Deborah Douglas American Women and Flight an Example by

Deborah Douglas American Women and Flight Literature plays an important role in the social awareness of the public. There are many forms of expression that could be done through various mediums such as speech, visual arts, and writing. Writing is one of the most notable forms of expression wherein an individual could be able to make his or her opinions and personal feelings known by using words. In relation to this, the authors opinions or feelings are not the only things that could be learn from these literary pieces because these are also a way by which people could be enlightened about the situation of the society. There are important and pressing issues that the people must know about and properly understand and they can be able to do so through the help of books and other written products of a writers commentary about the concerns in the society. Moreover, historical events could be further and properly understand through the first hand accounts of writers that narrated social situations during their time. In this sense , the real incidents are indeed captured in writing by the author. This kind of adage is greatly exemplified by Deborah Douglas in her book entitled American Women and Flight. Need essay sample on "Deborah Douglas American Women and Flight" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Our Customers Usually Tell EssayLab professionals: I'm not in the mood to write my essay. Because I don't have the time Essay writers suggest: Essay Help Provided Here With Beneficial Facilities! Pay Someone To Write An Essay For You Cheap Writing Services Essay Writing Help Company The book that Douglas wrote played an important role in tackling societal issues specifically gender equality and opportunity for women. She was able to emphasize the development of women in aviation as well as being one step closer towards equality in this field of profession. This is due to the fact that she was able to summarize and narrate different stories regarding the experiences of women during that time when they were exerting their effort in order to be given a chance to enter aviation. In relation to these, Douglas also pointed out how women was able to participate in different areas of activity in the society including the military, which was normally perceived as a profession that is only for men. Deborah Douglas tackled an important societal issue that deals with gender equality in the field of aviation during the Second World War. In her book, she gave a stimulating overview of women and aviation during the year 1940. Her writings was able to give due emphasis to the fact that gender matters in aviation. She further explained that even though planes may not be able to distinguish whether the pilot or other personnel that is involved in this profession is male or female, she pointed out that human beings give attention to such gender factor. In this comment of Deborah Douglas, she pointed out that there is indeed a distinction between male and female in aviation. The difference between men and women was seen through the fact that there is an obvious discrimination against them in the field of aviation. This is quite observable in the fact that during the establishment of aviation and many years after it only men are allowed to pilots. In connection to this, the book of Douglas also shows how women have to struggle in order to become pilots. There are even instances wherein women wanted to serve as pilots but they were designated to become crews or to take other position that does not involve flying a plane (Douglas and Foster, 2004). Moreover, Deborah Douglas was able to give a hint as to why the contributions of women in the history of aviation have not given its due recognition. The book the she wrote for the Smithsonian series that deals with the women in the United States aviation gave due account of the obstacles and barriers that they experienced but more than that, she also highlighted the vital roles that women played in this field of profession (Douglas and Foster, 2004). Douglas also discussed the role of women in the military and in military combat in her book. She noted that since the 1970s the role of women in aviation has already developed and expanded, which is parallel with the developments of the American society. This is supported by the fact that women in the military were able to influence important individuals that have a position in the government and other powerful institutions in the society. The idea of women in military service received wide acceptance among these important individuals that paved the way for these women to influence policy and effect change. One of the areas that they were bale to influence in convincing some people in government of the important contribution that women could give in different profession that would help improve the society. In connection to these, she also narrated the story of the changing roles of women in the modern military. She was able to clearly exemplify this fact through the repeal of the com bat exclusion during the wake of the Gulf War. Moreover, it also aided in the significant changes in the definition of American citizenship because it paved the way for the removal of all limits to the opportunities of women in serving their country. Due to the success of women in the military, it also helped all women in the area of aviation as well as commercial pilots to get the recognition that they deserved (Douglas and Foster, 2004). Women also played an important role in the selling of commercial/passenger aviation. The economic downturn that was experienced during the Roosevelt administration open the door for a new kind of thinking regarding the marketing of aviation. Due to this, the idea that women could be used in order to increase the sales of aviation especially in terms of commercial flights emerged. The substantive contribution that women have in the selling of aviation is clearly proven by Ellen Church. She was one of the first women who tried how to become a commercial airline pilot. She was able to convince the officials of Boeing to hire women in order to take the responsibility in the steward duties that was previously handled by the co-pilot. The real intention of Church was to fly but even though she did not succeeded in such she was able to help motivate airline companies to give women the role of showing how safe air travel had become. The idea of having women flight attendants was well receive d by the passengers, which is why more commercial airlines started hiring women as it is attracting more business. The hiring of women flight attendant is recognized as the initial formal attempt to use women to sell aviation (Douglas and Foster, 2004). The opportunity given to Ellen Church was helpful in giving women the chance to participate in the field of aviation. However, Church really wanted to be a pilot but she was designated to become a mere attendant rather than the person behind the control of the plane. In this scenario, it is quite evident that this field of profession still has its apprehensions when it comes to allowing women to become pilots. The distinction is quite clear because they perceived that women should take the lesser role and the men should always have to be on top of the rank. Moreover, aside from the evident discrimination, the way by which women were used to sell aviation might aid women in infiltrating the field of aviation. However, others see using women to sell something as degrading because they are using perceived weakness of women in order to increase the sales of commercial airlines. They are using the fact that if women could be in planes even though they are considered as weaker than men the n it would also be safe for other passengers to ride one. Furthermore, women is also degraded in the sense that they are only used to sell aviation rather than to become the pilot that controls the plane. Reference Douglas, D.G., & Foster, A.E. (2004). American Women and Flight since 1940. United States: University of Kentucky.

Oppenheimer and Sakharov and the Cold War essays

Oppenheimer and Sakharov and the Cold War essays Oppenheimer and Sakharov and the Cold War J. Robert Oppenheimer and Andrei Sakharov are both considered leaders of nuclear physics during the World War II and the Cold War. The two men had astonishingly similar lives, achievements and views on nuclear weapons. Andrei Sahkarov (1921-1989), a Soviet nuclear physicist, is said to be the father of the Soviet hydrogen bomb and an advocate of human rights. In 1948, he was drawn to a top-secret scientific and engineering team that USSR leader Joseph Stalin assigned to develop thermonuclear weapons for the Soviet Union, during which he lived in the secluded city Arzamas-16. His work was crucial to the development and testing of first Soviet hydrogen bomb in August 1953. From 1960 to the time of his death, he fought for the rights and freedoms that democratic societies encompass, like the freedom of speech, assembly, and emigration, which are guaranteed in theory by the Soviet doctrines, but denied in practice. He used his influence to fight for human rights, which ultimately led to his exile. J. R. Oppenheimer (1904-1967) was an American physicist and government adviser, who is considered the father of the atomic bomb. During the height of World War II, Oppenheimer became the director the Los Alamos Laboratories in New Mexico. It was there, under his leadership, that the first atomic bomb was developed and tested in 1945. In 1947, he was appointed director of the Institute of Advanced Studies and chairman of the General Advisory Committee of the Atomic Energy Commission. After the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he became morally critical of the future development of nuclear weapons and argued for mutual disarmament. Consequently, he became a target of the Red Scare, attackers citing his past associations with Communists. During his final years, he devoted much of his time to the study of the relationship between science and society. Both scientists were at the for...

Housing Prices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Housing Prices - Essay Example As it takes time for new housing to be constructed (in case of no overbuilding left from previous periods and thus existing housing stock being insufficient to meet the newly increasing demand) the supply cannot react fast to the demand shocks and thus increased prices will stay for some time until the supply is sufficient. Increased prices motivate construction firms to increase their output levels dramatically as the profit margins to be received from housing due to these high prices are expected to be high. That is why the real estate market is prone to known "hog cycles" or "herd behavior"2 where the construction companies overestimate the market demand and thus are myopic and construct too much supply. Other theories claim that actions of constructors to thoughtfully produce more than can consumed over short span of time are rational acts and are based on their trying to take advantage of economies of scale in production and thus economize on each unit of housing to be produced. Also, it is not irrational to have expectations of the economic upswing to be followed by some structural economic changes which will further lead to economic development or increase in the total population of the region due to this better economic conditions of living. Economic development is cyclical and the influence of the factor that lead to economic upturn has its' term. After the factor is not in power any longer, the economy starts stabilizing with real purchasing power not growing any longer. This is usually the time when the majority of the new housing supply comes on the market and it will be absorbed slowly with the prices dropping and vacancies occurring. The downward pressure on the market will sustain until the next economic upturn or until all the overbuilt housing supply is consumed. The biggest problem is that very often construction firm being overoptimistic about the housing or in general real estate prices develop land by using borrowed money. Once they bring on the market their product, the cycle is already in another stage which makes difficult for companies to generate enough income to pay back their loans. The highest risk of overproduction exists in real estate segments where the construction terms are the longest, demand is most uncertain and construction is irreversible. That is why some developers try to eliminate the risk and deliver to the market not niched products but ordinary housing. This further aggravates the crisis as the stock becomes not varied and overproduction is especially significant within some segments of the market. The similar situation was observed during famous real estate which lead to banking crisis in Sweden in 1991 and was also considered a global real estate crisis with numerous international investors being in the market. The theory behind the occurrence of International housing cycles is the interrelationship of overall economic development in the different global regions and due to this increased interrelationship between economies investors find

Factor V Leiden and Prothrombin Mutations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Factor V Leiden and Prothrombin Mutations - Essay Example Mutations are determined in a consecutive series of 100 controls. It argues that fifteen of 80 current miscarriage patients and four out of 100 carry V Leiden Mutation Factor. Its results suggest that the presence of prothrombin and factor V leiden is the cause of recurrent miscarriages. Additionally, it suggests that the presence of both factors of mutations is major in second trimester, fetal loss and dependent of any additional pathology (Foka et.al, 1999). The readability of the journal is on point because the authors did not mix up the information. They have introduced the topic properly, explained everything a reader would want to know, and summed up the whole information. It is credible in the sense that information is well researched and documented. The authors demonstrate well researched and investigated article. This is because they have used analysis methods to determine the above explained topic as well as analyze it, giving a reader a well understanding of the topic. It expounds on Factor V Leiden and Prothrombin Mutations, causes and consequences which gives a reader a good understanding of both mutations ( Foka et al., 1999). Recurrent miscarriages is a health problem affecting, approximately 5% of women in today’s world. Although there is no specific investigation of this situation, researchers argue that factor V Leiden and Prothrombin Mutations are the cause of recurrent miscarriages. Prothrombin Mutations is acquired and inherited by defect. Recently, it was discovered that the most commonly inherited defect is Factor V Leiden which is resistant to activated protein. It is also responsible for all cases of isolated thrombophilia and thrombotic conditions. However, there are still uncertainties on the accurate role of factor V Leiden in terms of miscarriages which has resulted to bias selection of women regarding their fetal losses. This is in terms of the number of miscarriages type,

The impact of the life course in health and social care

The impact of the life course in health and social care Drawing on the concepts you have studied in Block1, critically reflect on the ways in which your own life course has affected how you work in, or use, health and social care. In this essay I will look at the life course perspective, and how it has provided me with an essential tool to offer a more personalised service. I will describe how my own life course and ‘Biographical Disruption (Bury 1982) has changed the person I am beyond the expectations I had of my presumed journey, and how it has impacted on my practice. Where it has proved to be a strength or a weakness, and how it has made me more sensitive to people’s needs and behaviour. I will look at how my personal values have been shaped and influenced by my life course, and discuss possible ethical conflicts. I will start off explaining the concept of life course using the five principles discussed by Bengtson et al. (2005). Recognising the course that people’s lives take is relatively new to study and research. Until relatively recently the understanding of human development was based on the life cycle approach, one of the oldest accounts of how life’s and families are organised over time (Bengtson, et al 2005, p.9). The approach is based on the idea that people’s lives go through a series of relatively predictable and chronological stages and transitions from birth to death, providing insight in peoples changing roles and identities in relation to landmark occasions such as coming of age, marriage, childbirth and old age. From the 1960’s onwards the life cycle approach began to incorporate psychological elements, which considered the relationship between an individual’s inner world, and the social context in which they live. This idea of considering the whole of a person’s life as offering opportunities for development and change (Crawford and Walker p.2) is re ferred to in literature as life –span development (Sugarman, L. 1986, p.3) or the life-span perspective (Baltes, P. 1987, p.3). At the same time these approaches began to merge with the idea that age and ageing is not only related to a chronological stage in human development, but also to subjective experiences between the individuals own construction of their life course, and social constructions such as schools, labour markets and normative pathways. Ageing is a lifelong process, in general common to all of us, but throughout our journey from birth to death, events can be imposed upon us from which we may have to make decisions and choices that change the path of our life course. Timing is often unexpected and change may not happen at a time we would have chosen it to; this not only impacts upon our own life and future but on those we are linked with. understanding my own life course also supports me professionally working in social care, Crawford and Walker (2003, p.2) point out that social work practice involves interactions between people, which are influenced by each person’s life course, their e xperiences and perceptions about their own life, emphasising the quality of these personal relationships between service users, their families, carers and professionals. In order to understand the impact human development and life events have on individuals I need to have a critical, reflective understanding of how my own life course has shaped me, my behaviour and influenced my beliefs and values. This will enable me to engage with people better, respond more sensitively to people’s experiences and needs and explain why people don’t always act in ways that appear to be in their best interests (K319, Learning Guide 3, 2013). My self-perception and my values and beliefs are very much shaped by my own life courses’ significant events, experiences and transitions, such as growing up in a very large family in the seventies, being a divorced woman with young children and being a main carer for my terminally ill mum. Bengtson et al (2005) identifies five principles that are essential to the life course perspective. First there is the principle of linked lives, which emphasizes on the fact that people’s life courses are interdependent with others, especially relevant in the context of families. Having grown up in a very large family my life has been linked to my siblings and parents, so when my dad fell seriously ill, and never recovered enough to ever return to work, and he needed almost constant supervision and support. The impact on all the family was life changing, my siblings that still lived at home had to find jobs to help the household finances, and they all feel this event ended their childhood. I was 10 years old I was taken to live with my eldest brother and his family. This felt very strange and I remember feeling afraid I would not see my parents again. It was thought that I was too young to understand what was happening so I was never told how ill my dad was, I was never allowed to visit him in hospital, and he was there for a full year. I was just told to be good and not ma ke a fuss. I then stayed for short periods of time with my grown up siblings and extended family, this went on for many months , living a very transient existents and not staying in one place long enough to develop friendships with children my own age. Looking back from my adult self, I can now relate to my difficulties in developing long term relationships and poor self-esteem. On the positive side I was able to develop a lifelong close relationship with a maiden aunt which looking back I don’t feel would have happened if I had stayed in the family home over that period. Secondly there is the principle of historical time and place, â€Å"emphasising the importance of social and historical context in shaping individual lives† (Bengston et al, 2005 p11). This is discussed as how events such as wars, trauma, depression or a period of prosperity affects our lives, Impacting on the life courses of all generations living in that particular time and place. My dad’s illness in the seventies meant he could no longer work and provide for his family, so from being a provider he became cared for, which changed the whole dynamic of the family structure. He also had to rely on sickness benefit, which in the seventies welfare system was very difficult to get and the financial support was very low. This impacted on all the family. We were poor prior to his illness but this plunged us further into poverty. This had a negative effect on us all, but for me at a time when I was just about to start secondary school I felt the stigma of being subjectively po or. I spent many difficult days in school feeling marginalised and bullied by my peers, because I didn’t have nice clothes and had to have free school dinners, at that time children on free dinners had to queue in different lines, this compounded the feelings of inferiority. My mum did her best, and managed to get some part time work alongside her being the main carer for dad, and mother to her children. Looking back, I realise my mum must have been a very strong person to cope with the situation she found herself in, she instilled a strong work ethic into her children, believing hard work would bring rewards. She influenced me with her single minded determination, like Enid with her mother (k319, Learning Guide 3 Audio 3.1). With hindsight this period of my life forced me to become more independent as I had to fend for myself a lot, it also provide me with a valuable lesson in managing on very little money. This benefitted me when I was a single parent following a divorce I was able to budget with a small income. The next principle considers â€Å"the timing of significant life transitions and whether they fit well with cultural expectations of when things should happen† (K319, Learning Guide 3, Activity 3.1). I came into my career as a result of two biographical disruptions in my life. First I was divorced in my mid-twenties and needed to get work to support my children. Then my mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer and I became her carer. I was able to get part time paid work as a home care assistant through social care, I found I could transfer the skills I had used as a carer and the training I received helped me to support my mum better. I discovered I had very good people skills and enjoyed supporting older people to stay independent. Even later in my life I commenced my social work degree studies in contradiction to society’s view of what is ‘normal’. As with Mike, the case study in Learning Guide 3, Activity 3.5, I had concerns that studying as a mature stu dent would lead to ‘sub-normative’ feelings of being different but on reflection my life skills and experiences have enriched my learning experience. The fourth principle considers the control most people have over their own lives and â€Å"they make choice about what to do and have plans for the future† (K319, Learning Guide 3, Activity 3.1). Although I did not have any influence on my upbringing and not a large amount over my divorce. My experiences have provided me with the power and choice over my future which included a career in social care. I feel my life experience has made me aware of understanding everyone has past life events that impact on their current life. So when I am working with service users and planning for social work interventions, having an understanding of the potential of disruptions such as illness, and other life changes can be major turning point in their lives, and can help people see how they can become an opportunity for them to make changes (agency) in their lives. As in the story of Doireann and Iskender (K319 Learning Guide 3, Audio 3.7), where Iskender’s heart attack became a turnin g point in both his and Doireann’s life. Finally the fifth principle that affirms that ageing is relevant to both the young and old, and development is not exclusive to younger people and children. Our lives are fluid as we travel our life course and we continue to change and develop whatever age we are. My life is still developing and changing as I age, in the sense that I am developing my academic skills, and my experience of caring for my mum throughout her terminal illness and the impact this had on my life. The life cycle assumed that people would have a ‘normative life course’ (K319 Learning guide 3, Activity 3.5).That is to say people will have a life that is expected to be desirable and virtuous by society that is free from problems. Whereas a person with a â€Å"non-normative life course† is often considered to be judged and having to justify and explain their lifestyle. As a divorced woman in my mid-twenties, with two young children, which was not the normal status in the social groups I mixed in, this resulted in me feeling ‘different’ and stigmatised. I felt I had to explain my single status and felt I was seen as a threat to my married friends. I felt I had failed both myself and my children and was worried my children would feel as I did as a child, being bullied for not having a normal childhood. These feelings gave me insight into the lives of others with ‘non-normative’ life courses, whether due to their sexuality or life style c hoices.it has also made me question as a social care provider, does that service user feel as I did, and feel I am judging them therefore they have to explain themselves?. My own experiences of feeling ‘different’ has made me sensitive to the feelings and needs of those who society judges as non-normative, in comparison to people who follow the expected ‘norms’ and pathways we are expected to take. My own life course was in my early childhood a non- normative course, due to the biographical disruption of my dad falling ill and resulted in me having an unconventional childhood. As I grew into adulthood my life course was comparable to the life cycle in that it had proceeded in a socially accepted pattern within a presumed time span which Giele and Elder (1998) described as â€Å"a sequence of socially defined events and roles that the individual enacts over time.† My early adult life followed a life that was considered ‘normative’, I was following the cycle of â€Å"completing formal education, working, forming relationships, marrying and having children†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (K319 Learning Guide 3, Activity 3.3).I did not predict that in my mid-twenties my life would suffer more biographical disruption that would have a huge impact on me, my family and lead into a future I would not have predicted. Bury (2012) describes biographical disruption to be a negative experience but I would disagree with that in relation to my own experience so far as a career in social care is concerned. If I had stayed married and my mum had not got ill, I am sure I would not have followed this path and likely I would have had a very different life now. However I had not consciously thought about entering into the social work profession, I presumed my entry into social care was the result of events that has steered me in the direction of this profession and opportunities that have presented themselves to me i.e. I was in the right place at the right time. Having read ‘Life experience: A neglected form of knowledge in social work education and practice, by Christie et al 1998,I am inclined to agree that my career choice has not been a coincidence but a choice I have made based on the knowledge I have acquired as a result of my life experiences. I am able to draw on my experiences as a knowledge base for my practice alongside the ever developing knowledge I am gaining from my studies. However, I do not â€Å"persist in viewing social work as the profession effective in bringing about social change† (Christie et al 1998). I feel my role is to support others in bringing about their own change, as I have been able to do. How ever I am mindful that the experiences I draw on in my practice are my personal experiences and are owned by me, and others experiences are exclusive to them. I am aware that my knowledge within in my work is limited to my own personal experiences and my personal feelings could influence my approach to service users and the decisions I make in my assessments of them. In conclusion the article from Christie and Weeks has in fact made me question my theory that I did not choose social work as a profession purposefully; perhaps my life experiences have directed rather than influenced my choice to be a social worker, †my own working class background, marriage difficulties, poverty, powerlessness, has influenced me strongly† (Christie el at 1998).This assignment has shown that our life course is an unpredictable path that we follow; it is constantly being reshaped from what we have imagined our life path to follow, by the events that take place around us. But although it presents us with many situations that are out of our control that impact upon us. The understanding of our life course gives us the strength to move forward in our lives, it also presents us with choice and power and positivity to look forward to the future. And as Winston Churchill says â€Å"the farther backwards you can look, the farther forward you are likely to seeâ €  (Churchill circa 1941) Word count 2601 References Baltes, P. (1987) in Crawford, K. and Walker, J. (2003) Social Work and Human Development, Exeter, Learning Matters Ltd. Bengtson, V. L., et al. (2005) ‘The lifecourse perspective on ageing: linked lives, timing and history’ in Katz, J., Peace, S. and Spurr, S. (ed) Adult Lives; A life course perspective, Bristol, Policy press/Milton Keynes, The Open University. Bury, M. (1982) ‘Chronic illness as biographical disruption’ in Katz, J. Peace, S. and Spurr’ S(eds)Adult Lives: A life course perspective, Bristol, Policy press/Milton Keynes, The Open University. Christie, A Weeks J (1998): Life experience: A neglected form of knowledge in social work education and practice: Social work in Action. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09503159808411477 (accessed 25 November 2013) Crawford, K. and Walker, J. (2003) Social Work and Human Development, Exeter, Learning Matters Ltd. Hareven, T. K. (1982) in Hutchinson, E. (2011) Dimensions of Human Behaviour ; The Changing Life Course, London, Sage Publications. Hutchinson, E. (2011) Dimensions of Human Behaviour; The Changing Life Course, London, Sage Publications. National Churchill Museum: Miscellaneous Wit and Wisdom http://www.nationalchurchillmuseum.org/wit-wisdom-quotes.html (assessed 25 November 2013) Phillips, D. (2006) ‘Quality of Life’ in in Katz, J., Peace, S. and Spurr, S. (ed) Adult Lives; A life course perspective, Bristol Policy press/Milton Keynes, The Open University. Sugarman, L. (1986) in Crawford, K. and Walker, J. (2003) Social Work and Human Development, Exeter, Learning Matters Ltd. The Open University, (2013), ‘Learning Guide 3.1 The life course perspective’, K319 Block 1 Approaches to adulthood and ageing, [online] available at http://www.learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=255389 (Accessed 23 November 2013) The Open University, (2013), ‘Learning Guide 3.5 ‘unusual life course’, K319 Block 1 Approaches to adulthood and ageing, [online] available at https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=255389 (Accessed 23 November 2013) The Open University (2013) ‘Learning Guide 3: Introduction’, K319 Block 1 [Online]. Available at https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=255389 (accessed 23 November 2013). The Open University (2013) ‘I Think I’m still working through it’ [Audio], ‘Learning Guide 3.3: Biographical Disruption’, K319 Block1 [Online]. Available at https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=255389section=3 (accessed 26 November 2013). Page 1 of 8

Cultural practices that affect health Essay

To be able to gauge the prevalence of female circumcision, the perception of immigrants on its occurrence and benefits, as well as the actual activity that allows it to happen in these communities, an investigative research should be launched to gather information. Since many states have outlawed female circumcision, its occurrence has become an underground activity (Gibeau, 2006). To be able to fully understand the beliefs behind this practice and to determine how prevalent it is, and the circumstances by which it is conducted there is a need to find out where and who is involved in the practice of female circumcision in the United States. The purpose of this study is to investigate the occurrence of female circumcision in the United States and to determine the following: (1) Who practices female circumcision and promotes its occurrence in the community? (2) Where is female circumcision conducted and in what conditions? (3) What is the attitude and opinion of immigrants and first generation Americans toward female circumcision within the migrant community? This study will focus on the occurrence of female circumcision within the migrant communities of African ethnic decent. Because the goal is to determine how the cultural practices specific to an ethnic group has continued within the migrant community, the study sample will consist of immigrants and their offspring or first generation American-born individuals. The study will be conducted through a series of interviews. Interviewees will be chosen based with primary criteria being they are Africa-born individuals who have successfully migrated in the United States as adults, and continue to live with a family or plan remain to have a family in the United States. Face-to-face interviews will be conducted with the assurance of anonymity for interviewees. A structured questionnaire will be created consisting of open ended questions relating to their views regarding female circumcision and their experience or witness of its occurrence. Reference List Gibeau, A. M. (2006). â€Å"Female genital mutilation: When a cultural practice generates clinical and ethical dilemmas. † Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing 27(1). Blackwell Publishing.

Privatization of Public Space

Privatization and Advertising in Public Space The fight to take over the world has begun. This fight is between big corporate companies and their race to take over the most public space and plaster it with their advertisements or just simply control it. In this paper I will examine a variety of opinions on how they have invaded public space and if this invasion is benefiting the public or not. In some cases when big companies come take over in a public location it can be positive.Shea Stadium, although it was not exactly public, was greatly improved when Citigroup bought it and rebuilt the park. It improved the viewing experience at the Mets games and Citigroup gets publicity because people associate the park with them. Many people say that this sort of privatization by a big company can have numerous positive effects for people who use the space. Boston’s South Station has also been privatized in recent years. â€Å"The MBTA entered into a ground lease with Beacon South Stat ion Associates, a wholly owned entity of Beacon Properties Corporation, on January 28, 1988†.The MBTA still uses the station for the trains and buses but the company that leases it can set its own rules for within the space and has the right to sell advertising space within the station. Although commuters can still use the space for travel purposes the space is no longer public. During Occupy Boston the protesters peacefully assembled in South Station when the weather became colder but were asked to leave by police because there were not allowed to congregate there per rules of the company leasing the space.According so Una Spencer, an activist and protester during the occupy movement, â€Å"everywhere we are encountering â€Å"public† spaces which we are told are under control of private companies†. She also mentions that’s our taxes are being used to police these areas that are owned by private companies. Spenser is â€Å"seeing is a chipping away of ou r civil rights from many directions† and our tax dollars are paying the police who keep us from practicing these rights.David Morris, co-founder and vice president of Institute for Local Self-Reliance, brings forward the idea that companies should â€Å"compete on an equal footing, and where those with the most money do not necessarily speak in the loudest voice. † Sometimes companies with the most money are able to get their name out more that a smaller company through advertising. By having ads plastered around a city, a consumer is more likely to choose that company’s product than a smaller company. He believes that by seeing ads for specific companies stifles our ability to choose freely between different things.Morris believes in having public spaces where people within a community can congregate that is free of commercialism where people can share ideas. In Sao Paulo, Brazil people are in agreement with ideas similar to Morris’s and laws are being pu t into place to remove advertising. Larry Rohter, American journalist, covered the decision in Sao Paulo, Brazil to remove all advertising from the city. Sao Paulo is South America’s largest and most prosperous city and there has been much controversy over the law.Rohter quotes Brazilian columnist Roberto Pompeu de Toledo saying the law â€Å"is a rare victory of the public interest over private, of order over disorder, aesthetics over ugliness, of cleanliness over trash. † One controversy over this law is that people who work for companies creating advertising may lose jobs. Big companies who’s advertisements will be taken down are claiming â€Å"consumers will be less informed in their purchasing decisions and even that streets will be less safe at night with the loss of illumination from signs. Not only would the law ban billboards, but it would also ban ads on buses, blimps, and plains, and restrict the size of signs that stores would be allowed to have. Ro hter reported one women in Sao Paulo saying â€Å"the truth is that there are so many banners, billboards, placards, signs, and posters all over the place that they’ve lost their impact. † The mayor or Sao Paulo talks about bringing advertising back in the future, but with many restrictions and limitations. The city will become â€Å"an outdoor metropolis with no outdoor advertising. The Internet is another place that has become a common ground for advertising. Facebook used to be a free online community created by a group of college kids. Initially Facebook was supposed to be free of advertisements and that set it apart from other social networking sites. Now, not only does Facebook have advertisements, the advertisements are tailor made to each user based on that person’s likes and activities posted on their profile. On my Facebook is see ads for snowboard websites because I have the posted as one of my activities.Facebook says it needs to have ads because it keeps Facebook free for users. They say it’s also beneficial for advertisers because the right group of people will see their ads. The Internet is just another place where companies are fighting to broadcast to more customers. Along with the Internet, companies also have influence in restaurants, a place where we may not have even suspected it. Have you ever been to a restaurant and when you ordered a coke and the waitress asks, â€Å"is Pepsi ok? This is because restaurants have deals with soda companies and they â€Å"receive additional benefits when they decide to be exclusive. † By having restaurants that are exclusive the soda company theoretically has won that restaurant over and all the customers in that restaurant. It’s like a war to see which soda companies can have the most restaurants exclusively sell their soda. After careful consideration of all these opinions I cannot say I have come to a final conclusion on advertising in public space. I can see how in some cases advertising and privatization have gone overboard.Losing our ability to congregate in South Station seems a little absurd to me because our tax dollars are paying to enforce laws that are keeping us out of a once public space. However, what would a place like Time Square in New York City be without its huge glowing billboards and signs? And in Sao Paulo they are outlawing blimps as a part of the anti-billboard law, and I think of Boston’s Hood blimp that I can see on the skyline from my dorm room window. Is it really such an obstruction to public space? I don’t think so. And it also doesn’t affect what milk I choose to drink because I still am not a big fan of hood milk.In my opinion the best solution would be to haves stricter laws about advertising and privatization. I think Time Square would lose all its magic if the ads were to be taken off the buildings but in places like schools advertising should really be obsolete. As for privatization , I think if a public space is going to be privatized then public dollars should not be used in that space in any way. In South Station the Transit Police should not be enforcing rules put in place by a private organization when it is tax dollars paying the transit police, not the company.I think it’s a pretty fine line and it is the responsibility of government officials to get the balance between public space, advertising, and privatization right. Bibliography â€Å"Advertising on Facebook. † Facebook. 2 Oct 2012. https://www. facebook. com/about/ads/ Morris, David. â€Å"Curbing the Commercialization of Public Space. † Institute for Local Self-Reliance. 15 Jan 2009. 2 Oct 2012. http://www. ilsr. org/curbing-commercialization-public-space/ Rohter, Larry. â€Å"Streets are Paved with Neon’s Glare, and City Calls a Halt. † New York Times. 2 Dec 2006. 2 Oct 2012. ://www. nytimes. com/2006/12/12/world/Americas/12paulo. html? pagewanted=print&_r=0 Spe nser, Una. â€Å"Occupy Boston: the Privatizing of Public Spaces. † Daily Kos. 30 Oct 2011. 2 Oct 2012. http://www. dailykos. com/story/2011/10/30/1031512/-Occupy-Boston-the-privatizing-of-public-spaces â€Å"Why Aren’t Coke and Pepsi Sold Together at Restaurants? † Xatal. 12 Mar 2009. 2 Oct 2012. http://xatal. com/miscellaneous/why-arent-coke-and-pepsi-sold-together-at-restaurants/ ——————————————– [ 1 ].Una Spenser. â€Å"Occupy Boston: the Privatizing of Public Spaces. † Daily Kos. 30 Oct 2011. 2 Oct 2012. http://www. dailykos. com/story/2011/10/30/1031512/-Occupy-Boston-the-privatizing-of-public-spaces [ 2 ]. Una Spenser. â€Å"Occupy Boston: the Privatizing of Public Spaces. † Daily Kos. 30 Oct 2011. 2 Oct 2012. http://www. dailykos. com/story/2011/10/30/1031512/-Occupy-Boston-the-privatizing-of-public-spaces [ 3 ]. Ibid [ 4 ]. David Morris. â€Å"Curbing the Commercialization of Public Space. † Institute for Local Self-Reliance. 15 Jan 2009. 2 Oct 2012.