Winesburg, Ohio written by Sherwood Anderson free essay sample

People usually think a grotesque is a person who has bad background, who people hate and has Most of stories in Winesburg, Ohio which is written by Sherwood Anderson talk about how grotesque people in the 19th century were. And most of people at that time thought that being a grotesque was horrible. However, â€Å"The Book of The Grotesque† and â€Å"Hands† are two stories which show that the grotesques are not all horrible, and each grotesque has their own truth or belief. In â€Å"The Book of The Grotesque†, the carpenter, who helps the writer to fix the bed, is a grotesque. The carpenter used to be a soldier in the Civil War, and he also used to be a prisoner in Andersonville prison with his brother. Unfortunately, his brother died because of starvation. Whenever the carpenter talks about his brother death, he always cries. The way he cries makes him more grotesque. We will write a custom essay sample on Winesburg, Ohio written by Sherwood Anderson or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Sherwood Anderson mentions it in the story : â€Å"†¦. when he cried he puckered up his lips and the mustache bobbed up and down. The weeping old man with the cigar in his mouth was ludicrous. †. The carpenter acts like a grotesque, but he isn’t bad or horrible. He acts like a grotesque because he thinks his brother’s death is his bad. Every time he talks about his brother’s death, he forgets everything around him. And this time he forgets to fix the bed for the writer. In short, a carpenter, a Civil War soldier, becomes a grotesque whenever he reminds his brother’s death. But it is not make him become a horrible person. The writer, the writer of â€Å"The Book of The Grotesque† in Winesburg, Ohio, is the sixty-years-old man. He has a weak heart, but he is still a hard smoker. In his mind, there is always an idea that he will die unexpectedly whenever he lays on his bed. But that idea doesn’t make him feel more depressed, it helps him feel more alive. He feels like he becomes younger. In Winesburg, Sherwood Anderson write â€Å"He was like a pregnant woman, only that the thing inside him was not a baby but a youth. †. This sentence shows how grotesque the writer is. How can a man is like a pregnant woman ?. The sentence also points the change inside the writer out. However, that point is not only the reason makes the writer becomes a grotesque. Sherwood Anderson says â€Å"In the bed the writer had a dream that was not a dream. As he grew somewhat sleepy but was still conscious†¦. † The writer has a weird dream because he sees all the people he has ever known have become grotesque. In addition, he think most grotesques are good people, and they are not as horrible as people usually think about them. They have their own truth which makes them different from the others. Sherwood Anderson write â€Å"Man made the truths himself and each truth was a composite of a great many vague thoughts. All about in the world were the truths and they were all beautiful. †. In his book, the writer shows hundreds of the truths such as the truth of virginity, the truth of passion, the truth of wealth and poverty, the truth of thrift and profligacy, the truth of carelessness and abandon. These truth make people become grotesque, but they don’t make us become a horrible person. â€Å"Hand† is the story which shows how a good person becomes a grotesque after being misjudged. Wing Biddlebaum is the main character in this story. He has lived alone in Winesburg for twenty years, Ohio, and he doesn’t really want to talk with anybody except George Willard. His hand always moves or does something weird whenever he talks to somebody. The action of the hand makes him feel more comfortable. His hand is the reason makes him become a symbol or a grotesque in Winesburg. Sherwood Anderson mention â€Å"The story of Wing Biddlebaum’s hand is worth a book itself†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦It a job for a poet. †. When people talk about Wing Biddlebaum, they talk about his hand first because it attracts people by its activity â€Å"With them Wing Biddlebaum had picked as high as a hundred and forty quarts of strawberries in a day. †. His hand makes people in Winesburg proud of. However, most people in the town don’t know why his hand always moves whenever he talks to someone. Wing Biddlebaum used to be Adolph Myers, a school teacher in a town in Pennsylvania, and he was loved by the boys in the school. At that time, he had his own truth, the truth of dream. He believed himself. Every time he dreamed he made some weird action on his student and told them what he dreamed about. Sherwood Anderson writes â€Å"†¦.. Here and there went his hands, caressing the shoulders of the boys, playing about the tousled heads. †. Unfortunately, the tragedy came to him in one day. After hearing what the boy said about what Adolph Myers did, their parents were angry. They went to the school, called him , and beat him. Some people brought a rope. They wanted to hang him. But in the end, they let him go away. After leaving Pennsylvania, he went to Winesburg and lived in fear. In short, Wing Biddlebaum is a grotesque, but he is not a bad or horrible person. He was a teacher and loved by the student which show how good and amusing he was. But because of one misjudged, people think he is a horrible person and want to kill him.

5 Ways to Handle a Racist Family Member

5 Ways to Handle a Racist Family Member It’s no secret that family gatherings can cause stress and lead to conflict, especially if some family members have racial views that youre staunchly against. What’s the best way to proceed when a loved one seems not only small-minded but outright racist? Don’t suffer in silence through one family gathering after another. You can take several steps to stop the Archie Bunker of the family in his tracks. These strategies include setting boundaries and calling attention to the racist behavior. Be Direct Confrontations are never easy. That said, if you don’t want to listen to your parents or siblings rattle off racial stereotypes every Thanksgiving, the direct approach is necessary. How will your family members understand that you find their behavior offensive unless you tell them? The moment your sister makes a racial joke or uses a racial stereotype, tell her that you’d appreciate it if she didn’t make such jokes or racial generalizations in front of you. If you believe that calling out your relative in front of others will make her more defensive, ask to speak to her privately and then make your feelings known. If your family member uses a racial slur in front of you, request that she doesn’t use such epithets in your presence. Do so in a calm, firm voice. Make your request short and then move on. Don’t attack your family member’s character. Just let her know that her comments make you uncomfortable. Get Help What if this family member intimidates you if he’s an elder or an in-law and you aren’t comfortable calling attention to the behavior you find inappropriate? Find a relative you feel more comfortable with and request that he accompany you as you confront the family member you believe is offensive. Tell the insensitive family member that you love and appreciate him but find his views on race hurtful. Alternatively, if your grandfather has made remarks you consider racially insensitive, you might want to ask your parent to speak with him about his behavior. If your father-in-law is the party in question, ask your spouse to confront him about his language and attitudes concerning race. If no one else in your family will serve as an ally, consider taking a less direct approach to confronting your relative. Write a brief letter or email informing him that you find his comments hurtful and asking him to refrain from such remarks in the future. Don’t Argue Whatever you do, don’t get into a debate with your relative. Agree to disagree with this family member about race rather than listening to her argument about why her racial stereotypes are valid and you’re too politically correct. Stick to the following script: â€Å"I find your comments hurtful. Please don’t make these remarks in front of me again.† Arguing with the relative will likely be a waste of time. The family member will be on the defensive and you will be on the offensive. Meanwhile, you will have convinced her of little or nothing about racial sensitivity. Focus on your feelings about the relative’s comments rather than on the validity of her beliefs. Set Consequences Depending on your situation, you might have to set guidelines with your relative. Say, for example, that you have children. Do you want your children to hear the comments by your family member? If not, let your relatives know that if they make bigoted remarks in your children’s presence you will leave the family gathering at once. If your relatives routinely make such comments, let them know that you will skip family gatherings with them altogether. This is an especially important move if you’re in an interracial relationship or have multiracial children who will feel targeted by your family members’ comments. Try Outside Influences You probably wont open your relatives’ eyes about race by arguing with them about the issue, but you can take steps to influence them that they might go along with. Organize a family trip to a museum with a social justice focus. Have a movie night at your house and screen films addressing issues of racial inequity or showing minority groups in a positive light. Start a family book club and select anti-racist literature.

Reflective Analysis Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reflective Analysis Paper - Essay Example The book describes Maya as being a victim of racism and ignorance. In the book, the main character Maya Angelou and her family are African-Americans. The book originates in the 1930’s to 1940’s having examples of racist discrimination all through. Not only are the white people racists, but also reject, divide and are bad hearted to the African Americans. As the adage goes, when the going gets tough the tough keeps on going, the African Americans excelled through being smart and avoiding the racists. The black community as stated in the book is regular church attendees. Momma, Maya’s grandmother is the most religious person in the book. Most black people usually like church activities because they believe God is never biased. Maya’s white folks are not as kind as she expected as the whites had their heads high terming themselves superior because of a lighter skin. The whites expected to be treated with hospitality from other races but they would not return the favor. Black would walk out of the white’s way and address them with respect. In the case where Momma took Maya to the dentist he refused to treat her claiming that he would rather stick his finger in a dog’s mouth than hers.(Angelou 189) the doctor at this point was completely unfair and was a racist. Like everyone else, Maya is human and poses to have equal rights as everyone else. According to the Almighty, everyone is equal in his eyes and neither the whites nor the blacks are superior beings. The black community like Maya had to live on the remote side of the town while the whites lived on the opposite side never to associate with them. â€Å"The peculiar pale beings who lived in their alien unlife were never attributed as folks, but were white folks† (Angelou 26). In those times, racism was very open and the whites never bothered about the blacks feelings. In the early 21st century, racism was just like in old times but now evolved in different ways. I n recent times, racism is experienced in employment. The government ended discrimination of persons in looking for jobs as an affirmative action. To some way, there was justice but that did not help to curb the whole issue. A supervisor at Best Buy was discriminated by being stuck at the same management level for more than seven years even though he had all the qualifications for promotion. People go through so much but they only persevere for the aim of gaining promotion or favored. This is very unfair to those who have to stoop so low so that they can be given the desired favors. Racism can be life threatening at the extreme level but its ones dignity that is crushed and lowered. Maya went through true racism and it is of uttermost good that racism has receded in recent times hence people do not suffer that much. Racism is practiced from generation to generatio

Individual application paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Individual application paper - Essay Example This could be because am junior to him or we are not very close friends. I believe in his own way, he is right because based on my understanding and knowledge, the owners of the restaurant also has never questioned him or complained. I think generally I don’t like Erick the manager. I do not know whether my dislike for Erick will create a negative attitude toward him or am just being biased. His style of management does not conform to the normal style of management which has been in existence since I joined Franklin group of companies. I do not welcome his tendency of hiring his friends to work in the restaurant because some are incompetent like Colleen. Despite that I do not agree with his style of management, I think Erick also believes he is right in his own way of doing things. However much I can be critical or conservative to some of his decisions, I think he trusts the people he always hires. Take a scenario of an episode, which occurred last Saturday night, and you will agree with me. The policies of the restaurant stipulate that an employee cannot leave the cafe at the end of the working day before being released by the manager. However, on the material Saturday, Colleen, a waitress and one of the friends of Erick, was to go home at 11.30 pm but was not yet released by the manager. ... Two clients comes into her sections and she ignores them. Her behavior made me dislike her so much because she does not value work and responds to me rudely. I may be judgmental to her but I think to Colleen, she knew her time was up and was waiting to be released. Similarly, her response to me that she did not see the clients might be true given that it was a busy evening and many people move in and out (Mind Tools, 2013). Similarly, I later decided to approach the management about the incidence despite the fact that I knew what would be the response of the manager. I do not think Erick could have responded well could he have more time to with me or if I could have come another time. This is because he only spared me one minute on such a sensitive matter. But generally I believe maybe my report undermined his decisions on the operations of the restaurant or he liked the waitress. My Action plan After studying the situation in the restaurant for some time now and was not pleased with the way it was being managed, I look for an opportune moment to act for the well being of the restaurant. The issues I identified that need action was the general manager to stop hiring his friend the restaurant most of whom are lazy, the working policies to be followed and the management should consider the opinions of the junior employees in managing the restaurant (Mind Tools, 2013). I feel that the general manager ignored my report and the well being of the restaurant and I believe I was right in reporting the matter to him as the general manager of the restaurant. My plan of action will mainly focus to the manager and if it fails, I will try to seek audience with the owner of the restaurant. Furthermore,

Attitudes towards Christianity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Attitudes towards Christianity - Essay Example He has several incisive interpretations with regard to slaveholders’ religion. He described them as ‘allegedly Christians who have no worries about isolating and selling some of their own church members. He showcases different slavery styles practiced by native and European Americans. Â  Bibb presents an image of a man trapped between a dilemma of two worlds; a past of slavery and a freedom in the future that he was eagerly awaiting to be part of. Unlike other slave narratives, Henry Bibb showed the value of family through his relentless struggle for freedom. Â  Harriet Wilson uses her epigraph, ‘Our Nig’, to foreground images of blood, distress, crucifixion, and misery that the blacks experienced in the hands of their masters. Mrs. Wilson, unlike her fellow novelists of black origin within that particular decade, was able to underpin her materials a little more readily. This she did by taking a closer adherence to experiences which had details of pain and suffering. This epigraph showcases a horror of how the healthy body Frado is transformed to utmost liability from her toughest asset. She is beaten, tortured and even fractured just because her color was hated upon. Â  A bible (derived from a Latin word Biblia which means books) is made up of Christian scriptures which make up the books in the bible. These books are referred to as canons (a Greek word that refers to norms or rules). Canons contain only the authoritative books hence studied regularly during church sessions. Here the people are taught on the commandments and their importance to Christians. These commandments act as guidelines for the people maintaining a peaceful coexistence amongst them. These commandments are mostly derived from the old testament of the bible. Â  In Henry Bibb’s narrative, we learn that the slaveholders manipulated the scripture in the sense that it benefited them.

Thums Up Soft Drink Brand Analysis

Thums Up Soft Drink Brand Analysis Launched in India by Parle Agro Pvt. Ltd. Now owned by Coca-Cola. Until leaving India in 1977, Coca Cola was the nations leading soft drink. It was around that time that the Chauhan brothers launched Thums Up, Parles flagship cola drink. The Tough Mans Cola quickly went on to become a nationwide success, dominating smaller players like Campa Cola, Double Seven and Double Cola for over a decade. But all that changed in 1993 for that was when Coca Cola re-entered the Indian market and Pepsi launched here too. Background: Thums Up is a carbonated soft drink (cola) admired and biggest selling brand in India, where its valiant, red thumbs up logo is widespread. Earlier the logo of Thums Up was a red thumbs up gesture of hand with one-sided white sans-serif typography. This would later be tailored and modified by Coca-Cola with giving some blue strokes and a more advance and modern-style. The main motive behind changing the logo was to lessen the dominance of red colour in the signage. Brand Identity of Thums Up: Iconic, victory, celebration, proactive Happiness, brave, excitements Thums Up, Red color, logo Macho, Masculine, adventurous, cool Masculine, risky, courageous Macho, refreshing, adventurous, joyfuluntitled Stage at Product Life Cycle: Thums Up has seen all the stages of product life cycle except decline stage, starting from introduction. When the Brand was doing well, it was taken away from the market because it was giving stiff competition to Coca-cola but Coke had to bring out the brand again to attack all the promotional policy of Pepsi and it was introduced once again. If we talk about current scenario, thums Up is at its Maturity stage. It has grown like anything, has been successful in attracting more and more number of customers and now it has a huge market share. The brand has been successful in capturing the minds of the consumers. Now, all the communication policies of the brand is all about informing consumers that the brand is in the market and doing well. The objective of the communication policy of the brand is to remind people about the strength and status of the brand SWOT Analysis: Weakness Negative Publicity Decline in cash for operating costs No autonomy Strength Strong brand image Good marketing tools Strong distribution channels Different taste Brand loyalty Reasonable price Threat Cut- throat competition New entrants Government regulations Economic instability Health Issues Market instability Opportunity Growing Market Acquisitions Innovation Overtake competitors Creative marketing tools Market Scenario: Thums Up has enjoyed a near monopoly with a much stronger market share often beating its other rivals like Camp cola, Double seven and Dukes, but there were many small regional players who had their own market. It was one of the major advertisers throughout the 1980s. In the mid-80s it had a brief threat from a newcomer Double Cola which suddenly disappeared within a few years. Pepsi was the first company to come to India In 1990, when the Indian government allowed the market to multinational companies Thums Up went up against the worldwide giant for a strong ambush with neither side giving any quarter. When Pepsi had starred with famous bollywood actress like Juhi Chawla, to frustrate the Indian brand, Thums Up focussed on cricket sponsorship. Things became even more complicated when Coca-cola re-entered India after its absence from 1977 to 1993. Now the fight became a three-way battle. But Things got changed post liberalization, when Thums Up was facing unbendable and stiff competition from coke and Pepsi both. But After all this happening, owners of Parle Agro, finally sold Thums Up to Coca-Cola. Relaunch of the product: When Thums UP was sold off to Coca-Cola, it in fact tried to kill Thums Up, but later on they sensed that Pepsi would be more benefitted than Coke if they withdrew Thums Up from the market and Coke decided to use Thums Up against Pepsi to thwart the brand. By this time, Coca-cola had about 60.5% share in the Indian soft-drink market but if they would have withdrawn Thums Up from the market the market share would have remained 28.72% only. Hence it once again launched Thums Up brand targeting the 30 to 45 year olds. In todays scenario, amongst all the carbonated drinks Coca-cola occupies about 58% market share in India in which Thums-up is the premier selling brand with a market share of about 15% of the total CSD market where as Pepsi is the second brand with 36%. Communication strategy after Re-launch After entering again into the market the brand was re-positioned as a manly drink, stressing on its strong and bitter taste qualities. Thums Up kick-started an forceful and aggressive campaigns directly targeting Pepsis TV ads, showcasing the strength of the drink in the hope that the representation of an adult drink would attract more young consumers. Grow up to Thums Up was a triumphant and amazing campaign done by Thums Up and because of this campaign the market share of the brand soared. The brand became unbreakable and resilient Positioning: Earlier Thums up was positioned as a refreshing cold drink, with having slogans such as Great and Happy Days are here Again but after this it was around post-1996 that the brand decided to move towards a more idiosyncratic, manly positioning. Having all odds Thums Up has enjoyed a market share of around 30% at the time, but Coca-Cola has always focused all its money and resources on promoting the Coke brand. The latest thums up 2010 ad has an attitude that is I will do anything for Thunder which shows the enthusiasm and adventurous nature of males. The different types of positioning opted by the brand in several times are as follows: Time duration Brand positioning Tag line 1977-1980 Joy, Refreshment, Happiness Happy days are here again 1981-1987 Masculine I am the thunder. 1988-1992 Masculine Taste the thunder 19993-1995 Back out from the market 1995-2006 Confidence, masculine, Adventurous Taste the thunder 2006 onwards Confidence, Masculine, cheerful Taste the thunder Current Marketing plan Even after 13 years, Thums up is sold more than Pepsi and Coke. The brand has refused to die because of its strongness and attitude involved in it. The brand personifies victory, achievement and celebration. Thums Up is our very own Indian brand. The brand is very popular amongst Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, UP and Karnataka where Andhra contributes 30% of the total sales. Coke has always promoted Thums Up half heartedly but even after all mess up, the brand has stood strong and everlasting . May be it is on the part of consumers that they are not willing to let go the brand. This brand has got an iconic status. It is a classic case where the customers have the ownership of the brand. If Coke would have promoted the brand in most efficient manner, Pepsi did not have a chance to enter and compete in Indian cola market. Coke could have ruled and became the market leader in India only with Thums Up. Now, Coke is trying to have a separate market for Thums Up. Coke is trying to play the regional game through which in those areas where sales of coke is strong, Thums Up is withdrawn slowly. Thums Up Launches New Ad Campaign Yeh Toofan This summer, Thums Up, one of Indias most iconic and the largest soft drink brand, is all set to storm fans with a new Taste the Thunder communication initiative- Yeh Toofan. In the latest campaign, Bollywood Super Star and Thums Up brand Ambassador, Akshay Kumar reminiscences about the several thunder packed action stunts for his favorite bottle of Thums Up. The communication takes the I will do Anything for my thunder attitude to the next level, where Akshay is seen, back in thick of action, performing some adrenalin pumping action such as crashing through the window of an exploding high rise, snatching a Thums Up bottle from jaws of a vicious alligator, taking on a mob of angry gangsters to swimming through strong rapids. This campaign first got previewed to the Thums Up fans on Facebook and then releases on mass media channels. Internet Marketing done By Thums Up: Honestly, Thums Up is a brand does not use the power of internet marketing. Their main motive is to reach out mass public by using mass media tools of promotion. They have focussed more on TVCs and OOH media. In the field of internet marketing, I could find only following steps taken by the brand: All the ads of the company are uploaded on YouTube. They are using social media as in Facebook for awareness but the extent is very low. They are having Search Engine Optimisation to an extent because while searching for data related to Thums Up, I was getting the links related to Thums Up but still a lot can be done in this field. All the latest updates about the brand come on internet on regular basis There is no separate website of the brand. It comes under Coca-Cola as a sub brand. What can be done-? Now, as we can see that the company does not promote itself on internet and it feels also that there is no use of it. Frankly speaking thums Up is doing great in the market but in this situation of cut-throat competition, a lot can be done on internet to create buzz and to get competitive advantage. As we all agree that this age has become word of fingers instead of word of mouth, Thums up as a big brand should utilise the power of internet in current scenario. Developing their own website: Thums Up should have its own website, where they can separately calculate the hits by using web analytics. On their website, they can demonstrate their latest ads, new packaging, history of the brand and all related information can be found on that website only. Using Social Media: Thums Up being a youth product, must use social media as one of their promotional tool. They can have application related to the brand; they can have games related to the brand. One idea can be that they develop a quiz related to the latest updates of Thums Up and they offer prizes to the winner. Search Engine Optimisation: Thums Up uses this technique as promotion tools but not in an effective way. When I was looking for the Internet marketing plan of Thums Up, I was getting every data related to Thumbs Up, which was very irritating. So, I think they should focus on this and try to get the keywords as perfectly as possible. Search Engine Ads: Thums Up doesnt go for any ads on Google. I think they can have collaboration with any food place, restaurants etc and along with their ad, Thums Up can promote itself. Email Marketing: Thums Up can use email marketing for increase in its sales. They can directly contact the people who are involved and have the authority to make decisions. For example, they can target colleges and all. Where they can interact with the higher authority through emails and can get the orders. If they allow, Thums Up can have its stall or counter in the colleges and offices. From a brand that was virtually unchallenged to a brand that was stifled, Thums Up stormed back after a near death experience. The brand proves that its strength lies not just in its taste but also in its performance. The grown up tag is an enduring one and will probably counter Pepsi for a while to come.

The Burden of a Guilty Conscience :: essays research papers fc

In Karen Horney’s essay, â€Å"The Distrust Between the Sexes,† she demonstrates how the expectations we have when we are in love can often lead to disappointment. â€Å"An almost unavoidable source of disappointment and distrust in our normal love life derives from the fact that the very intensity of our feelings of love stirs up all of our secret expectations and longing for happiness, which slumber deep inside us (361).† Simply, projecting our desires, expectation and sometimes guilt upon our lover can lead to disappointment. Love, in this way, can be a hugely unsatisfying because our expectations for it can be contradictory in nature and sometimes unrealistic. Ideally we would want a partner who possesses desirable traits. We want a partner who possesses both strength and weakness, who is pure and wicked, and additionally someone who will love us as deeply as we do them. However, it is very rare that someone will find that perfect partner who fulfills all of their desires. In my opinion, men and women usually project their guilt in ornate behaviors that lead to a breakdown in trust. For example, many people who are unfaithful often accuse their partner of cheating due to their own guilty conscience. Also, we can project our insecurities on our relationships; we do this unconsciously when we feel that we are not good enough or unable to fulfill our partner’s expectations in the relationship, and do this in many different ways. I once was in a situation, one I’m confident most of us have been in, where my partner accused me of cheating and was very adamant about this. In addition, there seemed to be no way to assure her of any other reality. I later came to find out that she was the one being unfaithful during this period of time. Shortly afterward I came to the conclusion that she was projecting her guilt on our relationship, and that was the reason why she was convinced that I was being unfaithful.

The AIDS Epidemic

Ever since the initial description of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1(HIV-1) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2(HIV-2) in the early 1980s, these two viruses have been repeatedly confirmed to be the causative agents behind Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).HIV-1 is the most predominant cause of AIDS in the world today and developing countries in Asia, South America and Sub-Saharan Africa bear the brunt of the AIDS epidemic (Hoffman et al 2007).  AIDS is a condition that is caused by immune system deficiency. It is a syndrome since it encompasses a pattern characterized by different symptoms presenting with varied manifestations. As an acquired condition or disease, infection is transmitted from person to person via specific transmission routes.These modes of transmission sets it apart from the numerous immune system diseases which are mainly genetic related or caused by anti-cancer as well as immune suppressing therapies.The first instances of AIDS infection can be traced to between 1979-1980 where HIV infections presented as a new disease that had never existed in medical practice or terminology (Chandramouli & Hubley 1995).AIDS among African AmericansIn 1981, Los Angeles doctors noticed a new disease. They were baffled that young men who were apparently healthy began developing pneumonia like disease caused by a microorganism that had never been detected before.It was strange because it was known that pneumocystis only caused disease among those with a compromised immune system. In New York, doctors began recording a new disease among young men. They identified the disease as being Kaposi's sarcoma because it damaged the immune system.One strange fact was that all the men infected were homosexuals, many of whom had contracted other sexually transmission infections like syphilis and gonorrhea. They reached a conclusion that the new disease must also be sexually transmitted (Chandramouli & Hubley 1995).The same symptoms were also found to be p revalent among the intravenous drug users and hemophiliacs. Since many of the drug users shared needles, researchers concluded that the disease was also transmitted through body fluids like blood.Since AIDS was mainly concentrated among gays and drug users who were mainly blacks a misconception arose due to the inherent discrimination and the disease was not tackled as it should have been.The result was a rapid spread of AIDS among the black community. The underlying socioeconomic and political factors helped to further fuel the AIDS epidemic among African Americans.Currently, African Americans are still disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. While blacks constitute only 13% of the entire US populace, 49% of AIDS cases are found among blacks. It has also been established that AIDS is the leading cause of mortality among Black women in the age bracket 24-34.Among men in the age group 33-44, AIDS is the second leading cause of death (http://www.hhs.gov/). Among African Americans, st atistics show that more than 36% of all AIDS cases are attributable to homosexual/bisexual activity and approximately 38% are attributable to intravenous drug injections.Infections due to heterosexual contact account for approximately 12% of infections. This puts black Americans at a much higher risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, mainly due to same-sex sexual behavior, than other racial categories like Hispanics and Whites.The magnitude of the AIDS scourge among Black Americans is also due to a history of discrimination and neglect in instituting measures aimed at promoting a deviance from bisexual activity and other measures of prevention among the black community.The misperception that AIDS was only concentrated among blacks buttressed with the risk factors has served to worsen the AIDS scenario to this day (Levine et al 1997).The Origin of AIDSEver since the AIDS epidemic became a reality, several theories and evidences have been put forward to try and explain the origins of the AIDS epidemic. Just like any controversy, various fronts of argument have made it almost impossible to clearly confirm the exact origin of the virus.However, there is evidence that the retrovirus incriminated in causing AIDS has been in the environment even before AIDS as a disease became its worldwide spread.The current debates on the origins of the AIDS epidemic is not limited to the biological factors but has also been complicated by various political, social and economic theories that not only attempt to provide an explanation on the nature of the spread; as in among African Americans, but also provide scientific evidence to the extent that the virus was a product of genetic engineering.Initially, as the virus spread among the African American community, the disease and its etiologic agent remained largely unknown to the medical community. It has also not been resolved whether the virus originated from American soil or from African soil.The first pandemic is believed to have its orig in in America but the second epidemic causes by the HIV-2 have its center in West Africa. At the same time it is also believed that HIV-1 began to spread via three distinct routes; two routes have been traced to North America, while third route has been traced to Central Africa. It is uncertain whether the American and the African routes possess any relation whatsoever.The origin of the AIDS virus is attributed to an assertion made at a Congressional Hearing in 1969. It was predicted that the US military was in the process of developing a super germ for its use in the biowarfare program. The development of the new germ was to be made possible by the advancement in genetic engineering.The super germ would also have the capacity to wipe out massive human populations. Its mode of transmission would make ineffective any human intervention ton prevent its spread. The Department of Defense spokesperson is on record for having said that, â€Å"Within the next five to ten years, it would b e possible to produce a new infective microorganism which could differ in certain important respects from any known disease causing organisms.Most important of these is that it might be refractory to the immunological and therapeutic processes upon which we depend to maintain our relative freedom from infectious disease†(Testimony given before the Sub-Committee of the House Committee on Appropriations, Department of Defense Appropriations for 1970, Washington, 1969) (Cantwell 1992, p 137).This initial assertion was later on buttressed by J. Clemmesen; a Copenhagen epidemiologist in 1973 when lecturing cancer researchers. He presented a visualization of a situation in which a virus could naturally or be scientifically being induced to mutate to produce a very contagious variant capable of causing an epidemic and thwarting any chances of vaccination.A decade after the Congressional hearing, the predictions seemed to have become a reality with the coming of the AIDS epidemic spre ading throughout the world despite interventions to prevent its spread.By 1985, four years after the first case of AIDS had been reported by doctors in excess of 130 countries had confirmed AIDS within their borders. This position of the origin conclusively shows that AIDS originated from the military laboratories (Cantwell 1992).

Sociology Investigation Essays

Sociology Investigation Essays Sociology Investigation Paper Sociology Investigation Paper The Sociological Investigation ~ These notes are taken and adapted from Macionis, John J. (2012). Sociology (14th Edition). Boston: Pearson Education Inc. There are two basic requirements for sociological investigation: 1. Know how to apply the sociological perspective or paradigms or what C. Wright Mills termed as the â€Å"sociological imagination. † 2. Be curious and ready to ask questions about the world around you. There are three ways to do Sociology. These three ways are considered as research orientations: A. Positivist Sociology Positivist sociology studies society by systematically observing social behaviour. Also known as scientific sociology. It includes introducing terms like independent variable, dependent variables, correlation, spurious correlation, control, replication, measurement, cause and effect, as well as operationalizing a variable1. Positivist sociology requires that researcher carefully operationalize variables and ensuring that measurement is both reliable and valid. It observes how variables are related and tries to establish cause-and-effect relationships. It sees an objective reality â€Å"out there. † Favours quantitative data (e. g. data in numbers; data from surveys). Positivist sociology is well-suited to research in a laboratory. It demands that researchers be objective2 and suspend their personal values and biases as they conduct research. There are at least FOUR limitations to scientific / positivist sociology. Positivist sociology is loosely linked to the structural-functional approach / paradigm / perspective. B. Critical Sociology Critical sociology uses research to bring about social change. It asks moral and political questions. It focuses on inequality. 1 Specifying exactly what is to be measured before assigning a value to a variable (Macionis: 2012, p. 50). 2 Personal neutrality in conducting research (Macionis: 2012, p. 50) Page 1 It rejects the principle of objecti vity, claiming that ALL researches are political. Critical sociology corresponds to the social-conflict approach / paradigm / perspective. C. Interpretive Sociology Interpretive sociology focuses on the meanings that people attach to their behaviour. It sees reality as constructed by people in the course of their everyday lives. It favours qualitative data (e. g. data acquired through interviews). It is well-suited to research in a natural setting. Interpretive sociology is related to the symbolic-interaction approach / paradigm / perspective. Gender and Research Gender3, involving both researcher and subjects, can affect research in five ways: 1. Androcentricity (literally, â€Å"focus on the male†) 2. Overgeneralising 3. Gender blindness 4. Double standards 5. Interference Research Ethics Researchers must consider and do the following things when conducting research: Protect the privacy of subjects / respondents. Obtain the informed consent of subjects / respondents. Indicate all sources of funding. Submit research to an institutional review board to ensure it does NOT violate ethical standards. There are global dimensions to research ethics. Before beginning research in another country, an investigator must become familiar enough with that society to understand what people there are likely to regard as a violation of privacy or a source of personal danger. Research and the Hawthorne Effect Researchers need to be aware that subjects’ or respondents’ behaviour may change simply because they are getting special attention, as one classic experiment revealed. Refer to Elton Mayo’s investigation into worker productivity in a factory in Hawthorne, near Chicago. 3 The personal traits and social positions that members of a society attach to being female or male (Macionis: 2012, p. 50). Page 2 The term Hawthorne Effect is defined as a change in a subject’s behaviour caused simply by the awareness that s/he is being studied. Methods: Strategies for Doing Sociological Research There are the basic FOUR methods: A. Experiment This research method allows researchers to study cause of an experiment: Philip Zimbardo’s â€Å"Stanford County Prison. † o Advantages Provides the greatest opportunity to specify cause of a survey: Lois Benjamin’s research on the effects of racism on African American men and women. She chose to interview subjects / respondents rather than distribute a questionnaire. o Advantages Sampling, using questionnaires, allows researchers to conduct surveys of large populations or a large number of people. Interviews provide in of participant observation: William Foote Whyte’s â€Å"Street Corner Society. o Advantages It allows for the study of â€Å"natural† behaviour. Usually inexpensive. o Limitations Time of using existing sources: E. Digby Baltzell’s award-winning study â€Å"Puritan Boston and Quaker Philadelphia. † How could it be, Baltzell wondered, during a chance visit to Bowdein College in Maine, USA, that this small college had graduated more famous people in a single year than his own, much bigger University of Pennsylvania had graduated in its entire history? o Advantages Saves time, money and effort of data collection. Makes historical research possible. o Limitations Researcher has no control over possible biases in data. Data may only partially fit current research needs. Page 4

buy custom Quality Healthcare essay

buy custom Quality Healthcare essay One of the many barriers that disabled people face is getting quality healthcare. Sure, the government provides healthcare for the disabled, but the quality of healthcare they receive is another issue all together. Many people who are disabled receive inadequate healthcare. They do not receive healthcare that is based on whatever ailment or disability they have. Each individual is unique and should receive healthcare that is geared towards his specific needs. They should not be lumped in a class together. The program that I design will implement healthcare based on the specific needs of the individuals. I would accomplish this goal through education and by forming a partnership between the disabled and healthcare providers that would provide the best quality of life possible. According to an article published in Medical Humanities journal (Dec. 2010), titled Disabled people experience troubling differences and even disparities in healthcare, people with disabilities are often discrim inated against because of their disabilities. Healthcare providers need to be educated through varies resources, so that they can provide better healthcare to the disabled. Through disability studies, healthcare providers will get an idea of what exactly is needed to care for a person with a particular disability. Another article published by Medscape General Medicine journal dabbed: Perceptions of Primary Healthcare Services among People with Physical Disabilities, the authors explored accessibility of quality healthcare in Canada. The sample for the survey was 201 disabled individuals, who were asked to give their opinions about the healthcare they received. In the survey, it was revealed that, disabled women were able to access important screening test, but health promotion services were not offered (Branigan, Stewart, Tardif, Veltman, 2001, p. 19). As we all know, healthcare is a nationwide issue and quality healthcare is needed by all. Healthcare providers need to collaborate with the government to implement laws and obtain funding for programs that will ensure the health needs of disabled individuals are met. Approximately 10% of the global populations are people with disabilities, yet they are amongst the most underserved groups in terms of provision of quality healthcare. For disabled people, the issue of quality of and access to healthcare go hand in hand. Research shows that this population most of the time not only lack the opportunities to involve themselves in healthcare activities, but they do not also have sufficient access to healthcare (National Organization on Disability, 2000). Disabled people spend substantial efforts on educating their physicians regarding their disabilities, at times they feel that the doctors capitalize on their disabilities rather than the health problems they present. Studies carried out in the United States to examine how disabled people perceive access to and quality of medical care, showed that a significant number of respondents perceived numerous challenges with regard to access to the healthcare as compared to the quality. Access barriers for people with disabilities include lack of knowledge with regard to disabilities by healthcare providers, unmet transport needs, being denied health care by doctors because of their disabilities, negative attitudes of physicians towards disabled people, as well as architectural barriers like unreachable examination tables, lack of sufficient ramps in hospitals etc (National Organization on Disability, 2000). The numerous challenges being faced by people with disabilities have been attributed to their extensive healthcare needs, dependence on a wide range of supports and services, as well as their low or fixed incomes. Even with these challenges, little is known about supports and services needed by people with disabilities to enable them to live independently in the society, and the degree at which their needs are met by healthcare providers. This paper explores the challenges facing people with disabilities with regard to healthcare provision and provides solutions to address these challenges in order to facilitate greater participation for persons with disabilities in the society. The Problem Obtaining quality healthcare for people with disabilities has been a critical challenge in the whole world. They face numerous challenges which range from physically inaccessible locations of healthcare providers, unsuitable diagnostic and exam equipments, to failure to amend hospital policies to accommodate the accommodation and communication needs of patients with different disabilities. While a number of federal laws that have been enacted to forbid discrimination against disabled individuals for instance, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which apply even to healthcare institutions, the lack of full enforcement of such laws to date have led to disabled people continually being discriminated against in nearly all aspects of life (National Organization on Disability, 2000). The poor responses received by disabled people when seeking healthcare like the absolute denial of healthcare. Insufficient treatment is attributed to stereotypes and physicians ignorance about people with disabilities, physical/ procedural barriers, and hostility and prejudice. For instance, a deaf patient seeking for healthcare to a particular health issue might be turned away at a hospital door or given a hasty physical exam that fails to detect his or her problem, or even shouted at by healthcare providers for not bringing his own interpreters. Also the false assumption that disabled people live and get their healthcare in nursing homes has led to hospitals having diagnostic and examination equipments that are only suitable for patients who can stand or transfer themselves to tables and chairs. A study carried out in Canada to assess healthcare quality and access to people with disabilities revealed that a considerably large number of people with physical disabilities are having difficulties accessing quality, adequate and proper healthcare services. One third of the 201 respondents interviewed reported having difficulties in accessing the offices, washrooms, and equipments of their family doctors; about one fifth of them felt that their family doctors were either oversensitive or insensitive about their disabilities, and another one fifth felt that the primary healthcare they were receiving was inadequate (Branigan, Stewart, Tardif, Veltman, 2001). The findings for this study with regard to access difficulties are similar to those reported in the U.S., i.e. 38.8% and 34.8% of respondents in Canada and U.S. respectively, reported that they had difficulties in keeping medical appointments because of transportation problems. 26.9% of those interviewed said that doctors were allocating insufficient time for their medical appointments. These results are comparable to one third of American citizens with disabilities who have reported that physicians treat them hastily (Branigan, Stewart, Tardif, Veltman, 2001). The issues of health promotion and maintenance, as well as, sexual and reproductive health are also among the key problems numerous people with physical disabilities face. The survey revealed that only 54.5% of female respondents had received Pap smear tests every 2-3 years or less. Low discussion rates were also reported in the survey with only 28.4% of respondents willing to talk about sexuality, contraception, 17.9%, STDs, 14.4%, and reproductive options only 9.5% (Branigan, Stewart, Tardif, Veltman, 2001). The above low rates reflect the lack of confidence that people with disabilities have in themselves and their doctors abilities to advise them appropriately regarding the various issues affecting them. It is, however, important to note that despite the significant number of disabled patients experiencing numerous challenges in accessing health care, 82.1% of those interviewed said that they were satisfied with the healthcare services provided to them by their family doctors. 1 9.4% however, felt that the services they received were inadequate while another 21.9% though that their disabilities prevented them from receiving proper healthcare (Branigan, Stewart, Tardif, Veltman, 2001). Numerous participants in the survey attributed their unmet healthcare needs to the lack of education and knowledge in relation to disabilities and the services that should be provided for people with dissabilities. In a medical school curriculum for example, very little is taught to medical students about disabilities or how they are treated. The respondents in this study advocated for an inclusion of special education within the curriculum of medical schools so that future doctors will be aware of how to handle patients with disabilities. The implications of these studies are very clear that people with disabilities are facing a lot of challenges in accessing quality healthcare that is appropriate to their diverse needs, and something needs to be done to avert the situation. Addressing the Challenges Facing Disabled People with Regard to Accessing Quality Healthcare It is a fact that people with disabilities around the world are being underserved with regard to healthcare delivery and sweeping changes in the healthcare system are required to address the issue effectively (Drainoni, Lee-Hood, Tobias, Bachman, 2006). Meeting the medical needs of disabled people is the provision of basic healthcare, or the specified clinical needs for those with chronic conditions, and multiple disabilities are a matter of quality and equality. Just as people who are poor, old, young or those coming from a minority ethnic group face numerous challenges in receiving quality health care, people with disabilities experience the same problems, plus additional barriers. According to Garden (2010), the inclusion of special education in the curriculum of medicine schools will enable medical students to learn early enough about disabilities, and how persons with disabilities can be handled medically. This is very important because, it will help future doctors to treat disabled people equally, just like any other patient. Governments should also work closely with healthcare providers to come up with programs that integrate special education in hospitals, i.e. governments should sponsor professional development programs for healthcare providers to train them on disabilities and the medical requirements of people with disabilities. In addition, fully enforcing the anti-discrimination laws by governments will go a long way in reducing if not stopping the prejudice that disabled people face. The government should also fund public hospitals to enable them to fit out themselves with medical equipments that cater for the needs of both able and disable patients . Assuming that the funds are available, the willingness of doctors to make the necessary adjustments to accommodate the disabled is also very important. Physicians should ensure that their offices are accessible to disabled people, i.e. they should purchase examination tables that are adjustable in height and placed properly in examination rooms that accommodate diverse abilities of patients. Doctors should also learn to instill confidence in disabled patients so that they agree to be given certain tests (such as Pap smear) in alternative positions, i.e. in a wheelchair or on the side (Garden, 2010). Physicians should also be more lenient with disabled patients when it comes to keeping appointment time, taking into consideration the difficulty in finding proper transportation services facing disabled people. Though this may not auger well with consultants or doctors in private clinics, who value every minute of their time, they should, however, learn to exercise a little patience for the sake of people with disabilities. In conclusion, doctors should realize that disabled people with disabilities are equally important like any one of us, and they have the right to quality healthcare just like all of us. A change of attitude towards people with disabilities is very important. Once doctors change their attitude, it will be easier to make the above suggested necessary adjustments in order to make their clinics and hospitals more accessible to disabled patients. In addition, the government should be fully committed to providing quality healthcare to all its citizens as well as protec ting the rights of its citizens, including disabled people. They should make sure they enforce anti-discrimination laws, as well as to financially support hospitals and doctors who are willing to make adjustments to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities. Buy custom Quality Healthcare essay

Organizational Cultural Audit and Gap Analysis Essay - 1

Organizational Cultural Audit and Gap Analysis - Essay Example On the other hand, internal and external factors within the Corporation have had a significant role to play in the development and economic prosperity of McDonald Corporation. Some of the macro-environment factors that affect the performance of McDonald include legal policy frameworks enacted by the relevant authority. In this respect, the success of the organization will be influenced by these legal policies and regulations enacted to regulate and control the operations of an organization. Legal policies are aimed at monitoring the operation of the organization and ensuring that the organization complies with the taxation policy other than other business regulatory frameworks. Internally, the operations of McDonald is influenced by its ability to have full control over the internal affairs such as managing the cultural diversity, ethical considerations, resource management, and serving the interests of the stakeholders. Stakeholders are the engine of the corporation therefore, there needs and demands must be met by the organization in order for the organization to succeed. Although these demands are very diverse, all the leading stakeholders have a role to play in the corporation, an indication that their specifications must be met however conflicting these needs may be. Stakeholders and the Business Organization In this global era of the 21st century, business organizations sector has undergone a transformation in order to breakthrough because of the stiff nature of competition brought about by globalization and economic liberalization. Globalization and free trade has opened up boundaries for international trade and exchange of good and services. Besides, the concept of free trade and globalization is important for growth and development of industries through mobility of essential factors of production including labor and capital (Spitzer, 2012). Through the global economic liberalization, the quality of good and services produces in the economy has signific antly improved in order to increase the competitiveness of these products. However, the success of an organization heavily depend on how the resources at the disposal of the organization and managed. Not only the management that are at the helm of the success but all the stakeholders to the organization. The stakeholders of an organization that have a role to play in the organization include managers, customers and consumers, owners, and the community (Carroll, & Buchholtz, 2010). Therefore, the varied difference in the demands and expectation of these groups must be fulfilled by the organization. This is because all the stakeholders of the organization have a role to play for the success of the organization. Besides, all the stakeholders of a firm must draw benefits from the organization for pledging their loyalty and service. For instance, shareholders and firm owners benefits from their investment into the organization through wealth maximization, while customers are paid for loy alty through quality and affordable products. Therefore, the success of the business organization depends on the ability of the organization to satisfactorily meet the needs and expectation of the key stakeholders. Corporate Social Responsibility The future of an organization goes beyond the capacity of the organization to meet the demands of its stakeholders with direct involvement

Teenage pregnancy in the uk and possible strategies to prevent it Research Proposal

Teenage pregnancy in the uk and possible strategies to prevent it - Research Proposal Example It is for these reasons a policy was evolved in early 1990s to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancies progressively and to reduce it by at least half by the year 2010. The brief literature review shows teenage pregnancies do not show any signs of abating and the problem is exacerbated by the tendencies of the teenagers giving a second birth before they reach 20 years. There are also fears that babies born to teenage mothers will themselves become teenage mothers due to built-in culture developed over generations. Systematic literature review is the sole research methodology adopted for the dissertation. The above results of literature review conducted justify a detailed secondary research further on the issue of teenage pregnancies in the U.K. This proposal is for a dissertation as part of the researcher’s B.Sc. Health field curriculum at the University of East London at the end of the degree in level III. The chosen topic is â€Å"Teenage Pregnancy In The UK And Possible Strategies To Prevent It† on which the researcher is required to make a systematic literature review as a secondary research. Teenage pregnancy worldwide is causing concern as it is associated with girls’ health mostly as unwed mothers susceptible to mortality as child bearers at the adolescent age without full grown body and HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Half the world population comprises of people, less than 25 years of age. People between the ages 10-19 are adolescents. The adolescents in their second decade of life contract STIs, HIV/AIDS more than any other age group. This target population is the hope for governments to substantially reduce the incidence of the said diseases. Only a very few countries have achieved limited incidences of STIs and HIV mainly by teaching their adolescents safe sexual practices. Among U.S., Canada, France and the U.K., the U.K. has