Monday, September 30, 2019

An Ideal Life

Life- this word carries with itself tremendous importance. it is a gift to all of mankind from the eternal Almighty. This is indicates that one has to use it to the fullest and not preserve it as an artifact. Life is above all our belongings. Nowadays,people live life for only one thing,the thing that can soothe even an Iron man's heart,  money. People use fraudulent methods, practices and techniques to amass wealth,but this is not the life the eternal force wanted us to live. Many perish to the perils in life but life has to be so lest it would be like a person being spoon-fed. The eternal force wanted us to live a happy and satisfied life. Money is not a matter of concern. Serving humanity until life topples down,leaving our legacy behind for others to follow are the building blocks of an ideal life. People are remembered for their deeds and not for how long they lived. Mahatma Gandhi is the perfect example for a person with an ideal life. Simple style of living,having one's goals set and the determination to achieve them,no inclination towards negative values were the spotlight of Gandhi's life. Today we find such things rubbish and behave in an exact antithetical manner in comparison to Gandhi's life. Yet it is Mahatma Gandhi's photo that is printed on the Indian Currency Note and not ours. Hence. we should to try to live a life like the Mahatma himself. Life should be utilized to the fullest and must be our cherished possession always. Leading an ideal life will keep our reputation intact and create an example for others to follow. We shall be remembered for years together. An Ideal Life Life- this word carries with itself tremendous importance. it is a gift to all of mankind from the eternal Almighty. This is indicates that one has to use it to the fullest and not preserve it as an artifact. Life is above all our belongings. Nowadays,people live life for only one thing,the thing that can soothe even an Iron man's heart,  money. People use fraudulent methods, practices and techniques to amass wealth,but this is not the life the eternal force wanted us to live. Many perish to the perils in life but life has to be so lest it would be like a person being spoon-fed. The eternal force wanted us to live a happy and satisfied life. Money is not a matter of concern. Serving humanity until life topples down,leaving our legacy behind for others to follow are the building blocks of an ideal life. People are remembered for their deeds and not for how long they lived. Mahatma Gandhi is the perfect example for a person with an ideal life. Simple style of living,having one's goals set and the determination to achieve them,no inclination towards negative values were the spotlight of Gandhi's life. Today we find such things rubbish and behave in an exact antithetical manner in comparison to Gandhi's life. Yet it is Mahatma Gandhi's photo that is printed on the Indian Currency Note and not ours. Hence. we should to try to live a life like the Mahatma himself. Life should be utilized to the fullest and must be our cherished possession always. Leading an ideal life will keep our reputation intact and create an example for others to follow. We shall be remembered for years together.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Issues Affecting Communication in the Workplace

This essay will focus primarily on three main issues that can undermine effective communication namely cultural diversity, emotions and language (Robbins et al. 2011 p. 331). The importance of feedback in an organisation to improve communication would also be reviewed (Iyer & Israel 2012 p. 55). Through feedback received, communication unveils opportunities to improve the individual and general performances of the organisation (Daneci-Patrau 2011 p. 496).Communication in an organisation comprises of many dimensions spanning formal and informal means of internal communication and external communications (Iyer & Israel 2012 p. 52). Communication is an ongoing process in which feelings, ideas, values and perceptions are transferred from one person to another through symbols which can be in the form of nonverbal, verbal and graphic communication (Dwyer 2009). Organisational communication refers to the transferring of information among members of an organisation, as well as in correctly u nderstanding the message contained in the information (Daneci-Patrau 2011p. 88). In order for an organisation to function effectively coordination of all aspects of the organisation must be achieved and this can only be done through effective communication which enables the organisation to meet its goals and objectives (Daneci-Patrau 2011). Effective communication is necessary in understanding management behaviour, reducing misunderstanding and building trust in and amongst members of an organisation (Daneci-Patrau 2011).Managers play an important role in ensuring the flow of communication through the organisation by using an effective system whereby feedback is received and acted upon (Daneci-Patrau 2011 496). Dwyer (2009 p. 9) states that leaders and managers with effective communication skills are able to work directly with people thereby minimising direct controls and encouraging more understanding, commitment, motivation and productivity within the organisation.The occurrence o f misunderstanding and inefficiency in an organisation can be attributed to lack of communication (Iyer & Israel 2012). Means of communication has grown significantly with the advancement in technology. Managers now have access to various communication channels such as emails, teleconferencing, computers, mobile phones and fax which speeds up the business of communicating (Alger, Delahunty & Diamantopoulos 1997).Communication channels must be established through appropriate methods and on all levels in an organisation both on an individual and group level between various people in the workplace ranging from clients, who are either internal or external to the organisation, staff members from within and outside it, those in managerial positions and line personnel (Klenk & Hickey 2010). The role of an organisation and management is to facilitate and coordinate communication within the organisation.Klenk & Hickey (2010) states that organisational communication relates to the transaction al and symbolic process that facilitates the coordination of activities through mutual adjustments of behaviour of individual parts to achieve a common goal. Communication in an organisation is not just the mere exchange of information, it is more comprehensive than that and includes constructive meanings between members of the organisation who influence each other in the context of asymmetrical power relationships during which they compete for power, resources and legitimacy (Klenk and Hickey 2010).Managers within organisations are in positions of power and personal influence in their relationships with employees and should be proactive in communicating with staff (White, Vanc & Stafford 2010). A number of studies have linked internal communication and the degree to which employees are given feedback to their job satisfaction and performance (White, Vanc & Stafford 2010).Vos (2009) measures performance in the communication area based on the following criteria: the management must s upport the holistic assessment of the organisation, the assessment must be an integral part of the communication function, the assessment process must be a team activity and those responsible for implementing these changes must be part of the team, the assessment must be well-prepared and well-organised and before commencement, those concerned should be well-informed of the organisation’s communication activities. Communication breakdown occurs when the message is not fully understood by the receiver.Breakdowns occur in situations when messages are distorted or blocked in some ways (Alger, Delahunty & Diamantopoulos 1997). These breakdowns are of major concern to the organisation as it may cost them both time and money (Alger, Delahunty & Diamantopoulos 1997). The first undermining factor we will be looking at is culture. Cultural diversity in the workplace is increasingly growing as most organisations today are multicultural in nature (Robbins et al. 2011). Culture is dynami c and a constantly changing in nature over time (Dwyer 2009).Communication barriers can also arise from different languages spoken, values and customs of individuals from various ethnic backgrounds. (Robbins, DeCenzo, Coulter &Woods 2011, p. 331). Culture refers to the norms, beliefs, customs, ethics, codes, mores, values, sentiments, behaviour and attitudes of individuals in a society (Kumar & Chakravarthi 2009). The more common the culture between two people, the greater the likelihood of achieving mutual understanding and effective communication(Alger, Delahunty & Diamantopoulos 1997).Culture can form barriers in communication when individuals are not aware of each other’s differences in values or customs (Kumar & Chakravarthi 2009). Managers today work with people from different nationalities and it is therefore important for them to be culturally competent through gaining knowledge of the cultural aspects of individual and countries they interact with to ensure effective and efficient communication (Todarita & Ranf 2009). Another issue that can undermine effective communication is one’s emotion.Emotions refer to the physiological and psychological state at the immediate time of communication (Smeltzer & Waltman 1984). Robbins et al. (2011) also defines emotions in regards to communication, as how a receiver feels when the message is received and how he or she interprets it. There are two types of emotional abilities namely managing emotions and the use of emotions to facilitate thinking and communication associated with job performance in an organisation (Lindebaum 2009).Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a term that is used to substantiate personal skills and characteristics that are responsible for the ways in which individuals behave, feel and relate to others in a job context (Dwyer 2009). Emotionally intelligent leaders are able to have the social skills and awareness to associate effectively in different settings (Dwyer 2009). In personal, social and business relationships, managers are able to build satisfying relationships nd make effective decisions based on their EI (Dwyer 2009). When emotions are running high, individuals often disregard rational and objective thinking process and substitute it with emotional judgements (Robbins et al. 2011, p. 331). ‘Learning to recognise emotions and empathise with others, developing high self-esteem, managing emotional upsets and anger are all emotional skills that managers and staff should learn’ (Dwyer 2009). In addition, use of language can affect communication adversely.To communicate effectively managers must learn to be clear and concise and tailor their language at an appropriate level so that their audience understands the meaning (Alger, Delahunty & Diamantopoulos 1997 p. 256). Due to the diverse backgrounds of employees in an organisation, different patterns of speech are formed easily in a specialized environment and this developed technical language i s known as jargon (Robbins et al. 2011).Although jargon may greatly help communication within specialized groups, it can impede communication among individuals who are not conversant with the language (Understanding and Managing Organisational Behaviour 2006). Age, education and cultural backgrounds are variables that influence the language a person uses and the definitions the individual applies to it (Robbins et al. 2011). An example of incorporating a language for better communication can be seen in Denmark where predominantly speaking Danish organisations are obliged to adopt English into their organisation (Tange & Lauring 2009). Language management and social interaction within the multilingual workplace national and corporate languages serve different needs and purposes, which is particularly evident  in  a country such as Denmark, where corporate language planning involves the imposition of an English  lingua franca  on  organisations  that are traditionally Dani sh-speaking’ (Tange & Lauring 2009). Tange & Lauring (2009) provides that language usage within multinational companies has suggested that multilingualism creates a complex managerial situation with great implications for cross-cultural communication. When communicating across cultures, awareness of the meaning of the words and idiomatic expressions in the language of another culture can prevent communication barriers and their consequences’ (Dwyer 2009 p. 41). Furthermore, feedback system is an example of a system that managers can use to improve communication in their respective organisation. Kaymaz (2011) defines feedback as the most important stage in the communication process. Communication is a two way process, and managers must be prepared to give feedback to employees and in return encourage feedback from employees (Hitt, Black, Porter & Hanson 2007).Receiving feedback is important as it indicates to the sender that their message has been received and correctly understood and interpreted (Robbins et al. 2011). Once received, feedback can trigger another idea from the sender, initiating yet another cycle of communication which triggers yet another round of feedback, thereby continuing the cyclical nature of the communication process (Understanding and Managing Organisational Behaviour 2006). The provision of feedback helps reduce the likelihood of misinterpretation to occur in the workplace (Iyer & Israel 2012 p. 2). For example in an organisation that sells goods and services directly to customers, the organisation can evaluate their performance by encouraging feedback from customers based on employee service and conduct. ‘Customer feedback can help to identify problem areas and strengths, and generate ideas for service improvements’ (Wirtz, Tambyah & Mattila 2010). Measuring performance should not be seen as extra work but rather as part of normal business operations. Feedback should be seen as a method for continuous assess ment and improvement.In this sense, it can be seen as a strategic feedback system that improves communication within the organisation in general. Performance measurement leads to transparency and in turn drives innovation and creativity (Vos 2009). In conclusion, organisations do not have independent existence, they associate with many groups and individuals by means of effective communication and feedback to achieve their results and desired outcomes (Alger, Delahunty & Diamantopoulos 1997). Interaction with organisations occurs through different channels of communication and by different methods.All organisations and managers need to be aware of the communication patterns that occur within their environment to ensure effective communication (Alger, Delahunty & Diamantopoulos 1997 p. 117). The complex world of management today presents countless occasions to those in managerial positions to express their ideas and convince or persuade others to accept their ideas (Showry & Manasa 2 012). However, it can be an ordeal if one fails to focus on the critical foundation which is effective communication (Showry & Manasa 2012).Factors such as language, culture and emotions can undermine effective communication in an organisation but through feed-back achieved, communication discloses opportunities to improve the individual and general performances of the organisation (Daneci-Patrau 2011). From this essay we can draw on the significance of effective communication in an organisation and how the lack of it can result in decreased productivity, poor interpersonal relationships between employees and employers and be the cause of other serious workplace issues that could lead to other negative outcomes (Mallet Hammer 2005). ReferencesAlger G, Delahunty, J, Diamantopoulos, A 1997, Business Management, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press. Daneci-Patrau, D. 2011, ‘Formal Communication in Organisation’, Economics, Management and Financial Markets, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 4 87-497. Dwyer, J 2009, Communication in Business: Strategies and skills, 4th edn, Pearson Education Australia, Frenchs Forest. Hitt,M A, Black J S, Porter, L W, Hanson, D 2007 Management, Pearson Education Australia. Iyer, S, & Israel, D 2012, ‘Structural Equation Modelling for Testing the Impact of Organization Communication Satisfaction on Employee Engagement’,  South Asian Journal Of Management, 19, 1, pp. 1-81. Kaymaz, K 2011,  Ã¢â‚¬ËœPerformance Feedback: Individual Based Reflections and the Effect on Motivation’, Business and Economics Research Journalvol. 2, no. 4, pp. 115-134. Klenk, NL & Hickey, GM 2010, ‘Communication and Management Challenges in Large, Cross-sector Research Networks: A Canadian Case Study’,  Canadian Journal of Communication, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 239-263. Kumar, M & Chakravarthi, K 2009, ‘Cross-Cultural Communication’,  ICFAI Journal of Soft Skills, 3, 2, pp. 43-47. Lindebaum, D 2009, ‘Rhetoric or Remedy? A Critique on Developing Emotional Intelligence', Academy Of Management Learning & Education, 8, 2, pp. 25-237. Mallet-Hammer, B 2005 ‘Communication in the Workplace’ Research Paper, University of Wisconsin, viewed 14 August 2012 . Robbins, S, DeCenzo, D, Coulter, M & Woods, M 2011, Management: The Essentials, Pearson, Frenchs Forest. Showry, M & Manasa, K 2012, ‘Effective Communication for Professional Excellence’, IUP Journal Of Soft Skills, pp. 39-46 Smeltzer, LR & Wlatman L 1984, Managerial Communication-Strategic Approach, Louisiana State University, John Wiley & Sons.Tange, H & Lauring, J 2009, ‘Language management and social interaction within the multilingual workplace’,  Journal of Communication Management,  vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 218-232. Todarita, E & Ranf, DE 2009, ‘The Necessity and Efficient Usage of Managerial Communication within Organisations during Crisis Situations. Drawing-Up the Content of a Crisis Planningà ¢â‚¬â„¢,  Annales Universitatis Apulensis : Series Oeconomica,  vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 796- 804. Understanding and Managing Organisational Behaviour 2006, Delta Publishing Company, California.Vos, M 2009, ‘Communication quality and added value: a measurement instrument for Municipalities’, Journal of Communication Management, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 362-377. White, C, Vanc, A & Stafford, G 2010, ‘Internal Communication, Information Satisfaction, and Sense of Community: The Effect of Personal Influence’, Journal Of Public Relations Research, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 65-84. Wirtz, J, Tambyah, SK, Mattila, AS 2010, Organizational learning from customer feedback Received by service employees: A social capital perspective, Journal of Service Management, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 363-387.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Challenges faced (Cultural, perceptional and religious perspective ) Research Paper

Challenges faced (Cultural, perceptional and religious perspective ) and acceptance of Islamic Finance in western (Non Islamic C - Research Paper Example Also discussed is the concern over Islamic finance allegedly supporting terrorism, and why some western countries equate Islamic finance with supporting terrorism. Some implications are highlighted and recommendations are then made based on the research as to how to deal with such issues and overcome the barriers to making Islamic finance more acceptable in Western countries. Although most Islamic banks are concentrated in Muslim countries, they are also to be found in many non-Muslim countries, especially in Europe and the U.S.). In addition, some conventional banks have also begun to offer Islamic financing schemes such as the HSBC Amanah division of HSBC Group established in 1998. Also, although several studies have been conducted on attitudes towards Islamic banking and the patronization of Islamic banks with reference to IFIs located in Muslim countries, some studies, albeit very few have also been conducted to gather the views and preferences of Western customers. A selection o f these IFIs located in Western countries is also the focus of attention and the few studies referred to above are mentioned. General perceptions of Islamic finance It proved to be difficult to ascertain the perceptions of Westerners towards Islamic finance due to a lack of studies in this area. Most studies have examined customers from Muslim and other developing countries. To give an example of one significant study, Erol & El-Bdour (1989) studied attitudes towards Islamic banking in Jordan. They used a nine-part question/statement instrument and showed that religious motivation was not such an important factor as a fast and efficient service, reputation and image, and confidentiality. Nonetheless, a general awareness of Islamic banks and their methods was evident. Sudin et al. (1994) conducted a more extensive study among both Muslims and non-Muslims in Malaysia. The three most important criteria for non-Muslims were firstly, friendliness of staff, secondly a fast and efficient s ervice, and thirdly the bank’s image and reputation. Another study on Malaysian customers showed that although most of them did not have a complete understanding of Islamic financial products, they did not differentiate between products from Islamic and conventional banks (Hamid & Nordin, 2001). In another study, Gerrard & Cunningham (1997) surveyed the attitude towards Islamic banking among Singaporeans where Muslims are in a minority. It was found that non-Muslims were generally lacking in awareness of Islamic banking. Furthermore, whereas Muslims were mainly motivated by religious reasons besides profitability, and had little interest in getting a high interest rate on savings, it was the opposite situation for non-Muslims. It is a similar situation in Turkey (Okumus, 2005). Even in non-Muslim countries like India where Muslims form a significant proportion of the country’s population, awareness of IFIs was low at the turn of the present century (Munawar & Llewellyn , 2002: 188). Less than half of the 720 persons interviewed knew that they even existed. This general finding of non-Muslims being more motivated by reasons other than religious ones could be the case in Western countries as well among non-Muslims that do use Islamic finance. However, during the past decade there has probably been an increasing awareness

Structural engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Structural engineering - Essay Example The analysis can be done either manually or using commercial software. This paper is aimed at expounding on the details of sub-frame structural design. For a span that is greater than or equal to two times the overall depth for simply supported span and greater than or equal to two and a half times the overall depth for continuous span, a beam is classified as shallow beam, otherwise it is a deep beam. Effective width (beff) = width of beam (bw) + ÃŽ £(0.2 times of half the centre to centre width to the next beam (0.2bi) + 0.1 times the span of zero moment (0.1lpi), with the sum of the latter not exceeding 0.2 times the span of zero moment and lpi taken as 0.7 times the effective span of the beam). Design moment of beam (and slab) monolithic with its support providing rotational restraint should be that at support face if the support is rectangular and 0.2Ø if the support is circular with diameter Ø. But the design moment after reduction should not be less than 65% of the support moment. For a simply supported or continuous beam, the clear distance between restraints should be less than or equal to 60bc or 250bc 2/d if less; and for a cantilever with lateral restraint only at support, the clear distance from cantilever to support should be less than or equal to 25bc or 100bc 2/d if less where bc is the breadth of the compression face of the beam and d is the effective depth. Usually the slenderness limits need be checked for inverted beams or bare beam (without slab) We can, as far as our building structures are concerned, roughly adopt condition 1 (Mild) for the structures in the interior of our buildings (except for bathrooms and kitchens which should be condition 2), and to adopt condition 2 for the external structures. Nevertheless, the â€Å"Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction 1996† should also be checked for different fire resistance periods (FRP). So, taking into account our current practice of using concrete not inferior than

Thursday, September 26, 2019

International Business Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

International Business - Case Study Example These suggestions and recommendations are further used to chalk out the effective strategies for the accomplishment of organizational goals. Any effective formulation stage always facilitates the ideas and recommendations which are flexible and can be customized as per the emerging challenges and scenarios (Thomas 28). Besides all viable recommendations proposed at this stage need to be pragmatic, realistic and readily implementable. 3. Implementation- In a way this happens to be the most crucial stage of strategy formulation as the eventual litmus test on any effective diagnosis and formulation is that it eventually gets implemented in a methodical and planned manner (Proctor 164). Response- Exchange rates need to be stable and predictable, as reliable and predictable exchange rates have many advantages (Schaefer 46). Stable exchange rates instill confidence in both the importers and exporters regarding the certainty with regards to the foreign payments. Besides unstable exchange rates can wreck havoc on the economies that are predominantly dependent on trade. Unstable exchange can jeopardize the economic growth in such nations. Moreover, stable and predictable exchange rates encourage the international investors to engage in long term investments. In contrast, unstable exchange rates give way to speculative trading in the international capital markets and are more prone to stimulating capital flights from one nation to other. It is a fact that many developing nations do rely on imports to sustain their technology and capital associated requirements. Stable exchange rates enable the developing nations to go on with their development initiatives in a planned an d predictable manner. Stable exchange rates also boost multilateral trade and close trade cooperation between the regional partners. Stable exchange rates are also of pivotal relevance

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

The Tactics of Michael Collins Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Tactics of Michael Collins - Essay Example 97-98). However, Collins also knew that "something more was necessary than a guerrilla war in which small bands of our warriors [] attacked the larger forces of the enemy" because "England could always reinforce her army" (Dwyer, 1990, p. 64). The tactic that arguably won the war was Collins implementation of the Squad which, together with his extensive intelligence network, was able to systematically assassinate British agents and thus cut of Britain's main supply of information. Both of these tactics resurfaced several times throughout the twentieth century, most notable in the teachings of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara and Brazilian revolutionary Carlos Marighella, but the question remains as to whom Michael Collins had the strongest link. Guevara was, like Collins, involved in a fight on a largely rural island, and often stressed the importance of taking up the fighting outside the city (Guevara, 1961, pp. 1-2). Even though both relied heavily upon the tactics of the Flying Column, there was a significant difference: whereas Collins guerrilla force only existed in the attack, Guevara had an actual army that could gain territory and form lines of resistance. Furthermore, Guevara actually had a chance to win his war through military means, unlike Collins and his ever-reinforced enemy. Collins idea of carefully selected executions was not unknown to Guevara, but it was in no way a key issue in his tactics.Marighella was facing an entirely different scenario, and thus devised new tactics to suit his needs. Fighting in heavy industrialized Brazil, he regarded the urban areas as the birthplace and battlefield of the guerrilla force (Marighella, 1969, p. 12). Like both of the others he subscribed to idea of the Flying Colum n, but unlike Guevara it was an autonomous unit, leaping only into existence when call upon (Marighella, 1969, p. 4). Marighella had no prospects of a traditional military victory, and like Collins he relied on the hidden warfare of surprise attacks, kidnapping and executions (Asprey, 1994, p.1089-90).To choose which of these later models is more consistent with Collins' is obviously to choose the lesser of two evils. Guevara fought an entirely different enemy, but used the Flying Column with great success. Marighella again fought a different foe and implemented Collins' idea of selective executions, but with less success. It seems that Marighella has the most to share with Collins. Although he lost his war, he took the most important part of Collins' tactics and attempted to put it into practice. Guevara merely adopted the foundational idea of small-unit fighting; a concept far predating Michael Collins. The answer as to whether Michael Collins should be regarded as villain or patriot is to some extent answered in the final sentence of Fidel Castro's defense speech of 1953; "History will absolve me". An attempt to define any reformer as good or bad will always be biased by the outcome of the conflict and our own political stance. However, technically Collins was a patriot by the very definition of the word: he fought for (the majority of) his country. The fact that he won Ireland her

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

How can the efforts of temperance movement in response to alcohol be Essay

How can the efforts of temperance movement in response to alcohol be explained - Essay Example During the Victorian era this movement became more drastic, campaigning for legal prohibition of alcohol rather than promoting moral suasion or calling for moderation. All in all, its efforts were perceived in both progressive politics especially female suffrage and religious renewal. Band of Hope, a temperance movement, was founded in Leeds with the working class being their centre of attention. They strived to keep away children of the working class from the dangers of alcoholism. In 1851 there was a success in banning or restricting the selling of alcohol in various parts of the U.S (Nugent, 2011). The prohibitionists formed different organizations inside the movement to address the problem of alcoholism from all perspectives. The anti-saloon league concentrated on creating dry counties and dry states away from alcohol. Moreover, the movement began to look for alternative places to hold their meetings thereby replacing the roles of public bars. Therefore, they introduced coffee pa laces, temperance halls, temperance theatre and temperance fountains where individuals could reliably get drinking water instead of having to get into the saloons. The movement began to nominate candidates for government offices and forming political parties thus producing leaders who supported the ban of alcohol. All in all they believed that taking alcohol was a deviant, moral and offset to Christianity (Nugent, 2011). The temperance movement advocated for its views with mounting stridency with which could not be of comparison to the use of mass media at the moment in terms of response, commitment and scope. The government of United States has identified alcoholism to be its leading drug problem. Consequently, it initiated some tools to promote more self control. The major tool is higher excise tax which inflates the prices on alcoholic beverages (Sartor, 2013). This helps promote standards of living and public health. Other successful control measures are heavy penalties for driv ing under influence of alcohol, minimum purchasing age to deter underage citizens from abuse, privatization in retail alcohol sales dram-shop liability and limitations on alcohol advertising. Privatization has proved to be effective in controlling sales of alcoholic beverages hence commercial retailing of these beverages is made possible. Never the less, the government also amended the constitution in1919 to prohibit the transportation, sale or manufacture intoxicating liquors. Efforts of temperance movement and the U.S response to alcohol explained in terms of racial prejudice Temperance movement gained more recognition in women suffrage after the seventeenth Amendment. This amendment created a new reliable workforce with prejudice to German-Americans together with their breweries which made ban of alcohol a patriotic cause. Moreover, prohibitionists clamored to make alcohol abuse directed to common racial prejudices thereby convincing others to ban alcohol (Nugent, 2011). The anti -saloon league in the temperance movement portrayed Catholics as morally depraved and intellectually inferior as they feared authoritarian orders from Rome would replace their capitalist and democratic principles. Pro-prohibition groups using rhetorical strategies claimed that alcohol influenced African- Americans to commit serious crimes. The

Monday, September 23, 2019

Foreseeability in law Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Foreseeability in law - Coursework Example There are numerous arguments claiming this requirement is unjust and that the defendant should be held responsible for the actual consequences of any careless conduct that results in injury, whether foreseeable or not. However, this broadens the scope of the tort considerably and would open up an endlessness of liability. Further, foreseeability ensures fairness for the defendant. Is would be unjust to hold a defendant liable for conduct which they could not have anticipated would result in injury. Being penalized for conduct which does not foreseeably cause injury would result in numerous frivolous claims. Accidents occur all of the time. While it would be fantastic for the injured party to always have recourse for legal action, it would not be fair to those defendants of whom are undeserving. There are some injuries no one could predict and no one but the forces of fate should be held responsible and certainly no one should be penalized. This may be unfortunate for the injured party, but the blame cannot always be laid at someone else's feet. Foreseeability ensures blame can only be laid at the feet of those who should have reasonably foreseen the consequences of their actions. This is fair. This is just. Taking away the requirement of forseeability would make the opposite true.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Prayer in School Essay Example for Free

Prayer in School Essay John Knox Press, 1996. 45-218. In this book the author gives an epic description of the controversy surrounding the debate on prayer in public schools. It touches on the legal aspects as well as the interpretation of among other articles the first amendment. Alley uses history and preceding events to bring out his argument against prayer in public schools terming the practice as an abuse and harassment of the minority by the majority who are keen on imposing their own definition of faith. He asserts that the law on first amendment religion issues has adequately and consistently clarified the differences that exist between church and state. He cited some cases such as Barnette, McCollum, Everson, Engel and Schempp to mention but a few as having set precedence thus preventing future conflict. However, one reads anti Christianity overtones which bring up the question of objectivity due to his obvious bias. He has successfully presented one side of the debate with a personal tone. The book strongly opines that any form of religious inclinations in public schools is incompatible with the constitution as well as with the principle of democracy. Murray, J. William. Let us pray: A plea for prayer in our school. New York: William Morrow Co, 1995. 11-97. In the first pages of his interesting book, Murray tells of his atheist past that was directed by his mother Madalyn Murray and how he, as a 14 year old was a plaintiff against the Baltimore School system. The suit led to the Supreme Courts decision that outlawed public school prayer and bible reading. Murray later converts to Christianity and embarks on a mission aimed at undoing the ‘damage’ done by his past. He becomes a strong proponent of prayer in Schools arguing that this is the one way of rooting out the moral decay in the society. Among other arguments, he presents the debate as conflicting discomforts. ‘The discomfort of minority faiths or nonbelievers at hearing prayer in school versus the discomfort of Protestant Christians at being prohibited from public prayer’. He allows that the drafters of the constitution are misinterpreted by those who claim that they intended to eradicate prayer from public institutions. Rather, he cites influential figures such as John Locke and Tocqueville as strong believers in the value of prayer in providing positive guidance to the society. His recommendations are however weak since the freedom he seeks could be confused with what is provided for in the constitution. Again the founding fathers he cites are understood to have given us the current laws and so his enlisting them undermines his very argument. Cookson, Catharine. Regulating Religion: The Courts and the Free Exercise Clause. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. 54, 67-75. In this book, Catherine Cookson delves into the issues of the law and the authority of state as laid down in the constitution on one hand and the obligations of conscience on the other. She embarks on a project to provide the solution for a recurrent problem. She examines the history of the Christian tradition as well as more contemporary political development of religious freedom (186). Her argument on the free exercise clause is vivid and thought provoking as she seeks the balance between the majority’s right to religious expression and public prayer and the minority’s discomfort arising from that kind of expression. U. S Department of Education. Guidance on Constitutionally Protected Prayer in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools. Available on-line at: http://www. ed. gov/policy/gen/guid/religionandschools/prayer_guidance. html Accessed on 12. 04. 07. This article deals with the legal aspect of the debate on prayer in schools. The article endeavors to provide information on the current state of the law concerning constitutionally protected prayer in the public schools, and therefore spell out the extent to which prayer in public schools is lawfully protected. The Case against School Prayer. Available online at: http://209. 85. 135. 104/search? q=cache:RTckL_PUwSEJ:ffrf. org/nontracts/schoolprayer. php+prayers+in+schoolhl=enct=clnkcd=1gl=ke. Accessed on 12. 04. 07. In this article the author delves into the arguments against school prayer. The author advances the argument that prayers are private and yet there is nothing private about a public school. Therefore the two are incompatible and should not mix. He/She asserts that public schools cater for students with varying backgrounds and religious inclinations and they should not be subjected to rules that promote one form of religious expression. According to the author of the article, Public prayer leads to discrimination of the minority and a denial of their right to worship. The article refutes the claim that prayer in school has any value in checking societal excesses. The conclusion calls for total separation of church and state arguing that this is one way of preventing divisiveness in the society. Works Cited Campbell, Ted A. Christian Confessions: A Historical Introduction. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996. Questia. 12 Apr. 2007 http://www. questia. com/PM. qst? a=od=87116157. Cookson, Catharine. Regulating Religion: The Courts and the Free Exercise Clause. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. Questia. 12 Apr. 2007 http://www. questia. com/PM. qst? a=od=104449729. Murray, J. William. Let us pray: A plea for prayer in our school. New York: William Morrow Co, 1995. U. S Department of Education. Guidance on Constitutionally Protected Prayer in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools. Available on-line at: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/religionandschools/prayer_guidance.html Accessed on 12.04.07

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Describe the performance of characteristics of eggs Essay Example for Free

Describe the performance of characteristics of eggs Essay Egg white and yolk contain protein. Ovalbumin is present in egg white, however globulin and albumin are also present in a very small amount. Whereas egg yolk contains protein in the form of lipoproteins, which are a combination of proteins and lipids. The most important complex lipid in egg yolk is lecithin. Lecithin gives the egg yolk the properties of a stable emulsion. The fat molecules in the egg yolk are held in an emulsion by lecithin. Eggs have three main performance characteristics and they a coagulation, which includes setting, binding, coating, thickening, enriching and glazing, secondly they can be whisked to create foams and aerate mixtures and called aeration and lastly emulsifiers. Coagulation is the process in which proteins change from their natural liquid state into a gel or a solid. This happens because each protein molecule is constructed from long chains of amino acids joined by peptide bonds. The bonds are weak and when heat, acid or mechanical action is applied they start to break. The changes are permanent. When the protein changes it physical structure when it coagulates is called denaturation. Syneresis can occur when the egg is overcooked. This is when the texture becomes porous as the protein shrinks and pockets of water are left in the product. Between 60-65C is the temperature which egg whites start to coagulate and the result of this the egg white changes appearance from transparent like to white and the texture will be from gel like to solid texture. Egg yolk starts to coagulate at a higher temperature than egg white, it begins coagulating at 65C and finish at 70C. From the darker yellow appearance of the egg yolk it will turn into a lighter yellow yolk and from runny yolk it can go to powdery solid yolk. There are a number of factors that will affect coagulation. A firmer set can be achieved at a lower temperature if an acid such as lemon juice is added. A looser set and higher coagulation temperature is achieved by the addition of sugar to the mixture. The quantity of egg yolk determines the strength of the set mixture. A higher proportion of egg yolks or whole eggs will produce firmer or thicker custard. A low heat achieves gentle heat transference, which produce perfect conditions for a coagulation. Aeration is when egg white is whisked. Foam is formed when air is dispersed through the liquid egg white. Egg whites can be aerated due to the ability of the ovalbu, in to stretch and hold air. When egg whites is whisked the proteins are denatures and uncoil. This forms a 3D air / liquid structure that can hold air when folded into food mixtures. The foam is stable but its properties can be affected by the use of additional ingredients or conditions. First factor that can affect foam formation is salt. It decreases the pH of the egg white and this increases the resistance to foam, so the time taken to foam is increased. It gives the foam more stable and it enhances the flavour. Second factor is sugar. Sugar interferes with the bonds that form as the egg whites uncoil. Therefore the whisking time is increased and the resulting foam is denser, however the foam is more stable. This factor is commonly used for meringues. Fat affects foam formation. Fat such as egg yolk prevents new bonds being formed in the structure. Fourthly alkalis will increase the pH of the foam, decreasing the foaming time but making the foam stable. Lastly will be acids. Acids such as tartaric and acetic will soften the foam. Because the fat in the egg yolk, it inhibits the aeration recipes are usually for egg whites. However sponge cakes do use whole eggs. They are whisked with sugar over a pan of hot water (double boiler method) it works because the whisking action causes the proteins to denature and the heat causes coagulate resulting in stable form. Emulsion is formed when one liquid is dispersed in the small droplets into a second liquid with which it will not normally mix. Egg yolk has emulsification properties, which means it has the ability to hold large quantities of fat in an emulsion. Lecithin is present in egg yolk, which has a hydrophobic (water hating) component and hydrophilic (water loving) component. Eggs have many other functions. An egg can give additional thickness to sauces; it can also be use as binding and coating agent. Eggs can also be used as an egg washed or sometimes called glazing and commonly used for the top of pastries and breads. It also add colour and enrichment.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Gated DIBH for Left Sided Breast Cancer Patients

Gated DIBH for Left Sided Breast Cancer Patients Chapter III: Methodology 3.1 Research Objectives The research project examines left-sided breast cancer patients receiving therapy with gated DIBH technique using the commercially available RPM system. The primary objective of this research is to evaluate whether left-sided breast cancer patients will benefit from gated DIBH. The interest in performing this research arises from having many left-sided breast cancer patients that have large volume of heart in the treatment field, and hence are at risk for cardiac toxicities in the future. The secondary objectives of this research is to look at patient’s comfort and understanding, and radiation therapist’s workload. This chapter will discuss the sample selection, ethical issues, instrumentation, data collection procedures, data analysis, limitations, expected results, budget and timeline. 3.2 Sample selection and description The expected sample size was calculated using the formula (Chan, 2003) for paired samples as seen below, Total sample size = where c is 10.5 for 90% power, ÃŽ ´ is the standardised effect size, given by the formula (Chan, 2003): where ÃŽ ¼1 and ÃŽ ¼2 are the means of the two treatment groups, and ÏÆ' is the common standard deviation. The 90% power represents the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis when it is false (Chan, 2003). It is postulated that a good treatment difference () between the 2 groups is 0.2 units with an SD (ÏÆ') of 0.5 units (Chan, 2003). With these values, the expected sample size is 68. Sixty-eight left-sided breast cancer patients will be selected for this research using a simple random sampling method. The patient population will be chosen at random to create a diverse group of patients with variable breast and heart volumes. The criteria for this sample would be female patients with left-sided breast cancer below the age of 70. In addition, the patients must be able to hold their breath. These patients will be recruited after being screened by the oncologists. The oncologists will do a simple breath-hold test with patients to determine if they are able to hold their breath for at least 20 seconds. This is because patients will be required to hold their breath during the CT scan for a duration of 18 seconds. This research will require 2 sets of computed-tomography (CT) scans from each patient of which one is at free breathing and the other at DIBH. Both sets will have identical patient setup. Patients will be lying supine with both arms above head on a posirest, having the visual goggles on (see Appendix M, image A) with a 6-reflective markers block on patient’s anterior abdominal surface (see Appendix H). With the goggles, they are able to view the screen, as seen in image B in Appendix M, in order to see their breathing patterns. For each patient, 2 treatment plans will be generated: one using the CT images at free breathing with photon electron match technique and the other using the CT images at DIBH with gated DIBH technique using RPM with 3-mm intervals. 3.3 Ethical Issues and Informed consent Any research involving human subjects conducted in the hospital would require adherence to ethical standards. The procedure requires the collation of a list of investigators in the department that intends to conduct clinical trials (see Appendix N), and to apply and attend the Singapore Guideline for Good Clinical Practice (SGGCP) course. This Course ensures that the conduct of clinical trials follows internationally acceptable ethical and scientific standards (see Appendix O). The ethics review will be carried out by the National Healthcare Group domain specific review board which is an independent committee constituted of medical, scientific and non-scientific members, whose responsibility is to ensure the protection of the rights, safety and well-being of human subjects involved in a research study by reviewing, approving and providing continuing review of research studies, and of the methods and materials to be used in obtaining and documenting informed consent of the research su bjects (National University Health System, 2010). When a principal investigator submits an application via the research online administration and management system, it is automatically routed to the department representative for endorsement, and subsequently the institution representative for endorsement, before it is delivered to the domain specific review board secretariat (National University Health System, 2010). All research studies submitted will be classified under one of the following review categories: exempt review, expedited review, full Board review (see Appendix P) (National University Health System, 2010). Based on the definitions in Appendix P, this study is classified as an expedited review. Ethics approval for research is required for several reasons. Firstly, ethical norms promote the aims of research, such as knowledge, truth, and avoidance of error (Resnik, 2011). Secondly, ethical standards promote the values that are essential to collaborative work, such as trust, accountability, mutual respect, and fairness (Resnik, 2011). For example, guidelines for authorship, copyright and patenting policies, data sharing policies, and confidentiality rules in peer review, are designed to protect intellectual property interests while encouraging collaboration (Poortmans, 2013). Ethical norms in research also help to build public support for research as people are more likely to fund research project if they can trust the quality and integrity of research (Resnik, 2011). Finally, many of the norms of research promote a variety of other important moral and social values, such as social responsibility, human rights, compliance with the law, and health and safety. This also protect the rights and welfare of participants and minimise the risk of physical and mental discomfort and harm from research procedures (Canterbury Christ Church University, 2006). Ethical lapses in research can significantly harm human subjects especially if the researcher fails to abide by the regulations and guidelines relating to radiation or biological safety (Resnik, 2011). Informed consent is the process by which the patient voluntarily confirms her willingness to participate in this research, after being informed of all the aspects of the research that are relevant to her decision-making (National Healthcare Group, 2013). The informed consent is documented by means of written signatures, date informed consent form and the language used during the explanation to the patient by the oncologist. In the consent, there should be 3 signatures: the patient’s, the doctor’s and the witness’ signature. For patients who cannot read and speak English, a qualified translator will be around during the signing of the consent. 3.4 Research design and instrumentation This research is a mixture of qualitative and quantitative research methods (see Appendix Q). Quantitative research corresponds to a deductive scientific method of research which uses data in the form of numbers and statistics to test hypotheses, using a large and randomly selected sample that is a representative of the population (Pearce, et al. 2013; Johnson Christensen 2010). This is in contrast to the qualitative approach which corresponds to an inductive method of research which uses words, pictures or objects to examine a phenomenon, requiring only a small and non-randomly selected sample (Pearce, et al. 2013; Johnson Christensen 2010). Patients will be scanned using Toshiba Aquilion Large Bore CT-simulator (Toshiba, 2014). The treatment plans will be generated using Varian Medical Eclipseâ„ ¢ Treatment Planning System and patients will be treated with DIBH technique using RPM from Varian Trilogy linear accelerator (Varian Medical System, 1999-2014). 3.5 Data collection procedures The same radiation oncologist will perform all the delineation of the clinical target volume, the heart and LADCA for consistency purposes (see Appendix R). The delineation will be done according to radiation therapy oncology group (RTOG) breast contouring recommendations (Goksel, et al., 2013). Patient’s CT images at breath hold will be used to plan for DIBH technique while the one at free breathing will be planned for photon electron match technique. The treatments will be planned such that the clinical target volume’s coverage of the dose distribution is kept between 90% and 110% of the prescribed dose. For each plan, heart and LADCA volumes were calculated in cm3. Dose volumes to the heart and LADCA will be normalized by dividing with the total organ volume. Heart and LADCA volumes receiving 5Gy to 50Gy (V5-V50) will be generated for comparison of treatment techniques. Dose distributions can be presented as DVHs and representing the statistical dose distribution in a volume of interest. These statistical data will be recorded and presented in tables. Patient education is a very important component in DIBH technique using RPM to reduce anxiety and increase their confidence about receiving radiation therapy (Halkett Kristjanson, 2007). Patient education tools can be in many forms such as video or pamphlet (Halkett Kristjanson, 2007). For this research, a pamphlet have been created to educate patients on DIBH technique using RPM (see Appendix S). A qualitative research method such as face-to-face interview is chosen to assess patient’s comfort and understanding at the middle of the treatment and on the last day of treatment as this only require the patients to speak the same language in which the questions are asked, and to have basic verbal and listening skills (Bowling, 2009). The primary objective of this standardised and open-ended interview (Valenzuela Shrivastava, n.d.) is to determine the degree of understanding as well as patient’s comfort. The questions (see Appendix T) will be asked by the oncologist durin g the middle of the treatment and on the last day of treatment. The advantages of face-to-face interviews are that reading and writing skills are not required, interviewers are able to probe fully for responses and clarify any ambiguities, they can ask more complicated and detailed questions, and patients are able to clarify if they do not understand the questions (Bowling, 2009). This would be a better technique than self-administered questionnaires because pre-coded response choices may not be sufficiently comprehensive and patients may be ‘forced’ to choose inappropriate pre-coded answers that might not fully represent their views (Bowling, 2009). This causes the data to be bias as the patient’s replies are influenced by the design of the pre-coded response choices. Self-administered questionnaires also assumed that the questions are worded in a way that is understood by the patients (Bowling, 2009). Patients may misinterpret the questions and reply based on their own interpretation and questionnaires may be a problem for p atients who are unable to read or write (Bowling, 2009). Most importantly, one-to-one interviews with standardised questions appeared to have the highest reliability (University of Leicester, n.d.). The radiation therapist’s workload will be measured in terms of training hours, and the comparison of treatment duration and manpower required for gated DIBH using RPM and photon electron match technique (see Appendix U) will be recorded and presented in charts. 3.6 Data analysis Paired samples t-test will be used to determine whether there is a significant difference between the average dose to the heart and LADCA values made under photon electron match plan and gated DIBH using RPM plan (Norman Streiner, 2008). This is used because the data are measured at the scale level and the data are related (Hawkins, 2009). The amount of radiation received by the heart can be recorded by comparing the DVHs of the photon electron match with gated DIBH using RPM. The statistical figures can be analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) (Yavas, et al., 2012). Paired samples t-test will be used to determine whether there is a significant difference between the average dose to the heart and LADCA values made under photon electron match plan and gated DIBH using RPM plan (Easton McColl, 2014). A p-value of Patient’s understanding and comfort The questions (see Appendix T) from the standardised and open-ended interview were developed by a team of 2 radiation oncologists, a nurse and 2 radiation therapists. The areas of discussion were based on the group’s clinical experience with left-sided breast cancer patients and their extensive knowledge on DIBH using RPM. The interview aims to determine the patient’s level of comfort and understanding of the gated DIBH using RPM. The design of the questionnaire will determine the reliability and validity of the opened-ended interview to measure patient’s level of comfort and understanding. Reliability is defined as the extent to which questionnaire will produce the same results on repeated trials (Miller, n.d.), and is measured by its equivalence and stability. Equivalence reliability assesses the consistency of the judgement of the patient’s answer by the interview (Miller, n.d.). It is improved by pre-empting a range of responses that might be given by the patients and give a pre-determined rating to each response so that the interviewers will have the same level of ‘judgement’ (Miller, n.d.). For example, _____________- Stability reliability is correlated to the repeatability of the patient’s response under the same conditions after a period of time (Miller, n.d.). For this interview, the patients will be interviewed twice, once during mid-treatment and the other on the last day of their treatment. Their responses from both sessions will be compared to determine if there are any deviance. This assumes that the characteristics that is measured doesn’t change with time, and that the time period is long enough that the memories from the 1st interview will not influence the responses of the 2nd interview (Miller, n.d.). The validity of the interview is the extent to which the interview questions measures what it purport to measure, and it generally takes the form of content validity (Miller, n.d.). Content validity is the degree to which the questions fully assess or measure the intention of the interview (Miller, n.d.). This was determined by letting the team review the individual questions for readability, clarity and comprehensiveness and come to some level of agreement as to which items should be included in the final interview questions. The interview questions (see Appendix T) were reviewed and accepted by the team prior to the conduct of the interview. The treatment duration will be recorded as seen in Appendix U and a paired samples t-test similar to appendix V will be used to determine whether there is a significant difference, where the null hypothesis (H0) is there is no difference between the treatment time with photon electron match technique and DIBH using RPM technique. The radiation therapist workload will be analysed based on the minimum number of manpower required for gated DIBH using RPM as compared to photon electron match technique and in terms of training hours. This will be discussed among the radiation therapists and presented in charts. 3.7 Limitation This research can only sample from a small size due to constraint of resources where there is only 1 treatment unit that has the RPM equipment required for DIBH technique. The expected sample size calculated is only an estimate as the treatment difference and standard deviation are never known in advance (Norman Streiner, 2008). As such, the actual sample size may be slightly smaller than 68. 3.8 Expected Results The results from this research are expected to show optimal radiation exposure volumes and doses for the heart and LADCA when treated with gated DIBH using RPM compared to photon electron match technique at free breathing. These results are expected to be compatible with findings from previous studies (Pedersen, et al., 2004; Korreman, et al., 2005; Shim, et al., 2012; Mast, et al., 2013). As such, showing that patients with left sided breast cancer will benefit from gated DIBH using RPM. Treatment time duration for gated DIBH using RPM is expected to have a significant difference and be faster than photon electron match technique. As gated DIBH using RPM is new to the radiation therapists, the workload is expected to be heavier in the beginning. 3.9 Budget There will be no additional cost for this research as the RPM equipment is already available together with the linear accelerator from Varian (Varian Medical System, 1999-2014). There will be no cost for training on the usage for RPM by Varian as it was included in the package when the linear accelerators were bought in 2013. Patients recruited for this research will be charged the same cost as photon electron match treatment technique. 3.10 Expected Timeline This research aims to commence from January 2015 till December 2015. The work plan for both the principal investigator and research assistants can be seen in Appendix W. Chapter IV: Conclusion This research aims to review gated DIBH using RPM as a treatment technique for left-sided breast cancer patients as compared to photon electron match in terms of the radiation dose received by the heart and LADCA. Paired t-test is chosen to measure the significant difference between the dose received by the heart in photon electron match technique and DIBH using RPM technique. Based on literatures that were review, the results are expected to be in favour of gated DIBH using RPM. Interviews will be conducted to assess patient’s comfort and understanding about gated DIBH using RPM. And data collection will be done gauge the workload of the radiation therapist. The results from interview and data collection will allow us to gauge further if it is really practical to implement gated DIBH using RPM in our department. If the results are clinically significant and positive, gated DIBH using RPM will be implemented into our department. 4.1 Recommendation For future recommendation to try contrast-enhanced CT scan in left-sided breast patients so that the LADCA can be seen clearly in the scan and able to be delineated by the doctor effectively (Yu, et al., 2013). This is to increase the accuracy of the delineation of LADCA as well as the accurate amount of radiation dose received by it. After this research, another study can be done in the future on the reproducibility of patient’s breath holding level for every fraction using a cine acquisition mode (CAM) of a linear accelerator during treatment (Goksel, et al., 2013).

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Teen Pregnancy Essay example -- Teenage Pregnancy

There is a lot of teen mothers growing up in this world wondering, what if I would have stayed in school? W hat could I have become? Would it have made my life easier if I had thought first? There is many causes for teen pregnancy. They lead to the need for the desire of love by another person. One might have a poor home life and would want something like their peers have. A teen may have a low self-esteem and simply be looking for acceptance. However, many teens that have a wonderful family and are very confidante arnt looking for the few minutes of pleasure. As several teens use the excuse that sex feels better without a condom pregnancy is likely to occur just because of that simple saying. Having a child comes with a lot of responsibility. Teens don’t think of the consequences of their actions. Children take up a lot of time, which also means, no more school. The teen should first understand that all their free time is lost, that she will have to find some way to live for herself and the child, and that any future plans are now not what she was planning. It all comes down to the education of the teen. The more they know about sex and it’s consequences at a young age the less likely they are to go out and be irresponsible about it. Teenagers that learn about different types of protection and how they work is some times one of the best ways for them to think befor they act. Every year one million teenage girls become pregnant in the United States. Teen pregnancy is a major problem in the United States. There are more teenage pregnancies in the United States than all other countries. in this day and age the rate of teenagers who become pregnant has increased. I am not one of them, but having a few fr... ...l regret your choice. The precents of teenagers getting pregnate without being married , I agree on. Teens are usualy left alone rasing their baby by their selfs. that’s why condoms and other helpful things exsicist. If having a relation ship between the opposite sex if the only cure for you problems think twice! Teens like me should be more muter. Besides wondering of into a world that carrys out to a risk in your life. Do some research, think befor you act and is that what you realy want. Just to please the opposite sex by actualy letting them in you, should have to be a second thought. You should amidiatly say no if the opposite sex isn’t married with you in anyway. Being a pregnate teen is alot of responsibility. All in all many teens please their opposite sex by the wrong way. So always researching on what you realy plan on doing is a risk in you own life.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

The Life of Kate Chopin Compared to the Life of Edna Potilier Essay

The events of Kate Chopin's life strongly influence the feminist traits of Edna Pontilier, the main character in her novel The Awakening. Kate Chopin is known for her literary works that exemplify culture in New Orleans, Louisiana, and of women's struggles for freedom. Pontilier also demonstrates a woman's struggle in the 1800's and their search for a better and more independent future. The lives of Kate Chopin and Edna Pontilier are similar in their feminist views and strong urge for a free and independent life. Kate Chopin was raised under the influence of strong, independent women who told her to do what she wanted in life and not let anyone get in her way (McMahon). Her grandmother was and independent woman who worked for herself and provided a good example that woman did not need a man to make it in the world. Chopin?s mother taught her from childhood that she should always depend on herself and no one else. Also, Chopin and Pontilier were avid readers of books about everyday women gaining their freedom. Chopin read books such as Little Women, an 1876 novel about the lives of four sisters growing up during the American Civil War and Jane Eyre, an 1874 novel about a small, intelligent, and passionate orphan girl who struggles greatly on her way to freedom and independence . These books influenced her to make her novel The Awakening have a feminist viewpoint. Additionally, both women were married unprepared for the restrictions that went along with married life. They were used to being fre e and making their own decisions before marriage and were surprised at what was expected of them of society as wives. Kate Chopin defied society in many ways. She smoked cigarettes, questioned the Catholic church, loved to read and write a... ... Awakening was regarded by critics as vulgar, unwholesome, unholy and a misappropriation of Chopin?s exceptional literary talent.? ? The English Department of Bowling Green State University. After many years of criticism and questioning The Awakening was finally given the respect and recognition it deserved. Kate Chopin had many influences throughout her life that made her become the feminist writer she was when writing The Awakening. Edna Pontilier was created as a feminist because of influence of others on Chopin?s life, personal experiences and the enforcement of societal expectations placed on Chopin during this time. Both women defied society to obtain freedom and independence in a society where women were objects, not people. Without the influences in Kate Chopin?s life, Edna Pontilier my not have been the dynamic character she was during the novel.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

But everyman has his price Essay

‘ But everyman has his price.’ Show the part that corruption plays in the action of A Man for All Seasons. The statement ‘everyman has his price’ suggests that all humans are capable of being corrupted. Humans then succumb to certain temptations: greed, power, deception, bribery, betrayal and self-interest. Often men fall prey to such temptations in search of material comfort at the expense of spiritual comfort. More himself comments upon these temptations in the text: â€Å"But since in fact we see that avarice, anger, envy, pride, sloth, trust and stupidity commonly profit far beyond humility, charity, fortitude, justice and thought and have to choose, to be human at all† He says that not to succumb to these, would make one a hero or at least more than a common man. More did not aim to live up to being a hero, but he stood by his moral codes and did not succumb to such temptations. Throughout the play, attempts are made to corrupt More. Such attempts to corrupt morals and religious beliefs occur mainly because of the Kings desire to remarry. Henry married his brothers widow which was disallowed by the Catholic Church-however the Pope eventually gave dispensation for the marriage of Henry and Catherine to take place. Now Henry wants a divorce, to enable him to marry Anne Boleyn and to secure an heir. This creates a dilemma and the King wants the backing of More, which we see when Henry is speaking with More â€Å"Touching this matter of my divorce, Thomas; have you thought of it since we last talked† Up until this time the Catholic Church had predominated in society and nobody had questioned its authority. Martin Luther and John Calvin were two of the primary instigators, who started a movement against the Catholic Church, because they hated the Churches ‘sale of indulgences’. For his stand Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Church in 1521. He then set up his own Church, which, in 1529 was renamed, from Lutherans to Protestants, when they protested against attempts to limit their teachings. In this respect it suited Henry’s present needs to side with the reformation, to gain his divorce and thereby making himself head of the Church of England, enabling him to become his own authority. The only reason why the King needs Mores support in his divorce is because More is honest and people recognise this honesty and integrity: â€Å"Because you are honest, what’s more you’re known to be honest† Henry attempts to use the power of kingship to persuade More to agree with him, â€Å"I have no wife†¦and those that say she is my wife are not only liars†¦but traitors† The power he has means that if someone were to oppose him, he would simply dispose of them. Henry uses the word traitor because traitors are executed. All this fails to persuade More, his moral stand is too strong. He is trying to emphasise what a good king he is by showing what he is doing is for his country. â€Å"†¦And all the Popes back to St. Peter, shall not become between me and my duty† He is, on one hand, witty, pleasant and a man of elegant appearance, but he is also self-opinionated, brutal and corrupt. As he has little success persuading More with these tactics, he tries to convince More that the original marriage was sinful: â€Å"Thomas, Thomas, does a man need a Pope to tell him when he’s sinned. It was a sin, Thomas, I admit it, I repent†¦.† He further tries to convince More by reasoning that all the sons Catherine has borne have, have died and this has been his punishment. Henrys argument insinuates that God has punished him, and therefore the Pope was wrong for allowing the union. â€Å"†¦It was no marriage; she was my brothers widow. Leviticus: thou shalt no uncover the nakedness of thy brothers’ wife† Which uses Biblical text to provide further evidence that the Pope was wrong. More was a devout Catholic and believed the Pope to be a direct descendant of Peter, Christ’s disciple and therefore the Popes authority went without question â€Å"†¦The theory is that he is also the Vicar of God, the descendant of St. Peter, our only link with God† â€Å"†¦The King in Parliament cannot bestow the supremacy of the Church because it is a spiritual supremacy.† Although More may sympathise with the kings argument we understand from what he says his devotion to the Church and Catholicism. Henry tries to challenge Mores belief saying this is a ‘tenuous link’. More clarifies his position further â€Å"†¦Why it’s a theory yes, you can’t see it, can’t touch it†¦But what matters to me is not whether its true or not but that I believe it to be true†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , thus showing he cannot disobey Rome. More will not break his principals, although in the end he leads his family into poverty. Alice and Margaret want More to agree with the King and to forget his principles. Their reason for this is for their family safety. Alice tries to convince her husband to capitulate with the King â€Å"You can fit the cap to anyone you want† and accuses him of being ‘cruel’ to the household. More asks Alice to remove his chain: â€Å"Hell’s fire-God’s blood and body no!† â€Å"†¦Is this wisdom to betray your ability, abandon practice, forget your station and your duty to your kin and behave like a printed book!† Alice is scared of loosing her position and becoming a pauper and because of this she tries to corrupt More. More is only human and Alice only wants her husband to do what she feels is best for the family and the country therefore she will not remove the chain. More, though, is acting like ‘a printed book’ and he will not accept bribes or money from the Church. Margaret knows that Sir Thomas is going to resign anyway and to show her love and respect for her father, she removes the chain although she knows it will lead to her poverty. More feels it necessary to resign because it was his way of resisting severing the connection with Rome and Chapuys encourages Mores resignation saying he could not believe that More ‘will allow himself to be associated with the recent actions of King Henry’. More too, does not want to be associated with the corrupted King. Chapuys is not really interested in Mores moral stance; his concern is for the furtherance of Spain. (Catherine is Spanish and a divorce would sever Spanish interests in England). When he mentions that Northumberland and Yorkshire are ready to resist I deduce his intentions are political and not concerned with Mores moral integrity. When Chapuys tells More: ‘Beyond that point, Sir Thomas, one is not merely ‘compromised,’ one is in truth corrupted,† he is using verbal bribery to ensure his resignation. More will not go against his principals; he does not want to stand trial for treason. He is careful not to accept any bribes. Chapuys brings a letter from Charles 1st, which More refuses to accept as it could be seen as an allegiance with Spain. More feels that if he were to take money offered by the Bishops, the King would have more evidence against him. â€Å"If the King takes that matter any further, with me or the Church, it will be very bad, if I even appear to have been in the pay of the Church† Other characters also appear to corrupt, often in their attempts to please the King. Cromwell is a very corruptive character. He shows allegiance to the King – but only for his personal satisfaction: â€Å"Sir Thomas is going to be a slippery fish, Richard; we need a net with a fine mesh† Cromwell is being corruptive in trying to discredit More. Cromwell uses metaphors â€Å"Raising the storm† and â€Å"to come out of harbour† to accuse More of causing conflict in standing by his morals. The common man also refers to social movement as ‘canals’ and â€Å"Against the current of their times.† This movement is also shown with the River Thames used as a waterway that takes the characters along. This metaphor again is used by the Boatman to show how More is getting deeper into his position and the feud is getting heavy, ‘silt’, but More is trying to keep straight: â€Å"There’s a channel there getting deeper all the time† Cromwell is trying to set More up so that he can be more acquainted with the King. He accuses More for using God to â€Å"provide a noble motive for his frivolous self conceit.† Cromwell asks Rich to help, but Norfolk defends More because he has realised that Cromwell is only trying to corrupt him and his family, therefore Norfolk wants nothing to do with this. Norfolk consequently is not corrupt, he just does not have a strong moral code to abide by. Wolsey, however, tries to persuade More to support him in getting Henry’s marriage to Catherine annulled. Again More adheres to his moral code, taking care not to criticise the King or say anything that would put him in danger: â€Å"A dispensation was given so that the King might marry Queen Catherine, for states reasons. Now we are to ask the Pope to-dispense with his dispensation, also for sate reasons?† Wolsey’s corruption is not for his personal gain. Catherine has been unable to bear Henry a son, and Wolsey feels that for the sake of the Royal succession, Henry should remarry so that he may have an heir. â€Å"The King needs a son†¦let him die without an heir and we’ll have them back again† (referring to the War of the Roses). Wolsey feels that ‘certain measures perhaps regrettable, perhaps not-there is much in the Church that needs reformation Thomas-alright, regrettable! But necessary, to get us an heir!† therefore he justifies his corruption (if you can justify corruption) because it ultimately would benefit the country. More answers this: â€Å"When statesmen forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their own public duties†¦they lead their country by short route to chaos† More does not agree with Wolsey and even these reasons are unacceptable. Of all the character in the play, More is the only one who does not succumb to corruption. It would have been the easy option for More agree and comply with the King, but the strength of his religious and personal morals meant more to him. He was respected for these attributes and did not want to loose this. He also felt that ultimately God was his judge. This play is about political dalliance rather than fast moving action, â€Å"The interval started early in the year 1530 and it’s now the middle of May 1532.Two years.† It is about corruptive persuasion that More resists and ultimately leads to his execution. This is shown at the beginning of act 2: The political dalliance of the play is instigated by More not giving in to coercion, persuasion or even temptation. Ultimately, according to his own definition, More is a hero: â€Å"If we lived in a State where virtue was profitable, common sense would make us good, and greed would make us saintly. And we’d live like animals or angels in the happy land that needs no heroes.† He lived up to his rules and the rules of his religion, however unhappy he has made those around him. ‘Everyman has his price’ except More, or was it his life that was the price he had to pay?

Monday, September 16, 2019

Pompei and Herculaneum Religious Archaeology

Being one of the most fascinating and cataclysmic events in Ancient Rome, The violent eruption of Mount Vesuvius ultimately destroyed a set of unique and culturally significant societies from Rome. With Pompeii and Herculaneum’s unique culture came their widely influenced and varied religion. Religion of which had no one following, one god or one origin. Both societies housed many cults and religions, many of which were adopted by citizens after foreign influences, significantly from the Hellenic civilizations. Pompeii was evidently a wealthy aristocratic city, as demonstrated by the abundance of valuables located along the remains of dead Pompeians. Golden coins, jewelry and lavish houses adorned with frescoes were extracted from Pompeii at the time of finding, as the volcanic debris preserved much of the city. This is not to say that Pompeii also housed many middle and lower class citizens, slaves being an integral part of the city-town. Much of these influences manifested itself in the form of temples, epigraphy and burial practices and are examples of how much and how many forms of religious impact were seen throughout the city. Seeing how these religions surfaced in Pompeii and Herculaneum can help uncover how these distinct cults and practices impacted the societies. Being one of the most prominent and distinct examples of influence in religion in both societies, the temple of Isis housed a large and devout cult all around the Roman Empire, but very much so in Pompeii and Herculaneum. Being of Egyptian origin, the god Isis was a significant part of both cities, the temple in subject adorned with mosaics of Roman and Egyptian gods, with the god Hermes carved onto the purgatorium. This demonstrates to us that the Cult of Isis did not in a way, interfere with the practices or other religions, but rather integrated into. Isis herself was represented in large of lower classmen, commoners as well as slaves and women. As such, having a large slave and tradesman population, meant that Isis was a popular cult and goddess towards the people. The courtyard itself contained a multitude of chambers and buildings, one of which led to a cistern that held water from the rive Nile. This shows us not only of their devotion to Isis, but it is also evidence of ritual and cult practice. As the Temple was kept intact so well, much of the architecture and detail in regards to the walls and columns tells that the city had strong Egyptian influence, as well as showing us how important Isis and Egyptian religious worship was to them. Such importance in that an Egyptian Temple was built in a Roman city, further enhancing the notion that Egypt had large impact onto Pompeii and Herculaneum. Plutarch stated that the Egyptians were indeed of a very pious nature, but they were not the only cult to call Pompeii its home. The cult of Dionysus, another large following in Pompeii and Herculaneum, was to honor the titular god, Dionysus. Being the god of Wine and festivities, the higher class individuals may have seen the cult as a representation of themselves, demonstrating how it catered to the aristocrats’ own lifestyle, similar to how Isis represented the poor and working class individuals. Dionysus was of Greek mythology, showing us the influence of the Greeks, but it very much resembled Bacchus, the Roman god of similar representation. Dionysus was somewhat worshipped in the Villa of the Mysteries, in which Romans would accommodate its interior. The Villa was a meeting place and a home to many patrons in Pompeii, lined with ornate and detailed frescoes, largely intact. The frescoes depict a multitude of activities and practices, such as rites of passage, leisurely activities such as dancing and instrument playing, as well as featuring Dionysus himself. This was likely some of the many practices that the cult delved in during the villa. It is also interesting to note that the exterior of the villa was closed off and although a large part of the city, it is situated in the northwest of the city, away from the general populace and larger landmarks. In addition to that, much of the rituals and events took place at night and in secrecy, specifically the rites of passage. One could assume that although the worship of either Bacchus or Dionysus was prevalent, the practices and activities that were partaken, especially at night were something to be discrete about. Such a source is useful to us as the Villa’s Dionysus worship is backed by the fact that the Villa and its practices and rituals were placed so far away from other prominent buildings and individuals. Other figures were also incorporated into housing and residences as well, one of them being the Lares. Lares were guardian figures in Roman Mythology and were widely impacted throughout Pompeii and Herculaneum. Many of our references to the Lares are shown in the form of mosaics and statues, particularly around Roman residence. Lares were seen to be protectors, which explains their use around the city. One such residence, the Villa of the Vettii, houses a particular mosaic of two Lares, assumed to be sacrificing another individual, with a snake under them, representing prosperity. Not only this, but Lare statues were placed all around the house and for many other everyday occasions, such as funerals, banquets and births. Cicerobelieved that â€Å"The mose sacred and hallowed place on earth is the home of each and every citizen†, the citizens of Pompeii rightly believing so. One could deduce that the citizens believed that the Lares were directly related to the city’s well-being and that they demanded sacrifices in order to achieve it. In addition to this, the fact that these deities were so widespread and common throughout both Herculaneum and Pompeii, in addition to much of the rest of Rome, shows its usefulness in identifying that the Lares were seen as a very significant and integral part of everyday life. Another significant religious practice in both societies was the use of tombs and burials. The ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum are scattered with the tombs and burial sites of dead citizens, mostly of aristocratic descent around the gates and leading to the city. The graves collectively formed the Necropolis and are scattered with statues and inscriptions of different gods and followings. This shows us how diverse the religious demographic was in Pompeii and Herculaneum. Many tombs also contained valuables along with their owner’s remains. Things such as jewelry and weapons were found during excavation, detailing that these individuals had possibly believed in an afterlife with the items that they were buried with. It is also interesting to note that Hellenic and Gallic civilizations adopted this practice earlier on, possibly concluding that there could have been Northern and definite Greek influence in Pompeii. It is also a point to make that these tombs were built around the gates of Pompeii and Herculaneum, a place of high traffic. Citizens could then be speculated that they may have treated the idea of death much more positively and more conventionally than how the modern world handles it, the latter in question usually designating graveyards near places of little significance or at least, certainly not of high traffic. The Necropolis in question of its usefulness is very much a key part in understanding the belief of death, its practices in burial and the afterlife as it was and still is, the resting place of thousands of people, all of them, believing that the Necropolis was a distinguished, significant place of burial and where they wished to be encapsulated, many of them bearing and displaying their Religious affinity in either the form of epigraphy or an idol or shrine near their tomb.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Undesirable: The Tragedy of Blanche Dubois

One of the victims of this tragedy is Balance Dubos, a delicate and fragile minded outcast. Ostracizes by her hometown and abandoned by her family, she resorts to prostitution and alcoholism for consolation. In her efforts to assure herself of her own worth in her growing age, and to rescue her sister, Stella, from an abusive lifestyle, she offends the male-dominated society in which she is trapped. Despite Blanches controversial lifestyle and destructive actions, she is nonetheless a tragic heroine whose downfall resulted from poor treatment at the hands of a cruel society to which she refused to comply.Aristotle defined a tragic hero as a character of nobility with a tragic flaw that eventually leads them to their own downfall. Balance Dubos, a beautiful and sophisticated belle, once represented the vision of the south. Born into a wealthy family and happily married to a young romantic, Balance seemingly had everything desired by women of her period. However, when her young husband is revealed to be a homosexual, she is unable to cope and drives him to suicide with her disapproval. This sends Balance into a spiral of mental degeneration, rendering her unable to adjust to the changes happening in ere world, namely the fall of the south.When she goes to her sister Stella for support, she clashes with the ideals of Stellar abusive husband Stanley, ultimately leading to her mental and physical destruction through rape. Balance meets the criteria of a tragic heroine from her noble beginnings to her humble end. She was the perfect example of southern class and sophistication before the fall of the aristocracy. She lived a lofty life at her plantation, Belle Reeve, and married her first love. Her downfall began when her husband, Allan, was caught in his homosexual actions; she confronted IM and he escaped her disappointment by killing himself.The damage to her mental health resulted in the loss of her home, her self-esteem, and eventually her concept of reality, whi ch was further broken by Stanley brute invasion. While some critics argue that Balance cannot rise to the title of tragic hero due to her many character flaws, critic Kathleen Lana, in her essay A Streetcar Named Misogyny, defends Balance by reminding the readers of her humanity: In her dramatic situation, Balance is – indeed – flawed, culpable, tragically imperfect, but she is fully and flagrantly human. As a tragic Geiger she functions as a subject, to be judged by her action or inaction†¦ ere will to save herself, her sister, her home. She is being fully female, driven beyond her ability to cope with the wholly male world. At this level of the play, we may grieve as the environment destroys Balance, or we may rage as Balance backs herself into a corner with her lies and evasions. But no matter how we view Balance we see and judge Balance as Balance, a fully developed human character. Balance, as a human, has several flaws that could be considered tragic. Howeve r, the flaw that initiates the beginning of her nonfatal, Élan's suicide, is her inability to be compassionate.In his paper The Tragic Downfall of Balance Dubos, Leonard Bergman describes this flaw by stating that â€Å"Blanches most fundamental regret is not that she happened to marry a homosexual†¦ Or the discovery of Élan's homosexuality†¦ But when made aware†¦ She brought on his suicide by her expression Of disgust. † A second tragic flaw is the inability to forgive herself for denying her husband forgiveness. Bert Caraculs states in his essay Balance Dubos as Tragic Heroine, that while â€Å"Balance could hardly be expected to respond with love and understanding†¦ E never truly had an intimate, an open and trusting, relationship with him. † Caraculs goes on to say that â€Å"Balance refuses from the beginning to forgive herself for denying Allen the compassion that would have saved or perhaps changed him. † Balance could not move on from the past because she felt guilty for telling the truth, something she often praised herself for doing. At the end of the play, it seems apparent that Stanley has won; that he has conquered and triumphed over a woman who defied and insulted the wills of men.However, tragic heroes are not necessarily defined by their victories, but y their struggle against their fate. Rather than bending to the whims of men in her male dominated society, Balance instead exposed their evils, beginning with Élan's and ending with Stanley. Balance redeemed herself by admitting her own flaws to Mitch after Stanley reveals her lies. She emerged from her romanticizes fantasy land to deliver the real truth: the person she fooled the most was not him, but herself.In scene ten, Stanley believed that his personal and violent invasion of Balance would finally break her, forcing her to admit all of her wrongs and finally live in reality. While he's made out to be the actor, with nobody believing Blan ches declaration of rape, he only achieved his goal of taking all of her privately. Her mind retreated into her fantastical world of the past, allowing her to escape her reality permanently. Memories Of southern gentleman supporting their decorative belles allowed her the peace she could not find, even as she was escorted to the asylum, her new â€Å"home†, by a kindly doctor.Balance is a tragic heroine. She fits the Aristotle defined criteria, she has not only one, but two tragic flaws, and though she lost her sanity and pride by the end of the play, she does not submit to her harsh reality. Some critics argue that, in her mad hysteria, she is not befitting of the title tragic hero. However, they are simply preying on her open weakness, something that many male tragic heroes are too prideful to show. Her weakness only makes her more eligible for the title; she is exposing her flawed humanity to all who condemned her.She dares them to come clean of their own flaws, many of wh ich her society condoned. As Lana states, â€Å"She may be quite simply too noble to exist as a female in a world run by a phalanx of Stanley Kowalski. † â€Å"Balance becomes a tragic protagonist and transforms the play into an allegory; Williams uses her plight to criticize the social circumstances that have shaped her flawed persona and led her to her demise. † The social circumstances that Lauren Siegel mentions in her essay Balance Dubos: Antihero are what condemn, ostracize, and serve to flaw Balance and her fragile mind.Aside from her own tragic flaws, Blanches society is to blame for her downfall. By creating societal norms and expectations, her society placed restrictions on her actions and convinced her that what she did to survive, both mentally and financially, was morally wrong. It glorified the actions of en such as Stanley Kowalski, who measured women's worth only by their sexual attractiveness, and rejected free female sexuality. Lastly, it condemned ho mosexuals and anyone else who did not fit into society's cookie cutter conformity, namely Balance Dubos. In her hometown, Balance was known as the town nut.After the death of her relatives, paying for the plantation became her responsibility, a responsibility that weighed heavily on her damaged psyche after her husband's death. Prostitution served a dual purpose in Blanches mind; it paid the bills and allowed for meetings with â€Å"strangers† who would remind her Of her beauty. However, as knowledge of her promiscuity spread throughout the town, her name became trash and her reputation resulted in her termination from the hotel in which she worked. Though the hotel was known for its shady business, society placed her sins above others.Why? Because she was a woman who went against what was expected of her: to be married and supported by a husband, with whom she was allowed to have free intimacy. Caraculs supports this by stating, â€Å"These â€Å"strangers†, in †Å"wising up† to Blanches thinly disguised cries for help and devotion were as much to blame for her panic-driven promiscuity as she herself was. Even before the South's decline, men were the bread winners of society. However, during the reign of the aristocracy, men were expected to be gentlemen to their women, to be their financial supporters and protectors.When industrialization replaced the plantation lifestyle, a new attitude was formed. Men became cold, brutish, and domineering over every aspect of their lives, including their women. Women became objectified as property rather than respected as equals. While society praised men for owning a lot of â€Å"property, women, like Balance, were hounded for promiscuity and damned as harlots. As Lana complains, â€Å"Stanley, on the other hand, is applauded for his sexuality, for his sadistic exploitation of Stella, for his love of the ‘colored lights'. Men were permitted their adultery because of their usefulness, while women, who were viewed only as burdens, were denied their freedom. Allan and Balance needed each other to conform to society's expectations. Allen used Balance to disguise his homosexuality, and Balance used him for financial support and protection. After Balance discovered Élan's affair with another man and confronted him, she unconsciously sacrificed both her and is position in society. By embarrassing Allan, she ruined his reputation and his chances for success. His suicide left her without support or an outlet for intimacy.Caraculs uses this fact to explain Blanches acceptance of Match's courting, â€Å"she struggles at the end in his memory to achieve intimacy with Mitch which alone can restore her to grace through linking of sex with compassion. † She recognized that, though she did not love Mitch as she loved Allan, the only way to be restored in the eyes of society was to conform: to get married. However, her inability to win over Mitch after her lies are revealed mode her chances and foreshadowed that she would never be able to rejoin the society that rejected her. Society's expectations prevented both women and men from shaping their own destiny.By forcing the cult of domesticity, both Stella and Balance, the women who conformed and the women who failed to conform, suffered at the hands of men. Conformers often found themselves in unhappy or even abusive relationships and nonconformists were left to their own devises. Likewise, the men, like Allan, who could not abandon their gentle southern upbringing or hide their preference of gender, were rejected and replaced by heir more manly counterparts. Society condemned, ostracizes, and served to flaw what it did not accept. Part of what makes Blanches tragedy a tragedy is how her society treated her when she was found to be undesirable.Instead of being provided with proper help and treatment, she is hauled off to the madhouse in an embarrassing and demeaning manner. She is also denied an invest igation of her declaration of rape by Stanley, as no one believed she was in her right mind. It is this mistreatment that resulted not only in Blanches fate, but also Élan's and Stellar: mental institutionalizing, suicide, ND domestic abuse. Women were considered undesirables due to their lack of skills. However, they were never trained to be anything other than good mothers and wives in their cult of domesticity.When faced with the brutality of male dominance, women were often mistreated through physical and emotional abuse. However, because they were objectified as the property Of men, society often condoned this ruthless behavior and allowed the abuse behind closed doors. Even the women themselves thought of it as the price paid to keep the peace. Lana shows this in Stella by stating, ‘Stella knows that, t a deeply unconscious level, she must keep Stanley happy to preserve the economic and emotional security she has achieved as his woman. † Homosexuals had an equa l, if not lower, position with women in society.While they were still men, they were seen as having a closer relation to that of women. Lana shows this relation by her description of the author Williams, â€Å"Williwaw's homosexuality in a heavily masculine society rendered him naturally sympathetic toward the plight of the women†¦ With whom he identified with. † When Balance revealed Allan as a homosexual, she condemned him as less than a man by society standards. As a result, suicide became a better option than living in shame. Although he is a character with greater morality than Stanley, Élan's inability to conform to society wishes made him a reject nonetheless.Despite her protective retreat into her memories of the past, Balance still had recollection of Stanley act of violence against her. However, because of her lack of mental stability, her claim is brushed off by the doctors, her neighbors, and even Stella. Her society denied her human rights and savagely s tripped her Of her dignity in her last scene. In her madness, she believed she was making her escape with a gentlemanly lealer, but instead was greeted by two doctors intending to take her away to an asylum.After fighting them at first, she allows herself to be led away by her kindly doctor, after informing him that â€Å"she has always depended on the kindness of strangers†. These strangers, who abused her mental fragility and took advantage of her, are the same men that society praised for their masculine dominance. To conclude, Lana sums up Balance Dubbing's tragedy: â€Å"in the struggle with the dark forces of her society, Balance, with her typically female characteristics, is ultimately lost and savagely exploited.