Poets present a culture Essay

Many poets present their own cultures in many different ways. â€Å"Search for my tongue† by Sujata Bhatt is about an Indian woman who moved to the United States. She feels out of place, and the poet explains what it is like to speak and think in two languages. We see that she wonders whether she might lose the language she began with, fearing that she is not herself. We also find out that her mother tongue remains with her in her dreams, but sometimes fails to come to surface. However, by the end, she is confident that it will always be part of who she is. â€Å"Presents from My Aunt in Pakistan† is about a girl who was born in Pakistan. She came to England when she was young. When she gets older she received gifts from her aunts in Pakistan. She gets various traditional Pakistani clothes. Whenever she thought about her nationality she did not feel whole.   he poem was written to show how the girl felt when her friends saw her clothes. The poem is written in free verse: the phrases are arranged loosely across the page. It is divided into stanzas of varying length. This poem has many small details which are spotted by the reader. These details give an insight to their lives as children, whether the memories are good or bad, it is these memories that make them who they are.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Small tin boats†Ã‚  The main difference the poet uses is the comparison of eastern and western life. The main thing that the poet used is clothing. The monologue spoken by the girl shows how she respects her eastern culture, yet longs for western lifestyles. The main reason she would not like to wear her eastern clothes seems to be that is it impractical. In Pakistan, the more intricate and detailed the clothes, the more fashionable; however that is not always the case in all western places.  As both of these poems are written as monologues, they both use enjambment, this gives a sense of speed or urgency. It also personalises the poem as if someone was speaking it. â€Å"Search for my tongue† is written in 3 stanzas the second of which is written in Gujarati.

Dead Stars Essay

Paz Mà ¡rquez-Benà ­tez (1894-1983) Paz Marquez-Benitez, a Filipina writer born in 1894 in Lucena City, Quezon, authored the first Filipino modern English-language short story, Dead Stars, published in the Philippine Herald in 1925. Born into the prominent and affluent Marquez family of Quezon province, she was among the first generation of Filipinos trained in the American education system which used English as the medium of instruction. She graduated high school in Tayabas High Schooland college from the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912. She was a member of the first freshman class of the University of the Philippines, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912. Two years after graduation, she married Francisco Benitez, with whom she had four children. Mà ¡rquez-Benà ­tez later became a teacher at the University of the Philippines, who taught short-story writing and had become an influential figure to many Filipino writers in the English language. The annually held Paz Marquez-Benitez Lectures in the Philippines honors her memory by focusing on the contribution of Filipino women writers to Philippine Literature in the English language. Though she only had one more published short story after ―Dead Starsâ€â€" this of which is entitled ―A Night In The Hills,â€â€" nevertheless, she made her mark in Philippine literature because her work is considered the first modern Philippine short story. For Marquez-Benitez, writing was a life-long occupation. In 1919, she founded ―Woman’s Home Journalâ€â€", the first women’s magazine in the country. ―Filipino Love Storiesâ€â€", reportedly the first anthology of Philippine stories in English by Filipinos, was compiled in 1928 by Marquez-Benitez from the works of her students. When her husband died in 1951, she took over as editor of the Philippine Journal of Education at UP. She held the editorial post for over two decades. ―Dead Starsâ€â€" is the 1925 short story that gave birth to modern Philippine writing in English. TRIVIA: Dead Stars had been praised as ―a model of perfection in character delineation, local color, plot, and message.â€â€" ILLUMINATIONS ON THE THEME EXTRACTED Since the author’s life and experiences is not significant to the content of the short story, MoralPhilosophical as a literary lens was applied. This is an approach that puts literature as one that teaches morality and explores philosophical issues. By looking and analyzing Benitez’ ―Dead Starsâ€â€" the short story reflects the time in which the literary work was written along with the language, the norms and the way people think. It serves as a literary time machine for readers as it enables them to understand how courtship, marriage and fidelity were viewed through the early 1900 standards. It renders a sound comparison between the past and the present, the existing modern culture and the fading, almost obsolete tradition. I could say that the philosophical principle of the story is love. This is further compared to the concepts and dialogues of the characters in the story like the concept of engagement and marriage, the dialogue of Esperanza which is ―I am not blind, or deaf; I see and hear what perhaps some are trying to keep from meâ€â€" and also ―If you are tires of – why don’t you tell me you are tired of meâ€â€", the words of Alfredo to Julia which are ―I could study you all my life.â€â€" and ―Nothing? There is you.â€â€" and the concept in which Alfredo had been seeing light of the dead stars and the immense sadness that invaded his spirit. These concepts and words from the characters of the story bring the force this unifying thread: Love is like a puzzle, it is confusing and mind blowing for it can be gained and it can also be lost in a snap of a finger. PART TWO: MY TEXT-DEPENDENT INTERPRETATION In Light of Modernist Vistas: Formalism (Elemental Exploration) and Structuralism (Binary Opposition and Signification) EXEGESIS ―Was he being cheated by life? Love—he seemed to have missed it! Or was the love that others told about a mere fabrication of fervid imagination, and exaggeration of the commonplace, a glorification of insipid monotonies such as made up his love life? Was love a combination of circumstances, or sheer native capacity of soul? In those days love was, for  him, still the eternal puzzle; for love as he knew it, was a stranger to love as he divined it might be.â€â€" –Alfredo Julia is quite different from Esperanza—―a girl striking and vividly alive, the woman that could cause violent commotion in his heart, yet had no place in the completed ordering of his life.† The rare-turnedregular neighboring trips lead Alfredo to deep conversations with Julia and hence, develop an admiration for the woman. Sometimes, he would forget he is engaged, continuing his meetings with Julia while thinking that Esperanza ―was not prone to indulge in unprovoked jealousies†¦ (for) she was a believer in the regenerative virtue of institutions, in their power to regulate feeling as well as conductâ€â€". Unfortunately, he also forgets the fact that Esperanza is a woman and, being so is already a risk factor for jealousies, provoked or otherwise. ―I do not understand you at all! I think I know why you have been indifferent to me lately. I am not blind, or deaf. I see perhaps some are trying to keep you away from me†¦ Whatever my shortcomings, and no doubt they are many in your eyes, I have never gone out of my way, out of my place to find a man.â€â€" – Esperanza Julia is in love with Alfredo. That much is pretty obvious in the story, especially after learning belatedly that Alfredo is engaged. An unconscious believer himself in the regenerative virtue of institutions, Alfredo still marries Esperanza. Over the years, he becomes an impassive husband. I feel sad for both of them but must I say they brought it upon themselves? Alfredo, for one, does not really know what he wants and so he lives his life as it comes. He was not unhappy in his marriage. He felt no rebellion: only the calm of capitulation to what he recognized as irresistible forces of circumstance and of character†¦ From his capacity of complete detachment he derived a strange solace†¦ At such times did Esperanza feel baffled and hopeless; he was gentle, even tender, but immeasurably far away, beyond reach. –Alfredo Eight years later, he still could not forget Julia. So while on business, he makes a side trip to Julia’s hometown to check if he had meant anything to her and her to him. Julia has not married. This implies many things—one of which could be that she is still in love with Alfredo but chooses not to fight for that love because she was taught that the act of giving through self-denial is a good thing and so she turned from a spirited young woman into a boring one living a boring life after she  lost Alfredo to propriety and social order. What did Alfredo fi nd during his meeting with Julia after his marriage? Dead stars So that was all over. Why, why hade he obstinately clung to that dream from the weariness of actuality? And now, mere actuality had robbed him of the dream. So all these years—since when?—he had been seeing the light of dead stars, long extinguished, yet seemingly still in their appointed places in the heavens. -Alfredo Alfredo has been clinging onto something that is unattainable because he is bored with the predictability of his life. Julia was a like a star, brimming his dull life with light and excitement for a short time. Because of the choices they made, Julia and Alfredo (and even Esperanza) become dead stars. ILLUMINATIONS ON THE THEME EXTRACTED It is in this section of the paper where Formalism as a literary lens was used. This is the key to grasp the meaning of the text exists within the text itself. It involves elemental exploration of the literary piece via explication and exegesis. If one will look and interpret the story, Dead Stars is a love story written in prose with a heart-warming message. It is told from the perspective of Alfredo Salazar who is in personal conflict with his feelings towards two women—Esperanza, his fiancà ©e of four years, and Julia Salas whom he met while ―neighboringâ€â€". Esperanza is the embodiment of the ideal wife to the ideal man, and so they make an ideal couple in the eyes of society. Alfredo has pursued her at the start of their relationship with intense courtship, but later on, the feeling seems to subside. These interpretations of the poem based on the views of the author bring to the force unifying thread: Our decisions or choices in life can make us dead stars – we are living in our delegated places in the society but not actually glimmering, not actually living our lives. STRUCTURALISM ―Dead Starsâ€â€" BINARY OPPOSITION SIGNIFICATION NEED WANT Love a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. Marriage a legally, religiously, or sociall y sanctioned union of persons who commit to one another Detachment freedom from selfinterest or bias; disinter estof it. ILLUMINATIONS ON THE THEME EXTRACTED It is in this part of the paper where STRUCTURALISM as a literary lens was employed. This is an approach which asserts that literature is a text. A particular structure of language produces reality. This further includes literary interpretation via binary opposition (concepts in opposition) and signification (signifier and signified). Through simply looking into and interpreting the lines of the short story ―Dead Starsâ€â€", we could say that the two opposing concepts are NEED and WANT which we could say that these two entities are powerful and supreme. These interpretations of the poem say that: For the sake of reputation, a man will do the things he ought to do even though he does not wholeheartedly like what he need to do thus he is not living and building a life rather he is just living to survive.

Beyond Petroleum focuses on sustainability Essay

1) Based on the history of the company, why did BP get involved in so much questionable conduct? The reason why BP got involved in so much questionable conducts is because at first they didn’t want to spend the money on fixing the stuff. They have been ignoring all these red flags and at the end they ended up spending much money. They could of saved a lot of money if they had fixed the problem before the incident occurred. The reason why they ended having so much trouble is because they didn’t take care of their stakeholders. Their major concern in those types of business should be the safety of their employees. We all know that those places aren’t the safest place in the world, which is why BP has to make sure to keep their workers in a safe environment. 2) Analyze BP’s efforts to improve sustainability. Do you think they are sufficient, or does the company need to do more? At first I didn’t think that BP’s has been to sustainable. If you look at their history they have been going up and down pretty quit often which isn’t a good example of sustainability. If they didn’t have all these problems in the past we could say that they are sustainable but with all the incident that occurred in the past few years it is going to be hard to defend them on that side. Lately they have been investing a lot of their investments green wise in order to improve their image. They have been contributing a lot in the wind farms, the solar system and in the Biofuel. Which is really good for the company, their stakeholders and for the world in general. The more companies start going green wise the less we will destroy our planet. 3) Do you believe the BP code of conduct and ethics initiatives will prevent future misconduct? I think that BP’s has been trying a lot of things in the past few years to show the good example. Maybe they have done a lot of mistakes in the past, but we can’t always think negative. They code of conduct could only bring good things within the company. The fact that they make a universal code of conduct through out all their enterprise in the world was a huge step for them. They are trying their best to prove to the world that they aren’t that bad, and that even oil companies who tempts to destroy our planet with their gasoline can try to save some parts of their mistakes.

Articles annotations Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Articles annotations - Article Example After expounding on the broadening of TESOL’s story, in conclusion, the author disclosed that the future embraces an international family that respects mutual questioning, active negotiation, and radical integration (Canagarajah, 2006, p. 29). Annotation 2 Chang, L. (2010). Group Processes and EFL Learners’ Motivation: A Study of Group Dynamics in EFL Classrooms. TESOL Quarterly, Vol. 44, No. 1, 129-155. The author clearly indicated that the aim of the study was to examine the impact of group processes, including norms and cohesiveness of the groups, as influencing EFL learners’ motivation. A review of related literature was initially presented to expound on issues concerning group processes, group cohesiveness, group norms, L2 motivation (self-efficacy and learner autonomy. The actual research indicated that participants were 152 students of a Taiwan university where questionnaires and subsequent interviews had been administered. The results indicate that class grouping significantly affects second language learning motivation. The authors emphasized that future research needs to consider undetected factors that influence the relationship between group processes and language learning. Annotation 3 Chen, J., Warden, C., & Chang, H. (2005). Motivators That Do Not Motivate: The Case of Chinese EFL Learners and the Influence of Culture on Motivation. TESOL Quarterly, Vol. 39, No. 4, 609-633. The authors determined the effect of culture on motivation by conducting a study participated by 567 language learners in Taiwan. A survey was implemented focusing on topics such as motivation orientation, expectancy, and self-evaluated skill (Chen, Warden, & Chang, 2005, p. 609). By initially exploring various reviews of literature on motivation within the EFL setting, their study was developed to tailor to the Chinese EFL learners where the results found that integration was not a significant factor in the motivational learning effort (Chen, Warden, & Ch ang, 2005, p. 631). Limitations of the research were noted in terms of using two comparative cultural orientations: the West as contrasted with Chinese culture and thereby provides opportunities for future research within a more wider and diverse global cultural perspective. Annotation 4 Gatbonton, E., Trofimovich, P., & Magid, M. (2005). Learners' Ethnic Group Affiliation and L2 Pronunciation Accuracy: A Sociolinguistic Investigation. TESOL Quarterly, Vol. 39, No. 3; 489-511. The authors aimed to determine the relationship between ethnic group affiliation and second- language (L2) pronunciation accuracy defined here as native-like, nonaccented L2 speech or L2 speech that contains no first language (Li) influences (Gatbonton, Trofimovich, & Magid, 2005, p. 489). Two study questions were identified, to wit: (a) Is there a relationship between learners' L2 accent and ethnic group affiliation as perceived by fellow learners? (b) If such a relationship exists, what are its behavioural c onsequences? The participants of the study included 24 Francophone learners of English from Montrea where research methods used stimulus tapes and questionnaires. The results of the study revealed that L2 learners treated their peers' L2 accent as an

Grandparents Raising their Grandchildren Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Grandparents Raising their Grandchildren - Essay Example This paper discusses the difficulties, benefits, causes and other such factor related to the topic of grandparents acting as parent to their grandchildren. Grandparents who raise their grandchildren have become prevalent as an alternative family.(Bert, 2005) It is reported that 5.7 million children are living with their grandparents out of which 3.7 million live in grandparents household. Various factsheets reveal that there thousands of grandparents in United States taking care of their grandchildren due to numerous reasons. It is not an easy task to identify the exact number of grandparents raising their grandchildren without a parent due to informal relationships. With rising divorces, death of parents, disability, inability to care for their children, have increased the number of grandchildren being raised by grandparents. Kleiner et. al (1998) has classified grandparents into three sub groups as custodial grandparents, caregivers and day care parents. Casper & Bryson (1998) Custodial grand parenting is growing trend in American society with some 5.5 million grandparents have reported to be housing their own grandchildren in the year 1997. (Bert, 2005) It is also reported that the ages of most of the grandparents are between 55 and 64 years and 20% are over 65 years. Caregiver is explained as 'living with' grandparents who provide daily care but do not have legal custody. In such cases, grandparents focus on providing the child with economically and emotionally stable environment. The another classification 'day care' grandparents focus on helping the child's parent and function closest to societal function of grandparent. Causes for Grandparents Acting as Grandparents According to American Community Survey, 6.1 million grandparents are engaged in parenting activity in respect to their grandchild. 8% of grandchildren lived with their grandparent in the year 2006 in United States. (US Census Bureau, 2006) Grandparent after retiring from parenting activities after their child has settled well, if resumes the parenting job again, it needs a lot of careful thinking on the topic. Grandparents usually accept the task out of natural love and affection towards their grandchildren and would not accept the role of stranger in raising their grandchildren. (www.cornellcares.org) Most of the causes would revolve around the normal parents. Most of the statistics reveal that drug or alcohol abuse among natural parents is the main cause for inviting grandparent to step in and take over the responsibility of raising their grandchildren. It has been reported that in 1998 nearly 44% of youngsters were living with their grandparents because of their parents' substance abuse. And interestingly 28% were victims of child abuse, neglect or improper attention and 11% because of death of their any one or both of the parents. (www.egyptianaaa.org) Various reasons include ill health of their parents, or inability of parents to take the responsibility of their child, divorce, unexpected pregnancy of teen or adult child, etc. The reasons why the grandparents are acting as parents may vary on various factors. Difficulties of Grandparents to raise their child Many researches have been

Accounting Internship Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Accounting Internship Report - Essay Example To be the best accountant, one has to be acquainted with all every accounting detail in the organization in question because a single mistake could be detrimental for the whole organization in general. That is why I aimed at practicing all the accounting theory I had been taught in school to ensure that I put it to practice. The company would be appropriate in meeting my career objectives since it has a very elaborate finance department, which is very important for the well-being of the entire organization in general. The finance department works in collaborations with other departments to ensure that financial details of the organization are in order. Considering the large number of departments present in the organization, I felt that this organization would equip me with the exposure I needed to achieve my career goals. Kuwait Wind General Trading and Contracting Company are seen as an innovative and young company located in Kuwait. It is aimed at developing various business concepts in Kuwait. The company deals with various sectors in Kuwait and UAE. Some of the sectors involved include electronic games, various coffee shops, distribution of cosmetics, restaurants, and real estate. The company prioritizes its business concepts by ensuring that it develops new ideas that compete with their imagination and creativity. Their main principles entail provision of various solid services, which are customer oriented and produces rapid results. They aim at ensuring that their services are available to all their targeted customers at the highest quality possible to be in a position to meet the requirements of their customers. Cafà © les Amis which is a brand coffee shop that Kuwait Wind Company began about five years ago. It is a local shop that deals with coffee but has a French concept. So far, the coffee shop has three branches one at the airport, the second one in the discovery mall and the last one in the lobby of Mazaya tower in

Mangment 3000 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mangment 3000 - Research Paper Example What is even more interesting is the fact that EI has received its due place within different literature subjects and also been termed as an applicable entity in a number of domains and applications (Sala 2006). The first usage of the term EI is accredited on the shoulders of Wayne Payne as he brought the philosophy of emotional intelligence in front of everyone through his doctoral thesis. Indeed this formed the basis for eventual growth and development within this very field and thus many researchers and theorists started to work individually to find out more and more about the manner in which emotions brought about a significant change within people’s personalities. I have supported the basis of EI because it has been based on the earliest works of Darwin and hence there is solid evidence available which manifests its genuineness. The emotional intelligence domains suggest the emotional expression which are required for an individual’s survival and his adaptation with the environment of which he is a part. The non-cognitive concepts have been given significance with the passage of time under the aegis of EI and this is indeed a very important basis for comprehending where the success domains have cropped up from in the recent times. The three main models of EI include the ability EI models, the mixed models and lastly the trait EI models. The ability-based model is used to decipher the ability to consume the emotional basis as well as mix together the emotional side with the thought process, which in return makes the whole domain of emotions understandable and helps in growth and development of an individual over a period of time (Nelson 2007). The mixed models of EI take care of the emotional competencies (Goleman) model and the bar-on model of emotional-social intelligence (ESI). Similarly, the trait EI model is a combination of emotions which are boxed within self perceptions; however the same are situated within

Medical Ethics and Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Medical Ethics and Law - Essay Example The courts consider the best interests of the patients, and this situation can be seen in cases where the interests of the mother and her unborn child are involved. In the Re A case, the court opposed the wishes of the parents and held that a surgical operation was to be performed, so as to separate the conjoined twins1.The English courts have made it very clear that every individual is at liberty, under the common law, to accept or reject any kind of medical intervention, including surgery. Medical practitioners are required by law, to comply with the ethics of the medical profession and to exercise considerable skill and competence in their work. If they fail to work in accordance with this legal duty, they will be deemed to have been negligent in their profession. Communication plays a central role in the medical profession. Therefore, medical practitioners should maintain adequate communication with other medical professionals2. This is essential in cases entailing medical complications. The absence of such communication would result in poor deliverance of medical care to the patients. Moreover, doctors would be subjected to the allegation of clinical negligence, if there were to be inadequate communication between them. Similarly, doctors who fail to inform the dangers, inherent in the illness to the patient, are considered by the law to be negligent3. Such physicians will be prosecuted for negligence by the courts, if the patient files a case in this regard. Blab performed an emergency operation upon Sophie, without her consent. She is a competent adult, and as she is vehemently opposed to any medical intervention, the question arises, as to whether Blab is liable for having provided the surgical intervention to her. Patients can refuse medical treatment or surgery under the concept of freedom. However, their decisions will be valid only if they have the required levels of competence. If the patient

Benefits of a four-year residential colleges Essay

Benefits of a four-year residential colleges - Essay Example The consideration of the four-year residential colleges by Murray is quite significant in that the study on its benefits and weakness derive its importance. Since not everybody can access university education subject to limitations of resources, pass marks required, and the need for skills, it is thus necessary to analyze other alternative sources of practical and vocational education that include the Four-Year Residential Colleges. According to Murray, the question as to whether too many people are going to colleges, forces us to consider the importance and nature of a liberal education. He notes that since universities seek to provide knowledge and skills that lead to productivity and capability among citizens then unlimited number of people should seek this knowledge (Murray 222). He however realizes that all Americans should acquire basic or the core knowledge that denotes their identity. This knowledge emanates from elementary school to eighth grade and is necessary for all. Hen ceforth, Murray notes that the core knowledge approach should proceed after the eighth grade to at least high school level thereby allowing interested students to pursue relevant courses in social sciences and humanities. He equally acknowledges the need to access liberal college education by academically able students. Indeed, he denotes that college education is tough, more beneficial and thus has stricter requirements. However, he establishes the fact that most of the students who have ability in liberal education conspicuously lack interest in it subject to its boredom and difficultness. As such, he reckons that many academically able students choose to pursue practical and vocational education that takes four-years in a residential college (Murray 222-225). Subject to the importance of college education that entails studies in medicine, law, accountants, software developers, journalists, teachers, football coaches and other courses, college education is thus inevitable in any n ation. Nevertheless, the time it takes, the resources, the level of knowhow required, and the significance of distinct courses in the society warrants a consideration unto the benefits of Four-Year Residential Colleges. Four-Year Residential Colleges offers a wide variety of living, dining, and entertainment options for all level of students. It equally creates a learning atmosphere that allows superb interactions between junior students, upper-class students and graduate students thus encouraging fruitful discussions relating to both college-based academic and nonacademic programs. Additionally, residential colleges offered better library services, many scholarship opportunities, and utmost interaction between students and teachers. Nevertheless, the need to have Four-Year Residential Colleges faces huge demerits that surpass the benefits. Hence, the notion that Four-Year Residential Colleges are not beneficial after all (Murray 228-230). Indeed, the four years spent in residential college studying courses like interior design, hotel management, social work and other courses excluding medicine and law are not reasonable. Indeed, such courses can take a lesser time hence diluting the benefits of Four-Year Residential Colleges. In addition, the advantage of having a physical library in the Four-Year Residential Colleges faces extinction by the fact that capable students can easily

What is the optimal dosage of vitamin D supplementation necessary for Research Paper

What is the optimal dosage of vitamin D supplementation necessary for pregnant women - Research Paper Example ditionally, vitamin D is acquired when one exposes their skin to the sunlight and ultraviolet rays that strike the skin triggering the synthesis of the vitamin. For pregnant mothers, this vitamin is quite essential, not only for their welfare, but also for the well-being of their unborn babies. This is because of the numerous benefits that are achieved from the consumption of vitamin D, such as, the maintenance of adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations in the body. This, in turn, allows for the attainment of normal bone mineralization, and prevention of conditions such as hypocalcaemia among pregnant women and their offspring (Perampalam, Ganda, Chow, Opie, Hickman, Shadbolt & Nolan, 2011). Pregnant women who are vitamin D deficient place their unborn offspring and themselves at risk for developing serious health complications. Based on a study by the US National Institute of Health, the presence of sufficient vitamin D in the body of a pregnant woman has been found to augment the development of her bones, and remodel her osteoclasts and osteoblasts. If she is vitamin D deficiency for an extensive period, the bones and body frame of a pregnant woman may become brittle, thin, and misshapen. According to Mohamed, Rowan, Fong & Loy (2014), vitamin D deficiency among infants is determined by the maternal status of vitamin D in the second trimester. For the fetus, a deficiency in the supply of vitamin D into their bodies may result in them developing diseases such as rickets upon being born. The metabolism of vitamin D takes place during the last trimester in which the bone mass is enhanced. Vitamin D is indispensable for the mineralization of the fetal skeletons and is a major contributor to the attainment of an increased bone mass (Wagner & Greer, 2008). According to a study by Haliloglu et al., (2011), bone turnover in pregnant women and infants is enhanced with the increased consumption of vitamin D3 supplementation (Mithal & Kalra, 2014). The

'Stalin blundered into the Cold War.' Discuss Essay

'Stalin blundered into the Cold War.' Discuss - Essay Example Indeed, there are facets of the Cold War debate over which many of the contemporary scholars are in agreement, particularly with reference to Stalin’s paranoid personality. The focus of this study, however, is a matter of contention amongst eminent Cold War historians. Whether Stalin blundered into the Cold War out of a confusion and misjudgment of his adversaries’ intentions that derived from his suspicious personality, or whether the reality of an aggressive US foreign policy nurtured Stalin’s existing paranoia, thus forcing him into an unavoidable conflict will be one of the central themes of discussion. Taking into account and critiquing the work of prominent Cold War historians, this essay will serve to evaluate the origins of the Cold War with particular reference to Stalin. The study aims to demonstrate that Stalin greatly overestimated the US desire for war, and blundered into the Cold War as a result of his paranoia and obsession with personal and domest ic security. Looking at the Cold War through the lens of Gaddis, Matsny, Zubok and Pleshakov, a conclusion can be drawn towards how the Cold War originated from miscalculation and lack of judgment on part of Stalin. John Lewis Gaddis is one of the most influential post revisionist historians of the Cold War. In his book titled We Now Know, he clearly does not see Stalin as blundering into the Cold War. In fact, he is seen as a conscious initiator of the events that led to it, while the US is represented as merely reacting to the threatening desire Stalin held for world domination. Influenced by â€Å"Marxist Internationalism† and â€Å"Czarist Imperialism†1, Stalin had a personality that was conducive to paranoia and insecurity. It is this fusion of ideologies, coupled with an insecure personality that led to the Cold War. Gaddis therefore, sees Stalin’s ideology as a key figure in the Cold War. In its essence, Gaddis sees the Cold War as an ideological war betw een America and the Soviet Union, where American pluralist democracy and capitalism is argued as inherently superior to Soviet communism, and is the cure to the threat of a communist world. American historian Vojtech Matsny offers a distinct insight into the Cold War, and addresses one of the integral issues that Gaddis conveniently overlooks. In The Cold War and Soviet Insecurity, Matsny revolves around the figure and personality of Stalin, and his preoccupation with maintaining his autocratic rule. Stalin’s imperialistic approach towards rule deflects through his paranoia and insecurity that eventually led him into the Cold War. Aware of the lack of popular support his regime had, Stalin intelligently chose to cash in on the 2fundamental Bolshevik belief that â€Å"the outside world remained implacably hostile†. Carefully carving out a sense of â€Å"us† and â€Å"them† through help of the revolutionary communist ideology, Stalin’s prime objectiv e was to preserving his regime and maintaining power within the Soviet Union rather than world domination. As Matsny argues, Stalin did not deliberately wish for a Cold War, but considering his Soviet ideology and insecure imperialism, could not avoid it. For Matsny therefore, â€Å"

Management and Work Culture Essay Example for Free

Management and Work Culture Essay Instrumental to conduct SWOT analysis, and 3. Plan and build strategy based on the work culture How to develop strategic and operational plans by knowing work culture It is integral part of any individual, and organization. It describes shared value of an organization. It helps anyone to understand how things are done. Here is my cultural preferences: well resourced, ethical, and teamwork centered. Knowing my ideal work culture, I can do better planning and formulate the strategies for an organization. My cultural preferences Necessary resources to do high standard work. Using advantages of available resources, one can do better job of delivering projects with high quality standards. Active promotion of equal rights and justice for all. It will create a culture to grow with the company attitude. Fairness among the employees and employer makes everyone trust each other and the employer. Emphasis on social and environmental responsibility. In this culture, work and life balance here. Social and environmental responsibility culture will help employees more committed to the employer. Because organization is not just focusing on profit itself but also understand human values and help communities around them. Interdependence. Culture of interdependence makes everyone connected, and emphasis the important of collaboration between them. It results toward high level of performance, innovation, and productivity. Friendly and supportive colleagues. Friendliness and supports among colleagues is highly important for employees to challenge themselves, confront each other, and share the knowledge between them. Essential Competencies to Conducting (SWOT) analysis Strategizing competency is one of the most essential to do SWOT analysis. Steps to conduct SWOT analysis: 1. Identify mission statement and goals, 2. Review of internal strength and weaknesses, and 3. To find external opportunities and threats that affect the business or an organization. How my competencies relate to the essential competencies for conducting a SWOT analysis Based on competencies and career interests profiler, my strength are 1.

Rationale For Choosing Communication And Therapeutic Engagement Nursing Essay

Rationale For Choosing Communication And Therapeutic Engagement Nursing Essay My ward is a Patient Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of a forensic setting. It has thirteen in-patients and a staff strength of twenty three nurses both qualified and unqualified. Agency staff are frequently engaged to make up the number of staff necessary to care for patients on a particular shift. On the average there are between seven and eleven nursing staff per shift depending on the prevailing situation on the ward. It has two supervised confinements and two intensive care areas. Admissions are planned and it is based on a set of assessment criteria. Only acutely unwell patients are admitted. This essay will draw on my first working experience as a primary nurse of an acutely unwell psychiatric patient to illustrate my development with regards to communication and therapeutic engagement. Gibbs (1988) reflective cycle will be used to reflect this experience. Description I had just started work as a newly employed member of staff and was assigned primary nurse to a thirty year old patient of Afro-Caribbean origin who was transferred from another ward following a relapse in his mental state. He was under section 3 of the Mental Health Act (1983). This patient is named A for confidentiality purposes (NMC, 2008) had diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and had no insight into his mental illness. His carer was his mother with whom he had a luke warm relationship. He was very suspicious of staff interventions and would not engage. Routine blood tests had revealed that he had elevated createnine kinase (CK) levels (Cretenine Kinase enzyme, high levels of which case severe muscle damage, neuropletic malignant syndrome, myocardial infarction etc). Following this finding, his antipsychotic medication was withdrawn pending further blood tests. He refused to have a blood sample taken for further tests, he believed staff would drink his blood. As his primary nurs e, I made several attempts to encourage him to have the blood tests, but he would not be persuaded. He was also diagnosed with type II diabetes and was dependent of insulin. He self managed his physical illness by carrying out blood glucose level monitoring and self administering insulin under staff supervision. Patient A fed only on pre-packed barbeque chicken purchased from the supermarket and would not eat food served on the ward. I had one to one engagement with him to discuss his dietary intake and also formulate a physical and mental healthcare plan. He was not interested and made no contributions to the discussions. I gave him copies of the care plans which he declined. He said you can keep those care plans I dont need them and I am able to take care of myself. By the end of the second week, his mental state had deteriorated so much that he was very paranoid, irritable and getting into arguments with fellow patients and staff. He was involved in incidents both verbal and physical aggression and became increasingly difficult to manage on the ward. For his safety and that of others the team made a decision to nurse Mr. A in supervised confinement based on rationalist -analytical approach, having carried out risk assessment and looked at his history as well as the trust policy. As part of this risk management plan he was transferred to the intensive care area (ICA) and nursed under enhanced observation by two nursing staff. I requested to be allocated to nurse him in the ICA as often as the trust and unity policy old allow, so as to assess his mental state and attempt to build a rapport with him. Mr. A would not talk but I persisted. He noticed that I was frequently allocated to observe him and gradually opened up. I explained to him the teams decision to nurse him in the supervised confinement and the ICA. We talked about politics, football, music etc and our relationship developed and continued till he was transferred to a rehabilitation ward. Feelings I felt very frustrated and inadequate and was very much under stress. It was obvious from his reaction that he had no confidence or trust in me and saw me just like any other healthcare professional. Woods (2004) highlights the complex problems and needs of patients who find themselves in forensic settings and maintain that it is a common occurrence that some patients can not engage in treatment while others simply refuse to do so. Arnold and Underman-Boggs (1999) maintain that any meaningful relationship begins with trust. Trusting a nurse is particularly difficult for the mentally ill, for whom the idea of having a caring relationship is incomprehensible. As his primary nurse I saw myself as the advocate ready to work with him and seek his interest at all times. As nurses, we are called upon to play our roles as advocates, supervising and protecting clients rights and empowering them to take charge of their lives. Ironbar and Hooper (2003) stresses that therapeutic relationships ca n be stressful. Working closely with people who are mentally unwell and under stress can be very demanding and emotionally draining experience. Consequently, nurses need to be aware of the effect that such relationships can have on them. This requires insight, self awareness and ability to cope effectively with stress. My initial perception was that Mr A was a difficult patient and considered withdrawing as his primary nurse but I felt emotionally attached. I understood that I owed Mr A a duty of care (NMC, 2008) and simply withdrawing was not professional in my view. OCarrol et al (2007) contended that in our professional roles, nurses do not have the same option as we do in our personal life by withdrawing from difficult relationships. Rather it requires exploring the situation which may help recognise ways in which the nurse is influenced by his emotions. The authors caution that nurses must learn to manage their own emotions. Furthermore, they need to communicate their emotional reactions to the patient, albeit in a modified form. I empathised with Mr A and it drew me closer to him, revealing to me the depth of hi mental illness. I wished I could doe something here and now to help alleviate the state f confusion, anxiety and helplessness in which he found himself. Barker (2003) reports of how in recent times empathy has been shown to enable nurses to investigate and understand the experience of persons experiencing a state of chaos as a consequence of psychiatric order. I felt uncomfortable when Mr A had to be physically restrained (PSTS techniques) and nursed in supervisory confinement, I felt that this procedure was not justifiable because the privacy, dignity and respect of this client had been compromised. As nurses we are to demonstrate respect for patients by promoting their privacy and dignity (NMC, 2008) (Essence of Care, 2003). On the other hand, I thought that his safety and that f others was paramount and this could be achieved only by nursing h im separately from the rest. The NMC (2008: para 8:4) Code of Professional Conduct clearly states that when facing a professional dilemma, the first consideration must be the safety of patients. The collaborative team decision to nurse him in the supervised confinement area made me feel valued as a team member. I was actively involved in the decision making process and carried out risk assessments. I felt that I was insensitive with my sustained persistence to get him to talk. I should have understood that his moments of silence were necessary to help him calm down (SLAM, 2008). I also felt unsupported and struggled to cope with the management and care of Mr A. I was unable to access clinical supervision because my supervisor was away on holiday. Evaluation Although it seemed difficult at the beginning, but by the time Mr A was out of the ICA we had developed a good working relationship. I did not show my disappointment at his reluctance to engage when he was acutely unwell and stayed positive. Engaging with him while nursing him in the ICA offered me the opportunity to explain to him the teams decision to place him under enhanced observation. Actively listening to him and discussing with him his thoughts and feelings have helped lessen his distress. It also enabled me to give a comprehensive feedback to the team regarding his mental state. We met in one to one engagements and discussed his concerns and needs. A good and well ventilated environment was always made for our meetings. Following assessments, we discussed his care plans, participation in group activities, crisis management and other forms of therapies. He felt very much in charge, highlighting his most pressing needs. Whenever we met, there as a demonstration of mutual respect and desire for working together in a partnership. Together we identified and prioritised his goals for recovery based on his strengths and what he believes is achievable. Faulkner (1998) asserts that goals must be clearly defined so that both the professional and the patient are going in the same direction in terms of what they wish to achieve by a certain time. During or interactions clear boundaries were set and clarified for Mr A what were acceptable behaviours. Boundaries were set as to what he was allowed to do without supervision, how he engaged with others and appropriate ways o f addressing issues he felt unhappy or uncomfortable with. The plan of care was therefore service-user centred and recovery orientated approach. The recovery model has been incorporated into the principles of care delivery in the trust (SLAM, 2007). It aims to help service-users to move beyond mere survival and existence, encouraging them to move forward and carry out activities and develop relationships that give their lives meanings. Wood (2004) indicated that nursing forensic patients is not easy and requires complex treatment plans that focus fundamentally on reducing risk of harm to others. As part of his recovery, he was encouraged to self manage his diabetes under supervision. Giving his understanding of his physical illness information was provided to enable him to make informed decisions about his lifestyle. Mr A consented to giving regular blood samples. His CK level fell to normal levels and was restarted on anti psychotic medication. However, it took time for Mr A to adequately understand the situation that he was in and the effect of his illness on his lifestyles. It must also be stated that it was not always possible to meet with Mr A as planned. Scheduled meetings had to be cancelled due to being engaged with very pressing ward issues. Analysis The use of therapeutic communications in nursing, particularly empathy, is what enables therapeutic change and should not be underestimated (Norman and Ryrie, 2004). Egan (2002) argues that empathy is not just the ability to enter into and understand the world of another person but also be able to communicate this understanding to him/her. The relevance of empathetic relationships to the goals of health services are suggested by the increase in focus on patient centred care and the growth of consumerism. The client-centred focus is illustrated by the NHS patient charter which emphasises that clinicians need to collaborate with users of the health services in the prioritising of clinical needs and the setting of treatment goals (Barker, 2003). Nurses should be aware that patients who are paranoid and suspicious of staff interventions as was the case of Mr A, might not readily accept support from staff. This implies that working with such patients can be very challenging and difficult. It therefore calls for the nurse to remain impatient, calm and focused. The need to build therapeutic relationship with the patient is paramount in gaining trust and respect (Rigby and Alexander, 2008). Caring, empathy and good communication skills are needed to help patients through their illness. Therefore the use of effective interpersonal skill s facilitates the development of a positive nurse-patient relationship. McCabe (2004) argues that the use of effective interpersonal skills, a basic component of nursing, must be patient centred. Nursing Mr A in supervised confinement and subsequently in the ICA was in accordance to SLAM (2008) Engagement and Formal Observation Policy. Despite the frequent occurrence of this nursing intervention in mental health settings, for the whole of the UK there are no national standards or guidelines for practice of observation. The current situation in England and Wales is that policies are developed and implemented at a local level using SNMAC (1999) practice guidance for observation of patients at risk as a template (Harrison et al, 2006). Nursing patients in supervised confinement, though a common practice in the PICU raises a number of ethical, professional and legal issues about the role of the nurse, whether he/she is a custodian or therapist and a friend is debateable. Alland et al (2003) noted that patients view enhanced observation as uncomfortable at best, custodial and dehumanising at worst. Mr A felt that his pride and dignity had been taken away from him he was at risk an d therefore an immediate and effective risk management plan had to be implemented. This was necessary to ensure his safety and that of others even though he expressed unhappiness with this intervention. By engaging him and encouraging him to share his thoughts and feelings his anger appeared to have lessened as he joined in the discussions of politics, music, football etc. Thurgood (2004) empathised that showing your human side to clients is very important. Engaging meaningfully with patients and helping them talk about their feelings is the first step to alleviating some of their distress. The NMC (2008) Code of Professional Conduct clearly points to the rights of patients in relation to autonomy. There appeared to have been a reach to Mr As rights. The difficulty we faced as a team was finding the balance between allowing some privacy and dignity versus persevering his safety and security. Consequently, a dilemma arose for me as his primary nurse in relation to his rights, obligat ions and duties. In fact Article 5(1) e of the Human Rights Act (1998) specifies the right of the state to lawfully detain the person of unsound mind. Within the UK, that framework is provides by the Mental Health Act 1983 (DOH, 1998). One may argue then that there is no fundamental incompatibility between the Mental Health Act and the Human Rights Act. There were times that scheduled meetings with Mr A had to be cancelled because of urgent administrative duties. It meant that he lost the opportunity to meet up with me to discuss his concerns and needs. The concept of Patient Protected Time (PPT) in inpatient units is therefore valid. It allows patients to meet with a healthcare provider on one to one for a specified time when the ward is closed to administrative duties to discuss care plans, social activities, therapies and others. Such interaction according to Song and Soobratty (2007) promotes feelings of self confidence, esteem and recovery. It can also aid the patient therapeutic progress as it can help with social interaction and building relationships. However, nurses complain they already have plenty to do without an added pressure of PPT to contend with. Nurses frequently complaining of being too busy to develop therapeutic rapport with patents (Mental Health Act Commission 2008). Yawar (2008) reported that only 16% of pati ents time was spent in what can loosely be termed as therapeutic interaction. The remaining of the 84% was spent aimlessly either pacing p and down the ward or doing nothing. Nurses recognise their responsibilities to engage with patients and welcome the opportunity to do this without other demands (Edward, 2008). The Department of Health (2002) called for improvements to ensure adequate clinical support inputs to inpatient wards and to maximise the time spent by staff therapeutically engaged with patients. Therapeutic engagement, therefore involves spending quality time with patients with the aim to empower them to actively participate in their care. Conclusion Communication is without doubt the medium through which the nurse-patient relationship takes place. The skills of active listening and reflection promote better communication and encourage empathy building. My first role as a primary nurse as a good learning experience. My conduct throughout the whole experience earned me a favourable feedback from my team leader. Caring for acutely mentally unwell patients requires of the nurse sensitivity, conveying warmth and empathy. Engaging meaningfully and actively listening to patients under enhanced observation makes them perceive the practice as valuing rather than punishing, therapeutic rather then custodial. Feeling safe and secured provides a platform which can assist patients to begin to resolve some of the difficulties they may be facing in their lives. It is imperative that nurses involve patients in all aspects of their care, empowering and making decisions in partnership with the team. By developing collaborative relationship with p atients, nurses can provide prompt and focused interventions which can limit illness damage, assist in the process of symptoms management and help the process of recovery. Action plan My aim is to be proactive in the future by promptly seeking support from senior colleagues and requesting for clinical supervision. I aim t develop the skill of emotional resilience and intelligence to be able to deliver care that will promote patient welfare and aid recovery. The preceptorship experience has been a breath of fresh air. A time to look back and take stock of the transition from student nurse to an accountable practitioner. Listening and sharing in the experiences of fellow nurses was a good learning experience. The preceptors were fantastic master clinicians who were receptive to our contributions as they explored our experiences at the beginning of each teaching session. This experience has undoubtedly enhanced my critical thinking as a nurse and prepared me to move forward in my development and practice as a caring and competent nurse. I see myself as being in the right job which offers many opportunities for development and to improve upon my knowledge and skills.

The elementary forms of religious life

The elementary forms of religious life The elementary forms of religious life Introduction: Through his critical look at the most primitive religion, his epistemological inquiries into the genesis of thought, and his attempt to theoretically account for the functional and universal nature of all religions, The Elementary Forms of Religious Life has proven to be a seminal work both in the academic study of religion, sociology and social theory. Arguing ultimately that religion is the symbolic expression of society and social experience, Durkheim revolutionized the academic study of religion with his original and insightful approach.[1] I will begin with a brief recap of the argument laid out in The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, which will be followed by a discussion of the implications it has on the study of religion. Finally, I will discuss some of the major critiques of his theoretical approach and argument. Argument: Durkheim believes that in order to explain religion, we must identify its most primitive form (3). The fundamental elements which are found in primitive religion are closer and more related to the initial motives that caused religious actions (9). These elements provide the objective content through which we can understand all religions (7). Religion is defined as a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart by prohibitions-beliefs and practices that unite adherents to a single moral community called a church (46). The most elementary form must satisfy this definition. For Durkheim, the two leading conceptions of the most elementary form of religion were animism and naturism. They attempt to explain what causes man to experience the sacred. Animism claims man experiences the sacred because of the misinterpretation of his dreams. This misinterpretation generates the notion of souls that are part of a separate reality (61). Naturism claims man feels a sacred reality because of the extraordinariness of natural phenomena (68). These theories suggest that mans idea of the sacred is a delirious interpretation because there is nothing inherently sacred about man or nature (76). However, it is a basic postulate of sociology that a human institution cannot rest on error or falsehood or it could not endure (4). This means that any conception of an elementary religion must account for the sacred as a real force. Durkheim goes on to assert that there must be a religion even more primitive then animism and naturism which is able to explain where the force of th e sacred actually comes from. This religion is totemism (77). Totemism is most evidently found in primitive Australian tribes. The most important feature of these tribes is their division into clans (88). Each clan has a totem, which is its distinguishing feature. The totem is represented in the form of a plant or animal to which the clan has a special relationship. This totem, which is the identity of the clan, also has a religious character because of its prominent use in religious ceremonies (96). This totem is central to the clan because things are classified as sacred and profane in relation to the totems religious character (96). The negative cult of totemism uses prohibitions and taboos regarding the totem to keep the sacred and profane separate (221). For instance, there are prohibitions on eating the totemic animal except during religious rituals. Also, women and uninitiated are prevented from coming into contact with sacred objects. These prohibitions are necessary because of the contagiousness of the sacred (237). Sacred objects are contagious because they confer sacrality to the things they touch. This suggests that some type of force resides in sacred objects. This force, or mana, was the object of the clans worship, not the animal or plant of the clan (147). The positive cult of totemism uses ritual to put man in organized contact with this sacred force (221). In these rituals clan members gather together in large numbers. This is in contrast to the ordinary and monotonous experience the clan member has in which he exists more or less independently from others. When all the clan members come together their proximity generates a kind of electricity that quickly transports them to an extraordinary degree of exaltation (162). This collective effervescence takes man outside himself to the point that he feels he has been transported into a special world entirely different from the ordinary (164). When he calms down from this excitement he is left to believe that he exists in two completely separate realities: his daily life and his religious life (164). These two realities are essentially the profane and the sacred respectively. To understand how this collective effervescence gets its power we must understand the way in which the categories o f knowledge are constructed by society. For Durkheim, one leading theory of knowledge was empiricism which claims man constructs the categories of knowledge of time, space, genus, cause, number (etc.) exclusively from his individual experience (15). This is not valid because it does not explain how people from the same culture have identical notions of time and space, etc. The second leading theory, apriorism, solves this problem by claiming man inherits the categories of knowledge from a divine reason existing prior to his experience (16). There is no proof this divine reason exists. Moreover, it does not explain why the categories of thought vary within cultures. This implies, for Durkheim, that man gets his categories from society (13). Further evidence suggests this is the basic category of knowledge. Genus, the notion that similar objects belong to the same group, can be modeled from mans experience of his relationship to society. After all, a genus is indeed an ideal yet clearly defined grouping of things with intern al bonds analogous to the bonds of kinship (114). There were as many divisions of space as there were divisions of clans within the tribe (13). In addition, man had a sense the clans were all interdependent and formed a unified whole the tribe. It is this reason why mans classifications represented a complete set of categories through which everything could be accounted. The categories of knowledge are the most basic types of collective representations and are informed by the collection of individual representations. However, when these individual representations are translated into collective representations they take on a new character: going from personal to impersonal. These collective representations outlive the individuals which contributed to them and gain a high degree of depth and complexity. They form a framework for reason that is infinitely richer and more complex then that of the individual and goes beyond the range of empirical knowledge (18). These categories establish the reality of society that is sui generis, or completely unique. Man is unable to think without using the concepts he inherits from his society. This means man naturally transcends himself when he thinks and when he acts. He elevates himself beyond his individual experience and into the collective reality of society. When man feels the sacred from the collective effervescence it is this social reality he experiences. It is his feeling of being part of something greater than himself. When man feels this force he is unable to attribute a concrete cause, so he represents it externally through objects which he considers sacred. These sacred objects are at the heart of religion and ultimately express society. Implications and Critique: Essential to Durkheims theory is the dichotomy between the sacred and profane and how the practices relating to his religious categories effect the social world. Of further importance is his argument that (contrary to other theories of religion that argue it being centered around magic, superstition or a philosophical error) religion is a real social fact. As such, he argues: Our entire study rests upon the postulate: that this unanimous feeling of believers across time cannot be purely illusory we admit that these religious beliefs rest upon a specific experience whose demonstrative value is, in one sense, not one bit inferior to that of scientific experiments, though different from them (312). In regards to the elementary religion Durkheim studies, he concludes that it is the religious activity that allows individuals within the tribe to understand themselves as collective. Further, it is the religious activity that serves to symbolize the social order with the totemic figure as an objective representation of their own society. Through the conscious repetition of various myths and rituals, a real sense of social unity and collective sentiments for tribal members was fostered (through the collective effervescence). This, in turn, works to strengthen and continually reestablish the social connections within the group. As an institution, understanding religion as having the authority to both command and garner compliance and awe is a unique concept in and of itself. Understanding religion as the symbolic expression of society is an original and path-breaking idea that has deeply influenced several academic fields and the direction of scholarly thought. As religion is a social fact, the objective entity behind religious symbolism and ritual can thus be understood as society (and not God). While I will return to this point, one must note that this idea would be intensely controversial for the religionist, as it implies that the individual participating in rituals is (at the very root) mistaken with regards to the objective phenomenon he is worshiping. When considering what Durkheim has done for the theoretical approach to defining and explaining religion, we can see his original approach to the social nature of religion as most telling. Before Durkheim, theoretical approaches to religion mainly focused on the individual and his understanding and philosophy of life or the interpretation of his reality (such as that of Otto, James or other phenomenologists). Durkheims work further shed light on the social role religion plays in organizing societies. By claiming that religions (a)ll are true in their own fashion and all answer though in different ways to the given condition of human existence Durkheim steered clear of questions of absolute truth (and theistic definition) which is ultimately beneficial for those interested in the comparative study of religion. While Durkheims theory has been one of the most influential in the study of religion, it has been susceptible to various criticisms. For instance, while he worked to counteract previous theories and positivistic approaches to religion, one can see such elements in his own definition. If Durkheim is indeed right, then the individual participants in rituals and religious ceremonies are mistaken, since the actual object of worship is something other than they are aware of. If we listen to Durkheim, we must believe that his scientific methods (and his particular methodology/theoretical approach) is on a higher plan with regards to accuracy, as it his methods which clarify the actual object of worship for the believer. Thus, the main theory of Durkheim has been attacked by those who believe he is reducing religion to something other than it is by claiming that it is the symbolic expression of society. This criticism inevitably leads to ones that are aimed at attacking Durkheims neglect for the subjective value of religious experience. In Durkheims theoretical view, the individual subjective experiences with sacred reality is only important with regards to its social utility (with respect to the feelings the collective effervescence engenders). This type of approach is in direct opposition to a theorist like Otto or James. With regards to his evidence for the most primitive form of religion (and his general belief that one could understand a complex phenomenon by finding and examining the phenomenon in its simplest form) is also quite questionable. As illustrated by the analyses of Clifford Geertz, one must note that it is difficult enough to interpret ethnographic findings when one is deeply immersed in the society. Since Durkheim himself did not participate in the ethnographic study (and never actually witnessed the culture), suspicious immediately rises (particularly as his argument hinges on the material). In The Interpretation of Cultures, Geertz states: The notion that one can find the essence of national societies, civilizations, great religions, or whatever summed up and simplified in so-called typical small towns and villages is palpable nonsense. What one finds in small towns and villages is (alas) small-town or village life. If localized, microscopic studies were really dependent for their greater relevance upon such a premise -that they captured the great world in the little- they wouldnt have any relevance (Geertz, 1973). The representations of religion can be seen as collective representations expressing a collective reality. Durkheimian thought points to the social nature of religion. While there are some criticisms, The Elementary Forms of Religious Life has proven to be immensely influential, both with regards to the theory of religion as well as a variety of other fields. In Geertzian terminology, then, one can see that Durkheim may be imposing his own contextual period (culture, history, scientific method) wrongly. How is Durkheim interpreting this evidence and is he correcting them with regards to his more advanced worldview? Conclusion: [1] If religion generated everything that is essential in society, this is because the idea of society is the soul of religion.

My Philosophy of Education :: Teaching Philosophy Education School Essays

My Philosophy of Education I believe that the Foreign Language classroom should be one that not only teaches how to speak a language, but also how to survive in the growing, and very diverse communities that we live in and that our students live in. Students should learn about the culture that corresponds to the language that they are learning, and teachers should promote diversity and acceptance among all ethnic groups, including the people of the target language. Students should be in a classroom where they feel comfortable enough to experiment with the new language. I think that a teacher should always be responsive to their students, and should never be reprimanded for trying to answer or ask a question. I also believe that students should be exposed to a variety of different interpersonal, interpretative, and presentational communication activities. I believe students should also have a say in what they would like to learn in the foreign language classroom. There should be a wide selection and variety of authentic materials in every classroom. This could mean anything from Spanish story books, Spanish music, Spanish and Latin American Art hung on the walls, menus, greeting cards, etc. Students should feel immersed in the culture and the language, and teachers should use these materials as well as the textbook. However, the textbook should not be the only material used in teaching the language. If possible, from time to time, studen ts should take trips to authentic cultural events or restaurants. I think that every teacher should give their students a purpose for doing their assignments. These purposes should not just include getting a grade. Students can do so much, such as organizing a cultural dance at their school, singing holiday carols in the target language around the school, putting on a play based on authentic Hispanic folk tales. Finally, I believe that being a good teacher means teaching his or her students the best way possible and making sure that every students gets the most out of the class. Every lesson and every unit should be written with the five C's in mind: Communication, Connections, Culture, Comparisons, and Communities. My Philosophy of Education :: Teaching Philosophy Education School Essays My Philosophy of Education I believe that the Foreign Language classroom should be one that not only teaches how to speak a language, but also how to survive in the growing, and very diverse communities that we live in and that our students live in. Students should learn about the culture that corresponds to the language that they are learning, and teachers should promote diversity and acceptance among all ethnic groups, including the people of the target language. Students should be in a classroom where they feel comfortable enough to experiment with the new language. I think that a teacher should always be responsive to their students, and should never be reprimanded for trying to answer or ask a question. I also believe that students should be exposed to a variety of different interpersonal, interpretative, and presentational communication activities. I believe students should also have a say in what they would like to learn in the foreign language classroom. There should be a wide selection and variety of authentic materials in every classroom. This could mean anything from Spanish story books, Spanish music, Spanish and Latin American Art hung on the walls, menus, greeting cards, etc. Students should feel immersed in the culture and the language, and teachers should use these materials as well as the textbook. However, the textbook should not be the only material used in teaching the language. If possible, from time to time, studen ts should take trips to authentic cultural events or restaurants. I think that every teacher should give their students a purpose for doing their assignments. These purposes should not just include getting a grade. Students can do so much, such as organizing a cultural dance at their school, singing holiday carols in the target language around the school, putting on a play based on authentic Hispanic folk tales. Finally, I believe that being a good teacher means teaching his or her students the best way possible and making sure that every students gets the most out of the class. Every lesson and every unit should be written with the five C's in mind: Communication, Connections, Culture, Comparisons, and Communities.

Privacy Issues with the Internet Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research

Privacy Issues with the Internet Privacy has long been as elusive as the mythical Fountain of Youth. The very idea of "protecting" information about family stirs up ominous images of powerful agencies stealing our individuality and even our identity. The fears about privacy have grown exponentially with the Web. But who are we protecting ourselves from? The government? Not likely, at least in the Orwellian sense that most of us imagine it. While Congress passes the laws and regulatory bodies enforce them, media focus of late has been on the private sector, particularly commercial Websites. Civil libertarians' protests against information-collecting Websites are enigmatic given that most of this information has already been available for years in libraries, in town halls, in departments of motor vehicles and from countless other places. Thus it should be understood that "privacy" is largely an illusion. While the Lewinsky tapes raised eyebrows, the media fanfare over the issue shows that someone, somewhere, when you least expect it, will place a higher priority on something that compromises your privacy. Nevertheless, the increasing commodification of personal information is worrisome to this author, particularly when the "collectors" get their information wrong or draw incorrect conclusions from the data they acquire. Already, some national pharmacies have tried to sell information about their customers to marketers. (In at least one case the pharmacy backed off after critics severely chastised them for the plan). No doubt other organizations will move to sell medical records to the highest bidder. What does this mean to the public? ... ...we promise your privacy, we have someone who makes sure we keep that promise. However, many other TRUSTe licensees provide more extensive privacy statements for visitors to scrutinize. Nevertheless, trust and privacy guarantees don't come cheap. Costs for TRUSTe licenses range from $299 to almost $5,000, depending on the licensee's corporate revenue. While $5,000 may not be a lot for a Microsoft, $299 is quite a bit for a start-up firm with no annual revenue. This license allows TRUSTe clients to showcase a mark of trust that could easily (but not legally) be copied and used by any Website developer who wants to capitalize on trust. With all the trust-brokers on the Web, the question remains whether "buying trust" is any less elusive than the Fountain of Youth. Moreover, one should ask, who is worthy of trust management? Privacy Issues with the Internet Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research Privacy Issues with the Internet Privacy has long been as elusive as the mythical Fountain of Youth. The very idea of "protecting" information about family stirs up ominous images of powerful agencies stealing our individuality and even our identity. The fears about privacy have grown exponentially with the Web. But who are we protecting ourselves from? The government? Not likely, at least in the Orwellian sense that most of us imagine it. While Congress passes the laws and regulatory bodies enforce them, media focus of late has been on the private sector, particularly commercial Websites. Civil libertarians' protests against information-collecting Websites are enigmatic given that most of this information has already been available for years in libraries, in town halls, in departments of motor vehicles and from countless other places. Thus it should be understood that "privacy" is largely an illusion. While the Lewinsky tapes raised eyebrows, the media fanfare over the issue shows that someone, somewhere, when you least expect it, will place a higher priority on something that compromises your privacy. Nevertheless, the increasing commodification of personal information is worrisome to this author, particularly when the "collectors" get their information wrong or draw incorrect conclusions from the data they acquire. Already, some national pharmacies have tried to sell information about their customers to marketers. (In at least one case the pharmacy backed off after critics severely chastised them for the plan). No doubt other organizations will move to sell medical records to the highest bidder. What does this mean to the public? ... ...we promise your privacy, we have someone who makes sure we keep that promise. However, many other TRUSTe licensees provide more extensive privacy statements for visitors to scrutinize. Nevertheless, trust and privacy guarantees don't come cheap. Costs for TRUSTe licenses range from $299 to almost $5,000, depending on the licensee's corporate revenue. While $5,000 may not be a lot for a Microsoft, $299 is quite a bit for a start-up firm with no annual revenue. This license allows TRUSTe clients to showcase a mark of trust that could easily (but not legally) be copied and used by any Website developer who wants to capitalize on trust. With all the trust-brokers on the Web, the question remains whether "buying trust" is any less elusive than the Fountain of Youth. Moreover, one should ask, who is worthy of trust management?

The Fourth Reich

The Fourth Reich The Modern Weimar Republic Foreword In recent old ages there is no denying that the Global Economic Crisis has grown to be a looming issue in our world’s society. The separation of economic categories has become such a job that it non merely drives our political spectrum, but alterations society as a whole. In 2010 Greece was rocked by economic desolation after they joined the Eurozone. Overspending caused monolithic reverberations in the work force doing the youth unemployment rate above 55 % , a crisis that parallels America’s Great Depression. It was shortly after this epidemic that public violences and rebellion erupted in the streets, with citizens and extremists likewise harking for all out revolution. Among the pandemonium, two equaling political groups arose from the ashes of ravaged, modern twenty-four hours, Greece. Representing the extremist left was an anarchist motion with no existent political docket, instead merely an onslaught of public public violences and boisterous devastation. Representing the extremist right, nevertheless is a lifting political force known under the [ now impermanent ] name, Golden Dawn. Similar to most radical groups, Golden Dawn gained its popularity shortly after economic and political prostration. This signifier of extremist overthrow non merely applies to Greece, but it’s normally the manner most Middle Eastern countries operate today. By subverting one oppressive power a much worse power takes its topographic point. [ Ex. Mubarak and the Arab Spring ] Or in layman’s footings, it’s merely by the fires of war and the depredation of depression that people are willing to travel to extremes to happen a remedy ; it is that same sort of despair that caused the Weimar Republic to fall into the custodies of Adolf Hitler. The Munich Putsch In 1923, Germany was devastated by reparations from the pact of Versailles. In kernel, a prohibition of trade and hideous war costs caused the state to travel into economic convulsion. To set this epidemic into position a loaf of staff of life in 1919 had a entire cost of 1 grade ; by 1924 that same loaf of staff of life cost approximately 100 billion Markss. In fact money was so hopelessly devalued that citizens found more usage in utilizing it as kindling than as currency. There is no uncertainty that citizens were angry, revelatory fortunes over the class of merely a few old ages would be dismaying to state the least. Conformity to the current authorities criterion wasn’t an option, solutions had to be created, non ignored. These hideous fortunes would name for a extremist reformation, no affair what the cost. The initial creative activity of the Nazi party was regarded by the Weimar leaders as a terrorist organisation. However, to the German citizens they were revolutionists with solutions. On the fatal dark of November 8Thursday1923, Hitler and a brigade of six 100 ‘Storm Troopers’ invaded Munich in an effort to take over the metropolis. Poorly armed and outmatched, 16 Nazi members were killed and Adolf Hitler was imprisoned. It was shortly after this motion that the Nazi party was banned from the polls indefinitely. — – Similar to the province of Germany in the 1920’s, Greece has been devastated by a Global Economic Crisis. As mentioned before, unemployment is at an all-time high, about dual that of the United States. Rebellions are common, turning more popular with every passing twenty-four hours and the actions of politicians are invariably corrupted, non to advert advancement that is often stonewalled. Resistance of Golden Dawn have late reported a signifier of Judicial lenience, saying that there are legion corrupted functionaries, even within jurisprudence enforcement. It is estimated that over one 100 immigrants to Greece hold gone losing and many suspect that the act is politically motivated. Amid the confusion and curruption, Golden Dawn continued to be the lone option, shortly to make the 3rd most powerful political party in the part. Public credence of a political party wouldn’t needfully be a bad thing, it shows integrity and growing. However the edginess generated about Golden Dawn isn’t based on simple paranoia. The party platform is blatantly clear about the ‘purification of the Grecian race, ’ you don’t have to delve far to bring out that the organisation is structured like a Neo-Nazi, fascist motion. Their symbolism is strikingly similar to the Hakenkreuz, and their gestures of pride parallel that of the ill-famed Nazi salutation. Aside from the fact that they relish in Nazi symbolism, there lies something genuinely terrific, the philosophy itself. Harmonizing to beginnings within Golden Dawn, the journal of Joseph Goebbels, an ill-famed Nazi practician, is used as philosophy. In the 1940’s Goebbels was polar in the Nazi propaganda plan. He was considered so profoundly devoted to the cause of the Aryan race that he finally committed self-destruction and took the life of his six immature kids upon hearing the intelligence of Adolf Hitler’s decease. Because of Goebbels actions many protagonists of Judaic freedom were silenced by Nazi rhetoric. — – The Cult of Personality The Nazi party wouldn’t have been about every bit successful as they were if it hadn’t been for Adolf Hitler. Not merely was he doubtless magnetic, he seemed to be echt about his beliefs. However, it wasn’t merely Hitler who electrified the universe, characters like Mussolini, FDR, and Stalin all played a polar function in reconstituting the universe as we knew it. Queerly, Golden Dawn lacks a magnetic leader like that of the pre-World War two epoch. Nikolaos Michaloliakos, a name seldom heard during the rebellions, started Golden Dawn in the early 70’s. His motive is basically a dominant Grecian race. ( Sound familiar? ) After he tried to catch an indispensable portion of Greece, Michaloiakos was shortly imprisoned for offenses against the state and the slaying of rival party advocator, Pavlos Fysass. Because Michaloiakos remains to be a political mystery, radicalism flickers from reading of Golden Dawn’s already extremist beliefs. It is entirely based on individuality that Golden Dawn remains a popular power. This event parallels something scarily similar that occurred in the Weimar Republic. After the apprehension of Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf was written and released to the populace. Because of its incoherent construction, many persons within the Nazi party interpreted the beliefs for themselves. Unusually, it’s because of individuality and reading that radicalism physiques into something genuinely terrific ; take for illustration the modern terrorist organisation, Anonymous. Work Cited Hatzis, Aristides. â€Å" Watch Greece – It May Be the following Weimar Germany. †Financial Times. N.p. , 6 Nov. 2013. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. â€Å" Hyperinflation of the Weimar Republic in 1923 Germany. †Hyperinflation of the Weimar Republic in 1923 Germany. Scientific Market Analysis, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. Smith, Helena. â€Å" Greece ‘s Golden Dawn to Form New Party If Banned from Polls. †The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 03 Feb. 2014. Web. 28 Feb. 2014. Smith, Helena. â€Å" Fears over Disappearance of 150 Syrian Refugees from Grecian Village. †The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 24 Dec. 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2014

Women In Leadership: The Place Of Assertiveness And Recognition Of Human Rights

IntroductionThe surmise that women loss leading hunt to be self-assertive has been giganticly upheld, in Africa. That is not to produce that each(prenominal) women leading in Africa atomic number 18 aggressive arguably, however, near women attractors incline to expose aggressive deportment creating an ideal of aggression within women attracters heedless of the reality. self- self- self-assertiveness is a key timber expected from leaders or servicemanagers (Philips, 2002 Ames and Flynn, 2007) oddly those who take for a lot of responsibilities. Those who get or argon appointed as leaders atomic number 18 expected to posses and exhibit such qualities creating a self fulfilling prophecy. self-assertiveness is, on that pointfore, viewed as a dimension describing the vogue by people to speak for, defend, and doing in their interest, values, and goals (in Ames and Flynn, 2006). A leader on that pointfore, should be capable of send offning, strategic on th e wholey communicating clear to op call downe(a) members of provide and rendering substantiate to staff for force and success, solely that is not almodal values the case, disassembleicularly when it comes to egg-producing(prenominal) leaders.The forefronts, in that locationfore, are what are the factors liable for lack of assertiveness among women leaders, in Nigeria and why this often manifests itself as aggression alternatively than rough-and-ready assertivenessA pull a tribal chief point Is brocaded as to whether it is unless seen as an trim for Nigerian women leaders, or is it a general disposition of the fe virile sexual activityThis demonstrate, therefore, lead give a intention chronological account of my travel, identify the problems encountered that apprised the choice of assertiveness and recognition of valet remediates (which are interconnected) and leave behind therefore be discussed as part of atomic number 53 concept, namely, assertivene ss. connect publications on assertiveness bequeath be discussed and the factors trustworthy for its absence in women leaders. The importance of assertiveness for women in leaders positions get break be reiterated. An action plan for my travel result be highlighted and thus concluded. It is worth stating, at this point, that the entire es recite is going to be based on my personal fix and my context, except where another(prenominal)wise than menti hotshotd. The essay will refer to effeminates as women and viriles as men, because the essay is gender related.My occupational groupI started my teaching career at the age of twenty three, in a nursery and primary certify, in Kaduna claim of Nigeria. I had skillful d unmatchable for(p) a diploma line of business in particular(a) knowledge at the University of Jos, in Nigeria, and was spirited more or less(predicate) joining the teaching craft. Although the groom where I was utilise to teach was n all a special n or a master(prenominal)stream school, I was eager to put my teaching skills to unafraid use. It was an unpleasant start, as I had to salvage and teach thirty-six lessons every week the lesson notes mustiness be ready by the end of Friday, because the steer instructor will mark them over the weekend and consequently give them back to teachers, on Monday morning. Although the contrive was demanding, my major problem was the relationship surrounded by the cope teacher and staff. I ultimately left on health grounds.My aid sire was after my undergraduate studies at the same University. After my undergraduate studies, I went through the ane year unequivocal National Youth Service bay window (NYSC) which I completed in Kaduna engineering school and was offered employment a year after the reckon. I served under a male Head of Department (HOD), during my NYSC, but met a cleaning lady judgment when I was employed as a staff member. I had a heavier ex run load than nigh s enior teachers, which the HOD attributed to my level and the fact that I did not take hold other responsibilities. This alerted me to the touch sensation that leaders were often comprehend t ho ave polar responsibilities In short, tour the HOD made me the departmental secretary, welfare military commission secretary, admirer registration self-confidencer and assistant exams fleckr, the live on load did not smorgasbord argueing a lack of leader understanding of the precise case. She eventually finished her tenure and another cleaning woman was elected.The trey experience I had was another woman HOD who was elected into the position by other members of staff of the department, in conformation with the modernistic rule in the institution precedently, headship was by appointment by the school counsel team. I had thought, at this point, that I would be relieved of approximately(prenominal) of my responsibilities, if not all. However, when the new-fashioned head as sumed duty, instead, my duties increased as she would call me to do just about everything, if was within sight and would then show no appreciation for the work done. This raised issues of how work was attributed to staff and how leaders research towards achieving a balanced workload for all staff, something which had been lacking in my experience.Problems identifiedThe previous paragraphs have abandoned a abbreviated account of my career this paragraph will focus on issues I study problematic in staff relationships with women leaders. I have observed, from a distance, that the behaviour of women leaders, across the board, (e.g. church, unions, societies, etc.), in combination with my personal experience and have come to the conclusion that most women leaders are unnecessarily grueling to work with and often aggressive. I have heard some men digest that opinion, as hygienic. The three women I have worked with have a striking semblance in their behaviours all ultimately ste llar(a) to aggression, which is characterised by existence domineering, sarcastic, hard-edged, strident, impatient and blaming others. Further more(prenominal) than, they were not assertive in their relationship with staff they had no respect for staff, although they demanded respect from the staff, in turn. They acted as if they were superior beings who wanted to be revered they were, in my opinion, ruthless to other colleagues and staff, more often than not. They were aware of their powers and exercised them to the fullest. Such women leaders tend to favour those they liked and victimise others. My offset head teacher would tell staff members to report her, if they had the nerve she knew null would be done about it she al behaviors had things her way. These leaders snitch derogatory statements to staff, oblivious to who is earshot it was a common occurrence. Sometimes it happened right before the students which could engender disrespect for teachers by their students, a o ffice staff that is avoidable. This was seen as a consistent way of operating by female leaders.I deliver my stolon day at work with amazement I was disappointed at the way in which I was handed some necessary items I take awayed and a list of dos and donts by the stern looking head teacher. It felt as though it was purely an exercise of power, although I had thought that the head teacher might have problems at abode, but came to realise that that was how she operated, in general. With my second employment, the HOD just collected my letter of employment and adjudge it and that was all. I was not delegate an office, nor was there an orientation of any kind I had to learn by trial and computer error or by asking other members of staff. I felt, from inception, that there was an wonderful problem examineing leaders. This is because there was a lot of excogitation and no room for collaboration. In one of the cases, there was an outburst from the teachers when the HODs locatio ns became intolerable to the highest degree all staff members passed a vote of no confidence in the HOD and forwarded it to the school caution. Although they had their expert sides, it was however outweighed by their aggression. These kinds of dispositions seem to make staff members locomote emotionally exhausted and stressed, particularly those who are inactive, which affects the productivity of staff as a whole and does not wee a team mentality.Literature ReviewHaving given a brief history of my career and as well as identified what posed as challenges for me and other staff members, because of the disposition of the head teachers, it becomes imperative to look at what books says about the assertiveness of women in leadership. assertiveness is a critical issue, in Nigerias leaders however, there is little or no literature in that envision concerning the concept, loosely, and in regards to women, specifically. Assertiveness is a concept that are hardly mentioned and like wise the need for well managed assertiveness and the ignorance exhibited in this regard seems to affect the majority of the people, to a large extent, which leaders use to their advantage. These 2 concepts of assertiveness and human rights, as mentioned in the founding are interconnected and inseparable, because assertiveness is all about have sexing ones rights and acknowledging the rights of others. It is this latter factor that is particularly applicable in the discussion. For instance, Back and Back in Arm tender (1991) express that assertiveness is standing up your for own rights and, at the same time, fetching into account the rights of others. In other linguistic process, know your rights and your limits, in target not to rape another persons rights. The two concepts will therefore be discussed as one, namely assertiveness.Assertiveness is the cleverness of an undivided to act clearly, honestly, and to communicate directly (Dickson, 2012) and is considered a critic al component of leadership soundness (Ames and Flynn, 2006). In other words, for leaders to come after and advance in their leadership roles, they must be assertive. As stated earlier, one outstanding quality of assertiveness, I retrieve, is being aware of ones rights and respecting the rights of other people its importance in the work purpose and in life generally give the axenot be over emphasized. Despite this there are difference amid assertiveness and aggression which needs to be recognised in this discussion.Assertiveness can be proactive (acting rather than reacting) and reactive (responding rather initiating), both verbal and non-verbal (by means of words and action) (Ames and Flynn, 2006 Ames, 2009), depending on the situation or circumstance. Ames and Flynn (2006), in research which they carried out (not specifically on women) tried to establish the relationship among assertiveness and leadership and came up with some interesting concepts high and low assertiveness. full(prenominal) assertiveness, they opine, runics in what they term instrumental reward, nub that leaders compromise their relationship with colleagues and subordinates in order to attain goals. Low assertiveness, on the other hand, results in social reward, which involves pliant attainment of goals in the quest of maintaining a good relationship with staff. Belonging to either of these two levels of assertiveness is already a challenge, as the leader in apparent motion would have to compromise one thing, in other to achieve the other presumptively the two are of utmost importance. The question is, if being assertive is a ordained quality that leaders should possess, what are the factors or barriers that prevent leaders from exhibiting assertive behaviours?Factors answerable for womens lack of assertiveness informal and external stimuli (Oplatka and Tamir, 2009) are words use in describing reasons for women leaders lack of assertiveness, harmonise to research carried out by Oplatka and Tamir. They posit that women who aspire for leadership positions (internal stimulus) are more believably to exhibit assertiveness and showing more confidence than those who have waited for the positions to be offered, or were asked to apply (external stimulus). One factor, tally to these researchers, that stands in the way between women and assertiveness is their unwillingness or un inventdness to be leaders or school heads. Furthermore a lack of understanding of the role of a head may in addition arrive at knockouties in harnessing natural leadership skills towards creating an efficient team working environment.Another factor, as suggested by Coleman (2002), is family responsibilities. Married women have enormous family responsibilities leadership in the work tail adds to it and seems to affect their proficiency in the office in a way that a male counterpart may not experience. It would not be unsung for a woman to walk into the office and resolve on the first person she sees, not because of anything they have done wrong, but possibly as a result of a pending issue with spouse, children or any family member it happens frequently in my context. unlike to Colemans suggestion, Hall (1996) in a study of six women head teachers, in the U.S, found women leaders (American) to be effective in their roles as leaders. Hall detect that these women, although in different schools, showed some similarities in their leadership styles, which he attributes to family experiences from childhood, especially roles they vie as young womans who were taught by their mothers. These school heads had a smooth working relationship with their staff there was collaboration, openness, and shared decision-making, with no adjudicate made to dominate they use this strategy, still when other means have failed (Hall, 1996). This specialization between the US experiences and the experiences in Nigeria could be due to the fact that the US is generally more accep ting of women in efficacious positions and club runs full time female workers in the US in a way that is not as on hand(predicate) in Nigeria.Fear of failure and insecurity, match to Oplatka and Tamir (2009), is another impediment to women leaders patterned advance and exhibiting qualities considered to be assertive. What are they afraid of or insecure aboutGender related insecurities, because of male dominance, ( Oplatka and Tamir, 2009), gender stereo cause, hostility towards women (Bickel, 2001) were identified as potential difference reasons responsible for the non-assertive behaviour women leaders exhibit. distressing self-image was suggested as affecting womens attitude and effectiveness as self-confidence is more often than not linked with the developmental process and experiences an exclusive encounters, is exposed to, has interacted or associated with (Morgan et al, (1981) Mathipa and Tsoka, 2001) which Mathipa and Tsoka argue is, to a large extent, dependent on t he type of raising women receive. The type of education either builds an individuals confidence or creates a lack of confidence, which heightens fears and insecurities among women. Creating a greater general acceptance of women in management roles would reduce the need to be overly aggressive when asserting the management position. Mathipa and Tsoka (2001) reiterated that women are not born with a scummy self-image, but are culturally enlightened to respect and uphold others. This is especially unbowed in Africa, where a woman is supposititious to be seen and not heard. However, those who bouncy in urban areas exhibit more confident behaviour than those in sylvan areas. In consonance with this, Mathipa and Tsoka, Milgram (1970 in Ames 2009) stated that assertive behaviour differs between those in urban and rural settings and within regions of a country depending on their experiences within society (Cohen and Nisbett, 1994, in Ames, 2009). This is a clear pointer to the role culture plays in the issue of women leaders assertiveness.Discussion of issuesThe amount of literature available on the issue of assertiveness of women leaders is an indication of the challenges shelld by women leaders. The discussion will, therefore, be centred on the themes revealed in the literature. Women leaders have two main issues to contend with the fact that they are women and excessively the need to be accepted as effective leaders. The world is a mans world, as is the common belief, in certain regions, which is why the disposition of a woman in leadership is all-important(a). In an article based on southeasterly African women, lack of assertiveness was mentioned as a barrier to womens advance to leadership positions, particularly in the education profession (Mathipa and Tsoka, 2001). In my opinion, the same is applicable to Nigeria.Women would naturally not prepare and plan for leadership, in Nigeria however that is not to say that some women do not aspire to leaders hip roles. There is a recognition that a womans place is in the home most women were brought up with that belief, with the constant reminder that the man is the head (natural leader) of the family. The underlying fact is that they do not plan nor prepare for leadership (Oplatka and Tamir, 2009). I would argue, therefore, that men do not go through any formal rearing or even plan (sometimes) to be leaders, but their approach to leadership is different again, that is not in any way saying that all men are good leaders or heads. A male head, for example, would hardly come to the office in the morning with an attitude, because of an incident that happened in the home. The male leader is also more comfortable in their position as it is perceived to be more commonplace and there isnt the same trust to prove themselves as the leader from the outset. My course mate shared with me her experience about her encounter with a head teacher in one of the schools, who shouted at her because she went to get the keys to a particular room, to pick off a musical instrument which she was sibylline to play for the children (she was not told until that morning). Women appear to be very emotional, which may be responsible for the way they behave at times. For instance, my HOD summoned me, on one occasion, and was abusive in her words, sole(prenominal) to discover that she was wrong because she accused me, wrong however, she did not apologise she was the head. My rights were trampled upon, but being a passive person, it was impossible to respond. macrocosm prepared for leadership is necessary, which I pronounce is responsible for the creation of the National skipper Qualification for Headship (NPQH) in England, in 1997, which is a mandatory requirement for headship (Bush and Oduro, 2006).Assigning responsibilities to teachers was also suggested (Mangin, 2009), in order to begin to prepare teachers for future headship responsibilities. This may not couple well, in my contex t, as most of those in leadership have held other responsibilities in lesser capacities, before becoming head teachers. All these strategies are helpful however, in my opinion, assertiveness is not just to be taught, but is a skill to be learned. Furthermore it is contended that having greater confidence in themselves will reduce instances of unecesary aggression as they will be content in their role without the need to trample others.Family debt instrument is another factor responsible for womens lack of assertiveness and can be highly influential to their role in the workplace. From my experience, acknowledging that it is not easy for a woman to be a leader, yet if she has a family, is necessary as it is an important part of how she has developed as a leader. The woman is typically responsible for everything that happens on the home front, in addition to other responsibilities remote the home. The experience of this head teacher is to reinforce this assertion. This head teacher leaves her plate as early as 5.00am, in order to beat the traffic, that is, after she has prepared eat for her husband (no children yet). She leaves the office and arrives home around 7.00pm, because of the traffic. Her husband faithfully waits for her return, to cook his meals (he has no job) which involves her working within the home as well as at work this she does everyday. She pays all the bills and provides food her husband does nothing and would not help even with house chores (he is the head of the family). This social limitation places greater pressures on the female leaders I went to see one head one morning immediately she adage me she skint down and wept. This is one scenario out of so many that women go through. This may be an extreme scenario, but there are a lot of women heads who do not experience up to a separate of this and yet lose control in the office, resulting in unnecessary conflict surprisingly, the head teacher in the story to a higher place is not aggr essive, neither is she passive one would not even have the slightest end that she had a problem, if she had not opened up to discuss it. This behaviour is unique to her, as not every woman can tolerate that without reacting this, I would argue is the result of individual differences in people. Individual differences in assertiveness are also crucial in how leaders are perceived and their success as a leader (Ames and Flynn, 2000).The notion about the upbringing of the fille child that translates into assertive behaviour is also worth mentioning. There was a practice, in earlier times, that is still being practised by some families, in Nigeria. When a boy wants to get married, his parents secretly involve about the girls family the purpose is to find out the norms and values of her family this they believe will tell them the kind of behaviour the girl is likely to exhibit. That will inform their decision on whether the boy should go with the girl, or not. Although the research w as carried out on American head teachers, the girls childhood upbringing is also taken seriously, in Nigeria. However, it does not always follow as parents would do everything possible and children will grow and choose their own path. That is not in any way implying that the girl childs upbringing has no influence in adulthood. Having such a strong parental influence is applicable as this may impact on the way that a woman perceives herself and a female that has not been encouraged to work a career for herself may face increased personal barriers to showing well hardened assertiveness.Lack of assertiveness in women heads tend to create fear and make them insecure in their role. It could be because they live intimidated by other colleagues, or lack confidence in their ability to carry out their responsibilities. Although leaders tend to put on a good front, they become emotionally exhausted in exhausting to propitiate on top of their game, something which is exacerbated when t hey also have family pressures. I recall with disdain how my head would add her workload to mine and demand I happen the deadline with authority of course. Other staff members claimed that she saw me as a threat and was trying to frustrate me it was almost the same experience with the other three women heads I worked with. The question is, if one is insecure, why take out their frustrations on other peopleAlthough the heads behave almost in the same way to all staff, men find it extremely difficult to tolerate such behaviours from female leaders. In the African culture, it is natural for men to be leaders and awkward or strange for a woman to be leaders, where there are men culture has placed the woman below the man. Unassertive behaviours by women leaders only strengthen the presumptuousness that women do not posses leadership qualities. However, there are women who are outstanding in their leadership roles. According to Dickson (2012), the issue of equation is one of the most i mportant peculiar(prenominal) of assertiveness.My action planHaving discussed the findings based on the available literature, it becomes imperative to map out a plan, based on my reflections of the module, especially regarding the aspect of assertiveness and training of potential female leaders. Although I do not like taking on the role of a leader, I am, most of the time, assigned responsibilities. As a passive person, I need to prepare myself for the future, especially in the aspect of assertiveness if this is not to create insecurities within myself.ConclusionAssertiveness seems to be a significant aspect of leadership however, it would appear that little or no attention is accorded to the concept or acquiring skills associated with . It is one thing to be a leader and another to be an effective leader. Women in leadership positions have colossal challenges for the singular reason of being women. Exhibiting aggressive, passive or manipulative behaviour will only add to their ch allenges and the suppression of the male dominant figure of authority. The woman is cognize to possess a naturally soft, accommodating, couthie and gentle nature. Where a woman leader decides to be domineering, in order to ascendancy respect like men, she meets with conflict which is responsible for the unnecessary emotional stress and exhaustion leaders and their staff experience, which can be avoided. If women leaders can express strong feelings, without being aggressive, accept that they are not omnipotent, and compromise, sometimes without insisting on fetching all the time, respect the feelings, privacy, and opinions of others, it is most likely that they will have a unruffled environment to work in, with full support from staff. Whenever people feel supported or acknowledged, there is likely to be advancement and also an indication that a situation has been handled assertively. The power of women, therefore, does not lie in the offices they occupy, nor their aggression, but in their ability to stay on top of the game by being assertive.ReferencesAmes, D. and Flynn, F. (2006). Whats good for the clown may not be as goodfor the gander The benefits of self-monitoring for men and women in labor movement groups anddyadic conflicts. Journal of Applied Psychology, 91, 272-281Ames, D. and Flynn, F. (2007). What breaks a leader The curvilinear relationbetween assertiveness and leadership. Journal of Personality and fond Psychology, 92, 307-324Ames, D (2009) Pushing up to a point Assertiveness and effectiveness in leadership and interpersonal dynamics. Research in Organisational Behaviour 29 (2009) 111 133Astrong M (1991). How to be an even better Manager. London Biddles Limited. P.27Bush, T. and Oduro, G.K.T. (2006). overbold principals in Africa Preparation, induction and practice. Journal of educational system, 4(4), pp.35975Coleman, M. 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