter where you are at you will be able to find a McDonald’s. McDonald’s is not just a fast food restaurant in the United States, but it is more a symbol of our way of life. ...McDonaldization,...is the process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as of the rest of the world. (Ritzer 1993) The central concepts employed in the fast-food industry have spread to all types of restaurants. Everything from pizza to lobster, from ice cream to bread, from alcohol to fried chicken is dominated by the chain mentality. It’s not only the food industry that represents this process of McDonalization. Toy stores (Toys R’ Us), bookstores (Barnes and Noble), newspapers (USA Today), and learning (Sylvan Learning Centers) have all followed this process. All these developments have four things in common according to George Ritzer (1993) efficiency, calculability, uniformity and predictability, and control through automation. Efficiency means the choosing of means to reach a specific end rapidly, with the least amount of cost or effort. The idea of efficiency is specific to the interests of the industry or business, but is typically advertised as a benefit to the customer. There are plenty of examples drive up windows, ATMs, self-service gas pumps, and even scanning our own groceries. Efficiency is the central way of our life, and we think that if it is done quickly that makes the changes positive. â€Å"Calculability involves an emphasis on things that can be calculated, counted, quantified. Quantification refers to a tendency to emphasize quantity rather than quality. This leads to a sense that quality is equal to certain, usually (but not always) large quantities of things." (Ritzer 1994)† This includes such things as th...

How to Get Into MIT 5 Expert Admissions Tips

How to Get Into MIT 5 Expert Admissions Tips SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is one of the best schools in the world. If you want to be one of the few students accepted into MIT every year, you’ll need to make sure your application is up to snuff. In this article, we’ll break down exactly how to get into MIT, from the test scores you need to the tips and tricks that’ll help your application stand out. How Hard Is It to Get Into MIT? MIT is one of the most selective schools in the world. Currently, MIT’s acceptance rate is 6.7%, which means it only accepts around 7 applicants for every 100 people that apply. A 6.7% acceptance rate means that MIT is extremely competitive to get into. You’ll need excellent grades, test scores, essays, and letters of recommendation to even be considered. What Is MIT Looking for in Its Students? You can learn a lot about what MIT is looking for in its students from the university’s website: "The MIT community is driven by a shared purpose: to make a better world through education, research, and innovation. We are fun and quirky, elite but not elitist, inventive and artistic, obsessed with numbers, and welcoming to talented people regardless of where they come from." This statement, while not MIT’s formal mission statement (which is worth reading, too), tells a lot about what MIT is looking for in its applicants. MIT want students who break molds- they’re incredibly intelligent, but they also think outside of the box. Don’t follow everyone else’s path- create your own. MIT students are genuinely excited to learn and innovate. They’re not interested in accolades (though they certainly earn them)- they’re motivated by discovery and intellectual stimulation more than recognition. MIT students don’t fit into any particular profile, except that they’re all highly, highly talented. Can You Apply to MIT Early? MIT allows students to apply early action. That means that you can apply to MIT and receive notification of your acceptance months before other students, but you don’t have to commit to MIT if you’re accepted. MIT’s early application deadline is November 1 and students are notified on December 20. According to the MIT admissions statistics for the Class of 2022, applicants who applied early didn’t have any significant advantage over students who applied at the regular deadline. For both admissions deadlines, students were accepted at a rate of a little less than 7%. That being said, there are other ways to get a leg up on your fellow applicants. MIT admitted around % of applicants who participated in an interview (or had their interview waived) vs 1% of applicants who did not participate in an interview. MIT Application Deadlines and Requirements MIT has its own application. It doesn’t accept the Common Application, Coalition Application or Universal Application. Here are the complete MIT application requirements: MIT requires that all students submit SAT, ACT, or TOEFL scores Freshman applicants must also submit two SAT II Subject Tests: math and science. MIT requires all students submit five short essays as part of their application. MIT requires that all students submit two letters of recommendation. There are no specific coursework requirements for MIT applicants. The MIT Early Action deadline is November 1. Applicants are notified of their status on December 20. The MIT regular admission deadline is January 1. Applicants are notified of their status on March 20. What GPA Do I Need to Get Into MIT? MIT has a 6.7% acceptance rate, so it’s important that your application is as strong as possible to be considered. One of the most important parts of your MIT application is your high school coursework. MIT doesn’t specify a minimum GPA requirement and doesn’t release the average GPA of admitted applicants. That being said, due to the caliber of students accepted at MIT, we can assume that the average GPA is quite high. You should look to get mainly A’s, with a few A-’s or B+’s on your transcript. MIT will also be paying attention to your course load- are you challenging yourself, or are you coasting on easy classes? You should take the most rigorous classes your school offers- whether that’s honors, AP, or IB courses- or even look into taking courses at the local community college to show that you’re not afraid of an academic challenge†¦ and that you can succeed at one, too! What Test Scores Do I Need to Get Into MIT? You don’t just need great grades to get into MIT- you need great test scores, too. What SAT Test Scores Do I Need to Get Into MIT? The average admitted applicant at MIT has a 1520 composite score on the 1600 SAT scale. The average math score is 780. The average reading/writing score is 740. You’ll need to have extremely high SAT scores to be able to get into MIT. Fortunately, MIT uses â€Å"Highest Section† scoring (also known as â€Å"superscoring†). Basically, superscoring means that MIT will consider your highest section scores across all the SAT test dates you submit. MIT’s superscoring policy is good news for applicants- it means that you can prep and retake the score without worrying about hurting your previous scores. What ACT Test Scores Do I Need to Get Into MIT? The average admitted applicant at MIT scores a 34 on the ACT. With so many applicants scoring 34 and above, a lower score won’t be very impressive. Fortunately, MIT also superscores ACT scores for applicants. That means that, if you take the ACT multiple times, MIT will consider the highest score achieved in each section. MIT Application Essays MIT requires that you answer five short essay questions. You’ll need to answer 5 short prompts (none more than 250 words) on various aspects of your life: what you do for fun, what department you’re interested in at MIT, a way that you contribute to your community, a description of your background, and a challenge that you have faced in your life. The MIT essay prompts are designed specifically to get to the heart of what makes you you. Remember, MIT wants applicants that are interesting as people. MIT places a high value on having students with quirks and unique passions, not just high test scores. You’ll submit your five MIT application essays along with an activities list and a self-reported coursework form as Part 2 of your MIT application, regardless of whether you’re applying for the early action deadline or the regular admission deadline. Here are the 2018-19 MIT essay prompts: We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it. (100 words or fewer) Although you may not yet know what you want to major in, which department or program at MIT appeals to you and why? (100 words or fewer) At MIT, we bring people together to better the lives of others. MIT students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to being a good friend. Describe one way in which you have contributed to your community, whether in your family, the classroom, your neighborhood, etc. (200-250 words) Describe the world you come from; for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town. How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations? (200-250 words) Tell us about the most significant challenge you’ve faced or something important that didn’t go according to plan. How did you manage the situation? (200-250 words) You can learn more about how to ace your MIT essays in our in-depth article on the topic. 5 Tips for Getting Into MIT It’s very difficult to get into MIT, but it’s not impossible. Follow these tips for how to get into MIT by making sure your application stands out from the crowd. #1: Highlight the Unique Aspects of Your Identity We’ve said it already and we’ll say it again: MIT likes unique applicants. They say so on their website! Your essays are an opportunity to highlight the special facets of your personality. If you built a video game about pickles for fun, this is the time to share it! The more unique you are, the better! Your application will stand out even more if you take those interests and apply them to academic pursuits. Show that your academic curiosity intersects with your passions. #2: Put a Lot of Effort Into Your Academics MIT students are high-achievers. To be accepted, you need to be one, too. You should have a strong plan for studying for the SAT or ACT so that you achieve the best score possible. If you’re still in your freshman, sophomore, or junior year of high school, plan to take some advanced classes to up your GPA. You’ll need to be disciplined and work hard to compete with the other applicants. MIT wants students who will succeed on their campus- you need to demonstrate that you’re up to MIT’s academic challenge. #3: Ace Your Essays Your essays are the best opportunity to show off your skills and your unique interests. You should put a lot of effort into every one of the five MIT essays. Don’t wait until the last minute to write your MIT essays- start them with plenty of time so that you can revise and receive feedback. #4: Convince MIT That You’ll Do Something Great With Your Education MIT doesn’t want to admit students who will be content to take their expensive diploma and sit at home doing nothing with it. MIT wants to accept students who are going to accomplish world-changing things, who contribute positively to their communities while in college and help other students accomplish great things as well. The best way to convince MIT that you’ll do this while there? Contribute positively to your community while you’re in high school. Past behavior is a predictor of future behavior. If you show that positive contributions are a part of your modus operandi as a student, MIT will feel confident that you’ll bring that attitude to its campus, too. #5: Hyper-Focus You don’t need to be captain of the football team, the co-chair of the debate team, and the first chair violinist in the school orchestra to get into MIT. Don’t try to be great at every- pick one (or two) activities and pursue it relentlessly. This is called having a spike and helps you stand out more. Don’t aim to be generically good at a lot of things- be hugely, amazingly good at one thing. Instead of trying to lead twenty different committees, pick the one that’s the most special to you and give it everything you have. Put down the football and the debate notecards and focus on violin if that’s what you love. Audition for world-class ensembles, enter competitions, basically just stand out. Don't strive for above average at a lot of things- be excellent at one. Recap: How to Get Into MIT It’s difficult to get into MIT- but not impossible! With hard work and planning, you can hone your application so it stands out from the other thousands of MIT applicants. What’s Next? Starting your MIT application? Check out our in-depth guide on how to apply to MIT. Your MIT essays will help your application stand out. Read our in-depth guide on these five short answer questions to know exactly what to do. (Link coming soon!) Wondering what your chances of getting into an Ivy Leave or Ivy League caliber school is? Check out our complete guide to Ivy League acceptance rates. Want to get into Harvard or your personal top choice college? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Read and Review God the Economist the book Essay

Read and Review God the Economist the book - Essay Example re discussed thoroughly, along with the idea of the Christian tradition and the application of radical implications for individual Christians and for the churches. M. Douglas Meeks received his B.D. and his Ph.D. from Duke University and studied as a Fulbright Fellow at Tubingen University. Previously ranking as the dean and professor of systematic theology at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, as well as professor of systematic theology at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Meeks is the author, co-author or editor of 16 books, one of his most praised being this one in particular – God the Economist. Meeks’ record of professional service includes membership on a variety of academic and ecclesial councils and commissions dealing with theology and economy, religion and science, liberation theology, points at issue between black and white theologies, and theological education. He is also an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church. These past and present qualities are what enabled Meeks to have such an accurate and intellectual view on two such critical subjects – God and the economy. When it comes to Christians and the church speaking about economy, or vice versa, it seems that those involved often falter at the subject. In this book, Meeks is noted for developing his doctrine of the economist God in order to show that provision for all the needs of all people is not simply an add-on to the Christian faith but is instead entirely relevant and is its very heart and soul. Meeks centers his argument on a social conception of the Trinity, each of whose persons are understood to be giving and sustaining, rather than self-sufficient and domineering. A main point that Meeks makes in this book is that we as a world – especially in the North American countries – fail to see the destitution and despair both economically and spiritually around us, while all the time trying to fix massive other problems which seem to actually not be near as

Consumers and Markets Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Consumers and Markets - Coursework Example Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Table of Contents 3 Introduction 4 PRESTCOM Analysis 5 Political 5 Regulatory 6 Economic 6 Social 7 Technology 7 Competitive 8 Organisational 8 Marketing 9 SWOT Analysis 10 Strength 12 Weaknesses 12 Opportunity 13 Threat 13 Conclusion 14 References 15 Bibliography 16 Introduction The computer games market in the entire world is worth about 27 billion USD in a year and it is experiencing a rapid growth. Sony entered into gaming market in the year 1994. The concept of PlayStation was originally discovered by joint partnership of Sony and Nintendo in late 1980s. However, when they wanted to announce their new hardware, Nintendo re-read the earlier contract and found the agreement to be unsatisfactory. Thus, Sony Corp. began working on their previous research and developed the PlayStation. Hardcore gamers are the major customers of PS3. The PS3 targets customer, who are usually 15 to 30 years. As the PS3 support the Blu–ray, secondary customer s are also interested in PS3 because of its HD video quality (Brainmoats, 2008). PRESTCOM Analysis PRESTCOM analysis of Sony will help in analysing the external factors of their business. It helps to understand the new legislation and regulation of government, various business restrictions, and laws relating to tax, VAT, social change and technological factors. It is also used for market analysis. This will help the company to run the business properly. Company can develop new strategies according to the changes in business environment and develop productivity as well. The company can advertise their products and promote their brand. PRESTCOM analysis helps the company to predict the near future condition of business by using political, regulatory, social, economic, technological, competitive, organisational and marketing factors (Maqsood, 2010). Political Political factors consist of the laws of government and pressure group. It affects the company and company’s business in a provided market environment. The policy and rules of government can affect the productivity of Sony Corp. Sony Corp. must need to take permission from the government of a country where it is manufacturing its products. Sony Corporation must develop new innovations to stay ahead of its competitors. Many global policies and laws can affect the company’s regular operation. Government of any country can change or enact various trade restrictions which can make it difficult for products of Sony to survive in the industry. It can change the way Sony works. Government can raise various tax rates such as VAT, Sales tax, Income tax, minimum wage rates, which can hamper the company’s sales. Therefore, the company must prepare for any kind of circumstances (Maqsood, 2010). Regulatory There are various rules and regulations which can affect the company’s productivity. These are: Trade and Business restriction, Returning of product and Warranty regulations. Employment law is also an important factor. It can determine the cost of the product in a specific country. Appreciation of currency plays a significant role in company’s business. For example Sony’s hardware sales decreased because of appreciation of

Qualitative analysis of (In)civility project Research Paper

Qualitative analysis of (In)civility project - Research Paper Example The application of information in the communication sector based on the grounded theory is based on empirical data collected towards making affirmations on different views.The concept of education is best understood as a process in which information is acquired through listening, watching or through any other senseThe medium by which education is passed on to the audience is a subject of controversy especially where technology is involved. Technology, as a medium of educational exchange, has numerous challenges. One of the challenges is the measure by which education can be dispersed from the source to the recipient. In education, the lack of a measure in the amount and quality of information provided to the user is a challenge to the education sector. The comparison of education that incorporates technology is done based on the print form of education. However, the differences between the two forms of educational media are the same as with print media and the preceding oral traditio ns. Just as the current opposition against the incorporation of technology in education is a cause of debate, when print media was being incorporated in education, the existing system had to adapt to the changes being made (Scalise, 2007). I posit that education should be facilitated to the interpersonal level, which can be best achieved by the use of technology in discouraging some of the incivility in the community. Description I have had the opportunity of studying behavior of kids in social work such as in the organization, solutions for change. It is an experience I feel helped to foster a good understanding of the roles, responsibilities, expectations, and requirements in the Social Work career. I have worked in a number of firms in various capacities. My culmination has been the need to advance my education in order to take up my social work career. By employing my skills in understanding the children, I believe that communication and availing information as suggested in the conduct of the grounded theory shall contribute to the success of the incivility elimination pursuit. Characteristics such as empathy, sensitivity, and respect for others are elemental to being an effective social worker, let alone a member of the society. Having the aforementioned qualities is an advantage and I believe that this edge, in relation to ethics, will help me deliver services effectively as a social worker. I hope to major in Clinical Social Work and eventually start my own private practice offering various social services to the immediate and surrounding community. Understanding the perils of the populations vulnerable to social challenges such as bullying and discrimination within the society is one of the areas I seek to focus on. This is with the aim of ensuring social injustices emanating from these challenges are eliminated or reduced. Having undergone the perils of discrimination and bullying, I believe that I am able to perform the role of a social worker effect ively. Analysis Firsthand experience on some of the problems that various social groupings face compels me into helping people the best way I can. This is by acquiring and implementing knowledgeable skills of social work, and consequently transferring these skills to parties suffering silently in the society. I am a victim of bullying, and in spite of this bad experience, I helped other people going through the same predicament since it helped me understand and cultivate the desire to overcome and pursue life challenges. I am a not a typical American, which has contributed to my yearning for an opportunity to help individuals facing discriminatory conduct based on their race, ethnicity, origin, or social background. My origin played a part in most of the social challenges I faced. I experienced considerable discrimination and was alienated in most social gatherings of my teens as I further had a conundrum of being overweight. These experiences have helped

My Philosophy of Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

My Philosophy of Management - Essay Example They range from reduced costs, improved quality of products and services, increased employee involvement, higher employee retention, reduced conflict, reduced absenteeism, enhanced creativity and innovation, and better adaptability and flexibility. In fact, a team can be defined as a group of people who enjoy autonomy in decision-making and creativity. In the absence of bureaucracy, this team is able to function without friction and develop a common vision. Realization of teamwork is followed by the elimination of ‘us vs. them’ attitude. Thus, my opinion is that an organization should be flat. Another important point that supports this assumption is that all people love to feel useful, important, successful, proud and respected. In an organization with high degree of bureaucracy and hierarchy, it is highly possible that many employees feel unused, disrespected and anonymous. However, as the organization becomes flat, employees are more likely to feel equal and important. The Means of Motivating Employees My efforts to motivate employees are based on the understanding that everyone has the desire to be justly and fairly acknowledged and appreciated in public. Thus, my philosophy will be to ‘applaud in public and reproach in private’. First of all, when employees achieve something, recognition and appreciation will be ensured in public. As studies show, motivation and positive feedback are positively correlated to work performance and various other factors like employee retention. Another important point is that this reward and recognition will be as fair and open as possible. This is so because if employees feel that certain employees are given a more favorable treatment, there will be further decline in their morale. So, when there is reward or recognition, it will be ensured that the reward system is fair and transparent. There are various studies which support this opinion. To illustrate, Wayne, Shore, Bommer &Tetrick (2002) proved t hat perceived organizational support is influenced by various factors including leader-member exchange, procedural and distributive justice, and feelings of inclusion and recognition. Also, the scholars point out that reward and punishment systems are important factors in deciding perceived organizational support. The next important point is punishment. It is highly necessary to be careful about using punishments because punishment has less positive and more negative effects, according to scholars. According to Milbourn (1996), punishment only curbs an undesirable behavior; and it does not make an employee demonstrate a desirable behavior. The mere fact is that punishment leads to fear, psychological distress and the feeling of humiliation, especially when it happens in public. So, my assumption is to replace punishment with positive reinforcement and one-to-one guidance. First of all, there will be clear guidelines regarding every aspect of the workplace and employee conduct. Adher ence to the same will be appreciated and applauded in public. When it is found that an employee errs, the same will be immediately brought to his notice. However, when it is found that the mistake is even more serious, the employee will be met in private and the details discussed without the fear of punishment. Thus, by using positive reinforcement instead of punishment, an organization can increase the possibility of developing desirable behavior in employees. The most Suitable Organizational Structure There are various organizational structures

Social Performance, Part 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Social Performance, Part 2 - Essay Example This ensures that the company operates within the given guidelines. It is noteworthy that these guidelines are set under the federal sentencing guidelines for organizations. Every company should observe these guidelines whilst undertaking its operations. The federal sentencing guidelines are a set of rules, which enforces standardized sentencing policy to individuals and organizations condemned of criminal offences. These rules were set in the United States federal court system (Davidson, 2005). These set rules and regulations are only applicable to serious crimes, and offences. In this regard, the less serious crimes are excluded from these regulations. The primary goal for these guidelines aims at alleviating sentencing inequalities rampant in the established sentencing system. The guidelines promote the development of effective programs by the company in an effort to prevent and identify law violation and set steps for facilitating the program. Companies, therefore, should have se t codes of conduct to be followed to avoid and minimize violation of laws. This will improve the reputation of the company. The code of conduct is a system of behavior followed for maintenance and promotion of company’s dignity and reputation. Romco Company has set codes of conducts, which should be adhered to by its stakeholders including executives, board of directors, directors, company secretary, staff, and other employees. Each company has its own set codes of conduct, the codes of conduct are unique for each company, and thus, there is no uniformity or standardized codes of company. The freedom accorded to these companies have contributed to problems in the way companies operates this is because some misuse it by setting codes for the sake of personal greed and interest. Romco’s competitors are examples of companies with codes of conduct, which do not put into consideration the interest of its customers and competitors. Angels, Ramal, and Queens Companies fall in the same industry with Romco. The codes of these three companies are, however, different and do not agree with those of Romco. The directors of these companies are superior as decision-making is centered. They do not consult other stakeholders as they have a final say, and thus, they make decisions based on their personal gains and interest without considering other employees. Honesty and transparency among the directors are not observed, and thus, the allocation of resources to different departments is not uniform, hence affecting operations of the company. These companies have constantly become the victims of the federal sentencing guidelines. This is because of their failure to complying with the basic laws, regulations, and rules. In addition, they have failed to establish the appropriate business ethics and code of conduct appropriate for corporate governance. Ramco, unlike its competitors, have set rules of conduct, which are adhered to, and strictly observed by the parties i nvolved in the company. The interests of various stakeholders that are significant for the growth and success of the company should be considered. Romco has managed to achieve this role. Decision making in the company is reached by involving all participants. In this case, the decisions do not lie in the hands of directors, and managers, the decision-making is decentralized. The directors of Ramco execute their duties with fairness, honesty, and transparency. They are required to perform their duties professionally, with determination and

My Philosophy of Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

My Philosophy of Management - Essay Example They range from reduced costs, improved quality of products and services, increased employee involvement, higher employee retention, reduced conflict, reduced absenteeism, enhanced creativity and innovation, and better adaptability and flexibility. In fact, a team can be defined as a group of people who enjoy autonomy in decision-making and creativity. In the absence of bureaucracy, this team is able to function without friction and develop a common vision. Realization of teamwork is followed by the elimination of ‘us vs. them’ attitude. Thus, my opinion is that an organization should be flat. Another important point that supports this assumption is that all people love to feel useful, important, successful, proud and respected. In an organization with high degree of bureaucracy and hierarchy, it is highly possible that many employees feel unused, disrespected and anonymous. However, as the organization becomes flat, employees are more likely to feel equal and important. The Means of Motivating Employees My efforts to motivate employees are based on the understanding that everyone has the desire to be justly and fairly acknowledged and appreciated in public. Thus, my philosophy will be to ‘applaud in public and reproach in private’. First of all, when employees achieve something, recognition and appreciation will be ensured in public. As studies show, motivation and positive feedback are positively correlated to work performance and various other factors like employee retention. Another important point is that this reward and recognition will be as fair and open as possible. This is so because if employees feel that certain employees are given a more favorable treatment, there will be further decline in their morale. So, when there is reward or recognition, it will be ensured that the reward system is fair and transparent. There are various studies which support this opinion. To illustrate, Wayne, Shore, Bommer &Tetrick (2002) proved t hat perceived organizational support is influenced by various factors including leader-member exchange, procedural and distributive justice, and feelings of inclusion and recognition. Also, the scholars point out that reward and punishment systems are important factors in deciding perceived organizational support. The next important point is punishment. It is highly necessary to be careful about using punishments because punishment has less positive and more negative effects, according to scholars. According to Milbourn (1996), punishment only curbs an undesirable behavior; and it does not make an employee demonstrate a desirable behavior. The mere fact is that punishment leads to fear, psychological distress and the feeling of humiliation, especially when it happens in public. So, my assumption is to replace punishment with positive reinforcement and one-to-one guidance. First of all, there will be clear guidelines regarding every aspect of the workplace and employee conduct. Adher ence to the same will be appreciated and applauded in public. When it is found that an employee errs, the same will be immediately brought to his notice. However, when it is found that the mistake is even more serious, the employee will be met in private and the details discussed without the fear of punishment. Thus, by using positive reinforcement instead of punishment, an organization can increase the possibility of developing desirable behavior in employees. The most Suitable Organizational Structure There are various organizational structures

Measurement of People Equity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Measurement of People Equity - Essay Example It has been viewed that the business organizations intend to invest substantial amount for managing human capital for the purpose of investing their valuable resources wisely. The different business organizations generally focus upon the aforesaid constituents of people equity in order to increase their operational standards as well as business performance by a significant level. In relation to assess people equity, a survey is often regarded to be a better tool for measuring people equity. This is due to the reasons that a survey is generally cost-effective to acquire information from the respondents relating to people equity and most importantly it facilitates to distinguish between high and low performances. Moreover, the tool of survey not only estimates the elements of people equity but also its drivers along with enablers. Additionally, one of the major advantages of using a survey tool in order to measure people equity is that it swiftly captures all the three valuable constit uents of people equity which ultimately assists the organizations to successfully measure their people equity. Conversely, there also lay certain significant drawbacks while using a survey tool to measure the constituents of people equity. The drawbacks include inflexibility, difficulty for the respondents to recall valuable information against any sort of controversial questions, probable chances of vagueness and misconceptions (Schiemann, n.d.). Determination of Employee Perception The aspect of employee perception is primarily considered to be an imperative feature which tends to make vast difference in maintaining the workplace quality. On the basis of the responses to the questionnaire relating to people equity, whether the â€Å"perception is reality† can be determined by taking into concern certain valuable conditions. In this similar context, whether the â€Å"perception is reality† can easily be determined if the personnel of a particular organization bear the appropriate behavior with the strategies of the organization and if the staff possess the talents as well as necessary information as well as resources to implement the organizational strategies. Moreover, whether the â€Å"perception is reality† can also be determined if the employees of the organization bear superior level of commitment along with involvement in completing their respective job tasks. There lie certain effective practices in order to handle employee perception when the concerns of the employees are not believed to be valid. In order to handle employee perception, the organizations should direct or administer their working personnel to possess the accurate behavior aligned with organizational strategies. Moreover, the organizations can handle the perception of the employees by providing effective training along with valuable information to the employees for the purpose of executing business strategies. In order to assure the concerns of the employees, the or ganizations might provide the disconfirming evidence that by not directing the employees to possess exact behavior aligned with organizational strategies, the organizations cannot invest their valuable resources wisely in relation to people equity (Mardiana, 2012). Priority of the Actions Relating to Public Equity In relation to people equity, the highest priority actions include the introduction as well as the development of human resource (HR) systems and formation of innovative technological advancements. Moreover, the other priority actions include organizing a sound organizational structure and effective leadership. These particular actions need to be executed by the business organization in order to diminish significant gaps in alignment and engagement of the employees. Moreover, apart from diminishing

Paris Is Burning Case Study Essay Example for Free

Paris Is Burning Case Study Essay 1.I would argue that the group of poor gay minorities, like the people in the ball, is a subculture in itself. This group is a subculture of the gay culture. The distinguishing aspects of the group are that they are poor, gay, and minorities. Another distinguishing aspect is that members of this subculture are typically outcasts. They have been rejected by family members, friends, and American society as a whole. â€Å"It’s hard to imagine a more outcast group in American society than black and Hispanic homosexuals,† (Levy). I identified this group of poor, gay, minority men who participate in balls as a microculture. This microculture’s distinguishing aspects are that these men all seem to live for balls, with dreams of fame and fortune, â€Å"The balls are our fantasies of being superstars,† (Pepper Labeija). This group also has an extreme love for, and competitive drive to be successful at vogeuing. Another trait this group shares is a love for fashion. They use fashion and style in order to appear â€Å"real.† This subculture wants to appear to be authentically white, straight, and female (Levy). This is depicted throughout the film Paris is Burning. Another microculture that I identified in the film is the transvestite microculture. This microculture defines itself by dressing up like the opposite sex, in this case men dressing as women, but who do not wish to become women. They could be considered androgynous, (Solomon, 186). While they do not identify with females, they wish to look female. The third microculture I identified in the film is the transvestite microculture. This group’s ideal self (Solomon, 177) is female. They identify with females and wish to eventually become female. 2.The goal of this subculture is to become a â€Å"real† female, if not to transform completely, to at least look like a real female. They are motivated by the celebrities they see in magazines and on TV. Straight, white, females are this group’s comparative influence, (Solomon, 409). There are a few gay masculine men in this film; their goal would be to look authentically masculine and straight. The whole point of the balls is for members of this group to act out their fantasies. Nearly everyone in the film was pretending to be someone that they were not. Competing in the balls was â€Å"achieving in fantasy what the world had denied in [their] reality,† (Green). Acting out this fantasy allows the people in this film to compensate for dissatisfaction with their actual selves, (Solomon, 172). They desire to look like the beautiful celebrities in the magazines, (Venus Xtravaganza), so this group is doing whatever it can to make themselves more like these women. Sadly, usually the most they can do is pretend, by dressing and acting like these women. This subculture does not â€Å"wish to replace dominant culture, they long to be members of the society they imitate,† (Levy). Part of achieving their goal is purchasing clothing, make-up, shoes, even hormones and female body parts to look the part of a â€Å"real woman†. Without the possibility of consumption, it would not be possible for this group of people to achieve their goals and dreams. They wake up in the mornings as men, and leave their house in the afternoons as women because of the products they consume. They look at their reference group, (Solomon, 404) of straight females, and strive to look like them by purchasing the same products that these women use. To achieve their desired social identity they are acting out the symbolic self-completion theory, (Solomon, 176) by acquiring the clothes, hair, softer features, etc. that they see on women who are their ideals of beauty (Solomon, 196). In my opinion this is very similar to the actions of mainstream culture. â€Å"The movie is a successful attempt by outsiders to dramatize how success and status in the world often depend on props you can buy, or steal, almost anywhere – assuming you have the style to know how to use them,† (Ebert). I have observed that the common belief in mainstream culture seems to be that a person has to look a certain way to be successful. The more fashionable and beautiful a person looks, the more successful and therefore desirable they are perceived to be. Mainstream culture consumers spend millions every year attempting to make themselves look more successful and beautiful than everyone else around them. This is similar to the drag queen subculture portrayed in the movie in many ways. Both groups are trying to appear one way by purchasing clothing, plastic surgery, make-up, nice homes, etc. Both groups are desperate to be accepted by mainstream culture and both groups use style and purchasing power to try to achieve this dream they have of popularity and acceptance. There is a huge difference though. Main stream culture is constantly consuming goods and services in an attempt to fit in with each other. Drag queen subcultures are consuming these same goods to try to fit in with main stream culture. They dream of the fame and fortune that comes with being a beautiful, straight, stylish woman. â€Å"Livingston blames the advertisements they see in the media for fostering their unrealistic yearnings,† (Levy). They are competing with a completely different group of people. Not only is their competition different, it is nearly impossible to compete with. â€Å"The models compete to see who could pass in worlds that are almost completely closed to gays and blacks especially, gay blacks,† (Ebert). The balls are this group’s opportunity to flaunt their consumptions, and practice for the â€Å"real world.† The winners are those who exhibit the most style, and often those who can afford to spend the most on their costumes, (Dorian Corey). Sadly, this group is competing with â€Å"members of a society that will never accept them,† (Levy). 3.Not surprisingly, this subculture faces many conflicts in their daily lives. These conflicts include dealing primarily with prejudices, money shortages, and abandonment. Conflicts are handled in many different ways. Prejudice is a problem all over the world and will probably never cease to be a problem. It is not depicted much in the film how this group of people handles this problem except to ignore it for the most part since there is really nothing that can be done about it. â€Å"I am white so I have the ability to write those grants and push my little body through whatever door I need to get it through. If [drag queens] wanted to make a film about themselves they would not be able, I wish that weren’t so, but that’s the way society is structured,† (Green). This subculture has very little, if any, power with anyone but themselves because of prejudices. This problem causes the other main conflicts they are faced with, money shortages and abandonment. Many of the people in this subculture have no other way to make money but to become â€Å"hussies†. They will use their physical tools to get what they want and need. â€Å"Hes taking me out for dinner later this evening, or for cocktails after midnight. I know hell give me some money just for me to maybe buy some shoes and a nice dress, so that the next time he sees me, hell see me looking more and more beautiful, the way he wants to see me. But I dont have to go to bed with him, or anything like that. At times they do expect sexual favors, but that is between myself and them, so I dont want to talk about that any further,† (Venus Xtravaganza). It is later discovered that Venus was found dead in a motel. She always did what she wanted to get what she wanted, such as getting into cars with men. Sadly, that is the life of a transsexual living in New York City, (Angie Xtravaganza). Money shortages give this group a risky shift, (Solomon, 267), distinguishing aspect of resorting to dangerous alternatives to make money, such as becoming prostitutes. This group also steals to get food as well as acquire props and clothing for their ball competitions. â€Å"Faggots,† or gay young men, are the best at â€Å"playing pranks† or stealing, (Freddie Pendavis). Many of the drag queens featured in this film have been abandoned by their families because they are homosexuals. To resolve this, this subgroup has formed its own families, or â€Å"houses,† as they are referenced to in the movie. Each house has a mother and a father. While these are not literal houses, it is a small community that offers support to its members. Family members assist each other with ball competitions, stealing, and encouraging each other when times are tough. 4.This subculture is very similar to mainstream culture. Both groups of people have a longing to be accepted. Both groups put a huge emphasis on how stylish a person is. The big difference is that the drag queen subculture is daring to be different to be who they want to be and fit in with whom they want to fit in. They could easily live in New York as straight men. They could live everyday pretending to be someone they were not and living a life they were not happy with to avoid the hardships that come along with being drag queens. â€Å"Beatings, violence and rejection are daily realities for men who want to pass as women, and so there is a certain courage exhibited by their choice,† (Ebert). Mainstream culture, however, is not so brave. Many people who are considered â€Å"mainstream† most likely have interests and tastes that are not considered the norms, (Solomon, 429). Some examples are a boy who enjoys dancing rather than football, or a female teacher who enjoys listening to metal rather than mainstream music. Both examples go against the stereotypes. While I personally believe many Americans, if they let their true selves show, would have personality traits that go against the stereotype that is associated with them, they will not let these traits show. They are not brave enough to go against mainstream culture and be the people they truly want to be. This drag queen subculture has dared to step out of the norm and try to become the people they really want to be. In most cases, this dream they have will be impossible to achieve. Mainstream culture influences this drag queen group completely. The drag queen subculture is striving to actually become part of the mainstream culture. Members of this group want to be like mainstream culture in every way. This is why they are pretending to be this mainstream group of people who will never accept them, (Ebert). Mainstream culture affects how this subculture looks, dresses and lives; nearly every aspect of their lives is determined by what mainstream culture does. However, the drag queen subculture has very little impact on mainstream culture. The only part mainstream culture has plucked from the drag queen subculture is â€Å"voguing.† Popular celebrities like Madonna got voguing into mainstream culture. Ironically, while mainstream culture was learning how to â€Å"vogue† it â€Å"began to copy a subculture that was copying it,† (Green). This is a very small influence that the drag queen subculture had on the mainstream culture, however, compared to the impact mainstream culture has on their lives. 5.Mainstream culture is the trends, attitudes, living styles, etc. that are made popular by the media. I do not think it is a collection of subcultures. I think that the media can pick certain aspects from subcultures and make them become mainstream culture, but I truly believe it is the media that affects what we call mainstream culture. The media controls trends by having celebrities endorse certain products. I think that we look at celebrities, see their beauty and/or success and assume they must know what the best product is. We want to be lovely and successful like them, so we try to imitate them. This catches on because everyone in mainstream culture wants to be accepted, and since what is considered acceptable and desirable is what the celebrities are endorsing, which is what we all do and buy. We also have the need to be accepted by our mainstream peers. If our peers believe what the celebrities are endorsing is what is most desirable, we will come to think it is desirable, in order to be accepted and desired.

The Rights Of Women In Afghanistan Sociology Essay

The Rights Of Women In Afghanistan Sociology Essay Majority of Afghanistans nationalities profess Islam as their religion. Originally Islam religion regards men more superior than women in every aspect of life. Due to civilization across the world, Islam reformed and some of its doctrines were changes in favor of women. Equality among human beings was included in Islam, regarding men and women equal in various ways. Since then Islam women acquired different rights that allow them to choose marriage partners, inherit, vote and work among other rights. In Afghanistan, women have experienced continued denial of such rights despite acceptance according to Islam doctrines (Mittra and Kunar 267). Fathers, husbands, brothers and government decrees are some of the factors that hinder women from enjoying their human rights in Afghanistan. Most of these restrictions were rampant during rule of Taliban who forced Afghan women to abandon their decent jobs such as teaching and remain indoors or when outside they ought to be in a mans escort. Since 2001, a new era began with end of Taliban reign; an improvement was recorded in regard to cultural and political position of women in Afghan. Human rights accepted under Islam law, so far are practiced in various parts of Afghan though in rural and remote areas many population regard women unequal (Zama and Sifton 25). For instance, cases of forced marriages, death threats due education matters and denial of chance to participate or enjoy public life are recordable according to research. Inequality and repressiveness of women in Afghanistan can be further be illustrated by statistics that show 75% of women are forced into marriages, 87% of women are illiterate, 33% of women experience sexual violence or physical assault, in every 30 minutes death occurs in relation to child birt h and only 30% of girls access education in Afghanistan. Literature review Introduction Afghanistan remains one of many Islamic regions where women are denied their rights and freedom. Despite acceptance by Islam Laws and governmental regulations and policies to uphold Afghan womans rights throughout in Afghanistan, many Islamic men have continued to oppress women. Most of womens rights have been upheld following intense campaigns by human rights activities from Afghan and other parts of the world (Thomsen 227). Also government efforts have helped in promoting equality by criminalizing oppression of women despite their originality and religion. Most of these changes are focused on matters that concern education, marriage and public life. In literature review section of this research, rights of Afghans woman in regard to freedom of live, dressing, education, marriage and expression will be discussed. Recommendations and conclusion will follow this discussion as part of this research work. Communication freedom Currently, Afghanistan is undergoing reconstruction after many years of war and reign of Taliban. During 1995-2001, Afghan remained under dictatorial leadership by Taliban who encouraged oppression of women and girls through out Afghan. Talibans brutality was to extent of denying women a chance to communicate with other women apart from family members. In most cases, women remained locked in their houses with small dark windows hence disallowing public intermingling. According to research, an Afghan woman could only walk to public with a company of a male counterpart who was supposed to be of the family (Osmańczyk and Mango 2708). These men act as a barrier to communication and information flow among women and men in public. Information could only be acquired from husbands, brothers and fathers who also were women oppressors according to Talibans regulations. Harsh circumstances under which afghan women lived in were not conducive for effective communication. Women associa tions that encourage information sharing in regard to social affairs are not allowed in most parts of Afghanistan. Information flow from one Woman to another is difficult in such situations hence hindering effective communication. As much as right of expression is among rights upheld by Afghan government, many women are denied such rights by men close in their lives. Womans opinion is regarded inferior and a chance to speak out is not availed to many women willing to do so. Rising of voices is made difficult due to widespread of discrimination against female gender in other major areas that contribute towards information flow. Lack of education for girl-child is a major hindrance to free flow of information. Many Afghan women can only converse in their vernacular languages due to illiteracy (Mittra and Kunar 143). Lack of access to education continues to pin many women down in decision making even those concerning their own plight. Lack of ideas coupled with fear is a key factor that makes Afghan women lag behind in raising their voices beyond their homestead. Freedom of communication by women is also prevented their lack of voting freedom. Many women are hindered fro acquiring voting cards to prevent them from taking part in political decisions. Instances of murder of electoral commissioners who tried to register women for voting processes show how far brutalism and discrimination against women has extended in Afghanistan (Thomsen 270). Such situations block womens effort to communicate their views in regard to type of governance they want. Similarly, women candidates can not be enrolled easily for similar positions to those held by men due to repression in association to voting rights. Women representatives in other parts of the world represent other women opinions therefore ensuring plight of female gender is communicated to authorities. In Afghan such chances are not provided hence continued lack of communication freedom. Additionally, lack of media freedom is another obstacle that contributes to communication problems in Afghanistan. Widespread violence coupled with political wrangles in Afghanistan prevents media efforts in steering women in fighting for their rights by speaking out loud. For instance, many journalists have been killed including and others such as Kambakhsh imprisoned for exercising their expression rights (Afkhami 179). Such situations leave women threatened and in fear of going against their male counterparts hence remain silent and oppressed. A country without freedom of expression by non-Taliban has efforts by women to communicate their views to governing bodies. Such strictness by rulers and men in the society has hindered efforts for free communication among women and men. This situation is changing as women with the support of their men, actively create awareness in regard to human equality across Afghanistan. Formation of RAWA in 1977 was an effort to eradicate violence against women and air their voices to the world. RAWA is an organization established by women and its goal is to promote Afghan women rights (Silkenat and Shulman 64). The organization major objective is to create awareness throughout Afghanistan concerning plight of girl-child and women. It also aims at reaching as many women as possible by communicating benefits of treating women with equality. Organization airs womens voices through conferences, public campaigns, internet and demonstrations. RAWA efforts have been realized over the years though right of expression by Afghan women is yet to be gained fully. Freedom of women and girls lives Since the seizure of power by the Taliban in Afghanistan, over 9 million women and girls have been denied basic human rights. This government has imposed laws against women citing religious purity while in the real sense it is persecution against women. For instance, Afghan women are not allowed to either go to school or work away from home a move which has led to closure of several schools owing to shortage of teaching staff as prior to the invasion of the Taliban about 70% of the teaching fraternity comprised of women (Afkhami 201). Devastating effects have been advanced towards widowed women who were the only source of livelihood for their families. In case women and girls want to leave their homes, then they must be escorted by a male relative. A whole body covering known as burqa must be worn. Instances of killings and beatings of the women have been witnessed due to failure of the women to be fully covered or escorted. Specific aspects of life on which Afghan women are oppresse d and to be discussed under this heading include education, marriage and dressing Education A large percentage of women in Afghanistan are illiterate due to banning of schooling for all women and successive wars in the nation had completely paralyzed the Education system. During the reign of the Taliban, community schools were opened and ran by women where girls were taught literacy skills, numeracy skills and such like subjects as Biology, English, cooking, and knitting (Zama and Sifton 27). Unfortunately instances of torture and killings of women teachers by the Taliban were witnessed. After the overthrow of the Taliban administration, substantial aid was advanced to the Karzai administration in order to restore the girl-child education. Lack of funding poses major setbacks to girl-child education with many girls opting to drop out as the facilities are not conducive. For instance, the learning facilities under unprotected structures like tents. Lack of women teachers means that majority of the girls do not attend school as their parents fail to place the care of the girls under men teachers. Since most of the girls schools were destroyed during the Taliban administration, girls and boys learn in the same facilities: a move which has caused massive criticism especially from high ranking government officials (Thomsen 184). This largely translates to discrimination and lack of freedom. Several Afghanistan women have consistently risked their lives by running clandestine schools for the women population. From 2001, Education facilities have recorded increased numbers of female students though persistent attacks by the Taliban as well as other forces present in the area continue to demean the progress achieved in the female Education sector. Cases girls dropping from schools before completing primary level education have been witnessed due to early marriages and family obligations Dressing The Afghanistan women have continually suffered turmoil especially in the type of dressing they are supposed to constantly wear. A specialty made traditional garment known as the Burqa which covers the whole body with a small grind for seeing and breathing must be worn by the women. The Burqa is extremely uncomfortable especially during hot weather (Silkenat and Shulman 58). The excessive covering may instigate illnesses such as asthma due to the discomfort of the dress as dust sticks thus enhancing dampness during breathing. The visibility of the wearer is largely limited as the size of the mesh opening does not provide adequate perceptibility. Afghanistan women claim that when they are wearing the burqa, total invisibility is exuded. It is impossible to know the kind of emotion displayed by a woman during normal conversation. Marriage In this patriarchal society, decisions are largely made by men fraternity. Women do not have the freedom to choose their marriage partners. Arranged marriages are largely advanced in this country based on economic and political reasons. Instances of girls being engaged before they are born are widespread (Zama and Sifton 54). The authority of who should marry a girl lies with the father who can opt to wed his daughter to a person who may be very old but rich. In areas badly hit by poverty, girls are sold off or exchanged for meals. Women are treated as properties as once the marriage contract is signed the girl cannot marry another man. In case she dies a suitable replacement must be offered. Violent cases have resulted when multiple betrothing is done so as to collect dowry from several men. Dowry payment is regarded as compensation for the care and upbringing of the bride. A married Afghanistan woman is controlled by the mother-in-law who makes such critical decisions on her behalf as whether to attend hospital or not and the activities to undertake (Thomsen 130). Women do not receive custody of children in case of a divorce. Though obtaining a divorce is largely difficult for women who are in abusive marriages, the divorced Afghanistan women are regarded as outcasts especially due to the Islamic beliefs and traditions. Recommendations Afghan women should fight for a chance to speak out and join others international women who are fighting against women oppression. By communicating their views to their spouses, brothers and the public will be a major start step towards their social life improvement. Freedom of expression is known as an effective tool for resistance against practices that oppress women. Lack of such freedom, means Afghan women may continue to tolerate discrimination by men under religious grounds which are used for personal political benefit. Social oppression can be overcome through speaking out in any context cultural, political or religious. Granting of women rights in education, employment , leadership and other roles in public life come as a primarily result of women expression against discrimination. Opening of communication channels in Afghanistan is a basic step in eliminating injustices that surround lives of many women and girls. Of importance is the right to vote, that has been used by many countries in defining future of women in those countries. I recommend Afghan women to retain and utilize their rights to vote intelligently as it is part of decision making. Through voting women elect leaders in support of their rights therefore acquiring access to equal opportunities similar to those awarded to men. Continued efforts by women by speaking out, eventually leads to liberation of girls and women from oppressive societal rules. Again, society starts to appreciate need to uphold plight of women and girls hence creating a balanced society that pays attention to both genders. International community should offer greater support to women organizations working with minority women at the grass roots. Awareness creations through educational programs are essential effort towards liberation of Afghan women from social, cultural, religious and political injustices in Afghanistan. International support through funding and enlightenment of few educated afghan women should be upheld as away of developing strong women leaders in Afghanistan. Conclusion In conclusion, Afghanistan is a region known for oppression of women and girls in various aspects of life. Existence of connection between Islam and governance of Afghans facilitates dehumanization among Afghan women. Most life rights and expression freedom are denied to female gender despite acceptance by Islam doctrines. Afghan constitutional rights are not upheld due lack of commitment by authorities concerned and political instabilities hence impacting on women by denying them their legal and human rights. International intervention has calmed Afghanistan human situation but majority of Afghan women and girls remain discriminated and repressed. Work-cited Afkhami, Mahnaz. Faith and freedom: womens human rights in the Muslim world. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 1995. Mittra, Sangh and Kunar, Bachchan. Encyclopaedia of Women in South Asia: Afghanistan. New Delhi, India: Gyan Publishing House, 2004 Osmańczyk, Edmund and Mango, Anthony. Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements: T to Z. London, UK: Taylor Francis Press, 2003 Silkenat, James and Shulman, Mark. The imperial presidency and the consequences of 9/11: lawyers react to the global war on terrorism. Westport, U.S.A: Greenwood Publishing Group. 2007 Thomsen, Natasha. Womens rights. New York. U.S.A: Facts On File publisher, 2007 Zama, Coursen-Neff and Sifton, John. We want to live as humans: repression of women and girls in western Afghanistan. Washington, D.C: Human Rights Watch, 2002

Russian-japanese War :: essays research papers

The Russian-Japanese war of 1904 was a European conflict that was fought because one country was becoming too strong. The conflict was mainly fought because two separate countries had their own special interests in far east countries like Korea, China, and Manchuria. Britain and Japan recognized the independance of China and Korea, but at the same time authorized each other to intervene in either territory if their own "special interests" were threatened by another power or by internal disorder. That power was now Russia. There was already a rivalry going on between Britain and Russia because of the Trans-Siberian railway but now there was another dimension. Russia now had access to the pacific. Her presence in Asia threatened already established Britain interests. China leased the ice-free Port Arthur to Russia and allowed them to store their war ships there. The two empires were set on a collision course. Britain was very reluctant to commit herself to a distant threat of war so she took a step to allying herself with the growing industrial power of Japan. In doing so, Britain found her soldiers in the east. At this time Russia failed to realize how powerful Britain and Japan had made themselves. Russia was unable to take Japan seriously even though they had many reports on how large the Japanese naval and military forces were. Unfortunately, Russia's constant penetration into Korea and Manchuria continued unabated despite the presence of numbers of Japanese immagrants and traders. Russia had succeeded in replacing the now defunct Chinese influence with her own. Russia now began taking over the administrative departments and had their officers train the Korean army to fight on their side. In April, May, and June of 1903, Russian's had told the Japanese that they would move out of China. They did not and continued to occupy the land. In July of the that same year, the Japanese Ambassador proposed that Russia and Japan were to recognize the independance of China and Korea. Both nations were to rcognize preponderance, the Japanese in Korea balanced by russians in Manchuria. They were to recall their troops from their respective area as soon as possible. In return, the Russians would protect the railways in Manchuria and the Japanese would do the same in Korea. It came to the attention of the Japanese that the Russians were building up their naval and military forces in the far east. They were also moving troops not only into Manchuria, but also into North Korea. It now became obvious to the Japnese that the Russians had no intention of releasing their hold on Manchuria and Korea. Nevertheless, the negotiations went on. On February 10th, 1904, both nations produced formal declarations of war. On February 8th, a large part of the Russian Pacific squadron lat anchor in

On Dillard’s An American Childhood

Dillard’s essay An American Childhood relives a moment in the author’s past which she could not forget as the particular event stirs a certain kind of awareness within her; something that she still carries and that continues to affect her even as an adult. It is the idea of carrying through a challenge or task that she is facing at the moment with fervor and conviction, of forgetting everything for the sake of the goal however little or even stupid it might seem to others.This theme is put into words when the author describes how during the chase he realizes â€Å"†¦an immense discovery, pounding into my hot head with every sliding, joyous step, that this ordinary adult evidently knew what I thought only children who trained at football know: that you have to fling yourself at what you’re doing. You have to point yourself, forget yourself, aim, dive (par. 12). †In narrating his experience, Dillard uses several techniques, the most obvious of which is when she compares a general event from his childhood (that of playing ball) to a specific one (an incident which happened one winter when he was seven years old). The general event is supposed to provide the point of reflection to the specific event so that the reader would understand the extent to which the specific event affected her later in life.The lessons, the author says, which she learned from being chased relentlessly by an adult is very much like the lessons she learned from playing ball: giving one’s all without regard for everything else including the question as to whether the pursuit is worth it or not. The exhilaration of living the moment and pouring all of one’s energy like that moment is already the essence of existence. Facing defeat doesn’t even matter. She thinks that grown-ups do not understand this idea therefore she is surprised when the man makes her see that even grown-ups could think and act like they children, too.Although making the connection between the two separate scenes creates a profound effect upon the reading of the essay, Dillard’s engaging writing style is the most effective technique which makes the piece interesting to read. There are only two scenes (on playing ball as a kid and the chase between the kids and the adult after the former throw a snowball on the latter’s windshield) but the narrative is very detailed from the names of the author’s childhood friends to the color and model of the car which they hit with a snowball.The emotions of every moment are well-described. The short sentences approximate the breathless quality of the chase. Even the quality of a child’s imagination is captured by the author as she muses on the possibility of keeping up the run until Panama. The introductory paragraph is a description about how to play ball, the strategies of playing it best, and the need to give one’s all in every task be it in throwing the ball or guarding the b ases.It is simply descriptive and does not give a clue that the preceding paragraphs would be a narrative of the author’s experience. This might not hook the reader who prefers narrative texts rather than philosophical musings. However, the subject of the paragraph, which is about playing a sport, would attract the general reader who, more usually than not, would be a football or baseball enthusiast and thus would understand the idea of giving one’s all in the heat of a game.The final paragraph simply recaps the preceding paragraphs. The chase has ended, they have been caught by the adult and lectured upon, and therefore, the story being told has already ended. The preceding paragraphs already finished the story. The final paragraph where the author is musing about the experience, simply wraps up everything. The effect, however, instead of being a redundant ending provides a sense of closure upon the reader and reiterates the main idea that the author would like the re ader to grasp.