Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Article Example From research notes, Rosenberg points to the danger of a materialist consumer society, an exact parallel to what the Essay says. 3. (a) â€Å"Frances is an unabashed materialist, a high end version of the mildly-obsessed masses in our capitalist society. The pressure to buy and acquire after all, surrounds all but the most isolated American.†This confirms the Essay’s thoughts about vulnerability of people in a consumer society. The more psychologically fragile suffers most, and the affront is directed not only at adults, but the young as well. (b) â€Å"A materialistic lifestyle is associated with an inadequate sense of security, competence, relatedness, and autonomy.†The Essay also hints at the psychological roots of vulnerability to materialistic consumerism. Frances displays these emotional needs and typifies people in a free enterprise capitalistic society. More basic needs like living standards and education suffer thereby. (c) â€Å"We can’t under estimate the influence of corporations that go to great lengths to convert these products to the promise of emotional fulfillment.†The Essay also makes mention of how corporations use advertising to glamorize products. Consumers thereby lose their sense of priorities in human needs, causing poverty instead of wealth. They even fail to see the true worth in people, seeing only their possessions.
Monday, October 28, 2019
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism Essay Example for Free
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism Essay Maximilian Carl Emil Weber (1864-1920) was a renowned German political economist whose works are still influential in the field to date. He is credited among the founder of the modern study of public administration and sociology. In his analysis on religion, Weber wrote an essay on The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism wherein he argued that religion has largely shaped the different cultures of the world, creating differences between the eastern and western cultures. It is religion, according to him, which brought about the spirit of capitalism and bureaucracy in the western political culture. Protestantism and capitalism are social aspects that intermingle at several places. Protestantism is often associated with revolution and anarchy. It refers to a form of Christian faith holding principals of reformation. Reformation is this context refers to the revolution in the Christian realm which happened ion the 16th century in protest against some principles of the Roman Catholic Church. The leaders of the reformation established the protestant movement to run parallel to the Roman Catholic Church. The term is not used in reference to any particular church, but for the group of churches excluding Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.            Early Protestantism was characterized by the acceptance of the Christian holy book as the only source of absolute truth. They believe in universal priesthood and that faith is the only justification of one’s relationship in God. It is therefore a sin to doubt God and the provisions poof the Bible.            Capitalism on the other hand is an economic system that believes in the free market mode of business. A capitalist society is characterized by minimum state intervention in economic activities. Capitalists argue for the control of the economy being effected by market forces, where an entrepreneur engages in a capital investment to earn profits. Morality in such cases is relegated as the businessman is strictly after profits. In such a society, people should work extra hard to harness the benefits an economic venture.            There is however no society that can be fully capitalist. In all societies, the government has to intervene to inculcate an orderly environment for business to flourish. It has to create order where there is none, and establish a society of understanding, not the state of nature argued by Thomas Hobbes where life is short, brutish and involves a war of all against all. A capitalist system encourages hard work. Individuals are competing against themselves, and a social welfare tendency is mostly a marketing strategy.            The bible is clear in support of capitalism. In the parable of the servant who was reprimanded because he did not invest the shilling he was given, Christianity is clear that people should be hard working and invest more. The bible goes ahead to say that whoever dies not work should not eat. This is the spirit of capitalism based on the principle of toiling and consequences of laziness faced by individuals and not groups.            It is argued that the spirit of capitalism is deep rooted in Protestantism. Many of the clergy came from commercial circles. A large number of the adherents of Pietism are former commercial bigwigs, and the probability that they are going to frame the economic policies to suit the capitalist environment is very high. It is notable that  many capitalistic entrepreneurs sprung from clergymen’s families. A good example worth mentioning is Cecil Rhodes.            Protestant churches were open to voluntary membership. This is a characteristic feature ioif a capitalist system, in whose advocates argue for freedom of choice and minimum government intervention, if it must intervene. This is different from the state sponsored European churches in Europe where Max lived. Any member could therefore be trusted in business, irrespective of the sect he confesses. However, misbehavior could cause excommunication.            In America, Weber also noted that the members of the protestant sect used to run the sects. This is at variance with the European model where the state appoints the pastors to rub these establishments, and therefore the pastor becomes a political appointee. The congregation insisted on preaching ethics as opposed to mere ideas of religious dogma. These were considered less important by the congregation at the time. Again members of the American church could replace corrupt or inefficient pastors on such basis.            With time, the influence of the church seemed to wane away, with secular institutions gaining strengths in society. These secular organizations were keen to accept members who exhibit a clear record. The members assured the strict adherence to these principles, and not the hierarchical structure of governance. Traveling salesmen had to have a label indicating them as members of a certain organization, for the sake of building customer confidence.            As Weber argues in his book The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, the protestant reformation was the origin of ethical behavior for businessmen, and has effectively promoted the growth of capitalism. References Fischoff, E. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Social Research, Vol.XI, 1944,    pp.62-68 Swatos, W. H. (ed) Time, Place, and Circumstance: Neo-Weberian Studies in Comparative       Religious History. New York: Greenwood Press. 1990 Swedberg, R. Max Weber and the Idea of Economic Sociology. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Saturday, October 26, 2019
The White Doe by Francesco Petrarch Essay -- TPCASTT for The White Doe
Title- I believe that the title, "The White Doe" will perhaps have something to do with animals because the only way I have ever heard the word doe used is in the context of a female deer. Perhaps the poem will touch on the innocence of an animal or situation because of the word "white" which symbolizes innocence and cleanliness. Paraphrase- In the poem, "The White Doe," the author is speaking of an encounter with a female deer. The encounter takes place in a glade, which is an opening in the forest. It is a cold morning when the author first spots the deer under the shade of a tree in between two streams. The author raves at the site of the magnificent animal. Intrigued by the deer, he follows it throughout the morning like a greedy person searches for treasure. After following the animal, the author realizes that the deer does not want to be touched because a higher authority wishes it to remain undisturbed. Noontime soon came, and satisfaction did not come to the author's tired eyes. The author falls into a stream at the end, and the beautiful white doe disappears. Connotation- The first glance at the poem, "The White Doe" leads the reader to believe that it is strictly about an encounter with a white doe, but it actually is a love poem. The white doe represents the woman the author loves. This poem's rhyme scheme varies from stanza to stanza. The first stanza has a rhyme scheme of ABAB, the second ABBA, the third ABA, and the fourth stanza has no rhyme scheme. The deterioration of the rhyme steady serves as a tool to exemplify how the speaker becomes lost in following the animal/woman. The entire poem is an example of personification because the white doe represents the woman whom the author loves. White symbolizes the... ...to deer, the author created more of a feminine sounding title, which in turn implies that white doe represents a woman. Theme- The author is trying to say that everyone should come out of the forest into the glade because one might find something magnificent. In other words, for someone to not find his or herself caught up in the clutter or everyday life and thinking only of oneself. The author is trying to send the message for people to look up out of the thicket and see life because a beautiful white doe-pure innocent young woman-may be waiting to meet oneself. Yet, in the end the author wants to get away from his escape, so the author is also saying that one should not become fixated upon one moment. Therefore, the author is sending the message that one should look up and smell the roses, yet know where one is and still have his or her priorities in order.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Yale :: essays research papers
In January of 1997, Yale University was brought up on Charges of unfair labor practices. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) claimed that Yale should pay its teacher assistants as part time faculty. Although these teacher assistants are working they are also graduate students at the school. The NLRB stated that the teacher assistants at the school are a very essential part of the university’s structure. Jut a month prior to all this controversy, Yale University had just settled on a long drawn out contract dispute with its food service and maintenance crew. A spoke person for the university said he hoped that this new problem could be solved quickly and painlessly. The school does not want to hold the reputation of being constantly involved in contract negotiations or legal controversy. The school does not want to hold the reputation of being constantly involved in contract disputes, but as of now it they are. Yale believes that there is no reason for them to pay â€Å"students†for learning how to do their job. The institution feels as though this is just another step in into the real world, it’s a learning experience. On the other hand, the NLRB feels as though the graduate students working as teacher assistants should be paid as a Yale employee. They believe the students ate entitled to receive benefits and fair pay. The NLRB is trying to point out the importance of teacher assistants, without them professors would be forced to teach a larger sized class on their own. The teacher assistants break the group apart into smaller sections of about 25 to 30 students, this gives the students a better teacher-student ratio. Although Yale does hold a strong case, I feel as though the NLRB’s beliefs are the correct one. These â€Å"students†as they are called by Yale university are not just ones ordinary undergraduates, some have other jobs and are working toward their own PHD or masters degree. These individuals are well qualified to teach a small group of undergraduates, therefore they should be paid a reasonable wage. The teacher assistants could be looked at as an extension of the head professor. Some of these TA’s know the students a lot better than the professor does, on a personal or educational level. The Yale University Board claims that they are students who are learning another aspect of teaching, and therefore are still considered students.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Vampire Academy Chapter 10
TEN â€Å"EXCUSE ME, MR. NAGY? I CANT really concentrate with Lissa and Rose passing notes over there.†Mia was attempting to distract attention from herself – as well as from her inability to answer Mr. Nagy's question – and it was ruining what had otherwise been a promising day. A few of the fox rumors still circulated, but most people wanted to talk about Christian attacking Ralf. I still hadn't cleared Christian of the fox incident – I was pretty sure he was psycho enough to have done it as some crazy sign of affection for Lissa – but whatever his motives, he had shifted the attention off her, just as he'd said. Mr. Nagy legendary for his ability to humiliate students by reading notes aloud, homed in on us like a missile. He snatched the note away, and the excited class settled in for a full reading. I swallowed my groan, trying to look as blank and unconcerned as possible. Beside me, Lissa looked like she wanted to die. â€Å"My, my,†he said, looking the note over. â€Å"If only students would write this much in their essays. One of you has considerably worse writing than the other, so forgive me if I get anything wrong here.†He cleared his throat. †? ®So, I saw J last night,' begins the person with bad handwriting, to which the response is, ? ®What happened,' followed by no fewer than five question marks. Understandable, since sometimes one – let alone four – just won't get the point across, eh?†The class laughed, and I noticed Mia throwing me a particularly mean smile. â€Å"The first speaker responds: ? ®What do you think happened? We hooked up in one of the empty lounges.' â€Å" Mr. Nagy glanced up after hearing some more giggles in the room. His British accent only added to the hilarity. â€Å"May I assume by this reaction that the use of ? ®hook up' pertains to the more recent, shall we say, carnal application of the term than the tamer one I grew up with?†More snickers ensued. Straightening up, I said boldly, â€Å"Yes, sir, Mr. Nagy. That would be correct, sir.†A number of people in the class laughed outright. â€Å"Thank you for that confirmation, Miss Hathaway. Now, where was I? Ah yes, the other speaker then asks, ? ®How was it?' The response is, ? ®Good,' punctuated with a smiley face to confirm said adjective. Well. I suppose kudos are in order for the mysterious J, hmmm? ? ®So, like, how far did you guys go?' Uh, ladies,†said Mr. Nagy, â€Å"I do hope this doesn't surpass a PG rating. ? ®Not very. We got caught.' And again, we are shown the severity of the situation, this time through the use of a not-smiling face. ? ®What happened?' ? ®Dimitri showed up. He threw Jesse out and then bitched me out.' â€Å" The class lost it, both from hearing Mr. Nagy say â€Å"bitched†and from finally getting some participants named. â€Å"Why, Mr. Zeklos, are you the aforementioned J? The one who earned a smiley face from the sloppy writer?†Jesse's face turned beet red, but he didn't look entirely displeased at having his exploits made known in front of his friends. He'd kept what had happened a secret thus far – including the blood talk – because I suspected Dimitri had scared the hell out of him. â€Å"Well, while I applaud a good misadventure as much as the next teacher whose time is utterly wasted, do remind your ? ®friends' in the future that my class is not a chat room.†He tossed the paper back on to Lissa's desk. â€Å"Miss Hathaway, it seems there's no feasible way to punish you, since you're already maxed out on penalties around here. Ergo, you, Miss Dragomir, will serve two detentions instead of one on behalf of your friend. Stay here when the bell rings, please.†After class, Jesse found me, an uneasy look on his face. â€Å"Hey, um, about that note†¦you know I didn't have anything to do with that. If Belikov finds out about it†¦you'll tell him? I mean, you'll let him know I didn't – â€Å" â€Å"Yeah, yeah,†I interrupted him. â€Å"Don't worry, you're safe.†Standing with me, Lissa watched him walk out of the room. Thinking of how easily Dimitri had thrown him around – and of his apparent cowardice – I couldn't help but remark, â€Å"You know, Jesse's suddenly not as hot as I used to think.†She only laughed. â€Å"You'd better go. I've got desks to wash.†I left her, heading back for my dorm. As I did, I passed a number of students gathered in small clusters outside the building. I regarded them wistfully, wishing I had the free time to socialize. â€Å"No, it's true,†I heard a confident voice say. Camille Conta. Beautiful and popular, from one of the most prestigious families in the Conta clan. She and Lissa had sort of been friends before we left, in the uneasy way two powerful forces keep an eye on each other. â€Å"They, like, clean toilets or something.†â€Å"Oh my God,†her friend said. â€Å"I'd die if I was Mia.†I smiled. Apparently Jesse had spread some of the stories I'd told him last night. Unfortunately, the next overheard conversation shattered my victory. †– heard it was still alive. Like, twitching on her bed.†â€Å"That is so gross. Why would they just leave it there?†â€Å"I don't know. Why kill it in the first place?†â€Å"You think Ralf was right? That she and Rose did it to get kicked – â€Å" They saw me and shut up. Scowling, I skulked off across the quadrangle. Still alive, still alive. I'd refused to let Lissa talk about the similarities between the fox and what had happened two years ago. I didn't want to believe they were connected, and I certainly didn't want her to either. But I hadn't been able to stop thinking about that incident, not only because it was chilling, but because it really did remind me of what had just happened in her room. We had been out in the woods near campus one evening, having skipped out on our last class. I'd traded a pair of cute, rhinestone-studded sandals to Abby Badica for a bottle of peach schnapps – desperate, yes, but you did what you had to in Montana – which she'd somehow gotten hold of. Lissa had shaken her head in disapproval when I suggested cutting class to go put the bottle out of its misery, but she'd come along anyway. Like always. We found an old log to sit on near a scummy green marsh. A half-moon cast a tiny sliver of light on us, but it was more than enough for vampires and half-vampires to see by. Passing the bottle back and forth, I grilled her on Aaron. She'd fessed up that the two of them had had sex the weekend before, and I felt a surge of jealousy that she'd been the one to have sex first. â€Å"So what was it like?†She shrugged and took another drink. â€Å"I don't know. It wasn't anything.†â€Å"What do you mean it wasn't anything? Didn't the earth move or the planets align or something?†â€Å"No,†she said, smothering a laugh. â€Å"Of course not.†I didn't really get why that should be funny, but I could tell she didn't want to talk about it. This was around the time the bond had begun forming, and her emotions were starting to creep into me now and then. I held up the bottle and glared at it. â€Å"I don't think this stuff is working.†â€Å"That's because there's barely any alcohol in – â€Å" The sound of something moving in the brush came from nearby. I immediately shot up, putting my body between her and the noise. â€Å"It's some animal,†she said when a minute went by in silence. That didn't mean it wasn't dangerous. The school's wards kept out Strigoi, but wild animals often wandered into the outskirts of campus, posing their own threats. Bears. Cougars. â€Å"Come on,†I told her. â€Å"Let's head back.†We hadn't gone very far when I heard something moving again, and someone stepped out into our path. â€Å"Ladies.†Ms. Karp. We froze, and whatever quick reactions I'd shown back by the marsh disappeared as I delayed a few moments in hiding the bottle behind my back. A half-smile crossed her face, and she held out her hand. Sheepishly, I gave the bottle to her, and she tucked it under her arm. She turned without another word, and we followed, knowing there would be consequences to deal with. â€Å"You think no one notices when half a class is gone?†she asked after a little while. â€Å"Half a class?†â€Å"A few of you apparently chose today to skip. Must be the nice weather. Spring fever.†Lissa and I trudged along. I'd never been comfortable around Ms. Karp since the time she'd healed my hands. Her weird, paranoid behavior had taken on a strange quality to me – a lot stranger than before. Scary, even. And lately I couldn't look at her without seeing those marks by her forehead. Her deep red hair usually covered them but not always. Sometimes there were new marks; sometimes the old ones faded to nothing. A weird fluttering noise sounded to my right. We all stopped. â€Å"One of your classmates, I imagine,†murmured Ms. Karp, turning toward the sound. But when we reached the spot, we found a large black bird lying on the on the ground. Birds – and most animals – didn't do anything for me, but even I had to admire its sleek feathers and fierce beak. It could probably peck someone's eyes out in thirty seconds – if it weren't obviously dying. With a last, halfhearted shake, the bird finally went still. â€Å"What is that? Is it a crow?†I asked. â€Å"Too big,†said Ms. Karp. â€Å"It's a raven.†â€Å"Is it dead?†asked Lissa. I peered at it. â€Å"Yeah. Definitely dead. Don't touch it.†â€Å"Probably attacked by another bird,†observed Ms. Karp. â€Å"They fight over territory and resources sometimes.†Lissa knelt down, compassion on her face. I wasn't surprised, since she'd always had a thing for animals. She'd lectured me for days after I'd instigated the infamous hamster-and-hermit-crab fight. I'd viewed the fight as a testing of worthy opponents. She'd seen it as animal cruelty. Transfixed, she reached toward the raven. â€Å"Liss!†I exclaimed, horrified. â€Å"It's probably got a disease.†But her hand moved out like she hadn't even heard me. Ms. Karp stood there like a statue, her white face looking like a ghost's. Lissa's fingers stroked the raven's wings. â€Å"Liss,†I repeated, starting to move toward her, to pull her back. Suddenly, a strange sensation flooded through my head, a sweetness that was beautiful and full of life. The feeling was so intense, it stopped me in my tracks. Then the raven moved. Lissa gave a small scream and snatched her hand back. We both stared wide-eyed. The raven flapped its wings, slowly trying to right itself and stand up. When it managed to do so, it turned toward us, fixing Lissa with a look that seemed too intelligent for a bird, its eyes held hers, and I couldn't read her reaction through the bond. At long last, the raven broke the gaze and lifted into the air, strong wings carrying it away. Wind stirring the leaves was the only sound left. â€Å"Oh my God,†breathed Lissa. â€Å"What just happened?†â€Å"Hell if I know,†I said, hiding my stark terror. Ms. Karp strode forward and grabbed Lissa's arm, forcefully turning her so that they faced each other. I was there in a flash, ready to take action if Crazy Karp tried anything, though even I had qualms about taking down a teacher. â€Å"Nothing happened,†said Ms. Karp in an urgent voice, her eyes wild-looking. â€Å"Do you hear me? Nothing. And you can't tell anyone – anyone – about what you saw. Both of you. Promise me. Promise me you won't ever talk about this again.†Lissa and I exchanged uneasy glances. â€Å"Okay†she croaked out. Ms. Karp's grip relaxed a little. â€Å"And don't ever do it again. If you do, they'll find out. They'll try to find you.†She turned to me. â€Å"You can't let her do it. Not ever again.†On the quad, outside my dorm, someone was saying my name. â€Å"Hey, Rose? I've called you, like, a hundred times.†I forgot about Ms. Karp and the raven and glanced over at Mason, who had apparently started walking with me toward the dorm while I was off in la-la land. â€Å"Sorry,†I mumbled. â€Å"I'm out of it. Just†¦um, tired.†â€Å"Too much excitement last night?†I gave him a narrow-eyed look. â€Å"Nothing I couldn't handle.†â€Å"I guess,†he laughed, though he didn't exactly sound amused. â€Å"Sounds like Jesse couldn't handle it.†â€Å"He did okay.†â€Å"If you say so. But personally, I think you've got bad taste.†I stopped walking. â€Å"And I don't think it's any of your business.†He looked away angrily. â€Å"You made it the whole class's business.†â€Å"Hey, I didn't do that on purpose.†â€Å"Would've happened anyway. Jesse's got a big mouth.†â€Å"He wouldn't have told.†â€Å"Yeah,†said Mason. â€Å"Because he's so cute and has such an important family.†â€Å"Stop being an idiot,†I snapped. â€Å"And why do you even care? Jealous I'm not doing it with you?†His flush grew, going all the way to the roots of his red hair. â€Å"I just don't like hearing people talk shit about you, that's all. There are a lot of nasty jokes going around. They're calling you a slut.†â€Å"I don't care what they call me.†â€Å"Oh, yeah. You're really tough. You don't need anyone.†I stopped. â€Å"I don't. I'm one of the best novices in this fucking place. I don't need you acting all gallant and coming to my defense. Don't treat me like I'm some helpless girl.†I turned around and kept walking, but he caught up to me easily. The woes of being five-seven. â€Å"Look†¦I didn't mean to upset you. I'm just worried about you.†I gave a harsh laugh. â€Å"I'm serious. Wait†¦Ã¢â‚¬ he began. â€Å"I, uh, did something for you. Sort of. I went to the library last night and tried to look up St. Vladimir,†I stopped again. â€Å"You did?†â€Å"Yeah, but there wasn't much on Anna. All the books were kind of generic. Just talked about him healing people, bringing them back from the edge of death.†That last part hit a nerve. â€Å"Was†¦was there anything else?†I stammered. He shook his head. â€Å"No. You probably need some primary sources, but we don't have any here.†â€Å"Primary what?†He scoffed, a smile breaking over his face. â€Å"Do you do anything but pass notes? We just talked about them the other day in Andrews' class. They're books from the actual time period you want to study. Secondary ones are written by people living today. You'll get better information if you find something written by the guy himself. Or someone who actually knew him.†â€Å"Huh. Okay. What are you, like, a boy genius now?†Mason gave me a light punch in the arm. â€Å"I pay attention, that's all. You're so oblivious. You miss all sorts of things.†He smiled nervously. â€Å"And look†¦I really am sorry about what I said. I was just – â€Å" Jealous, I realized. I could see it in his eyes. How had I never noticed this before? He was crazy about me. I guess I really was oblivious. â€Å"It's all right, Mase. Forget about it.†I smiled. â€Å"And thanks for looking that stuff up.†He smiled back, and I went inside, sad that I didn't feel the same way about him.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Stanch and Staunch
Stanch and Staunch Stanch and Staunch Stanch and Staunch By Maeve Maddox Although the two spellings are often seen used interchangeably, recommended modern usage is to distinguish between them: stanch: verb. to stop the flow of something, usually blood. staunch: adjective. (of persons) strong, standing firm and true to ones principles. Pronunciation differs among English speakers, but /aw/ is the most commonly heard vowel sound in staunch. The OED gives /ah/ as the first pronunciation for stanch, but Merriam-Webster gives /aw/ first for both staunch and stanch. OED gives two alternate pronunciations for each word. M-W lists five alternate pronunciations for each. Stanch occurs as an adjective in old books and periodicals (1930 and earlier), but modern usage favors reserving stanch for use as a verb and staunch as an adjective. H.W. Fowler, Modern English Usage stanch, staunch. The adjective is usually staunch, the verb stanch. Chicago Manual of Style staunch; stanch. Staunch is an adjective meaning â€Å"ardent and faithful†Stanch is a verb meaning â€Å"to stop the flow†; it is almost always used in regard to bleeding, literally and metaphorically AP Stylebook stanch, staunch. Stanch is a verb. Staunch is an adjective. However, not all journalists consult Fowler, CMOS, or AP: Gillards challenge is to staunch the bleeding (The Australian) †¦the operators struggled to quickly staunch the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. (Reuters article) One should give Kennedy his due as a stanch fighter for what he believed in, (political website called American Power) the senator †¦ is a stanch supporter of the right to hunt and the right to bear arms. (USAToday) Here are some examples from writers who do observe the distinction: †¦he was a staunch friend of Polands Jewish community. Staunch anti-Castro U.S. congressman to retire Hospitality, government jobs help stanch D.C. unemployment tide part of the Sixth SS Panzer Armee embarking for the Eastern Front to try to stanch the Russian advance. Does it matter? At least one recent grammar test, the Dow Jones Grammar Test 2009, includes an item that requires a choice between stanch and staunch. (You must enter an email address in order to access the test.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 English Grammar Rules You Should Know"Have" vs "Having" in Certain Expressions7 Sound Techniques for Effective Writing
Monday, October 21, 2019
Hardware and Software requirements Essays
Hardware and Software requirements Essays Hardware and Software requirements Essay Hardware and Software requirements Essay All ICT systems require Hardware and software in order to function. For the ICT system I am going to produce for a sole trader, the following requirements are essential for this Hardware * A CD-RW or DVD-RW is needed to save/backup large amounts of data in the event of corruption. It works by using microscopic bumps to store data. The surface of the CD disc is a mirror, and the bumps disrupt the mirrors perfect surface. The laser that reads the CD or DVD can detect the difference between a perfect mirror and an imperfection caused by. By identifying the bumps as a 1, and no bump as a 0, it is easy to store digital information on a CD or DVD. The bumps on a CD are molded into the plastic when it is produced, so they are permanent Files can be accessed on other computers and copied. Alternatives to this device are portable Flash drives, zip disc the old method of tapes and Floppy discs. : * FDD to save/back up small files and to add small programs or updates to programs. * A fast CD-rom can be used to add further programs and utilities to enable better user accessibility. It can also be used to update existing software. * At least 40GB of hard drive to support programs and to save files. * A barcode scanner to scan UPC barcodes to identify the price of the product, a handheld barcode scanner for larger items. * An inkjet or laser printer to print invoices, statements, reports, price tags and bar code labels. * An automatic cash drawer to store cash, cheques, vouchers, receipts, and credit receipts. * A portable stock counter would be useful to make stock intake more successful and efficient. * A POS receipt printer to give the customer a record of what has been purchased and if needed return the product if there has been a defect. * A CCTV close circuit tv system is very important because it ensures in the event of burglary or an assault on an employee. * Electronic Weighing scales for loose items such as tomatoes Software * A program that can produce spreadsheets is essential to us. It also need to be very easy to produce a spread sheet and automatically calculate equations * A Word processing program needs to be used to produces business documents such as: Fax sheets and letterheads. An advantage of using such a program is that documents can be spell checked * A database management system can be used to store large amounts of data such as details of products, stock intake, amount of profit using a program like this is useful because the information can be easily retrieved, modified or more data added. * A powerful compuer operating system is essential because most programs need a lot of memory space. It also needs to be user friendly, so when a new employee joins it is easy to adapt to. Objectives of the new system The main objective of this new system is to improve the service to customers and to increase the sole trader productivity and profits Benefits towards the customers * The old system relied on the employee to enter numerical data manually. The new system processes data automatically this is more accurate and efficient. * Customers dont have to carry cash by using a debit or credit card and then have the advantage to withdraw cash up to à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½50 at the checkout. * More promotions can be offered because the new system should introduce more customers there fore more profit. * An itemized receipt is produced that includes detailed information of the items that have been bought and can see if any mistakes have been made. * Loose produce can be automatically priced at the checkout. * The goods are fresher because stock levels held by supermarkets can be lower. * Chilled and frozen foods are kept at the correct temperature so risks of contamination and health hazards are kept at a minimum. Benefits toward the sole trader * Stock control is more efficient, so there is less chance of goods being out of stock. * The checkout is more efficient because the employees have less chance of making errors. * Sale forecasts and profiles can be made, which lead to more efficient use of shelf space. * Little warehouse space is needed in each supermarket because of the efficiency in the distribution system. UPC barcodes UPC bar codes were originally created to help supermarkets speed up the process at the checkout and keep better track of stock control .The system quickly spread to all other retail products because it was so successful. It is now used worldwide on products that require a barcode. The UPC stands for Universal Product Code. This code is unique to each product. All UPC bar codes contain 12 digits with the first 6 containing the manufacturers identification number. This is used on the full range of barcodes from a certain manufacturer so they can be easily identified. It is essential to use this system when a store is exporting products to foreign countries. The next five digits are the item number that identifies the product. The last digit is the check digit; this is very important because it enables the barcode scanner to determine if the barcode has been scanned correctly or not. It works the process out with a series of calculations. If the check digit the barcode scanner calculates is different from the check digit, the scanner knows that there has been an error and the item needs to be assessed and rescanned. This barcode is from a product produced by BYG publishing, which is a book company Communication Infrastructure Many companies used to use the Fax machine to send alphanumeric data to each other. This technology was particularly useful because it could also be used to transfer drawings. A fax machine works by scanning the data with a beam of light; the light is then converted into an electronic signal that is passed along the telephone line to the recipients machine, which is then printed out. The cost was not too high for fax apart from the cost of ink cartridges that needed to be replaced and the cost of paper, which need to be fed through the fax machine, which is the same for printers. Many sole traders were able to use this technology because of the cost and efficiency to send mail. With the growing success of the Internet, the technology of fax was generally ignored and replaced with high-speed Electronic mail. With E-mail data and messages can be sent electronically via a telephone network or a data network and via a central computer. E-mail has many more advantages of speed and economy, with e-mail the information can be stored on disk for future reference. E-mail is now widely used by most companies instead of fax. I believe the sole trader should use this technology so they can communicate efficiently with companies that also use e-mail. This technology is also cost efficient because there is no need to use paper, pens etc. with e-mail large amounts of data can be transferred in real time. Electronic data interchange is a method used by different companies computers to automatically exchange data through a telephone or private line. The sole trader can use this to obtain information from, other shops owned by the trader or other sole traders. Information exchanged can be stock levels, quantity level needed to be reordered. The sole trader will not need to use this system, as the order levels will be calculated by the computer and a report will be generated which can then be faxed or emailed to the supplier. Future technology in supermarkets RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification, which is a new type of technology. It comprises of three components: An antenna or coil, a transceiver (with decoder) and A transponder (RF tag) electronically programmed with unique information. The tags are cheap and they contain a unique Electronic Product Code. This is stored in the tags microchip. If a drinks manufacturer decided to use this technology in their system here is how it would work: * The manufacturer inserts a RFID tag to each can of drink that is produced. These tags then provide the cans to be identified, counted and tracked automatically, this is very cost effective, the cans are then packaged into cases that also contain RFID tags and loaded onto tagged palettes. * As the palettes of Cans leave the manufacturer, an RFID reader positioned above the loading dock hits the smart tags using radio waves. The tags wake up and start broadcasting their individual Electronic product code. However only one tag can be read at the time so it will have to switch them on and off. * The reader is wired into a computer system running a stock control program. It sends the program the EPCs it has collected, and the program goes to work. The system sends a query over the Internet to an Object Name Service (ONS) database, which acts like a reverse telephone directory it receives a number and produces an address. * The ONS server matches the EPC number to the address of a database, which has large amounts of information about the product. This data is available to other stock systems around the world. * This second server uses Physical Markup Language to store data about the manufacturers products. It recognizes the incoming EPCs as belonging to cans of the drinks manufacturer. * Because the systems knows the location of the reader, which sent the query, the system now also knows which plant produced the cola. If an incident involving the products arose, this information would make it easy to track the source of the problem and recall the products. * Thanks to the RFID when the palettes arrive at the unloading area there is no need to check the contents of the packages. The stock control program describes the cargo and is quickly taken to the appropriate truck. * Meanwhile the supermarket has been tracking the shipment thanks to its own connection to the stock control system. When the delivery arrives it passes trough their own loading dock readers. * As soon as the products arrive, the supermarket retail systems are automatically updated to include every product that has arrived. Thanks to this the supermarket can locate its entire product range from that manufacturer inventory this is all done accurately and automatically. * Inside the supermarket the shelves will contain their own independent readers, when the products are stocked, the shelves will understand whats being put in them. Now, when a customer grabs for example 6 cans of drink, the shelf will send a message to the supermarkets automated re-fill systems which will order more cans of drink from the manufacturer. * Auto-ID makes the customers shopping trip easier, too. Rather than queue for a cashier, the customer can simply walk out the door with their purchases. A reader built into the door recognizes the items in her trolley by their individual EPCs; the customer can then swipe a debit or credit card and then exit.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Definition and Examples of Vowels in English
Definition and Examples of Vowels in English Written English has a 26-letter alphabet. Of the 26, 20 are proper consonants, five are proper vowels, and one, the letter Y, can either be either a consonant or a vowel depending on usage. The proper vowels are A, E, I, O, and U. Coming from the Latin word for voice, vowels are the part of speech that is created by the relatively free passage of breath through the larynx and the mouth. When the mouth is obstructed during speech production- most often by the tongue or teeth- the resulting sound is a consonant. One Vowel, Many Pronunciations Vowels comprise the principal sounds of syllables and form a major category of phonemes which are the distinct sets of sounds that allow a listener to distinguish one word from another in speech. Standard spoken English has approximately 20 distinct vowel sounds, although regional dialectal variations account for more. As you can imagine, with each one potentially symbolizing multiple sounds on any written page, vowels letters are kept busy. How a vowel is pronounced in English depends very much on who is pronouncing it and where they hail from. There are currently as many as 160 distinct English-language dialects worldwide. For example, Standard American English has fewer vowel distinctions than Standard Southern British English, so while a Londoner from Mayfair would likely pronounce the words merry, marry, and Mary in three distinctly different ways, for the majority of Americans all three sound pretty much the same. With 29, England has the largest number of distinct dialects, and that doesnt even take dialects from Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, The Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands into account. The United States has 27 recorded dialects; India clocks in at 14 distinct dialects, followed closely by Ireland with 13, and Australia with 9. Long and Short Vowels In the English language, each of the vowels can be pronounced more than one way, but the two most common variations are long pronunciation and short pronunciation. These variations are often represented by typographical signs: a curved symbol above a vowel represents short pronunciation: ÄÆ', Ä•, Ä , Ã… , Ã… , while long pronunciation has by a horizontal line above the vowel: Ä , Ä“, Ä «, Ã… , Ã… «. Vowels that have long pronunciations are most often modified by a secondary vowel thats generally silent. In words such as late or tune, the letter e is added to modify the main vowel sound, while in words such as goat or beat, the modifying vowel is the letter a, and in words such as night, knight, flight, and right, the long vowel i is modified by the letters gh. Fast Facts: Examples of Short and Long Vowel Pronunciation The Letter A- Short pronunciation: My hat sat on the mat. (hÄÆ't, sÄÆ't, mÄÆ't); Long Pronunciation: He ate the date on my plate. (Ä te, dÄ te, plÄ te)The Letter E- Short pronunciation: She let her pet get wet. (lÄ•t, pÄ•t, gÄ•t, wÄ•t); Long Pronunciation: His feet beat a neat retreat. (fÄ“et, bÄ“at, nÄ“at, rÄ“trÄ“at)The Letter I- Short pronunciation: Spit out that pit and I quit! (spÄ t, pÄ t, quÄ t); Long Pronunciation: The site of the bite from the mite was red. (sÄ «te, bÄ «te, mÄ «te.)The Letter O- Short pronunciation: That spot on the pots got rot. (spÃ… t, pÃ… t, gÃ… t, rÃ… t); Long Pronunciation: I wrote the quote on the note. (wrÃ… te, quÃ… te, nÃ… te)The Letter U- Short pronunciation: He cut the nut with a knife from his hut. (nut, cut, hut); Long Pronunciation: The mute on his lute was acute. (lÃ… «te, mÃ… «te, acÃ… «te) Vowel Pronunciation Rulebreakers While long and short are the most common vowel pronunciations, many words with vowel combinations do not follow these rules. For example, doubling the o in the word moon produces a long u (Ã… «) sound, while the y in duty not only modifies the u to an ew sound but rather than being silent, is pronounced as its own syllable with a long e (Ä“) sound. Words that must be pronounced on a case by case basis- such as aardvark, height, and diet- can be even more confusing for those first learning English. Using Phonetics to Pronounce Vowels Correctly As challenging as it may be to learn every correct vowel pronunciation with so many rules and exceptions, theres actually a fairly easy-to-learn system that can help to guide you. Phonetics is the branch of linguistics that deals with how speech is produced and offers a system of written symbols that represents each component sound in a language. Learning phonetics is an extra step in knowing how to pronounce words correctly but its not difficult and the results can be well worth the effort. In fact, actors often use phonetics to break words down into component sounds when they are required to speak in a dialect or accent that is not a reflection of their native voice.
Saturday, October 19, 2019
The Economy, Monetary Policy, and Monopolies Research Paper
The Economy, Monetary Policy, and Monopolies - Research Paper Example The research paper "The Economy, Monetary Policy, and Monopolies" analyzes the American economy which has undergone a difficult period during the last five years because of a global recession. Some people believe that the economic problems were already over whereas others are of the view that these problems still persist. Since 2009, interest rates in America remain stationary at around .25%. In all probabilities, interest rates may remain in its present form at least for the next couple of years in order to support the economic revival. It should be noted that entrepreneurs will approach financial institutions for mortgages only if the interest rates remain at a low level. The following graph provides a rough idea about the unemployment problems in the US for the last few years. It is evident from the graph that unemployment rates in the US were around 2% during 2006-2007 period whereas that at present is over 8%. Unemployment rate almost touched the 10% mark in 2011 even though it is decreasing at present. In short, unemployment rate started to decline which indicates that American economic growth is back on track. It should be noted that Americans started to learn the philosophy of saving because of the recent recession. For the revival of economy and also for the creation of new employment opportunities, it is necessary to encourage spending. Keeping interest rate at a lower level will definitely help the people to spend money more freely. Inflation rate should be kept as low as possible.
Friday, October 18, 2019
Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 26
Management - Essay Example Bothma (2010) opined that customers are requiring in-depth information on different service segments, price tags and availability of the booking policies. Customers will be able to select proper service as per their need and requirements which will increase rate of satisfaction of the customers. E-commerce is most emerging technology trend which helps hospitality firms in sharing information; create provisions for online segment and collecting feedback. Hotels are able to check the rate of occupancy of their room and other service segments. In the current study, two peer reviewed journals Beldona, Morrison and O’Leary (2008) and Jeong, Oh and Gregoire (2011) and second and third chapters in the book Fuchs, Ricci and Cantoni (2012) are used to outline impacts of the social media and electronic commerce portals. These sources will be helping the researcher in obtaining the insight on the impacts of E-commerce on the customer satisfaction and loyalty of the UK based hospitality segment. Fuchs, Ricci and Cantoni (2012) in their study have used various research strategies. The key information and statistics are collected to emphasise that E-commerce policies are helping the UK hotel industry client satisfaction and devotion. Moreover, the research aimed to outline impacts of the E-commerce policies on the consumer behaviours (Fuchs, Ricci and Cantoni, 2012). In the research, different philosophy, approaches, design, data collection sources and data techniques are used to obtain most relevant facts on impacts of the E-commerce strategy in increasing the rate satisfaction of the hospitality customers like tourists and business travellers. UK based hospitality is selected by Fuchs, Ricci and Cantoni (2012) to cite the statistics regarding the change in the customer arrivals due to the E-commerce policy. While conducting the research Fuchs, Ricci and Cantoni (2012) observed that there are three types
The Role of a Modern Industrial Manager Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
The Role of a Modern Industrial Manager - Essay Example The paper tells that managers are pivotal in performing leadership functions in the organization. By definition, management refers to the activities and people involved in the four general functions of management -planning, organizing, leading and the coordination of resources. However, increasing number of literature today has tended to emphasize the difference between management and leadership. Modern management and modern management thinkers assert that management has to focus on leadership if managerial functions must be achieved. Zhong-Ming &, Takao argue that, most modern management thinkers assert that leadership must be more facilitative, participative and empowering in how visions and goals of the organizations are carried out. Industrial management is concerned with the design, improvement, and implementation of integrated systems of people, material, information, equipment, and energy. According to McGregor & Cutcher, industrial management draws upon specialized knowledge and skills in the mathematical, physical and the social sciences not leaving out the principles and methods of engineering analysis. Today, industrial management is also known as industrial engineering, operations management now encompasses services though initially applied to manufacturing. Management involves the process of directing, planning, controlling, and coordinating the activities of an organization so that predefined goals are met. However, prominent writers in the field of management see coordination as the main objective of management rather than one of its functions. In managerial terms, leadership is the way people relate themselves to an organization. Leadership is at the center of coordinating and executing management functions. The activities of an organization must be properly carried out and executed if the goals must be achieved. Managerial functions are performed by managers and leaders assigned to each of the functional areas. Acknowledged by all to be the fat her of scientific management, Frederick W. Taylor equated leadership with effective management, with focus on productivity, improvement, and efficiency, he thought of management as being generic and universal. As for Mullins, leadership is a relationship through which one person influences the behavior or actions of other people And he suggested that leadership is a dynamic process, which can be altered to suit a particular management philosophy.
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Statement of Purpose Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4
Statement of Purpose - Essay Example In addition, this paper will pay attention to the critical financial policies at native country with a view of establishing a stock market that is currently non-existent. Moreover, the focus of the studies is to examine how theoretical financial knowledge can be used to enhance growth in the financial sector. Additionally, a close focus on building relevant knowledge and skills that would spur economic growth to a desirable level will receive prominence. Also, attention will be given to enhancing the work experience to new graduates in order to bridge the gap between theoretical foundation and practical reality within the finance sector. In addition, today there is a great financial transformation that that requires constant research and expertise that is provided for through further studies. The financial challenges in any economy continue to mount every day, for instance, Angola faces threats of the imbalance trade so as many other developing countries. As a responsible finance specialist, the focus is to explore possible financial solutions that face the third world nations. In addition, the knowledge gained should translate to better and competent financial policies that would open doors for economic prosperity. It is sad that knowledge and skills obtained at graduate has done little to improve our local financial policies. This work will attempt to give a new dimension to the relevance of finance graduate
Heritage Tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
Heritage Tourism - Essay Example It is in the 1990s that the tendency to boldly state the function of tourism and investigate the conscious and unconscious forces that foster tourism as an expression of a facet of human life became in vogue. During these period researchers working independently arrived at the nature of tourism as method of forming opinion on the nature of local people that the tourists visited. Moreover, the scholars also unearthed the social compulsions that make going to places as an essential ingredient of modern living and the pseudo-cultural experiences that are generated artificially to fuel the growth of a flourishing business activity. Many social scientists inspected "the use of tourism to make, re-make and/or de-make specific peoples, places or pasts." (Hollinshead, 2004, p. 25) The present study focuses on central ideas of four authors whose monumental contribution, to the understanding of the discipline of tourism, is a necessary backdrop for our learning of postmodern issues in tourism. They are AlSayyad N., Hewison R., Horne Donald and Dolan D. The authors are able to give a penetrating vision of the various aspects of post-modern heritage tourism. AlSayyad explores in his writing the heritage and tradition of tourism and contributes sig... Heritage today is created and propagated and it plays a major role in gaining national identity. He argues that 20th century has been a period of travel and tourism. Travel industry knows too well that it is selling only dreams. The industry knows that the tourists are too nave to realize that he or she is treated to a fake experience. The old concept of tourism as a quest for knowledge, self-improvement and authentic experience is hardly found in today's tourism. Instead, shopping, dining, wining and evening entertainment are becoming in many cases more important than the visiting of monuments. One of the appalling tragedies of postmodern tourism is the directed tour that a tourist is supposed to cover in a package. In the past travel was undertaken as a finishing school for a man of leisure and culture. Now the tourist is compelled to travel as a part of social norm and often the itinerary in such travels are unauthentic experience the tourist is forced to endure. Alsayyad (2001) c alls it " sites of 'authentic fakery' such as Las Vegas or manufactured heritage theme parks of 'fake authenticity'. There are many such symbols of modern tourism, which can vie with any monumental heritage site of the past. In fact McDonald's and Disney have more popularity as symbols of culture. In the era of increasing globalization Disney theme parks in many parts of the world stand for the weakened notion of statehood having been replaced by a plutocracy of the world governed by a multinational corporation. It is a paradox today that people travel to actual destinations for a virtual experience. Destinations could be Taj Mahal. Pyramids or the Great Wall of China but the experience is stage managed by recreational aspects of enjoyment rather
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Statement of Purpose Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4
Statement of Purpose - Essay Example In addition, this paper will pay attention to the critical financial policies at native country with a view of establishing a stock market that is currently non-existent. Moreover, the focus of the studies is to examine how theoretical financial knowledge can be used to enhance growth in the financial sector. Additionally, a close focus on building relevant knowledge and skills that would spur economic growth to a desirable level will receive prominence. Also, attention will be given to enhancing the work experience to new graduates in order to bridge the gap between theoretical foundation and practical reality within the finance sector. In addition, today there is a great financial transformation that that requires constant research and expertise that is provided for through further studies. The financial challenges in any economy continue to mount every day, for instance, Angola faces threats of the imbalance trade so as many other developing countries. As a responsible finance specialist, the focus is to explore possible financial solutions that face the third world nations. In addition, the knowledge gained should translate to better and competent financial policies that would open doors for economic prosperity. It is sad that knowledge and skills obtained at graduate has done little to improve our local financial policies. This work will attempt to give a new dimension to the relevance of finance graduate
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Product Development and Pricing Strategies Assignment - 1
Product Development and Pricing Strategies - Assignment Example Increasing competition in today’s globalised economy has put the organization under the pressure of designing effective marketing strategy. Marketing is the process of developing and implementing the idea of pricing, promotion and distribution of products and services such that they create exchanges that generates satisfaction in the objective of the organization and individual (Ferrell and Hartline, 2010). Marketing strategy provides the best opinion to the organization regarding how it can use its resources and skills in the market place so that it can run the business profitably (McDonald, 2007). The marketing strategy is mainly concerned regarding the four P’s and the objective of the organization. Flexibility in the marketing strategy creates a positive influence on the performance of the organization (Pride and Ferrell, 2010). In a competitive economy successful marketing is all about customer focus, positioning and attaining competitive success (Lancaster and Mas singham, 2010). Classic Airlines is the fifth largest airline in the world. It has a fleet of over 375 jets that flies over 240 cities. Classic Airlines has about more than 2300 flights flying daily. It has been operating in the airline industry for more than 25 years. It has employee strength of more than 32,000. In the year 2004 the company has recorded earnings of $10 million and sales figure reached $8.7 billion. But being in a profitable business, Classic Airline has started facing some problem that has reduced its profit by significant numbers.
Maternal instincts vs. social instincts Essay Example for Free
Maternal instincts vs. social instincts Essay Sethes most severe behavior as a mother, that distinguishes her as socially constructed by both her mothers actions and the abuse of slavery, because she alters the rules, determines for herself what is acceptable and unacceptable, what is right and what is wrong, suggests that she is simultaneously the best mother and the worst, and without question, revolutionary. Trudier Harris notes that Morrison succeeds in making Sethe so simply human and American (the God-given right to motherhood, love of ones children, desire of a better life for them, love of freedom, nonconformity) that we cannot easily condemn her act even when we clearly do not condone it (Fiction and Folklore 171). This is the case when social and moral norms are being neglected before the maternal instincts, which are proven to be more powerful than social ones. Yet Sethe was a pretty little slavegirl that had recognized a hat, and split to the woodshed to kill her children (Beloved 158). The rapidity with which she acts certainly shows it’s innate and essentialist behavior. Sethe is a mother both under the confines of slavery and then in freedom. But she is a different mother in each situation, thereby confirming the socially constructed nature of her mothering. She proudly explains to Paul D the essence of motherhood; and Paul D knew exactly what she meant: to get to a place where you could love anything you choseâ€â€not to need permission for desireâ€â€well now, that was freedom (Beloved 162). Sethe is proud of herself, her accomplishments, and appreciates her freedom. OReilly suggests that Sethes flight to freedom is structured specifically as a heroic quest (133). (Please explain a little) In reality, The very meaning of a hero and heroism is redefined, making it possible for Sethe to inscribe herself as subject and celebrate the reproductive feats of nursing and birth as heroic labor (OReilly 134). Heroism here is referred here to boldness to become a mother in such a life-denying circumstances. This is true also for Sethes rebellious and atypical rescue of herself and children as well. Interestingly, when Sethe is no longer someone elses property, she suddenly sees her children as her own her own property, so to speak. After being owned, she wants ownership too, of herself and her children. Sethe has never had anything to call her own in her life and suddenly everything is her own. She acts and reacts based upon everything she has seen, heard, and felt in her lifetime, a lifetime of slavery. She knows the notion of ownership. Sethe reacts as a result of her newfound possessiveness and ownership of her children. Again, she is creating her own language and law for motherhood. Paul D understands part of this: the possessiveness, the love, and the freedom. But he does not understand the killing. To her, death and the potential of heaven is better than slavery and hell on earth. Thus, this murder may prove her more animalistic, as schoolteacher would argue she already is, or perhaps, less so, because her decision was a conscious one, thought out and made of her own free will (Beloved 193). She takes responsibility for herself and her actions by refusing to accept patriarchal societys laws regarding slavery, laws regarding murder, and traditions regarding a womans place, especially a black womans place. So, instead of returning to slavery under schoolteacher and his two physically and emotionally abusive nephews, she assumes society, institutes an instant matriarchal ruling system, the social instincts, empowered by her own mothers actions and perhaps toying with Gods power: what Sethe giveth, Sethe taketh away. She does not regard the murder of her daughter as taking life away from her daughter, but as keeping her daughters life away from schoolteacher, away from slavery, and putting it in a better place. Sethe believes that once Beloved is dead and moves on to eternal life, neither schoolteacher nor slavery can touch. She is safe. She will be where Sethes own mother is. Sethe believes she is preserving Beloved by killing her. She is preserving the purity of her body and mind. Beloved will not be ripped apart by the men or the institution that governs slavery. She will not be raped physically or emotionally. Thus, to Sethe, she has succeeded in preserving her daughter. In Beloved, Sethe is both subject and object, rigid and excessive, mother and daughter. She is exerting influence as well as receiving it and she exerts it because of the way she has received it from her own mother. This becomes relevant to her handling of Paul D, as well. Paul D does not understand what he must accept in order to make a life with Sethe. He cannot accept his place in the household as something other than the head and he does not understand Sethes love, protectiveness, or murder of her daughter. Paul D s reaction to the knowledge of Sethes actions, according to Jan Furman, forces her to rebuff all attempts to minimize her victories as a woman, as a mother. And so she takes back from Paul D the responsibility for her breasts that she had given (75-6). She takes all responsibility back. This tells the reader again that Sethes strength surpasses all. Morrison flat out tells the reader that she is tougher, because she could do and survive things they believed she should neither do nor survive (Beloved 47). She cannot be the weak slave woman when her actions, her love, and her strength of character make her larger than, more powerful than schoolteacher, Halle, Paul D, maybe all of patriarchal society itself. Her actions certainly disrupt the societal norms. However, the inherent issue remains regarding essentialism and social constructionism. Is birth civilized or is it animalistic? Mothers are trained, from the onset of motherhood, to virtually be more natural, more like animals. Then, later in life, when those tendencies take a different form, in protectiveness of their young, mothers are maligned for the same behavior and actions that were instilled upon them during pregnancy, labor and childbirth, and this is Sethes plight. She attempts to take the proper measures, which is her defined, unstereotypical manner. Therefore, as in Sethes case, the concept of mothering may have essentialist qualities, but the individual mother is socially constructed. Why, then, does Sethe kill Beloved? Why, after her milk was taken from her by one of the nephews, taking practically all of her motherhood with it, does she begin to take motherhood away from herself when she fought so hard to get it under freedom? Why wouldnt her sons, Howard and Buglar, let go each others hands (Beloved 183)? They fear the one person who should be their haven in this world. Is motherhood that powerful? Why does it take Sethe twenty years to figure out that she should have killed schoolteacher, not her own child, as is evidenced by the fact that when Mr. Bodwin comes to take Denver to work, Sethe goes after him and not Denver (Beloved 262)? Is it because the institution of slavery was so strong that it would have claimed her and her children even if schoolteacher were dead? And if the structure of slavery were so powerful, and one sees the negativity, the hatred, the racism in its structure, then one must claim matriarchy for the solution. One must see Sethe as a powerful and revolutionary woman who, although she commits murder, although she kills her own best thing, her crawling already? girl who impresses her with her advanced physical capabilities, makes her own decisions under her own set of rules, given to her because she is a mother. She can no longer conform to an authority that prevents her from protecting her young in undoubtedly excessive ways once the hummingbirds of motherhood point their beaks into her heart. Paul D and schoolteacher reference Sethe in terms of animal characteristics with a negative connotation. But if one can co-opt the male masters language one can offer that it is not always bad for a mother to have animalistic tendencies, though she should not be measured by them. Interestingly, the non-biological mothers will offer even further examination of social constructionism, because they are created out of necessity. The question arises, then, as to whether their mothering behavior becomes essentialized once they assume the role of mother. A biological mother certainly could reject her children, reject motherhood, and remain only selfishly self-aware. Yet, for the most part, the mothers do not make that choice. Are the attributes of motherhood universal, essential, regardless of the societal constructs playing on their decisions? Or do these stereotypes for motherhood break down under severe circumstances? Let us answer these questions in the next section.
Monday, October 14, 2019
The role of women in the engineering profession
The role of women in the engineering profession Women have been categorised as inferior to men and as a result are assigned the position of minors in both public and private sectors of life (National Gender Policy Framework, 2003). Additionally, most women arguably accept secondary roles without hesitation (Mathur-Helm, 2005: 63).. Education at school level is only part of the battle to recruit more women into the construction industry. Male builders need to accept women in the building workplace (Thompson, 1996: online). There is a relationship between higher education and the employment choices of women (Phaahla, 2000). Women tend to congregate in areas considered traditional outlets for female employment. Female staff and students are typically drawn to faculties such as the humanities, education and the social sciences. Generally women do not make up large numbers in technology and applied science areas of study. Consequently, the jobs available to women are limited for social and economic reasons. The position of women is fur ther exacerbated by the fact that gender in South Africa is also racially and culturally segmented, creating inequalities that are race-bound. White and Black women have extremely different levels of experiences regarding job and development opportunities (Mathur-Helm, 2005: 67). Women encounter pervasive gender issues in their chosen careers which require specific strategies to deal with them (Phaahla, 2000). In particular, they need to contend with gender role stereotyping which believes that a set of traits and abilities is more likely to be found among one sex than the other (Schein, 1978: 259 Typically young people start contemplating their career choices at approximately the age of 16 or in their last years of high school. Gender-based career stereotyping makes it particularly difficult for young girls to establish their own career choices or to diverge from the career choices dictated by their parents. A sense of isolation is another reason for high defections, with women having little chance of meeting other women working in constructionThis chapter, will be a review of the primary information or the literature which has been written about challenges facing women, it will start by reviewing some literature on the skills shortages in South Africa and more specifically in the engineering sector, then women and work in South Africa and in general on the aspect of the glass ceiling. This chapter will also review literature on male dominated or traditional career. Skills shortages South Africa is experiencing a major shortage in skills in the engineering field, and the entry of women in this field is helping in trying to reduce skills shortages. There have been many changes in the pattern of work of women, more and women are now working outside the home. Some of the reasons that a sense of isolation is another reason for high defections, with women having little chance of meeting other women working in engineering, education at school level is only part of the battle to recruit more women into the engineering industry have been given as to try and explain why women work are: social changes and the changes in public attitudes towards women that have encouraged women to enter the job market (White et al, 1998). An overview of women and work All around the world, there is an increasing concern for gender equity and equality in the family and society for the benefit of children, men and women. Women have in the past contributed to different areas of economic and social life, for example, they are farmers, entrepreneurs, traders, homemakers etc and yet they share unequally in the fruits of their labour. Women constitute a large percentage of the worlds poor and continue to suffer disadvantage in education, health and employment (UN Report on the Advancement of Women, 1995). Nowadays, many more women are found in the workplace, in politics and more are getting educated than ever before. While women have advanced more rapidly in some societies than others, almost everywhere womens concerns are still accorded second priority and they continually face both subtle and flagrant discrimination (Hinson, R; Otieku, J; Amidu, M 2006). Women and work in South Africa Women are still regarded as secondary to men in South African business culture (Mathur-Helm,2005: 63). There is a view that women do not show leadership potential and behave differently from traditional male leaders (Mathur-Helm, 2004; Guppy Rick, 1994). According to Johnson (1999), they are emotional and cannot shoulder responsibilities. What women do is rarely defined as leadership, given that masculinity is an implicit construct of leadership (Kloot, 2004: 472). The South African definition of gender equality is guided by a vision of human rights which incorporates acceptance of the equal and inalienable rights of all men and women (Kornegay, 2000). Indeed, the rights of women need to be viewed as human rights. Equality is specified and enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the South African Constitution (South Africa, 1996). Section 9(3) of the Constitution provides that no one may unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on any grounds such as, for example, race , gender and culture. This prohibition on discrimination forms an integral part of processes to achieve social justice in South Africa. Gender equality, therefore, requires that the underlying causes of discrimination be systematically identified and removed in order to give women and men equal opportunities in every sphere of life: In short, the economic integration of women, which comes only when market barriers are lowered and women are given an equal chance to attain decent work, remains a necessity for economic development and a worthy goal in its own right (ILO, 2008: 4). In South African society women historically faced the burden of unpaid household labour in addition to income-generating work. A rigid and uncompromising organisation of working hours and environment prevented them from performing well, considering that they needed to take time off for childcare and other family responsibilities (Ellison, 2001; Wilson, 1998). Often these demands reduced their chances of full- time paid employment. In addition, in terms of the South African Employment Equity Act of 1998, labour market discrimination arises when employers make decisions about employees for reasons that are not related to genuine work requirements (South Africa, 1998). Discrimination is most obvious when an employer focuses on irrelevant personal characteristics instead of work performance or merit. As a result women in many organisations have to work extra well and hard to gain any prospect of promotion. Unfortunately women have not been benefiting Acta Structilia 2009: 16(2) 50 from government policies and legislation to advance their careers (Mathur-Helm, 2005: 58). There is, therefore, no correlation between policy and practice. In South Africa, they have since put in place constitutional and employment legislation to try and eliminate direct discrimination; it is now against the law to discriminate on grounds of gender. But there are insufficient checks, resources and sanctions in place to enforce these provisions (www.mywage.co.za/main/women-and-work). The following are some of the characteristics of women working in South Africa face: Lower levels of pay in sectors which mainly employ women, Women traditionally work in welfare, such as care (nurses, social workers, etc.). Such jobs are less well paid than work, say, in production of goods and financial services (www.mywage.co.za/main/women-and-work). Jobs in sectors where both men and women do the same kind of work are valued differently. Here, too, there is no objective reason for the difference in pay, If women do work of equal value to that of men and still receive lower pay, this means that the employer simply is putting value on the chair and not on the person sitting on it (www.mywage.co.za/main/women-and-work). At the same time the characteristics associated with traditionally male jobs (leadership, technical insight, and heavy physical work) are over-valued. These very often subconscious valuations have to be overcome by making people aware of them and then act differently. In general it may be said that too low a value is placed on characteristics associated with women, e.g. social skills, physical and emotional care, concentration. (www.mywage.co.za/main/women-and-work) Barriers to Womens Advancement (glass ceiling) Morrison (1992) describes several organizational barriers which constitute the glass ceiling in organizations. These include; 1. Non-supportive working environments 2. Differences being treated as weakness 3. Exclusion from group activities 4. Lack of organizational insider knowledge While many women insist that the glass ceiling is a real barrier to accessing male-dominated positions in business, many challengers say that it exists mostly because women choose to focus more of their time on family and, in the end, cannot dedicate as much time to their career. Others claim that women think they want to focus on their career, but in reality choose family over career. A 2005 report, reports that 43% of highly qualified, educated women with children left their jobs voluntarily at some stage of their careers. Although 93% wanted to return to their careers, only 74% did so and only 40% went back to a full time position. Of those women who wanted to return to work, only five percent desired to return to the position they had left. (http://www.wisegeek.com) Non-Traditional jobs or male dominated careers Non-Traditional jobs and careers are ones that have traditionally been held by men. The Department of Labour classifies jobs as non-traditional when women are less than 25% of the workforce in that field. Non-Traditional Fields include: Detective, Architect, Barber, Machinist, Computer and Office Machine Repairer, Fire Fighter, Chef, Railroad Conductor, Construction and Building Inspectorà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (http://www.womenwork.org). Benefits offered in non-traditional careers. Non-traditional careers offer women many benefits that traditionally female careers do not have, these include the following: Higher Pay Women in non-traditional careers generally make 20-30% more money than women in traditional careers, Opportunity for Advancement Non-traditional careers often have career paths that allow women to quickly move up the ranks, Better Benefits Packages Women in non-traditional careers generally have better benefits packages, including health care, vacation and sick leave, pension/retirement plans and life insurance, Expanding Job Availability Non-traditional careers are generally in fields that are growing, thus there are many new jobs and positions being created, (http://www.womenwork.org.) Challenges facing women in non-traditional careers Women are facing challenges in the non-traditional, though there are many resources and support programs to help women overcome these difficulties, some of the common problems encountered by women are as follows: Discrimination or Harassment Many women face discrimination and/or harassment in a non-traditional workplace, Hazardous Environments Non-traditional careers can be in hazardous conditions for example in the mines or engineering, Family and Friends May Not Be Supportive Many women find that their family and friends are not as supportive as they could be about their new career choices, Isolation With few other women in the non-traditional workplace, many women feel isolated and lonely in their careers. Again, women can find supportive networks and groups with other women experiencing the same situations and environments, Transportation and Child Care Difficulties Some non-traditional jobs are at odd times and sites. This can make transportation and child care difficult to find and maintain. Some of the strategies to deal with these challenges Young females who are in male dominated careers can try to alleviate the changes which face them at work, by having personal board of directors which can be a group of four to five people. Members of ones board can be mentors, peers, friends, or colleagues. These individuals will support you and are willing and able to help you get where you want to go, you should cultivate many developmental relationships instead of searching for one perfect mentor. Your personal board of directors is a group of four to five people, hand picked by you to be your own fan club. Members of your board can be mentors, peers, friends, or colleagues. These individuals can support them and help them get where you want to go. There is great power in the support the younger females receive from women facing similar challenges, the benefits include: Knowledge that youre not alone Concrete suggestions and helpful guidance A forum in which to share your thoughts and feelings with others who can relate One can build personal board of directors by following the following steps: the first step is to reach out to other women for support. Too many female professionals are afraid to ask women in their field for assistance and guidance. However, what most women do not know is that most accomplished women want to help others like them succeed. By developing these mutually relationships it can help one to create an alliances which is essential to a long and successful career. (http://www.eurekalert.org) Stereotype of engineers puts women off the job http://www.hrmguide.co.uk/diversity/engineering.htm March 10 2006 Classic stereotypes of engineers as men who are brilliant at and passionate about technology, but not very good at dealing with people, do not reflect real engineers and their work, according to Dr Wendy Faulkner from the University of Edinburgh. Moreover, such stereotypes are hampering efforts to recruit women into the engineering profession. According to Dr Faulkner, who interviewed and observed 66 male and female engineers from a range of industries,: Women and men engineers alike get excited about technology even though fewer of the women have a tinkerer background. There are gadget girls as well as boys and their toys in engineering. At the same time, many different types of men and women enjoy engineering work very few fit the classic stereotype. Wendy Faulkner adds: In practice, engineering encompasses a wide variety of jobs and roles. It is a broad church with room for a diverse range of people. Yet the image of engineering and often the culture remains a narrowly technical, nuts and bolts one. Retention is as important as recruitment many of those women who do complete engineering degrees dont go onto engineering jobs or leave the industry after only a few years, says Dr Faulkner. Part of the issue is that women who enter engineering have to become one of the lads in order to fit in. Many subtle aspects of the culture, which may appear trivial individually, when taken as a whole have a dripping tap effect making it harder for women to belong, and get on in engineering. Her study shows details how the topics engineers talk about, as well as their style of humour and the social activities they engage in, reflect mens interests and ways of bonding. Women are left on the margins of this male society, finding it difficult to break into the inner circles that carry influence on how the job gets done and who gets promoted. By contrast, engineering workplace cultures accommodate a range of men laddish blokes, family men, pranksters, macho men, nerdy men, urbane men, genteel men and so they are likely to feel comfortable to the great majority of men, says Wendy Faulkner. If more women are to stay and progress in engineering workplaces, there is a strong business case for employers to introduce sustained and sensitive diversity training, to raise awareness of these kind of issues and to nurture more inclusive workplace cultures in which everyone is comfortable, says Dr Faulkner. Engineering A Male Dominated Profession Coming from the first year engineering program at UBC, I couldnt help but notice how male dominated the program was. I recall sitting in my Physics 153 class and being able to pick out the number of women on one hand. I began to question as to why engineering is associated with males more than females. Is it course difficulty? Interests? Or simply stereotypes? Ive transferred schools and am now in my first year(yes, again) in Mechatronics Engineering program at SFU Surrey and Im still observing the same thing a larger male population in engineering. I decided to sit down with Rebecca, a first year Tech One student who plans to go into Mechatronics, and asked her a couple questions regarding my observation. Me: Hi, Rebecca. Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to me. Rebecca: No problem, I had an hour break anyways. Me: So, what program are you in right now? Rebecca: TechOne right now, but I plan to go to Mechatronics Engineering if I get the grades after. Me: Good for you. What got you interested in engineering in general? Rebecca: Well, I really enjoy math. I also like problem solving and working in teams. Its always nice working with other people and getting everyones ideas together. After all, two heads are better than one! Me: Very true! Is there anything else besides that? Rebecca: Actually, my parents kinda pushed me to choose something right away. Mechatronics seemed to be the only interesting career path for me. It is a little weird though. Me: What is? Rebecca: I dont know if you notice but there arent that many girls in engineering Me: You took the words right out of my mouth! I noticed the same thing. How do you feel about that? Rebecca: I dont feel out of place or anything. Just because Im a girl doesnt mean Im not fit to be an engineer. It can be a little intimidating, though. Prior to choosing Mechatronics, I never wouldve expected this many guys in my class. Me: Why do you think there are so many guys in engineering? Rebecca: Well, I think its labeled as a males job. Typically, you see the majority of engineerings being guys. Thats basically it. Its stereotypical. Me: So does this change your willingness to stay in Mechatronics? Rebecca: Not at all. It is easy however, to question whether youre in the right program or not but for me, I dont think I would question it because there are so many guys compared to girls, but because I dont know if its something I can see myself doing in the future. Me: Well, thanks for answering some of my questions, Rebecca. Ill let you get back to your studies. Rebecca: No problem. Ive got a lot of math to catch up on. After speaking to Rebecca, I couldnt help but get a little bit of a better understanding about women in engineering. I dont think it matters to her, or to other women, that a mans job should only be meant for a man. At the same time, I dont find that women do it to prove to men and society the famous saying, Anything you can do, I can do better. When choosing a career path, its important to think about what youre interested in and whether you see yourself succeeding in that field. You can compare this same idea to male nurses. It is stereotypical to see a nurse as a female job but today, I see more and more men becoming nurses. In fact, a buddy of mine is studying to become one as we speak. Engineering is a challenging career path for anyone, male or female. Before making a career decision, it is important to block out any stereotypes that may come along with that profession. I strongly believe that people choose career paths to prove to themselves, and only themselves, that they can do anything they put their mind I. Introduction Attracting Women into Engineering a Case Study Malgorzata S. Zywno, Member, IEEE, Kimberley A. Gilbride, Peter D. Hiscocks, Judith K. Waalen, and Diane C. Kennedy, Member, IEEE http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/es/Nov1999/10/BEGIN.HTM The economic well-being of Canada and the development of its technological base depends to a great extent on the effective employment of engineers. With the predicted shortage of engineers by the year 2000, employers cannot be satisfied with anything less than the very best engineers available, regardless of their gender [1], [2]. Statistics Canada figures released in April 1998 show that women make up only 12 % of 407,130 university grads in the science and technology fields, and only seven per cent of the 588,400 community college grads. Although women represent 55% of all undergraduate students in Canadian Universities, only 21% are enrolled in engineering programs. Furthermore, the percentage of women among practicing engineers in Canada is still very low, less than 5% [2]. For example, in 1998 only 3030 out of 61,340 (i.e. 4.9%) Professional Engineers registered in the Province of Ontario were women. Under-representation of women persists despite the fact that there are no diffe rences in academic ability between men and women and that men and women initially pursue engineering for similar reasons [3]. A. Enrollments in Engineering in Ontario Over the past decade the number of women in engineering undergraduate programs in the province of Ontario has been steadily increasing, but women are still significantly under represented in the applied science and engineering programs. While the climate for women in engineering has improved in recent years, misconceptions about engineering, lack of encouragement, peer pressure and other factors still act as barriers preventing more women to pursue a career in this non-traditional field. Trends in enrollment in engineering schools are shown in Figures 1,2 and 3 [4]. Fig. 1. Number of Men Studying Engineering at Ontario Universities. As shown in Figure 1, the number of male students in engineering has been declining since 1992. This is reflected in all the engineering disciplines. Fig. 2. Number of Women Studying Engineering at Ontario Universities. In contrast, the number of women students in engineering has been increasing, although their actual number remains much smaller than that of their male counterparts, as shown in Figure 2. The female enrollment in engineering programs in Ontario over a five year period has increased from 13% in 1992-93 to 18.5% in 1996-97 school year. Fig. 3. Percentage of Women Studying Engineering at Ontario Universities by Discipline. Figure 3 presents the percentage of women students in engineering by discipline. This graph shows a steady decrease in Aeronautical and Industrial Engineering enrollment since 1993. It has been suggested that women are moving from Industrial to Systems engineering, but the reason for the decrease in Aeronautical engineering is not known. It is interesting to observe that the total percentage of women students in engineering continues to increase, although the total number of women students has recently shown the same down turn as men. It has been suggested that initiatives to encourage women to study engineering will soon become unnecessary because the numbers are increasing so rapidly. This would be welcome news if it were true, but in fact the gains of women in the profession are not large and are not well established yet. Although the participation of women in engineering has increased every year since 1974 (when the first statistics were recorded), when only 2.9% of full time engineering students were women, the engineering profession has not been successful in attracting women in large numbers [5]. At about 18%, the percentage of women undergraduate students in engineering in Ontario is still well below the participation rates of women studying for other professions such as law, medicine, pharmacology or veterinary science. Women practicing engineers account for only about 5% of the profession. While women have made progress in the profession, they still encounter unacceptable attitudes and behaviours, as wel l as the glass ceiling [2]. B. Why More Women Dont Become Engineers There are a number of factors that tend to divert women away from engineering as a career: Streaming, or the Leaky Pipe Syndrome: Women are diverted from math and science courses early in their high school careers. It has been argued [6] that this is associated with issues of competition, isolation, lack of female role models and not of lack of academic ability. Systemic obstacles [1] include: cultural influences and gender stereotyping at home and in school, peer pressure and images in the media. Perception of Difficulty: Engineering is thought to be extremely difficult. Combined with the prevailing myth that women are poor at mathematics, women tend to choose something perceived as more achievable. Exposure: Women do not have as many engineer role models as for other careers such as business, medicine or law. There are few women science high school teachers, women in science textbooks and among university engineering faculty in 1995, only 5.5% were women [7]. Lack of Knowledge About Engineering: Engineering is perceived as a technical, often solitary pursuit, in which one works with machines rather than people. Career options in engineering are not well known by most adults, let alone teenagers, and are not well represented in high school curricula or through career guidance counseling. This affects girls disproportionately, as they typically have less access to information about engineering outside the school environment. Hobbies: Encouraged by parents and peers, boys engage in mechanically oriented hobbies, which prepare them better for the practical aspects of engineering. Social Status of the Profession: In North America, the profession of engineering derives from the skilled trades of Britain, and therefore may be associated with the working class. This is in contrast to the European tradition of engineering, where it has always been regarded as a profession allied to the sciences. Notice the difference between the derivation of the English word engineer (associated with engines) and the French word ingenieur(associated with ingenuity or invention). Thus engineering has a tradition of higher social status in the New World countries such as Venezuela, deriving their traditions from continental Europe, as opposed to British-influenced Canada. This is implicitly understood by parents who are considering professional careers for their daughters 4 Barriers to Womens Advancement in the Accounting Profession Morrison (1992) describes several organizational barriers which constitute the glass ceiling in organizations. These include; 1. Non-supportive working environments 2. Differences being treated as weakness 3. Exclusion from group activities 4. Lack of organizational insider knowledge Non-supportive working environments Many women in business are becoming increasing aware and indeed disillusioned with what they perceive as a lack of support in their work environments. The working environment is determined by the culture within a particular organization, namely the systems of shared values which create the behavioural norms. There are seven types of gender-related organizational culture, each of which in its own way contributes to a non-supportive work environment. The gentleman club reinforces the notion that the womans role as mother and homemaker and the mans role as breadwinner are natural and preordained; the barrack yard is an authoritarian culture where power delivers respects and as women rarely have senior status their interest are ignores; locker room is an exclusion culture, where men build relationships on the basis of common agreements and common assumptions and may frequently talk about sport and make sexual references to confirm their heterosexuality; the gender blind pretends that women live the same lives as men; the smart macho is driven by extreme competitiveness and is very much geared to the young and childless; the paying lip-service type of culture espouses equal opportunities policies but does little to assist practically in the development of Gender Behaviour 595 women employees: and the women as gate-keepers type of culture means that often the main resistance to women managers comes from other women who are less career-oriented or are wives of senior staff. 5 Differences treated as weaknesses The Institute of Management (1992) has identified the dominance of male culture in its many manifestations as the crucial barrier for women in business to overcome It is the prevalence and power of this culture, perceived as the norm, that lead directly to differences being regarded as weakness and hence to women being perceived successful managers to possess characteristics, attitude and temperaments more commonly ascribed to men and although female managers and management students no longer sex-type the managerial job, the concept of a scientific, rational and detached male manager still persists, as being the ideal to which one should aspire. This obviously presents problems for women in managerial roles because they will frequently be considered by male colleagues and subordinates as not fitting the mould, of being an outsider because of the gender, and they will constantly be measured against the male managerial stereotype as shown in the outline. Masculine and feminine stereotype Masculine Stereotype à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Competence à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Very aggressive à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Very independent à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Almost always hides emotions à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Very objective à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Note all easily influenced à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Very dominant à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Distance/inexpressiveness à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Uses harsh language à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Not at all talkative à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Very rough à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Not at all aware of feeling of others Feminine Stereotype à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Incompetence à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Not at all aggressive à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Not at all independent à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Does not hide emotions at all à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Very subjective à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Very easily influenced à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Very submissive à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Warmth/expressiveness à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Does not use harsh language at all à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Very talkative à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Very gentle à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Very award of feeling of others Source: White (1995) Hinson, R.; Otieku, J.; Amidu, M: Exploratory Study of Women in Ghana 596 6 Exclusion from group activities One of the problems resulting from the assumptions made about womens role in the workplace is that women are frequently excluded from group activities within those organizations where a strong male culture predominates. These activities may be business-related, for example, considering a female colleague too irrational to be involved in the development of a strategic plan, or too emotional to make a
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