Joys of Motherhood Essay

Though many themes and poignant arguments arise in Buchi Emecheta’s Joys of Motherhood, the most bold of these is the impact of colonial rule on traditional African society and its ambiguous affects thereafter. These themes specifically come about in the text as the clash between colonialists and Africans and how colonial occupation comes to alter the natural development of African cities and villages. It becomes obvious that the influences of colonial presence in Africa are and will continue to be disruptive and detrimental to the lives of Africans. Though this colonial disruption is highlighted immensely, the oppressed people continually move to sidestep the obstructions placed within their society. Even with the oppression of colonial rule upon them, Emecheta’s characters manage to create insular communities to maintain both dignity and tradition. Nnu Ego returns to her father’s house and is again married off, but this time to a fellow Ibo working in Lagos as a domestic for British colonials. The arranged marriage between Nnaife and Nnu Ego is never smooth, and indeed from her first sight of her husband on their wedding day in Lagos, Nnu Ego is disillusioned, though willing to follow custom and fulfill her duties as a wife (Emecheta, 43). Though Nnu Ego is unhappy with Nnaife’s duties as a domestic servant, she stays positive in the marriage in the hopes that her chi will bless the union by allowing her to become a mother. Though her first child dies, Nnu Ego eventually goes on to mother eight children. Despite his less than desirable position as a British domestic servant, Nnaife fully assumes his position as the male head-of-household in his home in accordance with Ibo custom (Emecheta, 47-48). As the eldest son of his family, upon his younger brother’s death, Nnaife marries his two sisters-in-law and brings one of them to Lagos and incorporates her and her children into the household with his family with Nnu Ego (Emecheta, 120). The marriage of Nnu Ego and Nnaife contain many examples of the endurance of traditional African culture throughout colonial rule. As an Ibo minority in Lagos among Yorubas and British imperialists, Nnu Ego and her family struggle and live below the poverty line. One of the main conflicts depicted for Nnu Ego, her family, and society is the navigation of the British imperialistic order. United against a common adversary, the Ibos and Yorubas in The Joys of Motherhood forge a loose knit community and rely on each other during hard times. This alliance between Ibo and Yorubas is especially apparent in the relationships between the women. For instance, as a new wife in Lagos, neighboring women show Nnu Ego the best places to market for cheap, fresh foods (Emecheta, 52). When Nnaife loses his job, the neighboring women help Nnu Ego find cigarettes and other goods to stock a roadside retail stand in order for her to earn extra money (Emecheta,103). Through these hard economic times under colonial rule, the enduring principle of African community values emerges strong as ever. The women of the town especially rely on each other when the men work away from home and during the war when many are drafted into the British army. When the British army commandeers her living quarters, Cordelia helps Nnu Ego move her children and belongings into new housing (Emecheta, 98). When Nniafe is drafted and Nnu Ego is unable to read his letters, Mama Abby helps to read the letters and deposit his allotment checks into the bank (Emecheta, 149-150). Though these allotment checks from the British are extremely useful in caring for the household, Nnu Ego is working constantly and not knowing when Nnaife will return. Though it seemed that colonialism provided new opportunities for the poor to improve their economic woes, would they have been as poor to begin with if colonialism was not the rule of the land? The separating aspect of taking the men from Africa was extremely detrimental not only to those left behind but also to those who go to war. Many return mentally scarred or are ostracized for their involvement with Europeans (Lunn, 45-46) Nnu Ego and her fellow neighbors experience the variations of a changing society but manage to do so without losing the essence of their traditions. As had become custom of imperialism, Africans suffered many hardships under colonial rule for the most part without knowing what the conflicts of the â€Å"Western powers† were about. Asks Nnu Ego of her friend, â€Å"But, Ato, on whose side are we? Are we for the Germans or the Japanese, or the other one, the British? † Ato answers back, â€Å"I think we are on the side of the British. They own Nigeria you know. † Nnu Ego responds back, â€Å"And Ibuza too? † â€Å"I don’t know about that,† Ato states (Emecheta, 98). The implication of this exchange demonstrates that while the British may have political and economic control over the country, the cultural essence of the people cannot be owned. According to Lunn, most African communities were staunch in asserting tradition and sticking to it in these colonial times, showing a strength that Europeans undoubtedly were not expecting (Lunn, 46). The Joys of Motherhood portrays a distance between the generations in the relationship between Nnu Ego and her children, and in particular, the relationship Nnu Ego has with her oldest son, Oshia. In keeping with tradtion, the family invests in Oshia by providing him with the best education, and respecting his status as an elder male, and in return he is expected to take care of the family (Emecheta, 190-191). As a product of an imperialist society, Oshia is educated in a British school system and goes abroad to college where he learns the western value of self-reliance and making his own fortune independently out in the world (Emecheta, 200-201). His selfishness is borne from two both traditional and colonial influences. The fact that he’s the first-born son grants him privileges and honor from the first day he is born along with his association with wealthy students at school teaches him to expect more from life. However, in the end it is the dissociating factor of colonialism and individualism that pulls Oshia away from his family duties. The demonstration of how Nnu Ego, Nnaife, and their neighbors maintain their traditions is embodied by the numerous celebrations they have throughout the novel. Although money and power are in short supply, the African society continues to celebrate births, homecomings, and marriages. The hosts of each party are certain to have large supplies of palm wine and food for everyone, even if they cannot afford it. Upon his mother’s death, Oshia returns to the village and throws a costly funeral celebration. The funeral puts him into debt which would take three years to pay off, but there is a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that an expected ritual has been performed to honor the dead (Emecheta, 224). The new colonial economic order impacts cultural customs is always present, though. When Nnu Ego returns to Ibuza to visit her father, she is happy and becomes comfortable with the ease of being at home and surrounded with fellow villagers (Emecheta,156). However, a grand-aunt admonishes her to return back to Lagos and not to shame the family by failing to live up to her responsibilities as wife (Emecheta, 159). In this respect, tradition is extremely limiting, in that Nnu Ego’s life and her children’s lives would be much easier in Ibuza than in Lagos. Though traditions can be limiting, especially in the case of a traditional marriage such as Nnu Ego’s, the traditional bond is what links and sustains the community in Lagos. What on the one hand undermines tradition as limiting can also be seen as the thread of continuity necessary for the cultural health and identity of people. The issues about traditions that Emecheta raises stem from the dilemma of how a society reconciles and develops when ideals between cultures clash. British colonial rule certainly made life more difficult and even began to chip away at certain norms and traditions such as familial duty and class systems. The individuality espoused by British culture was in direct violation of the Ibo culture of Nnu Ego. A certainty represented in The Joys of Motherhood is when the community and family worked together, they would thrive. The individual must look to find acceptance in ways that merge into the larger cultural community and that are mutually beneficial to the traditional culture that remained steadfast and a rock during the tumultuous days of colonial rule.

Evaluate the Usefulness of a Range of Criteria Available for Measuring

Development is ‘the use of resources and the application of available technology in order to bring about an increased standard of living within a country'. *1 There are variations in the economic development of different countries; this has lead to the formation of the ‘Development Gap'. In 1980, the Brandt Report divided the world into rich (North) and poor (South) sectors and found that in developing countries more than 800 million are impoverished and 17 million die needlessly before they are five years old. 25 per cent of the world's population live in the north but consume 80 per cent of all the goods made. Over the years there has been a wide range of criteria used for measuring development. These measures have included GNP which is used when looking at the wealth of a country and GNP per capita which looks at the wealth of a country when divided by the number of people. There are specific measures, for example number of people per doctor, adult literacy, food intake and birth & death rates. These are useful measures when looking at specific areas of development but are too specific when dealing with development as a whole. HDI is also used to bridge the gap between GNP and the other specific measures. It is made up by using a range of data. This report will investigate which measures are the most useful at giving a true and fair view of how fast development is taking place in a sample of countries and the reasons for this. The countries used (as shown on appendix 2: a world map) were selected by choosing every seventh country from appendix 1, The World: Social and Economic Statistics) *1 Source: Letts, A2 in a week: Geography. Analysis The Gross National Product (GNP) of a country is one of the most recognisable measures of development. It is an estimate of the value of the countries production and measures the value of goods and services provided in a country, plus the balance of income from abroad. Until it is split by the population of the country (creating GNP per capita) GNP it is not an accurate measure of development. This is because one country with 7 million people could have the same output as a poorer country with 700 million people. HDI was devised by the United Nations and ranks all countries, taking into account their national income, life expectancy, adult literacy and year's people spend in education, which in themselves could be used as measures of development. It is a measure of national human progress. It is measured on a scale of between 0 and 1 with the more developed countries near 1 and the least developed countries nearer 0. Food Intake is the average number of calories a person consumes per day. The more developed a country is the more calories are person is likely to intake, as food is more readily available. Adult Literacy is the percentage of males and females that are unable to read or write a simple sentence. Again, the more developed a country is the lower this figure will be. In more developed countries there tend to be more doctors per a smaller section of society, so health care tends to be better, this could lengthen life expectancy of a country. The semi-log graph shows that countries with a high GNP per capita tend to have a low doctors per population figure but for those countries with a low GNP there is no pattern for doctors per population, with Burkina Faso having a GNP of US$ 180 and having 34804 people per doctor where as the Gambia has a GNP per capita of US$ 320 but Gambians have 1400 people per doctor. The only apparent anomaly on this graph was for the data for Mozambique that has a GNP of US$ 2000 and 36225 people per doctor. In relation to Togo, they have fewer doctors per person but a higher GNP. This could have been because in 1975 the government, nationalized health services and so doctors that were practicing for profit may have stopped practicing as they did not want to practice in a nationalized health service. In 1985 Mozambique, was effected by drought leading to a loss of 25% of all grain produced, leading to mass starvation, so people with specialist qualifications such as doctors may have found employment in other countries in order to keep their families from starving. This is likely to have been similar in 1991 when the country was affected by drought again. The Gambia The Gambia is a LEDC in West Africa. The Gambia has a GNP of US$ 354 million, this is extremely low when compared to US$ 1094734 million but when split between the 1.2 million inhabitants equaling a GNP per capital of US$ 320 million, where as Britain's GNP per capita when split between its 268 million inhabitants is US$ 18700 million, so Gambia's GNP per Capita is relatively very low as well. The Gambia's GNP is split, 1.8% spent on health (Britain sends 2.5 times this amount on health care), 2.7% spent on education (half of what Britain spends) and 3.8% spent on the military (which is 0.7% more than Britain, but of a smaller figure so Britain is spending more money on its military, just a lesser percentage). Gambians take in approximately 2360 calories per day and have 1400 people per doctor. This compares to 3732 calories per day and 421 people per doctor in Britain. In the 1980's there was a sudden drop in the production of agricultural exports due to several severe drought. This led to an increase in unemployment, migration to the capital and an increase in foreign dept to import food. In 1993 agriculture and tourism was hit by the consequences of the European economic crisis. The Gambia's trade with Senegal was also damaged when the Central Bank of Western African States decided to stop financing trade. The economy is now improving due to a developing tourist industry with new hotels being built to capitalize on the European tourist. Cuba Cuba has a GNP of US$ 13700 million but with a population of 11.3 million its GNP per capita is US$ 1250 million. Although Cuba has a higher GNP than Gambia, it also has a larger population to share it between, although Cuba's GNP per capita is still high. Cuba's GNP until 1990 relied on highly upon the former Soviet Union and other Eastern European countries and so with the fall of communism, Cuba's GNP will have fallen. Its 1994 Cuba's HDI position was 0.723, this in relation to The Gambia is high because the Gambia's HDI is only 0.281, but in comparison to Sweden Cuba has a low HDI as Sweden's HDI is 0.936; while Cuba's population food intake (in calories per day) is 2833. There are 275 people per doctor; this could be because Cuba spends 7.9% of its GNP on health services. In the 1960's the Cuban government, under their leader Castro, ran campaigns to free Cuba of illiteracy and improve health services and by 1964 the illiteracy campaign was complete and Cuba was free of illiteracy. Cuba could remain free of illiteracy today because they spend 6.6% of their GNP on education. The military budget will have been gradually reduced over recent years after the threat from the United States of America had subsided after the Cold Was finished, and now only 2.8% of the GNP is spent on the military. Now Cuba is been advertised as a tourist destination, this will help to raise their GNP as there will be more money coming into the country, which can then go into services such as health, benefiting the whole of the country. Ethiopia Ethiopia (an LEDC in Africa) has a GNP of US$ 5722 million, this figure is lower than that for Cuba but higher than that for the Gambia (another LEDC in Africa) and a GNP per capita of US$ 100 million when split between the 58.5 million inhabitants. The Gross National Product has been split 1.1% on health, 6.4% on education and 2.1% on their military. Ethiopians take in approximately 1610 calories per day, this shows that many people in Ethiopia suffer from malnutrition. There are 32499 people per doctor, which is very high compared to Cuba, which only has 275 people per doctor; this is possibly because not much of the GNP is spent on health care. In 1984 Ethiopia was badly affected by drought and famine, this had started 2 years earlier and caused hundreds of thousands of people to die from starvation. It also caused the crops for those years to fail and so there was nothing to sell causing GNP to fall dramatically. In the late 80's Ethiopia was involved in a civil war that consumed more than 60% of Ethiopia's national budget and agriculture was still slumping. United States With a GNP of US$ 7100007 million, the United States of America has the largest GNP of all countries (22187 that of The Gambia's) but when split between its 268 million nationals its GNP per capita equates to US$ 26980 million, this is lower than that of Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Japan. This GNP is then split down into 14.3% on health services, 5.5% on education and 3.8% on its military forces. The US has a HDI rating of 0.942 and the American people consume 3732 calories per day, which is the most after Ireland and Cyprus. American's have 421 people per doctor, which is double the number of people per doctor in Austria. A high GNP could be as a result of American Transnational companies which spread around the world in the post Second World War period. In 1991, 15% of the US population lived below the poverty line. Those most affected were those citizens from African and Latin American origins. In January 1994, the US joined with Mexico and Canada to form The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which reduced trade with Europe as Americans found it cheaper to buy and sell to Canada and Mexico. Tourism is the biggest industry in the US but after the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001, visitor numbers fell dramatically, having a significant effect on the American economy as people were scared to travel in case of reprisals. More recently, visitor numbers have fallen as a result of the conflict in Iraq as people feared more terrorist attacks to revenge the invasion of Iraq.

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Terrorism Causes, Motivations and Reccomendations Essay

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Inventory Management for Green Valley Bakers Research Paper - 1

Inventory Management for Green Valley Bakers - Research Paper Example This essay explores the processes of baking bread. Bread making is a relatively simple process but it takes some time to master. Grain, water and baker’s yeast remain the basic ingredients. Bran, germ, and endosperm are ground together to bake the coarser variety of bread, while the bran and wheat germ are removed to make softer bread of the industrial variety. Although nutrition experts advise that brand and wheat germ bread are better for health, their lack of palatability is a factor that prevents widespread demand and use. White flour bread may be enriched with minerals and vitamins and fortified with calcium and fiber to improve its nutritional value. All in all, it is a staple part of the American diet and is a good source of low fat, complex carbohydrates. Salt, sugar, raisins, honey or nuts can be included in the mixture to produce bread of different varieties and tastes. Bread is today seen not only as a breakfast item but also serves for making sandwiches or eating w ith salads or curries at lunch. It also goes well with tea and jams and can supplement biscuits and pastries at tea. As for dinner, bread is an indispensable part of the meal unless rice or cooked meats are available. For making industrial bread on a large scale as Green Valley Bakers envisage, flour that has been sifted is poured into a mixer of the industrial variety; then it is filled with tempered water. A certain amount of yeast is added.

LEGAL ASPECTS OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

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Does the Japanese state deserve most of the credit for Japan's Essay

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YOU NEED GIVE A TITLE FOR IT - Essay Example The paper will focus on brief explanation of international theories such as realism, Marxism, liberalism, internationalization and constructivism. A case study of Referendum in Scotland will be provided, and explain its effects on the political, social and economic status of these countries. Finally, the paper will focus on how political, Economic, Social and Technological (PEST) factors affect the international business. They will be analysed alongside the mentioned international relations theories. In international relations, realism is a complex ideology that refers to a number of important issues. Firstly, it refers to political and economic egocentric tendencies, where states seek to protect their personal interests (Scott, 2003). There is an assumption that there is no international government, hence protecting the sovereignty of nations (Grosse & Behrman, 1994). The realism theory indicates that the failure to subscribe to an international government can be viewed as a state of ‘anarchy’ but it is imperative the pursuit of state’s interests (Devetak, Burke & George, 2013). The presence of an international government can undermine the autonomy and sovereignty of other nations (Buzan & Little, 2003). Under realism ideology, every country, no matter how powerful or inferior it seems, is out to protect its political, social, and economic interests at all costs. In general, realism theory is characterised by power politics, where conflict is also common (Sc ott, 2003). However, conflicts are managed, and when it escalates, diplomacy is perceived to be the best tool. Under realism, the universal moral standards are not always recognizing in every state. Different moral standards and laws will be established depending on the interests a country is trying to pursue. While there is an assumption that all humans are

The Formation Of Gender Identity Essay Example for Free

The Formation Of Gender Identity Essay The debate over the factors affecting the formation of gender identity has more than a 100-year history, whereas the professional evidence-based level of the debate has been represented since the 1950s. In the Western sociology and psychology, gender identification is composed of a number of aspects, including perception of one’s gender roles, social identity and self-perception in general. The present paper is designed to address the role of biological, social and psychological factors in gender identity-shaping. In fact (Ellison, 2000), human behavior greatly depends upon hormonal secretion, as it is widely known that adrenaline is released when the brain receives a message about certain environmental threats and results in anxious and uneasy behavior, whereas   endorphins are released during exercise and result in a positive inspiration and sociability. Female sex hormones derive from ovaries and include progesterone and estrogens (mainly 17-beta-estradioll), whereas the major male hormone, testosterone, is produced by the testes. These chemicals are responsible for the formation of secondary sex characteristics and determine behaviors, attributed to the specific gender role. Masculinity in terms of gender identity is normally associated with assertiveness, self-control and aggression, provided by testosterone (Ellison, 2000), whereas femininity is conceptualized as compliance to dependence, interest in care about others and comfort creation. Byne and Parsons (1993), the followers of the classic model, indicate in their theoretical research of biological and neurobiological conditioning of   gender identification that a person’s gender is determined during conception, but the fetus begins to develop sex organs only at the 6th week of pregnancy.   Therefore, the developing testes or ovaries might begin hormonal secretion â€Å"off schedule†, which affects the development of the neural network of the brain and results in the person’s inability to accept their biological sex and the sense of gender dysphoria. Dittmann (1990) states that girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, the disease that refers to the overproduction of androgens, are more committed to the masculine roles like violent games, inclination to leadership in peer groups, willingness to increase physical strength, and are more likely to fell to certain degree uncomfortable in their female body, as the scholar notes that a number of teenage girls are unwilling to accept their physical development and differentiation. Similarly, boys with the Turner syndrome that refers to the excessive release of female hormones tend to de-valuate their biological sex (Tiefer, 1992). It needs to be noted that the evolution of sexuality in childhood is associated mostly with sex role games and self-observation:   â€Å"Children this age are very curious about bodies – their own and other peoples. They are trying on roles and behaviors† (Haffner and Needleman, 2001, p.41). At this stage, children experience a gradual transition from unconsciousness to awareness of their sexuality, so Dittmann holds that parents, aware of the child’s hormonal disease, can diplomatically interfere then and assist children in developing a superstructure of gender roles over their biological sex. One of the most interesting approaches to gender identity is biological psychology. On the one hand, Sharpe (2003) writes that the brain structures, which refer to communication (listening and speech) and emotions or empathy are notably better developed in females , whereas the male brain is hard-wired for system construction and perception/analysis of visual information. However, Haffner and Needleman (2001) write that infancy is characterized by the active synaptogenesis, or the strengthening of neural connections, to great extent dependent upon the environment. As the researchers write, â€Å"the development is on the one hand genetically determined, but the formation and pruning of synapses are controlled by the environment† (Haffner and Needleman, 2001, p.46). As a result, parental taboos upon sex role games and the lack of gender-sensitive childrearing (neutral treatment of infants and pre-school boys and girls as sexless) that stabilize the synaptic connections between neurons in the specific brain structures (e.g. the growth of hippocampus in boys playing spatial memory games) might   bring in the future a misperception of one’s biological sex up to the manifestation of androgyny   in the later adolescence (sporadic display of male and female behavioral patterns). Furthermore, it is important to take into consideration the cognitive and moral development of 3-5-year-old children as discussed by Paiget (Haffner and Needleman, 2001) who alleges that this period is characterized by the first sparkles of self-awareness and the reflex-based belief in the relationship between â€Å"naughtiness† and punishment. Hence it is quite easy to cause an imbalance in the child’s sex and gender awareness through imposing excessively stringent moral restrictions upon the child’s behavior. The dominant social psychological approach to gender role taking is Bem’s comprehensive gender schema theory that stresses the meaning of environmental factors. In 1971, I created the Bem Sex Role Inventory to measure how well the person fits into their traditional gender role by characterizing their personality as masculine, feminine, androgynous, or undifferentiated† (Bem, 1981, p. 355). The scholar believes that under the ever-lasting influence of the environment and broader cultural context the person carefully sorts all behaviors into the categories of masculinity and femininity and then employs them with relation to the cultural and social context. However, a substantial gender identity collapse might occur when professional values and desire for equality in career opportunities begin to interfere with gender beliefs; for instance, female leaders and executives recognize they are â€Å"tomboyish† and excessively committed to the masculine behaviors in non-wo rkplace settings (Bem, 1981, p. 356). To sum up, gender identity is rather a social construct than a set of biological, namely hormonal determinants. As a result, increasingly more specialists in neuroscience consent to the fact that the degree of consistency between biological sex and upbringing determine the formation of gender identity in the future (Dittmann, 1990; Haffner and Needleman, 2001) . For instance, the paper has incorporated the article showing the effect of parental guidance and the degree of progress in the cognitive and moral areas on the stability of synaptic connections in young children. Similarly, hormonal secretion is not pre-planned before the birth, but might occur under the specific social and psychological conditions (e.g. girls with anorexia nervosa are rather androgynous in demeanor than feminine and suffer from the deficiency of estrogens). Thus, the environmental factors might reinforce the inborn somatic substrates referring to the aspects of gender identity or result in their alteration, increasing or decreasing the person’s responsiveness to the neural impulses, which drive sex-related behaviors. Reference list Bem, S. (1981). Gender schema theory: A cognitive account of sex typing. Psychological Review, 88, 354-364. Byne, W. and Parsons, B. (1993). Human Sexual Orientation: the Biologic Theories Reappraised.   Archives of General Psychiatry, 50 (3), 228-239. Dittmann, B. (1990). Congenital adrenal hyperplasia. I: Gender-related behavior and attitudes in female patients and sisters. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 15, 401-420. Ellison, C. (2000). Human Sexual Response. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger. Haffner, D. and   Needleman, R. (2001).   Childhood sex play and synaptogenesis. The Family Journal, 11: 39-50. Sharpe, R. (2003). Adult Sexuality. The Family Journal, 11: 420-426. Tiefer, L. (1992). Historical, scientific, clinical and feminist criticisms of â€Å"the Human Sexual Response Cycle† mode. Annual Review of Sex Research, 2: 1-23.

Attitude Towards Women Essay Example for Free

Attitude Towards Women Essay One of the most prominent themes in the Canterbury Tales is the attitudes of the pilgrims towards women. There are two distinct sides in the dispute: that women are simply objects of lust that must never be trusted, and that women are highly respectable and loving. The Shipmans Tale starts off this debate with his depiction of women, which was less than favorable. The woman who is depicted in this tale is the wife of a merchant. She is not treated well by her husband, but certainly is not trustworthy or honorable herself. She sells her body to the best friend of her husband for a measly 100 francs. Her faithfulness to her husband was worth only a few extravagant garments for her to wear. It is her greed for these material goods that drives her into cuckolding her unsuspecting husband. Her worldly desires are more important than her marriage, and in the end she is hardly punished at all. She does manage to keep her husband from finding out, by saying that the Monk was simply repaying his debt and she used the money to buy some clothes. So, she gets away with a crime that would have dealt her a far greater punishment. This outcome, while it certainly wasnt perfect for the wife, was much less than she deserved (Rossignol). The Prioress steps in with the next tale, and takes a much different view. The Prioress herself is a very humble and well-mannered woman, as she is described in the General Prologue. She is also extremely compassionate towards all of Gods creatures. Her tale is a tribute to the greatest woman of all, the Virgin Mary. While it is a tribute to the Virgin, the focus of the story is more on the little boy and his widowed mother. The mother is greatly distressed at her sons disappearance, and is eventually led by Jesus himself to the place where her son has been tossed. The idea that Jesus himself was consorting with this woman and answering her prayers makes a strong statement. Jesus certainly would not aid an evil person, so this widow must have been virtuous and humble (Rossignol). And upon her finding of the little boy, the miracle of the Virgin Mary is presented. The boy, who had praised her and loved her throughout his short life, now sang because of the grain placed on his tongue by Mary herself. The story praises a woman who is unmatched in virtue by any mortal man, and shows a widowed mother to be humble and virtuous herself. Certainly a different view than was displayed in the Shipmans Tale. The tales of Chaucer himself followed the Prioress Tale. The first of which, the Tale of Sir Thopas, didnt take as strong stance on any attitude towards women as did the two tales that preceded it. It did, however, portray women to be objects of lust and affection which could put a man in grave danger. This is what the reader might expect from Chaucer, since he does place himself among some of the other rascals of the group in the General Prologue. The other rascals (the Reeve and Miller especially) had already told stories that depicted women as objects of male desire. Sir Thopas, the knight, left his hometown of Flanders because he had become bored with the local maidens. On his adventure, he dreamt of a beautiful Elf Queen, with whom he fell desperately in love (Ruud). He searched the forest in search of her, and vowed to never stop until her found her. When he met the three-headed giant who stood in his way, he went back home to prepare to fight. He was ready to risk his life to gain the love of the Elf Queen. The Elf Queen in this story is an object of lust and desire, much like the merchants wife in the Shipmans Tale. Since the story is cut short, though, the reader never gets a chance to see what this Queen is really like. All that is seen is that she has captured the heart of this young and noble knight, which has him risking his life in search of her. After Chaucers first sorry tale is cut short, he moves on to the Tale of Melibee. In this story some different attitudes towards woman are actually discussed verbally amongst the characters. Melibee talks of how all women are evil and none are good. But, his wife Prudence responds to that by saying that Jesus would never have been born to an evil woman, nor would he have appeared to a woman afte r his resurrection. So, not all women could be evil. This point is accepted by Melibee, as her point has been clearly made. Also, she points out women who have saved the lives of their husbands and who were truthful to them. As this argument continues, Prudence continues to sway Melibee to accept her argument. She does this with good intentions as well. She does not want her husband to go to war with these enemies of his which certainly could put them all in danger. By the end of the story, she has convinced him so thoroughly that he ignores the advice of his counsel, and follows her advice almost to the letter (Ruud). He does, however, give his enemies a bit of a verbal chiding against her wishes. It is quite possible that he did this simply to maintain himself as the sovereign lord of his estate, and to show Prudence that she has not gained complete mastery over him. This story takes an opposite approach towards women than Chaucer did in the Tale of Sir Thopas. But, since Chaucer does portray himself in the tales as a dunce, it is possible that this character is simply to doltish to make up his mind and take a solid stance on the issue. The Nuns Priest has the final say in the matter. The Priest is traveling with the Prioress, so before reading this tale one might think that he will be afraid to offend her. This story deals extensively on this issue, and has to main points which reveal the Priests attitude towards women. Chauntecleer quotes a Latin phrase that he says means that women are the bliss of men. However, the phrase actually said that women are mens ruin. So why did Chauntecleer lie to Pertelote when he told her this false translation? Well, quite possibly because he didnt want to upset her any further, and because he was about to spend the whole morning having sex with her. If he had upset her further, she may have turned him away. Chauntecleer also began to compliment her looks along with changing the meaning of the Latin phrase because he loved her and he wanted to make love to her. So, this is in fact showing that women are the bliss of men, since Chauntecleer is going out of his way to please Pertelote (Scala). By afternoon of the same day, the story takes quite a turn. Pertelote had criticized Chauntecleer for being so cowardly after his dream, and he flew down from his safe perch because of her insults. Because of this, his vision soon came true, and he was captured by the fox. If it had not been for Pertelote berating him because of his cowardice, he would have stayed in his perch in safety. Now, the true meaning of the Latin phrase is also shown as true, as Pertelote has caused the ruin of the great Chauntecleer. There is one substantial difference in this story, however. When Chauntecleer is taken away by the fox, Pertelote shrieks and is quite distressed, as the story emphasizes. She expresses genuine concern for Chauntecleer, unlike the wife in the Shipmans Tale and Dalilah in the Monks Tale. So, the Nuns Priests point on the matter is quite simple. Women are the bliss of men, but, whether intentionally or not, also bring about the ruin of the men they love. Works Cited Rossignol, Rosalyn. The Shipmans Tale. Critical Companion to Chaucer: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2007.Blooms Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. Rossignol, Rosalyn. The Prioress Tale. Critical Companion to Chaucer: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2007.Blooms Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. Scala, Elizabeth, and Michelle M. Sauer.The Nuns Priests Tale. In Sauer, Michelle M. The Facts On File Companion to British Poetry before 1600. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Blooms Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. Ruud, Jay. The Tale of Sir Thopas. Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Blooms Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web.

Coca Cola Companys Growth As A Multinational Corporations Business Essay

Coca Cola Companys Growth As A Multinational Corporations Business Essay Multinational Corporation (MNC) is one of type of potential firm in the world nowadays. A corporation can be categorized as MNC if there are 20% to 50% or more of its net profit from directs investment in one or more in foreign countries. (Iamsam, n.d)[ http://hubpages.com/hub/Multinational-Corporations-MNCs]. MNC are managed from one home country. With well- manage structure and due business firm good performance, it able to expand its products and services to foreign country. The growth of multinational corporations is measured by Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). When business firm make an investment in a second nation, the investment is counted as part of the outward direct investment from the source country. FDI is an investment in foreign firms where the foreign investor owns at least ten percent of the ordinary shares. 1.2. Coca-Cola Company ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s History Coca-Cola is the largest manufacturer, distributor and marketer of non-alcoholic beverage that establish by a pharmacist, Dr. John Stith Pemberton in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia in 1886 with Coca-Cola syrup. Druggist Asa Candler bought The Coca-Cola Company in 1891. Within four years it was available in all 50 states, Canada and Mexico. The Coca-Cola Company began building its global network in the 1920s. When Asa Candler purchased the recipe and established the Coca-Cola Company, he begins one of the largest franchise in the world. The government expanded the company and built 64 plants overseas in 1929. At the beginning of the World War II, Coca-Cola was bottled in 44 countries. Today, The Coca-Cola Company operates in more than 200 countries, 2400 beverage products are provided worldwide with approximately 1.5 billion serving rate each day. (http://www.just-drinks.com/market-research/the-coca-cola-company-swot-analysis_id92127.aspx) Coca-Cola Enterprises is the world ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s largest marketer, producer and distributor of Coca-Cola products. It ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s operating in 46 U.S. states and Canada, they are the exclusive Coca-Cola bottler for all of Belgium, continental France, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Monaco and the Netherlands. Coca-Cola Enterprises manages a network of approximately 84,000 suppliers of goods and serveces ranging from large international companies to small local suppliers. Today, With E. Neville Isdell  ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s firm commitment, Coca-Cola Company have been revolute into new century, recognized as the world ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s most valuable brand. [http://www.123helpme.com/preview.asp?id=164239] 1.3. Management Structure A well structure company is important foundations of outstanding organization. Multinational Company is operating under International division structure. The international unit (parent company) control entire activities of subsidiary company. However, this division structure allows multinational companies to freely explore resources internationally based on geography, product or function. Figure 1 shows the outlook of international division structure. Figure 1 : International Division Structure Coca-Cola Company as a multinational company handles enormous capacity of business with well-organized structure. Coca-Cola has 5 operating geographically segmentation. There are United States, Latin America, European Community, Northeast Europe/Africa, and also Canada and Pacific Coca-Cola Company allows their division to customizing marketing based on Geographic segmentation. For instance, they alter the sweetness of drink according to local taste. Globalization The process of globalization has impacted on the world ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s business operation which is mostly driven by the development of MNCs. According Macmillan Dictionary, term of  ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½globalization ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ defines as  ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½concept a single economy and culture are developed as a result of advance in technology which easier the communications between two corporation and globalization mostly influence by multinational companies toward economic, financial, trade and communication. ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Besides, the United Development Program (1999) announces globalization is the most important integration of economy, political and cultural phenomenon across nation frontiers. (cited in Kiggundu 2002). [Moses N.Kiggundu, 2002, Managing globalization in developing countries and transition economies: Building Capacities for a Changing World, Praeger,Westport CT][page. 4][ http://www.questia.com/read/101335345]  ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½Globalization is the inexorable integration of markets, nation-states and technologies to a degree never witnessed before- in a way that is enabling individuals, corporations and nation-states to reach around the world farther, faster, deeper and cheaper that ever before, and in a way that is enabling the world to reach into individuals, corporations and nation-states farther, faster, deeper, cheaper than ever before. ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½- Thomas Friedman Coca-Cola is a business which truly international in scope by signifying 67% of total its total net income from non- USD source. [ http://books.google.com.my/books?id=akn1_k1rVMICdq=coke+income+from+non-US+sourcesource=gbs_navlinks_s] (page 9-2) Impacts of Globalization 1.) Establishment of international alliances http://books.google.com.my/books?id=3pTFN8IdRpkCdq=international+alliances+example+on+coca-colasource=gbs_navlinks_s (page 435) The establishment alliances or coalitions which link firms of the same industry based in different countries. MNCs commonly engage in international alliances such as joint ventures and licensing agreements with foreign firms. Coca-Cola formed global joint venture with many industries to strengthen its company buy launching new products. Joint developments allow Coca-Cola to leverage its beverage expertise in connection with certain technology areas key to our business, such as packaging, vending equipment, foundation equipment and water treatment. Historically, these joint developments have led to the development and commercialization of breakthrough technologies for the beverage industry. Coca-Cola also engaged in licensing with companies that are affiliated with food or beverage company but not with companies that compete with Coca-Cola in the non-alcoholic beverage market segment. We do some licensing with suppliers to the beverage industry. Examples of these types of companies are various packaging and equipment suppliers to the beverage industry. We have also licensed with universities around the world where there is a particular expertise with an individual or group of professors or researchers. Coca-Cola has over 300 licensees who sell over $ 1 billion of licensed products each year. It is estimated that Coca-Cola generates over $ 70 million in royalty revenue and billions of incremental impressions from licensed products. Licensing agencies outside of North America which work with us are The Licensing Company in Europe and Redibra in Brazil. The manufacturing system also called  ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½The Coca-Cola System ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ by Coca-Cola to license to dist ributors who can incorporate different world markets, resources, and technologies to maximize revenue. http://www.yet2.com/app/insight/insight/20010401_landgraff http://www.goldmarks.net/controvn_lic_exp.shtml These are the few joint ventures for Coco-Cola which doing well and earned huge profit on it. Coca-Cola joint venture buys Philippine drink company San Miguel, the Philippine food and beverage company, and its joint-venture partner Coca-Cola agreed yesterday to pay 14 billion pesos ($269 million) for the Philippines second-largest soft drink company, Cosmos. The purchase, which defeated a bid by PepsiCo, will give the joint venture, Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, a 90 percent share of the Philippines $1-billion-a-year soft drink market. The deal was approved when Cosmoss majority owner, the RMF Corporation, agreed to accept a lower offer after San Miguel discovered that some Cosmos equipment was below Coca-Colas standards. Wayne Arnold (NYT) Joint venture between Coca-Cola and Nestle to tap rapidly growing beverage segments http://www.nestle.com/MediaCenter/PressReleases/AllPressReleases/CocaColaJointVenture-30Jan01.htm Coca-Cola and Nestle Refreshments (CCNR) is their highly successful joint venture formed on 1991 which operates directly in 24 countries and enjoys a strong position in the ready-to-drink tea category. On 30Jan2001, CCNR rename as Beverage Partners Worldwide (BPW) function as an entrepreneurial unit dedicated to tapping the growth potential of emerging beverage segments, actively expand into new beverage particularly ready-to-drink coffee, teas and beverages with a healthful positioning. BPW also focus on expanding its geographical with existing products include Nestea and Nescafe and new products inclusive of Tian Yu Di tea and Yang Guag tea businesses undertaking by Coca-Cola. Joint venture of Coca-Cola Company and Illycaffe Spa http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/presscenter/nr_20080327_tccc_and_illycaffe_joint_venture.html They introducing three premium ready-to-drink (RTD) espresso-based coffee products. The products are: Products Description Caffe full-bodied character, real Italian chilled caffe. First ready-to-drink coffee to offer black (no milk) espresso-based coffee. Cappucino intense uplifting aromas of illy espresso, blended with milk and dark cacao. Latte Macchiato smooth fresh illy espresso experience, swirled with milk. The product will be available in stylish premium can to attract the consumer. The RTD first launch in 10 European countries including Austria, Croatia, Greece and the Ukraine as the firm aim of their joint venture. After 1 month, the additional countries in Asia, North America, Eurasia and the Pacific as the expansion of the sales and will be delivered through the Cola-Cola system. The highly profitable RTD coffee category globally is valued at just under $16 billion and has experienced several years of growth that is expected to continue. Globally (excluding Japan), the ready-to-drink coffee category has grown at an average rate of 10.1 percent over the past five years. 2.) Development and Improvement of Technology The improvement of the whole organization in order to address challenges or problems, for in line with the participation in globalization is the increase in the number of problems to be encountered. With this, it can be understood that along globalization is the need to develop, improve, innovate, and adopt new strategies and methods in relation to systems modification to enable adjustment to the changes and challenges being encountered by the organization. Modification and restructuring in the organization is needed because along with the company ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s intention to expand and widen its target market is the need for additional workforce and management processes and styles that would enable the company accommodate the increase in changes. Restructuring and remodeling of the company, thus, serves to be a good way of adjustment. Both the Friedman ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s definition and  ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½The Coca-ColaSystem ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ as well discuss stress the importance of integration of markets and innovation of technology. Technology revolution can have important effects on the decisions taken by international business. The improved of technology can transform a firm to become a successful international business. With the current technology, innovation can be done by a firm to develop a new product which can attract the current consumers as well as the new buyers. In the case of health trend and changing taste of the consumers, Coca-Cola responded to this through innovation and change. The primary objectives of product innovation are to create value, to obtain a competitive advantage, and to achieve long-term success through the development and commercialization of new products and services (Sundbo and Fuglsang 2002). Innovation for Coca-Cola Company accomplished through development of new products. A range of products such as the Coca-Cola Zero, Enviga, Diet Coke, Gold Peak,Cherry Coke, Diet Cherry Coke, Vanilla Coke, Coca-Cola with Lime, Coca-Cola with Lemon and other variants of Coke. Below shown some of the products with description: Year New Products Description 2005 No-Calorie Drink (Coke Zero) The introduction of Coke Zero was motivated by the increasing consumer demands for healthier products. Coke Zero offers the same taste as Coca-Cola with no calories First launched in North America 2006 Calorie Burning Tea (Enviga) This product is intended to complement healthy lifestyles. By drinking three cans of Enviga each day, consumers can burn an extra 60-100 calories daily. This innovative product is added with a powerful antioxidant EGCG that speeds up metabolism and increase energy use, especially when combined with caffeine. 2006 Gold Peak A premium ready-to-drink iced tea. It ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s with homemade taste revives the timeless flavour of classic, authentic iced tea. By introducing new products, Coca-Cola aims to strengthen its brand image as the home quality beverages. Besides, Coca-Cola fill the gaps between markets and its products. Coca-Cola Company innovate a range of new products including health concerned products to meet consumer ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s demand that are health conscious. 3.) Renewing Systems and Structures The organisational form of Coca Cola is the Entrepreneurial start-up which is the simplest structure. According to Mintzberg (1992) the structure is described as having a little or no techno structure at all, it only has few support staffers, restrained division of labour, minimal differentiation in the work place, and a limited hierarchy in management. The overall setting is informal because there are no strict rules and regulations except the punctuality and absenteeism. Moreover the behaviour within the organisation, particularly in the convenience store is not that formalised wherein it utilises minimal planning, training and liaison devices. After the impact of globalization, the new organization was formed in Coca-Cola business. As we can see in Hong Kong, it would be Machine Bureaucracy. According to Mintzberg, the machine bureaucracy is an organisational structure wherein there is a clear configuration of the design parameters wherein it consistently held up researches it includes specialised routinely operating procedures, formalised procedures in the centre of operations, propagation of rules and regulations, proliferation of formalised communication throughout the company, dependence on the functional basis for tasks wherein it needs group work, comparatively centralised power for decision-making, and a complexly detailed administrative structure with sharp differences between the line and staff. In this form of organisational structure Coca Cola will be able to monitor the efficiency of the performance of the workers because there would be standard procedures and more elaborate structure of management. 4.) increase in competition among other firms in the same industry Last major impact of globalization is the increase in competition among other firms in the same industry. A global firm may be in a better position to compete with its global rival, as it can enhance its resources globally ( 2003). Being able to participate in its foreign target market makes the global firm more advanced and more developed compared to its rivals in the same industry, for it is able to meet the standards and demands of its foreign customers. From this perception, major suppliers and stakeholders would prefer the global firm to other firms. Due to the impact of globalization, there are some local brands compete with Coca-cola. For example, Big Cola  ¿Ã‚ ½C a brand in South and Central America and it act as a Fast-growing competitor to Coca-cola. Secondly, the Corsica Cola in French island of Corsica which is made by brewers of the local Pietra beer growing fast as Coca-cola also. Furthermore, Breizh Cola is available in the French region of Brittany. Because of the increasing in the competitors, The Coca-Cola Company forced to purchase its brand, a registration of Coca-Cola as their own brand mark in 1999. Globalization brings benefits to The Coca-Cola Company and it also led the company to compete with other big company which is in the same industry in whole world. Pepsi Company (PEP) the major competitor that most people familiar with. Usually, people will take Pepsi as their second choice, but in some certain markets, Pepsi outsells more than Coca-Cola. Another big competitor to Coca-cola is Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS). DPS starting its soft drinks business since 1885 and they compete in terms of the packaging, price, availability and so on. 5.) Global Products Coca-Cola Company need to concern on the languages that they used while doing the advertising, promotion and so on. Respect to the consumer culture is an important things in order to attract them for purchasing the product. For example, The Coca-Cola company has to change the logo and the description on their packaging from common English to Mandarin on Taiwan and China markets. this can help the company launch the product successfully by follow consumer mothers language in their countries. Coca-Cola company have to research on the most suitable flavor on carbonated drinks that did suit the eastern countries like China and Taiwan. This had to be replaced by products such as Asian Tea and fermented milk drinks. This needed a lot of research and development to make sure that the relevant product can suit the market. The following are brief overviews of a few countries where Coca-Cola has used their strategies to help their drinks become globally sell. Year of First Introduced Countries Detail on Coco-Cola Company 1942 Argentina -On the first day the product hit the streets, seven 24-bottle cases were sold, plus eighteen single 185 milliliter bottles. -By the end of 1943, sales in Argentina amounted to 300,000 cases using 20 distribution trucks. -Coca-Cola de Argentina S.A. sells around one thousand times more products annually than first year introduced. 1927 Belgium -Belgium is among the world ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s top 20 countries in terms of per capita consumption of Coca-Cola products. 1933 France -Introduced in the  ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½Caf ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ de l ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½Europe ¿Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ in Paris. -Number one soft drink in France since 1966. -Its total sales have doubled in eight years. -Coca-Cola France has created more than 1000 jobs. -Invested more than 3 billion francs in France since 1989. -Today, French consumers drink an average 88 servings of Coca-Cola products each year. 1927 Italy Currently employs approximately 3,000 people. Italian consumers drink an average of 100 servings of Coca-Cola products each year. -There are 12 bottling plants throughout the country, serving more than 500,000 retail outlets, -Producing a wide range of Coca-Cola products, including Fanta, Sprite, Nestea, Kinley Tonic Water, Beverly, Bonaqua and Minute Maid products.

Charles Marius Barbeau’s Ethnography and the Canadian Folklore Essay

Charles Marius Barbeau’s Ethnography and the Canadian Folklore Born on 5 March 1883, in Sainte-Marie-de-Bauce, Charles Marius Barbeau is widely seen as the first Canadian educated anthropologist. He graduated from Università © Laval in Quà ©bec, from his studies of law, in 1907; he never practised law. Upon graduating, Marius was awarded – as the first French-Canadian recipient – the Cecil Rhodes scholarship which allowed him to study at Oxford University where he was introduced to the emerging field of Anthropology.  « Je [voulais] savoir comment l’homme a à ©tà © crà ©Ãƒ ©  » he later explained to Marcel Rioux. (Benoà ®t 1959a) During his stay in Europe, Marius also attended classes at the Sorbonne’s École des Hautes Études and at the École d’anthropologie in Paris. In June 1910, he received a Bachelor of Science degree, from Oxford, for his thesis on The Totemic System of the Northwestern Indian Tribes of North America. Back in Canada, he took the position of Assistant Ethnologist for E dward Sapir at the Anthropological division of the Geological Survey of Canada at the Victoria Memorial Museum in Ottawa (one of the ancestors of today’s – since 1986 – Canadian Museum of Civilization). Then Marius began his life long career of collecting ethnographic and folkloric data on the cultures of aboriginal North-Americans and French creoles of Canada†¦ Theoretical Bases  « Pour Barbeau, les manifestations du folklore sont un peu comme des petits fruits sauvages. Le folkloriste est un cueilleur. [†¦] Si l’on ne cueille pas les fruits sauvages, eh bien ils se perdront pour toujours. [†¦] Un jour, la forà ªt aura envahi le terrain et tout effacà ©. Le modeste champ ne sera plus là  . Il sera oublià ©.  » (Gauthier 2001: 38) Marius Barbeau’s theoretical ... ...stion and the politics of recognition.† Ethnic & Racial Studies. April 1995, 18(2): 277–314. Accessed November 2004 on EBSCO http://0-web29.epnet.com.mercury.concordia.ca/. Accession number: 9506073480; Database: Academic Search Premier SMITH, Derek G. 2001. â€Å"The Barbeau archives at the Canadian Museum of Civilization: some current research problems† Anthropologica 43(2): 191. Accessed November 2004 on ProQuest http://proquest.umi.com/. ProQuest document ID: 357968991 SUZUKI, David 2001. â€Å"A Personal Foreword: The Value of Native Ecologies† in Peter KNUDTSON and David SUZUKI. Wisdom Of The Elders. Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 2001 [1992]: XXI–XXXV TURGEON, Laurier; Denys DELÂGE and Rà ©al OUELLET 1995. â€Å"Marius Barbeau et l’ethnologie des Amà ©rindiens† Canadian Folklore Canadien 17(1). Accessed November 2004 http://www.fl.ulaval.ca/celat/acef/171f.htm

Thomas Hardys The Convergence Of The Twain Essay -- Sinking Titanic P

Thomas Hardy's The Convergence Of The Twain The poem The Convergence of the Twain, by Thomas Hardy, is about the sinking of the Titanic. The title alone describes the ship and the iceberg meeting as one. By choosing this title, the author automatically conveys a seriousness of the poem. The author uses various literary techniques to convey his mockery and careless attitude towards the sinking of the ship. In the first five stanzas, the author discusses the already submerged ship. ?Stilly couches she,? describes the ship resting on the bottom of the ocean. The lines, ?Jewels in joy designed?lie lightless, all their sparkles bleared and black and blind?, point out the waste of money, technology and craftsmanship going down with the ship which is consistently mentioned in these stanzas. In the next six stanzas he describes the iceberg and the ship meeting together as one in destiny. The use of personification found in the last five stanzas gives the ship its own power. The author refers to the ship as ?her? which makes the ship sound as though it has a mind of its own. The ship is also described as ?smart and growing in grace, stature, and hue.? This means that the ship was growing in confidence. ?She? thought she was untouchable and unsinkable. His attitude reflects his thoughts that the ship was on route to destiny, and no kind of human powers could stop it. The next literary technique used is irony. The lines ?Over the mirrors meant To glass the opulent the sea-...

Industrial Revolution :: essays research papers

The Industrial revolution began in the early 1800s. The industrial revolution could not have happened if the agricultural revolution had not preceded it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the Agricultural Revolution several inventions that reduced the need for man power were invented. Two of those inventions were the Jethro Tull seeding drill and the cotton gin. The seeding drill planted seeds in rows which made the crops easier to manage and harvest. The cotton gin was invented in 1793 by Eli Whitney, it took the seeds out of the cotton. The cotton gin made it so that the work that previously needed to be done by fifty men could now be done by one. An idea of the agricultural revolution was crop rotation. Crop rotation was switching the crops into different fields each year which allowed farmers to produce 25 % more crops and more food means more population up.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the agricultural revolution population went up and less people were needed to work on the farms. There were a lot of people that needed jobs but there were not a lot of jobs for people on farms so the people turned to the cities. The time when people went into the cities looking for jobs which caused the populations of the cities to at least double was called urbanization. During urbanization the city of Manchester in the United kingdom grew from 50,000 people to 500,00 people, this rapid increase of population took place during an extremely short period of time. The United Kingdom became the place where the industrial revolution was born. It happened here because the UK had land, labor, and wealth. Factories arose first in the UK and then all over Europe.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since there were factories everywhere, there were plenty of jobs for the people. Even though the factories did provide jobs for the people they were not good jobs. People started working as young as the age of six. The average work day was 14-16 hours, and that’s a lot of working hours, especially for a young child.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Inside the factories the conditions were absolutely dreadful. The air was full of dust and other things that made it practically unbreathable, the machines were dangerous and often took a persons limbs or injured them in other ways. Because the work days were so long and the workers were practically on their feet the entire day people became deformed and had problems with their legs. Despite all the hard labor and dangers of the work place the workers were still paid next to nothing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Eventually working conditions did improve. One of the things that helped improve conditions were unions. Unions were when all of the workers got together

The Effects of the Media on Body Image

The pressure to be thin has amplified significantly due to the growing influence of the media. Despite numerous of other factors that contribute to society's view of the ideal body image, the media by far has the largest influence on society through icons that constantly reinforce unrealistic beauty standards and idealize the thin. The media persistently glamorizes the extremely skinny, which greatly impacts how society views different body types. Pictures of impossibly thin models are continuously pasted all over billboards and magazines. The skinny are looked up to, and the obese are shunned. Popular television shows that include overweight characters depict them either as comical outcasts or failures. There is also an abundance of television programs that focus solely on overweight individuals attempting to lose weight. For instance, The Biggest Loser is a very successful television series and publishing enterprise which selects participants based on body size. According to John Whyte, MD, in â€Å"Media Portrayal of People Who are Obese,† â€Å"The Biggest Loser promotes the perception that obesity is caused by individual failure rather than a mixture of individual, environment, and genetic sources. The popular television show also suggests that obese people are fat because they are lazy and that the only way for them to be respected and accepted is to lose the extra weight. These type of shows portray obesity in a certain way that promotes negative perceptions and fosters prejudice against the obese. Viewers don't consciously think about it, but the more they a re around the media that subtly promotes these perceptions, the more likely the perceptions are to be engrained in their minds. Moreover, the high standards of beauty that the media implements daily are nearly impossible for the majority of people to meet. Even though the average American is at least slightly overweight or obese, popular media pushes out derogatory themes that discriminate unfairly against the obese. The media's strong influence on society against bigger body types has caused numerous of dire effects on the way people think today. As stated by Shelly Grabe of Medical News Today in her article â€Å"Concern over Strong Media Influence on Women's Body Image,† researchers have recently conducted a meticulous study on the extent to which the media affects women. They found a tremendous difference between those who were exposed to media and those who were not; the women who had been exposed reported less satisfaction with their bodies (Grabe). Exposure to media that depicts dangerously thin actresses and models significantly increases people's distress about their bodies, thereby influencing dissatisfaction and chances of engaging in unhealthy eating behaviors. Furthermore, research has â€Å"repeatedly shown that constant exposure to thin models fosters body image concerns and disordered eating† in many people. Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia have been steadily more common in younger generations today. Subliminal messages from the media about what the â€Å"ideal† body should look like molds the naive teenagers' mindset and influences their definitions of what is ugly and what is beautiful. There are few that escape the inundating influences of the media. In fact, â€Å"the average American sees three thousand ads per day† (Jean Kilbourne). Therefore, the media does not just play a small role in influencing society's view on different body types. The media relentlessly bombards society with negative connotations of the overweight and the fat, unwelcomingly shaping America's perception of the ideal body. Discrimination against body types that do not fit into the media's definition of beauty has immensely impacted society. However, the media does not have to be such a big influence. There have been a plethora of organizations that exist to help boost the self esteem of those who suffer from harmful messages sent by the media about what their bodies should look like. According to the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA), a civil rights organization, was started in 1969 to â€Å"eliminate discrimination based on body size and to provide obese people with the tools for self-empowerment though public education, advocacy, and support. † NAAFA delivers a message to society that belies the media's input of the ideal body type. The non-profit organization seeks to better society and to limit discrimination against the obese. There are many similar organizations and groups that help support people who are facing discrimination from their peers. Additionally, there has been an ongoing growth of celebrities who embrace their bodies for what they are. Celebrities such as Adele serve as an excellent inspiration and role model to people who look up to them. Seventeen Magazine has also initiated a Beauty Peace Treaty which encourages females all around the world to pledge to accept their bodies. The treaty has gained the signatures and vows of over four thousand people and continues to grow in popularity. Even though popular media is the root of the negative impressions of the obese, society does not have to be anchored in place to those stereotypes. The media has the greatest incessant impact on society’s view of the ideal body type. From advertisements to song lyrics, popular media is ubiquitous, constantly reinforcing erroneous standards of beauty and flawed perceptions of the obese. However, there are a variety of different resources that help combat the negative influences from the media and encourage those that suffer from low body image.

Night World : Witchlight Chapter 6

It was a full-force invasion. Even before the echoes of open frame glass had died, figures in black uniforms were swarming finished the window.Dark ninjas, Keller thought. An elite chemical group take on up of vampires and shapeshifters, the Night World experts at sneaking and killing.Kellers mind, which had been roiling in clouds of s puzzle anger, was suddenly crystal clear.Nissa, resign her she sh poped. It was each she needed to say. Nissa grabbed Diana. It didnt matter that Iliana was screaming breathlessly and too shocked to extremity to go wheatverw makeher. Nissa was a vampire and stronger than a man Olympic weight lifter. She simply picked Iliana up and ran with her toward the buns room access.With emerge universe t some age(a), Winfrith followed close behind, orangish skill already sizzling mingled with her palms. Keller k newfound she would provide wide-cut cover-Winnie was a armed combat witch. She made full use of the new powers that tout ensemble the Night People were growing as the millennium got closer. As peerless of the ninjas lunged after them, she let loose with a b hold water of poppy-colored energy that knocked him sideways.Now you Keller shouted to Galen, act to hustle him into the student residence without tour from the ninjas. She hadnt changed and didnt loss to if she could avoid it. Changing took quantify, odd you vulner sufficient for the few seconds that you were between forms. dependablely straightway seconds counted.Galen got a few steps fine-tune the hall, thence(prenominal)(prenominal) stopped. naan HarmanI knew it, Keller thought. Hes a liability.The old woman was shut external in the living room, supporting with her feet set up apart, send packinge ready. Her apprentice, Toby, was in front of her, functional up some witch thaumaturgy and tossing energy. They were decent in the flow of the ninjas.Which was as it ought to be. Kellers mind had clicked through the possibilities even out at the beginning and had come to the solo tenable conclusion.We have to leave herGalen transfer to her, his search lit by the multicolored energy that was flying around them. What?Shes too mute We have to protect you and Hiana. Get pitifulHis features were etched in shock. Youre joking. sightly abide here-Ill bring her.No Galen-He was already running back.Keller cursed.Go on she utter to Nissa and Winnie, who were at the entrance to the kitchen, where the back door was. Take the limo if you apprize beguile to it. Dont wait for us consequently she morose and plunged into the living room.Galen was trying to shield Grandma Harman from the worst of the energy being exchanged. Keller gritted her teeth. This group of ninjas was only the starting wave. They were here to breach the wards and make an opening for whatever was going away to follow.Which could be a dragon.The ninjas hadnt finished their job, though. nearly of the wards were holding, and the one that had fallen was on a small window. The dark figures could only worm in one at a time. The house shook as whoever was outside(a) spangmed power at it, trying to deaden a bigger entrance.Faintly, Keller perceive an railway locomotive rev up outside. She hoped it was the limo.Galen was pulling at Grandma Harman. Toby was grappling close with a ninja.Keller batted a duplicate of the sneaks out of her way. She wasnt trying to kill them, settle down aim them out of commission. She had almost reached Galen.And then she perceive the rumbling.Only her mountain lion ears could have picked it up. Just as the first time when shed heard it, it was so deep that it seemed both muted and frighteningly loud. It shook her to her bones.In a flash, she knew what was climax.And on that point was no time to take nearly what to do.Galen seemed to have sensed it, too. Keller apothegm him flavor at the roof equitable above the door. Then he turned toward Grandma Harman, shouting.After that, everything h appened at once. Galen knocked the old woman down and fell on top of her. At the same time, Keller sprang and set down on top of both of them.She was ever-changing even as she did it. Changing and diffusion herself out, trying to make herself as unspecific and flat as possible. A panther rug to cover them.The brick wall set off just as the window had, only louder.Shattered with Power, Keller thought. The dragon had recovered fast.And then it was raining bricks. One hit Keller in the leg, and she lashed her tail in fury. Another in love her back, and she felt a deep pain. Then one got her in the head, and she saw etiolate light. She could hear Galen shouting under her. It seemed to be her account.Then nothing.Something wet touched her face. Keller hissed automatically, pawing at it in annoyance.Lemme lone.Boss, wake up. Come on, its break of day already.Keller opened heavy eyeball.She was dreaming. She had to be. Either that, or the afterlife was full of teenage girls. Winni e was bending over her with a dripping washcloth, and Nissa was peering critically over her shoulder. Behind Nissa was Ilianas anxious minuscular heart-shaped face, her h oxygenate falling identical cardinal shimmering curtains of silvery-starlight gold on every side.Keller blinked. I was sure I was dead.Well, you got close, Winnie say cheerfully. Me and Toby and Grandma Harman have been functional on you most of the night. Youre going to be kind of stiff, exactly I expect your skull was too thick to crack.Keller sat up and was rewarded with a stabbing pain in her temples. What happened? Wheres Galen?Well, golly gee, Boss, I didnt turn in you c atomic number 18d-Stop befool around, Winnie Wheres the guy whos got to be alive if the shapeshifters argon going to join Circle dayspring?Winnie sobered. Nissa verbalise calmly, Hes fine, Keller. This is Ilianas house. Everybodys okay. We got you guys out-Keller frowned, struck by a new worry. You did? Why? I told you to take th e girl and go.Nissa raised an eyebrow wryly. Yes, well, only when the girl didnt want to go. She made us stop and turn back for you.For Galen, Keller state. She looked at Diana, who was wearing a tapdance robe with puffy sleeves and looked roughly seven. She tried to make her voice patient. It was reliable to calculate of him, just now you should have followed the plan.Anyway, it worked out, Nissa said. Apparently, the dragon blew the house down on top of you, but then he walked right over you trying to attain to us.Yeah. I was kind of hoping he wouldnt giveGalen was thither, Keller said. Or wouldnt genuinelyize he was important.Well, when he found wed already gotten away in the limo, he and his buddies took after us in cars, Winnie said. But Nissa lost them. And then Iliana insisted, and so we circled back. And there you were. Galen and Toby were remove you out. We helped them and brought you here. What about Grandma Harman? She came out of it without a scratch. Shes tou gher than she looks, Winnie said. She talked to Ilianas mom utmost night, Nissa added. She fixed everything up so we stooge stay here.Youre speculate to be a distant cousin, and the suspire of us are your friends. Were from Canada. We gradatory last year, and were touring the U.S. by bus. We ran into Iliana last night, and thats why she was late. Its all covered, nice and neat. Its all ludicrous, Keller said. She looked at Iliana. And its time to stop. Havent you seen enough yet? Thats twice youve been attacked by a monster. Do you really want to try your luck for a one-third time? It was a mistake. Ilianas face had been overbold and anxious, but now Keller could see the walls slam down. The majestic eyes hazed over and sparked at the same time.Nobody attacked me until you guys came Iliana flared. In fact, nobodys attacked me so far at all. I think its you people theyre after-or maybe Galen. I take hold telling you that Im not the one youre looking for. This was the time fo r diplomacy, but Keller was too exacerbate to think. You dont really believe that. Unless you practice being stupe-Stop calling me stupid The last word was a piercing shriek. At the same time, Diana threw something at Keller. She batted it out of the air automatically before it could hit.Im not stupid And Im not your Witch Child or whatever you call it Im just a normal kid, and I kindred my life. And if I cant live my life, then I dont want to-to do boththing. She whirled around and stalked out, her nightie billowing.Keller stared at the missile shed caught. It was a stuffed beloved with outrageously long eyelashes and a pink ribbon tied around its light neck.Nissa folded her arms. Well, you sure handled that one, Boss.Give me a break. Keller tossed the give birth onto the window seat. And just how did she make you two turn around and come back for us, by the way?Winnie pursed her lips. You heard it. mass control. She kept screaming like-well, I dont know what screams like that. Youd be surprised how efficacious it is.Youre agents of Circle Daybreak youre supposed(p) to be immune to torture. But Keller dropped the subject. What are you still hanging around for? she added, as she swung her feet out of bed and carefully tried her legs. Youre supposed to stick with her, even when shes in the house. Dont stand here staring at me.Youre pleasurable for typesetting you back together again, Winnie said, her eyes on the ceiling. In the doorway, she turned and added, And, you know, it wasnt Galen she kept screaming we had to go back and get last night. It was you, Keller. Keller stared at the door as it shut, bewildered.You cant go to instilltime, Keller hissed. Do you hear me? You cannot go to school.They were all sitting around the kitchen table. Ilianas nonplus, a lovely woman with a mat of platinum hair coiled on her neck, was making eat. She seemed slightly anxious about her four new houseguests, but in a pleasantly excited way. She surely wasnt suspicious. Grandma Harman had done a good job of brainwashing.Were going to have a wonderful Christmas, she said now, and her angelic make a face grew brighter. We can go into Winston-Salem for a Christmas and standard candle Tea. Have you ever had a Moravian sugar-cake? I just wish Great-aunt Edgith had been able to stay.Grandma Harman was gone. Keller didnt know whether to be alleviated or frustrated. Despite what she kept saying, as long as the old woman was around, Keller would worry about her. But with her gone, there was nobody to appeal to, nobody who could battle array Iliana into safekeeping.So now they were sitting and having this argument. It looked like such a normal breakfast scene, Keller thought dryly. Ilianas father had already left-hand(a) for work. Her mother was bustling around cheerfully. Her teeny-weeny buddy was in a eminent chair making a mess with Cheerios. Too bad that the four nicely dressed teenagers at the table were real two shapeshifters, a w itch, and a vampire.Galen was flat opposite Keller. There were shadows under his eyes-had anyone gotten any sleep last night?-and he seemed subdued but relaxed. Keller hadnt had a bechance to speak to him since the dragons attack.Not that she had anything to say.Orange juice, Kelly?No, thank you, Mrs. Dominick. That was what this family thought their last name was. They didnt realize that witches trace their heritage through the female person line and that both Iliana and her mother were wherefore Harmans.Oh, please, call me Aunt Anna, the woman said. She had her daughters imperial eyes and the smile of an angel. She was also gushy Keller juice.Now I see where Iliana gets her glittery intelligence, Keller thought. Oh-thanks, Aunt Anna. And, actually, its Keller, not Kelly.How unusual. But its nice, so modern.Its my last name, but thats what everybody calls me.Oh, really? Whats your first name?Keller broke off a piece of toast, feeling uncomfortable. Raksha.But thats bonnie Wh y dont you use it?Keller shrugged. I just dont. She could see Galen looking at her. Shapeshifters commonly were named for their animal forms, but neither Keller nor Raksha fail the pattern. I was abandoned as a kid, she said in a nip voice, looking back at Galen. Dianas mother wouldnt be able to make anything of this, but she might as well match the princelings curiosity. So I dont know my real last name. But my first name means demon.Dianas mother paused with the juice carton over Nissas glass. Oh. How nice. Well, then, I see.She blinked a couple of times and walked off without pouring Nissa any juice.So what does Galen mean? Keller said, holding his regard challengingly and handing her full glass to Nissa.He smiled-a elfin wryly-for the first time since sitting down. Calm.Keller snorted. It figures.I like Raksha better.Keller didnt answer. With Aunt Anna safely in the kitchen, she could speak again to Diana. You understood before, right? That you cant go to school.I have to go to school. For somebody who looked as if she were made of spun glass, Diana ate a lot. She spoke around a mouthful of microwave pancake.Its out of the question. How can we go with you? What are we supposed to be, for Goddesss stake?My long-lost cousin from Canada and her friends, Diana said indistinctly. Or you can all be exchange students whore here to study our American educational system. in the lead Keller could say anything, she added, Hey, how come you guys arent at school? Dont you have schools?Weve got the same ones you do, Winnie said. Except Nissa-she graduated last year. But Keller and I are seniors like you. We just take time off for this stuff.I bet your grades are as bad as mine, Diana said unemotionally. Anyway, I have to go to school this week. There are all sorts of strain parties and things. You can come. Itll be fun.Keller treasured to hit her with the pot of grits.She had a problem, though. Ilianas little brother Alex had escaped from his high chair and w as rise up her leg. She looked down at him uneasily. She wasnt good with family-type things, and she especially wasnt good with children.Okay, she said. Go on back and sit down. She peeled him off and tried to start him in the right direction.He turned around and put his arms up. Kee-kee. Kee-kee.Thats his word for kitty, Ilianas mother said, coming in with a plate of sausages. She crinkled his white-blond hair. You mean Kelly, Kelly, she told him. Keller, Keller Winnie corrected helpfully.Alex climbed into Kellers lap, grabbed her hair, and hoisted himself into a stand position. She found herself looking into huge violet baby eyes. Witch eyes.Kee-kee, he said flatly, and gave her a sloppy kiss on the cheek.Winnie grinned. Having trouble?The kid had two chubby arms around Kellers neck now and was nudging her chin with his head like a kitten looking for pets. He had a good grip, too. This time, she couldnt peel him off.Its just-distracting, she said, giving up and petting him awkw ardly. It was ridiculous. How could she argue with baby giggles in her ears?You look kind of sweet together, Iliana observed. Tm getting dressed for school now. You guys can do whatever you want.She floated off small-arm Keller was trying to think of a reply.Nissa and Winnie in haste followed her. Galen got up to help Ilianas mother with the dishes. Keller tugged at the baby, who clung like a sloth. Maybe there was shapeshifter blood in this family. Kee-kee pui That was what it sounded like.Pwee? Keller glanced nervously at his diaper.He means pretty Ilianas mother said, coming back in. Its funny. He doesnt usually take to people like that. He likes animals better.Oh. Well, he has good taste, Keller said. She finally succeeded in detaching him and gave him back to his mother. Then she started down the hallway after Iliana, muttering, Too bad about his eyesight.I think his eyesights just fine, Galen said, right behind her.Keller turned, realizing they were alone in the hall.His gi ve-up the ghost smile faded. I really wanted to talk to you, he said.