Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Sexist Language Definition and Examples

Sexist Language Definition and Examples Sexist language refers to words and phrases that demean, ignore, or stereotype members of either sex or that needlessly call attention to gender. Its a form of  biased language. On the surface level, eliminating sexist language from your writing can be just a matter of word choice or making sure your pronouns arent all he and him. Sentence-Level Revisions Look at your pronouns. Have you used he and him throughout the piece? To revise this out, you can use he or she, or maybe, if context permits, pluralize your references to use the cleaner they and their instead of he or she and his or her in one sentence, as it could become awkward, wordy, and cumbersome. For example, When a person sells a car, he or she needs to locate his or her title paperwork could be more smoothly done by revising to plural: When selling a car, people need to locate their title paperwork.   You can also try and revise out pronouns to be articles. You could locate the title paperwork in the example sentence instead of their paperwork and not lose any meaning.  If  you would like practice recognizing and eliminating sexism from writing, see this  exercise in eliminating gender-biased language. Looking for Bias On a deeper level, youll want to look at details of the piece youre writing to make sure that it doesnt somehow portray all scientists as men, for example. In A Canadian Writers Reference, Diana Hacker wrote, The following practices, while they may not result from conscious sexism, reflect stereotypical thinking: referring to nurses as women and doctors as men, using different conventions when naming or identifying women and men, or assuming that all of ones readers are men. Some job titles have already been revised out of sexist usage in our everyday vernacular. Youll probably more often hear the phrase flight attendant nowadays  rather than the now antiquated-sounding stewardess and hear  police officer rather than policeman. And people dont use male nurse anymore, now that nurses of both genders are a common sight in medical settings. Youll want to look at the undercurrents in your writing. If youre writing fiction, youll look at things like, for instance, are the female characters (or male) portrayed as complex people, or are they used just as plot devices, flat as cardboard stand-ups? Examples and Observations Ensuring parity is an important topic. Here are some examples of the many sides  of the issue, including one where satire helps make the point:   Questions and criticisms of sexist language have emerged because of a concern that language is a powerful medium through which the world is both reflected and constructed....Some have claimed that the use of generics (such as mankind to refer to both men and women) reinforces a binary that sees the male and masculine as the norm and the female and feminine as the not norm...(Allyson Jule, A Beginners Guide to Language and Gender. Multilingual Matters, 2008) Language in Context The language as sexist prong of language and gender studies has faded in the last two decades....It was soon realized that a word could not unproblematically be derided as sexist since it could in principle be reclaimed by a given speech community (queer probably being the most famous actual example).( Lia Litosseliti, Jane Sunderland, eds. Gender Identity and Discourse Analysis. Johns Benjamin Publishing Company, 2002).   Sexist Language in The Office Michael: Okay, so what I want to engage us in today is a hardcore discussion about womens problems and issues and situations. Magazines and TV shows and movies portray women as skinny, tall goddesses. Well, look around. Are women like that? No. No, they are not. [Points to Pam] Even the hot ones arent really that skinny. So what does that say? That says that you women are up against it. And it is criminal. Society doesnt care. Society sucks. I dont even consider myself a part of society, FYI, because I am so angry over all of this....Karen: What youre saying is extremely misogynistic.Michael: Yes! Thank you. That was not necessary, but I appreciate it. And it proves my point: women can do anything.Karen: Im saying that youre being sexist.Michael: No, Im being misogynistic. That is insane, Im not being sexist.Karen: Thats...its the same thing.(Steve Carell and Rashida Jones, Womens Appreciation. The Office, 2007)

Friday, November 22, 2019

Biography of Mata Hari, Infamous World War I Spy

Biography of Mata Hari, Infamous World War I Spy Mata Hari (August 7, 1876–October 15, 1917) was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who was arrested by the French and executed for espionage during World War I. After her death, her stage name Mata Hari became synonymous with spying and espionage. Fast Facts: Mata Hari Known For: Working as a  spy  for  Germany  during  World War IAlso Known As: Margaretha Geertruida Zelle; Lady MacLeodBorn: August 7, 1876 in Leeuwarden,  The NetherlandsParents: Adam Zelle, Antje van der MeulenDied: October 15, 1917 in Paris,  FranceSpouse: Rudolf John MacLeod (m.  1895- 1906)Children: Norman-John MacLeod, Louise Jeanne MacLeodNotable Quote: Death is nothing, nor life either, for that matter. To die, to sleep, to pass into nothingness, what does it matter? Everything is an illusion. Early Life Mata Hari was born Margaretha Geertruida Zelle in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, on August 7, 1876, as the first of four children. Zelles father was a hat maker by trade, but having invested well in oil, he had enough money to spoil his only daughter. At only 6 years old, Zelle became the talk of the town when she traveled in a goat-drawn carriage that her father had given her. In school, Zelle was known to be flamboyant, often appearing in new, flashy dresses. However, Zelles world changed drastically when her family went bankrupt in 1889 and her mother died two years later. Family Breakup After her mothers death, the Zelle family was split up and Zelle, now 15, was sent to Sneek to live with her godfather, Mr. Visser. Visser decided to send Zelle to a school that trained kindergarten teachers so that shed have a career. At the school, the headmaster Wybrandus Haanstra became enchanted by Zelle and pursued her. When a scandal broke out, Zelle was asked to leave the school, so she went to live with her uncle, Mr. Taconis, in The Hague. Marriage  and Divorce In March 1895, while still staying with her uncle, 18-year-old Zelle became engaged to Rudolph John MacLeod after answering a personal ad in the newspaper. (The ad had been placed as a joke by MacLeods friend.) MacLeod was a 38-year-old officer on home leave from the Dutch East Indies, where he had been stationed for 16 years. On July 11, 1895, the two were married. They spent much of their married life living in the tropics of Indonesia where money was tight, isolation was difficult, and Johns rudeness and Zelles youth caused serious friction in their marriage. Zelle and John had two children together, Norman-John MacLeod and Louise Jeanne MacLeod. Both children became quite ill in June 1899. Norman-John died at age 2, but Louise Jeanne survived and lived until 1919. Zelle and John suspected the children may have been poisoned by a disgruntled servant. In 1902, the couple moved back to The Netherlands and soon separated. Their divorce became final in 1906. Off to Paris Zelle decided to go to Paris for a new start. Without a husband, career, and money, Zelle used her experiences in Indonesia to create a new persona, one who donned jewels, smelled of perfume, spoke occasionally in Malay, danced seductively, and often wore very few clothes. She made her dancing debut in a salon and instantaneously became a success. When reporters and others interviewed her, Zelle continually added to the mystique that surrounded her by spinning fantastic, fictionalized stories about her background, including being a Javanese princess and daughter of a baron. To sound more exotic, she took the stage name Mata Hari, Malayan for eye of the day (the sun). Famous Dancer and Courtesan Zelle became famous. All things oriental were in fashion in Paris, and Zelles exotic looks added to her mystique. Zelle danced at both private salons and later at large theaters. She danced at ballets and operas. She was invited to large parties and traveled extensively. She also took a number of lovers (often military men from various countries) who were willing to provide her financial support in exchange for her company. Espionage, Capture, and Execution Zelle was no longer a sleek dancer when in 1916 she started to spy for France during World War I. She was actually 40 years old at the time, and her time as a dancer was long behind her. She fell in love with a Russian captain, Vladimir de Masloff, who was sent to the front and became injured. Zelle wanted to support him financially, so she accepted an offer to spy for France in mid-1916. France thought her courtesan contacts would be of use to its intelligence operation. She began to meet with German contacts. She provided the French with little useful information and may have begun to work for Germany as a double agent. The French eventually intercepted a German cable that named a spy code-named H-21, clearly a code name for Mata Hari. The French became convinced that she was a spy and arrested her on Feb. 13, 1917. She was accused of spying for Germany, causing the deaths of at least 50,000 soldiers, and was put on trial in July 1917. After a short trial conducted in private in front of a military court, she was found guilty of spying for Germany and sentenced to death by firing squad. The French executed Zelle on Oct. 15, 1917. She was 41 years old. Legacy During World War I, Zelles frequent traveling across international borders and her varied companions caused several countries to wonder if she was a spy or even a double-agent. Many people who met her say that she was sociable but just not smart enough to pull off such a feat. The notion that Zelle was an exotic dancer who used her powers of seduction to extract military secrets was false. She was years past her prime as a dancer by the time she agreed to serve as a spy for France- and possibly for Germany. Zelle maintained her innocence up until the time of her death. Sources Shipman, Pat. â€Å"Why Mata Hari Wasnt a Cunning Spy After All.†Ã‚  The History Behind the Killing of Mata Hari, 14 Oct. 2017. NationalGeographic.com.â€Å"Mata Hari.†Ã‚  Biography.com, AE Networks Television, 19 Apr. 2019.The Execution of Mata Hari, 1917. Eyewitnesstohistory.com.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Latin American civilizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Latin American civilizations - Essay Example United States of America. It comprises twenty independent states, six European (France & Netherlands) dependences and two US dependences. According to the American Heritage College Dictionary (3rd edition) the word â€Å"Latin† is derived from the word â€Å"Latium† which refers to an ancient country of west-central Italy bordering on the Tyrrhenian sea dominated by Roman Empire after the 3rd century B. C. As the region is defined with its European ancestry so the people of Latin America do not necessarily feel identify with the region. They tend to identify them with their national identities rather than with a Latin American regional identity.The population of Latin America is an amalgam of ethnic groups with varying composition of European, Amerindian or African origin.The Latin America has remained the home of many indigenous peoples and civilizations, including the notable Maya, Aztecs and Inca, before the colonialism in late15th century. They followed diverse religious thoughts and practices. Following is an account of some important civilization religious thoughts and practices.Mayan Religious Practices.The Maya civilization emerged in Mesoamerica – a region extending south and east central Mexico to include parts of Guatemala, Nicaragua , Honduras and Belize in early 1800 AD and flourished around 300-900 AD. Quiche was the mother tongue of all Mesoamerican and it is still spoken by a large number of Guatemalan indigenous people . The Mayan people had spectacular art and architectural skills with sophisticated mathematical and astronomical systems. The Mayan religious school of thought was based on the cyclical nature of time. Popol Vuh was their sacred book and Mexico and Guatemala was their main religious Centers. Like many ancient civilizations three aspects of cosmos i. e; the underworld, the sky and the earth, were the key features of Mayan religious belief. The caves, mountains and natural wells were considered extremely important geographical features as they were seen connecting the upper and the nether worlds. The influence of Cosmo vision was obvious even in their city planning and architecture. Mayan underworld was dominated by the aged Maya gods of death and putrefaction. The sun god dominated the Mayan idea of the sky. The night sky was considered to be a window showing all supernatural doings. They believed that world had infinite space and it had flat and square shape. They also worshiped the circle, which symbolized perfection or the balancing of forces. The maize god was considered to be the central figure of Mayan religious philosophy and maize life - cycle lay at the heart of Maya people. According to Mayan belief all gods were unbounded and associated with each others. The qualities of these gods and their attributes changed with the passage of time and with cultural influences from other Mesoamerican groups. An important characteristic of Mesoamerican religion was the dualism among the divine entities. The gods symbolized the confrontation between opposite poles: the positive, exemplified by light, the masculine, force, war, the sun, etc.; and the negative, exemplified by darkness, the feminine, repose, peace, etc. Good and bad features were not permanents traits of gods (Maya civilization, 1) . Philosophically, the Maya believed that knowing the past meant knowing the cyclical influences that create the present, and by knowing the influences of the present one can see the cyclical influences of the future. Aztec Religious Thoughts and Practices The Aztecs civilization refers to the Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican people under the control of the Mexico. The Aztec Empire was founded in postclassical era in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries in central Mexico with Tenochtitlan as its capital. The basic theme of Aztec belief was Ometecuhtli - a Supreme Creator, who, according to

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Knowing Imagination, Fantasy and Faith in Essay

Knowing Imagination, Fantasy and Faith in - Essay Example When tight spots emerge, they have nothing to say. Chances are high, that young ladies and young men, will need to know how imagination, fantasy, and faith are being explored and exploited, or put into action as apparently realistic, at times grotesque in some symbolic works of fiction which may serve them well when opportunities surface. In story books, tales often compel the readers to picture things that came to pass and may come about using representations, similar to what authors' do. For example, "Bontshe Shvayg" (146-151), is purely a product of the author's imagination in addition to borrowed ideas from the authors of the scriptures. In 'The Story of a Young Man', "What is the soul' (93), the author projected his mind's thoughts in terms of a boy at the tender age when it comes to the question of what happened to the soul after death. Most readers also who would examine the story are set and framed to view things the way a child would also be able to picture death, soul, and ascension having been given the symbols of water, cloth, 'The Story of a Young Man' (94), "Souls are flying, souls are flying!", flight, and akin to some small birds ways where they can be seen in still pictures portrayed to be seeping some water, wipe its bill on some dry grasses, and then fly and soar high until when it is beyond one's sight. The symbolism may be low key to some, but, it shows how allegories are by themselves effective whether one is young or old to communicate the message that authors want to deliver whether they are appreciated or not. One high-quality approach to discover how imagination, fantasy, and faith are being explored and exploited in a written piece is primarily to learn to characterize the underlying principle behind the script. For example, some readers may not really understand and appreciate White Challah (1-8). When the satirical narrative was written, the author might have been too affected by the idea of not only what is one gist in "White Challah" (1), bigotry, and also "White Challah" (2), hostilities because of differences in faith. Yet, within the congregating community of believers, "White Challah" (2), there also was hierarchies of prominence depicting a group of people, subservient to mere human yearnings. The satire to some extent, "White Challah" (3-8) exposes men's folly when the intellectual abilities are not fully honed to adhere to reason and logic. But, how will the reader know that the narrative used differences in faith and symbolism to expose human weakness For the Jews, "White Ch allah" (8), challah or braided bread is very important table offering during Sabbath as an entwined food, symbolizing mirror images that were once upon a time created by God on earth. Conversely, the Christians believe in God, but, consider, "White Challah" (1), Christ as the manna from heaven. After reading the full text of the story, "White Challah" (1-8), the reader may find that the purpose of the author was to showcase the disparity between the Christian faith and the Jewish faith dwelling in the same nation, and apparently to motivate readers to make decisions on which group would one like to be identified and join given the opportunity. In other words, the author expressed his feelings about the Christians and the Jews while providing information of their activities, persuading the readers

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Best Buy Case Study Essay Example for Free

Best Buy Case Study Essay Best Buy is a multinational corporation with over 4,000 locations nationwide. Circuit City was Best Buy’s only main competition for some years until it took over and ran Circuit City out of business. Best Buy’s market share increased after that however, other large retailers as well as e-tailers entered into the market. Amazon, Target, Wal-Mart and Apple became Best Buy’s new competition that caused a decrease in market sales in 2010. They all had the same thing in common after the Circuit City collapse and that was to increase electronics. They all had their own strategies to out-beat Best Buy. Although Best Buy acquired some more competition in a 2010 survey consumers still said Best Buy is the first to come to mind when they think about buying electronics. However, even though Best Buy is the first that comes to mind against the other competitors, depending on what the product is they will go to Amazon to buy it instead. Due to their strategy which focuses on three areas; customer-centricity, employment policies and exclusive branding, they are keeping up with the competition. Best Buy’s strategies may help them a majority of the time but they could change their strategies just a little bit. They should try what Wal-Mart does and price match ads with other stores so that way they are still getting the profits and keeping customers. In my opinion, Best Buy could improve their strategy when it comes to prices because they are on the higher end of prices. As a consumer myself, I do look at Best Buy first for my electronics but I usually go somewhere else because the prices are usually cheaper. Other than their prices I actually think their strategies are working out good for them and it shows in their rankings amongst other competitors. Consumer electronics is considered a mature industry because of the new trends. This industry hits record sales during the holiday seasons but still says rather well throughout the year as well. All companies associated with this industry try to keep up so they make their own products. However, due to manufactures cannibalizing their products their product life cycle has decreased. Manufactures started doing this to try to keep their consumers  loyalty. When prices start to fall for technology products this opens a bigger demographic; however by time the prices fall for the products they have come up with better products. In order to recapture the growth of Best Buy they should try to fix the prices to fit a bigger demographic. I think if they at least try to work with the consumers with the prices they would gain more customers. The problem is the fact that consumers go elsewhere when they see the prices and do a price match. Amazon became popular with electronics because people f ound out that they could get electronics of all kinds online. Also Amazon has an advantage over Best Buy because with Amazon there is free shipping on products, well on most products. I think if Best Buy tried to adapt some of Amazon’s strategy they can out beat them in the electronics department. If they could be like Amazon and have a limitless inventory online rather than just have their amount of availability on the showroom. If they did this I think they would see growth in their company. They pride their selves in having the most respected name brands in the consumer electronics industry so if they matched the prices with their pride in their brands I see a definite growth in their company. With Best Buy being a well-known company and is the first that comes to mind when talking about electronics, if they had a bigger choice when it came to the products than they might gain some more growth as well to go along with their already loyal customer base. At Best Buy, they offer a selection of energy-efficient products. These products were designed to help their customers around the world save some more money by using less energy. I think with Best Buy becoming more sustainable they are more able to maintain the interest of the stakeholders. With these products the shareholders play a big role in influencing their overall sustainability strategy. The stakeholders help with modeling Best Buy’s annual sustainability reports. So with them adding this strategy and allowing the stakeholders to get the chance to have a part in the strategy they are gaining their interest. Best Buy actually takes the recommendations from their stakeholders and they try to communicate with them in efforts to keep their interest in their decision to incorporate a sustainability strategy. I think this was a good move on their part because it states they were uncertain about Mr. Dunn’s five year growth strategy. The stakeholders  were worried abo ut Best Buy’s cash position and about if these strategies would work or not. Anytime when stakeholders have the opportunity to have a so in a company is a good thing. In conclusion, I believe Best Buy is a great company but can become a better one if they were to do some modifications with their strategies. With the constantly changing economy they need to adapt their strategies to the changes. I’m not saying they would have to always change their strategies but I think they should always try their best to make their strategies fit the customers as well as help the success of the company. With that being said I believe they will receive even better results for the company as well as the consumers.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Free Hamlet Essays: Deception in Hamlet :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Deception in Hamlet Deceit, misleading information, and spying on others can lead to their demise, intentionally or accidentally. The misleading and deceitful instances in the play are indirectly responsible for Hamlets’ death. Claudius misleads Hamlet when he shipped him off to England under the guise of a restful retreat and when he realizes that the new king has lied to not only him, but the people of Denmark about the death of the former king. Hamlets’ deceit comes from his mother, believing that she has betrayed his father’s love by not mourning for long enough after his death, and by marrying Claudius. Spying also causes problems for Hamlet down the line since it leads to the killing of Polonius, and the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Misleading instances in the play occur frequently.The moment when the Ghost tells Hamlet that his death was not accidental and that he was poisoned by Claudius is what starts the trail of lies and murder in the play, ( I;v;74-77 ) "Thus I was sleeping by a brother’s hand†¦/†¦/ cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, unhouseled, disappointed, unaveled." Until the night of the "Mouse trap", Hamlet still has some doubt in his mind about the Ghosts words. As soon as the king reacts negatively to the plot, Hamlet is one hundred percent sure that Clauduis was deceiving the whole country about Old Hamlet’s death; (III ;ii ;267) "O good Horatio, I’ll take the ghost’s words for a thousand pound. Didst perceive?" Hamlet witnesses the king storming out of the play, showing he was affected by the death of the player king, seeing as how the he died the same way as his brother. It is also apparent that Hamlet is out to mislead the general public by putting on a false face. His "antic disposition" allowes him to act without consequence. He is able to appear mad when it is convenient for him, and this allowes him not to raise any suspicion about his actions, ( I; v; 171-172 ) "As I perchase hereafter shall think meet to put on an antic disposition on." After the killing of Polonius, his antic disposition allows Hamlet not to be held responsible. This leads to him being sent away to England under the guise of a trip for rest. Claudius once again deceives Hamlet and his mother by having an alternate agenda.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

For this article, answer the questions below Essay

†¢ Summarize the concept of ecological (demographic) risk as this pertains to families. The researchers saw demographic risk in families where the parents were young, had low incomes, low education, and several children. Families were given scores from 0 – 3 in each of these areas, for a total of 20 points possible. The higher the score, the higher risk the families had of dysfunction. For age, over 24 was â€Å"0,† and below that, every 2 years was a subsequent number (22 – 23 = 1, 20 – 21 = 2, under 20 = 3). Similar scores were applied to income (over $40K is 0), education (bachelor’s degree or more is 0) and number of children (1 or 2 is 0). †¢ How did Kochanska et al. (2007) assess demographic risk? Outline which measures were used and why? Researchers looked at a number of parental characteristic, including socialization, neuroticism, extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness. These criteria were assessed with a self-assessment tool in the parents’ home. It has been shown in other research that high neuroticism is associated with depression and a lack of coping methods, which leads to a negative home environment for children. Researchers theorized that this trait would create more risk within the home. Socialization was the most difficult to measure, as it was actually a measure of several different traits, like outgoingness, happiness, etc. However, parents who scored high in this area reported children who were more securely attached and better behaved, and the researchers’ observations confirmed this. Parents who were more extraverted were generally happier. Conscientiousness related strongly to positive outcomes with children. All of these criteria help to show parents who are more likely to have successful or happy children, although researchers note that some parents who do not exhibit the positive traits also have happy and successful children. †¢ Which are the most significant factors influencing parent-child relations for A) Mothers †¢ Extraversion was a major factor for mothers. Mothers who were not very extraverted tended to discipline their children in a power-struggle way, and this did not accomplish the goal easily. Mothers who were extraverted did not have this problem. B) Fathers †¢ Neuroticism was a major factor for fathers, because fathers scoring high in this area tended to enforce heavy and forceful discipline styles, possibly leading to a disconnect with children. Fathers who scored lower in this area did not have this problem. Discipline styles relate heavily to the way parents and children get along, because correction is a major part of parenting, and parents who cannot effectively correct their children without power struggles or forced-obedience do not have children who are as securely attached. These children may also not learn to monitor themselves.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Briefly Outline the Distinctive Features of the Sociological Approach to Understanding Human Life and the Illustrate How You Would Use Sociology to Make Sense of Globalisation.

Sociology is the systematic, sceptical and critical study of the way that people do things together . It’s not a science that simply lists facts and figures about society. Instead it becomes a form of consciousness, a way of thinking, a critical way of seeing the world. It welcomes you to challenge the obvious, to question the world as it is taken for granted and to de-familiarising the familiar. This is what empowers critical thinking which triggers the development of the understanding of the human life. The aim of this essay is to outline the sociological approach to understanding human life , to explore the different sociological perspectives , to question the reliability of the different forms of research and to emphasise the key elements that make sociology different to other ways of exploring the human life. Finally I shall be illustrating its approach with regards to my biography. Peter Berger distinctive approach to understanding human life was characterised by seeing the general as the particular. This meant that sociologist can identify general patterns of social life by looking at concrete examples of social life. The genesis of this approach is when we realise how the general categories into which we happen to fall shape our particular life experiences. Berger feels that the general impact of society on the actions, thoughts and feelings of particular people are made evident in the way that societies view change over time. For example the views on inequality have changed since the start of the 21st century. Another sociological approach to sociology is seeing the strange in the familiar, â€Å"the first wisdom of sociology is this , things are not what they seem â€Å", Bauman. This is the approach where you have to â€Å"de- familiarise the familiar† , which means that when your approaching to understand human life you have to look at it with a sense that people do not decide what to do but instead society guides their thoughts and deeds. So in essence sociology sets out to show the patterns and processes by which society shapes what we do. C. Wright mills approach to understanding human life was to show that most of our problems were not caused by us but from society. He felt that â€Å"The sociological imagination â€Å" was a way of understanding that social outcomes are shaped by social context. He claims that some things in society lead to certain outcomes. â€Å"when a society becomes industrialised , a peasant becomes a worker . â€Å" Therefore the things we do are shaped by the situation we are in, the values we have. I believe that all three approaches differ ut where they all overlap is in their belief that a person must be able to pull away from the situation and to think from an alternative point of view. To acquire real knowledge is to go against the status quo. 1. ‘The first wisdom of sociology is this: things are not what they seem (sociology global intro p. 5) 2. C. Wright Mills. 1959. ‘The promise’ in The Sociological Imagination New York: 3. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/C. _Wr ight_Mills 4. Macionis, 5th edition , chapter 1 5. Berger, Peter Invitation to sociology . New York , 1963 With regards to perspectives in understanding human life there are two which are prominent. The first is the functional perspective, this recognises that our lives are guided by social structures. It therefore organises sociological observation by identifying various structures of society and investigating the function of each one. This is a building block for theories that see society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. One of the problems I have with this perspective is that it evokes that society is organically stable, I also questions how we can assume that society has a natural order when social patterns change from location and time. The second sociological perspective is the conflict perspective . this analysis points out that, rather than promoting the operation of society as a whole , social structure typically benefits some people while depriving others, for example the rich in relation to the poor. So sociologist such as Marx that belong to this school of thought try to understand society at the same time change it . The problem here is that as this perspective highlights inequality and undermines unity among members in a society. The aim of this perspective is to pursue political goals , it overlooks scientific objectivity. The other side of the sociological approach to understanding human life is to conduct sociological investigation in order to find out what is sociologically true. There are many different areas of thought which have different angles on what is scientifically true. Positivism suggests that sociological/scientific truths are based on empirical evidence. So for example Berger approach of seeing the general within the particular would coincide here. The reliability of sociological truths do have limitations , for example Peter Berger social patterns change constantly, what is true in one society and in one particular time may not hold truth in another. As opposed to the laws of mathematics, they are universal truths and are immutable. This all evaporates to the argument of common sense versus scientific evidence, and leads to conclusions that sociology should adopt a more humanistic discipline when it comes to understanding human life. This is what differentiates sociology when it comes to other ways of exploring human life. The is because sociology pays more tribute to subjectivity, public opinion and examines how individuals behave to social constrains. This is something which is not evident in a scientific truth or theory. I shall now be making sense of my biography using sociology. The first step will be to consider my biography in a broader view. I have a very healthy family structure with both my parents happily married. Although we are catholic my parents have had a liberal approach in bringing me up. We have been a victim of crime when we were living opposite a council estate where they stole my father’s car. I am half Colombian, middle class and male. I believe that this trait has made me part of the sociological movement of Colombians who have immigrated to the west and choose to not be judged on the stereotypical Colombia (drug dealer ) but on the context of our character. I believe in terms of historical context I am part of the second generation of immigrants, this means that I have been given the opportunity to go to university , take advantage of great health care and go to top state schools where I have been able to mix with upper middle class children. I chose to use a historical context because In† the sociological imagination â€Å" , Mills claimed that we can only understand human life by â€Å"locating himself within his period†. This is because he felt that human choices are dictated by the times in which you live . Given the calibre of education I received at 6th form as was able to acquire a placement at a top carbon brokerage in the city . So I have never been effected by the economic downturn in this country . I was bought up in the 90’s the decade where computers/internet became accessible to most people. My parents always encouraged me to learn as much as possible online, aiding me to have extensive financial acumen, making me effective at my internship. I could of easily have stayed at this job but I decided to go to university. I am not a hundred per cent which social norms caused me to do this, was it to be perceived as an intelligent individual with a degree , was it effective government propaganda in order to have less under 21 in the job market or was it to simply promote inequality. A lot of people argue that going to university promotes this because only middle class children who have the money to pay the fees , who have been to top school that have aided their application or have the support of their academic parents are in a head start position compared to ethnic minorities from run down institutions whose parents have no idea of what upper education entails. In conclusion I feel that sociology has an effective approach to understand human life. It uses a humanistic science which develops as society does. The social sciences adopt scientific methods in the investigation of human behavior on the other hand sociology studies human society as Berger would say by â€Å"seeing the general in the particular†. Furthermore sociology encourages us to question the familiar , helping us to separate fact from fiction. You could argue that this is what has triggered the great minds such as Albert Einteirn. Sociology also helps us to differentiate opportunities and constrains that shape our lives , like I did in my biography where I have had the opportunity to attended a reputable state school which has opened many doors for me but I have also faced constrains with being stereo typed as a Colombian drug dealer. Bibliography ‘The first wisdom of sociology is this: things are not what they seem (sociology global intro p. 5) C. Wright Mills. 1959. ‘The promise’ in The Sociological Imagination New York: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/C. _Wright_Mills Macionis, 5th edition , chapter 1 Berger, Peter Invitation to sociology . New York , 1963

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Reagan Doctrine essays

Reagan Doctrine essays There were many things that lead up to the creation of the Reagan Doctrine, which was supposed to help stop a major conflict in the world. Many years before this doctrine was created, there were a major conflict that began with the Communist. Most of the Communistic activities at this time was in the Soviet Union (Russia). In a Communistic nation, the government rules every part of the peoples live, which takes away their freedom and liberty. People who live in it are like slaves who work for the government. Later on, Communism tried to spread to bring all the nations in the world under the rule of a Communistic government. They tried to slowly control each nation one by one, starting with the weak ones, until the Communistic government conquered the whole world. Many tried to resist these foes, and the nations who did were called the Free World, which was mainly led by the United States. Great Britain was another Free World nation. They were also trying to stop Communism. Other countries that were between these two great forces were called the Third World. This side consisted of many different nations around Asia, South America, and Africa. Most of the nations in the Third World were poor. Some of the people in the Third World angrily opposed Communism while others happily accepted it. Even some citizens in one nation might be against each other. To gain allies on their sides, each of the great forces tried to gain them by giving out financial aid or assistance to the Third World nations. This conflict which began about 1945 was know to be called the Cold War. This ongoing conflict between the free word and Communist lasted for a long time. Unlike other wars, which was fought mostly with heavy military weapons and fast actions, this war was mostly fought with words, diplomacy, ideology, and argument. Of course, there were some battles with weapons but not as muc...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Understanding Stockholm Syndrome

Understanding Stockholm Syndrome Stockholm syndrome develops when people are placed in a situation where they feel intense fear of physical harm and believe all control is in the hands of their tormentor. The psychological response follows after a period of time and is a survival strategy for the victims. It includes sympathy and support for their captors plight and may even manifest in negative feelings toward officers who are trying to help the victims. Situations in which the victims have displayed this kind of response have included hostage situations, long-term kidnappings, members of cults, prisoners of concentration camps, and more. Key Takeaways: Stockholm Syndrome People exhibiting Stockholm syndrome become protective of their captors, even to the point of foiling the police efforts at their rescue.The syndrome is not a named disease in any manual but rather a description of peoples behaviors whove been traumatized over a period of time.While hostages and kidnapping victims can exhibit these behaviors, so can people in abusive relationships or members of cults. Origin of the Name The name Stockholm syndrome was derived from a 1973 bank robbery (Kreditbanken) in Stockholm, Sweden, where four hostages were held for six days. Throughout their imprisonment and while in harms way, each hostage seemed to defend the actions of the robbers. As an illustration of the hostages strange thoughts and behavior under psychological distress, History.com presents this example: [T]he hostage recounted to the New Yorker, How kind I thought he was for saying it was just my leg he would shoot.† The hostages even appeared to rebuke efforts by the government to rescue them. They pled for the captors not to be harmed during the rescue and orchestrated ways for that to happen. Immediately following the incident, the victims couldnt explain to psychologists their sympathetic feelings and lack of anger and hatred toward their captors. Months after their ordeal had ended, the hostages continued to exhibit loyalty to the robbers to the point of refusing to testify against them as well as helping the criminals raise funds for legal representation. They even visited them in prison. A Common Survival Mechanism The response of the hostages intrigued behaviorists and journalists, who, following the incident, conducted research to see if the Kreditbanken incident was unique or if other hostages in similar circumstances experienced the same sympathetic, supportive bonding with their captors. The researchers determined that such behavior was common among people whod gone through similar situations. A psychologist whod been involved with the Stockholm hostage situation coined the term Stockholm Syndrome, and another defined it for the FBI and Scotland Yard to enable officers to be able to understand that possible aspect of a hostage situation. The study of the condition helped inform their negotiations in future incidents of the same type. What Causes Stockholm Syndrome? Individuals can succumb to Stockholm syndrome under the following circumstances: The belief that ones captor can and will kill him or her. The feelings of relief by the victim for not being killed then turn to gratitude.Isolation from anyone but the captorsThe belief that escape is impossibleThe inflation of the captors acts of kindness into genuine care for each others welfareThe passage of at least a few days in captivity Victims of Stockholm syndrome generally suffer from severe isolation and emotional and physical abuse also demonstrated in characteristics of battered spouses, incest victims, abused children, prisoners of war, cult victims, procured prostitutes, slaves, and kidnapping, hijacking, or hostage victims. Each of these circumstances can result in the victims responding in a compliant and supportive way as a tactic for survival. It is similar to the reaction from brainwashing. Victims show some of the same symptoms as those who have post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), such as insomnia, nightmares, difficulty concentrating, distrust of others, irritability, confusion, a sensitive startle reflex, and a loss of pleasure in once-favorite activities. Famous Cases In the year following the Stockholm bank incident, the syndrome was widely understood by the masses because of the case of Patty Hearst. Here is her story and other more recent examples: Patty Hearst Patty Hearst, at age 19, was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA). Two months after her kidnapping, she was seen in photographs participating in an SLA bank robbery in San Francisco. Later a tape recording was released with Hearst (SLA pseudonym Tania) voicing her support and commitment to the SLA cause. After the SLA group, including Hearst, was arrested, she denounced the radical group. During her trial her defense lawyer attributed her behavior while with the SLA to a subconscious effort to survive, comparing her reaction to captivity to other victims of Stockholm syndrome. According to testimony, Hearst had been bound, blindfolded, and kept in a small, dark closet, where she was physically and sexually abused for weeks before the bank robbery. Jaycee Lee Dugard On June 10, 1991, witnesses said they saw a man and a woman abduct 11-year-old Jaycee Lee Dugard by a school bus stop near her home in South Lake Tahoe, California. Her disappearance remained unsolved until August 27, 2009, when she walked into a California police station and introduced herself. For 18 years she was held captive in a tent behind the home of her captors, Phillip and Nancy Garrido. There Dugard gave birth to two children, who were ages 11 and 15 at the time of her reappearance. Although the opportunity to escape was present at different times throughout her captivity, Jaycee Dugard bonded with the captors as a form of survival. Natascha Kampusch In August 2006, Natascha Kampusch from Vienna was 18 years old when she managed to escape from her kidnapper, Wolfgang Priklopil, who had kept her locked in a small cell for more than eight years. She remained in the windowless cell, which was 54 square feet, for the first six months of her captivity. In time, she was permitted in the main house, where she would cook and clean for Priklopil. After several years of being held captive, she was occasionally allowed out into the garden. At one point she was introduced to Priklopils business partner, who described her as relaxed and happy. Priklopil controlled Kampusch by starving her to make her physically weak, severely beating her, and threating to kill her and the neighbors if she tried to escape. After Kampusch escaped, Priklopi committed suicide by jumping in front of an oncoming train. When Kampusch learned that Priklopil was dead, she cried inconsolably and lit a candle for him at the morgue. In a documentary based on her book, 3096 Tage  (3,096 Days), Kampusch voiced sympathy for Priklopil. She said,  I feel more and more sorry for him- hes a poor soul. Newspapers reported that some psychologists suggested Kampusch may have been suffering from Stockholm syndrome, but she does not agree. In her book, she said the suggestion was disrespectful of her and did not properly describe the complex relationship that she had with Priklopil. Elizabeth Smart More recently, some believe Elizabeth Smart fell victim to Stockholm syndrome after her nine months of captivity and abuse by her captives,  Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee. She denies that she had sympathetic feelings toward her captors or captivity and explained that she was just trying to survive. Her kidnapping is portrayed in the 2011 Lifetime movie, I Am Elizabeth Smart, and she published her memoir, My Story, in 2013. She is now an advocate for child safety and has a foundation to provide resources for those whove suffered traumatic events. Lima Syndrome: The Flip Side When captors develop feelings of sympathy for their hostages, which is rarer, its called Lima syndrome. The name comes from a 1996 Peru incident during which guerrilla fighters took over a birthday party for Japanese Emperor Akihito, given at the home of the Japanese ambassador. In a few hours, most of the people had been freed, even some of the most valuable to the group. Sources Alexander, David A.,  and  Klein, Susan. â€Å"Kidnapping and Hostage-Taking: A Review of Effects, Coping and Resilience.† Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, vol. 102, no. 1, 2009, 16–21.Burton, Neel, M.D. What Underlies Stockholm Syndrome? Psychology Today. 24 March 2012. Updated: 5 Sept. 2017. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hide-and-seek/201203/what-underlies-stockholm-syndrome.Conradt, Stacy. The Bank Robbery Behind Stockholm Syndrome. Mental Floss. 28 August 2013. http://mentalfloss.com/article/52448/story-behind-stockholm-syndrome.Elizabeth Smart Biography. Biography.com. AE Television Networks. 4 April 2014. Updated 14 Sept. 2018. https://www.biography.com/people/elizabeth-smart-17176406.Inside Jaycee Dugards Terror Tent. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/inside-jaycee-dugards-terror-tent/5/.Klein, Christopher. The Birth of Stockholm Syndrome, 40 Years Ago. History.com. AE Television Networks. 23 Aug. 2013. https://www.history.com/news /stockholm-syndrome. Stump, Scott. Elizabeth Smart on the one question that wont go away: Why didnt you run? Today.com. 14 Nov. 2017. https://www.today.com/news/elizabeth-smart-one-question-won-t-go-away-why-didn-t118795.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

International Transport Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

International Transport Law - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that for anyone who is not familiar with the particularities of international transport law, it may appear strange that it is important to distinguish between the varied modes of transport and establishing laws or regulations. Â  In fact, the peculiarity presented by the contract of carriage is slightly overshadowed by specific legal regimes applicable only to some modes of transport. Similarly, the mandatory rules or regulations of liability have been restricted to matters relating to the carriage such as liability for damage or loss of the goods. It also concerns liability for delay in delivery of goods leaving out issues and matters of greater importance for the end users, such as shipment delay, the failure to perform contractual obligations as well as the right of remuneration for carriers. Conventionally, particular legal regimes, relevant to varied modes of transport, have resulted in some problems in the transport sector. While at the beginning clients would be contented to conclude a particular contract of carriage by ship, air, road, or rail, it is currently owing to the advancement of international carriage of goods, often inappropriate, whether one mode or usage of different modes to move the goods from point to another is used. Therefore, a client may be contented to conclude an agreement where there is an unspecified mode of transport. In this case, it has to be considered whether the contract will have to be carriage sui generis or international convention will have to apply.