TEACHERS AT SECONDARY AND COLLEGE LEVEL IN PUNJAB

The importance of instruction for the resurgence of a society can non be denied. Harmonizing to Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, â€Å" the preparation of a human head is uncomplete without instruction, as instruction contributes a batch in doing adult male a right mind. † ( Khan, 2010 ) While doing determinations for the demand of instructors, the policy shapers and educational decision makers considers several factors. The entire figure of instructors required in a territory or metropolis or small town depends upon the registration of pupils in schools and colleges, the rate of instructors ‘ retirement and bend over and the coveted teacher-student ratios required in that country. Harmonizing to Yasin, â€Å" factors such as high in-migration rates within a population or policies on cut downing category size besides contribute to the demand for new instructors. † ( Yasin, 1998 ) The present research is about the demand and supply of instructors at secondary school and college degree in Punjab. The research analyzes that whether the instruction section of Punjab has been able to supply quality instruction and fulfilled the demand of instructors in schools and colleges particularly in rural countries. The present research besides analyzes the enterprise of the present authorities for change overing Urdu Medium schools into English Medium and its relation to the demand and supply of instructors.Statement of the ProblemMeeting the demand of providing competent instructors to secondary schools and college degree in Punjab is indispensable for bettering the quality of instruction in these schools and colleges. These schools and colleges particularly the authorities establishments depend upon the instruction section for bettering the quality of instruction and for the proviso of professional and qualified instructors. The rural countries need particular attending f rom the instruction section to better the quality of instruction. The rural countries frequently lack competent instructors due to the location, low wage and fewer installations. Teachers hesitate from learning in such countries. The present authorities ‘s enterprise of change overing Urdu Medium schools to English Medium has posed a new challenge for these schools. This research analyzes the demand and supply of instructors in schools and colleges of Punjab and provides feasible solution for making balance between demand and supply of instructors in Punjab.1.2 Purpose of the StudyThe intent of the survey is to research the balance between demand and supply of instructors in the secondary schools and college degree in Punjab. The research analyzes assorted grounds which lead to the demand of instructors in schools and colleges. The research provides a feasible solution for work outing the job of quality instruction and make fulling the vacancies of qualified instructors in sch ools and colleges of Pakistan. The paper besides assesses that whether the transition of Urdu Medium schools into English Medium has posed the demand for demand of the competent instructors.Scope of the ResearchThe present research is an extended survey on the demand and supply of qualified instructors at secondary and college degree in Punjab. The research covers the demands and demands of the schools and colleges in rural and urban countries for make fulling the spread of quality instruction and jobs faced by schools and colleges in the employment of competent instructors. The research besides analyzes the demand and supply of instructors in the Urdu Medium schools which have been converted to English Medium schools.1.4 Importance of the ResearchThis research would turn out to be an extended survey on solutions required for making balance between the demand and supply of instructors at secondary and college degree in Punjab. It has analyzed the demands of the schools and colleges particularly that of rural countries in supplying competent instructors to them. The research has besides emphasized the demand of competent instructors in the Urdu Medium schools which have been converted to English Medium.1.5 Justification of the ResearchThe subject of the research is appropriate, as carry oning research on the demand and supply of instructors has revealed utile facts related to the proviso of quality instruction to pupils at secondary and college degree. This research would be utile in long tally as it has provided solutions for get the better ofing the supply of competent instructors in Punjab.HypothesisRural and hapless communities in Pakistan face the greatest demand for instructors. They face extra challenges such as retaining of instructors, who may be attracted to the higher wages which are offered to them in metropoliss. The supply of instructors has greatly grown over the past 10 old ages. Keeping in position the demand for instructors, the supply of inst ructors must go on to increase. The demand for new instructors may differ by territory or small town and it depends upon the local population growing, instructors ‘ retirements and bend over, in-migration rates and wages offered to them. With the transition of all Urdu Medium schools to English Medium schools in Punjab, the demand for qualified and professional instructors in these schools have increased.Literature ReviewAcademic ReviewsHarmonizing to Goel, â€Å" A adult male becomes a rational animate being when he becomes educated. † ( Goel, 2007 ) Education is indispensable for the moral and learning developments of worlds. It contributes to the national economic growing and poorness decrease. The population of Punjab histories for 60 % population of Pakistan. ( Sayed, 2007 ) There are about 64,000 educational institutes in Punjab, out of which 44,000 are primary schools. ( Sayed, 2005 ) There are over 500,000 employees in these institutes, out of which 350,000 are instructors. ( Sayed, 2005 ) There are about 11 million registrations in these institutes. ( Sayed, 2005 ) Harmonizing to John Wall, Country Director of World Bank ; â€Å" Improvements in instruction results in Punjab have the possible for country-wide impact. † ( McCutcheon, 2007 ) Decrease in poorness can be achieved by turn toing the root cause of poorness, that is ; deficiency of instruction and accomplishments. Harmonizing to a World Bank study, the quality of instruction provided by the populace sector in Pakistan is really low. This is due to â€Å" low competence of instructors, deficiency of quality text editions and larning stuffs, deficiency of classroom-based support for instructors, deficiency of the appraisal of pupils, hapless supervising and hapless sector administration and direction. † ( World Bank, â€Å" Third Punjab Education † 2006 ) . In rural countries, there is deficiency of qualified instructors, as they hesitate to work due to legion grounds such as deficiency of motive, low wages, deficiency of installations in schools and hapless on the job conditions. In 2003, the Punjab Education Sector Reform Program ( PESRP ) was launched for the intent of bettering quality, entree and administration in the instruction sector of Punjab. This plan comprised of supply-side enterprises including upgrading of schools and make fulling vacancies of instructors. A figure of reforms affecting instructors ‘ enlisting, professional development of instructors, production of text editions and betterment in the scrutiny system were implemented. ( UNESCO, 2007 ) With the support of UNICEF and the National Rural Support Programme ( NRSP ) , PESRP has given high precedence to instructors in its new reform programme. ( McCutcheon, 2007 ) In order to run into the billowing demand of instructors, about 50,000 instructors have been hired since 2003. About 100,000 instructors have been trained through refresher classs in â€Å" child-centered instruction patterns. † ( McCutcheon, 2007 ) The authorities has taken effectual steps to better the quality of instruction in Punjab. The EFA ( Education for All ) National Plan of Action ( NPA ) 2015 figures out legion issues sing instructor supply, preparation and Supervision. ( UNESCO, 2007 ) The NPA emphasizes the demand for 118,000 instructors up to 2015 in order to run into the Universal Primary Education marks. ( UNESCO, 2007 ) There is deficiency of instructors in schools and colleges of Punjab due to decelerate replacing of retired instructors, less figure of instructors in primary schools and fewer instructors are recruited on lasting footing. The EFA NPA has suggested relaxation of makings for instructors in rural countries and for supplying specific inducements to them in order to make full the spread of instructors. ( UNESCO, 2007 ) By supplying in-service preparation to instructors, the quality of instruction will greatly better in these schools and colleges. The authorities is set uping Professional Development centres for the quality preparation of instructors. The authorities of Pakistan has converted all Urdu Medium schools in Punjab to English Medium schools. With this enterprise, the differentiation between two categories of instruction has been removed. This enterprise has chiefly being taken for viing with the globalized universe in the field of cognition. ( The News, 2010 ) The instructors of these schools have been provided developing through English Language classs. The preparation plans aims at bettering learning and English linguistic communication accomplishments of the instructors. The instructors have besides been offered heavy salary bundles. ( The News, 2010 ) The transition of schools has raised more demand for the supply of professional and competent instructors. The academic reappraisal has shown that the supply of instructors has grown over the past 10 old ages, but due to the uninterrupted addition in demand of instructors particularly in rural countries, the supply of instructors must go on to increase for the following decennary.1.8 Methodology1.8.1 ApproachThe research comprises of both Qualitative and Quantitative analysis. The research has gathered information with respect, but non restricted to the followers ; Analysis of the demand and supply of instructors in schools and colleges in Punjab. Problems faced by the instruction section in providing competent instructors to schools and colleges in Punjab. Problems faced by schools and colleges particularly in rural countries to make full the spread of quality instruction and to enroll competent instructors. Possible solutions for get bying with the demand of instructors in schools and colleges in Punjab. The Qualitative methodological analysis in the present research involves both primary every bit good as secondary beginnings. Primary beginning involves study of Pakistan Education Assessment System ( PEAS ) . Unstructured interview was conducted from 9 top directors of PEAS. Unstructured Interviews are utile for in-depth study, as â€Å" inquiries can be changed or adapted in order to run into the respondent ‘s intelligence, understanding or belief. † ( The Psychology Wiki, 2010 ) Burns and Grove defines qualitative research as ; â€Å" The logical thinking procedure used in qualitative research involves perceptually seting pieces together to do wholes. From this procedure, significance is produced. However, because perceptual experience varies with the person, many different significances are possible. † ( Burns, Grove, 1993 ) . Data is normally gathered through less structured research instruments in qualitative research. Secondary beginning in the present rese arch comprises of reappraisal of books, diaries, articles, periodicals, current event intelligence, web stuff, etc. Quantitative research has been used by the research worker for deriving firsthand cognition about the demand and supply of instructors at secondary schools and college degree in Punjab. Harmonizing to Andrew Sanchez, â€Å" Quantitative research generates statistics through the usage of large-scale study research, utilizing methods such as questionnaires or interviews † . ( Sanchez, 2005 ) Purposive Sampling method had been used for choosing the sample. It uses a specific pre-defined group and does non affect random trying. Purposive Sampling method is a non-probability sampling method which is chosen â€Å" with a intent in head. † ( William, 2006 ) . The sample of the choice of 9 top directors from PEAS is rather appropriate for obtaining information about the demand and supply of instructors at secondary school degree and colleges in Punjab. Keeping in position the above mentioned definitions and accounts, it can be concluded that the usage of qualitative every bit good as quantitative methods for this research has been justified. These methods have provided elaborate survey of the research subject and have assisted in clear uping all issues related to the demand and supply of instructors at school and college degree in Punjab.1.8.2 Data Gathering MethodThe research involved aggregation of informations through primary and secondary beginnings, that is ; direct and indirect observation. Direct observation involved study of PEAS Department for obtaining positions of 9 top directors of the section. Indirect observation involved reappraisal of secondary beginnings such as books, diaries, articles, web stuffs, etc.1.8.3 Originality and Limitations of the DataValidity and singularity of the informations are guaranteed while capturing informations and executing analysis. The research emphasizes on the demand and supply of instr uctors at school and college degree in Punjab and make fulling the spread of quality instruction in these schools and colleges. As the cogency of the information is dependent upon the efficiency of the research worker, the research worker has been careful in maintaining the cogency of the informations during informations aggregation, analysis and while pulling decisions. Ethical issues are considered during the research procedure. In order to avoid disagreements, careful survey and analysis have been done. Data is limited to the subjects mentioned above.1.8.4 Research QuestionsThe major research inquiries of the present survey are as follows ; Is the instruction section of Punjab run intoing the demands of the demand of instructors at secondary school and college degree? How choice instruction can be provided to secondary school and college pupils in Punjab? Has the instruction section of Punjab taken stairss to carry through the spread of quality instruction in schools and colleges? Are schools and colleges in rural countries confronting jobs of supply of instructors? With the transition of Urdu Medium schools to English Medium, are these schools confronting the job of demand of competent instructors?Factual PositionPresently the schools and colleges of Punjab state are confronting a deficit in the supply of qualified and competent instructors particularly in rural countries. Teachers lack motive for traveling to rural countries due to low wage, backward location and deficiency of installations in these schools. As a consequence of this, the demand of instructors in rural countries has extremely increased. The deficiency of competent instructors is besides due to decelerate replacing of retired instructors and enlisting of instructors on impermanent footing. The determination of authorities for change overing Urdu Medium schools into English Medium has besides posed a demand for the enlisting of qualified and professional instructors. The authorities is taking stairss to carry through the spread of quality instruction and qualified instructors. Th is has been done by enrolling qualified instructors, increasing the wage of bing instructors and by increasing the accomplishments of the instructors through refresher classs in order to heighten their instruction accomplishments and English Language accomplishments.Section – 2: Situation AnalysisIn this subdivision, the research worker analyzes the informations obtained from the study of Pakistan Education Assessment System ( PEAS ) . The study involved aggregation of informations through direct observation, i.e ; interview. A sample size of 9 top directors of PEAS was selected for interview. Unstructured interviews were carried out from the top directors. The sentiment and positions of the directors have been obtained related to the demand and supply of instructors at secondary school and college degree in Punjab. Facts extracted from the interviews have been analyzed to obtain the findings.2.1 Opinions and positions of top directors about the demand and supply of instructo rs at secondary and college degree in Punjab2.1.1 Quality of instruction at authorities and private schools97 % of the top directors of PEAS informed that the quality of instruction provided to pupils of authorities schools is non satisfactory. These schools lack competent instructors, educational stuff and installations. The conditions of schools in rural countries are worst. Many schools have been closed in rural countries as these schools lack competent instructors and basic installations. However, the quality of instruction at private schools is satisfactory. These schools have qualified and competent instructors.Figure 1: Opinion of top director of PEAS about the quality of instruction in schools of rural countries2.1.2 Causes of famine of instructors in rural countries95 % of the top directors believed that instructors hesitate to work in rural countries due to hapless on the job conditions and low wages. The top direction suggested that instructors can be motivated to work in rural countries by increasing the wages of bing instructors, supplying good salary bundles to the new instructors and by supplying text editions and basic installations to these schools. Teachers should be recruited on lasting footing instead than on impermanent footing. If the instructors are provided inducements and good wage bundles they will be able to execute their occupations in these countries.2.1.3 Performance of authorities and private colleges98 % of the top directors of PEAS believed that every bit compared to the authorities schools, the public presentation of authorities colleges in urban countries is satisfactory. The authorities colleges have competent and qualified instructors in urban countries. However, the colleges in rural countries lack competent instructors.Figure 2: Opinion of Top Directors of PEAS Regarding Quality of Education and Competent Teachers in Government Colleges in Urban Areas2.1.4 Major ground behind deficiency of instructors90 % of the top direc tors of PEAS informed that deficiency of instructors is besides due to the fact that most people do non fall in the profession of learning as they consider it a low paid and an inferior occupation. Some people merely fall in this profession as a last resort. As a consequence of this, they lack motive to carry through their duties. When they find any good chance, they leave the instruction profession.2.1.5 Carry throughing the spread of quality instruction in freshly converted English Medium schoolsWhen the positions of the top directors were taken sing the transition of Urdu Medium schools into English Medium, all of them agreed that it is a good enterprise from the authorities for taking the differentiation between two categories of instruction. Students analyzing in Urdu Medium schools are frequently considered as inferior to English Medium. Furthermore, when these pupils reach higher categories, they face trouble in understanding scientific discipline topics. The top directors be lieved that the spread of quality instruction in these schools can be fulfilled by supplying instruction and English linguistic communication accomplishments to the instructors through on-the-job preparation. This spread can besides be filled by enrolling competent instructors on lasting footing.2.2 FindingssThe findings of the study are in consistent with that of literature reappraisal, as it has shown that rural schools and colleges of Pakistan face the greatest demand for instructors. The status of authorities colleges in urban countries is rather satisfactory as these schools have competent instructors. The demand for the supply of instructors has greatly grown over the past 10 old ages. Keeping in position the demand for a big figure of instructors, the supply of competent instructors must go on to increase. The demand for new instructors may differ by territory or small town and it may depends upon the local population growing, instructors ‘ retirements, instructors â₠¬Ëœ turnover rate, instructors ‘ in-migration rates and wages offered to them. With the transition of all Urdu Medium schools to English Medium schools in Punjab, the demand for qualified and professional instructors in these schools have greatly increased.Section – 3: Decision and Recommendations3.1 DecisionThe demand and supply of instructors can be balanced if the Numberss of vacancies of instructors are filled in by the figure of instructors needed to make full these places. The rural schools and colleges of Pakistan are confronting the deficit of the supply of qualified and competent instructors. These educational institutes besides lack basic installations and educational stuff. Teachers hesitate to work in rural countries due to low wage and hapless on the job conditions. There is besides deficit of instructors due to the fact that the profession of instruction is considered as a low paid and inferior occupation. Peoples merely fall in this profession as a last r esort. On the occupation preparation is besides required for the instructors to heighten their instruction accomplishments. With the transition of Urdu Medium schools into English Medium schools, the demand for qualified and competent instructors has risen. There is demand for enlisting of professional and qualified instructors in order to raise the quality of instruction in schools and colleges particularly authorities schools and colleges in rural countries. With the uninterrupted addition in the population and accent of the authorities on instruction, the demand for supply of more instructors will farther increase.3.2 RecommendationsBased upon qualitative and quantitative analysis following recommendations have been suggested: In order to actuate instructors, they should be provided good wage bundles and other inducements. Teachers should be recruited on a lasting footing instead than on impermanent footing in authorities schools and colleges. The position of instructors demands to be raised in the society, as instruction should non be considered as an inferior occupation. Teachers working in rural countries should be provided particular salary bundles and inducements. Teachers need on-the-job preparation in order to heighten their instruction accomplishments. The instructors of the Urdu Medium schools which have been converted into English Medium schools needs to be trained in English linguistic communication accomplishments. There is besides demand for enlisting of competent instructors in these schools.

Mad Men Sociological / Semiotic Analysis

Every so often there is a television program that attracts a large audience because it is brilliantly written and entertaining. One of the most recent television shows to do this has been Mad Men. The show revolves around an advertising agency in the 1960’s and it’s key players in the company, more specifically Don Draper. Being set in the 1960’s, it is important to do both a sociological and semiotic analysis of the show. Society and human interactions have changed dramatically over the past fifty years and while it is a scripted television show and not a documentary, the drama prides itself on paying close attention to details and keeping everything true to the time period. It would be interesting and informative to do an analysis comparing the 1960’s shown in Mad Men to today’s society. Likewise, with the characters and their clothing, subtle symbols give away clues about who they are and what they’re going through as the show goes on. Semiotics are important to take note of in every context in order to truly understand whatever you’re trying to critically understand or analyze. In the 1960’s society was vastly different that it is today. It was a turning point in American history and dealt with a lot of sensitive issues that are still linger around today although they aren’t as prominent as they once were. This is reflected in the society that is built in the show Mad Men, namely the Sterling Cooper society. Sterling Cooper is the advertising agency that the show revolves around; in Sterling Cooper there is anything you would find in a larger society, such as social norms and bureaucracy. Furthermore, critics realize that â€Å"Mad Men deliberately shocks its audience by presenting as reasonable and commonplace behavior we now find appalling,† (â€Å"The Devil's in the Details,† The Atlantic) which gives us a direct juxtaposition of the Mad Men society and today’s society. In multiple aspects of a sociological analysis, there is always a prime example in the show Mad Men which is only highlighted when trying to look at Mad Men through the lens of today’s societal norms. Durkheim’s theory said that there is a social dimension to how people construct themselves based on their surroundings. That can be seen primarily in the character Peggy Olson. At first, Peggy suffers from alienation. Peggy being from Brooklyn feels disconnected with her co workers. She feels estranged since she's so homely and lives a simple, plain lifestyle compared to the lashy, metropolitan girls around her. She isn't skinny, she wears more modest clothing and isn't throwing herself at her bosses. â€Å"The audience sees Peggy alienate herself from the rest of the girls in the office, often eating lunch alone in the office, ignoring the fashions that the other women wear and refusing the participate in the constant office gossip. As a woman, in the 1960s however, she cannot exactly be one of the boys and therefore she cannot relate to the man either† (Analyzing Mad Men: Critical Essays on the Series, pg 159-160). It takes her a while to figure out where she fits in, and over time she too becomes a flashier version of herself, clearly influenced by the women around her and tries to step out of her comfort zone and into a different kind of lifestyle. Lifestyles are also a very important part of society. Lifestyle covers a person's taste in fashion, cars , entertainment, and other leisure activities which often reflect our socioeconomic class. Peggy was a lowly girl from Brooklyn, which was very much looked down upon by the men and women of Manhattan. She was considered poor, especially when she would bring her own lunch to work instead of buying her food off of the lunch cart like the other secretaries. Her clothing also gave her away in the beginning, her skirts were longer than the other girls, she was always covering up, which won't help attract the bosses in the ways the other secretaries were trying so desperately to do. Peggy would go home and read, or stay at work late if she wanted while other girls were running around on dates or going out trying to find something at a bar. Peggy’s chosen lifestyle is opposite the other women in the show outside of Sterling Cooper, mainly Don Draper’s wife Betty. Don Draper is a very successful, so his wife gets to spend her days looking at art, or riding horses. Their socioeconomic stance allows her to spend her entire day doing leisure activities and not be worried about such trivial things as work. Betty even had a nanny, so as not to over exert herself with cooking dinner and taking care of their children after all that horseback riding. Being a housewife to a successful man, Betty lived a very different lifestyle than the young girls who worked as secretaries. The secretaries in Sterling Cooper created their own small hierarchy which can be viewed as a bureaucracy. Joan is the â€Å"head secretary,† giving her a significant value to both the men and the secretaries. For the most part she decide who gets which secretary, and if changes should be made. She orders the other secretaries to do things and they listen knowing the power she holds behind the scenes (whether or not they know its because she's sleeping with one of the partners is another story). Joan was held in such high regard, even the men of Sterling Cooper would listen to her; mainly because she demanded respect and they were always hoping to impress Joan to hopefully catch her attention. This is also why it becomes so hard for Peggy when Joan begins to resent her for catching the attention of the men in the office not with her body, but with her ideas. Joan was no longer the woman in the office to brag about, but Peggy with her fantastic ideas and later on when she eventually becomes more than just a secretary in the company. While Joan is head of secretaries, Peggy now has her own secretary. Peggy becoming a junior copy-writer went against the anomies or social norms of Sterling Cooper, as well as the rest of society in the 1960’s. Women had just entered the workforce and there wasn’t a huge place for women to do more than secretarial work for the men who were doing the â€Å"real work. † Women were faced with trials and tribulations every day they went to work, ranging from sexual harassment from the men to the glass ceiling they were constantly suffering from. A common social norm found in Mad Men is the unspoken yet well known practice of men sleeping with the secretaries in the office. Don Draper, the main character does it many time throughout this show, with Peggy actually being the exception since he saw there was something more to her. Sterling, Campbell, Draper, all known for their trysts with secretaries around the office. This wouldn't be as readily accepted in today's day and age, and is the reason for a lot of the sexual harrassment laws today; however in the 1950s, and at the fictional Sterling Cooper ad agency, it was the norm. Joan and Peggy are both constantly in this sexist environment but react to is in very different ways. â€Å"Their behavior and comments highlight alternative ways that women behave. Joan rises to the occasion, showing off her femininity in poses, smiles, and comments. Peggy, on the other hand, is a woman who enjoys looking pretty, but she is also a thinker who seems to understand the objectification that is taking place† (Mad Men: Gender, Race, Ethnicity, Sexuality, and Class; William M. O’Barr). Joan was a powerful and intelligent woman, but would ever be seen as more than that. Peggy, however, masked her sexuality well enough to have the men see past the fact she was a woman and actually give her a chance to become something more than a secretary. However, the fact that a woman had to virtually deny the fact she was a woman in order to get to a more prominent position in her workplace highlights the sexist attitude of corporate America in the 1960s. Among sexist attit udes in the workplace, there were plenty of other social norms that are highlighted in Mad Men. The constant drinking and smoking are seen as shocking in a society that has banned smoking from virtually everywhere including certain outdoor areas and have constant reminders to drink responsibly. Mad Men, paying close attention to detail, constantly has the men walk into their offices and pour a drink almost religiously on the show. Even if the drink is a minute detail of the scene, they make sure it happens, because that’s how it would’ve been in the 1960s. There is also smoking everywhere, in the elevators, in restaurants, in the offices, everywhere. Ironically, one of the biggest issues of the time period is skirted around in Mad Men. In the 1960's race was a very prominent subject that carried a lot of tension with it. There was no equality in the workplace and African American's were primarily kept to service jobs like waiters, door men, etc. In one episode it was a big deal that a client was Jewish. It was such a big deal they searched the whole company to find another Jewish man to sit in on the meeting and make their client feel more welcome. They found only one young Jewish man working in the depths of the art department. In another episode, Pete Campbell, a junior account manager makes a point that a certain television brand was being bought by mostly African Americans in the south and suggested placing ads in magazines that were directed towards them. This was aggressively dismissed since the agency felt their client wouldn’t want to be so closely associated with being the brand African Americans’ choose. One of the more important characters in later seasons, Lane, who is originally from England, is having an affair with a black woman and refuses to return to England. His father promptly punches him in the gut and informs him that it was not a request and they are leaving back to England immediately. The idea of his son being with a black woman was simply intolerable to the British man, he wouldn’t even object, he simply pretended it didn’t exist. Just like that, in one episode an interracial relationship was created and destroyed. Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols and how they create meaning in society, this plays a large part in Mad Men. The show’s creator, Matthew Weiner has made sure that attention to detail is not only meticulous, but the details help tell the story much like they would in actual society. â€Å"The pattern of a necktie, the club frequented, the restaurant patronized, the shopping bag carried, the prep school attended, together with a thousand other details, signify minute social distinctions, and reveal and even define character† (â€Å"The Devil's in the Details. † The Atlantic). If the viewer is paying close attention, they will notice that as the week goes on the characters wardrobe and hair styles become more worn. The easiest example of semiotics is to compare the three main women in the show: Betty Draper, Don Draper’s wife; Joan Holloway, the head secretary; and Peggy Olson, ambitious secretary turn copy-writer. Betty Draper is the definition of trophy wife and is coded as thus. She is a blonde hair, blue eyed woman who used to be a model and gave it all up to be a housewife once she was swept away by main character Don Draper. She is always looking neat and proper, with her hair in fancy hair-dos and her flowery dresses she is littered in signs that depict her as a stereotypical 50’s housewife. Betty is undoubtedly a loving mother and wife, she is also innocent, timid and submissive when it comes to her husband, whatever he says, goes. However, as her marriage begins to crumble, she begins to change in all aspects. Her hobbies begin to change from redecorating her house to finding things to do outside of the house like horseback riding. When Betty has a moment of aggressiveness, whether it’s towards her neighbor or while lashing out at her husband, she is usually seen wearing pants. It’s almost as if her wardrobe is letting viewers see her changes as its happening, not only in her actions, but in her choice of clothing. Joan Holloway, later known as Joan Harris is almost the complete opposite of Betty Draper in every way imaginable. Joan is the head secretary, and she is purposely coded with fiercely sexual signs such as being a red-head and very curvaceous. She fulfills her signs’ connotations by coquettishly and sometimes aggressively flaunting her confidence and dominance in everything she does. She dresses very provocatively and is always wearing a very long necklace. She is supposed to be viewed as the office vixen and her clothing doesn’t let you forget her role in Sterling Cooper. Once Joan is married and becomes Mrs. Harris, she quits her job as most women did in the 1960’s. She trades in her tight dresses for a more modest wardrobe of jeans and t-shirts and plainer dresses as she tries to enter the role as housewife. Joan becomes much less glamorous and more homely as time goes on; you can begin to see this new lifestyles wearing on the once fierce and flawless woman. The third distinctive woman on Mad Men is Peggy Olson. Peggy is coded as having a lower socioeconomic status than the rest which is signified by her clothing early on in the series; her clothes are plain and homely. She covers herself in sweaters and long dresses and skirts that aren’t form fitting like the other secretaries in the office. She doesn’t wear much make-up, her brunette plain hair is usually in a childish pony tail; signifying both her innocence and lack of time spent on the superficial since she feels her thoughts should be geared towards more important things. However, once she begins finding her place her attire begins to conform to the metropolitan atmosphere. Her confidence is exuding from her character, and the audience can see it in her new found sense of style. Her skirts get shorter (but never too short), her choice in clothing gets more sophisticated and bold. Her childish ponytail is gone; Peggy’s new hair is shorter with bangs off to the side. Peggy has gone through a major transition and is now coded as being a confident, intelligent woman that can hold her own in a man’s world without using her body by simply changing her clothing and hair style. Mad Men is an exceptional show that pays very close attention to historical accuracies and character details with a meticulous manner. While most audiences won’t pick up on the fact that the women’s hair colors are signifiers of who they are, critically analyzing Mad Men makes the audience aware of the volumes the women’s hair colors say about them. The amount of thought that goes into each character and their individual signs and signifiers, coded and recoding them to reflect their current state is obvious to anyone who takes the time to critically watch the show and appreciate all that goes into it. The writer’s also have a captivating way of taking societal issues of the times and conveying them to the audience with the same gravity they had back then, despite the audience watching it through the lens of today’s society. All the sensitive subjects of race, class, sexes are shown with the same directness as any other societal norm that was found in the 1960s that might not be as welcomed today. An artifact that is dedicated to reflecting on the past in the present while using every possibly detail available to convey messages and stories deserves to be recognized for all the hard work that is put into it. Bibliography O'Barr, William M. â€Å"Mad Men: Gender, Race, Ethnicity, Sexuality, and Class. † Advertising ; Society Review 2011th ser. 11. 4 (2011). Project MUSE. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. ;http://muse. jhu. edu/journals/advertising_and_society_review/v011/11. 4. o-barr. html;. Rogers, Sara. â€Å"The Women of Mad Men. † Analyzing Mad Men: Critical Essays on the Series. By Scott Frederick. Stoddart. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2011. Print. Schwartz, Benjamin. â€Å"The Devil's in the Details† The Atlantic November (2009): 91-98. Print. Berger, Arthur Asa. Media Analysis Techniques. London: SAGE, 2011. Print.

Describing some of the rhetorical choices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Describing some of the rhetorical choices - Essay Example In the McDonald’s ad, there are several rhetorical choices that are evident. One is the use of hyperbole as a means to exaggerate the obsession for McDonald’s fare among the NFL players and coaches, in the middle of games. The first person mentions the menu, and the obsession becomes a kind of backdrop rap melody that the other characters then rapped to. The words that were put into their mouths consisted of variations of the burger fare, and an emphasis on bacon. There is also an element of parody as a rhetorical choice for the ad, where the intense obsession with what the players and coaches are saying on court, via lip reading, is flipped on its head so that their utterances are not about the game but about McDonald’s burgers (Super Bowl 2014 Commercials; Broderick). The rhetorical situation in the Toyota Highlander ad, on the other hand, is essentially the same as for the McDonald’s as well as for the all of the commercials in the Super Bowl. That rhetorical situation consists of the ads trying to convey the product message to TV viewers and general Internet followers of the Super Bowl ads. In the Toyota ad it is clear that the overall goal seems to be to entertain and to associate the Camry with images of fun and the iconic Muppets characters. Juxtaposition is a key rhetorical choice for this ad. The juxtaposition consists of the side by side placement of a relatively conventional, middle-class African American man who lives in the suburbs and drives around in a Highlander on the one hand, and on the other hand the psychedelic gang of the musical Muppets, headed by the wild Animal. This is a very good rhetorical choice, given that the Toyota’s traditional image is one of being practical and reliable, if utilitarian and lacking in the fun aspect. On the other hand, the juxtaposition with spontaneity, adventure and fun as embodied by the Muppets and by the Animal

ART Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 17

ART - Essay Example Some portions have smooth textures – those areas where the interweaving takes place; but there are also sections that appear to have coarse feel and appearance – areas near the horn-like edge right on its crest. The sculpture takes a relatively miniature scale of some symbolic gothic structures of Greece or Italy. It is quite symmetrical although there are fragments that look distorted, perhaps because of age; and the colour is much more saturated than pale. I think that there is an original intention to express oldness or flow of time. The sculpture overall resembles a diminutive figure of an archaic piece of structure that is adhered by the wild vines or some type of lianas or trailing plants. This adherence is emphasized in order to retain the underlying meaning of this particular artwork, that is, â€Å"the fleeting of time†, regardless of the extent at which this artwork shall exist. The inscription of some unfamiliar scripts or symbols relate to the interweaving vines in that it suggests of the aimed oldness of the artwork, whether it is a representation of another piece of art of a larger scale or it is the sculpture itself. Another magnificent piece of art was made by Mahonri Young. The geometry of the sculpture is rather consolidated because it uses human figures to convey its message. It is quite difficult to display an overwhelming geometrical clarity or symmetry when using human figures. The colour is highly saturated. It stresses on the boldness of colour that corresponds to the nature of the sports being depicted. Not much contrast in colour is shown on the sculpture. It is small in scale. It has a very smooth texture and is even all throughout. Perhaps, it is because of the material being used. There is a subtle connection between the colour and the description of the sculpture. It portrays a bloody sport, which is, boxing. Its use of a duskier shade somehow unveils the concealed meaning of the artwork. Moreover, the definite muscular

Edward R. Murrow, Army-McCarthy hearings Research Paper - 1

Edward R. Murrow, Army-McCarthy hearings - Research Paper Example He constantly accused the federal government of being involved with the Communists. This is what initiated the army-McCarthy hearings in the first place. But in the end, his accusations and remarks were decreed as groundless. McCarthy blamed the army and the army blamed him and said that he was stating those remarks to please his senior David Schine and his friend, Roy Cohn (Caute). Many people in the government were intimidated by Senator McCarthy because of his popularity and his gift of gab. Despite his blames and accusations, people listened to him because he was an excellent orator. But it is unfortunate that he used his skills for the wrong purposes. This is why his sudden decline was his own fault, as was later proved by Edward Murrow. Another reason for McCarthy’s growing popularity was his relation with the Kennedy family. He was in their good books and while the Kennedy family was at its prime, McCarthy took unfair advantage of it. Moreover, the Kennedy’s were Catholics and so was McCarthy and this forged a stronger bond between the Kennedys and McCarthy. This is also why McCarthy gained infinite support when it came to targeting the Communist tribes. Many journalists and critics also claim that for McCarthy, being Communist was more of a personal issue and it was his fault that he amalgamated it with his profession(Caute). After these remarks began to surface, the Senate took the matter in its own hands. The Senate set up a committee to find the root of the problem. Normally, McCarthy was the one who governed these meetings but as this time he himself was being charged, Karl Mundt was elected as the leader of the committee. He was also a renowned Republican senator. At first the Senate was a little hesitant to make Mundt the head of committee because McCarthy was a lot stronger opponent and he made a rude opponent, but many members of the committee voted in favor of Mundt.

Modern Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Modern Society - Essay Example For Freud was pleased with the critical review that his Italian disciple had come up with: "I am glad you have shown yourself to be courageous and honest, as always."[ Roazen 2000, page 4] However, the closer we may seem to be in easily understanding his works and get to a conclusion of our own, the more complicated our thinking process about him becomes. As for citing an example, the following citation goes: In his Civilization and Its Discontents (1930) he would make no bones about why he thought the love for humanity was both unrealistic and undesirable. In a way Freud had given away his true sentiments even in his letter to Rolland, when he put the love of mankind on the same level as the necessity for technology, which Freud like other Europeans of his time looked on with at best mixed feelings[Roazen 2000, page5]. Further, His book Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious is one of the most complicated ones he ever wrote, and attracts little attention nowadays. That text is littered with examples of the worldly wisdom which can be communicated through jokes. Freud's dry cynicism was frequently reported. We know a bit about how much he appreciated Mark Twain's public appearances in Vienna. Like all complex figures Freud had his multiple contradictions, but he harnessed them into making the great literature he left which is still capable of enlivening debates today. It remains for the future to determine whether Freud will in the end succeed in ranking with thinkers like Machiavelli, Hobbes, Rousseau, and others who disturbed the sleep of the world [Roazen 2000, page 8]. By withdrawing all their liberated energies into their life on earth, they will probably succeed in achieving a state of things in which life will... The citizen in modem society, laboring, according to Freud, under a heavy burden of unconscious guilt, does not recognize it; he only feels a "sort of uneasiness or discontent for which other motivations are ~ought."The patient does not recognize this sense of guilt either. "As far as the patient is concerned this sense of guilt is dumb; it does not tell him he is guilty; he does not feel guilty, he feels ill."4 Freud seems to suggest, however, that the "pale criminal" or "criminal from a sense of guilt," can, in fact, partially recognize his unconscious guilt.' This type of criminal, Freud tells us, does not feel guilty because he commits crimes; rather he commits crimes because he suffers from an oppressive pre-existing sense of guilt which he cannot account for. Freud implicitly did, the idea of unconscious guilt as a means of changing and restructuring society? I suggest that they did, that the crisis of pestilence was also an opportunity, an opportunity to topple rulers, banish one's political opponents, and change the form of regime. The process of purification was an integral part of classical politics. Freud finally comes to the conclusion, in Civilization and Its Discontents, that since society will not see that it is sick, and would resist treatment, in any case, the only hope for society lies in its being coerced into receiving therapy". Any problem which society experienced could be explained as the result of an unconscious sense of guilt, due to the fathers having sinned even centuries earlier.

Pathways, Signs and Symbols Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Pathways, Signs and Symbols - Essay Example The origin of symbols is still unknown but it is well connected with the tribes and small communities of the past. â€Å"Ndebele Tribe,† as they are mainly known for their decorative symbols, beadwork, crafts and paintings, that â€Å"hails from South Africa and is divided into four different groups of which two, Ndzunda and Manala live in Pretoria and Mpumalanga area of South Africa† (Lalioti 1) They are known for their colorful geometric symbols and designs and their distinctive use of colors and striking designs has made them popular around the world. The wall paintings by Ndebele portray â€Å"triangular and v-shaped designs† with distinct color (Lalioti 1). As the tribe started getting more exposure to urban style they started using synthetic paints and also including city scenes on their paintings. Ndebele symbols and art form do not contain any mystical content. Their women are very creative and use â€Å"their fingers to create† symbols and designs . The main occasion of painting and renewing their houses is on the â€Å"male initiation or wela† (Lalioti 3). The completion of paintings comes with family celebrations and get together. They intend to create these designs just to please the eyes. Their quality of artwork is exceptional as every design includes straight geometric designs. An interesting fact is that they paint all the designs with free hand without any rulers and the help of any shapes. Similarly, it is entirely the responsibility of women to make designs for walls. Their choice of colors and design patterns symbolizes their individuality and creativeness and makes them stand apart. Ndebele women paint both the interiors and exteriors of their houses. Most of the patterns they use are repeated but with variations in colors and designs. According to the reference most of the pictures have black outline and are done on white surface. Every section or pattern is filled with different colors before it gets repe ated in the next design. Their connection to the urban society is evident in their paintings. The designs could be a little complicated for the first time viewers. But the understanding makes it clearer when one finds the geometric shapes. The contemporary artists of this tribe usually make use of a wide range of bright colors like yellow, red and green. They use natural colors and few earth colors but their connection with urban society helped them to use synthetic colors as well to create better effect. When discussing art and symbol, Giorgio de Chirico deserves special mention. Born in Greece, he is known for his classic and symbolic representation of art work. He is the pioneer of the â€Å"Metaphysical Movement† and was known for his strange style of paintings. He painted the cityscapes not with much movement but with a creepy atmosphere. The streets were often shown as eerie and haunted. Critics have mentioned his art work as dream writings. The themes of most of his pa intings were focused on melancholia, done by depicting pictures of clocks. In his images he conveys feelings of power and freedom through trains, clocks, towers, arcades and shadows. The walls and towers of the paintings give a sense of power for the viewer. The most familiar thing in de Chirico’s painting was the â€Å"train† which is believed to have a link to his â€Å"childhood train set† and also reminiscent of his father was an engineer in

Genomics, Vaccines & Weaponization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Genomics, Vaccines & Weaponization - Essay Example The second step is to produce the recombinant proteins in E.coli bacteria, and this may range to about 350 proteins. These proteins are then purified and used in mice. The immune sera so obtained would be collected and would be assayed to determine their binding capacity with the proteins on the N. meningitides B bacteria to observe any kind of bactericidal activity in vitro. A few numbers of proteins can be taken that have a high titer in all the assays. Here the protein sequence variability was being studied in the isolates of N. mengitidis B bacteria and from these the final candidates would be 2 vaccines that met all the criteria should be selected and had no sequence variability. This can undergo phase 1 clinical trial (Fraser 23-33). Robert Stevens was dying from inhalation anthrax and was dying from the disease, in September 2001 following the 911 attacks. He had received a letter containing some strange powder and following coming in contact with this powder became ill. His b ody was taken to Northern Arizona University wherein biologist Paul Keim had invented a molecular biology technology of distinguishing one strain of anthrax from another. Keim had collected about 88 strains of anthrax and tried to compare them with each of these. He compared the DNA (genome) of the bacteria and located for various genetic markers specifically 8 in number, and found that it had matched one that was used by the US Army for its vaccine studies as it was a highly virulent bacterium and could be used in bioterrorism. This strain was known as the Ames Strain and was first isolated from a cow in Texas in 1981 and was sent to the USSAMRIID for research (US Department of Justice ). The bacteria had passed several hands of various laboratories. They later studied the difference between the Ames anthrax bacteria and the bacteria that killed Stevens. They compared 5 million chemical letters present in 5000 genes. After doing all these studies, they found that the genome of the bacteria that was present in Stevens’s body was the same as the Ames strain, and they could not identify specifically from which lab was the sample smuggled out and used by the terrorists. Mutations that the bacteria would undergo after being passed from one lab to another was being studied, but the scientist did not find any differences. Finally they found that the genome of morph D of the bacteria did contain a large portion that was missing and this was caused by an altered chemical letter in the DNA. They zeroed down to 8 out of the 1000 samples collected and this was traced to an army laboratory USAMRIID and the researcher involved was Bruce Ivins who had committed suicide after he was declared the prime suspect (PBS). Biological warfare is the use of biological agents or their toxins in order to destroy human, animal and plant life and would be an act of terrorism or war. These biological organisms are capable of reproducing on the hosts or are able to release toxic sub stances on the host, cause disease and finally kill or cause critical illnesses in the host. Some of the biological weapons may actually be lethal, whereas other may be non-lethal but may have a disastrous effect. Further, by using infectious agents, the effect is even more disastrous and disease rapidly spreads from one individual to another, and drugs and vaccines that are required may not be immediately available. Most of such biological warfare agents are transmitted on contact or through

Great Expectations Essay Example for Free

Great Expectations Essay Home in today’s society can be described in many ways, but is ultimately expressed as more of a feeling of safety and love. Sonsyrea Tate claims You can leave home all you want, but home will never leave you. In essence, the feeling of home is a part of the character and who he/she will become. In Charles Dickens Great Expectations, Pip examines the true meaning of home and how the subjective opinion of home can reflect who a person becomes. He illustrates this idea using recurring appearances of home-like symbols, the way Pip’s definition of home changes throughout the novel, and how he shows Pip’s acquired feelings after moving into higher society. Throughout the novel Pip experiences many obstacles and in these are constant symbols that hint at a sense of â€Å"home† that Pip could be missing. When Pip is in a frustrating situation he looks to where everything first began which ends up being where he grew up- the mist over the marshes. This mist to Pip could be to most people as their home, kitchen, or even office where they feel most comfortable. He looks to the marshes for reassurance in what is right or wrong. He searches the marshes numerous times for what seems to be answers, â€Å"once again, this mists were rising as [Pip] walked away. If they disclosed [him], as [he] suspect[ed] they did, [he] should never come back (286). When people are confused or frightened, they usually run to where they feel safest and can reassure themselves with what they think is best. This place for many is home. Just as Mrs. Joe continuously reminds Pip of how he needs to be better, the marshes are a continuous reminder of where Pip should be. This could be shown to many as a feeling of homesickness, an emotion many can relate to. Whenever Pip has the moment to think, he ponders how he should reach out to Joe and his past reminding him again that he should be around those who love him. As Pip sits and ponders to himself he thinks â€Å"†¦and liable to be taken out of those rooms where [Pip] [sits] thinking, and hanged at the Old Bailey door, that [he] had deserted Joe† (324). Also when Pip returns home a few times he feels upset and guilty because he knows leaving was the wrong thing to do. At these times Pip tries to reconnect with the loved ones he deserted, such as Biddy and Joe, but over all his attempts still do not amount to the missing sense of home Pip has. All of these reminders; the marshes, repeating thoughts, and guilty feelings all represent to Pip of symbols that remind him of home. As Pip is growing into a young man, home is more of a place than an emotion. Pip never really feels completely welcome in the place where he is brought up. Mrs.  Joe’s constant and repeating reminder of how Pip is more of a burden to her is made known as she says I didn’t bring you up by hand to bagger peoples lives out. It would be a blame on to me, and not praise, if I had. , than a reward to her is evidence to Pip that to her he is somewhat worthless. (12) Pip doesn’t know of any other home besides the one with Mrs. Joe. Every person image of home has its differences, and the one Pip has at the moment isn’t a real pleasant one. Which in the long run could be a factor contributing to why Pip did not really know what home felt like to begin with. In the beginning of the novel, Pips definition of home is very unwelcoming and dark considering who he is surrounded by. Pip explains how Mrs. Joe is abusive to him My sister made a dive at me and fished me up by the hair saying nothing more than awful words and how her appearance isn’t comforting as he describes her as †¦with black hair and eyes, had such a prevailing redness of skin that I had sometimes used to wonder whether it was possible she washed herself with a nutmeg-grater instead of soap (10) (6). As Pip continues to grow and continuing with his move to London he never really has a permanent home, but more of multiple places he stays at for some time. Although, towards the end of the novel, the reader witnesses Joes forgiving and loving character shine through to Pip. Joe’s character seems to hint to Pip of what a good home could feel like without for some time Pip entirely catching on to these hints. Pip eventually becomes more conscious of the feeling of home and being welcome when the symbols and thoughts come to his conscience. Thus representing his dramatic change and realization he comes to, home isn’t characterized by the places one moves, but more by the feelings received from the people who make he/she feel most content and welcome. Since Pip encounters a large change in how he is placed in society, he begins to have mixed feelings towards the large alter. People are often blinded by the possessions they want instead of possessions that ultimately mean something in the long run. Pips upbringing was greatly influenced by the strive to be better and the shame of where his family was originally placed in social standing. The actions of his sister and guardian, Mrs. Joe, reminding Pip about how he is a burden and the actions of Mr. Pumblechook lying about being affiliated with higher class just to be recognized with more power because of his connections shine brightly to Pip making him think he is not good enough. Out of all of the people in Pips life it was his sister’s husband, Joe, who believes in Pip and allows Pip to eventually realize what home is supposed to be. Joe’s representation as the father figure to Pip allows Pip to feel welcome. Sometimes in society the feeling of home doesn’t have to be my parents or family, but can just be who makes or where you feel accepted. Pip feels safe around Joe but considering Pips upbringing telling him that he needs to be better embarrassment is shown by Pip more often than thankfulness for what Joe did for him. Pip goes throughout life with no actual real home connection, but just a coming across of places. When Joe goes to visit Pip in London, the feeling of embarrassment Pip receives by Joe’s presence is recognized greatly and Joe identifies this. Joe says to Pip, You and me is not two figures to be together in London, nor anywheres else but what is private†¦ Diwisions among such must come (223). Joe forgiving Pip almost instantly for his actions of wanting to not be affiliated with Joe any longer, remind Pip that he will always be there, no matter what the circumstances. Which dear old Pip, old chap, you and me was every friends. And when you’re well enough to go our for a ride-what larks! (486). After these encounters with Joe in London, Pip finally starts to realize the monster he has turned into. Pip realizes Joe is the one who makes him feel accepted and welcome and begins to feel guilty for his repulsive actions towards Joe. As he thinks to himself, I would not have gone back to Joe now, I would not have gone back to Biddy now, for any consideration: simply, I suppose, because my sense of my own worthless conduct to them was greater than every consideration. No wisdom on earth could have given me the comfort that I should have derived from their simplicity and fidelity; but I could never, never, never, undo what I had done† (324). At his turning point, Pip sees that beyond doubt what matters is being where you are accepted and acknowledged by ones who love you, not by where you stand in society. This realization is a parallel to what home represents. Pip realizes that with Joe is where he should be and where he feels most content with himself. This is the most significant recognition of the symbol of home Pip receives. Pip at this point begins to understand that home isn’t a place, but a feeling or intuition. While Pip encounters many obstacles throughout his life, he finds his true self in his realization of what the meaning of home truly is to him. The constant appearance of home, the realization of the true definition of home, and the feelings Pip faces when he changes from lower to higher class. All teach the lesson that home becomes a part of a person, even if it takes some time to figure out what home really means. All people perceive the symbol of home and the feelings connected with it differently. How many different perceptions of home could there be? Do people ever not have a sense of home? Pips ultimate lesson turns out to be that to him home is not just a place, but a feeling existing within ones mind and heart. Often times this lesson is a turning point in many lives.

A Visit to the Animal Kingdom in Florida Essay Example for Free

A Visit to the Animal Kingdom in Florida Essay English Reflective Essay Florida is portrayed as a fantasy land where Mickey Mouse greets you around every corner and where Cinderella actually lives, where days go by without a single drop of rain and the sky is consistently perfectly blue. However this was the farthest thing from my mind as I sat in an immense carbon-emmiting monster whose air conditioning has spluttered and died and while the heavens poured the air was so thick and mucky that flies were sticking to the windshield as we drove, only to be washed away by the drowning rain. As this was happening, my dad who was yet to figure out his left from his right had the near-miracle task of finding our hotel. Which was almost impossible because visibility was limited to about a yard and that requires great concentration, which was hard to find after the fiasco at the airport. Day 2 To my great excitement, Animal Kingdom was our first theme park, rather disappointing though what was hyped up to be a splendour of animal based excitement turned out to be a zoo with the odd thrill. However my memory of the first day was largely marred by Dad; with his new and shiny American muscle car; forgot that when all four doors were shut the lock system was activated. All hell broke lose! With my mum muttering and rambling nonchalantly and quietly with the odd distinguishable, God.. men and my dad, the man of the household and the decisive being, who was spouting all sorts of obscenities and was spanking the car,lightly so no damage was done but gave the impression that somehow it was the cars fault, it was up to me (seeming the only level headed member of the family) to aqcuire the basic survival needs such as food and water. With out park tickets being used for the day there was no way of buying fresh water. Giving up on the task of survival and surrending to the fate of the great over-powering Florida sunshine that was gobbling up every ounce of liquid, I went to a little ledge at the very far side of the car park and with ironic timing the edge of my eye caught sight of a little pool. And just like an oasis in the middle of the Sahara desert the temptation to drink from this minor miracle was extreme. As I squatted and stared while heavily drooling with my mouth arid there was a conflict of conscience apparent in my head. The good side was reciting the well known fact that one of the locals had stated, In every pool of water in Florida there is an alligator. The other evil side accompanied by my sailva and most major organs, was willing to tempt fate yet my good conscience claimed noble victory and I was left to dessicate. And looking back on it, it was probably a wise decision, however the journey back to the apartment was like a front row seat between Mohammed Ali and Mike Tyson.

Three Perspective Approach of Societal Changes

Three Perspective Approach of Societal Changes The Three Perspective Approach of Symbolic-Interaction Approach,  Conflict-Approach, Structural-Functionalist Approach ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION Alcohol Consumption in the society has always been an attractive part in festivities. Nevertheless, in some culture this is consider to be a symbol that profess happiness. Symbolic interaction explain that an individual’s create the symbols that make life meaningful. Symbolic interactionism explains alcohol consumption today is a huge problem society. According to (Harrison, 2010) it can be usually applied to deviant behavior, and violence. All throughout society symbols are used for all aspects of everyday life, and in the Catholic Church it is use to signify the blood of Christ. Whether this tradition culture is wrong, individuals accept practices in their own perception. However, this symbolic ideas to everyone can be viewed as more positive than opposed, it occur more often. Unfortunately this is something shown in today’s society as a spontaneous thing that leads to different interpretation and influence by other group of culture. However, in the Conflict theory alcohol consumption build up conflict as it become a dependence, and motivated to have no limit drinking. In addition, affect the cognitive processes, and drinking behavior. Other conflict are reflected in relationship, and family member; that leads to separation, domestic violence, rape, and others. In the structural- functionalist can be interpreted in different way such as Manifest Function, and latent function, and dysfunction. In Manifest function it is a part of social gathering, that families come together to unite. These event are custom that have been practice, and exist in the society for Christmas, thanks giving, Easter, and reflect a culture in the church. MONOGAMOUS RELATIONSHIPS Monogamy is referred to two individuals are sexually active only with each other, usually in a committed relationship that may or may not be marital. However, in some culture this is consider to not acceptable such as Islamic cultures, polygamy, or the taking of more than one spouse, is acceptable. In addition the Jehovah, and other protestant church or religion group consider that marriage is between a man and a woman within the bounds of marriage, and those sexual infidelity are described as sin, and corrupts a union. Nevertheless, the symbolic interaction to Monogamous relationship is that one shows affection to the other. Through gift, love, caring, giving flowers and spending time together. All this endorsement are symbolic interaction in finding ways to communicate affection. However, will so much good intention some conflict approach arrives to disperse such happiness. The most common conflict is lacking trust, and having jealousy. In addition it may lead to a divorce of the couple, and a delicate fight between both parents for the children custody. The women are victim of domestic violence, and men are mostly in to infidelity. In addition the function approach suggest that relationship meaning of commitment. According to (Kohol, 1983) the function is to prevent vicious sexual relationship, bearing children, establishing relationship of intimacy and devotion and sharing mutual goals. However, in the Manifest it is consider to be in a relationship with a long term lover, or partner that sharing similarity. Nevertheless, latent is rather the husband being involve in vague relationship outside the house hold, and can be entitle to be infection by sexual disease. This not only harm the husband but the whole relationship and the wife. Therefore casing a dysfunction in the relationship such as broken trust, dishonesty, and no confidence. TEENAGE DATING Teenage Dating is the most popular culture that exist in the world of teen. Some culture insist that this practice help in finding or determining the partner or love one would share mutual happiness for eternity. This can be consider another way of other to be to know the person before physically involve or married to. This a symbolic action has determined people to find the right person to establish a relationship. In addition, the lets person know all the strength and weakness of the other. In some cases conflict approach most time being when the teenager become pregnant at an early age, and struggle the rest of her life with the loss of education. Some teenager also part take in abortion to avoid being young parent. Parent that are not supportive enough, and young parent that have no idea what it implies to be a mother. However, in the function approach it seem that teenage dating happen at a certain age. This vary in some culture like at age sixteen, or older. However, the manifest seem to view the society as individual cooping to survive with a partner, because human are commonly bond to another individual. However in the latent view a good relationship should be establish with one individual to have good parenting skill, and guide the children growing up to not make the same mistake. Mayan Rights and communal land ownership Everyone has the right to own land and other goods, and Maya been a dominant culture should as well imply the Mayan rights and communal land ownership. The individual are known for their Maya Ruin, and farm lands; culture and population. Nevertheless, their individual with all the mutual right as the other cultures existing today. There the one who had inhabit the land and that Mayan should have possession on their lands and communal land ownership for their community and all right to claim any injustice done to them. In addition the symbolic approach to this is that of most significant part of them is their temple that symbolizes power and history. Their land mean a home, and agriculture. The most conflict approach implies that the government something don’t recognize that this is a vivid culture that need to be protected. The diversity culture create new mixture whereby a new culture is born. However in the manifest function the tradition is not carried on and some custom are not practice. Latent Function the government don’t provide funds to excavate the remaining ruin, and other Maya right terminated. In addition in the dysfunction someplace show neglect in Maya right and ownership. Even show racism toward the people in their tradition, and clothing, and integration in the society. Women in politics in Belize Belize has never been the strongest, but since the integration of women in to politics allows equality between man power. However, in the symbolic Interaction the women are seen as mothers, and house holder workers. In entering into politics it provide an opportunity for women to voice their opinions. In the end both man and woman have always had equal rights. Nevertheless, the conflict approach in society woman are not seen as leaders, but as followers. Woman are seen as inferior in some culture such as in India, Islamic, and other cultural group. However the lack of speaking out and be out spoken has been taught sometimes by parent that are raised in that manner. In structural- functionalist approach manifest function- the woman are more entitle to work and be productive member in the society. The woman are the guide for the future to create a strong potential child that seek right and justice. However in the latent function the mother are educated caring and business person. The women are independent, hardworking, and successful. The women reflect a positive and secure home environment for the kids to live at home.

Compare and contrast the views of Autumn in Ted Hughes’s There Came A E

Compare and contrast the views of Autumn in Ted Hughes’s There Came A Day and John Keats’s Ode To Autumn. How do the poets use language to convey these views? There are many similarities and differences between the two autumn poems ‘There came a day’ by Ted Hughes and ‘Ode to autumn’ by John Keats. Both poems are based on autumn but they portray it in different ways. ‘There came a day’ presents autumn in a negative way where as ‘ode to autumn’ presents it in a positive way. The reason that John Keats may have written in a in a positive way about autumn is because he was a pre-twentieth century poet and had a love for nature and respect for the countryside. The style in which he writes is known as ‘romanticism’, which is when the poet writes from a personal view, rather than based on facts. Ted Hughes was a twentieth century poet and wrote in a slightly different way to John Keats. He knew a lot about nature and was fond of animals and plants. This could explain why he felt autumn is a harsh and ruthless season, because it symbolises decay and the end of most plant life until spring. We can tell from the title of John Keats’s poem ‘Ode To Autumn’ that it is a positive poem, and obviously about autumn. The title means ‘to praise autumn’ which implies that it is going to be about the good aspects of the season. However, in Ted Hughes’s ‘There Came a Day’ there is a sense of anticipation and fear about the day. From the title we cannot tell that the poem is about autumn but it is more negative. In the opening stanza of ‘Ode to Autumn’ the first few lines set a bright and colourful introduction to the poem. It talks about autumn as a season of mist and mellow fruitfulness. From this we know that it is a... ...rsonal tastes and styles. John Keats was a pre-twentieth century poet, so the vocabulary used in his poem was very old fashioned and traditional. We can tell this from the following words and phrases â€Å"thou hast’’ and â€Å"thou dost†. Ted Hughes was a twentieth century poet, so his writing and use of language is more modern, phrases such as â€Å"stuff them† and â€Å"plucked it† imply that it is a more recent poem. The two poems have many differences and only a few similarities. I believe there to be so many differences to be because of the different time period that the two poets lived in because John Keats’s poem is more traditional and Ted Hughes’s is modern. It is also because of the different style they write in and their own personal points view about autumn. Although I feel the similarity between the two poems is that both poets show their individual feelings.

The Decision to Litigate and the Adversary System :: Litigation Adversary System Court Essays

The Decision to Litigate and the Adversary System The in-class video and lecture identified a number of factors that should be considered when making this decision. They include 1.) Trials are expensive and lengthy. Someone has to pay the costs. 2.) What is the likehood of recovery? 3.) Are the defendants able to satisfy the judgement? 4.) Will a suit impact the relationship between the defendant(s) and 5.) Will harmful publicity or loss of goodwill result? In the movie, the decision to go to trial was based on the attorney’s greed. Though that was not the initial decision, once Schlictmann saw Beatrice Foods and linked it to â€Å"Peter Pan, Tropicana, Samsonite, etc†. You could see the dollar signs in his eyes. From that point forward all manpower and resources were allocated to this one case. None of the plaintiffs in the film appeared to have the financial resources to support a decision to litigate, nor did the firm representing them. Towards the end of the trial, the firm was so heavily in debt over the case they filled out multiple applications for credit cards. They also had second mortgaged their homes, cashed in their â€Å"retirement plans, life insurance plans, gone.† The firm had completely overextended themselves in the process of trying to generate evidence to prove their case. The lack of evidence, money as well as the tremendous resources of the defendants should all have been considerations that would have steered them from a trial. Most important of all, the attorney should have been focused on the goal of the Plaintiff’s in determining whether or not to litigate, which in the movie was completely overlooked. They did not want punitive damages as a result of their losses. What they wanted was for the responsible party to take ownership of their actions and apologize to them. This was clearly stated to Jan Schlictmann in his initial meeting with them. Furthermore, they restated their interest at the time that the attorney’s informed the families that they would each receive $375, 000 as part of the settlement from W.R. Grace. Strategy in the Adversary System One of the strategies employed by lawyers in a trial to achieve a favorable verdict is to persuade the trier of facts that the facts presented by the other side are untrue, improvable or not credible. In the movie, both defense attorneys’s attacked the credibility of the plaintiff’s attorney, Jan Schlictmann.

Notes on Ethics and International Human Resource Management

IHRM Session 18 Ethics & IHRM Ethics Ethics may be defined as an individual’s or society’s beliefs regarding what is right and wrong, or good and bad. Ethics is about how our decisions affect other people. It is also about the rights and duties of people, the moral rules that people apply in decision making and the nature of relationships in a society. Managerial Ethics Managerial Ethics refer to the standards of behavior of individual managers in their work. Four Levels of Ethical Questions in Business Societal – At the societal level, we ask questions about basic institutions, practices and behaviors in a society. For example, is racial discrimination right? Is capitalism the just system to allocate resources in a society? Stakeholder – At the level of the stakeholders of a business, such as customers, shareholders, suppliers, etc. , the ethical issues concern, disclosing correct information to customers, insider trading, relationship and trust with suppliers, etc. Internal Policy – Ethical issues relating to internal policy concern nature f employment policies, fairness of job contracts, work rules, motivation, layoffs, etc. Personal – At the personal level ethics refers to individual behavior in an organization and covers issues of honesty, professional integrity, etc. Tools of Ethics Values – are beliefs that are Relatively few in numbers Serve as a guide for culturally appropriate behavior Enduring or difficult to change Not tied to specific objects or situations Widely accepted by members of a society Values are the answers to the â€Å"why† questions. Rights – Claims that entitle a person to take a particular action Duties – obligations to take specific steps or obey the law Moral rules – Rules for behavior that often become internalized as moral values Relationships – People are related directly or indirectly in a society, which makes ethical behavior necessary Common Morality Common morality refers to the body of moral rules governing ordinary ethical problems. Some basic principles of common morality Promise keeping Non-malevolence Mutual Aid Respect for Persons Respect for Property Approaches to Ethics In the international context, there are three approaches to Ethics Ethical Relativism – The belief that there are no universal or international rights and wrongs. So, an MNC may adopt the practices that are accepted as right in each country, regardless of whether such practices are accepted as right in the home country Ethical Absolutism – The belief that an MNC should only follow what is accepted as ethical in its home country, regardless of which country it operates in. Ethical Universalism – The belief that there are certain fundamental principles of right and wrong that are universal in nature and accepted by every culture. MNCs while operating in different countries must adhere to these universally accepted principles of right and wrong. Ethics & IHRM The existence of universal principles of right and wrong is to an extent proved by the adoption by many countries of the world of certain universal codes of conduct. For examples: The UN Declaration of Human Rights Guidelines for MNEs adopted by OECD countries Caux Round Table Principles of Business The Caux Principles The Caux Round Table believes that the world business community should play an important role in improving economic and social conditions. As a statement of aspirations, this document aims to express a world standard against which business behavior can be measured. We seek to begin a process that identifies shared values, reconciles differing values, and thereby develops a shared perspective on business behavior acceptable to and honored by all. The Caux Principles are based on two basic ethical ideals: The Japanese Principle of Kyosei – which means living and working together for a common good Human Dignity – Respecting the sacredness and value of each person as an end in itself. The Caux Principles Principle 1. The Responsibilities Of Businesses: Beyond Shareholders toward Stakeholders The value of a business to society is the wealth and employment it creates and the marketable products and services it provides to consumers at a reasonable price commensurate with quality. To create such value, a business must maintain its own economic health and viability, but survival is not a sufficient goal. Businesses have a role to play in improving the lives of all their customers, employees, and shareholders by sharing with them the wealth they have created. Suppliers and competitors as well should expect businesses to honor their obligations in a spirit of honesty and fairness. As responsible citizens of the local, national, regional and global communities in which they operate, businesses share a part in shaping the future of those communities. Principle 2. The Economic and Social Impact of Business:Toward Innovation, Justice and World Community Businesses established in foreign countries to develop, produce or sell should also contribute to the social advancement of those countries by creating productive employment and helping to raise the purchasing power of their citizens. Businesses also should contribute to human rights, education, welfare, and vitalization of the countries in which they operate. Businesses should contribute to economic and social development not only in the countries in which they operate, but also in the world community at large, through effective and prudent use of resources, free and fair competition, and emphasis upon innovation in technology, production methods, marketing and communications. Principle 3. Business Behavior: Beyond the Letter of Law Toward a Spirit of Trust While accepting the legitimacy of trade secrets, businesses should recognize that sincerity, candor, truthfulness, the keeping of promises, and transparency contribute not only to their own credibility and stability but also to the smoothness and efficiency of business transactions, particularly on the international level. Principle 4. Respect for Rules To avoid trade frictions and to promote freer trade, equal conditions for competition, and fair and equitable treatment for all participants, businesses should respect international and domestic rules. In addition, they should recognize that some behavior, although legal, may still have adverse consequences. Principle 5. Support for Multilateral Trade Businesses should support the multilateral trade systems of the GATT/World Trade Organization and similar international agreements. They should cooperate in efforts to promote the progressive and judicious liberalization of trade and to relax those domestic measures that unreasonably hinder global commerce, while giving due respect to national policy objectives. Principle 6. Respect for the Environment A business should protect and, where possible, improve the environment, promote sustainable development, and prevent the wasteful use of natural resources. Principle 7. Avoidance of Illicit Operations A business should not participate in or condone bribery, money laundering, or other corrupt practices: indeed, it should seek cooperation with others to eliminate them. It should not trade in arms or other materials used for terrorist activities, drug traffic or other organized crime. Laws Against Bribery The USA has passed the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits any US company from paying bribes in foreign countries The UN Declaration Against Corruption and Bribery in international transactions makes it mandatory for the signatories to this declaration to pass laws prohibiting bribery UN Global Compact Principles PRINCIPLE ONE Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights PRINCIPLE TWO Businesses should make sure they are not complicit in human rights abuses PRINCIPLE THREE Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining PRINCIPLE FOUR Businesses should uphold the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour PRINCIPLE FIVE Businesses should uphold the effective abolition of child labour PRINCIPLE SIX Businesses should uphold the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. PRINCIPLE SEVEN Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges PRINCIPLE EIGHT Businesses should undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility PRINCIPLE NINE Businesses should encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies. Principle 10 Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery. HR function & Ethics Studies show that HR department is involved to a great extent in drafting and implementing ethical initiatives within organizations With expertise in organizational culture, behavioral studies, change management and people related initiatives, HR is in a position to play a key role in initiating ethical conduct within organizations though everyone should be responsible for ethical conduct and behavior Ethics & MNCs For MNCs operating in widely different cultural, racial and social environments, having a self-regulatory code of ethics is even more important. The HR departments do play a key role in monitoring the ethical conduct of its PCNs, TCNs and HCNs

A Note on the Cuban Cigar Industry – 1

â€Å"A Note on the Cuban Cigar Industry† 1. Threats of new entrants: Product differentiation is major player in the market of Cuban Cigars, with certain brands being linked to prestige and honor. Also, restrictions from the world make it difficult for new entrants, because of trade embargos put in place by a majority of the most powerful countries in the world, including the United States. Power of suppliers: Cigar industry is dominated by two major suppliers, Altadis and Swedish Match, which control the distribution of Havana cigars and Cuban branded names, with Altadis being the largest cigar company in the world.Power of buyers: Buyers are willing to pay premium price for quality cigars, therefore, the power of the buyer is very minimal, as cigar enthusiast have increased worldwide. Threats of substitutes: The threat of substitutes is higher, where the actual tobacco seed has been farmed in locations outside of Cuba, including the United States, Dominican Republic, and Hon duras. As noted in the Case, 250 million cigars were exported to the United States from the Dominican Republic. Competitive Rivalry: Rivalry in the Cuban cigar industry is extremely high, where the industry growth has tapered off because of intense competition.Projections were high in the nineties for Cuban Cigar imports; however, with the fear of loss in quality and exclusivity of the cigars, the projections were lessened. Even though there has been a steady increase in exports, it has not been heavy, exhibiting the fact that there are few â€Å"real† producers of Cuban cigars. 2. Given the previous analysis, based on Porter’s Five Forces model, I would without a question invest in the Cuban cigar industry. For a few decades now, the industry has been on the rise, with cigar connoisseurs always remaining loyal and faithful to their preferred brands of cigars.At first, the tobacco firms were increasing their production rapidly, all the while trying to maintain and impr ove quality, however, that was too difficult of a task, so in turn, Ana Lopez, the head marketer for Habanos S. A. changed their focus and decided to keep working at improving quality at any expense. The quality remains, and with that remains a set group of cigar buyers, who would rarely stray from a brand that they have become affixed to. Specifically, I would target my investments towards the distributors of the cigars, as they not only supply Havana or Cuban cigars to the world, but also many other popular brands and types.The main barriers that exist in investing in the Cuban Cigar industry are the U. S. trade embargo as well as the type of government ruling over Cuba, Communist. The trade embargo puts a huge blemish on Cuban cigar export numbers, where the numbers could be increasingly high. Furthermore, because of the Communist government in place, it isn’t always easy for competitors to start new ventures, or to keep profits on the rise. 3. My decision would remain the same; I would still invest in the Cuban cigar industry, even if the trade embargo is lifted.However, the difference in the analysis comes in the situations of rivalry, new entrants and power of the buyers. All of these would change completely with trade being allowed to the United States, who stakes claim to more than 500million premium cigar imports a year, of which, zero are â€Å"officially† Cuban cigars. If the U. S. were to lay stake in the Cuban cigar industry, the entire market would be revamped, with competitors springing up everywhere, buyers gaining more control, and competitive rivalry going on the rise.

200 Million Girls: Female Infanticide in China and India Takes Many Lives Essay

It is a girl. The four deadliest words in Asia. In the past 5 decades 200 million girls went ‘missing’ in India and China. In Asia the horrible phenomenon female infanticide occurs on a large scale. According to M. P. , â€Å"Female infanticide is the intentional killing of baby girls due to the preference for male babies and from the low value associated with the birth of females†. Research shows that female infanticide happens all over the world, but especially in Asia. Girls are being aborted, killed or abandoned. China and India are the two most populous countries in the world where female infanticide is a very big issue. These two countries have similar but also different reasons for female infanticide and these reasons will not cease to exist soon. In 1978 China introduced the one-child policy. The Chinese population was growing too fast and already was enormous. The government introduced this policy to slow down the growth of the population of China. This encouraged female infanticide even more. Before the introduction of the one-child policy female infanticide already existed. According to Ansley J.  Coale and Judith Banister, a missionary (and naturalist) observer in China in the late nineteenth century who interviewed 40 women over age 50, who reported to have given birth to 183 sons and 175 daughters, of whom 126 sons but only 53 daughters survived to age 10. By their account, the women had destroyed 78 of their daughters. To Chinese families the son is the most important child. They believe that the son can work, carry the family name and look after elderly parents. Only after the desire of having a son or two has been met, do Chinese families prefer having a girl. The question that needs to be answered is whether this preference for sons is caused by culture or economics. According to Confucius there are some rituals that can only be performed by boys. But this is not the major reason for female infanticide. â€Å"The major factor is patrilocality, which refers to the firmly entrenched cultural norm for elderly parents to co-reside with their adult children, and for the son to have a woman â€Å"marry in† and assist him in this function. Patrilocality is an economic factor affecting almost every country that participates in sex-selective abortion. (Avraham Ebenstein) Due to the one-child policy and the son preference population, statistics suggest there are 118 boys born for every 100 girls. (Sherry Karabin) In India there is also an unbalanced sex ratio. In India female infanticide is also a big issue. India and China do have similarities as to why families prefer boys. To Indian families, the son is also the most important child. In India sons have long been prized over daughters. Sons preserve the family name and traditionally look after elderly parents. Daughters are often seen as an expensive burden. Parents are faced to pay a costly wedding dowry when they get married; this amount is equivalent to three years of earnings. If they have a daughter and do not have the money to pay the dowry they would also lose pride. Most interviewed Indian women have a similar reason of why they abort, kill or abandon their daughters. They rather abort, kill or abandon them than let them suffer. (Ashok Prasad) In China the groom will give the bride’s family betrothal gifts and a sum of money. In return the parents of the bride will deliver the bride’s dowry to the groom’s family. If one of the families cannot offer gift or the dowry, they would also lose pride. But for Chinese families this is not a reason for not having a girl. Not only poor families have a preference for boys but even educated middle class women face pressure to produce sons. Indian people feel that they will need a son for everything. Indian women call this â€Å"the son obsession†. Due to the son preference in India, population statistics suggest there are 940 girls per 1000 males in rural areas, whereas in urban areas there are 900 girls per 1000 males. Samar Halankar) Unfortunately this horrible phenomenon will not end soon. Both countries have a strong and long history, which means an old tradition. Their preferences for sons will not change soon. In both China and India the government tries to prevent female infanticide by taking certain measures. In China the government tries to ban sex-selective abortion but at the same time they declare that the care of old people is the task of the family and not the state. In India the government has banned dowries under the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961; still few get married without the dowry. Female infanticide in India and China) Despite of this government interference, female infanticide has not stopped. Statistics show that over 200 million girls went ‘missing’ in the past fifty years. Research shows that the number of girls is still declining. (Ashok Prasad) Not only the government tries to stop this, also people who got aware of this fact are trying to stop female infanticide. In 2006 Rita Banerji founded The 50 Million Missing Campaign in order to raise awareness of the phenomenon in India. Although female infanticide has a long history, a lot of people over the world are not aware of this fact. In September 2012 a new documentary film It’s a girl will be released. This documentary film explores female infanticide in India and China. It tells the stories of abandoned girls, of brave mothers trying to save their daughters, of mothers who would kill for a son and women who suffer extreme violence. Global experts and grassroots activists put the stories in context and advocate different paths towards change, while collectively lamenting the lack of any truly effective action against this injustice. Marie Vlachova) To conclude, female infanticide in China and India is still a serious issue and will not end soon. In both countries the preference for sons has similar but also different reasons. This son preference will not change soon due to the old family tradition. They truly believe that sons can bring prosperity, continuity and valuable support and care. Which means that female infanticide will not end soon. Statistics support this fact by showing that the number of girls is still declining and will keep declining.