Wednesday, October 30, 2019
How dialysis treatment for kidney failure relies on an understanding Essay
How dialysis treatment for kidney failure relies on an understanding of the principles of diffusion - Essay Example Maher states that an infection or physical injury to the kidneys can affect the dialyzing ability of the kidneys. A malfunction of the human kidneys can lead to the accumulation of poisonous molecules such as urea in blood (Maher, 1989). A toxic level of urea in blood is fatal. A dialyzing machine works like the kidneys. The difference between a dialysing machine and the human kidneys is the reverse dialysis, which returns small molecules like glucose to the body. The natural kidneys perform endocrine function, which is not possible in the dialysis machine (Maher, 1989). Chung Lee (2006) explains that dialysis is a short-term treatment option to sustain the lives of patients waiting for a kidney transplant. In 2006, research showed that in the globally there were over 1 million patients dependent on dialysis. In the United States 506,256, citizens were under dialysis treatment. In the United Kingdom data from the UK renal registry indicated that around 45, 484 adults were under dialysis treatment. There are two dialysis procedures available for patients experiencing renal problems: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Hemodialysis involves pumping the patientââ¬â¢s blood through an artificial dialysis membrane present in the dialysis machine. The waste products in the patientââ¬â¢s blood diffuse through the membrane to the dialysate. This movement occurs due to the presence of a concentration gradient between the two media. In peritoneal dialysis, the peritoneum in the abdominal cavity works as the dialysis membrane. The peritoneum has a dense capillary network, which makes it a suitable media for the dialysis procedure. The dialysate is pumped to the abdominal cavity via a catheter. In peritoneal dialysis, toxic substances diffuse to the dialysate through the blood capillaries semi permeable membrane (Maher, 1989). Cheng explains that a patient can self-administer peritoneal dialysis.
Monday, October 28, 2019
E Fraud Essay Example for Free
E Fraud Essay An e- fraud is considered to be an electronic crime that affects not only individuals businesses and governments but also allows for very negatively intelligent people and hackers to use their intelligence to log into otherââ¬â¢s accounts use their credit card numbers and banking password and transact huge amounts of trade and money . it has been seen that e fraud is on the increase and this is because of the low levels of awareness, the inappropriate counter measures that are ineffective to handle this kind of fraud has led to e frauds being on the increase . The only area that has been actively involved in reducing the impact of fraud is the technical side leaving the other so many variables out of the purview of the e fraud scenario. This has made e fraud even more easier because there have been no mechanisms to reduce these occurrences and even if there are there has been limited penalties issued to the frauds that happen on the cyber space. Introduction: The complexity of modern enterprises, their reliance on technology, and the heightened Interconnectivity among organizations that is both a result and a driver of e-business these are rapidly evolving developments that create widespread opportunities for theft, fraud, and other forms of exploitation by offenders both outside and inside an organization ââ¬Å" (KPMG 2000) The paper tries to assimilate and analyze the strategies that can be adopted by everyone who deals on the cyber space to protect their information and finances securely. This paper also tries to analyze why such frauds occurs and what can be done by stakeholders to minimize the occurrences and is it worthwhile an attempt to bring in a global governance ordinance which could help businesses and agencies nab the criminals . It is recorded that global e commerce sales are steadily growing and with this the e commerce fraud too. The eco system which has promoted the concept of ecommerce streams from the millions of shoppers and customers who use their debit and credit cards . Though online shopping is projected to be a very safe way of shopping and bank transactions through secured payment modes, frauds have been continually on the increase . It has been objectively researched that e commerce transactions have to be highly secured . Every transaction has to be screened for the following inputs . 1. Risk based authentication should be enabled for every transaction and to prove the integrity of the user. 2. Card holdersââ¬Ës data has to be tokenized so that consumers identity can be authorized and protected. . Reputed brands should shut down phishing and Trojan attacks that make easy e commerce frauds. Some practical applications for reducing e commerce brands: Fraud detection and prevention by addressing the critical needs of the entire credit card eco system. Evaluating transactions for the risk and balancing risk activities in cards . High transaction abandonment rates that results from poor user experience . Reducing the compliance costs so that we e commerce frauds commitment costs become high . The following diagrammatic representation shows how the personal data ecosystem is subject to hacking by very professional hackers. (source:Google. com) Credit card fraud The credit card industry reports huge frauds conducted over the internet in the US alone, in the year 2010, $8. 6 billion card frauds occurred (Aite Group study). With worldwide electronic information sourcing and data storage and the thousands on online purchasing that is going on, the frequency of card usage has increased and this has resulted in financial institutions and cardholders becoming victims of e fraud . Countries worldwide have set up agencies to monitor e fraud and have their own agencies to take care of such crimes especially those related to the cyber space and those which happen on cyberspace and in ecommerce space . E commerce sales is expected to total almost $1 trillion by 2013. Ecommerce fraud is also growing along with this. Fraudulent transactions rose from 2. 7 billion in 2010 to $3. 4 billion in 2011 and are expected to grow exponentially. The use of internet has made these frauds possible. There are many reasons why these frauds occur. . The increasing complex software that is now being used to relay ecommerce has made the systems vulnerable to attacks . 2. There are thousands of malicious codes and other tools that help hackers and attackers . 3. The increasing use of high speed internet at homes with very little security makes attack much easy . 4. The rate at which technology is changing and the ease of adaptation to the new technology and the users rather slow pace in adopting to good computer security practices is another compelling reason for fraud . . the hidden costs that are involved in an ecommerce portal goes unnoticed because the security systems that have to take care of this and when systems are set up, there is always the likelihood that ambitious technology experts give least preference to securing the information site and privacy conditions People and business which conduct business online do not inform people of the expected frauds that could occur due to ecommerce transactions, because of this frauds happen . The lack of proper governance and regulation regarding type of penalties and punishments that would be given to fraud committers is rather slack . There are no world wide global laws to tackle such frauds and hence frauds that are committed online find no jurisdictional limits and so governments do not know how to pin point the responsibility . This loop hole has been used by fraudsters . The online world is full of pseudonyms and pseudo identities . Hence tracking such frauds also becomes very difficult. There are no experts who could be given the responsibility of tracking and strategizing how such frauds occur . Though technology now is slowly trying to understand the macro environment of the fraud related scenarios, the risk and costs associated with bringing in security is very high and hence the adaptability of such scenarios cannot be done by all firms who have e commerce portals . Stakeholders involvement in the vulnerability that exists across the value chain is seen as the most critical issue in a fraud . Crime congress global: This is an imitative taken by the agency to help stakeholders and victims of e commerce fraud to find effective solutions. This proves information security in all countries of the world to meet the challenges arising from e commerce. This agency prominently uses technology and provides technology solutions in partnership with the business community to prevent frauds through information security technology and information risk management, forensics, investigations, audit, risk, compliance and fraud. This agency has been conducting global awareness programs for reaching out to institutes, businesses and government to partner in helping reduce ccurrences of e fraud to strategic and technological challenges. This is a strategic initiative involving al stakeholders to proactively reduce the risks of ecommerce frauds and to defend IT systems from those threats which are emerging and to comply with relevant legal and regulatory laws . this initiative is a step towards combating the threat of the increasing cases of fraud. This partnership brings out very important initiatives to protect not only customers but a lso business houses from succumbing to the increasing menace of hackers. Technology solutions and other security solutions are placed in a consultative approach towards tackling this . If an international business committed copyright infringements then legal action under Criminal Jurisprudence legal action can be resorted to under Article 61 Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) where the loser has got legal recourse to his stolen property by means of criminal sanctions and which will thereby allow for legal and criminal punishment of the infringement and the infringer . t has been felt that all types of infringement should be punished with criminal sanctions. People can appeal under this act for legal action or they can hotlist an organization under cyber space if there are cases of patent stealing and web site hacking. The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 also known as the CDPA can be used in cases where infringement has taken place. If an international business committed copyright infringements or steals a pa tent then as a victims we can take recourse under the above mentioned acts which give protection to IRP which are stolen and pirated and copied.. Early referral is said to be the best away to ensure that the evidence is properly secured and that all the investigative revenues are fully explored with the possible undercover law enforcement activities. Perhaps, communication with the law enforcement activities allows the victim to coordinate civil proceedings with the possible criminal enforcement. Though legally recourse is available it is easy to settle out of court because protection of copyright is a prelude to production of the material or product. People who invent need to protect their patents. Once the patent is protected then it cannot be copied or pirated as punishments are very severe in such cases. With so many innovations taking place in the US especially with cyber technology there has been very serious issue of pirating software and the Beijing convention has called for all member countries to come out with anti pirating laws which could effectively punish those who are caught. USA will have to worry about the number of infringements that are taking place. It has admitted legal course in serious cases but USA is neither able to gun down the culprit nor is it able to find means of putting an end to it because of the geographical distance which makes it impossible to monitor the use of technology. USA is very careful in dealing with countries where incidences of Infringement are very high and tries to bring in severe legal clauses to protect their interests. Computer forensics investigator and other laws A computer forensics investigator works with a pre determined notion of computer crimes. But that is not a sufficient coverage that should be catered. A computer forensics investigator looks upon other law system too such as data protection, data integrity, data control, audit of data components, investigation around the computer and etc. A forensics investigator moves with an initial priority of computer crime. But he should be well governed with other laws. This helps him to establish himself more concretely on the crime scene. He is prepared with the notion of covering up the areas totally in order to fully satisfy himself on the grounds that nothing is left behind. He checks into the data system, recovers the data, checks the integrity of the data, protects the data, looks for evidences around the computer, checks the network system of the accused person, goes more deeply with the computing system to enable him searching beyond the computers to narrow down his investigation procedure. Some other laws such as, human rights, digital rights, information system laws, computer laws are of special interest to him. This gives him the power to deal with any case that involves ethical computer crime. He is much more developed investigator if he is well adverse with the above law system. E Discovery E Discovery or Electronic Discovery refers to discovery in civil litigation. This discovery process deals with the exchange of information in the electronic format. Electronic Discovery is pretty useful for the forensics analysis. We know that Forensics analysis deals with the investigation of crime scene involving computer and cyber crimes and evidence is the prime source of investigation that leads to a successful procedure. Hence the investigator is pretty much confident about the E Discovery System. The investigator with the help of E Discovery processes such as Electronic messages, voicemail; smart phones etc recover every bit of information that is required in the gathering of evidence required for the forensics investigation. The whole process of collection data through E discovery and jotting it down to the report makes it much easier for the investigator. The E discovery has led to new developments and changes in the investigation system of the cyber crimes. With latest e discovery modes as mentioned above, an investigator is much more confident about its movement into the IT system of the accused criminal, and supporting the cause with rather strong and reliable evidences gathered. E discovery is a radical change in the process of investigation and has led to much more focused and integrated system of computer investigation. Conclusion The whole conclusion is based on the cyber crimes and the enacting system of law prevailing. The cyber crimes have increased in geometric progression over the years which have led to many disasters and crimes. With the increased number of crimes taking place day in day out, the laws have been made much stricter in order to ensure that the numbers of crime taking place gets minimized and there is a fear of messing up the computer system. The laws have addressed the message of intent of distorting computer systems which will constitute a crime. Many forensics investigators have been seen in the picture off late which governs the system of computer crime. These investigators are well adverse with the system laws and crime scenes. They effectively handle the situation and get to the desired results enabling quick and accurate reply to crime involved. Thus the laws have been successful over the years in minimizing computer threats and crimes. Ecommerce has revolutionized trade in many ways and consumers have also been cheated in ways that were unknown in traditional sales. In order to protect the consumers, traders on the internet and operators in the cyber space have got together to form associations and laws that would protect the consumers in the text of ecommerce. Though every country has passed consumer protection acts which are rules and regulations to protect the consumers from fraudulent trade practices in the market. There laws were enacted to protect the consumers and give them rights to ensure that they obtain truthful information and right products as so designed by the seller. The laws have been designed to protect consumers from businesses indulging in unlawful and unfair practices . The governments of all countries have passed regulations to protect the rights of consumers especially in those products where health and safety are chief ingredients. Consumer protection is also in the form of consumer rights which consumers can exercise through redressal grievance and consumer courts. This is the history behind the concept of consumer protection. In direct contrast to the traditional business where the buyer and seller are in direct contact with each other and the buyer can inspect the goods before buying, in ecommerce the communication is only through an electronic form and business is conducted in a paperless environment. More importantly the internet or e transactions play a very important role in helping buyers and in assisting in choice comparisons and locating a product on the internet. (http://www. apec. rg/apec/apec_groups/som_special_task_groups/electroniccommerce. html. Accessed on 13/2/04) Consumer concerns in e commerce starts form the point of instance as the buyer is not known to the seller and vice versa and hence the privacy and confidentiality aspect of a trade which has to be concluded needs authenticity. Consumers are worried about 1. The unfair marketing practices that sellers resort to on the web. 2. The terms of sale, refunds, cancellation of orders, warranty conditions 3. Enforceability of the contract, performance and non performance. . Delivery time, late deliveries and no delivery verification. 5. The most illegal use of information available on credit cards payment made for online purchases. 6. Fraud and cheating because transactions are not authenticated by any physical source. 7. unsafe products not confirming to safety standards. 8. Misuse of personal information for other purposes. Since majority of e commerce transactions lead to the buyer being put to a disadvantage the Issues relating to consumer disputed have to be minimized and arbitrated. t is all the more difficult because the sellers are beyond national jurisdiction as it happens on cyberspace and SO the risks that arise out of such trade has to be taken care of and the consumers have to be suitably protected. a landmark development n the form of the E -Commerce group otherwise known as The Electronic Commerce and Consumer Protection Group is constitute d by leading companies on the net like America Online, ATamp;T, Dell, IBM, Microsoft, Network Solutions and Time Warner. These companies predominately deal in online sales of their products and so recognize the growing need of consumer protection and have addressed issues regarding consumer protection as best practices of industry and have created an environment which would allow consumers to resolve disputes arising on cyber space. The American Bar Association Task Force on E-commerce and Alternative Dispute Resolution is one of the best reference guide to consumer protection on the cyber space. This organization was asked to suggest workable guidelines that parties dealing in online transactions can use for ODRââ¬â¢s (online dispute redressal) . the complexity further arose from the fact that there was multijurisdictional disputes arising from B2B and B2c businesses. (THIS IS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IS REFREED TO IN EXACT TEXT) To quote the words of the task force of the Ecommerce group ââ¬Å"that there are many ways to help prevent as well as to help resolve disputes or complaints that arise from e-commerce transactions, the Task Force makes the following recommendations and observations: 1. E-commerce businesses should place an enhanced emphasis on all stages of dispute prevention, complaints handling, and effective methods of redress through ADR and ODR. 2. Internet merchants, governmental and nonprofit entities should place a greater emphasis on consumer education and the prevention of e-commerce disputes. 3. Protecting consumers requires adequate standards and codes of conduct for ecommerce businesses. 4. Internet merchants should be encouraged to participate in and subscribe to relevant e-commerce codes of conduct and trust mark programs. 5. Internet merchants should develop or continue to improve on their in-house complaints handling mechanisms, and educate consumers as to how to use these in-house procedures effectively. 6. For consumers, recourse to in-house complaints mechanisms is normally the first and best means to obtain redress from reputable merchants. Accordingly, consumers should be encouraged to utilize the in-house complaints handling mechanisms offered by reputable Internet merchants before resorting to third party dispute resolution mechanisms. 7. at present, the lack of ODR does not appear to be a material impediment to the growth of B2C e-commerce. . At present, ODR is subsidiary to other higher priority consumer protection activities, including consumer education and use of measures that help prevent or decrease the incidence of fraud in Internet transactions. 9. Recognizing that enforcement of outcomes and decisions reached through ODR may be difficult, consumers should be encouraged to consider using other dispute prevention mechanisms such as escrow services and credit card charge back mechanisms when transacting online. 10. Rather than create a code of conduct for ODR Service Providers, the Task Force has drafted Recommended Best Practices by ODR Service Providers. 1. The Task Force recommends the creation of a new informational entity (referred to as the ADRCenter) that would provide information about ODR in an effort to educate and familiarize consumers, businesses, lawyers and other professionals with this new type of service. 12. For the advancement of ODR as an effective and efficient means of cross-border dispute resolution for both B2B and B2C transactions, there needs to be an appropriate emphasis on the development of interoperable communication and data-sharing platforms. 3. The Task Force believes that much of the education that will be useful for consumers will also be useful for businesses especially small to medium sized enterprises and those who are new to the Internet marketplace and to cross-border transactions. ( Task force quoted verbatim) among all of ecommerce frauds the greatest of consumer complaints arose from identity thefts. The Federal trade commission has released statistics stating that out of 2004,000 complaints received from consumers 42% elated to fraud and identity of the seller, followed by internet auctions which constituted 10%,followed by other non performances like non delivery of goods, inferior quality goods, trial offers from the net, shop at home offers and so on. This only reiterates that consumers have to be protected and laws of cyber space have to be strictly regulated to afford consumer protection. Consumer protection measures were seen very importantly in the light of an interactive poll which shows the increased awareness of consumers against online frauds . They were dissuaded by online shopping and cited some of the reasons why they had not shopped recently. 57% said that they were worried about their credit card number being stolen,57% were worried about confidentiality measures being violated,38% doubted the integrity on the seleers,26% wanted some personal attention to be given while they shopped,37% doubted the reliability of the sellers,47% said that wanted to physically inspect the product and 25% cited many unknown reasons. source: Harris interactive)It was increasingly felt that consumer education will be able to help protect consumers better. It also shows increased concerns about consumers not knowing how to transact online. It is suggested that traders using the electronic media need to given all information that is required for consumers to feel safe about shopping online . Quoting Internet merchants association ,â⬠Merchants need to have greater and enhanced disclosure on their websites as well as heightened compliance with relevant consumer protection law. â⬠Another pertinent consumer protection data and study conducted by a New Zealand organization on 700 web sites explicitly brought out the consumers heightened awareness of ecommerce frauds and consumers came out with their reasons of the need for protecting their rights against fraudulent organizations. They said that 50% of the vendors had not installed security measures on the payment options, 62% did not speak of refund policies, 78% said that the vendors did not advice customers of how to lodge complaints,90% said that they did not know about laws pertaining to consumer redresses and 25% said that the vendors did not show physical address. Despite all this majority of consumers preferred to shop online so laws pertaining to consumer protection need to be implemented in its fullest sense. Consumers International released its [emailprotected] net study in which it concluded: that though almost all the traders online collected data regarding the personal information of the buyers very few of them institutionalized a privacy policy regarding the use of the information that the buyer gave. Though these were correct measures to provide security, majority of these proved meaningless to the buyers. it was very common in the US and Europe to find traders giving scant respect to global standards on data privacy. Even the basic principles of informing the customers of how the data will be used, how the firm will access the data , how the consumer can use the data and how the security of the data is sought and maintained is not disclosed. A comparative study of the sites of USA and UK are no different with regard to privacy policy as both played on the information made available to them. The US online trading sites set decent privacy policies which looked good enough to follow. In The European trading sites the consumers had the law backing them up and the presence of an ombudsman and a government representative in the form of a data protection officer took care of the consumer rights and protection if breached. He also intervened to speak on behalf of the consumers if the law was tampered with . in fact it is sad to know that both the countries have left little choice to consumers in terms of data protection.. â⬠This was a comparative study of the European merchants and the USA merchants. But both of them accepted the fact that consumer protection was a must if their sales and revenues had to increase. As a step towards greater protection measures to consumers the task force on ecommerce and protection said that various disputes redressal mechanisms have to be introduced in the form of dispute prevention like education of consumers, feedback collection from consumers, ombudsman appointments, negotiations, mediation, arbitrators, and assessment of valid consumer grievances.
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Essay --
It is noticed that science develops in splashes, each significantly advancing our understanding of the nature. The 19th century was the time of rapid development of microbiology. In the search for secrets of nature science has reached extremely high and low energies as well as large and small length scales. Still until recently we knew very little about one of the most complex aspects of life ââ¬â microbes and infection. Now we are at the dawn of efflorescence in molecular biology, which provides an excellent basis for application into several areas of biology like cancer and virology . Revelations of molecular biology become extremely crucial, as they provide insights into the way molecules work. Having completed an inspiring five-year course in veterinary sciences,1993-1999 from college of veterinary and animal sciences ,and completing DVM, I would like to continue my pursuit of knowledge and do a dissertation in Virology. This would give me build the strong knowledge base that I desire and a strong expertise in field that I wish to specialize. The past few decades have witnessed rapid advance in the area of virology and molecular biology. The objective of virology is to make life meaningful and to alleviate human and animal ailments caused by these dreadful pathogens . I am keen to be an integral part of this effort. For this, along with an in-depth knowledge of the subject, experience in cutting edge research and hands on experience in real time applications would be of prime importance . In todayââ¬â¢s world, microbial sciences has attained such high status due its impact in the day to day life of humanity as a whole.. My interest in the role of microbes and viruses began from UG classes (1993-1999) wherein professors taught us... ...ape me to be a thinker and a learner. The world is literally becoming a global village where opportunities for learning are transcending physical boundaries. In a connected world, Indian knowledge workers are increasingly contributing to the global work force. International education will give me the training and the competence to meet global clients. I look forward to being an active contributing member of the student community at your University. After basic education, I have developed a strong urge to attain academic excellence and to engage in research in the field of virology. I strongly feel that an MS from a reputed university will help me achieve my goal. United States will offer me a very conducive atmosphere for research and development.t I am eagerly awaiting for admission from your esteemed university and embark for my future journey in this field. Essay -- It is noticed that science develops in splashes, each significantly advancing our understanding of the nature. The 19th century was the time of rapid development of microbiology. In the search for secrets of nature science has reached extremely high and low energies as well as large and small length scales. Still until recently we knew very little about one of the most complex aspects of life ââ¬â microbes and infection. Now we are at the dawn of efflorescence in molecular biology, which provides an excellent basis for application into several areas of biology like cancer and virology . Revelations of molecular biology become extremely crucial, as they provide insights into the way molecules work. Having completed an inspiring five-year course in veterinary sciences,1993-1999 from college of veterinary and animal sciences ,and completing DVM, I would like to continue my pursuit of knowledge and do a dissertation in Virology. This would give me build the strong knowledge base that I desire and a strong expertise in field that I wish to specialize. The past few decades have witnessed rapid advance in the area of virology and molecular biology. The objective of virology is to make life meaningful and to alleviate human and animal ailments caused by these dreadful pathogens . I am keen to be an integral part of this effort. For this, along with an in-depth knowledge of the subject, experience in cutting edge research and hands on experience in real time applications would be of prime importance . In todayââ¬â¢s world, microbial sciences has attained such high status due its impact in the day to day life of humanity as a whole.. My interest in the role of microbes and viruses began from UG classes (1993-1999) wherein professors taught us... ...ape me to be a thinker and a learner. The world is literally becoming a global village where opportunities for learning are transcending physical boundaries. In a connected world, Indian knowledge workers are increasingly contributing to the global work force. International education will give me the training and the competence to meet global clients. I look forward to being an active contributing member of the student community at your University. After basic education, I have developed a strong urge to attain academic excellence and to engage in research in the field of virology. I strongly feel that an MS from a reputed university will help me achieve my goal. United States will offer me a very conducive atmosphere for research and development.t I am eagerly awaiting for admission from your esteemed university and embark for my future journey in this field.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Huck Finn: Oh, the Irony of Society!
Satire is a subtle literary technique involving the criticism of human idiocy through scorn and biting irony. With a faà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½ade of crude bias and prejudice, satire's influence lies in the reader's capability of interpretation. Due to Mark Twain's constant application of racial aspersions, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn contains strong implications of an archetypal racist novel. However, with satirical insight and the shrewd application of realism and irony, the novel reveals itself to hold an opposing stance through its harsh ridicule of white society. Utilizing a sense of realism for the setting for his novel, Twain correctly portrays historical accuracy in the perspective of white society through the prejudice he presents. Twain attempts to instill a sense of authenticity in his readers while indistinctly instilling novel concepts that grow stronger and undeniable by the novel's conclusion. For example, when Aunt Sally hears of a steamboat explosion: ââ¬Å"Good gracious! anybody hurt?â⬠ââ¬Å"No'm. Killed a nigger.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, that's lucky, because sometimes people get hurt, ââ¬Å"(167). Almost laughable in its absurdity, this quote portrays whites in a callous light, revealing their disdain for black lives. Aunt Sally is a respected figure in white society, not an outcast like Pap or the King and the Duke. Yet her judgment is no better than Pap's comments on his contempt of educated blacks; she simply does not consider them ââ¬Å"people.â⬠Twain's motivation was to exhibit the horrors of the south at that time, how highly regarded people in society were so heartless, not feeling any remorse for the loss of a life simply because it was black. Jim is another excellent example of Twain's usage of realism. Jim characterizes the stereotypical black slave, with terrible grammar, a nearly indiscernible accent and superstitious to the point of idiocy. Twain's agenda in typecasting Jim is not to deride blacks, but to make Jim a realistic, believable character by setting him up as a conventional black slave. Jim requires such establishment because he represented an individual with moral standards far above those of most whites, such as Pap and the Duke and the King. He is the moral center of the novel, sacrificing his freedom out of loyalty to Huck. Twain's message through Jim is clear: Even the average black slave has a more honorable soul than the majority of the white population. A notion profoundly difficult for Twain's intended audience to grasp, Huck becomes a liaison between his audiences, helping to bridge the difficulty of comprehension through his own confusion. One particularly monumental instance was after the separation in the fog, Huck tries to lie to Jim. However, when Jim realizes that Huck is trying to trick him, he voices his regret and disappointment of the broken trust. It is at this moment that Huck realizes Jim's keen sense of morality, and almost instantly feels apologetic. ââ¬Å"It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger-but I done it, and I wrn't every sorry for it afterwards neither. I didn't do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that one if I'd ââ¬Ëa' knowed it would make him feel that way,â⬠( ). The mere fact that Huck is regretful for hurting Jim, a black slave, shows Jim's impact on him, the ââ¬Å"pinch of conscienceâ⬠(Poirier 6) that the sheer morality of the man created in him. Irony was another strong factor in Twain's method of persuading his audiences. He effectively uses petty, seemly insignificant instances such as Tom Sawyer's boyish delusions of grandeur as metaphors of greater connotation. When questioned about his intricate plans, Tom replies, ââ¬Å"Do you want to go doing different from what's in the books, and get things all muddled up?â⬠(7). Tom is clearly a portrayal of white society, and his actions reflect his environment. On a larger scale, Huck's confusion about society's notions on respectability is similar to the questions presented toward Tom, and the answers given in return are analogous as well. ââ¬Å"We have before us the creation in words of a whole society built on games, tricks, and illusions, and the adult version is only superficially different from the children'sâ⬠(Poirier 2) There is hardly any common sense involved with decisions, only a common law established by unknown authorities and blindly upheld by the conformity of the masses. Due to his role as an outcast of white society, ââ¬Å"Huckleberry Finn took the first journey back. He was the first to look back at the republic from the perspective of the west. His eyes were the first eyes that ever look at us objectively that were not eyes from overseasâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (Fitzgerald 1) Twain challenges his readers by such mockery, inviting them to join Huck's rational judgment, one unclouded by the shackles of the populace. Through subtle application, Mark Twain used realism and irony to contribute to Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, his satirical masterpiece. He uses white society's degrading of blacks and their unconscious actions to illustrate his obvious scorn of white society's hypocrisy and conformity, allowing for the gradual realization of the bleakness of white society.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Tourettes Syndrome in Children
Tourette's syndrome, also called Tourette's disorder is named after the neurologist, Gilles de la Tourette. Sometimes it is referred to as GTS but more often it is simply called Tourette's or ââ¬ËTSââ¬â¢. It is an inherited neurological disorder marked by movement-based (motor) tics which are abrupt, repetitive, stereotyped, non-rhythmic movements, as well as vocal (verbal or phonic) tics which are involuntary sounds produced by moving air through the nose, mouth, or throat. Tourette's is defined as part of a spectrum of tic disorders, which includes transient and chronic tics.This disorder may appear in multiple family members, and often appears (co-morbid) with other behavioral disorders, in particular ââ¬â ââ¬Å"obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)â⬠(Hawley 2008). People with this disorder have normal life expectancy and intelligence, but symptoms can lead to decrease in normal activities (Walkup, Mink & Hollenbec k 2006). Touretteââ¬â¢s syndrome, as described in the psychiatric diagnostic tool DSM-IV-TR criteria is ââ¬Å"associated with distress or social or functional impairmentâ⬠(Hawley 2008). Onset and Diagnosis.The most common first sign to alert people to visit the doctor for a possible presence of Touretteââ¬â¢s is a facial tic such as ââ¬Å"rapidly blinking eyes or twitches of the mouthâ⬠(NTSA 2009). Unintended, involuntary sounds such as throat clearing, shrugging or tics of the limbs may be initial signs but in certain case, although rare, the symptoms become abruptly with multiple symptoms of movements and sounds. Chronic tic disorder is diagnosed with the presence of single or multiple tics, and the presence of motor or phonic tics (but not both) which is present for a year or more.On the other hand, Tourette's which falls under the category of above is diagnosed when there are multiple motor tics occurring at the same time with one phonic tic and is manifested for more than a year. As a general rule, simple motor tics like blinking are first noticed on the child at around 5-10 years old, while vocal tics start manifesting after 8 years old but before the child is 15 years old. Symptoms of the disorder can be seen in infancy but this is a rarity. As a rule, the symptoms may come and go and children show identifiable signs at round 7 years old (Hawley 2008), and before 18-21years old (Black 2007).Studies found the most onset was between 9-14 years of age (Leckman 2003, Black 2007). Another study showed that tics started below 18 years, but 5 relatives had an onset after the age of 21 years. Affected persons will ââ¬Å"blink, jerk, grunt, clear their throats, swing their arms, grasp or clasp others, have obsessive-compulsive behaviors or use verbal expletives (coprolalia) uncontrollablyâ⬠(Tabers 2001, 2207). In some cases, people suffering from Touretteââ¬â¢s can control the verbal expletives in public but they will express it vig orously once they are in private.Coprolalia, ââ¬Å"the uncontrollable utterance of socially objectionable or taboo words or phrasesâ⬠is the most popular symptom of Tourette's but it is not required for a diagnosis hence about 90% of patients afflicted with it only Tourette's does not have coprolalia. The most common, initially noticed motor tic is eye blinking and the vocal tic is repetitive throat clearing (Black 2007). The disorder often persists throughout the individualââ¬â¢s lifespan but severity peaks in adolescence and thereafter decreases to a point that it is almost not bothersome to the person.This average though can be very misleading because some form of fluctuation or recurrence have been documented although it is not severe. There have also been rare cases that reported a recurrence of tics that is bothersome enough to seek medical attention, and have had to maintain lifelong treatment due to progressively worsening of tic activity (Black 2007). Prevalence. T ourette's syndrome used to be known as a rare condition but it is now contended by doctors and psychologists that it may be more common but misdiagnosed because some cases are so mild that patients and their families discard it as being an oddity rather than Touretteââ¬â¢s.Most children with TS have mild, barely bothersome, non-disabling symptoms, and it is difficult to distinguish the signs of the disorder as opposed to a child acting out such as Mimicking others, blinking being viewed as tormenting someone who may have done so because they wear glasses, or by doing things that others would view as the child just trying to get attention, therefore, medical attention is not a thought to the parents of the child who is doing these things.In some patients the tics improve and disappear as they grow older; hence, they never seek medical attention. The estimated prevalence is 0. 7-4. 2% (Hawley 2008) based on children checked in public schools. Touretteââ¬â¢s is known to be famili al and its prevalence rate in first-degree relatives is 5-15% (about 10 times the prevalence rate in the general population). Chronic motor tics occurring, without vocal tics has also been documented as being common in relatives (Black 2007).In special education programs, 26% of students identified tics, as compared to 6% of students in mainstream classrooms led to identification of co-morbidity with having symptoms of TS included ADHD and OCD (Hawley 2008), impulse control disorders, anxiety and mood disorders, as well as difficulties with living and adaptation (Walkup, Mink & Hollenbeck 2006). It is estimated that 1 in 10 children per 1,000 have Touretteââ¬â¢s disorder, and as many as 1 per 100 people may have tic disorders.In children, male to female ratio varies from 2-10:1 (Hawley 2008), boys have an increased prevalence for chronic tics compared to girls in exhibiting 5:1 ratio, although some studies show between 2:1 and 10:1 ratios (Black 2007). If OCD data is included as a variant of Touretteââ¬â¢s, their quantities added to the total, the ratio between boys and girls become equal (Hawley 2008). Causes. Environmental factors may contribute to the cause but up to now exact causes of the disorder is still are not known.The clinical phenomenon are very similar across social classes, ethnicity and culture which suggests a genetic basis and the disorder has been reported globally (Hawley 2008). As children pass through adolescence, the tics decrease in severity and it is extremely rare for Tourette's to persist in adulthood. Whether the resolution is a compensation of the neuro system or a resolution of the underlying pathology is unclear (Hawley 2008).Adults who show signs of the disorder are likely to have shown symptoms since childhood, although these may have been so mild that they were generally unnoticed and undiagnosed. In the US though, most diagnosed patients being examined at research centers and affiliated with lay organizations are white. But this does not necessarily mean that Caucasians have a predisposition, it may merely be due to differences healthcare-seeking behaviors. A non-genetic cause may also exist and is still under research and investigation.Additional evidence is being gathered regarding the differences in severity between affected twins with the twin having experienced peri-natal complications experiencing increased symptom severity (Hyde 1992, Black 2007). Also garnering much attention is the theory that Touretteââ¬â¢s syndrome may be caused by an abnormal immune response to streptococcal infection. In several documented cases, tics began suddenly after a streptococcal infection. As a result of this the case definition for a ââ¬Å"post-streptococcal autoimmune neuro-psychiatric disordersâ⬠came into being (Snider 2003, Black 2007).The difference between other movement disorders such as choreas, dystonias, and dyskinesias and that of Tourette's ââ¬â these are ââ¬Å"temporarily suppressib le, non-rhythmic and more often than not are preceded by a premonitory urgeâ⬠(Black 2007). Just before an onset, an afflicted individual feels an urge that is similar to one felt before a sneeze or an itch that needs scratching. This is often pictured as a buildup of tension and energy which they are then able to consciously release so the sensation is relieved.It is further described as ââ¬Å"something stuck in one's throat, a localized discomfort in the shoulders that leads to the need to clear one's throat or shrug the shouldersâ⬠(Hawley 2008). The actual tic is eventually felt as relieving this tension or sensation, similar to clearing the throat or shrugging the shoulder. This is how ââ¬Å"premonitory sensory phenomenaâ⬠or premonitory urges are described by sufferers. Medication and Treatment. Often, medication is unnecessary and a safe and effective medication for each and every case of tic is yet to be introduced.There have been medications as well as ther apies that help to reduce certain types of tics, but not cure it. In general, the medical management of Touretteââ¬â¢s is the treatment of coexisting behavior symptoms, change in diet, patient and family education. The patient and family are educated regarding how to effectively handle the manifestations of the disorder, and if an effective adaptation is made, they can avoid the use of medications. Medication is only considered when there is substantial interference with social and academic performance, as well as activities of daily living.The target is not for completely eliminating the symptoms but merely to alleviate the social embarrassment and discomfort so as to improve the social and academics life of the child. Various pharmacological agents are used to reduce the symptomsââ¬â¢ severity but it only treats the symptom and often the medications are have neurological effects whereas it has been argued that the disorder is a neurobiological condition. No curative or preve ntive treatments are atill available for this neurobiological or even biological aspect.There is a growing movement to go against medications because this being a chronic disorder, the goal should be long-term benefit rather than quick improvement at any cost. Families are also getting increasingly worried that the medications might have a detrimental effect in their children, that perhaps in the end, it ââ¬Ëdamagesââ¬â¢ them rather than helping. It has been Resources for the child and families are available in several way which include educating students and school personnel regarding the nature the syndrome as well as improving the school environment will help the patient to avoid pharmacotherapy.Parents and families members of a child who has TS can turn to agencies such as the National Tourettes Association, counseling with the doctorââ¬â¢s, videos, and self help books. Reference List Black, Kevin J.. , Webb, Heather. Neurology: Pediatric Neurology: Tourette Syndrome an d Other Tic Disorders. Mar 30, 2007. Available from eMedicine Specialties at http://emedicine. medscape. com/article/1182258-overview Hawley, Jason S. , Darnall, Carl R. , Gray, Sharette K. Pediatrics: Developmental and Behavioral ââ¬â Tourette Syndrome. 23 June 2008.Available from eMedicine Specialties at http://emedicine. medscape. com/article/289457-overview. National Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc. Tourette Syndrome: Frequently Asked Questions Website http://www. tsa-usa. org. Available at http://www. tsa-usa. org/Medical/Faqs. html. 2009. Taberââ¬â¢s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. Touretteââ¬â¢s Syndrome. (pp. 2207-2208). Philadephia, PA. F. A. Davis Company. 2001. Walkup, John T. , Mink, Jonathan W. , Hollenbeck, Peter J. Edition: Tourette Syndrome. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2006.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
A Comparison of To Kill a Mockingbird and The Withered Arm Essay Example
A Comparison of To Kill a Mockingbird and The Withered Arm Essay Example A Comparison of To Kill a Mockingbird and The Withered Arm Paper A Comparison of To Kill a Mockingbird and The Withered Arm Paper Essay Topic: In Love and Trouble Stories of Black Women Literature To Kill a Mockingbird Thomas Hardy wrote The Withered Arm in 1874, and Harper Lee wrote To Kill a Mockingbird in 1960. In both texts outsiders form the basis of the plot. The dictionary definition of an outcast, or outsider, is a person who is rejected or excluded from a social group. There are many causes that make people outcasts: class, colour, disability, or any difference from the majority of the social group in which they are supposedly meant to be included. In each text, outsiders are presented as people with obvious differences from the norm for example, in The Withered Arm, Rhoda is presented as an outsider by Their course lay apart from the others, to a lonely spot. This immediately shows that other people see Rhoda and her illegitimate son as outsiders, or that they isolate themselves from society and this makes them outsiders. This isolation from society is also shown by the Radley family in To Kill a Mockingbird. Both Rhoda and the Radley family choose to separate themselves from other people, but for different reasons. Rhoda does it because of her son and the rumours that surround her, whereas the Radley family stays away from Maycomb life for religious reasons so busy worrying about the next world theyve never learned to live in this one. In the later stages of the book, Scout is seen as an outsider by Jem and Dill this is shown by the quote He was now positively allergic to my presence in public. The role outsiders play in each of the texts varies. They can provide valuable insights into the attitudes and opinions of other characters; they can highlight prejudice; they increase tension and interest and help develop the storylines. For example, the abuse aimed at Tom Robinson shows us how prejudiced the majority of Maycombs society is. In The Withered Arm, the townsfolk are quite sympathetic towards Rhoda Tis hard for she, which shows us that Farmer Lodge is seen as a bad character in the book. Both these factors add to Gertrudes plight. Gertrude is isolated by her class and her disability. This heightens Rhodas guilt and adds tension to the text. Also, it strengthens the relationship between Gertrude and Rhoda, making it even more dramatic when Gertrude realizes that it was Rhoda that cast the curse on her arm. The Withered Arm is set in the early 19th century, whereas To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the 1930s. Class has a big effect on how characters in the texts behave, think and say. The classes in The Withered Arm are defined by material wealth and status, and could almost be compared to a caste system. In To Kill A Mockingbird, the class distinctions are defined by colour or gender. This generally aims to make the readers feel sympathy towards the outsiders, because (hypothetically) all men and women are equal in our multicultural society. These differences also shock and sometimes anger the reader for example, the verdict in Tom Robinsons trial, although expected, still evokes anger because of the injustice and prejudice towards the outsider. Harper Lee aims to shock and increase tension for the reader, but Thomas Hardy shows less of this. I think this because of the time differences between the texts. Harper Lee purposely set the novel in the 1930s for this reason, whereas Thomas Hardy does not move the time period, so, at the time the text was written, the prejudice in the book would have been seen as normal. The Withered Arm bases its tension on superstition, which the literate people of the early 19th century would have been suspicious of. In The Withered Arm, pre-1900 language is used for example twill, whereas in To Kill a Mockingbird, modern language is used. Both texts use dialects an example in The Withered Arm would be He hant spoke, and an example in To Kill a Mockingbird would be moseyin along. This adds realism to the texts and shows the place and time period of the setting. It also shows the class and, sometimes, the colour of the person speaking. Both texts use some very delicate and beautiful similes to describe women, such as like the light under a heap of rose petals and like soft teacakes with frostings of sweet talcum. The first simile is used to describe Gertrude; it portrays her young, fresh complexion, and I think the rose petals could show the softness of her skin. The second simile seems to refer to much older ladies, because of the reference to teacakes. It can also be linked to the quote it was a tired old town, because Scout feels she is bored of Maycomb to her everything seems too old and slow Atticus was feeble he was nearly 50. The description in The Withered Arm is delivered by Hardys voice, and because of this the vocabulary is very sophisticated for instance dark countenance. However, in To Kill a Mockingbird, the description uses simple vocabulary, because it is the voice of Scout. These different techniques give different impressions to the reader. Hardy creates detailed images with very few words, but Lee shows a realistic childhood view of the events in Maycomb with her use of vocabulary. Superstition forms the main source of prejudice in The Withered Arm, but in To Kill a Mockingbird, colour and race form the major source of discrimination. Both the settings in the texts are quite similar. Both texts are set in small towns that are geographically isolated I feel this is because it helps move the storyline along people only enter the text if they have a purpose in the text. This also makes both communities in the texts introverted. I think this helps the reader to get to know all the characters well. It also helps show the relationships between them. We also know that, if a character is introduced later on in the book, they will have a role to play in the plot. Rhoda Brook is initially shown as a thin worn milkmaid. This immediately shows the reader of her physical appearance and class. We also know that she is middle aged made her dark eyes seem handsome anew and that she was beautiful when she was younger. This also refers to her past involving her affair with Farmer Lodge and her illegitimate son. There is some evidence to her being a witch, though she does not know it or wish this to be so something greater in the occult world than she had ever herself suspected. In certain ways, Rhoda Brook can be compared to Boo Radley. Both characters are isolated by imposing male figures (Boos father and Farmer Lodge), then isolate themselves Boo because of his hermit-like ways, Rhoda because of her illegitimate child. Both characters are feared by society, and both are subjected to rumours. However, there is some evidence that Rhoda does have supernatural powers; whereas Scout fears Boo because of stories she has heard from Jem and adults. Boo adds fear and tension to the beginning of the novel, but as Scout grows older, she fears him less, and when she finally meets him she feels no fear at all Hello Boo. I feel this relationship could also represent, or be a result of, Scouts changing outlook on the world. As she learns more about the Tom Robinson trial, and listens to people like Atticus and Ms Maudie, the influences on her life become much less prejudiced and her attitude towards other outsiders in the book changes. She refers much more to Atticus philosophy: You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, which increases her empathy with outsiders in the text. Rhoda Brook can also be compared to Gertrude Lodge, because both characters suffer a great amount of pain in The Withered Arm. They both struggle unsuccessfully to gain Farmer Lodges love. Neither manages to actually do this, although both go to great lengths to try to win his love. I think that both Rhoda and Gertrude suffer almost continually throughout the storyline, which is ironic as they cause most of each others suffering. I feel that Hardys portrayal of the suffering of the characters is quite sarcastic and cynical, because both characters never win Lodges love and both come to unhappy ends Gertrudes death and the death of Rhodas son. After reading the story it is obvious that suffering and unrequited love are themes in the text. This love is present in both the characters. At the start of The Withered Arm, Gertrude is described as having a face as comely as a live dolls and being A lady complete. This immediately lets the reader know of her social status and her beauty. She is very young almost, indeed, a girl and very attractive in both body and nature kindly innocent. Farmer Lodge seems only to love her for her looks my pretty Gertrude, and this is further proven when her looks begin to fade and the curse begins to take hold. As soon as Rhoda learns about Gertrude, she tries to learn as much as possible about her. I feel that this is because she wants to compare herself to her. She interrogates her son on Gertrudes appearance see if she is dark or fair although she is too proud to view her herself. At first she is interested in Gertrude purely for jealousy but her views change after she becomes friends with Gertrude. After Rhodas dream, she feels immense guilt because of Gertrude. She is remorseful and angry with herself because she harboured such feelings towards Gertrude, which unconsciously caused this ailment she did not wish to inflict pain. Rhoda is torn between two feelings her feeling of bitterness towards her rival and deep repentance towards her friend. She also has trouble with her adoration of Gertrude, the light, and what her secret heart feels: unconscious usurpation. This need to take control because her successor had rendered impossible any reparation between her and Lodge is not obvious to Rhoda in her conscious mind; however, her dreams shows us of this deep resentment towards any rival for Lodges love. As Gertrudes arm slowly shrivels, she is caused mental pain as well as physical. She is seemingly discarded by Farmer Lodge, which seems to have also happened to Rhoda during her previous affair with him. I feel that this conveys how alike Gertrude and Rhoda are, which leads the reader to believe that the story shall take form in much the same way Gertrude losing his affection. She is annoyed at her husbands lack of enthusiasm for trying to cure her arm. This leads to Gertrude becoming isolated from her husband by experimenting with every quack remedy she came across and bottles, packets and ointment pots. It becomes an obsession for Gertrude, more so after all her attempts fail miserably at achieving her goal, turning her into an irritable, superstitious women. In this section of the text, Gertrude is blinded from Farmer Lodges detestation of her condition, showed by the prosiness of their marriage. It also becomes apparent from hearing how Gertrude has grown out of favour with her husband. This is reinforced when he promised her a ladies horse in one of the stables when they were wed but never bought one. I feel that the fact she has to ride a draught animal rather than a ladies horse shows her changing outlook on her life. She feels that by marrying Lodge she would have had a good life, but that she is now saddled with a cursed arm and an isolated lifestyle. I feel that Hardy wanted to create a short story that was filled with excitement and tension, but that was of no great consequence. Harper Lee, however, wanted to put across many of her own ideas through characters, such as Scout, and wanted people to learn from her book. There is much excitement and tension in To Kill a Mockingbird, but in The Withered Arm, the excitement is much more concentrated, because of the shortness of the text. This creates very different effects in the two storylines. To Kill a Mockingbird is very subtle, bringing outsiders in gradually and hinting at different ideas before coming to a culmination (the trial). The Withered Arm introduces the two main outsiders very quickly, as they play major roles in the development of the plot. The outsiders in To Kill a Mockingbird are still very important and play a key role in developing the plot, but are generally not seen as major roles. Conjuror Trendle is an outsider that can be, in some ways, compared to Tom Robinson. Both characters are isolated from society. Conjuror Trendle is isolated because of the superstitions surrounding witchcraft in the early 19th century, and also geographically she nearly got lost on the heath. Tom is isolated because of his colour, his disability, and the fact that he lives in the slums (black peoples housing of the period). Both characters are very helpful, and will do jobs for nothing. Higher-class members of society use them for their skills. This makes Trendle and Tom quite similar underneath, though not so upon the surface. Trendle can also be compared to Boo, because both are outsiders that shape the final outcomes of the storylines. Both outcomes relate strongly to the social and historical contexts of the plots, and both seem to have morals. In The Withered Arm I feel that one of the main morals is treat others as you would like to be treated because Rhoda is punished for her malicious intent with the unneeded death of her son. Gertrude is also punished for her wishing for a person to die Oh I hope not (for the hanging not to go ahead), even when she knows that the person is innocent, with her own death. In To Kill a Mockingbird I think that the main moral is, of course, Atticus philosophy, which is based on the idea of empathy. From this empathy, Scout learns to be honest, kind and unprejudiced to everyone she meets. Scout also learns how to be a lady, but this is more to do with Alexandra teaching her about etiquette rather than specific morals in the plot. Both texts use pathetic fallacy: weather was unusually warm and the wind howled dismally. However, Harper uses hot weather to show tension, whereas Hardy uses wind and wet weather. This shows the climate differences in the texts, but it also shows the different preferences in the authors styles of writing. Hardy shows an omniscient approach in the description. Because he is the narrator (no character is used), he knows everything that is going to happen in the plot. Harper uses a character to tell the story, which makes it harder to predict what is going to happen, but makes the reader feel more included in the action. The vocabulary used is also much easier to understand, which allows the text to be read by a much wider range of readers. One author is male and the other female, but both use females as the main characters we see things mainly from a female perspective. The hangman can be compared to Dolphus Raymond in some ways. Both characters live away from normal society, and both give normal people reasons for their seclusion: Raymond pretends to drink and the hangman is labeled as a hermit. Raymond is seen as a degrading person in Maycomb society, but Davies is admired. I think this is because of the way people enjoyed hang fair(s) during that period and is also shown through the admiration for the rope Tis sold by the inch. Both Miss Caroline and Aunt Alexandra are physical outsiders in To Kill a Mockingbird, but they are also quite different. Aunt Alexandra fits into Maycomb life very well for example, she is part of the Missionary Circle, whereas Miss Caroline doesnt find it so easy to fit in. I think this is because she is more ignorant of Maycombs traditions and ways than Alexandra she also appears less prejudiced to begin with, although this lessens as she settles into Maycomb life. Dill is also a physical outsider, but he is accepted because he is a child. Scout admires his intelligence he could read two books to my one and Jem sees him as a pocket Merlin, a source of entertainment and knowledge of other places. They also like his carefree attitude laugh my head off. Because Dill is not prejudiced, people are not prejudiced towards him. This seems to be true in Atticus as well in spite of Atticus shortcomings people were content to re-elect him. It seems that both Hardy and Harper base their books on childhood experiences, and use children to get their points across (Scout and Rhodas son). Both the main children in the texts have one-parent families, which was highly unusual in both periods the texts were set in. In The Withered Arm this helps to isolate Rhoda and in To Kill a Mockingbird it allows Alexandra to enter the text and gives Calpurnia a larger role as a mother figure in the plot. Outsiders are incredibly important in all aspects of these two texts they provide humour, add interest, convey emotions of the authors, highlight prejudice, create tension and, ultimately, provide the culminations of the plots. Outsiders such a Scout and Dill provide humour Scout by some of the things she says there wasnt much left for us to learn, except possibly algebra. This provides humour because algebra is insignificant when compared to the ordeals the children have been through and the life lessons they have learnt that they will take with them throughout their lives. It also emphasises how young Scout actually is. Dill provides humour through his carefree attitude Ill go and join the circus. He makes fun of the hypocrisy of the Maycomb citizens, which also adds humour because he is touching upon a taboo subject. Interest is added through outsiders such as Trendle and Boo. They also add tension, because of their mystery and rumours that surround them. The tension from Conjuror Trendle is implied to be much more serious than that of Boo, because witchcraft was truly feared by people during the 19th century. Boos rumours are unrealistic and dismissed by adults, but the childrens imaginations make this squirrel eating monster seem quite threatening. I think that when they are acting out the Boo Radley play, they are trying to think about Atticus philosophy but do not have the empathy to do this properly. Atticus makes them stop to show them that this is not the way to empathise, and through his careful teaching and love they learn how to understand true compassion and empathy. Scout is the main character that conveys the emotions of the author Harper uses Scout as a tool to put forward her own ideas. Atticus is also used in a similar way. I think that Rhoda and Gertrude put across (perhaps unintentionally) Hardys cynical views on love and beauty. Outsiders that highlight prejudice include Gertrude and Tom. Tom is used by Atticus to highlight prejudice during the trial, and Gertrude is judged by her physical appearance and well-being, rather than her personality. Boo and Gertrude provide the culminations of the storylines, coming in early on in the plots and ending the storylines too. This adds structure to the texts and also makes the reader feel satisfied once they have read the books, because characters that they know well and are present throughout the storylines with them, tie up loose ends and provide the final climax and conclusion.
Monday, October 21, 2019
Limitations of International law in protecting human rights essays
Limitations of International law in protecting human rights essays The term International Law refers to the principles and rules of conduct that nations regard as binding and, therefore, are expected to and usually do conform to, in their relations with one another and their conduct toward their own people. The chief rights recognized in international law correlate to human rights. Fundamental Human rights include: protection against slavery, the right to self-determination (determining your own fate), freedom from torture, freedom of thought, and the right to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise. Now many human rights are protected by international law, but the question of how effective it is, is itself questionable. While nations choose to participate in international law, it is extremely effective. However, the second when a nation feels it neednt adopt an international agreement, such as when Israel failed to ratify the U.N Convention for the Ban on Torture, then very little can be done. Even when a nation has signed an agreement (which she is under no obligation to do) there is virtually no way the international community can ensure that it abides by the agreement. An international judicial organ exists (International Court of Justice), but its powers are limited by the concept of state sovereignty. Which is to say a nation has the authority of being independent and in charge of the conditions in which it choose to live. In this case, the sovereign right not to part take in a court case which would potentially deem it guilty of refusing rights to its citizens, however, even then there is no way to force the verdict on the guilty party. In addition, the formal process for regular review of human rights in states is a self-reporting system in which the state in expected to disclose all abuses. However, as one can imagine no nation would want to incriminate themselves, and taint their image in the international community by doing so. Consequently, most abuses go unreported an ...
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Wildlife of the Great Lakes
Wildlife of the Great Lakes The Great Lakes are a chain of five large, freshwater lakes that are located in central North America, astride the border of Canada and the United States. The Great Lakes include Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, and Lake Superior and together formà the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth. They are contained within the Great Lakes watershed, a region whose waters discharge into the Saint Lawrence River and, ultimately, the Atlantic Ocean. The Great Lakes cover a total surface area of 95,000 square miles and hold about 5,500 cubic miles of water (approximately 20% of all the worlds fresh water and more than 80% of the fresh water of North America). There are more than 10,000 miles of shoreline that frame the Great Lakes and from west to east, the lakes span more than 750 miles. The Great Lakes formed during the Pleistocene Epoch as the result of the repeated glaciation of the region during the Ice Ages. Glaciers advanced and retreated time and again, gradually carving deep depressions in the Great Lakes River Basin. When the glaciers receded at the end of the last glacial period about 15,000 years ago, the Great Lakes filled with water left behind by the melting ice. The Great Lakes and their surrounding lands encompassà a wide variety of freshwater and terrestrial habitats including coniferous and hardwood forests, freshwater marshes, freshwater wetlands, dunes, grasslands, and prairies.à The Great Lakes region supports a diverse faunaà that includes numerous species of mammals, amphibians, birds, reptiles, and fishes. There are more than 250 species of fishes found in the Great Lakes including Atlantic salmon, bluegill, brook trout, Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, freshwater drum, lake sturgeon, lake trout, lake whitefish, northern pike, rock bass, walleye, white perch, yellow perch, and many others. Native mammals include the black bear, fox, elk, white-tailed deer, moose, beaver, river otter, coyote, gray wolf, Canada lynx, and many others. Bird species native to the Great Lakes include herring gulls, whooping cranes, snowy owls, wood ducks, great blue herons, bald eagles, piping plovers, and much more. The Great Lakes have suffered greatly the effects of introduced (non-native) species during the past two hundred years. Non-native animal species such as zebra mussels, quagga mussels, sea lampreys, alewives, Asian carps, and many others have greatly altered the Great Lakes ecosystem. The most recent non-native animal to have been recorded in the Great Lakes is the spiny water flea, a crustacean native to the seas of the Middle East that are now quickly populating Lake Ontario. Introduced species compete with native species for food and habitat and can also More than 180 non-native species have entered the Great Lakes since the latter part of the 19th century. Many of the introduced species have been transported into the Great Lakes in the ballast water of ships, but other species such as the Asian carp, have invaded the lakes by swimming through the man-made channels and locks that now connect the Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River. Key Characteristics The following are the key characteristics of the Great Lakes: the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earthaccount for 20% of all the worlds fresh wateraccount for more than 80% of the fresh water of North Americaintroduced species have greatly altered the Great Lakes ecosystemsupports more than 3,500 species of plants and animals Animals of the Great Lakes Some of the animals that inhabit the Great Lakes include: Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) - The lake whitefish is a species of freshwater fish that belongs to the salmon family. Lake whitefish are found in all of the Great Lakes and are a valuable commercial species. Lake whitefish feed on bottom-dwelling invertebrates such as snails, clams, and the aquatic larvae of insects.Walleye (Sander vitreous) - The walleye isà a large freshwater fish native to the Great Lakes as well as most parts of Canada and the northern United States. Walleye are much recognized as icons of the places they inhabit- they are the state fish of Minnesota and South Dakota and they are the official fish of Saskatchewan.Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) - The yellow perch is a species of perch whose range includes the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence River. Adult yellow perch feed on aquatic insect larvae, crustaceans, mysid shrimp, fish eggs, and small fish.Great blue heron (Ardea Herodias) - The great blue heron is a large wading bird common to freshwater wetland habitats throughout North American, including the Great Lakes. Great blue herons have a long, sharp bill that they use to capture a variety of small prey animals such as fish, crustaceans, insects, rodents, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) - The Canada lynx is a medium-sized cat that inhabits the forests throughout Canada and Alaska. In the Great Lakes region, Canada lynx occurs around Lake Superior and on the northern shores of Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay, a large bay of Lake Huron that lies in Ontario, Canada. Canada lynxes are secretive, nocturnal mammals that feed on snowshoe hares, rodents, and birds.Moose (Alces alces) - The moose is the largest living member of the deer family. Moose inhabit the forests that border the northern shores of the Great Lakes. Moose are herbivores that feed on a variety of herbaceous plants and grasses.Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) - The common snapping turtle is a widespread turtle that inhabits freshwater wetlands east of the Rocky Mountains, including the Great Lakes region. Snapping turtles have a reputation for being quite aggressive.American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeiana) - The American bullfrog is a large frog that occurs in wet lands in the Great Lakes region. American bullfrogs are predators that feed on small mammals, reptiles, and invertebrates. Sources Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. About Our Great Lakes. Published online at https://www.glerl.noaa.gov//pr/ourlakes/intro.htmlHarding JH. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region. University of Michigan Press; 1997. 400 p.Kurta, A. Mammals of the Great Lakes Region. Revised Edition. University of Michigan Press; 1995. 392 p.US Environmental Protection Agency. The Great Lakes: An Environmental Atlas and Resource Book. 2012. Published online at https://www.epa.gov/greatlakesUS Environmental Protection Agency. Great Lakes Invasive Species. Accessed November 22, 2013. Published online at https://www.epa.gov/greatlakes
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Territory and Ethnicity Affecting a City Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Territory and Ethnicity Affecting a City - Essay Example The notion of social justice in the matter of geography is closely linked with the concept of ethnicity. The problem is not in the equality of the various segments of the population, but an opportunity for self-realization and prospects at the same time as justice requires for universal rights in the questions of rights and obligations. Focusing on this issue D.Smith argued that justice requires certain equality in the distribution of resources. Thus, for example, rural schools and then people with such education face a number of barriers and stereotypes. The idea of a balance of equity and efficiency was also discussed by many types of research. In developed countries with strong social policies, aimed at supporting the poor, the share of which is always higher in the less developed areas, inter-regional income inequality is reduced. An example France, Sweden and other countries of continental Europe can be noted. However, in developed countries of the Anglo-Saxon world spatial mitigation of regional differences in income of the population does not occur, because the priority of the social cohesion in these countries is less important, and the extent of redistribution and social cohesion are not so great. The emphasis is on self-mobility of the population: people move from depressed areas where they would be able to find work and more opportunities to earn. Inequality in living standards and income of different regions appears due to economic skills of the population, natural features, and geographical position.
Friday, October 18, 2019
How Environmental Documentaries Have Developed from the Ethnographic Research Paper
How Environmental Documentaries Have Developed from the Ethnographic - Research Paper Example Hence, the documentary filmmaker's role has changed as well. He is not simply a storyteller with a camera any longer, but he can become an environmental activist himself. Director Louie Psihoyos is directly involved in the action in The Cove where filmmakers alongside environmental activists plant hidden cameras to reveal the dolphin slaughter committed by the fishermen. Not only does he direct his filmmaking crew, he also leads the group of activists and plays a crucial part in devising the plan how to expose crimes of animal cruelty. The general consensus amongst environmental filmmakers today seems to be that a film alone can't change anything, but the reactions and actions it provokes in an audience can bring upon real change. Captain Paul Watson, co-founder of Greenpeace, remarks in The Cove: ââ¬Å"You're either an activist or a non-activist. I decided to be an activist.â⬠The filmmakers' clear intent to motivate the audiences into direct action is summed up by one of the film's marketing punch-lines: ââ¬ËThe Secret Is Out. Spread the Wordââ¬â¢. Unlike feature films that make headlines for a few weeks while they are successful at the box office, documentaries like The Cove have an organic 'after-life' where audiences and fans are kept up to date online by the filmmakers about how the story is developing long after the initial release of the film. Most importantly, the world wide web and social networking media can play an active role in defining the outcome of the story by giving audiences a platform to take direct action. The Cove's website lists many options how one can directly support several organizations who are protecting dolphins in Japan by either donating money or by signing online petitions, joining... The general consensus amongst environmental filmmakers today seems to be that a film alone can't change anything, but the reactions and actions it provokes in an audience can bring upon real change. Captain Paul Watson, co-founder of Greenpeace, remarks in The Cove: ââ¬Å"You're either an activist or a non-activist. I decided to be an activist.â⬠The filmmakers' clear intent to motivate the audiences into direct action is summed up by one of the film's marketing punch-lines: ââ¬ËThe Secret Is Out. Spread the Wordââ¬â¢. Unlike feature films that make headlines for a few weeks while they are successful at the box office, documentaries like The Cove have an organic 'after-life' where audiences and fans are kept up to date online by the filmmakers about how the story is developing long after the initial release of the film. Most importantly, the world wide web and social networking media can play an active role in defining the outcome of the story by giving audiences a platfo rm to take direct action. The Cove's website lists many options how one can directly support several organizations who are protecting dolphins in Japan by either donating money or by signing online petitions, joining facebook groups or by pledging never to buy a ticket for a dolphin show. To sum up, environmental films of today are holistic experiences that give the audiences the opportunity to become interactive and play a crucial part in the overall cause.
Interpersonal communication research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Interpersonal communication - Research Paper Example ther itââ¬â¢s the process of thinking or indulging in a soliloquy interpersonal communication is the phenomenon wherein two or more individuals communicate, that is, share meaning either through their usage of words (verbal communication) or through the means of symbols or gestures (nonverbal communication). Therefore, study of the process of communication in general and interpersonal communication in particular can serve to build harmonious and mutually beneficial and empowering relationships which in turn can promote progress and prosperity for the entire world. This paper seeks to explore the phenomenon of interpersonal communication with specific reference to interpersonal communication competence. After delving into the concept of communication competence at large this paper will endeavor to look into the multifarious issues surrounding the phenomenon of interpersonal communication in the contemporary world. Basically, the communication is the process of transmitting or getting information, messages or any type of data. This quality facilitates humans to share attitudes, knowledge and skills. There are so many ways to conduct the communication. For instance, verbal communication in which people make use of words to communicate their ideas and viewpoints. In the same way, in non-verbal communication people use body language to transfer their ideas and messages. For instance, a person can wave their hand in the air in order to say hello to a person. In fact, there are also a large number of methods that are used to communicate ideas and messages. However, the basic objective of communication is to convey ideas and messages from one place to another. Communication is the most significant attribute of an organization. No company or business can be run without communication. In an organization, people work to accomplish the particular goals and objectives. In order to accomplish the organiza tional objectives, the people working in the organization need to share
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Essay-developmental experiences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
-developmental experiences - Essay Example Vygotsky focuses on development across the entire life span rather than development in stages and emphasizes the importance of the social environment within which a person grows as being a factor in development. He believed that the mental development of a human being is in a constantly evolving stage and culture is the primary factor that determines how an individual will develop.(Hahn, No Date). Therefore his theory ascribes a great deal of importance to the support systems that are established for a child to grow and develop; family and society are very important in contributing to the development of the individual. According to Vygotsky, ââ¬Å"Every function in the childââ¬â¢s cultural development appears twice: first, between people (interpsychological) and then inside the child (intrapsychological). This applies equally to voluntary attention, to logical memory and to the formulation of ideas. All the higher functions originate as actual relationships between individuals.â⬠(Vygotsky 1978:57) This highlights the importance that Vygotsky placed upon social interactions and relationships as a factor in both child and adult development. The kind of development that a child will have and the ability that will exist to function effectively as an adult. This is particularly applicable in my life because the person I have become is a reflection of many of the experiences I have had in early adulthood, which have shaped events as they stand now. I had a child at seventeen, was married and then divorced at eighteen. My relationship with my short term husband was a rocky one where there is a constant source of conflict that is generated between us almost all the time. My life remained traumatic after my divorce and was symbolized by constant changes and challenges. I moved into four different houses within the short space of two years, worked at a lot of jobs and had several different relationships during which I fell
Is celebrity culture part of a social hierarchy Refer to at least two Essay
Is celebrity culture part of a social hierarchy Refer to at least two academic sources in your answer and provide examples - Essay Example While political leaders and aristocracy still hold high importance and are themselves now celebrities, being a celebrity no longer requires political attachment. Television and film have become vehicles for celebrity, created through popularizing the image of actors and putting their personal lives in view of the public. In the more recent period of time where new media has become a concept from which public attention is developed, anyone with the proper equipment can find a way in which to gain the notice of the public, creating a sensation that provides instant, if often short-lived, celebrity. While gaining celebrity requires the smallest reason in order to gain the publicââ¬â¢s attention, status within the category of celebrity has an informal, but crucial range of importance. Rolph and Kirby define the term celebrity through earlier English terminology in contrast to contemporary usage. Earlier terminology refers to giving honour and dignity upon someone who had earned this s tatus. The current usage refers only to someone who has gained attention, the concept of honour and dignity far removed from the culture of celebrity. In reference to the more contemporary usage, Rolph and Kirby state that a celebrity is someone who has ââ¬Å"the condition of being much extolled or talked aboutâ⬠(Rolph and Kirby, 172). ... They argue that while some scholars consider the concept of ââ¬â¢celebrityââ¬â¢ to have been in existence throughout history, going back as far as Alexander the Great in order to define those who have had celebrity status. Other scholars suggest that celebrity is primarily a social construct that came into existence with the equalization of the common man through the ââ¬Å"democratization of reputationâ⬠(Rolph and Kirby, 174). They further the argument of the contemporary nature of celebrity by suggesting that it is more defined by the late twentieth century as it has been ââ¬Å"premised on the economic conditions of capitalismâ⬠as reputation has become commoditized (Rolph and Kirby, 174). Celebrity has been developed through the need to create attention for individuals who then capitalize on that attention in order to earn money. However, it must be noted that often it is the managers and owners of the medium through which the celebrity works who promote the sens ationalized popularity of the individual on whom the celebrity is centred. Social hierarchy has existed throughout history, different sets of people being divided by sometimes arbitrary definitions from which status is gained or lost. According to Sidanius and Pratto, social hierarchy that is defined by gender and age are universal across cultures. However, groups that have been created in response to the development of the culture have more arbitrary definitions for how social hierarchy is defined. The creation of arbitrary sets of social groups, like that of celebrity, is usually caused by the increase economic surplus as it is sustained within a culture (Sidanius and Pratto, 299). In other words, as disposable income rises and survival is less relevant in priority,
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Essay-developmental experiences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
-developmental experiences - Essay Example Vygotsky focuses on development across the entire life span rather than development in stages and emphasizes the importance of the social environment within which a person grows as being a factor in development. He believed that the mental development of a human being is in a constantly evolving stage and culture is the primary factor that determines how an individual will develop.(Hahn, No Date). Therefore his theory ascribes a great deal of importance to the support systems that are established for a child to grow and develop; family and society are very important in contributing to the development of the individual. According to Vygotsky, ââ¬Å"Every function in the childââ¬â¢s cultural development appears twice: first, between people (interpsychological) and then inside the child (intrapsychological). This applies equally to voluntary attention, to logical memory and to the formulation of ideas. All the higher functions originate as actual relationships between individuals.â⬠(Vygotsky 1978:57) This highlights the importance that Vygotsky placed upon social interactions and relationships as a factor in both child and adult development. The kind of development that a child will have and the ability that will exist to function effectively as an adult. This is particularly applicable in my life because the person I have become is a reflection of many of the experiences I have had in early adulthood, which have shaped events as they stand now. I had a child at seventeen, was married and then divorced at eighteen. My relationship with my short term husband was a rocky one where there is a constant source of conflict that is generated between us almost all the time. My life remained traumatic after my divorce and was symbolized by constant changes and challenges. I moved into four different houses within the short space of two years, worked at a lot of jobs and had several different relationships during which I fell
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Time Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Time Management - Research Paper Example I ensure that what I am doing is done to a high standard and therefore many details have to be approved by myself. Having acknowledged this challenge, I have decided not to emphasize so much on the finer details though not encouraging mediocrity. Delegation of duties will also assist me improve in this area since I do not have to go through all my tasks especially on my personal life. I will need to get a trustworthy person who I can delegate to some of my duties that do not require my immediate attention. This will enable me to focus on more tasks that require my full attention. This will also help me in both school and career since I will have plenty of time to focus on more, salient school and career issues. Since time is of the essence, delegation will avail more time for me to concentrate on more urgent matters. Part of this time can be used for my online studies and career development, which is truly paramount (Harris, 2008). After completing the Flash Activity, some of the unanticipated events and obligations that will occur in my life include emergencies, which could arise due to unavoidable circumstances. Some of these emergencies include falling sick unexpectedly, additional work either in school or at work, a pressing family emergency and an external factor that I would not have control. The only way I can plan for these events are by being flexible and to be adequately prepared for them in advance. This will enable me to handle the emergencies with ease since am prepared and flexible. I will also set an emergency fund to cater for any financial obligation that may arise from these events (Mancini, 2007). Using Prime Times, the strategy I would use for planning, managing time, and studying effectively will be the SMART strategy. The SMART strategy states that my time management goals should be set in line with the strategy. This means that my goals
Monday, October 14, 2019
The Impact of Advertising on Women Essay Example for Free
The Impact of Advertising on Women Essay Everyday of our lives, we are exposed to dozens of advertisements, whether it be on television, the radio, in magazines, on billboards or signs, or anywhere else that companies try to reach us in an effort to promote the products they sell. Advertisers appeal to our hopes, dreams, wants and desires, and exploit our insecurities in an effort to sell us a product, ranging from cars, to household appliances, to a bottle of shampoo. Advertising affects everyone, whether they acknowledge it or not, and it often promotes something that is out of reach to the average person, such as great wealth, or a perfect body. Advertising often carries an overload or excess of meaning, such as statements of power, wealth, leisure, and sexual allure, and they also convey meanings of race and gender. (ââ¬Å"Introduction: Media Studiesâ⬠) As this paper will demonstrate, advertising is an extremely powerful tool which has the ability to change the way we perceive ourselves. Of particular interest is the effect that advertising has on women. Women are continually bombarded by advertisements in which they are told, directly or indirectly, that they must be thin in order to be beautiful, and they are marketed products that they are led to believe will help them achieve their desired body image of being thin. Women become convinced that they must look like sexy all the time, when in reality, it is almost impossible. Women often begin dieting in order to attain the perfect body that they are striving for, and they occasionally undertake more extreme measures to lose weight, such as bulimia or anorexia, all because they are led to believe, by advertising, that they must have a perfect body. Women are also sexually objectified in advertising, and viewed as merely sexual objects. This paper will explore in depth how women are portrayed in advertising and, more importantly, the impact which it has on them. In western culture, a slender physique has come to be regarded as the standard of feminine beauty; although it is an unrealistic benchmark for nearly all women. The average woman has a seven percent chance that she will be as slim as a catwalk model, and an even lesser chance that she will be as thin as a supermodel. (Konrad, 2008) A 2000 study found that the body fat of models and actresses is, on average, 10 percent less than that of a typical active, healthy woman. (ââ¬Å"Behind the Hype: Doveââ¬â¢s Real Beauty Campaignâ⬠) The models that companies use in advertising are also getting thinner relative to the average population. Twenty years ago, models weighed 8 percent less than the average woman. Today, they weigh 23% less than the average female population. (ââ¬Å"Beauty and Body Image in the Mediaâ⬠) However, these truths do not stop women from trying to attain the perfection they see in every day advertisements. Since advertising continually implies that women should be slender, those who do not have this particular body type often suffer from low self esteem and hold a negative self image of their body. After a study in which women viewed sexual and non-sexual ads, the women who viewed the sexual ads rated themselves as being larger, on average, than the women who viewed the non-sexual ads, and women who viewed the sexual ads also expressed greater dissatisfaction over their current physique than the women who watched the non-sexual ads. (Tygart) George Lipsitz has argued that consumer culture and media representations play a greater role than ever in defining identities. (ââ¬Å"Just Do Itâ⬠) When women see thinness represented in advertising, they would like to look like the models they see and have that same identity that is being shown to them. In addition to women feeling pressure to conform to the desired body type due to their constant exposure to it in advertising, they also are under pressure to attain the perfect body because they believe it is what men feel they must look like. According to a study published in American Behavioural Scientist (Choi et al. , 2008), women are able to realize that the images of supermodels that they see in advertisements are unrealistic and they recognize that they will not be able to attain the body of a supermodel. However, these same women feel that men who view these advertisements will not be able to ascertain the fact that the body types shown are unrealistic. Since women feel that men cannot discern the unrealistic nature of the female body that is presented in advertisements, they feel that men will expect them to meet the standards of beauty portrayed in these ads. Consequently, this leads women to desire to look like the models they see in advertisements, not necessarily because they want to, but because they believe that men view it as realistic and attainable. As stated by Choi, et al. (2008), ââ¬Å"Women are influenced by unrealistic media imagery because they are well aware that men will view those images as real, and value them. â⬠It is argued that, although women know the images shown to them in advertising are unrealistic, they are unable to ignore them, because of the threat of men judging their bodies. Since advertising has the effect of making women desire a thin, slender body that is almost impossible to attain, they frequently make radical efforts in an attempt to get it. An astonishing 75 percent of women who are a normal weight feel that they are in fact overweight. The Anorexia Nervosa Related Eating Disorders research group states that one in four college aged women undertakes unhealthy methods of weight control, ranging from skipping meals and laxative abuse, to self induced vomiting. (ââ¬Å"Beauty and Body Image in the Mediaâ⬠) It has also been estimated that magazines directed to a female audience contain over ten times as many advertisements promoting weight loss than menââ¬â¢s magazines do, advocating a variety of solutions, from diet pills to cosmetic surgery. Researchers have shown that this advertising has led to an increase in eating disorders. (Choi, et al. , 2008) Teenage girls who already claimed to be dissatisfied with their body image showed a higher tendency towards dieting and bulimic behaviours after prolonged exposure to advertisements in a teen girl magazine. (ââ¬Å"Eating Disorders: Body Image and Advertisingâ⬠) Self-image is often affected in teenage girls because they cannot escape the message that their bodies are imperfect. ââ¬Å"A Girl of Many Partsâ⬠) Many researchers believe that advertisers want women to feel insecure and disappointed with their body shape, since this will create the desire for an unattainable body that will increase the consumption of products that companies are trying to sell, such as skin care creams, weight loss supplements, and others. Paul Hamburg, a professor at Harvard Medical School, states: ââ¬Å"The media markets desire. And by reproducing ideals that are absurdly out of line w ith what real bodies do look like, the media perpetuates a market for frustration and disappointment. Its customers will never disappear. â⬠(ââ¬Å"Eating Disorders: Body Image and Advertisingâ⬠) In terms of sexual objectification, women agreed that they were sexually objectified in advertising, however, contrary to popular belief, younger women appear to no longer have an issue with it. The ââ¬Å"third waveâ⬠of feminism today embraces sexuality, and views sex as power. (Dahlberg Zimmerman, 2008) Many feminists now believe it is acceptable for women to use their glamour to their advantage, as long as they are doing it out of their own free will. According to a recent study, young, educated women are not offended by the sexual objectification of women in advertising, which may be a product of the highly sexualized culture we live in today. (Dahlberg Zimmerman, 2008) Although women are deeply affected by how models appear in advertisements, by their desire to want to look like them, the women of today no longer appear to be affected by the sexuality in advertising, and in many cases, they are embracing it. To conclude the efforts, if any, which are being made to change the portrayal of women in advertising should be examined. Although advertising on the whole is still relatively unchanged with respect to its portrayal of women, some companies have altered the message they send about beauty and changed their advertising to reflect this change. An example is Dove, and its Real Beauty advertising campaign. Dove launched the Real Beauty campaign in response to a study it undertook among females aged 18 to 64, the majority of whom felt that advertising set an unrealistic standard of beauty for women that is nearly impossible to achieve. ââ¬Å"Behind the Hype: Doveââ¬â¢s Real Beauty Campaignâ⬠) The ads featured the use of everyday women instead of professional models, and images that were not airbrushed in any way. The campaign has been well-received and led to an 11. 4% increase in Doveââ¬â¢s sales in early 2005, although, some critics stated that the campaign promotes obesity in a time when many Americans are struggling with weight issues. Since Dove introduced the ââ¬Å"Real Beautyâ⬠advert ising campaign, both Nike and Leviââ¬â¢s released similar campaigns, featuring everyday people as opposed to models. ââ¬Å"Behind the Hype: Doveââ¬â¢s Real Beauty Campaignâ⬠) It remains to be seen whether this trend will continue into the future, but at the very least it demonstrates that companies are beginning to provide an alternative to the advertising they had used in the past. In summation, advertising plays a considerable role in how women regard themselves and in their perceptions of how they should look. Advertisers use models with a physique that all but the few, most genetically gifted women could ever attain. As previously stated, he average model has a body fat percentage which is 10 percent less than that of a typical healthy, active woman, and supermodels, on average, weigh 23 percent less than the average woman. After viewing advertisements featuring supermodels, women often feel worse about themselves and begin to suffer from poor self-image and low self-esteem. Even a small amount of exposure to advertising has been demonstrated to make this occur; although women are exposed to hundreds of advertisements on a weekly basis. However, women no longer appear to be affected by the sexual objectification they see in advertising, which has been attributed to the third wave of feminism and the sexually charged culture that we live in. Women also feel pressure to look like a supermodel because, although, they often realize that what is advertised to them is not realistic, they believe that men do not realize this and want regular women to look like the models they see in advertisements. This leads women to seek out that body type, since they feel that men expect it from them. Women undertake everything from common methods of weight loss such as dieting to extreme measures such as anorexia to achieve the body that advertisers tell them they must have. The dissatisfaction they have with their bodies leads them to consume the products that advertisers are marketing to them. One company, Dove has taken a major step forward in its advertising, by using everyday people who have a normal body type in its ââ¬Å"Real Beautyâ⬠campaign, and other companies have followed suit with similar advertising, but the majority of advertising still promotes an unrealistic body type as being ideal and desired. Until this changes, women will continue to hold on to the desire to look like a supermodel, however unrealistic that may be, they will continue to go to great distances to turn that farfetched dream into a reality.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)