Optimism and Health Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Optimism and Health Paper - Essay Example This article studies the impact of optimism on physical and emotional well being. In this regard, the article provides a detailed literature review and analysis, which takes into account quite a number of relevant studies and articles. The introductory part informs the writer about three different theoretical arguments on optimism. The first among these is that by Carver and colleagues who define optimistic people as individuals having a disposition towards optimism who indulge in more frequent protective attitudes, therefore they are not so vulnerable to stress and possess better coping strategies also. The second view point presented in this portion of the article is that of none other than Seligman, who argues that external, specific and stable positive attribution styles among the optimists contribute in optimists turning out to have better coping skills than pessimists. A third view point presented in this regard (Weinstein, 2005) states that optimism is actually a distortion of reality and calls it unrealistic optimism, which can occur either as a defense mechanism to protect one’s self esteem or due to cognitive factors like lack of insufficient knowledge or a poor critical insight. The main body follows the theoretical introduction. This is divided into four parts each under separate headings. The first part reports that researchers have found out that depression and suicidal ideation are inversely related to optimism (Velden  et al; 2007); and that psychotherapy which promotes optimism can enhance the mental health of people at risk, specially the post traumatic individuals (Giltay  et al; 2004). The second part is about optimism and physical health. Five studies are highlighted which support the conviction that optimism has a positive effect on physical health and helps in recovering from and preventing diseases like: AIDS, heart diseases and cancer. Some contradictory findings are also presented in this article. These findings suggest that though optimism may have a short term positive effect on health, it causes long term negative changes in the immune system due to unrealistic attribution style (Schofield  et al, 2004 & Tomakowsky  et al, 2001). The article also includes research that highlights the coping skills which optimists tend to use. Summarizing the fin dings of these studies; such coping styles include: acceptance of situation, positive assessment of situation and use of humor to lighten up the situation. Next section of the article deals with the impact of optimism on quality of life. Many studies have been reviewed by the authors in this regard. The findings of these studies suggest that optimists usually enjoy a better quality of life as compared to pessimists and score high on the physical as well as mental health related quality of life measures. The article further pursues the role of risk perception in optimism related physical and mental health. Most studies in this context revealed that optimi sts tend to perceive themselves as not being at risk or facing very little risk of diseases (McKenna  et al, 1993). The article ends with a concise conclusion that optimism plays an important role in the physical and mental well being of individuals. The authors have also recommended the use of psychotherapy that aims at optimism in order to reduce the risk of physical and mental health issues. 3. VALIDITY OF THE STUDY The article seems quite valid to me. It has covered

Nature vs. Nurture Essay Example for Free

Nature vs. Nurture Essay Homosexuality, Addictions and Intelligence There have always been disputes on whether the decision to be homosexual or heterosexual was based on biological or environmental factors. These disputes are known as the Nature vs. Nurture argument. The two sides argue over how gender is chosen within a person. Based on reproductive organs, sex is easily determined at birth: male or female. Gender, however; is the sexual identity an individual takes on. It is possible for sex and gender to be different. For an example of nurture children who were both born with an injured or damaged reproductive organ, males usually can be raised successfully as females. In order to understand which factor is the deciding factor of a person’s gender, both sides of the case must be fully evaluated. DNA studies which appear to prove that gender is a genetic trait. Researchers have analyzed the makeup of the human brain of homosexuals and heterosexuals seeking a connection between gender and the brains physiology. They found when studying the part of the brain directly related to a persons’ sexual drive, that homosexuals had an enlarged hypothalamus, whereas heterosexuals had a normal one indicating a direct correlation between the brain and gender selections (AllPsych). In researching DNA’s role in gender identity, some scientist have identified the gene that determines a person’s sexual preference. Although there are mounting evidence of the existence of a â€Å"gay gene, â€Å"the opposition denies the existence (AllPsych). People in support of the Nurture argument claim that is an individual conscious or subconscious decision as to his or her gender identify. While many claim that people may control their sexual orientation, their brain, and not the other way around are actually controlling them. A person DNA and brain physiology control sexual preference which may be associated in the amygdale of the limbic system (Pscyhsmart). When scientist castrated the rats, stopping the creation of androgen, the male rats became submissive. When the androgen was given to the female rats, they began to display masculine behaviors. This experiment resulted in the male rat being submissive and allowing the female rat to  mount the male, unlike the normal male rat that would mount the female when engaging in reproduction ( Lippa 102). Similar to humans, if male do not have proper balance of hormones with his body, he may show feminine traits. These hormones are a biological aspect of gender that affects the decision to be homosexual or heterosexual. On the other hand, for the purpose of this discussion, addiction can take many forms, including not only substance use disorders, but also pathologic gambling, bulimia, and a host of other disorders. Dependency, abuse, and addiction are used relatively interchangeably; however, there is ongoing debate within the field regarding the best terminology. Furthermore, differences in how these phenotypes are surrounded can have an impact on the results of gene discovery efforts. Genetic loci that have been consistently associated with various forms of substance addiction, as well as those that demonstrate relevance to pharmacologic treatment. While the nature vs. nurture debate has raged, is the contribution of interactions between genetics and environment. In reality, gene expression is environment dependent and it impossible to obtain pure estimates of genetic vs. environmental contribution one could not exist without the other. The environment a child experiences is partly a consequence of the child’s genes as well as external factors. To some extent a person seeks out and creates his or her environment. If she is of a mechanical bent she practices mechanical skills; if a bookworm, she seeks out books. Thus genes may create an appetite rather than an aptitude. Remember that the high heritability of short-sightedness is accounted for not just by the heritability of a gene for short sightedness but by the heritability of literate habits. Conversely, on the discussion of intelligence, there are three facts about the transmission of intelligence that virtually everyone seems to accept: 1. Both heredity and environment contribute to intelligence. 2. Heredity and environment interact in various ways. 3. Extremely poor as well as highly enriched environments can interfere with the realization of a persons intelligence, regardless of the persons heredity (Sternberg Grigorenko, 1997, p.xi). Intelligence that appears to relate to ability to reason abstractly, to learn and to adapt. In closing, homosexuality, addictions and intelligence have reliable  statistical relationships with important social phenomena, but they are a limited tool for deciding what to make of any given individual. As stated by Ridley, Mother Nature has plainly not entrusted our genetic capacities to the blind fate of a gene or genes; she gave us parents, learning, language, culture and education to program ourselves with. WORKS CITED: Johnson, Ryan D. AllPsych (2005). â€Å"Homosexuality: Nature or Nurture†. Ridley, M. (1999). Genome: The autobiography of a species in 23 chapters. London: Fourth Estate Ltd. Sternberg, R. J., Grigorenko, E. (Eds.) (1997). Intelligence, heredity, and environment. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Trouble Down South Essay -- US-Mexico Border

Early in our school years we are taught the importance of staying away from drugs and their harmful effects. We live in a nation surrounded by drugs and the culture that surrounds them. Drugs inhabit our everyday lives through the mediums we come in contact with on a daily basis. Most people cannot go through their day without running into a drug reference of some sort on their phones or televisions. However, with all the drugs in our nation, many Americans do not take the time to wonder where they came from or how they got here. The most common answer is the U.S.-Mexico border (Gootenberg 2). As officials worry about the number of illegal immigrants that sneak into the nation, they seem less concerned about the amount of drug content that is smuggled in as well. With high-powered groups such as Los Zetas and the Sinaloans controlling Mexico’s drug world with violence and terrorism, our southern neighbor has a problem that has remained uncontrollable for the past twenty years (Gootenberg 4). Mexico has not always been infested with drugs. The current drug problems stem back to the cocaine boom of the 1980s in Columbia and U.S. efforts to eliminate trades in the 80s and 90s (Gootenberg 1, 2). During the boom, Columbian drug systems were organized in major cities such as Miami and New York. As the mid-80s approached, there were an approximated 22 million cocaine users in the United States (Gootenberg 2). With such success came a rapid expansion of the cocaine market, and it also led to more competition. As this competition rose, the Columbians were forced to insert hit men into the U.S to fight off their Cuban rivals (2). The violence caused by the Columbian markets forced the U.S. president to get involved. Presidents such as Rea... ...iven a broader base in the U.S. President Calderon is visibly unable to control the cartels in his own country, and is in dire need of some assistance. It is a responsibility of the United States to help its’ neighbor before it is too late. Mexican drug cartels have been rising to power since the demise of the Medellin cartel in 1980. They came to power thanks to the blowback effect caused by the United States (Gootenberg 3). With recent U.S. presidential decisions, our nation is doing little to help its neighbor (Kellner and Pipitone 37). Mexico has been left to find its own solution; it will be up to the minds of president Calderon and his fellow governors to find a peaceful way to eliminate the terror that has gripped their nation by the throat. That is, if the competition and hunger for territory and power don’t cause the cartels to destroy each other first.

Morality and Lagoon Literary Essay

The Lagoon is a story about a man who visits an old friend; they had been fighting in a war and became good friends since then. Nevertheless, a long time had passed without knowing much about each other, and these friends have a lot to talk about. The consequences of a selfish decision seem to doom the life of a man who suffers pangs of conscience. A story written by Joseph Conrad, who is considered one of the greatest novelists of the English Literature, shows how vulnerable and unstable the human morality can be. What sort of desire would make a man betray his own brother? The selfish desire of a man who pursued love, happiness and peace with her beloved woman would be one of the answers. â€Å"There is a time when a man should forget loyalty and respect. Might and authority are given to rulers, but to all men is given love and strength and courage†. (Page 8) The strong love he felt for her, made him to go beyond the limits. His beloved brother supported him; he bravely became selflessly involved in his brother ´s love venture for they had always been very loyal to each other since they were children. Therefore, selfishness and cowardice were stronger than brotherhood. Arsat was so focused on escaping with his woman that he seemed to forgot how much he loved his brother, he did not noticed it, he was risking his life and also the others ´. â€Å"There is half a man in you now – the other half is in that woman. I can wait. When you are a whole man again, you will come back with me here to shout defiance. We are sons of the same mother†. (Page 9) But these words seemed to have been ignored by him, because what he seemed to have had in his mind was not love really, but obsession. â€Å"I longed to be with her in a safe place beyond the reach of men’s anger and of women’s spite. My love was so great, that I thought it could guide me to a country where death was unknown, if I could only escape from Inchi Midah’s spite and from our Ruler’s sword†. (Page 9) Thus, his obsessed mind led him to the despicable betrayal of his brother who loved him. When the plan was being executed by the three of them, the situation turns out really bad. His brother was about to be caught by the guards and the weak loyalty he had for his brother in that moment of doubt and fear, was influenced by his selfish obsession which encouraged him to push the canoe and scape without his brother. His brother was left to his fate in spite of the desperate shouts he cried. â€Å"! I am coming! The men were close to him. I looked. Many men. Then I looked at her. Tuan, I pushed the canoe! [†¦]I heard him cry my name twice; I never turned back†. (Page 10) He could bear all those years without thinking on what he had done to his brother because of his woman, but she was about to die and now he seems to be dying too. The day he betrayed his brother, seemed to have doomed the rest of his life and certainly it did. His woman was suffering of a strange disease and died. He desperately tried to recover her but his efforts were useless. And the past comes back to his mind every moment. Although he hopes to find his road to follow, he may not escape from his conscience, a nightmare he will have to face till the day of his death.

Feminist Perspective Essay

Feminist Perspective in â€Å"The Awakening† In The Awakening, Chopin describes how the perfect man or woman should look according to society. The Awakening was published in 1899 which â€Å"aroused a storm of controversy for its then unprecedented treatment of female independence and sexuality, and for its unromantic portrayal of marriage. † (Chopin, 1899, Note) Women were expected to be obedient housewives and a doting mother to their children. The statement; â€Å"If it was not a women’s place to look after children, who’s on earth was it? (Chopin, 1899, chap 3) denotes what the woman’s responsibilities are in a marriage. Chopin uses the characters: Edna, Leonce, Madame Ratignolle and Robert Lebrun to show how marriage, independence, equal rights and freedom are portrayed in the novel, The Awakening. Leonce Pontellier was a forty year old, slender, medium built man with straight brown hair parted to one side. When Chopin describes, â€Å"since it seemed to be the law of society that hair must be parted and brushed† (Chopin, 1899, chap 4) it shows how society expects a man’s appearance to be. Leonce was away on business often and would send a box full of fruits, bon bons, and delicious syrups in abundance. Mr. Pontellier was often away from home on business trips. To make up for the time spent away from home he would send these luscious treats. The women were envious of how much Mr. Pontellier cared for Edna. Chopin best describes how other women see Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier’s relationship when she states; â€Å"selecting with dainty and discriminating fingers and a little greedily, all declared that Mr. Pontellier was the best husband in the world† (Chopin, 1899, chap 3) while sharing the tasty treats sent. Mr. Pontellier was a very materialistic man and even when he looked at his wife after being in the sun states â€Å"you are burnt beyond recognition, he added, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of property which has suffered some damage. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 1) shows how men view their wife in that era. Men liked their woman to be flawless and devoted to their family. In today’s society that would be considered a â€Å"trophy wife†. Leonce is great at providing for his family, but disregards his wife’s feelings. One example of how Mr. Pontellier is inconsiderate of his wife’s feelings is when she asked him if he would be coming home for dinner and his response was; â€Å"he halted a moment and shrugged his shoulders. / He did not know; perhaps he would return for the early dinner and perhaps he would not. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 1) However, when Edna â€Å"abandoned her Tuesdays at home, and did not return the visits of those who called upon her. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 14) and begins painting, he views her as mentally unbalanced, which he seeks advice from a doctor. â€Å"Mr. Pontellier had been rather courteous husband so long as he met certain tactic submissiveness in his wife. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 14) In other words as long as Edna does what is expected of society he would be happy. In the late 1800’s the man’s job was to provide for the family and the woman’s job was to care for the house and children. Mr. Pontellier was your typical man of that era. Edna Pontellier was a young woman of twenty eight, who’s â€Å"eyes were quick and bright; they were yellowish brown, about the color of her hair. / She was rather handsome than beautiful. (Chopin, 1899, chap 2) In the story, The Awakening Chopin describes Edna as â€Å"an American woman with a small infusion of French† (Chopin, 1899, chap 2), however it was â€Å"lost in dilution. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 2) Edna was in an unhappy marriage with Leonce and throughout the story begins to find her inner self at the Grand Isle. Chopin uses different symbols thro ughout the story to help us understand Edna’s state of mind. Edna did not fit in with the rest of the Creole women. Chopin describes Edna as â€Å"not a mother-woman† (Chopin, 1899, chap 4) indicating that she is not a dedicated mother like the other Creole women. Mrs. Pontellier, though she had married a creole, was not thoroughly home in society of the Creoles. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 4) The Creole women were known for; â€Å"fluttering about with extended, protecting wings when any harm, real or imaginary, threatened their precious brood. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 4) Edna has a quadroon nurse, whom looks after the children who â€Å"was looked upon as a huge encumbrance† (Chopin, 1899, chap 4) leaving one to believe that because of the time period that the quadroon nurse is black. In this era women were dedicated to their children and husband, however Edna defies the norms of society when she doesn’t obey these rules. Edna is fascinated by the beauty and mothering portrayed by Madame Ratignolle and forms a bond with her in the summer at Grand Isle. â€Å"Madame Ratignolle was very fond of Mrs. Pontellier and often she took her sewing and went over to sit with her in the afternoons. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 4) â€Å"Mrs. Pontellier liked to sit and gaze at her fair companion as she might look upon a faultless Madonna. (Chopin, 1899, chap 5) Madame Ratignolle was the perfect Creole woman and Edna looked to her for guidance. Madame Ratignolle is an example of an acceptable woman in this time period. However Edna realizes she is not like the other Creole women and searches within herself for independence. As a woman in the late 1800’s early 1900’s life had many challenges, especially for those who seek independence. It was unlikely for a woman to neither voice her opinions if she were unhappy in a marriage nor choose who to marry. In The Awakening, Edna’s father pushed her into marriage with Leonce. She describes her marriage as â€Å"purely an accident† (Chopin, 1899, chap 7) and with â€Å"the violent opposition of her father and her sister Margaret to her marriage with a Catholic, and we need seek no further for the motives which led her to accept Monsier Pontellier for her husband. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 7) In this era women had very little equal rights and were unable to stand their grounds on their beliefs in fear of rejection from society. In the summer at Grand Isle Edna begins to develop a negative attitude towards marriage. During the summer at Grand Isle, Edna learns how to swim, which begins her â€Å"awakening†. Edna views the sea as calming and way to escape from reality. Even when Edna isn’t at the beach she thinks about the sounds of the waves to comfort her. As Edna looks at the sea she thinks about the â€Å"motionless sails against the blue sky, made a delicious picture I just wanted to sit and look at. / The hot wind beating in my face made me think – without any connection that I can trace — of a summer day in Kentucky, of a meadow that seemed as big as the ocean to the very little girl walking through the grass, which was higher than her waist. (Chopin, 1899, chap 7) The sea reminds Edna of being a little girl without having to carry the heavy load of society. She felt freedom through the waves as they hit the shore. After Edna goes for her first swim, she is overjoyed and yells: â€Å"Think of the time I have lost splashing like a baby! † (Chopin, 1899, chap 5) This was the beginning of the end for her. This night is the first night that Edna stands up to her husband when he asks her to come in for the night while she was resting on the hammock. Edna replies; â€Å"No; I’m going to stay out here. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 6) Mr. Pontellier wasn’t used to Edna not doing what is asked. Edna hears Leonce moving about the room; every sound indicating impatience and irritation. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 6), which signifies Leonce is frustrated that Edna wasn’t submissive as usual. Edna had spent some time with her father which stirred up the feelings as to why she didn’t want to attend her sister’s wedding. Following the advice given to Mr. Pontellier by the Dr. Mandelet’s declined to intervene in her decision. As her father left Mr. Pontellier was not far behind and began talking to her father about Edna’s behavior. Edna’s father told him â€Å"You are too lenient, too lenient by far, Leonce† (Chopin, 1899 chap 29) â€Å"Authority, coercion are what is needed. / Put your foot down good and hard; the only way to manage a wife. / Take my word for it. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 29)This statement shows how men view women with little respect and freedom. It had to of taken a lot for Edna to stand up to her father and tell him no, when he was such an authority to her in life. Edna’s newfound freedom has found her venturing out and doing things she enjoys. She goes to a horse race with Mrs. Highcamp at Arobin’s drag. This is where she meets a man named Alcee Arobin. She begins to spend a lot of time with sharing her interest of horse racing. Through their constant visits Alcee begins experiencing feelings for Edna. Alcee kisses her hand as he leaves her house in the evening. After he is gone she looks â€Å"mechanically at the back of her hand which he had kissed so warmly. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 25) As Edna looked at her hand â€Å"she felt somewhat like a woman who in the moment of passion is betrayed into an act of infedility, and realizes the significance of the act without being wholly awaken from its glamour. (Chopin, 1899, chap 25) When Edna is thinking this she is not referring to her husband, but of Robert whom she fell in love with at the Grand Isle. During this time period divorce wasn’t a choice. Edna continues to fall into the arms of Alcee as they spend time together. Chopin describes the relationship developing into more than just a friendship; however Edna love and s exual desires for Robert are being portrayed with Alcee. Affairs were a forbidden and inexcusable act in the eyes of society. After this night Edna cried which â€Å"was only a phase of the multitudinous emotions which assailed her. / There was with her an overwhelming feeling of irresponsibility. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 28) This signifies that she is feeling remorseful for her doings; however her feelings for Robert are still strong. She then makes a big step and moves out into the pigeon house around the corner. Edna moves out of her home to the pigeon house and begins to support herself through her paintings. This was absurb of a woman moving out of her home away from her husband. When Mr. Pontellier learned of his wife’s intention to abandoned her home and take her residence elsewhere, he immediately wrote a letter of unqualified disapproval and remonstrance. † (Chopin, 1899, chap32) He was worried about â€Å"what people would say. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 32), so he put their house under construction to hide the fact that Edna moved out. For the time being Leonce remains away on business while Edna is living in the pigeon house. â€Å"No longer was she content to â€Å"feed upon opinion† when her own soul had invited her. (Chopin, 1899, chap32) Edna feels independent and full of life. During this time Robert returns from Mexico and Edna reveals her love to him, â€Å"I love you†, she whispered, â€Å"only you; no one but you. / It was you that awoke me last summer out of a life-long stupid dream. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 37) She defies the rules of society by loving one other than her husband, whom she was supposed to love and adore forever. However after revealing her love to Robert she leaves the house to attend to her friend who has become ill and asks him to wait for her to return. When Edna returned home there was a note left from Robert stating; â€Å"I love you. Good-by – because I love you. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 33) Robert did what was the right thing to do in society by leaving because they both would have been shunned for their affair. After reading the letter it appeared as though Edna went into shock. Chopin describes her as she â€Å"grew faint when she read the words. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 33) The next day she decides to go for a little swim and as she was walking she said to herself over and over again, â€Å"To—day it is Arobin; to—morrow it will be someone else. (Chopin, 1899, chap 34) and was also thinking about words shared with Adele Ratignolle, â€Å"she would give up the unessential, but she would not sacrifice herself for her children. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 34) She wasn’t going to sacrifice her life any longer for anybody. Edna interprets the sea as being, â€Å"seductive, never ceasing, whis pering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander in abysses of solitude. † (Chopin, 1899, chap 34) As she continues to walk along the beach doesn’t find anything living except for a â€Å"bird with a broken wing was beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water. (Chopin, 1899, chap 34) The bird symbolizes Edna, broken. She strips away her clothing and walks into the cold ocean naked like a new-born creature, never looking back. In conclusion, it is clear throughout the novel society portrays how men and women should look. The men with their perfect hair and the women doing as they should when directed by their husband are the perfect people in that era. However Edna goes against all the rules of society when she begins going against all of her husband’s wishes and gains confidence along with independence. Society was not ready to face the strength of a woman yet. Therefore, Edna felt very alone in the world with nowhere to turn. She took her life in the very place she discovered her soul because it was the only place she truly felt alive and free. Reference Chopin, K. , (2005), The Awakening, (1899), published by Hayes Barton Press, a division of Vital Source Technologies, Inc. , Retrieved from digital library, September 16, 2011 http://digitalbookshelf. southuniversity. edu/#/books/L-999-70979/pages/17443484

Australian Constitutional Crisis of 1975 essays

Australian Constitutional Crisis of 1975 essays Australian constitutional crisis of 1975 I will never forget that day, 11 November 1975 to be exact. To me it is a day of rememberance. This whole contraversial issue began when the the Senate blocked a bill that appropriated funds for the payment of government expenditure, with the goal of forcing the Government to call a lower-house election. Such action was unprecedented in Australian Federal politics. My party ignored such calls, and attempted to pressure Liberal senators to support the bill and also explored alternative means to fund government expenditure. On October 14: Minerals and Energy Minister, Rex Connor, resigns after being shown to have misled Parliament over ongoing negotiations for overseas loans with Tirath Khemlani. He is replaced by Paul Keating. On October 15: Every metropolitan newspaper in Australia calls on the Government to resign. Fraser announces that the Senate will delay the two money bills until Whitlam calls an election. On October 16: The Senate blocks the money bills, whilst the House of Representatives passes a motion of confidence in the government. On October 16-November 8: The Parliament debates the constitutional crisis, with the House consistently reaffirming its confidence in the government. Both sides of politics conduct rallies around the country. Public opinion polls show a swing to the government. The Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, speaks with both me and Fraser on a number of occasions. On November 10: The Chief Justice of the High Court, Sir Garfield Barwick, a former Liberal Government minister, sees the Governor-General. Later, he gives Kerr a letter that the Governor-General releases the next day to support his decision. On November 11: the Governor-General of Australia dismissed me from my leader ship and appointed the Opposition Leader, Malcolm Fraser, as the care-taker Prime Minister on the conditions that Fraser would call for a general election. ...

A Literary Review of Everyday Use by Alice Walker

A Literary Review of Everyday Use by Alice Walker American writer and activist Alice Walker is best known for her novel The Color Purple, which won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. She has written numerous other novels, stories, poems, and essays. Her story Everyday Use originally appeared in her 1973 collection, In Love Trouble: Stories of Black Women, and has been widely anthologized since. The Plot of 'Everyday Use' The story is narrated in the first-person by a mother who lives with her shy and unattractive  daughter, Maggie, who was scarred in a fire as a child. They are nervously waiting for a visit from Maggies sister, Dee, to whom life has always come easy. Dee and her companion  boyfriend arrive with bold, unfamiliar clothing and hairstyles, greeting Maggie and the narrator with Muslim and African phrases. Dee announces that she has changed her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo, saying that she couldnt stand to use a name from oppressors. This decision hurts her mother, who named her after loved ones. During the visit, Dee lays claim to certain family heirlooms, such as the top and dasher of a butter churn, whittled by relatives. But unlike Maggie, who uses the butter churn to make butter, Dee wants to treat them like antiques or artwork. Dee also tries to claim some handmade quilts, fully assuming shell be able to have them because shes the only one who can appreciate them. The mother informs Dee that she has already promised the quilts to Maggie. Maggie says Dee can have them, but the mother takes the quilts out of Dees hands and gives them to Maggie. Dee then leaves, chiding the mother for not understanding her heritage, and encouraging Maggie to make something of yourself. After Dee is gone, Maggie and the narrator relax contentedly in the back yard. The Heritage of Lived Experience Dee insists that Maggie is incapable of appreciating the quilts. She exclaims, horrified, Shed probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use. For Dee, heritage is a curiosity to be looked at and something to put on display for others to look at, as well. She plans to use the churn top and dasher as decorative items in her home. She plans to hang the quilts on the wall, [a]s if that was the only thing you could do with quilts. She even treats her own family members as curiosities. She takes numerous photos of them, and the narrator tells us, She never takes a shot without making sure the house is included. When a cow comes nibbling around the edge of the yard she snaps it and me and Maggie and the house. But Dee fails to understand that the heritage of the items she covets comes precisely from their everyday use their relation to the lived experience of the people whove used them. The narrator describes the dasher as follows: You didnt even have to look close to see where hands pushing the dasher up and down to make butter had left a kind of sink in the wood. In fact, there were a lot of small sinks; you could see where thumbs and fingers had sunk into the wood. Part of the beauty of the object is that it has been so frequently used, and by so many hands in the family, suggesting a communal family history that Dee seems unaware of. The quilts, made from scraps of clothing and sewn by multiple hands, epitomize this lived experience. They even include a small scrap from Great Grandpa Ezras uniform that he wore in the Civil War, which reveals that members of Dees family were working against the people who oppress[ed] them long before Dee decided to change her name. Unlike Dee, Maggie actually knows how to quilt. She was taught by Dees namesakes Grandma Dee and Big Dee so she is a living part of the heritage that is nothing more than decoration to Dee. For Maggie, the quilts are reminders of specific people, not of some abstract notion of heritage. I can member Grandma Dee without the quilts, Maggie says to her mother. It is this statement that prompts her mother to take the quilts away from Dee and hand them to Maggie because Maggie understands their history and value so much more deeply than Dee does. Lack of Reciprocity Dees real offense lies in her arrogance and condescension toward her family, not in her attempted embrace of African culture. Her mother is initially very open-minded about the changes Dee has made. For instance, though the narrator confesses that Dee has shown up in a dress so loud it hurts my eyes, she watches Dee walk toward her and concedes, The dress is loose and flows, and as she walks closer, I like it. The mother also shows a willingness to use the name Wangero, telling Dee, If thats what you want us to call you, well call you. But Dee doesnt really seem to want her mothers acceptance, and she definitely doesnt want to return the favor by accepting and respecting her mothers cultural traditions. She almost seems disappointed that her mother is willing to call her Wangero. Dee is possessive and entitled as her hand close[s] over Grandma Dees butter dish and she begins to think of objects shed like to take. And shes convinced of her superiority over her mother and sister. For example, the mother observes Dees companion and notices, Every once in a while he and Wangero sent eye signals over my head. When it turns out that Maggie knows much more about the history of the family heirlooms than Dee does, Dee belittles her by saying, Maggies brain is like an elephants. The entire family considers Dee to be the educated, intelligent, quick-witted one, and so she equates Maggies intellect with the instincts of an animal, not giving her any real credit. As the mother narrates the story, she refers to Dee as Wangero. Occasionally she refers to her as Wangero (Dee), which emphasizes the confusion of having a new name and also pokes a little fun at the grandness of Dees gesture. But as Dee becomes more and more selfish and difficult, the narrator starts to withdraw her generosity in accepting the new name. Instead of Wangero (Dee), she starts to refer to her as Dee (Wangero), privileging her original given name. When the mother describes snatching the quilts away from Dee, she refers to her as Miss Wangero, suggesting that shes run out of patience with Dees haughtiness. After that, she simply calls her Dee, fully withdrawing her gesture of support. Dee seems unable to separate her new-found cultural identity from her own long-standing need to feel superior to her mother and sister. Ironically,  Dees lack of respect for her living family members as well as her lack of respect for the real human beings who constitute what Dee thinks of only as an abstract heritage provides the clarity that allows Maggie and the mother to appreciate each other and their own shared heritage.

Editing †A Tough-Love Statement

Editing – A Tough-Love Statement Here lately, the discussion from readers seemed  to be centered about where to find an editor (for cheap), or in some cases, just finding someone who will read a manuscript and offer feedback. My answers are pretty clear: 1) Hire an editor (and be willing to pay what it costs), and/or 2) Trade services with another writer on your level or higher (and be willing to invest time into their manuscript), and/or 3) Carefully select/start a critique group and be patient enough to workshop the story over time. Any wallet can work with one of more of those options. If you want someone to read your work, either pay for it or critique in return. We cant just be takers. But back to hiring an editor. Its tricky to find one you appreciate and can afford. A cheap editor doesnt always offer iffy quality. And an expensive editor doesnt always get it right. Thats why word of mouth is valuable when finding an editor. You want that conduit between someone you trust and the party youre hiring. Sometimes it takes more than one, or two. Which is why so many people ask me who I recommend. How do I get my edits done?  (Even with dachshunds in my lap?) 1) First, Im not a bad editor in my own right, so my manuscripts are fairly clean. Yours need to be, too. 2) Second, I used to use two critique groups, then outgrew them. With my first several novels, these two groups were invaluable. If you are in this stage, hunt high and low to find one or two that fit. Search online, too. And stick with them for a couple years or more. 3) Third, I gravitated to beta readers. Just a couple of serious critiquers, and I seriously critiqued their manuscripts in kind. 4) Fourth, I ultimately hired the strongest beta reader I knew. That is the stage Im in now. Being under contract, I cannot afford the time delay of a group. 5) Fifth, I am traditionally published, so I know my publishers editor will beat it up again another three or more times. For those who will ask (and those who already   have), the beta reader I use is now hiring herself out for edits. She is one of two editors at  Two-Step Approach, where youll receive two editors feedback on your manuscript. I love this combination because you receive two opinions for the price of one. Both of these women have reviewed my novels. One of them has critiqued every novel Ive ever written, and she knew me before I was published. I still use these two ladies for developmental edits, even with a traditional press. There are many fine editors out there. There are many fine critique groups. And many authors have synced with strong beta readers. It takes time (and sometimes money), but the resources are there. So, you invest time or money into edits, or both. Time is invaluable to everyone. Remember that fact when you ask people to read your manuscript . . . and how often you would do the same for someone else. And if you dont have the time, or feel you dont have the talent to critique someone else, then pay for it.

Creating Academic and Professional Success Essay - 3

Creating Academic and Professional Success - Essay Example This determination has made strong in life and helped me in taking decisions which I have not regretted. Choosing the path of success in my professional life has become an aim for me because of this very strong determination and I think if I utilize it in the correct manner I’ll be able to achieve what I aim to. But as said by Christopher Moore "Nobodys perfect. Well, there was this one guy, but we killed him....". It clearly depicts that I personally have my own weaknesses in achieving my goals. All over these years I have realized that learning something is not easy for me. It takes time for me to learn things which others learn in a while. But this weakness can easily be overcome if I give all of my attention to my goals. This attention helps me to not only learn and understand things but also to excel in these things. The main problems which I face with my life are regarding the division of time. Because I have my own wife to take care of it is quite difficult for me to divide my time when it comes to my work and household. But here again I have realized every problem has a solution to it and thus I have several opportunities to cope up. I can make my wife understand my problems and divide my time accordingly. It would help me to give more attention to my goals and aims which would then be easily

Professional investment tear sheet for four companies (in my Essay

Professional investment tear sheet for four companies (in my dissertation) - Essay Example Being one of the biggest petrochemical companies in the world, the companty has done extremley well to be the most profitable company in the Middle East. It is also one of the leading suppliers of thermoplastics in the world. The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation is a pulic company headquartered in Riyadh. 70% of the company is owned by the government and 30% is owned by the public. The company has its operations spread over 40 countries and its main business segments are chemicals, plastics, fertilizers, metals and innovative plastic. The recommendation would be to buy the share of Dow Chemical. Even though the current price is $26.96, the targetted price is $42.35 and this is approxiamtely 60% more than the current price. Therefore it would be beneficial to buy the shares now. American based Dow Chemical is the biggest chemical corporation in the world. Dow Chemicals has a diverse range of products and services that include chemicals, plastic materials and agricultural products. With over 50,000 employees the company is operational in over 160 countries. The recommendation for DuPont shares would be to hold the shares. There is a slight difference (increase of 7%) from the current price to the targetted price. Therefore, it would make financial sense if the shares are held and not sold right now. America based, DuPont is a chemical company. With its operations spread over continenets: North America, South America, Europe and Asia Pacifc, it has around 60,000 employees world over. It has wide range of diverse products and services wich include electronics and communications, nutrition, safety and protection, agriculture, home and construction, apparel and

What does it mean to be Canadian Is it worth it for the Chinese to Essay

What does it mean to be Canadian Is it worth it for the Chinese to come here and build Canadian Pacific Railway - Essay Example Although the people come from a diversified background, they identify themselves as being Canadians and having attributes which makes them proud to be associated with Canada. To a great extent, a key role is played by the television, media, and literature in promoting feelings of nationalism and unity within Canadians despite their varied backgrounds. In particular, emotions have been creatively used to have an overwhelming impact on its audiences in order to stimulate feelings of patriotism and loyalty towards Canada (Burke, 104-107). Canadians take pride in belonging to a country which has a fascinating social, cultural, and historical background and they have a positive attitude towards the country (Cohen, n.pag.). Its inhabitants may be different in appearance however all Canadians share similar values and encourage the expression of personal beliefs and thoughts on their identity as a Canadian. Marusya Bociurkiw in Feeling Canadian: Television, Nationalism and Affect examined th e part played by television in the construction and dissemination of feelings of nationalism among its inhabitants. Canada has often been described as being similar to the USA however American and Canadian sentiments as to what it means to be a Canadian differs greatly. It is also important to account for the considerable diversity present in the Canadian society. Burke analyzes how Bociurkiw has considered sensory and emotional aspects of television content and how a sense of national belonging is created through the television programs (104-107). Television provides a great way of connecting the public with the society through affective perceptions. A documentary film by Robert Cohen named Being Canadian is in the making which addresses the crucial question of what it means to be a Canadian (Cohen, n.pag.). The documentary is based on several interviews with Canadians while on a journey across Canada. This journey provided Cohen with a deep insight regarding the perception of peop le about being a Canadian. The responses make up the documentary and explain how positive people are about being a Canadian and the pride they take in belonging to this land. However, after generations of immigrants in Canada, it seems that the cultural value and the sense of Canadian identity is reducing among its dwellers. The creators of the documentary explore the Canadian territories and the invaluable assets which Canada is proud of. Along the way, several Canadians have been interviewed to describe the qualities, attributes, and values involved in being a Canadian and what it means to them. Diakiw in his essay considers the role of school in forming a feeling of Canadian identity as children try to assimilate the cultural values under Canadian settings (2). Although many immigrants have developed a sense of affiliation with the culture and identify themselves as Canadians, many are facing identity crisis as a result of mixed values and the multi-cultural nature of the country . Schools act as important educational centers for the dissemination of political and cultural views and because of a diversified community there is not single perspective of political or cultural view being communicated. Since schools are central curators of national outlook, it is necessary that schools are regulated in what they want to promote (Diakiw, 5). The Canadian government has promoted a multi-cultural policy and has developed easy procedures encouraging immigrants to migrate to

How does this piece of literature reflect on modern life Essay - 1

How does this piece of literature reflect on modern life - Essay Example The play ends tragically leaving the reader in a somber mood. The piece is so captivating on the chronology of the events and at the same time very educative. Morally and applicability of the story in modern life is so relevant and evident. Racism which are demonstrated at the beginning of the play when Othello is getting married to Desmoden is still biting us to date. The vice has not been eliminated yet from the global community. Revenge which is never the best way to solve problems is used b Iago, against Othello for the fact that he did not appoint him as the second in command. As we can read through, the ending of all such happenings is not good at all, therefore, denouncing revenge as a way to solve problems. There is a need to put a rationale place before attempting anything. The irrational decision and actions by Othello saw a whole bunch of people loses their lives. By entertaining the accusations from Iago, end to the solidifying of Iago needs to torture Othello and hence the tragedy at the end of the play. The conspiracy plotting effect, therefore, isn’t the means used to achieve ones ends. That all leaves the both parties as losers, therefore, there is a need to stick to the moral obligation and maintain the standards(Appignanesi, Osada, and

Current state of the U.S banking industry Research Paper

Current state of the U.S banking industry - Research Paper Example It is also responsible for issuing the dollar (J. P. Morgan 12). Basically the US is dominated by three types of banks and these are; Commercial banks, credit unions and savings and loans associations. These institutions present a full variety of services to persons, companies and governments. Commercial banks vary in size ranging from global to local and even small society banks with ATM locations. lately, online banks which presents services by means of the internet have surfaced (J. P. Morgan 43). Are also referred to as thrift institutions, and are the next major faction of depository organizations. They were primarily established as society footed organizations to fund mortgages for the community. Eventually, the difference linking savings banks and commercial banks has vanished. Credit unions are another form of a depository organization. They are created by a group of persons who share a general interest. Loans and savings accounts are only limited to associates or members. They are not meant to make profit and they are headed by members who are elected as the board. These are government organizations dealing with numerous economic services like controlling banking business, making and applying the state’s monetary plans. They use monetary policies to encourage financial development and border inflation. During phases of slower financial activity, the Federal Reserve might augment the supply of money by buying government securities plus additional assets. It as well encourages financial enlargement by lowering interest costs for loans. It may fight inflation through sale of securities and increasing interest rates (Zhang 45). Interest from advances is the main cause of returns for the majority banks. Money loaned by banks comes mainly from customer plus company deposits. These deposits frequently make interest for the proprietor by ways such as online payments cheques. The U.S. government regulates the money in banks by

How does this piece of literature reflect on modern life Essay - 1

How does this piece of literature reflect on modern life - Essay Example The play ends tragically leaving the reader in a somber mood. The piece is so captivating on the chronology of the events and at the same time very educative. Morally and applicability of the story in modern life is so relevant and evident. Racism which are demonstrated at the beginning of the play when Othello is getting married to Desmoden is still biting us to date. The vice has not been eliminated yet from the global community. Revenge which is never the best way to solve problems is used b Iago, against Othello for the fact that he did not appoint him as the second in command. As we can read through, the ending of all such happenings is not good at all, therefore, denouncing revenge as a way to solve problems. There is a need to put a rationale place before attempting anything. The irrational decision and actions by Othello saw a whole bunch of people loses their lives. By entertaining the accusations from Iago, end to the solidifying of Iago needs to torture Othello and hence the tragedy at the end of the play. The conspiracy plotting effect, therefore, isn’t the means used to achieve ones ends. That all leaves the both parties as losers, therefore, there is a need to stick to the moral obligation and maintain the standards(Appignanesi, Osada, and

Discrimination in the Legal Profession Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Discrimination in the Legal Profession - Essay Example Legal profession requires autonomy and independent functioning because legal system is a free activity. A legal professional has to execute his day-to-day activities continuously and effectively to the best of his ability. Usually only qualified lawyers render legal assistance. Now paralegal service is becoming popular; but there too, person needs qualifications and has to clear prescribed examinations.Lawyers have to offer legal advice, draft documents like wills, statements, contracts and represent their clients. They are also responsible for drawing up requests, pleadings, complaints, and motions. Definitely they are not allowed to carry out any activities that are detrimental to their profession. Unless otherwise determined by law, organisation would take up action against professionals who are not fully qualified to render legal assistance. Lawyers also have the right and duty to undertake any action, law permitting, for the benefit of their client. Lawyers can substitute for on e another at times of emergency or difficulty. Lawyers can deny legal assistance if clients are defying code of conduct or organisational code of ethics, or blatantly ignoring legal advice. If organisation gives a special duty to a solicitor, he can refuse it if it does not fall under the purview of his specialisation and can cancel a Power of Attorney and hence, legal professionals enjoy freedom and individuality.Safekeeping and returning of documents, signing documents with the seal of law office, protection of confidences.... If organisation gives a special duty to a solicitor, he can refuse it if it does not fall under the purview of his specialisation and can cancel a Power of Attorney and hence, legal professionals enjoy freedom and individuality. Safekeeping and returning of documents, signing documents with the seal of law office, protection of confidences and secrets, providing data available are part of duties imposed on lawyers by professional organisation. They are protected from arrests (unless they commit criminal activities), their offices cannot be easily searched without prior consent of a competent court, which will keep organisation informed of the search and Organisation's representatives should be present during the search. And during such a search, secret documents could not be violated as it might be injurious to the clients' cause and evidence obtained through such search cannot be used in the court against the client. Organisation allows the attorneys to charge according to the gravity of the case and even though there are definite rules governing the remuneration, mostly lawyers charge according to importance of case and client. Also lawyers are allowed to reimburse themselves from the deposited cash; but the immediate settlement of remaining cash is their responsibility. Organisation keeps data of their offices, change of addresses and situations, joint offices, affiliations of legal professions. Legal organisational membership is mandatory and organisations are the face of legal profession of that country. Usually organisations advice liability insurance contracts to its members. Solicitors who mainly work in magistrate and county courts, barristers who usually work in Crown Courts, legal executives and judges

How slaves were affected Essay Example for Free

How slaves were affected Essay When the African Americans were introduced to slavery, they didnt accept what was happening to them and how they were being treated, but as time passed working for their masters, not only physical, but mental abuse took its toll and soon they began to believe the way they were living was normal and alright. Punishment played a giant role in slave life. It showed the consequences of not doing what was asked or disobeying their master thus instilling fear in every single slave the owner possessed. Charity Anderson recalls, But honey chile, all white folks warn t good to dere slaves, cause Ise seen poe niggas almos toe up by dogs, and whipped unmercifully, when dey didnt do lack de white folks say. Mary Reynolds remembers, I seed them put the men and women in the stock with they hands screwed down through holes in the board and they feets tied together and they naked behinds to the world. Solomon the [sic] overseer beat them with a big whip and massa look on. The niggers better not stop in the fields when they hear them yellin. They cut the flesh most to the bones and some they was when they taken them out of stock and put them on the beds, they never got up again. These two accounts show just what these poor slaves had to deal with. They were constantly watched, and felt that if they just as much as gave a superior a wrong look, they would be beaten, or even worse, killed. Of course slaves saw this as inhuman but had no choice to obey as their masters said. There is much evidence that shows how quick they learned to do as they were told and after a period of time, many slaves accepted the idea of being just thata slave. This transformation started with the servants becoming fearful. Surviving was a game of smarts, hard work, and willpower. In order to live, slaves would allow their masters to beat and punish them without questioning so as not to risk a painful and senseless death. Snitching on other slaves who planned to escape was a good way to show their masters how loyal they were. Many slaves went as far as calling their masters nice and sometimes even boasting about their masters to other servants on different plantations. These small acts helped many stay alive but living oppressed lives affecting their minds and emotions forced themselves to cope with their sadness. Singing was common among slaves to express themselves and their hardships. Frederick Douglass recollects, They told a tale of woe which was then altogether beyond my feeble comprehension; they were tones loud, long, and deep; they breathed the prayer and complaint of souls boiling over with the bitterest anguish. The servants shared their feelings with each other through these hymns and so it made them strong enough to have the willpower to keep living by obeying and doing as they were told. Dogs lived a better life than many slaves, We had very bad eatin. Bread, meat, water. And they fed it to us in a trough, jes like the hogs. And ah went in may [sic] shirt till I was 16, nevah had no clothes. And the flo in ouah cabin was dirt, and at night wed jes take a blanket and lay down on the flo. The dog was supeior to us; they would take him in the house. -Richard Toler. The serfs accepted that they lived worse than dogs and at this point, it becomes evident that slaves began accepting th e life of slavery. They knew escaping was a bad idea because they would have no shelter, food, or clothes. If they were caught, they would be in the worst kind of trouble so they were forced to keep living the oppressed life. Being beaten and abused had them physically and mentally feeling that they were a lower race. Being intimidated all of the time had a harmful affect and they started to see slavery as acceptable. Their owners didnt allow them to read or write so living with a roof over their head made them feel privileged. Mr. William McNeill says, The escaped slaves were always trailed down by hounds; they never got away, there were always some good slaves to tell on others. I was glad when the slaves gained their freedom, even though we had a large number and lost plenty of money. They made many people rich and got nothing but punishment as a reward. They tell that some of the masters were good but I never did see a good one. This man is one that didnt buy into slavery and kept his mind from being brainwashed like many other slaves. He knew deep down that slavery was wrong and kept the truth in his reality. Even after the slaves were freed, life for them wasnt as great as they hoped it would be and they soon realized that being freed was near as bad as being slaves. Being freed toyed with their minds; just like they became slaves and felt out of place in the beginning, they were put into another  tough position to have to readjust once again. An after, soon after when we found out that we was free, why then we was, uh, bound out to different people. Anall such people as that. An we would run away, an wouldn stay with them. Why then wed jus go an stay anywhere we could. Lay out a night in underwear. We had no home, you know. We was jus turned out like a lot of cattle. You know how they turn cattle out in a pasture? Well after freedom, you know, colored people didn have nothing. Colored people didnhave no beds when they was slaves. We always slep on the floor, pallet here, and a pallet there. Jus like, uh, lot of, uh, wild people, we didn, we didn know nothing. Didn allow you to look at no book. An there was some free-born colored people, why they had a little education, but there was very few of them, where we was. An they all had uh, what you call, I might call it now, uh, jail centers, was jus the same as we was in jail. -Fountain Hughes. This man described how, after being freed, he and his family lived the life that nomads lived. They traveled around aimlessly, trying to find any place they could possibly stay. He described themselves like cattle which was an understatement because cattle could at least count on being fed. They could eat the grass of the land but the newly freed slaves would be lucky if they could find a piece of fruit. The freed slaves had no money, no beds like Fountain said, no education, basically they had nothing to call their own. Living free was as if they were living in jail Hughes thought, and many others agreed. An my father was dead, an my mother was living, but she had three, four other little children, an she had to put them all to work for to help take care of the others. So we had what you call, worse than dogs has got it now. Dogs has got it now better than we had it when we come along. -Richard Toler. Families were torn apart when all members had to work in order for the family to be able to buy the essential necessities they needed to live. Toler said dogs have better lives now than the lives of black families after being freed which shows just how much of a mess the south was in. Many white people did not accept this idea of freeing the slaves so this had many colored people feeling insecure and out of place. Some white people would go out of their way to try and hurt the colored people like the KKK did.  Frederick Douglass talks about the idea of trust in Getting Help from Others He said he met an Irishman who felt it was a pity for Douglass to be a slave. He then told Douglass to run away to the north where he would find friends there to help him. I pretended not to be interested in what they said and treated them as if I did not understand them; for I feared they might be treacherous. White men have been known to encourage slaves to escape, and then, to get the reward, catch them and return them to their masters. Douglass had this distrust when he was a slave but these feelings were carried on even after people like Douglass were freed. They felt they could not trust anyone but their own people. This idea is seen in the Tar Baby story as well. The main purpose of this tale was to show black people that they shouldnt go out of their way to talk to others. It was better to keep their mouths shut and thoughts to themselves because opening up to white folks could only get them into trouble. Since the colored people did not fit in, they kept to themselves which didnt seem like true freedom. Douglass also said in Thoughts of Escape that he and the slaves rather bear those ills we had, than fly to others, that we knew not of. Once he and every other slave was freed, this is essentially what happened. They had to move and re-adapt to new ills and complications which challenged them as slavery had challenged them once before. The whole time being slaves, black people finally started believing that slavery was what they were meant to do and it was alright for them to be treated at a lower level. Setting them free in an unaccepting world with no help or direction forced them once again, to cope with new problems and start a new theory about what it was they were really supposed to be doing or could be doing if it wasnt working and slaving for the white man.

An approach to historical analysis

An approach to historical analysis Introduction In Part III of ‘The Mediterranean (1949), Braudel, placed history of events low in his value hierarchy, while in his two biographies on Charles V and Philippe II (Braudel 1994 Exrits sur lhistoire II), he demonstrated his deep understanding of traditional history. Braudel departed from the commonly accepted views of traditional history and postulated the longue dur ´ee and conjoncture perspectives. With his understanding of existing theories Braudel was able to exposed structural images of important themes which were in it-self a landmark in historiography. Fernand Braudel (1902-1985) Braudel in ‘Capitalism was not interested in details from both archives and secondary literature rather he embarked on the premise of complex images within a chosen framework. This he was able to accomplish by classifying capitalism into three levels, that is, daily life market activities; production and exchange within the national market; international capital flow and trade at the world economy level. Braudels Historiography A main feature in understanding Braudels historiography is the assimilation of time and space in analyzing historical events. In addition to this methodology Braudel has elucidated new concepts which enable an understanding of time and space individually. To fully appreciate his contribution it becomes paramount to enter into discussion the way history was analyze in a conventional setting. Historical Concepts Longue Dur ´Ee, Conjuncture, Event-History, Economie-Monde And Total History Conventionally history was seen through the lens of a linear time frame or either emphasized historical changes in different geographic areas. Braudel on the other hand, applied a set of historical concepts for example, dur ´ee, conjoncture, event-history, economie-monde and total history to subjects such as the Mediterranean world and engender significant insights into history. In analyzing historical time Braudel has promulgated long-term (longue dur ´ee), mid-term (conjuncture) and short-term (event-history) views which simply demonstrates the possibility that several concepts of historical time can co-exist within a single particular subject which is being analyzed. When analyzing historical space Braudel emphasized the economie-monde and this concept he proceeded to analyze as the economic-world that is not defined by either politics or cultures but by the exchange of goods and services. Interestingly, Braudel considered both temporal and spatial elements and proceed on the premise that these four concepts are intermarried in such a way; culminating in what he termed ‘total history that is historie totale or histoire globale. Longue Dur ´ee In an even more positive vein Braudel concept of historical time relied on allotments. In other words, Braudel has taken a century or longer as a unit of analysis and calls this longue dur ´ee. Ten to fifty years he calls conjuncture whilst short calendar time is subsumed into another allotment. Capitalizing on calendar time which is no stranger to traditional history and utilizing conjuncture which is a term used in economics, but extended by Braudel to non-economic aspects of history such as social and cultural changes. Braudel then extended the concept of longue dur ´ee; thus claiming that longue dur ´ee is a most suitable tool when investigating the slow changing and structurally stable aspects of history. In so doing he has fundamentally permitted the advantages of each method to compliment each other and minimized their inadequacies. With an astute understanding of the existing historical theories Braudel in reviewing longue dur ´ee elucidated, â€Å"It was when I was constructing my book on the Mediterranean I was led to divide the times of history according to their different speeds, according to different temporalities. I think there are actually rapid times, longer times, and almost immobile times. But it was in the end of this course, not by a preliminary operation, that I arrived at this conception of time of history. Similarly, the longue dur ´ee of which I am the advocator, it was an artifice by which I was escaped from certain tangible difficulties. I did not think to longue dur ´ee before writing my book on the Mediterranean†, (Braudel, 1978, pp 244-5). Perhaps Braudel was so zealous about longue dur ´ee due to his sojourn in captivity during World War II. He wrote: â€Å"I myself, during a rather gloomy captivity, struggled a good deal to get away from a chronicle of those difficult years (1940-5). Rejecting events and the time in which events take place was a way of placing oneself to one side, sheltered, so as to get some sort of perspective, to be able to evaluate them better, and not wholly to believe in them. To go from the short time span, to one less short, and then to the long view (which, if it exists, must surely be the wise mans time span); and having got there, to think about everything afresh and to reconstruct everything around me: a historian could-hardly not be tempted by such a prospect†, (Braudel, 1969, pp 47-8, and p 77). Conjoncture Conjoncture is a French word and there is no English equivalent. It is in this vein that the Petit Robert French dictionary explains that conjuncture is a, â€Å"Situation resulting from an encounter of circumstances and which is considered as the point of departure of an evolution, an action†. â€Å"The study of conjuncture is to study an occasional situation as opposed to structure in view of a prevision†. This explanation swims in the same stream as Braudels since his theory is based on changes and mutations in economic factors, for example, population growth, production output, and price changes. According to Gemelli, and Braudel it is also used to describe social trends, for example, â€Å"conjuncture, paysanne, conjuncture seinneuriale†, (Gemelli, 1995 p 107 and Braudel, 1991 p 48). This economic perception of Braudel led him to proceed on the premise that, â€Å"†¦ the term conjoncture, †¦ suggest possible new directions for research and some te ntative explanatory hypotheses. †¦ Conjunctural analysis, †¦ is however one of the necessary means of historical explanation and as such, a useful formulation of the problem†, (Braudel â€Å"The Mediterranean† pp 892, 899). These converging lines of evidence enable the concept of conjuncture to develop since as he so succinctly stated, â€Å"Traditional history, with its concern for the short time span, for the individual and the event, has long accustomed us to the headlong, dramatic, breathless rush of it narrative. The new economic and social history puts cyclical movement in the forefront of its research and is committed to that time span side by side with traditional narrative history, there is an account of conjunctures which lays open large sections of the past, ten, twenty, fifty years at a stretch ready for examination†, (Braudel, 1969, p 27,and p 29). Event-History The structured way of writing history was the method of using exact dates, names, cause-consequences and places. Braudel interestedly rejected this approach since he wanted to analyze and by extension sound harmonies with the overall environment, structure and movement; so as to yield an impersonal and collective aspects of historical changes. Braudel later developed an even greater interest in specific events as can be evidenced from a passage from his notes and his conception about events. Quoting from his personal notebook (f*23), undated, entitled â€Å"LHistoire, mesure du temps (History, measure of time)†. The notebook belongs to the Archives Braudel and may still not be public. Braudel mentioned the State of Bahia (Brazil) in this passage and it is well known that he taught at Sao Paulo University during 1936-1937. It stands to reason therefore, that this idea was documented before he wrote â€Å"The Mediterranean†, â€Å"One evening, in the State of Bahia, I suddenly found myself being surrounded by a tremendous number of fireflies. They were lighting here and there, more or less in high place, countless, just like many too brief sparkles, but shed sufficient light to see the landscape. This is so with events†, (Gemelli, 1995:84 / Braudel, 1969:10). This metaphor aptly describes that events are like the light from fireflies which is often brief and weak. Many criticized Braudel, for example, Hargor in 1986, but for others he was truly the master of event-history. Fuelled by a changed attitude by the 1960s Braudel wrote, â€Å"Every event, however brief, has to be sure a contribution to make, to light up some dark corner or even some wide vista of history. I am by no means the sworn enemy of the event. In the first place, this kind of history tends to recognize only important events, building its hypotheses only on foundations which are solid or assumed to be so. Another is the event with far-reaching consequences and repercussions as Henri Pirenne was fond of remarking†, (Braudel, â€Å"The Mediterranean†, pp 901-902). Economie-Monde (Economic-World) Braudels concept of economie-monde was inspired by German geographers, that is, by the work of Friz Rorig Mittelalterliche Weltwirtschaft: Blute und Ende Einer Weltwirtschaftsperiode 1933, (Gemelli, 1995, p 125 / Capitalism III p 634 note 4). At the time of this conception Braudel was in the thinking process of â€Å"The Mediterranean†. During this period however, he perceived that the Mediterranean world was a kind of economie-monde, and this was later expressed in â€Å"The Mediterranean† at pp 418 419. Relative to this, Braudel made a clear dichotomy between economie-monde (economic-world, a huge network of economic exchanges) from economie mondiale (world economy, which refers to such as the global impacts of the Oil Shock of the 1970s). It is evident that Braudel embarked on the premise that the economic-world model was based on the Mediterranean economy. On the heels of this construction is the believed that models for other economie-mondels would no doubt have a similar construction when a comparison is made. This can best be illustrated from a section in â€Å"The Mediterranean† where Braudel stated, â€Å"Have we here enough material to measure the Mediterranean, to construct a comprehensive, quantitative ‘model of its economy? As a unit it could then be compared to other ‘world-economies [economic-worlds would be a better translation] either bordering on or connected to the Mediterranean†, (Braudel, â€Å"The Mediterranean†, pp 418-419). Braudel enables one to make greater sense of what a center means to an economie-monde when he provided a definition of it as it relates to the Mediterranean, â€Å"This world (the Mediterranean), sixty days long, was, indeed, broadly speaking a Weltwirtschaft, a world-economy ( ´economie-monde), a self- contained universe. All world-economies ( ´economie-monde) for instance recognize a center, some focal point that acts as a stimulus to other regions and is essential to the existence of the economic unit as a whole. Quite clearly in the Mediterranean in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries that center was a narrow urban quadrilateral: Venice, Milan, Genoa, Florence, with conflicts and inter-town rivalries as the relative weight of each city changed. The center of gravity can gradually be seen to shift from Venice, where it still lay at the beginning of the century, to Genoa, where it was so brilliantly established between 1550 and 1575†. In line with this theoretical viewpoint, the center was not a single city, but comprised of four cities; and that with the center of gravity changing between them. Total History The term total history is a methodological claim of historical writing. Braudel is an advocate of this strain and using histoire globale and histoire totale interchangeably he states, â€Å"Similarly, the globalite, histoire globale that I defend, imposed on me little by little. That is something extremely simple, so simple that most of my colleagues in history do not understand me. On the contrary, this does not hinder them to attack me fiercely. . . . The globalite, is not an intention to write a total history of the world. It is not this kind of puerile, sympathetic and crazy pretension. It is simply the desire, when one approaches a problem, to go beyond the limits systematically. There is no historical problem, in my view, that is separated by walls, that is independent†, (Braudel, 1978, p 245). In short, Braudels advocated interdisciplinary studies, going beyond the limits of well-defined topical studies. Secondly, he postulated that history should be observed and studied from diverse angles, with it being beneficial to expand the duration of observation (longue dur ´ee) and to extend the geographic areas, such that extensive comparison will lead to significant results. Finally, and in line with this, he found it essential to combine the time dimension (three kinds of historical time) and the space dimension (geo-history, economie-monde) in order to investigate the complexity of the subject in question. (See Figure I for Braudels concept of Total History) A Century Other Century Source: Authors Adaption Diverging Views On Total History Contrary to this strain Furet, a member of the Annales School, wrote, â€Å"Yet the idea of ‘total history is elusive. ‘Total history merely expresses the ambition of providing a fuller perspective, a more exhaustive description, a more comprehensive explanation of a given object or problem than provided by the social sciences whose conceptual and methodological innovations it has borrowed†, (Furet, 1983, p 394). Swimming in the same stream was Stoianovick who interestingly argued that, â€Å"One major obstacle to histoire globale arises from the fact that histoire globale has been much more the product of individual genius than of systematic theory†, (Stoianovich, 1978, p 20). These views lends easily to Pierre Chaunu, a former student of Braudel, and a Membre de lInstitut whocategorically who categorically stated, â€Å"There cannot be a total history. All knowledge is necessarily selective, a rational choice. total history, in its basic meaning, is evidently a non- sense. It is a wish, it marks an direction, .†, (Coutau-B ´egarie, 1983, pp 96, 99). It is apparent that Braudels views came under scrutiny. However, it is necessary to understand that Braudels total history concept is not intended to describe everything, that is, every aspect of the subject but rather it is intended to ‘make it appear an organized structure rather that a ‘mere heap†, (Popper, 1961, pp 76-77). The Contribution Of Braudels Five Concepts Braudels five key concepts discussed above made in-roads or contributions to the historical analysis of time and space. With respect to historical time, he expanded the conventional single-speed, linear-movement of historical time into a set of historical times that can be separated into short-term, medium-team and long-term. These terms co-exist, and each has its own speed, life and function; they are inter-related and inter-acting. As to his contribution to historical space Braudels hypothesis was  ´economie-monde, a concept that some would say was not well presented in ‘The Mediterranean but finally clarified three decades later in ‘Capitalism. Advantages And Disadvantages Of Braudels Methodology Braudels concepts are flexible and this can be considered its major advantage, since Braudels believed that the use of his concept would generate historical insight rather than rigorous ones. The disadvantage however can be seen through the lens of misunderstandings on the one hand and on the other the challenge of a writer combining all the various disciplines, for example, geography, demography cultural studies, economics and so on which is required when applying Braudels notion of total history. This challenge may not be an easy one for the writer to overcome. Further, it has been said that his theories lack clear and / or strong interpretation and that he seldom attempted firsthand penetrating investigation on any specific topic. Conclusion Braudels historiography can be seen as one philosophical approach to historical analysis. While this approach is not global and eternal it can be used as a viable tool in the study of history. In essence his historiography is not a final dictum but rather can be seen as a contribution to historical studies and a foundation to be built upon. Bibliography Braudel, F. (1949): La Mediterranee et le monde mediterraneen a l ´epoque de Philippe II, Paris: Armand Colin (2 volumes), 9e edition (1990). Translated from the French by S. Reynolds in 1972, Fontana (1995, 15th impression): The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II, 2 volumes. Braudel, F. (1969): Ecrits sur lhistoire, Paris: Flammarion (Collection Champs No. 23). English translation by Sarah Mathews (1980): On History, University of Chicago Press. Braudel, F. (1977): Afterthoughts on Material Civilization and Capitalism, Johns Hopkins University Press, translated from the French by Patricia Ranum. The French version: La dynamique du capitalism (1988), Paris: Flammarion (Champs No. 192). Braudel, F. (1977) ed.: La Mediterranee, lespace et lhistoire (volume 1); La M ´editerran ´ee, les hommes et lh ´eritage (volume 2), Paris: Arts et M ´etiers Graphiques; reprinted by  ´ Edition Flammarion, 1986, Collection Champs Nos. 156, 167. Braudels concepts and methodology reconsidered. The European Legacy, 2000, 5(1): 65-86 (Taylor Francis). Chaunu, Pierre (1992): La M ´editerrannee cest Braudel, LHistoire, juillet/ao.ut, pp. 71-3. Coutau-B ´egarie, H. (1989): Le phenomene â€Å"Nouvelle histoire†: strategie et ideologie des nouveaux historiens, Paris: Economica (Second Edition). Furet, Franc ¸ois (1983): Beyond the Annales, Journal of Modern History, 55:389-410. Gemelli, Giuliana (1995): Fernand Braudel, Paris: Editions Odile Jacob. Popper, Karl (1961): The Poverty of Historicism, London: Routledge. Stoianovich, Traian (1978): Social history: perspective of the Annales Paradigm, Review, 1(3/4):19-48.

Othello the Outsider Essay -- Othello essays

Othello the Outsider   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shakespeare's tragic hero, Othello, was a man whose gifts far outnumbered his weaknesses. On the battlefield, he was accomplished; in his profession, he was highly ranked; and, in his life, he was blissfully married. Despite these great advantages, however, Othello's destiny was ruin. Everything he had so carefully made for himself would be destroyed by one flaw: his fear of remaining an outsider. He feared this fate, yet he harped on it continuously, tearing himself between his identity as a foreigner and his desire to live as a normal citizen. Even so far back as his first public speech, perturbations caused by this internal unrest surfaced, and it was unrest that would ultimately lead to his horrible and complete undoing.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Othello's first speech is an address to the Venetian council, through which he introduces himself to the council members. Brabantio, Desdemona's angered father, has accused Othello of bewitching his daughter and stealing her away into marriage, and Othello is defending himself against these charges. To start his case, he begins thusly, "Most potent, grave, and reverend signors, / My very noble and approved good masters, / That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter, / It is most true; true I have married her" (page 19). Just by itself, this is perhaps the most poetic stanza of the play to this point, yet he continues it in short order with, "...Rude am I in my speech, / And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace" (page 19). Now, only seven lines into Othello's first public text, he has already made use of his outsider status. By humbling himself amidst spectacular oration, he is appearing non-threatening to the judges, while still making a great case. T. .. ... true; true I have married her. The very head and front of my offending Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech, And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace; For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used Their dearest action in the tented field; And little of this great world can I speak More than pertains to feats of broils and battle; And therefore little shall I grace my cause In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience, I will a round unvarnished tale deliver Of my whole course of love - what drugs, what charms, What conjuration, and what mighty magic (For such proceeding I am charged withal) I won his daughter.    Works Consulted    The Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice, William Shakespeare, I.III.76-94   

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut

Kurt VonnÐ µgut’s BrÐ µakfast of Champions criticizÐ µs AmÐ µrican sociÐ µty as a wholÐ µ, by addrÐ µssing aspÐ µcts such as racism and mans vulnÐ µrability towards mÐ µdia, which both spring from thÐ µ ignorancÐ µ of thÐ µ AmÐ µrican culturÐ µ. ThÐ µ continuous critical viÐ µwpoint of AmÐ µricanism and thÐ µ incÐ µssant quÐ µstioning of thÐ µ AmÐ µrican drÐ µam throughout this novÐ µl makÐ µ it a modÐ µrn artifact, a contÐ µmporary rÐ µprÐ µsÐ µntation of AmÐ µrican sociÐ µty, and a guidÐ µ to lÐ µarning out of past mistakÐ µs. As media and propaganda play a big role in the story, Vonnegut criticizes what an immense impact it has on the American and how its influence can lead to hysteria and madness.After Trout’s kidnapping, when the police questions him about the criminals, he cannot recall anything due to his blackout. His provocative reply,  «For all I know, they may not even have been Earthlings . . . that car may have been occ upied by an intelligent gas from Pluto » serves as the  «first germ in an epidemic of mind-poisoning » (76) amongst the credulous masses. As a reporter rewrites Trout’s recollection into a story with the headline  «Pluto Bandits Kidnap Pair,  » various papers soon copy the story and it all escalates to the point where all of New York is taught to fear a so-called ‘Pluto Gang’.People purchase locks for doors and gratings for windows, and the sensationalist media continually feeds the mass hysteria with this rubbish terror. No one questions the existence of the Pluto Gang and everyone believes what the media spreads across the country. Vonnegut goes on about the foolishness of these people, yet his style is  «both too funny and intelligent for many », who fail to recognize his  «earnestness » and critical voice due to his recurrent  «satirical sketches ». Racism and discrimination in American society is another aspect Vonnegut at-tacks and pla ys an important role in Breakfast of Champions as well.As the American College Dictionary defines racism as any  «belief that human races have distinctive makeups that determine their respective cultures, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others », it becomes clearer and clearer how filled with criticism about this certain practice this Vonnegut’s novel is. Again and again, does the word  «Nigger » come up in the novel to underscore the harsh treatment blacks were forced to undergo, and it is used in a particular manner by Vonnegut to express again, how pathetic, blunt and almost funnily absurd this entire notion of discrimination towards blacks was.Vonnegut purposely generalizes opinions on blacks when saying how  «White people were the only people with money enough to buy new automobiles, except for a few black criminals, who always wanted Cadillacs »(41). His striking generalities poke fun at those masse s that discriminate blacks and try to force them all under a certain, negative cliche. His blunt and exaggerated language also makes this particular discrimination seem absurd. Obviously, not every single Blackman feels the desire to own a Cadillac, but hearing this point presented in such a comical way brings across the stupidity of such bigotry.Vonnegut’s, seemingly depressed view of life, uses America to criticize mankind and to make people aware of their capabilities. He shows how people can act ridiculous, cruel, and naive. He criticizes to show humankind what mistakes have been made, so that future prevention is possible. His thoughts go under the skin and point out things everybody can learn from. America is such a good example to show this by, because this nation was founded on a dream of self-realization and happiness. This dream, however, can only be obtained through seeing past mistakes with a critical eye, learning from them, and fighting to achieve dreams.

Thomas Jefferson on Slavery and Race

B. Jefferson on Slavery and Race The terms of the emancipation proposal considered by Virginia legislators were all slaves born after the act would go on with their parents to tillage, arts or sciences, until girls (18) and boys (21) would colonize to places that â€Å"render the most proper† out with arms and domestic animals to declare them free and independent and extend the alliance and protection.Jefferson believes blacks are inferior to whites, he differentiates the two races by stating the obvious first, color, figure, hair, odor, he also states how they are harder working and don't require as much sleep. He also includes how adventuresome they are, they desire love more and are more sentiment and their â€Å"griefs are transient. † â€Å"This quality is the germ of all education in him. † Slavery influenced masters and other whites in ways of creating â€Å"boisterous passions† that created degrading comments to one another.This is spread through t he children and other whites seeing or being raised only one way of seeing a â€Å"master† degrade his slaves. Slavery influenced slaves that they prefer ways that avoid areas that can or have made work for them. Jefferson said â€Å"l tremble for my country when I reflect that God is Just† because e believes slavery is not right, he hopes for the total emancipation and that slavery is â€Å"disposed in the order of events with the consent of the masters. Jefferson's hopes for the end of slavery differed from his fears because he hoped of an emancipation, which happened. Rather than slaves taken from â€Å"masters† which would anger them. Jefferson's notes do not seem to be something typical of the era or that most would agree on, slavery and segregation were very strong and blacks were not even considered or thought of to have human rights like they have today during that era.

Wal-Mart Sex Discrimination

RUNNIG HEADER: WAL-MART SEX DICRIMINATION â€Å"Always low prices,† is the clever motto used by Wal-Mart to lure its customers into the supermarket. Wal-Mart serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week. They operate under 69 different banners in 27 countries (Frank, 2006). With fiscal year 2012 sales of approximately $444 billion, Wal-Mart employs 2. 2 million associates worldwide. Wal-Mart has created a facade declaring that their low prices have benefited all Americans.However, under its disguise of generosity, Wal-Mart has become an unethical workplace from which the workers, the society, and Americans are suffering. Wal-Mart Sex Discrimination: Dukes vs. Wal-Mart Inc. History of Walmart In the late 1940’s, Sam Walton had a simple but momentous idea. Walton was always looking for deals from suppliers. He realized he could do better than other retailers by passing on the savings to his customers and earning his profits through volume (Frank, 2006 ). This formed a cornerstone of Walton’s business strategy when he launched Wal-Mart in 1962.The decade that began from the 1970s was period of substantial economic growth, in the history of Wal-Mart. In 1971, it started off a huge expansion by opening a gigantic center and also a home office in Bentonville, Arkansas (â€Å"Sam Walton†). The 70s decade saw a substantial rise in the number of employees which amounted to about 1500 associates. 1975 the company had expanded to 7500 associated and had 125 operational stores. In 1977, in a massive takeover, Wal-Mart acquired the Hutcheson Shoe Company and also introduced a branch for pharmaceuticals by the name Wal-Mart pharmacy.By the end of the decade, Wal-Mart had become a giant in the American retail industry with a turnover of more than 1. 248 billion dollars in sales and 276 stores managed massive yet efficient staff of 21, 000 associates. When Walton died in 1992, the adjustment to a post-Sam environment proved diffi cult (â€Å"Sam Walton†). Although Wal-Mart executives had emphasized for years that their company depended on a set of principles and habits more than it did on any one person, Walton's death wound up marking a fateful shift in how the company was perceived.Before his death, Walton witnessed the rise of Wal-Mart becoming the biggest corporation of this nation and the world. However, he was unable to see the steady path of its destruction. Throughout its path to success, Wal-Mart has turned into a selfish vendor who has forgotten morals, ethics, and mainly America (Frank, 2006). However, the dependency of customers on Wal-Mart is so high that it is impossible to challenge their ways. Walton’s Wal-Mart has turned into dominating supermarket by crushing the rights of their employees, by destroying the jobs of many Americans, and by changing of the quality of life in the American societies.Sex Discrimination According to our book, surface-level diversity is the observable demographic and other overt differences in people, such as their race, ethnicity, gender, age, and physical capabilities (McShane ; Von Glinow, 2011, p. 21). Sex discrimination is part of surface- level diversity. Discrimination usually occurs when actions of an employer, supervisor or coworkers â€Å"deny to individuals or groups of people equality of treatment which they may wish. â€Å"( Stainback, Ratliff, ; Roscigno, 2011) Dukes vs. Wal-Mart Inc.In 1986, Walton was sensing some pressure to appoint a woman to Wal-Mart's all-male board (Frank, 2006). So he offered the job to Arkansas' first lady, one Hillary Clinton, who accepted. She would later quote Walton's pitch: â€Å"I think I need a woman; would you like to be her? † Today, Wal-Mart's challenges in the field of gender equality are not so easily addressed. The company keeps its payroll costs down by paying women less than their male counterparts for performing the same work. Evidence also exists that it fails to promote women at the same rate as men.In 1995, Betty Dukes took a job at a Wal-Mart near San Francisco, working as a cashier and greeter for $5 an hour (Frank, 2006). A â€Å"greeter† represents the face of the company as consumers walk through the door. Little did Dukes and Wal-Mart know that Dukes would ultimately become a face of Wal-Mart nationally, under much different circumstances. In 2000, Dukes found herself denied promotions filed a sex-discrimination suit. â€Å"The suit alleges that Wal-Mart violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), is the biggest employment discrimination case in the history of the United States.Furthermore, the suit hastens an eventual trial for women, who are seeking billions of dollars from Wal-Mart† (Hagen, 2011). The case now involves nearly two million women, and, in 2004, it was certified by Judge Martin J. Jenkins, of the United States District Court in San Francisco as a class action. Title VII prohibits empl oyment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. When the victim suffers a tangible economic detriment, such as termination or demotion, the employer is strictly liable under Title VII. (Lavin ; DiMichele, 2012).Discrimination is a difficult thing to prove. According to numbers compiled in 2003 by the plaintiffs, female store managers average slightly under $90,000 in annual income, while their male counterparts average slightly over $100,000. And while women make up 79 percent of the store's department heads (an hourly position), only 15. 5 percent are store managers. When the Supreme Court dismissed Dukes vs. Wal-Mart due to the complexity of proving such a large number of claims to be true, Wal-Mart likely believed that it could close the door on that decade-long (Levine, 2008) .However, Dukes and her peers haven’t given up, almost 2,000 current and former female employees across the country have filed gender discrimination complaints w ith the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Of the 1,975 EEOC complaints, the largest number of complaints came from Florida, with 284 filings, followed by Alabama with 142 filings and Georgia with 119 filings. The EEOC complaints preserve the women’s right to sue Wal-Mart for gender discrimination in pay and promotions, despite the dismissal of the Dukes class.Till this day, the women are still fighting this long battle and hoping it gets settled soon. Wal-Mart is Labeled as â€Å"Cheap† Wal-Mart is legendary for its cheapness across its operations. Wal-Mart forces its executives to share hotel rooms when they travel at their expense. The allegations do seem to whole some kind of truth to it. Wal-Mart single-minded devotion to lower prices, one might predict that they would only engage in employment discrimination to the extent that it serves efficiency goals. â€Å"A company that prioritizes low prices might lawfully provide limited benefits and pay low wages across the board.Such a company might also commit widespread, nondiscriminatory labor violations if it thought that the benefits of such violations would outweigh the probability and costs of detection. Thus, the charges of overtime violations that led to Wal-Mart's federal and state settlements are fairly unsurprising† (Wexler, 2011) A company desiring low labor costs might also engage in so-called rational discrimination by excluding or disfavoring workers who are accurately forecasted to raise costs for the company (Wexler, 2011). Some evidence suggests that Wal-Mart does in fact engage in such practices.In particular, Wal-Mart settled several disability discrimination cases in which it was charged with using pre-employment questionnaires to screen out employees with medical or other disability-related issues. Even after the entry of a 2004 consent decree in a class action disability discrimination case, over one-hundred plaintiffs have filed new charges contending th at Wal-Mart fails to provide reasonable accommodations, fires disabled employees, and uses a â€Å"leave of absence† bait-and-switch to force disabled employees out. ConclusionEthics plays a huge role in this decade long battle. One ethical principle that stands out to me is Distributive Justice. It’s a principle which suggests that people who are similar to each other should receive similar benefits and burdens; those who are dissimilar should receive different benefits and burdens in proportion to their dissimilarity (McShane ; Von Glinow, 2011, p. 53). The case, deals with distributive justice. I believe that everyone should be paid the same if doing the exact same job, regardless of gender.Women works just as hard a man if not harder in the corporate world. References. Awards. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://corporate. walmart. com/our-story/awards Hagen, W. (2011). Dissection and Analysis of the Recent Cases on Employment Discrimination Under Title VII of the Civi l Rights Act of 1964. Employee Responsibilities ; Rights Journal, 23(3), 171-186. doi:10. 1007/s10672-010-9163-x Frank, T. A. (2006, April). Everyday low vices. Retrieved from http://www. washingtonmonthly. com/features/2006/0604. frank. html McShane, S.L. , and Von Glinow, M. A. (2010) Organizational Behavior, 5th Edition, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, New York. Lavin, H. S. , ; DiMichele, E. E. (2012). Are You My Supervisor? : The Scope of Supervisory Authority Under Title VII. Employee Relations Law Journal, 38(3), 89-94. Levine, D. (2008, September 21). Walmart gender discrimination lawsuit allowed to proceed, judge says. Retrieved from http://www. huffingtonpost. com/2012/09/22/walmart-gender-discrimination_n_1905204. html Sam walton. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://corporate. almart. com/our-story/heritage/sam-walton Stainback, K. , Ratliff, T. N. , ; Roscigno, V. J. (2011). The Context of Workplace Sex Discrimination: Sex Composition, Workplace Culture and Relative Power. Social Forces, 89(4), 1165-1188 Wexler, L. (2011). WAL-MART MATTERS. Wake Forest Law Review, 46(1), 95-121. Appendix * In the past 5 years at Walmart stores in the U. S. : * Female co-managers have increased by 143% * Female store managers have increased by 46% * Female market managers have increased by 49%