Science Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Science - Assignment Example The research conducted revealed that medical conspiracy theories are known and endorsed predicting many health behaviors. Individuals endorsing these theories are normal thus conspiracies arise from common process of attribution. The medical conspiracies act as diagnostic tools for many health practitioners since conspiracies do not follow the traditional medical advice. There are numerous ways to categorize conspiracy theories. Individuals who tend to believe in conspiracy theories endorse a fictitious theory that is made up for experimental purposes. Personality and belief variables are significantly related to conspiracy theories. This results into the question the question of what factors account for variance in conspiracy theories? The psychologist in this study has been unable to come up with factors that account for more than 10% of the common variance (Furnham 5). Thus, individual difference variables explain little of variance in such beliefs. This is in consideration that beliefs in conspiracy theories are widespread across the

And the mountains echoed by khaled hossieni Essay Example for Free

And the mountains echoed by khaled hossieni Essay This line of the text conveys the central idea of the novel in which the idea of sacrifice has been beautifully portrayed. The author tries to draw our attention towards the agony and misery of the father and brother of Pari who send her away for her better future and also the better future of their family. The story that is told by Abdullah’s father holds a very big significance and is symbolic of the love and affection coupled with deep sense of separation and helplessness. Abdullah’s father makes him aware of the striking reality of their lives through the story and the central idea of the whole story finds its place here. Abdullah who shares a tight bond of love and affection with his sister sacrifices her belongingness for her better future and life of prosperity. Just like Baba Ayub in the story gets separated from his beloved son, Abdullah was also to part with his sister. The journey of Abdullah from Shadbagh to Kabul holds upon him a test; a test to make him strong enough to leave Pari at his Uncle’s place. The Div of the story signifies the difficulties that one has to face in one’s life and once these difficulties are surpassed, there exists satisfaction and peace in one’s mind believing that his loved ones are happy and enjoying their lives to the fullest. Parwana in the story once says â€Å"It had to be her. I am sorry, Abdullah. She had to be the one. † And soon after this the author doesn’t fails to mention â€Å"The finger cut, to save the hand. † Abdullah tries very hard to bring a smile on Pari’s face and feels pleased in even exchanging his shoes for the peacock feather for her sister’s collection. The story in the beginning of the chapter is symbolic of pain and suffering that one experiences, when he has to part with his beloved ones and also signifies that the need of basic amenities is fundamental to the existence of humans. If the much adored ones are to be separated from one self so as to ensure these fundamentals to them then the pain and suffering is nothing at their cost. Journeys depicted in the novel:- The novel involves a lot of journeys that are symbolic of time which passes on covering the darker and the lighter shades of one’s life. This is evident from a line of the story that Baba Ayub tells to both his children â€Å"He walked until the sun was a faint red glow in the distance. Nights he slept in caves as the winds whistled outside. Or else he slept beside rivers and beneath trees and among the cover of boulders. He ate his bread, and then he ate what he could find ¬- wild berries, mushrooms, fish that he caught with his bare hands from streams- and some days he didn’t eat at all. But still he walked† . This he says in context with the fact that one has to face a lot of hardships and difficulties to find his loved ones back and in the end everything is fine to Baba Ayub as he accomplishes his goals and finds his son safe and sound with the Div. Abdullah travels from Shadbagh to Kabul to drop his sister at his uncle’s place and this gives hint to the readers that someday, the time will bridge all the gaps between him and his sister and also the pain and misery will go away. Pari goes away with her ‘Mamman’ and travels a long distance to reach France but the memories of her father fade away gradually with time. Pari loves her brother very much and shares an inseparable bond with him but with the passage of time, she leaves him behind and feels it difficult to remember the lullaby that was sung by him. These journeys also signify the changes that take place in one’s life that makes the individual develop new relationships with people surrounding him and leaves the older ones. NILA: THE SYMBOL OF DYNAMISM Nila or Pari’s ‘Mamman’ is a symbol of dynamism. The author very clearly depicts a contrast between her and the other women of Afghanistan. On one hand he shows Parvana, who wore clothes that cover her body completely and then on the other hand he describes Nila who exposes her legs and hands. For the society Nila is not an ideal woman as her ways are carefree and she is confident and self centered. But the author never fails to point out that she was admired and loved by the Afghani people at the Wahadati’s house because of her poems that were about love, lust and passion. In Nabi’s words â€Å"Nila’s poems defied tradition. They followed no preset meter or rhythmic pattern. † Nabi used to be pleased to spend time with her and this, the author mentions in the line â€Å"I was happy enough to be the vessel into which she poured her stories. † Nila was such a charming lady that no one could remove their eyes from her and she was always talked about in public. This shows the development and change in the mindset of the people in Afghanistan. Desires Couples with Suffering: The story of Roshi depicts a clear example of desired coupled with suffering. At one point the character of Chacha Idris is brought about as a savior but the author never drifts away from the realities of life and explicitly explains how desires of Roshi later turn into suffering. The bond of love between them though is never shaken. The promise that he makes to her is out of the bond of love but when he moves to his own life, he couldn’t keep his promise as the situations of his personal life coil up around him. THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED:- They are symbolic of the give and take relationships prevalent in the present world. The echoing in the mountains signifies that whatever may any individual does or receives is an outcome of his deeds that he has already done in the past. The echoing mountains also signify the nature of love and hatred that is; the more you give the exponential you receive. The echo from the mountains also signifies the memories of man that are lost in the conditions of life and as the time passes they become fainter and fainter. THE MUD HOUSES:- These are symbolic of the hard work and toil of people in Afghanistan, who in order to earn their daily ‘Naan’ have to do a lot of work. In winters the mud houses are the only shelter to poor and in the summers they are the only medium of defense from the scorching sunrays. People at Shadbagh were very laborious and so was Abdullah’s father who once said to Mullah Shekib â€Å"If I had been born an animal, Mullah Sahib, I swear I would have come out a mule† . Abdullah’s father had taught him how to make bricks and they had made bricks for a mosque in other town. The author has very well brought the idea of presence of a web of right and wrong in which every individual is coiled. He has very aptly explained the fact that mere existence of humans is based on the society and this society is the one which recognizes the powerful people as their leaders and the poor as the ones who strive for their livelihood. The helpless have to do away with their loved ones and ensure their safety and this is the fault of the society that it overlooks such sufferings of the people. Why a father had to leave her daughter at her uncle’s house? This was because he knew that his daughter would be safe with those rich people who were respected by the society and had a position. But the author is concerned about the emotions of the children who are parted at a very young age, also he is concerned about the inner voice of the father who wants to find his child, also the affection of Roshi with Chacha Idris and Pari with her father and mother; and so the author gives a small Rumi poem at the starting of the novel: â€Å"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there. † With this poem the author conveys the emotions of every individual of the society who sometime or the other wants to leave all the complexities of his life and reach the level where no situations of helplessness and sorrow would bind him and he would not have to make any sacrifices to live his life. The author through the stories of Parwana and Masooma brings about the idea of complexity and jealousy that come in the lives of two twin sisters who were treated differently by the society due to their behavior that the society has divided into good or bad. Parwana also wanted to share the pure feeling of love with her sister but could not do so because the society had created a rift between the two. Gholam and Adel who belonged to strikingly different backgrounds used to meet secretly because the friendship between the rich and poor or high status people with low status people was not recognized as good by the society and this poem by Rumi fits in here as well.

Feminist Art Movement Essays -- Cindy Sherman 2014

In the late 1960 to 1980s when the woman artists’ work hardly could be published, unlike the men, the feminists artists were rejected by the museums, galleries and many women. The issue was that nobody could see how woman had so much valued art works to show. Only the male artists were allow to be published as artists, while the women suffered of discrimination. What the women wanted was that the world treat them as equals to men. The woman wanted something different than the men. This world has focused on only the male artists and their work. The women were shrouded in silence. Linda Nochlin who is an art critic asks, "Why have there been no great women artist?† (Nochlin 2) Since women's art were degraded and rejected by the public, women's artwork was hardly published. However, with the hardships and the endurance of women trying to earn their rights as artists, the visibility of their art is brought out by the exhibitions they produce. Therefore, during the 1970s thro ugh 1980s, the feminist art movement was the turning point for feminist art to become more visible to the public. The notion of the feminist art was that in the social life, males were dominant over females and men had more power than women. Lilith eZine (online magazine) argues, "Feminist theory must take into account the circumstances of most women's lives as mothers, household workers, and caregivers, in addition to the pervasive misconception that women are genetically inferior to men." (Lilith 7) Since "women are inferior to men", women's art was ignored by the museums and galleries. In the 1970s, women artists started a protest against gallery owners for not exhibiting women’s art thus this became the start of a movement called Feminist Art Mo... ...g inferior to men† during the 1960s to 1980s, women’s artwork was degraded, ignored and rejected. However, the continuous of women gathering to have their rights that should already have been accepted, through the Feminist Art Movement, female artists gained visibility. This movement was a big turning point and now we know who they are. Works Cited Douma, Michael. "Cindy Sherman's Untitled Film Stills." N.p., Online Posting to Color Vision & Art. Web. 28 Nov. 2014. . Woodman, Donald. "Judy Chicago." N.p., Online Posting to Through the Flower. Web. 28 Nov. 2014. . Wright, Coroline. â€Å"Why have there been no great women artists? An art historical question from a neurobiological perspective† N.P. Web. 28 Nov. 2014.

Language and Power

Language is the medium of expression of human beings. Animals may have their own charter of language, but we hardly know about any, that too authorized. Even in our dreams we need the help of language to muse or soliloquize or interact with others. Language, of course, varies with situations and contexts. It goes without saying that language has tremendous power to fit and necessarily mould itself according to the requirements of the given situation. At the dawn of civilization when man had yet to discover a language to communicate among themselves, the exchange of ideas and feelings hardly remained withdrawn. The sign language born out of gestures came to fill in the hiatus for a given period of time. Yet, the communication without language was lacking in that particular power. Thereafter with the invention of language, man felt comfortable to express his ideas, feelings, sentiments, emotions more effectively. Along with the advancement of language, man now knows the varied forms of its use in different contexts. Mostly, this exercise is not deliberate, but spontaneous. Language sometimes becomes extraneous in some relationships. It is learnt from authoritative sources that whenever Beckett used to meet Joyce at his residence the duo hardly talked to each other, rather felt the need of feeling each other silently. It is also known that sometimes Joyce spoke up breaking the ice, â€Å"How could the idealist Hume write a history?† Beckett’s reply used to come pat and dry, â€Å"A history of representation.† Such dry conversation can hardly certify any relationship   with deep roots. But in such cases silence has a tongue of its own. Language, no doubt, changes along with the context. Why not take a specific case of a man who has to play several roles at the same time? While, as a caring husband he coos sweet nothings into the ears of his once-upon-a time-lover wife, his language is driven by true heartfelt emotion, and naturally tends to be poetic. When the same man takes his subordinate in the office to task, he has the most harsh language that he hardly desists to utter and again when he is a loving ‘dad’ at home, the sweetness of his language can win any heart, can pacify the umbrage of any irate tiny tot! See him again as a responsible son of an incapacitated, wizened father and his soothing, caressing words will assuage any wound his once-doting father might have nursed! This is to show how a person automatically responds to a certain situation with his dynamic, protean language.   Language is like a river, it has ripples, it can change its course as and when required, topping all, it has tremendous power to influence, to move, to mesmerize. Are we not reminded of Milton’s Paradise Lost Book One, where infuriated, adamant Satan utters five powerful speeches to rouse the fallen angels in the Lake of Fire, in this context? How is the language of Satan here? Rabble-rousing, inspiring, fiery demagoguery! If Satan spoke in ordinary language asking them formally to get to their feet to wage war against God, would they be so surcharged with the fiery enthusiasm? As Satan thunders, â€Å" What though the field be lost All is not lost-the unconquerable will,/And study of revenge, immortal hate,/And courage never to submit or yield:/And what else not to be overcome?† When a political leader delivers a harangue, effective in rabble-rousing, it goes without saying that the speech is fiery, that is to say, imbued with an unseen force, that works wonder on the public, by and large. The effect ,otherwise, would have been drab, run-of –the-mill! Language has its own power to fit into any given situation successfully. If it had not been so, the volatility of language would stand questioned. That is why, it is rightly said that the situation moulds and demands the language. Take the case of the Professor in J.M.Coetzee’s Disgrace. After having emotional and physical relation with the girl, good enough to be   his own daughter, he feels remorseful, his words fail him. He is so repentant that he pays a visit to the girl’s family. He is such guilty in his own eyes that he does not defend himself when an Enquiry Commission is run in order to give him a chance to defend himself and absolve himself subsequently. He has no power or zeal to speak out in his own defense. Language has tremendous power to change the mind of a convict as we have seen in The Bishop’s Candlesticks. Bishop with his enthusing, assuaging, unctuous speech can dissuade the convict from pilfering the gold candlesticks. The words of the Christian Father are replete with affection, warmth. Such is the force of language that even an incorrigible convict can be brought to the path of virtues from that of vices and knavery. A doctor has the power of boosting up the mental strength of an ailing patient by his soothing, encouraging and positive words, a reassuring pat on the back and in most cases supported by proper treatment ,this contributes a lot in coming round of the patient. Kiran Bedi, the Indian I.P.S Officer has already proved that if the prisoners in a jail are given humane, compassionate treatment   they can easily and obviously change into better leaves. She experimented with the recidivists in Tihar jail, New Delhi, India, and reported of   favorable   results in almost cent percent cases. In lieu of harsh language they were treated with soft, friendly words. And, it brought back their lost self-respect and they began to teem with a new-found energy and confidence in themselves and their stigmatized lives. A successful lawyer with the force of language along with proper witness and evidence can make his client win the case. A teacher can hold the attention of the students day after day with his power of words, and of course, the content catered   interestingly.. The man who can fit his language into the demands of the situation successfully hardly loses the love of anybody. He is considered to be the ‘witty’ person around. Shakespeare’s Othello was an honest lover, an emotionally surcharged person, but his Iago was an ‘artist in crime’ not just for his sinister actions but for his witty, deliberately-contrived language that enabled himself to achieve his objective. In Macbeth, the three witches’ equivocal language veers the direction of the play, quite considerably. In King Lear ,too, Cordelia’s plain , un-ornamental, unexaggerated language did not go well with situation. The situation demanded a little more adulation from Cordelia. Only because of the lack of filigree in the language, she suffered throughout her life till she breathed her last! Thus,language has several shades of its own. Hundreds of situations demand hundreds of treatments and responses. When the subordinate employee approaches his boss for a leave of a couple of days for an immediate assignment, can he talk rudely? No, never. He has to keep his boss in good humor, so that his request may not be turned down in a jiffy. Man has to remain cautious about the use of language. Even a slip of tongue can end a husband-wife-bond of warmth and togetherness .Similarly a word of pride can trigger off an internecine war between two nations over years. No doubt, language can make or mar anything and everything. It is absolutely true!!         

Do It Yourself Medical Tests: The Real Story Essay

In the past decade or so, the advancement of technology has resulted in the boom of gadgets such as cellular phones, handheld computers, flat screen television sets and the like. However, this progression is not only evident in entertainment and information devices. In fact, these vast technological developments have also made an impact in the field of medicine and healthcare. Through the years, the introduction and use of highly sophisticated equipment has significantly improved the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, such as cancer. Most of the time, doctors merely have to evaluate their patients and make them undergo a series of machine-based tests to further diagnose the disease or complications. However, more than hospital-based technology, the introduction devices or kits have made it possible for patients to undergo medical tests in the convenience of their own homes. Before, a woman who suspects that she is pregnant had to visit her physician, give him a urine sample and wait for days for the results of the pregnancy tests. Possibly, the only test that could be done at home back then was checking your temperature using a thermometer. Now, however, simple tests like pregnancy tests and blood sugar tests for diabetes can be bought over the counter, which means that patients no longer have to see their doctor often just to undergo these tests. According to the Detroit Medical Center’s online article, Do-It-Yourself Medical Testing Makes Inroads, other do-it-yourself test kits that have been made available for the past years include tests for hepatitis, cholesterol, colon cancer, urinary tract infections and HIV. Impact and Cost of Do-It-yourself Kits  Based on the Detroit Medical Center’s journal, do-it-yourself medical test kits have made a significant impact on patients’ lives, in particular, the amount of time they spend visiting their doctors and the length of availability of the test results. For example, in the past, diabetic patients had to check whether or not there was sugar in their urine to monitor their blood glucose. However, the introduction of testing strips and blood glucose meters, which were usually strapped to a patient’s wrist, made that procedure archaic and provided greater convenience to diabetic patients. The patients can actually measure the changes in their blood sugar without checking their urine and adjust their food intake and medication according to the results of the blood glucose meter. Moreover, based on the article, these meters can monitor blood glucose levels up to six times an hour, decreasing the need to use painful finger pricks, which is one reason why patients hesitate to undergo the test before. In addition, the development of finer lancets and improved meters used for pricking require less of the patient’s blood. Another home test kit that is currently available and commonly used at home is the cholesterol monitoring tests. While this test does not provide an amount of all the cholesterol fractions such as the good cholesterol and the bad cholesterol, it gives a patient a fairly simple overview of his or her cholesterol count. Similarly, home-test kits such as tests for ovulation, fecal occult blood, colon cancer, hepatitis, urinary tract infections, HIV as well as blood pressure monitoring machines, have provided patients with the convenience of diagnosing themselves at home. However, while the do-it-yourself home test kit is a significant addition to society, it also comes with a high price. Based on Walton Crocker’s article, Do’s and Don’ts for Do-It-Yourself Home Medical Testing, which was published in the Associated Content’s website, home medical test kits like cholesterol tests, prostate cancer tests, drug tests, HIV tests, hepatitis C tests, test for blood in the stool, and home monitoring machines, such as blood pressure monitoring machines, have a combined cost of more or less $6. 2 billion a year. Moreover, home blood glucose monitoring alone costs about $5. 7 billion a year. The original blood glucose monitoring machine was enormous in size and had to be strapped to a person’s back. Now, in contrast, this machine is only the size of a key chain. In comparison, a patient spends about $75 to $150 dollars on a regular visit to his or her doctor. However, more often than not, a consultation with the doctor regarding a certain disease also includes a large amount of time spent and possible inconveniences as compared to using home test kits which similarly provide diagnosis of a disease. Furthermore, do-it-yourself genetic testing kits have also been developed. Patients use the kits to scrape cells from the inside cheeks and send it for testing. The results are released through e-mail. Risks and Issues of Do-It-Yourself Tests While modern society has warmly welcomed these vast developments in health and diagnosing certain diseases, there have been a lot of questions regarding their accuracy and reliability. For example, the results of the home testing for blood cholesterol levels only gives patients the over-all amount of cholesterol and not the exact breakdown. According to the Detroit Medical Center, tests cholesterol levels should at least include High Density Lipoprotein, the good cholesterol and Low Density Lipoprotein, the bad cholesterol. Usually, the area of concern in this test is the exact amount of bad cholesterol as it more or less determines how unhealthy a patient is and what dietary adjustments a patient should make to control his or her cholesterol levels. Do-it-yourself genetic testing also has major flaws especially in the validation of results. Based on a report cited by Dr. Andrew Weil in his website, a congressional investigation found out that certain firms who are selling home genetic testing kits were produced clinically invalid results. These results, if not checked, can lead to false assumptions of a patient regarding his or her suspected disease. For example, a false positive result of a home genetic test which shows that a woman has a genetic mutation that can lead to breast cancer can make her feel overly worried even though she the results are not factual. On the other hand, a false negative home genetic test result may cause a patient to ignore a potential disease he or she has contracted since he or she believed the test results which are, in fact, invalid. However, despite these issues and controversies however, both the demand and popularity of home test kits are significantly growing. One reason for this popularity, according to Walton Crocker’s article, is that these home test kits provide privacy for patients with possible diseases. People who suspect that they have illnesses or diseases, such as Hepatitis and HIV, would rather want to confirm their suspicions at home through the use of do-it-yourself test kits than go to a doctor and risk other people finding out about their possible disease. The greater convenience and the less time spent are also major factors that contribute to the popularity of home test kits. Furthermore, while doctors and health care professionals are pleased that the diagnosis of certain diseases can be done at home, a major cause of concern is that some patients do not consult a doctor even if they exhibit symptoms of a particular disease mainly because they tested negative in the home test kit. The Detroit Medical Center also raised another concern that patients who use home testing kits think of themselves more as â€Å"consumers† than patients as they can purchase these kits from pharmacies and other drug companies. This basically defeats the primary role of the doctor which is to evaluate a patient’s health condition, diagnose his or her possible diseases, and prescribe a treatment that would eventually cure him or her. Moreover, some companies, especially those accessible online, claim that they are licensed by the government to operate but they are really not. Basically, all the issues, inaccuracies, and flaws of do-it-yourself kits suggest that patients who use them don’t always get the whole story regarding their health condition. The results that patients obtain from these kits are merely bits and pieces of the possible disease or condition that they may have. Doctors still know best  Generally, despite the accessibility of the home testing kits and the convenience that they provide, it is best to consult a doctor first before making conclusions regarding a disease. A patient may test negative for a certain home test kit but the symptoms he or she exhibits may prove otherwise only if he or she consults a doctor, who is the best person to evaluate your health condition. The results of a cholesterol do-it-yourself kit may provide a patient with the amount of cholesterol in his or her body, but it does not say which type of cholesterol he or she has in excess. The patient may have more of the bad cholesterol than the good cholesterol or vice versa, but he or she will never know unless his or her blood is tested in an actual laboratory. Although do-it-yourself kits can give patients an idea about the status of their health, according to the Detroit Medical Center, the tests done on an actual laboratory with certified and experienced professionals is still the best, safest, and most accurate way to diagnose any disease or medical condition. In his article, Walton Crocker suggests that before buying any home test kit, it is best to first consult a doctor to first assess the accuracy and reliability of the home test kit and also evaluate the condition of the patient. Furthermore, patients should also inform a pharmacist of the medications they are taking as some medications can give false negative or false positive results in home test kits.

Jesse Jackson essays

Jesse Jackson essays Dorothy Chaplik Up with Hope: A biography of Jesse Jackson Dillon Press, 1986 This book is about a virtuous leader, Jesse Jackson. It explains how he grew up in a hard time for blacks and how he was committed to being somebody. When Jesse was a little boy his grandmother urged him saying, Jesse, promise me youll be somebody. The Reverend Jesse Jackson understood the power of hope. Jesses childhood was tough for him. His mother and father werent married when she had Jesse and the communitys disapproval was felt. Another reason for the tough times in Jesses growing up was the discrimination against blacks. The tough times never got in Jesses way; he was destined to be somebody. Jesse had several jobs while he was growing up, to keep him off of the streets, earning extra money for the clothing he liked to wear. His first job was at the age of six, he worked in the wood and coal yards owned by his grandfather. He also was very active in his schooling, always trying to better himself and learn new things. When he was twelve years old he joined the reading club at the County Library for the Colored, where Jesse found books to satisfy his curiosity and his love for words. Jesse was also involved with sports and other activities. When he was in high school he was always running for all the class offices and any leadership position, because of his smarts and ways with the crowd he was usually the one to win the positions. Jesse graduated tenth in his class and went off to college to the University of Illinois on an athletic scholarship. He was offered six thousand dollars a year to join the New York Giants, but he felt that he should better his education. When Jesse got to Illinois he found that segregation was as bad there as in the south. He was only allowed to play certain positions because of his race, he wanted to play quarterback but ...

Rent essays

Rent essays Ah, the daunting task of analyzing Rent in 525,600 words or less, and to simplify any aspect would be an embellished understatement. So to preserve the memory on the hard drive of this computer, one is forced to focus on merely one aspect of this outstanding musical. The first problem occurs when trying to describe the play in terms worthy of its praise. Neither my limited vocabulary nor the synonym button on the tool bar of the computer seems to serve as an accurate description of the play. One is forced to challenge the readers understanding of his surroundings to relate the plays standing. In this situation, one must understand that an outstanding liberal play came to challenge the delicate balance of our tiny conservative world known as College Station. To understand the validity of a play about AIDS and homosexuality selling out four shows in the most conservative town on America (where the only events to sell out are drinking parties and football games), is to merely tou ch on the importance and greatness of the play. I however was one of the unlucky few that was unable to view the College Station performances, but I was able to capture a ticket to a San Francisco showing during my Thanksgiving break. I was very fortunate to see Billy Aronsons Rent, at the Orpheum Theater on November 27th, and the one aspect of the play that impressed me the most was the outstanding music. To leave a production of the play without having at least one of the musicals many outstanding songs lodged into your memory and stuck on your tong is almost a crime. Why I am still tapping my toes and singing its many memorable melodies while I am writing this review of the play. I am sure that the memories of all of its viewers are triggered with the mention of the word rent. Just think about which song is stuck in your head right now. Light My Candle, Living in America, or Seasons of Love?...

Medical Billing Changes Create a Whole New World of Jobs

Medical Billing Changes Create a Whole New World of Jobs Physicians’ offices and hospitals are introducing many changes in the ways they bill insurance. The need for individuals skilled in this venue has increased, and is expected to continue growing. Let’s take a look at  why this is happening and what it means for you  if you are interested in pursuing this career. What is ICD-10?Understanding what the latest International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) entails is complex. It replaces the ICD-9 system that has been in use for years. Both systems code for a particular disease, along with modifiers for identification and billing purposes. The ICD-10 system lists more than 140,000 codes used for diagnosis, treatment, and  procedures. Some codes are detailed, and finding the right code might be difficult. Doctors, already burdened by a complicated health care system, may find it difficult to easily find the right code. If the correct code remains unfound, the cost may revert back to the patient. Hiring individuals tr ained in this new system is important to making it run smoothly.The codes are based on an official list originating with the World Health Organization. It is not dependent on a particular health care plan and has no link to the incorporation of the Affordable Care Act in the United States.Readiness for the new ICD-10 implementationPhysician readiness for using the new system is lacking, according to the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange or WEDI. About 25 percent of physicians are not going to be ready, and possibly an additional 25 percent will not be acclimated. This may cause delays in using the new ICD-10 system, and many providers are looking to hire those trained in the new system.Why is ICD-10 so difficult?Part of the problem with the new coding is precision. While this might sound oversimplified or at odds with the delicate balance found in proper billing, it isn’t. For example, there are about  18 codes for a patient who ate a toxic mushroom that  adequate ly describe the patient’s medical  situation. Another example: looking at a fractured leg and properly coding it may mean choosing among  dozens of codes to find the right one.The  ICD-10 coding employs more than 70,000 diagnostic codes, compared with 15,000 in ICD-9. Procedures done in the hospital will rise from 4,000 to 72,000. The transition from the old system and the sheer number of increased codes mean that both office and hospital billing will need people  trained in ICD-10.Increased training for ICD-10Some schools have increased the amount of training for coding based on the new guidelines by providing ICD-10 courses. Those taking refresher courses are poised to take advantage of the need for billing personnel. Hospitals, health insurance plans, and physician and other health care professional offices will have a need for this skill. In addition, the work will become more demanding, and medical professionals who work with coding will be  expected to pass a certification exam.More job opportunities in 2016 for medical billingvia GIPHYJobs in medical coding are expected to increase by 18 percent through 2016, according to the Department of Labor. Due to demand, experts believe many positions will be based on a 40-hour workweek with overtime. Salaries will range between $23,000 and $43,000 based on experience, geographical area, and whether the job is in a hospital or office.Finding the right medical billing job as well as other healthcare jobs depends on having a way to finding positions right for you. TheJobNetwork makes it easy by sorting through jobs meeting your qualifications and needs. After you enter your qualifications and job interests, TheJobNetwork searches around the clock for jobs that match that description and sends you notifications by email. Sign up with TheJobNetwork to get started.

Innovation and Strategic Management Annotated Bibliography - 1

Innovation and Strategic Management - Annotated Bibliography Example Journal of Technology Management & Innovation, 6(2), 14-39. In this article, the researchers present their findings on how innovation is shaping general business management practices. They took an in-depth analysis of the impacts of embracing innovation and adapting it to business management practices. They also establish how governments, businesses and other development organizations incorporate innovation in their budget decisions and analyze the impact of innovation on long term performance of businesses and government departments. The authors argue that firm’s profitability and market competitiveness is dependent on how well they make use of innovation in their strategic planning and management. They propose a model that can be used to not only audit but also classify different types of strategic management practices that use innovation as the driving force. SÃ ¡nchez et al studied a relatively broad sample of firms in the electronics industry in Spain to arrive at empirical results. They established that those firms that embraced innovation in their strategic management generally witnessed significant growth in their revenues. On the contrary, firms that did not incorporate innovation in their management practices witnessed reduced revenues and made perpetual losses. SÃ ¡nchez et al proposed a comprehensive model that links companies’ performance to innovation-directed strategic management. In this model, businesses make management decisions that are informed by innovations that aim at cutting costs of production, improve resource competence and create new portfolios in the market. The innovation based strategic management in this model links environmental changes, strategic innovation and business results. In this article, the authors argue that the kind of innovation that has led to improved business performance is not necessarily that which is based on the technological changes. They

Mead's symbolic interaction theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mead's symbolic interaction theory - Essay Example Another difference that exists between the humans and infrahumans is the communication types that are used. In the infrahuman, communication is usually gestural and takes place with an immediate effect, without being interrupted for the purpose of either assigning meaning or interpreting. Human communication, on the other hand, is meaningful and gestures have meanings assigned to them and the gestures do not call for immediate responses. There is also the essence of self. Self is the term used in referring to the reflective, conscious personality of the person (Wood 1992). Self is the entity that is envisioned by person whenever he/she tries to think about who they are. It is crucial to know that the idea of self can only be understood fully through role-taking. For a person to be able to look upon himself, he must have the capability to take over the role of another. The basic work of Herbert Mead was regarded to as symbolic interactionism. The work bore the name of Herbert Blumer, who inherited it from the famous social psychology course. The inheritance was after Mead died and then Blumer became an advocate of the symbolic interactions persistently. It would be hard for Mead to approve this label, more significantly, symbolic interactionism, since it has undergone evolution since more than sixty years ago, has seemed to lay its focus on the changes of self-more rather than either interaction or symbols, unlike what Blumer was an advocate for the reactions of people when they are interacting with others in the social settings which are governed by the conception that they possess. Gyroscope acts as a form of self serves and helps in keeping in line and consistent. Moreover, as the emphasis has been increasingly in the theory of symbolic interactionism, the motivation of individuals arises from verification of their self-sense before the eyes of others. The idea of identity

International sustainable business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

International sustainable business - Essay Example Over the years IBM is trying to make its products and services environmentally friendly. According to a report published by the Ceres investor Coalition in December 2008, IBM was ranked the top company for climate change strategy and practices among all major technology companies. IBM’s super computers were also ranked the most high speed and energy efficient in November 2008. Apart from these rankings, there are many other recognitions and awards given to IBM for being a true Green company. In 2009, IBM launched its â€Å"Ready for Energy and Environment† validation program for business partners. In this program, they had set criteria for business partners to make eco-friendly products. Only those partners who qualified the criteria partnered with them. IBM provides a Global Asset Recovery Service (GARS). It helps the consumers to easily dispose off unwanted technology. By this service, the waste does not pollute the environment. IBM has been reusing, remarketing and recycling computers for quite a long time now. IBM helps organizations to create a ‘green’ IT infrastructure by offering different products and services. IBM virtualization, Active Energy manager, IBM System z mainframe servers, IBM system x servers, and IBM Power systems are some of the products and services that it provides in order to improve power efficiency. IBM is no doubt the leading manufacturers of computing industry. But there are many other famous brands offering technology and computing services. Among the close competitors that IBM has, Hewlett Packard (HP) is one of the giants of technology. In the scenario of Green computing, HP is more advanced than IBM. According to CNNMoney.com, HP is ranked among the top 10 green giants- the only computer’s company in the list. HP has massive e-waste recycling plants, and it is trying to cut energy consumption more and more. HP’s own machines are 100 percent recyclable. They have various products that are

5)'There is very little justice in the Criminal Justice System.' Essay

5)'There is very little justice in the Criminal Justice System.' Discuss - Essay Example The principle of criminal law is to offer the particular definition of what makes up a crime and to stipulate punishments for committing such a crime (Harr et al, 2012:15). No criminal law can be legitimate unless it includes both of these factors. The focus of criminal justice is, mainly concerned with the enforcement of criminal law. The National Archives, UK, deem that the chief objectives of the Criminal Justice System are to deliver justice for the inhabitants. This is done by the punishing and convicting the guilty, while aiding them to stop offending, at the same time protecting the innocent. The CJS in the UK is liable crime prevention and maintenance of justice, as well as other court duties including the collection of fines. The main functions of Criminal Justice Systems are the same all over the world, and their procedure for delivering justice are somewhat the same (The national archives 2010). On a global platform, we have the International Criminal Justice that specializes in International criminal law, which deals with individuals who are held responsible for crimes such as aggression, genocide, slavery, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and torture. Subsequent to World Wars one and two, the notion of an individual being held criminally accountable in an international field came into focus, predo minantly after the tribunals in Nuremberg that revealed Nazi leadership. Nowadays, many individuals who commit international crimes are prosecuted in international tribunals and mostly in the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Rome Statute created the ICC, which started operations on the 1st of July 2002. The ICC is governed by international laws, to provide justice for international crimes like genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression (Bekou & Cryer, 2004:26). It was projected to complement existing national judicial systems, and it can only

Ideas about disseration topic Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ideas about disseration topic - Assignment Example There are limited research papers written on this particular topic. Impact of land acquisition helps to reveal trend in present economy and its association with livelihood. The common impacts are decreased social welfare, unsuccessful employment and lack of social network. Compensation is greatly affected when farmland is acquired due to various reasons (Zhao, 2013). The main development zones in Suzhou are Xiangcheng district, Industrial Park of Suzhou, Wuzhong and Suzhou New District. Rational for the study is - economic development in China is an alarming issue but impact of land acquisition is not widely observed in any research study. This study shall also encompass other related factors. Firstly policies or institutions which govern land acquisition mechanism in China would be incorporated in this particular study. Household livelihood situation shall also be a part of the research study. Economic development of Suzhou is sustained through land acquisition. This aspect would be upheld in the study. It shall not only focus on impact of farmland acquisition but also methods used by people to cope with changes occurring in livelihood. There would be livelihood conditions analyzed through utilizing quantitative and qualitative mechanisms. The data collection methods to be used in the study shall also highlight farmer’s opinions in terms of relationship between farmland acquisition and state of livelihood. The major aim of the research study is to analyze impact of land acquisition on farmer’s livelihood. Natural resources and environment are closely knitted with human activities. Recent economic development has greatly altered man-land relationship. Urbanization can be treated as a procedure to resolve agricultural problems. Urban development requires maximum utilization of land resources in order to facilitate urban construction. This study shall also aim at understanding the concept of

Media and Gender Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Media and Gender - Research Paper Example With the advent of media and information technology, sweeping changes has manifested itself on women. Today, women spend all their time and resources on media, and are willing to anything in order to be beautiful or change their natural outlooks. This clearly shows that women use media as a tool of educating themselves as a way of seeking freedom from the yoke of women folk, which has enslaved them for long (Joo, 2012). It is evidently clear that most of the media houses take considerable airtime to advertise what appropriate appearance a woman should have in the modern world. This includes the likes of â€Å"figure eight†, tall and slender and less body weight women. Some of these ideal desirable body structures are may not be attainable practically by some of the women. This creates a negative mindset of dissatisfaction from such women should they fail to attain such desirable qualities (In Carter et al, 2014). Therefore, they start a voyage of events that will see them modify their natural bodies in order to pose those deemed desirable by the society. The main problem associated to most of these processes and operations women have to go through may bring adverse lifelong damages in health of victims. The worst outcomes arise where the desired body appearance fails to happen, or the desired characteristics become abnormal, the likes of the various cases that have been documented. Several w omen are on record to have for instance, applied breast enlargement cream only for one of the breasts to be extremely larger than normal and fail to match with the other pair. The main problem is that, some of these outcomes remain unchanged forever and hence a permanent scar of psychological dissatisfaction rules the entire life of a woman in question. Scholars have cautioned on negative results of female objections in the media. It is not, therefore, miracles to find women in the society who are bed-ridden after suffering the negative images that are

Ideas about disseration topic Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ideas about disseration topic - Assignment Example There are limited research papers written on this particular topic. Impact of land acquisition helps to reveal trend in present economy and its association with livelihood. The common impacts are decreased social welfare, unsuccessful employment and lack of social network. Compensation is greatly affected when farmland is acquired due to various reasons (Zhao, 2013). The main development zones in Suzhou are Xiangcheng district, Industrial Park of Suzhou, Wuzhong and Suzhou New District. Rational for the study is - economic development in China is an alarming issue but impact of land acquisition is not widely observed in any research study. This study shall also encompass other related factors. Firstly policies or institutions which govern land acquisition mechanism in China would be incorporated in this particular study. Household livelihood situation shall also be a part of the research study. Economic development of Suzhou is sustained through land acquisition. This aspect would be upheld in the study. It shall not only focus on impact of farmland acquisition but also methods used by people to cope with changes occurring in livelihood. There would be livelihood conditions analyzed through utilizing quantitative and qualitative mechanisms. The data collection methods to be used in the study shall also highlight farmer’s opinions in terms of relationship between farmland acquisition and state of livelihood. The major aim of the research study is to analyze impact of land acquisition on farmer’s livelihood. Natural resources and environment are closely knitted with human activities. Recent economic development has greatly altered man-land relationship. Urbanization can be treated as a procedure to resolve agricultural problems. Urban development requires maximum utilization of land resources in order to facilitate urban construction. This study shall also aim at understanding the concept of

Security practices not meeting the challenges (info technology) Essay

Security practices not meeting the challenges (info technology) - Essay Example There is a long line of self-interested intruders ready and willing to capture this valuable data, and as our reliance on digital information has grown, so have the threats. Large concentrations of data, mobile devices, and the need to keep the data useful has all added to the vulnerability of our information technology. While our information system has worked to make our data more secure, the threats of attack and the divulging of information has become ever more prevalent. Information security is an ongoing process that can never quite meet the challenge of the security threats. Security threats originate from three sources. There are internal threats from corrupt employees, external threats that originate from external attacks on the system, and system failure. While direct attacks may compromise the data, system failure can cause a loss of information or system shutdown. While developing a system of access control minimizes attacks, system failures are dealt with through a system of redundancy and audit tracking. These systems are open to compromise by direct attack or well meaning employees that practice lax security measures. The security of a database or network often begins with access control. At the system level this may mean the use of passwords. Passwords are easily compromised and are often shared for the purposes of convenience. Levels of granting only necessary access to a system or a file have been more helpful as data is made available only on a need to know basis. However, in a fast paced team environment, this may require man-hours that far exceed the realistic value of the security. According to Hu, Ferrariolo, and Kuhn, "If a single permission is incorrectly configured, a user will either be ineffective in performing his/her duties or will be given access to unintended information and systems, which could result in undermining the security posture of the organization" (36).

Does Herodotus believe in Cultural Relativism Essay Example for Free

Does Herodotus believe in Cultural Relativism Essay For its time and place, The Histories of Herodotus is a work of remarkably expansive scope. To set the stage for the wars between Greece and Persia ( 490-479 B. C. ), Herodotus describes the geographical and cultural background and reviews the political history of Lydia, Media, Babylon, Egypt, Persia, Scythia, Libya, Ionia, and various Greek city-states in Asia Minor, on the Aegean islands, and on the European mainland. To record the results of his research (historie, in Greek) with the greatest vigor and accuracy, Herodotus traveled to many of these places and gathered firsthand data from native informants. For this type of research, in the words of a modern commentator, Herodotus merits the title not only of the father of history; he is also the father of comparative anthropology. Among the various classes of information which Herodotus seems to have emphasized, thus suggesting a pattern for later descriptions, were marriage customs, religious rites, burial practices, and food habits. The description of these four categories of traits, or social institutions, were not necessarily executed in the round for every tribe that happened to stroll across the pages of the Histories; but they were mentioned often enough to indicate the direction taken by his curiosity, and the content of the questions he probably put to informants. Herodotus, the ancient Greek, was a cheerful, inquisitive, rationalistic extrovert who traveled over his world to discover the facts, who took delight in telling a good story but usually avoided the temptation to wander very far from sober common sense. His cultural relativism is well known and much discussed, but it is particularly noteworthy that Greeks and barbarians are placed on a equal footing at the outset. Distinctions between Greek and non-Greek break down as the work progresses: the first barbarian for whom we get any detailed information is the Hellenized Lydian king, Croesus; the divisions of lands customary among the Greeks that separate Greek and non-Greek peoples are purely arbitrary; we learn of the Phoenician descent of Spartas kings; and Herodotus states that the descendants of Perseus came to be counted as Greeks. The key dichotomy is not the Hellenic-barbarian bipolarity, but rather the opposition of the ordered society based on law and the arbitrary rule of the despot. But political and social institutions are fragile structures, and Herodotus gives no guarantee that the Greek superiority at the time of the Persian Wars, which was based upon those institutions, will last. In fact his work closes on an ominous note that appears to warn imperial Athens that it is in danger of becoming, if it has not already become, the barbarian. We are presented with the gruesome picture of the crucifixion of the Persian satrap Artayctes at the command of the Athenian commander Xanthippus, father of Pericles, and a piece of wisdom from the Persian founding father, Cyrus, on the dangers of success and affluence. And it is well to remember that Herodotus wrote long after the Persian threat had passed, when Athenian imperial power was at its apogee. Herodotos interest in reciprocity is symptomatic of contemporary philosophy, not least in Ionia. Moreover, Herodotos very project, his attempt to explain and explore the Persian Wars, can be considered as a study of reciprocity in cross-cultural interaction, not least because those wars were for Herodotos a stage in a reciprocal, cross-cultural process, as he asserts in the proem. Indeed, war itself may be seen as an exchange, a reciprocal undertaking: the tactics of the Skythian Idanthyrsos allow him to wage war while explicitly rejecting the relationship that war usually entails. Herodotos origins in western Asia Minor, a key area of interface between Greek and non-Greek culture, may have led him to give particular thought to the issue of cross-cultural reciprocity, as also to the Persian Wars, for which the Ionian Revolt had been the catalyst, if not the cause. At the same time, the justice and injustice of imperialism remained a burning issue through the fifth century into the fourth, and not only Persian imperialism, but also Athenian, Spartan, and Macedonian. The Persian Wars were the great antecedents of the Peloponnesian War, in the early years of which Herodotos seems to have completed his work. The Persians themselves continued to play a major role in the politics of the Greek world: the onset of the Peloponnesian War seems to have inspired new attempts to deal with them, and with other non-Greeks, as indicated in comic style in Aristophanes Akharnians of 425 BC. 25 This is understandable, for it was to be Persian resources that would give ultimate victory to the Spartans in that war. Thus, it is quite possible that crosscultural reciprocity was a topical concern in Athens and elsewhere when Herodotos completed his work, though the issue had been close to the centre of Greek preoccupations at least since the time of the Persian Wars, Herodotos subject. The Persian Wars had reinforced a Hellenic self-image, defined by contrast with the barbarian identity, and had thereby further problematized relationships between Greek and non-Greek. In particular, Greeks (especially Athenians, perhaps) could and did use their defeat of Persia as confirmation of a broader superiority over the barbarian. In exploring the difficulties of forming relationships with the other, Herodotos Histories present readers with failures and disasters, arising primarily from ignorance, over-confidence, and cultural chauvinism. There is a definite element of pessimism in the Histories, for the inability to penetrate beyond contingent nomoi and thereby to see other as self is taken to be an observable feature of human nature, as manifested throughout the narrative. In particular, wars are seen to be the products of injustice and attendant ignorance. But there is also hope; for the author claims for himself the ability to rise above commonplace failings and offers to provide his readers with a better understanding of themselves, of others, and of reciprocity. Like Kroisos, the reader may pass into a state of deeper understanding through advice confirmed by experience. Where Kroisos had the advice of Solon and suffered personal disaster, the reader has the advice of Herodotos the author and suffers vicarious disaster, experiencing experiences. Baldry notices that Herodotos calls into question the whole dichotomy between Greek and barbarian, when he presents the Egyptian perspective, according to which barbarians are not those who do not speak Greek, but those who do not speak Egyptian. At the same time, as Laurot has shown, Herodotos displays no interest in condemning barbarians as such, nor in subordinating them to Greeks. Rather, his presentation in the Histories of nomoi of the barbarian other offers insights into the nomoi of the Greek self (or better, selves), insofar as the various Greek nomoi constitute Herodotos principal frame of reference and benchmark. However, as Rosellini and Said valuably stress, Herodotos does not present the barbarian other as a monolithic unity, any more than he presents the Greeks themselves as a unity: rather he ranges across the different nomoi that exist among barbarians and through the complexities of interaction between various barbarian peoples. The Histories are not so much a mirror, as Hartog would have it, but a hall of mirrors with multiple reflections. The key point is that in the Histories cultural differences, however profound they may be, are presented as secondary to a common human nature and a common human condition: in that sense too Greek is barbarian, self is other. The categories of Greek and barbarian are familiar to Herodotos, but on his view, as the proem indicates, they need not entail the subordination of the barbarian, whose achievements are to be celebrated also. For Herodotos, it is humanness that is the natural identity and the group identity that matters, and man-made variations are merely contingent, for all their exotic character and interest. Confirmation of such a view of Herodotos may be found in the condemnatory response of Plutarch, for whom Herodotos is far too positive about barbarians. The ferocity of Plutarchs response (indeed, his very decision to write a response at all) further indicates the strength of the challenge that Herodotos case presented to the smug asseverations of Greek specialness that seem to have developed through the fifth century and which Plutarch in his day assumed to be right and proper. Cross-cultural interaction was central to Herodotos project in the Histories. At the same time, the problematic nature of reciprocity the uncertainty that arises from its under-negotiation is particularly apparent in interaction across cultures. Indeed, Herodotos concern with the problematics of reciprocity as a phenomenon can be seen as intimately bound up with his concern with cross-cultural interaction. Of course, Herodotos starting-point is a matter of mere speculation. But we can and should observe the organic relationship between cross-cultural interaction, crosscultural reciprocity, and the problematics of reciprocity as a phenomenon. It is precisely within the problematics of cross-cultural reciprocity that the appreciation of cultural relativism is particularly necessary. Therefore, if we move from the claim, already mentioned, that there is a strong sense in which the Histories are about reciprocity to ask why Herodotos should be so interested in the phenomenon, I would suggest that an answer is to be found not in the topicality of reciprocity as a theme in the later fifth century, but in the rationale of Herodotos very undertaking. A broadlybased treatment of the Persian Wars by its very nature invites a simultaneous and inherent treatment of reciprocity as a phenomenon. To examine societies is to explore forms of reciprocities. All the more so, when societies invite comparisons through their It also seems clear that Herodotus approached the task of describing manners and customs with a fairly definite idea of what constituted a culture, and a fairly specific set of questions for evoking details from informants. The criteria which separated one group from another and gave individuality to his descriptive portraits were common descent, common language, common religion, and the observance of like manners in the smaller details of living, such as dress, diet, and dwellings. The Argippeans, who lived at the foot of the Ural Mountains, were presented vividly as being bald from birth, speaking a language of their own, using no weapons, dispensing justice in the quarrels of their neighbors, and dressing after the manner of the Scythians. They lived on the juice of a species of cherry, making the lees into a solid cake which they ate instead of meat. They dwell each man, he said, under a tree, covering it in winter with a white felt cloth, but using no felt in summer. For each group, in other words, seven categories of cultural fact are given. We are told their geographical location and something of their environment. We are told of their language, their dress, their food, their dwellings, their form of self-defense, or their lack of it, their prestige as judges among other peoples. On the other hand, concerning Egypt, one of the more important culture areas, Herodotus says at the outset that he will have to extend his remarks to some length. This countryits climate, its people and animalswas a constant surprise and challenge to the observer, very much as Japan with its customs and Australia with its fauna have challenged the modern traveller. For the Egyptians the number of cultural categories evoked far exceeds the seven used in describing the Argippeans. As for history, Bodins belief in its power to confer knowledge concerning the ways of mankind was unfaltering; and much of both the Methodus and the Republique is devoted to the assemblage of documentation to support this contention. Never before perhaps had a writer on politics or ethnography amassed so large a body of dated materials or laid so large a literature under tribute. He was well-read, not only in the law and the Bible, but in the Talmud and the Cabala; in the ancients, including Herodotus, Strabo, Cicero, Tacitus, and Caesar; in the modern historians, such as Joinville, Froissart, Monstrelet, Commines; and in the travelers, Marco Polo, Leo Africanus, and Las Casas. As they err, said he, who study the maps of regions before they have learned accurately the relation of the whole universe and the separate parts to each other and to the whole, so they are not less mistaken who think they can understand particular histories before they have judged the order and sequence of universal history and of all times, set forth as it were in a table.

Service User Participation Case Study

Service User Participation Case Study Introduction This paper will consider some aspects of user and carer participation in theory and practice in relation to the case of a seventy two year old man named Harold. Different Levels of Service User Participation Service user participation is an integral part of social work practice and stems from the concept of the empowerment of service users.[1] This ranges from consultation on an individual level†¦to user control and management of services (Carr, 2005, p.14). Service user participation is a principle that is quite often difficult to put into practice, although new initiatives such as Direct Payments which allow service users to choose and pay for the services they want go some way to alleviating this, in the case of a person such as Harold, who has complex needs, this is not always straightforward. There are power implications in the relationship between service users and social work professionals, and this makes it hard for service users to know whether their concerns are being taken seriously.[2] This is even more problematic in situations where the person concerned does not appear to have any interest in what happens to them and this is discussed without reference to the service u ser as appears to be happening with Harold. Harold has told his sons that he can’t be bothered to get washed or cook a meal†¦ The sons have recently spoken with the day centre manager about their concerns regarding their father†¦ he is spending most of his time in bed, and he is not eating regularly†¦ he sometimes seems to be slightly confused and distant. It is difficult to assess how far user participation might apply to Harold under these circumstances he no longer wants to attend the day centre and is not looking after himself so it is difficult to know whether he would be able to be involved at any real level in an assessment of his needs. This case does provide a dilemma for social workers on the one hand they have a duty of care, and also in terms of ethical practice, to take into account what the service user actually wants for him/herself. Service user participation often takes place in groups so that the service user does not feel overwhelmed by professional involvement, but this does not seem to be an option in Harold’s case. He sometimes gets confused and he also prefers to be on his own. If, on the other hand, the day centre manager and the other professionals (social worker, a Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, and a Community Psychiatric Nurse) involved with Harold take too much notice of the sons then they could be addressing their needs rather than Harold’s and it is difficult to see what level of service user participation would be applicable in Harold’s case. An Approach to Service User Empowerment Harold does not object to people coming to the house and perhaps user participation for Harold might best be achieved through the services of an advocate who could present Harold’s views in the best light. As a group older people can be disadvantaged and it is often forgotten that they are people who are as entitled to be treated with respect and consideration as are other groups. Since the 1960s there has been a growing movement in Britain which has come to be known as advocacy. Advocacy involves speaking on behalf of someone, it is an attempt to enable and empower people who might otherwise be disadvantaged. An advocate is there to promote the interests and views of the person they are speaking for. Dunning (2005) maintains that there are a number of stages in people’s lives (particularly those of older people) when advocacy should be a requirement, and especially if there is: ..a decline in physical and mental health, sensory impairment and the need for health and social services (Dunning, 2005, p.10). This is a clear description of how things are in Harold’s case, he loses his way around the local shops and his GP has recently diagnosed that Harold has Parkinson’s Disease. Harold is becoming increasingly divorced from reality he acts as though his dead wife is still in the house with him and is unaware of the professional concern and considered involvement in his case. Under these circumstances it would seem clear that Harold is in need of someone who will act in his best interests and speak on his behalf if he is to have any control over his own future. An advocate would, hopefully, be able to establish what Harold should be asking for and what he might be entitled to in terms of services and support. Whether Harold would be empowered by knowing what is on offer is difficult to assess because of his tendency to become confused, but an advocate could make a case for the fact that Harold wants to stay in his own home and this would alleviate any fears he has of reside ntial care. Quinn (2003) is of the opinion that information and advocacy are themselves services and can be the building blocks of †¦enabling older people to receive the services they require (Quinn, 2003, p.3). The team mentioned above have all received referrals for Harold, an advocate would try to elicit what Harold really wanted and convey this to the team so that his wishes are made known, and as far as possible, catered for. In this way an advocate would give Harold a voice and thereby empower him. Factors that Promote and Limit Service User Involvement in Decision Making Ongoing debate on the needs and rights of older people highlight the fact that while there has been a move to ensure individual’s rights to equality of service, older people may still face discrimination. Under these circumstances it is vital that factors relating to power imbalances between service users and professionals be acknowledged. It is only with this acknowledgement that the parties can then work together to at least lessen those factors that contribute to the marginalisation and exclusion of some service users (Carr, 2004). These factors might include a tendency of some professionals to ignore service users views or to at least misinterpret them so that rather than being enabled service user participation can result in service users feeling further disempowered. Institutional barriers need to be overcome, as does a continuing use of professional jargon which can also serve to exclude service users from the decision making process. Carr’s (2004) research found that service users often cited language gaps as a disempowering and exclusionary factor, however, once this was brought to light most professionals were more than happy to try to modify their language in order to encourage greater service user participation. Research tends to suggest, and Harold’s situation is a case in point, that greater and more effective service user participation cannot be achieved in a unitary way. There is a need for different models and levels of participation depending on the service user’s circumstances. Some service users will be so empowered by participation that they will go on to be involved in how services are delivered, still others are not able to be truly involved at any recognisable level without the intervention of a third person. Thus advocacy is an important element of lower levels of service user participation. An advocate can help to empower people in Harold’s situation because service users will then have someone who is impartial, who can inform them as to what is available in terms of services and support and who will promote their best interests among other professionals and make sure that their wishes are made known. Harold, for example wishes to remain in his own home, he does not want to attend a day centre, neither does he want to go into residential care. Carr (2004) notes that the service user movement has been instrumental in promoting the rights of people’s entitlement to as ordinary way of life as is possible. Working with Service Users and Carers in an Ethical and Anti-Oppressive Manner Society often views old people as of little use because they no longer contribute to society in the same way as when they were younger and at the same time they are greater consumers of health and welfare services (Moore, 2002). Clearly it is not always easy working with older people because they may have multiple and complex needs, nevertheless under the 1998 Human Rights Act, they are entitled to be treated with dignity and local authorities have a duty to abide by the requirements of this Act. Any move to force a person like Harold to attend a day centre when he clearly does not want to is arguably not good practice. In order to deal with a person like Harold in an ethical and anti-oppressive manner it is vital that he is listened to. If his confusion makes this difficult then again, this is where the services of an advocate could play a vital role. An advocate would be able to see that Harold’s voice was heard they would also be able to express the concerns of his family. Harold may not be aware how concerned his sons are, he needs to be informed of their concerns but this does not mean that their concern for him should take precedence over his own desire not to attend day centres or to go into residential care. The professionals involved with Harold should not be persuaded by the arguments of his family because this could result in oppressive practice. Anti-oppressive and ethical practice has to consider the rights and needs of the service user as prior to the concerns of those close to him. Ethical and effective social work should involve a thorough assessment of Harold’s needs and a care package that takes his health and his wishes into account. It should be tailored to suit his individual needs and there should be room for changes and adjustments if the care package is not to become an imposition (Kerr et al, 2005). Where a person is not fully cognisant of what is happening then anti-oppressive practice should involve the use of an entirel y independent advocate. This would be advisable in Harold’s case where there could be a conflict of interests between what his family wants for him and what he wants for himself, or what the care team may consider is best for him. An independent advocate would be the best way of ensuring that the team were consistently mindful of the need to engage in ethical and anti-oppressive practice. This is often achieved by those involved being reflective in their dealings with service users. How Reflective Practice Informs Social Work Practice In the contemporary climate social workers are often faced with a conflict of interests between bureaucratic requirements and targets and the needs of their clients. This is unfortunate because it negates the claim that effective social work is client centred, Schonn (1991) has argued that: Professionals claim to contribute to social well-being, put their clients’ needs ahead of their own, and hold themselves accountable to standards of competence and morality. But both popular and scholarly critics accuse the professions of serving themselves at the expense of their clients, ignoring their obligation to public service, and failing to police themselves effectively (Schon, 1991:11-12). When people reflect on what they are doing then they are more inclined to recognise people’s individual worth and therefore to act in an ethical manner, one that works towards the best interests of the client. Ruch (2002) maintains that reflexive practice results in a deeper understanding of a person’s self and the role it has in professional practice it makes them more open to new and different ways of working and thus it is now becoming an integral part of social work practice. In Harold’s case a reflexive practitioner may find it easier to balance the conflict of interests between Harold and his sons and with the help of an advocate empower Harold in his role as service user. Bibliography Carr, S. 2004 Has Service User Participation Made a Difference to Social Care Services? London, SCIE Department of Health (2002b) Information Strategy for Older People (ISOP)  in England. London: Department of Health Dunning, A. 2005 Information, Advice and Advocacy for Older People York, Joseph Rowntree Foundation http://www.assoc-optometrists.org/uploaded_files/nsf-olderpersons.pdf Jordan, B (2000) Tough Love—Implementing New Labour’s Programme: social work and the third way (London: Sage). Kerr, Gordon, Macdonald and Stalker 2005 Effective Social Work with Older People Moore, S. 2002 3rd Edition Social Welfare Alive Cheltenham, Nelson Thornes Quinn, A., Snowling, A. and Denicolo, P. (2003) Older People’s Perspectives:  Devising Information, Advice and Advocacy Services. York: Joseph  Rowntree Foundation Ruch, G. 2000 â€Å"Self and social work: Towards an integrated model of learning† Journal of Social Work Practice Volume 14, no. 2 November 1st 2000 Schon, D. 1991 The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals think in Action Ashgate Publishing, Avebury www.scie.org.uk/publications/leadingpractice/files/scie_9%2520service%2520user.ppt+SERVICE+USER+PARTICIPATION accessed 27/4/06 http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/positionpapers/pp03.asp Has Service User Participation Made a Difference to Social Care Services accessed 27/4/06 1 [1] www.scie.org.uk/publications/leadingpractice/files/scie_9%2520service%2520user.ppt+SERVICE+USER+PARTICIPATION accessed 27/4/06 [2] http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/positionpapers/pp03.asp Has Service User Participation Made a Difference to Social Care Services accessed 27/4/06

My Friend Essay -- describe a potential classmate

Question: Many students expand their view of the world during their time in college. Such growth often results from encounters between students who have lived different cultural, economic, or academic experiences. With your future growth in mind, describe a potential classmate that you believe you could learn from either within or outside a formal classroom environment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is hard to think about specific qualities of someone whom I could learn from without examining my own background and surroundings. My hometown of Wayland, Massachusetts is probably much different than Austin, Texas. Wayland is a small suburban town about twenty miles west of Boston. It is not extremely crowded here, but there are probably enough people and buildings to generate at least a small sense of claustrophobia in someone who is used to an open landscape. Wayland is a very intellectual community, and virtually all of the adults are well educated and many hold a professional degree. Most of the high school students are diligent about their studies, and just about everybody lives a comfortable, safe life here. Unfortunately, there isn’t much excitement in this town, and unless one stays busy with a hobby, job, or other activity, it can be downright boring.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My friend, Bob was much different than anyone I knew in Wayland. I’d have to say some of my friends from Wayland would probably think Bob is a hick because of his rural background, but he’s smarter than just about all of them. I met... My Friend Essay -- describe a potential classmate Question: Many students expand their view of the world during their time in college. Such growth often results from encounters between students who have lived different cultural, economic, or academic experiences. With your future growth in mind, describe a potential classmate that you believe you could learn from either within or outside a formal classroom environment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is hard to think about specific qualities of someone whom I could learn from without examining my own background and surroundings. My hometown of Wayland, Massachusetts is probably much different than Austin, Texas. Wayland is a small suburban town about twenty miles west of Boston. It is not extremely crowded here, but there are probably enough people and buildings to generate at least a small sense of claustrophobia in someone who is used to an open landscape. Wayland is a very intellectual community, and virtually all of the adults are well educated and many hold a professional degree. Most of the high school students are diligent about their studies, and just about everybody lives a comfortable, safe life here. Unfortunately, there isn’t much excitement in this town, and unless one stays busy with a hobby, job, or other activity, it can be downright boring.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My friend, Bob was much different than anyone I knew in Wayland. I’d have to say some of my friends from Wayland would probably think Bob is a hick because of his rural background, but he’s smarter than just about all of them. I met...

Censorship of Lord of the Flies Essay

Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, is a novel about a group of school boys, whose ages range from six to twelve years old. The boys’ plane crashes on a nameless, uninhabited island in the middle of the ocean. At first the boys struggle to get along, but after they choose a leader the boys begin get along. The leader, Ralph, is chosen because he found a conch shell which he blew into and all of the boys followed the sound of the conch and are reunited. Jack is another main character in the book. He is the antagonist to Ralph in the way that Jack disagrees with Ralph a lot. Jack and Ralph fight throughout much of the book, however they do agree on the need for food and a fire. The fire was Ralph’s idea and he wants someone to tend the fire all the times; Jack volunteers himself and the rest of his choir. But, Jack also volunteers to be the hunting group. Jack spends all of his time hunting and the fire goes out. Ralph is livid with Jack. Jack tells Ralph that he will catch a wild boar, and then he won’t be so mad. When Jack finally does catch the boar, everyone goes mad with excitement, for all of the boys are starving. The book describes the boys as becoming savages at the sight of the cooking pig. Also, Jack spears the boar’s head and puts it on a stake. This is what the lord of the flies is. This is a direct connection to the title by which is means that the â€Å"monster† that had been scaring them was really inside of them the whole time. Jack later mistakes Simon for the beast and he (Jack) and many of the other boys chase down Simon and kill him. Over, the next few days Ralph is opposed to Jack because Jack wants to be leader of the group. Jack orders hi ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬-s â€Å"men† to kill Ralph. Ralph flees through the woods and lands on the beach and looks up into the face of a coastguardsman. Ralph is the protagonist and a major character. However, Jack is a major character and the antagonist in the book. The theme in this book is civilization vs. savagery. There are two competing inclinations that humans are either naturally good or naturally bad. This bo ok suggests that man is naturally bad. Symbols in the book include the conch shell and how it shows power. Golding’s novel: Lord of the Flies has been challenged and banned in high schools because of derogatory language, profanity and the theme of the book. Although valid observations, these are not sufficient reasons to ban a book as good as this. To begin, Lord of the Flies has been banned in schools due to its poor  language. Lord of the Flies was challenged at the Olney, Texas Independent School District. (ALA) One of the passages that the school is referring to is, â€Å"Ralph waved the conch. ‘â€Å"Shut up! Wait! Listen!†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Golding 38). Piggy tried to talk over Ralph, but Ralph would have none of it. He waved the conch, which is a symbol of power throughout the book, in Piggy’s face. Shut up† is simply a forceful way to tell someone to be quiet. It is often used in under duress situations where there is lack of a better word. Ralph was sort of boasting about how he had all the power and Piggy didn’t have any. Another instance where bad language is present is when the boys kill the boar, Roger helps to attack Simon. The boys notice that Roger has speared the boar. The boys begin to chuckle as Roger takes his spear out of the boar’s rear. Roger pulls the spear out and says, â€Å"Right up her ass!† (135). This gave a great uproar from the sea of onlookers. Many children may have thought these phrases to be bad; however to high school students, these are not bad. â€Å"Shut up† is simply a forceful way to tell someone to be quiet. It is often used in under duress situations where there is lack of a better word. While this is not so bad, â€Å"right up her ass† is a little more vulgar. There is never a time that a high school student should use this phrase; however it must be understood that high school students can be very immature and they see things like this all the time. If a school wants to challenge a book, they should consult students and see what they think on the matter. Bad language isn’t the only reason this book has been challenged, the theme of this book is in question to some people. Another reason that the book is banned is because of the theme that it is defamatory towards human nature. Lord of the Flies was banned at Owen, North Carolina. High School in 1981becasue it is â€Å"demoralizing inasmuch as it implies that man is little more than an animal†(ALA). Many people in North Carolina and other places throughout the U.S. found this book very offensive in the fact that it exploited man’s natural way of thinking. Some people believe that evil is present in all humans, while others cannot begin to fathom the idea. A philosopher by the name of Thomas Hobbes was famous for this idea that man is truly evil at heart. As Hobbes said, â€Å"The life of man: solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short† (Lloyd). Hobbes’ philosophy on life and man, offends many people, especially those in North Carolina. Many people believe that man is good at heart. Lastly, profanity in Lord of the Flies is seen by many as a big deal. While people stretch it, there is a passage at the end of the book where it is seen as raping of a woman, when in reality, the boys are just killing a pig. People take it too far and possibly have tried to get this wonderful book banned simply due to the fact that they do not like it. They try and stretch the truth and get people to not like the book either. Lord of the Flies is banned in several places throughout America. The first amendment of the Constitution of the United States says: no to censorship. Censorship is the act of banning books or magazines based on their content. This is almost illegal. The lessons that this book teaches us are far more important than the few instances where bad language or profanity is used. Some high schools find the bad language, profanity and the theme of the book to be inappropriate for high school students to read while many others find the material inspiring and enlightening. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hobbes-moral/ http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics/reasonsbanned

Modus Operandi Essay

Modus Operandi is a term used in a criminal investigation to describe a way in which a defender goes about committing a crime. Usually it defines a pattern of activities driven by the offenders, thought and behavior processes, before, during, and after the crime. It is also used in criminal profiling, where it can assist with obtaining clues regarding an offender’s psychology. It consists of examining the actions used by the offender to execute the crime, prevent its detection and/or facilitate escape. (Vronsky, 2004)A criminal’s MO pertains to facts gathered from a crime scene, giving investigators insight into how, when and where the crime was committed. For example, a criminal may use a particular weapon or focus on certain type of people, time of day, or a particular neighborhood. All which support his modus operandi. The signature is the way in which a criminal leaves his mark on the crime scene. This can include, posing or branding his victim in a certain way or c arrying out his crime in a manic obsession such as torture of disfigurement, using props and/or securing souvenirs such as clothing, to relive the crime. An offender’s signature alerts profilers to the emotional and psychological aspects of the offender that are the driving forces of an offender’s crime.(Keppel,1997) Signature behaviors suggest clues regarding a criminal’s past, personality, emotions, mental state and intelligence. Criminal psychological profiling is an investigative tool utilized by experts to examine details of a crime, in the attempt to categorize, understand and predict the behavior of certain type of offenders based on behavioral clues they provide. Criminal psychological profiling is also referred to as â€Å"criminal profiling†, â€Å"criminal profiling† and â€Å"behavioral profiling.†Criminal profiling is a behavioral composite of the unknown, put together after analyzing the crime scene and other important information pertaining to the crime. This can include the autopsy report, autopsy and crime scene photos, as well as initial police reports. Also included in crimi nal profiling, is a detailed analysis of the victim. (Douglas, et al, 1992) Additional data, such as geographical areas beyond the immediate crime scene, the method of which the offender traveled to and from the crime scene and the relevant aspects of the residential location of the victim are also examined. In addition, the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim is also analyzed. Criminal profiling is not necessarily useful in every case, yet in some cases, it can assist with narrowing down the search for an offender when used in repeated crimes committed by a specific offender, such as serial rape or murder. Knowledge gained from profiling, can aide in the interrogation process of an offender and can assist with identifying and protecting potential victims before the perpetrator gains the opportunity to offend again. Although there are many opponents against utilizing the criminal profiling techniques, the goal of criminal profiling is to deduce enough behavioral, personality and physical characteristics about an offender so that she or he may be apprehended. (Berg, 2008) Several FBI special agents have written books noting their positive experiences with utilizing their skills of a criminal profiler.FBI profiler, Robert Ressler, assisted with popularizing the field of profiling. His book, Whoever Fights Monsters, has often been credited with creating much of the public’s fascination with psychological profiling. Berg, B. L. (2008). Criminal Investigation. New York: Mc Graw – Hill. Douglas, J. E.., Burgess, A.W., Burgess A.G., & Ressler, R.K.(1992).Crime classification manual: A standard system for investigating and classifying violent crimes. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Keppel, R.D., & Birnes, W. J(1997). Signature killers: Interpreting the calling cards of the serial murderer. New York: Pocket Books. Vronsky, R. (2004). Serial Killer. New York: Berkley Publishing Group I felt that way.See when uve had a life filled with trauma,ur normal response is to â€Å"panic†,get excited,go into overdrive,defensive,loud talkn etc.Side note.I realize that alot our ppl in the hood,respond that way all the time.Not understanding their responses, are trauma responses.Normal responses based on what theyve been through.Of course they dont no that, bcuz they are always in survival,†Fight or flight† mode.Two traumatized ppl wont make it bcuz, they trigger each other.Unless, they r content with the â€Å"normalcy of it all.You no,ppl who claw@each other daily?Tear each other down,then make up as if nothin is wrong.That’s trauma to one’s spirit.Ater a while, some is gonna have to pay for that(she/he jst snapped one day).No, it was building.I need a cool calm and collected, who understands that its not personal.That my barr none attitude,is the outcome. Its the normal response baby,from being on my own at 16,DV for many yrs,dispised and unloved by my first teacher.Yea, it has to go somewhere.lol But,I work on me everyday. Truth b told, I wouldnt want to b anybody else.I felt that way.See when uve had a life filled with trauma,ur normal response is to â€Å"panic†,get excited,go into overdrive,defensive,loud talkn etc.Side note.I realize that alot our ppl in the hood,respond that way all the time.Not understanding their responses, are trauma responses.Normal responses based on what theyve been through.Of course they dont no that, bcuz they are always in survival,†Fight or flight† mode.Two traumatized ppl wont make it bcuz, they trigger each other.Unless, they r content with the â€Å"normalcy of it all. You no,ppl who claw@each other daily?Tear each other down,then make up as if nothin is wrong.That’s trauma to one’s spirit.Ater a while, some is gonna have to pay for that(she/he jst snapped one day).No, it was building.I need a cool calm and collected, who understands that its not personal.That my barr none attitude,is the outcome. Its the normal response baby,from being on my own at 16,DV for many yrs,dispised and unloved by my first teacher.Yea, it has to go somewhere.lol But,I work on me everyday.Truth b told, I wouldnt want to b anybody else.

Male and Female expectations in a Relationship

Relationships are an integral part of human beings especially given the fact that human beings are social beings who need love, care and recognition.   The quality of relationship couples as well as members of the opposite sex have, has been found to have an impact on one’s health (Jamieson, 1998).   Human beings show the need for affection and healthy relationships from an early age in life.   As early as childhood, toddlers get attracted to their mothers or caregivers.   This makes the toddler to feel threatened if separated from the parents. Surprisingly, this attraction to people and the need for ‘others’ never change and goes on in life throughout all the developmental stages.   As early as the adolescence developmental stage, boys and girls exhibit feelings of attraction to each other.   Although some go into denial and opt to suppress the feelings for the opposite sex, the attraction and the craving for the other sex is usually very high.   Eventually many realize that female-male relationships are inevitable. Questions as to what expectations both parties have for each other as well as from the relationship are to date a subject for debate. There are many expectations each party expects of the relationship and the expectations are largely shaped by environmental conditions although the role played by genetical factors cannot be underestimated.   Most of the expectations however arise out of social and cultural influence. As men and women grow up, they are taught by the society on how to carry themselves in relationships as well as what to expect from their partners.   While some societies expect relationships to remain autonomous, in the past society played a very crucial role.   In some societies, males expect women to bear them children for purposes of posterity.   In such relationships, a female is respected on the basis of her ability to sire children for the man. Any female who is not capable of siring children is discriminated against and treated with dishonor. As such, a barren woman risks being branded an outcast and a social misfit.   In some cultures, the man expects sexual satisfaction from the woman they are in a relationship with.   Women who cannot sexually satisfy their men are abused and in some cases divorced or neglected.   Modernity has changed the expectations men expect of women and vice versa, as the focus in relationship shifts from the need for procreation to the need for caring and loving partners. Fidelity ranks highly in relationships.   According to (Jamieson, 1998) 80% females in relationships consider fidelity as the most important factor in relationships with 40% of the females saying that they would quit a relationship if they found out a partner was cheating on them.   90% of men consider fidelity as the most important factor in relationships compared to 80% of women who consider fidelity as the most important factor. Asked on whether they would quit a relationship on basis of unfaithfulness of a partner, 85% of the men said that they would quit a relationship on the basis of fidelity.   The study concluded that, fidelity ranks highly amongst expectations in female and male relationships.   Other factors, which the study found to form basis of expectations in a relationship, include; care, love, financial support, sexual satisfaction as well as respect (Jamieson, 1998).   While the above expectations apply to both men and women, some expectations are cited more often by males than females and vice versa. For instance, females in relationships are more likely to expect financial support or help form their male partners.   This can be explained in a number of ways but most importantly, cultural and social factors are at play here.   In most societies, women were purposely seen as useful only for reproductive jobs (which are not salaried) (Jamieson, 1998).   By being subjected to heavy work loads such as cultivation in family gardens, most women especially housewives were left with no steady source of income and were therefore left with no choice but to depend on males with whom they had entered into relationships for financial help.   This puts females at a disadvantage in a relationship as they are wrongly viewed as dependent on their men. In some cases males end up dominating over the females on this basis as males take the role of ‘breadwinner’ and the females that of ‘caregivers’.   This labeling takes place regardless of the fact that, the woman is also a ‘breadwinner’ in the sense that the domestic chores the woman is allocated such as looking after children as well as taking the children to school are important but it is the society which has chosen to give them less prominence. Therefore, women’s reproductive work is not considered as work and is considered as less important by the society and the men in particular. Variations in male-female expectations in a relationship also result from cultural beliefs.   In some communities, women are labelled as the weaker sex.   Such categorization leads to variation in roles and expectations.   With exception of very few relationships, females and males are not equal in a relationship. In most cases, male dominance is manifested in relationships. Females are expected to be submissive and to give in or compromise their opinions or decisions in cases where important decisions are to be made affecting the relationship.   In other relationships, female dominance is experienced.   This is usually common in cases where women have financial independence and therefore have a fallback position. For such women, moving out of relationships for reasons such as abuse in the relationship by the partner or irreconcilable differences existing between partners in the relationship is the common response. In female dominated relationships, expectations for both parties are likely to be different from those of a male dominated relationship.   In such relationships, males expect financial support from the women.   Males also expect sex from the females but they are more likely to adhere to consensual terms or the decisions of the female.   In female dominated relationships, females expect obedience form the male especially in cases whereby the females are the providers (Jamieson, 1998). Females in such relationships also expect other needs of a relationship such as respect, love, and care.   For most relationships, expectations change from time to time an also on the prevailing conditions. Loss of a job for either the male or the female partner may influence the balance of power in the relationship.   For instance, if the male has been the decision maker in a relationship and ends up losing the status of a bread-winner, expectations for the females are affected especially due to the fact that most expectations are pegged on financial ability of either partner. Conclusion Female and male relationships are complex and understanding of expectations both male and females have of each other is a daunting task.   The fact that relationships are both dynamic and situational further complicates the nature of relationships.   However, as discussed in the main body of this paper, social, environmental and cultural factors influence greatly what females and males expect out of a relationship. Reference Jamieson, L. (1998) Intimacy. Personal Relationships in Modern Societies, Cambridge: Polity Press.