Elizabeth George Speare’s The Witch of Blackbird Pond :: Speare Witch Blackbird Pond Essays

Elizabeth George Speare’s The Witch of Blackbird Pond Elizabeth George Speare’s The Witch of Blackbird Pond shows the maturation process of a young girl from Barbados. Kit’s life in Barbados is shattered when her grandfather dies. As a result of his death, Kit is forced to leave the island and her carefree lifestyle. She travels to Connecticut to find her only living relatives. Once she reaches Connecticut her persona evolves from an island girl, to hard worker, and finally to wife. Kit is a young island girl who is running away from her problems. She is escaping from the only home she has ever known and leaving behind her soon to be lover, Nat in order to get away from a man she does not wish to marry. Kit tells Mercy that she does not want to marry him because he is much older then she is, â€Å"He was fifty years old, and he had pudgy red fingers with too many rings on them. You see Mercy why I couldn’t write† (pg 47). She makes up her mind and runs to a family whom she has never met, without even writing to them. Once she reaches Connecticut, Kit is disappointed at the first sight of land, â€Å"The bleak line of shore surrounding the gray harbor was a disheartening contrast to the shimmering green and white that fringed the turquoise bay of Barbados which was her home.† (Pg 7) Once she reaches her aunt and uncle’s house it is a huge culture shock for her. In Connecticut everyone does his or her part and helps with the housework, where as in Barbados, there are people who do that for you. Kit must learn how to be of some use to the family. â€Å"By the end of the day the word useful had taken an alarming meaning.† (Pg 42) She also has to attend Puritan meetings regularly, something that she never had to do before. â€Å"The puritan service seems to her as plain and unlovely as the bare board walls of the meeting house† (pg 52). While at meeting she is called upon by a wealthy young man, William Ashby; once again in an attempt to fit in, she agrees to have him visit her in her uncle’s house. Although she is not interested in him, she continues seeing him because she knows that if they are married she will not have to do any chores at all.

Everything for Sale

Everything for Sale by Robert Kuttner: A Summary [Insert full name here] [Insert institutional information here] Everything for Sale by Robert Kuttner: A Summary In his book, Robert Kuttner (1999) tries to shake the dominant orthodoxy of laissez-faire economics, which he sees as the â€Å"natural form of capitalism,† by attempting to â€Å"reclaim a defensible middle ground† between when the market is â€Å"best left alone† and when it â€Å"needs help† (p. 5). Kuttner’s chief premise is that a mixed economy is necessary for a society that is civil and decent, a society where the economy is in optimum health.For Kuttner, unfettered laissez-faire economy is in conflict with mixed economy, and that their opposition is essentially a struggle between the moderate but rational dissent — the call for a mixed economy — and the prevailing orthodoxy, or the desire to retain the economic status quo. He further maintains that a mixed economy is r ealistic precisely because there is virtually no escape from politics, especially in the economic landscape where the government can influence its course by adopting certain national economic policies.Kuttner readily accepts some notable contributions of the market system. For instance, he concedes that â€Å"[m]arkets accomplish much superbly,† and that â€Å"[t]hey offer consumers broad choices† (Kuttner, 1999, p. 11). Paraphrasing Adam Smith, Kuttner (1999) states that â€Å"the great paradox of the market is that the individual pursuit of self-interest aggregates to an efficient general good† (p. 11). He reaffirms the long-held belief that markets, when left alone, can lead to a vibrant economy.Yet, Kuttner eventually notes that the free market capitalist system is not entirely a rigid structure that has an aversion to changes. He believes that, â€Å"[f]or economies to operate efficiently, drastic change or abrupt disjuncture is the exception rather than t he rule† (Kuttner, 1999, p. 12). Thus, markets may accommodate new prices, whether higher or lower than the prevailing prices. Old businesses may go insolvent, and new businesses offering the same goods or services may take their stead.Through the introduction of changes, the market is able to correct itself. In his book, however, Kuttner proposes something else. Kuttner seeks to dispel the complement notions that government interventions in the market are never successful and that markets are self-correcting and can thus work on their own. To reclaim the so-called middle ground, Kuttner offers detailed examples of how previous government interventions in the market did in fact work. He also writes about the shortcomings of the market for healthcare, the labor market, and the financial markets.By providing those examples, he then reduces the theoretical clout of contemporary laissez-faire economics, which he then deploys to draw attention to his position in favor of mixed econ omy. Kuttner further combines these examples with the premise that there are many kinds of economic and social goods that the market simply cannot provide without failing in one significant way or another. For instance, transportation and communication infrastructures are often financed by the government in association with other private and political entities.Though the funds are not entirely from the government, it cannot be doubted that the government has its share and that it is through its political efforts that the infrastructure projects are realized. Thus, for Kuttner, without the participation of the government in the economy, no matter how limited, the country will hardly be having the social and economic goods it now enjoys today. Clearly, â€Å"markets are not perfectly self-correcting† for Kuttner (1999) and, as a necessary consequence, â€Å"the only check on their excesses must be extra-market institutions† (p. 62), which is short of saying that the chec k is the government itself. Kuttner lists several areas upon which excesses have been committed. For instance, he states that even the seemingly innocent frequent-flyer program is guilty of frustrating shopping around for travel services by other airline companies since this program is designed to entice people to â€Å"stick with a favored carrier in order to earn mileage credits† (p. 261). To curb this, Kuttner (1999) states that there must be a regulated airline competition where â€Å"[r]egulators could set a zone of tolerable prices, to reflect actual costs more nearly† (p. 68). Another example is the case of the electric power market where the subsequent technological innovations in the first three decades of the mass availability of electricity led to the situation where â€Å"real prices rose dramatically between 1930 and 1933,† except that the â€Å"introduction of public power and federal regulation in the mid-1930s† brought back the â€Å"virt uous pattern of declining prices, technical advances, and increasing usage† (Kuttner, 1999, p. 272).Even the environment is not spared from the failure of a free market. Kuttner observes that the laissez-faire system has encouraged more spewing of pollutants, the manufacture of dangerous products, and others. Through regulatory measures out of broad public-policy goals, Kuttner believes that markets will have no choice but to cut down their waste discharges. The discussion cites other examples in order to illustrate the fact that the free market oftentimes finds help from the federal government.Kuttner (1999) concludes his book with a restatement of how nations â€Å"have now experienced more than two decades of the celebration of markets and denigration of government† (p. 361). Instead of continuing such prevailing notion, he reasserts that â€Å"the case for the market is much more of a mixed case than its champions insist,† especially since markets have become increasingly impulsive in breaching what used to be the province of rights.For Kuttner, the more these markets try to penetrate the province of inalienable rights in their relentless pursuit of profit, the more constraints from the government are needed. Otherwise, the whole foundation upon which the free market capitalist system stands will likewise become endangered. Reference Kuttner, R. (1999). Everything for sale: The virtues and limits of markets. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

The Hot Hand Theory Of Basketball Is A Fallacy Essay

Evidence presented throughout the last forty years has suggested that the Hot Hand theory in basketball is a â€Å"fallacy.† Evidence suggested that there is no scientific reasoning for being able to improve one’s odds of making a jump shot, if the previous three shots were made. New evidence presented by, Andrew Bocskocsky, John Ezekowitz, and Carolyn Stein, suggested that there is a better chance of making a shot if the previous three shots have been made. The authors have used equations that take into account different aspects of the game, which could influence â€Å"hotness.† Previously, these variables have not been taken into account, which could have possibly skewed the data. The evidence in the peer-reviewed journal article, has taken into account all aspects of the game that could influence the probability that a shot will, or will not go in. In the article Bocskocsky, Ezekowitz, and Stein, used a data set from 83,000 shot attempts throughout the 201 2-2013 NBA season. From each shot taken, stats were recorded regarding the different aspects of the shot. First off, shot difficulty needs to be taken into account. Who is taking the shot will influence the probability of the shot going in, depending if it is a high percentage three-point shooter taking the shot, or a center taking the three point shot. Another factor that has been taken into account is the amount of time left, and score differential. These two factors will heavily influence the mindset of theShow MoreRelatedLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pages......... 244 CHAPTER 8 Detecting Fallacies ............................................................................................... 248 Ad Hominem Fallacy ........................................................................................................................ 248 Fallacy of Circular Reasoning........................................................................................................... 250 Straw Man Fallacy..........................................Read MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pages91 4 Emotions and Moods 97 What Are Emotions and Moods? 98 The Basic Emotions 100 †¢ The Basic Moods: Positive and Negative Affect 100 †¢ The Function of Emotions 102 †¢ Sources of Emotions and Moods 103 Emotional Labor 108 Affective Events Theory 110 Emotional Intelligence 112 The Case for EI 113 †¢ The Case Against EI 114 †¢ Emotion Regulation 115 OB Applications of Emotions and Moods 115 Selection 116 †¢ Decision Making 116 †¢ Creativity 116 †¢ Motivation 117 †¢ Leadership 117 †¢ Negotiation 117Read MoreLibrary Management204752 Words   |  820 Pages. . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Environmental Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Developing Standards and Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Forecasting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Theory Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Management by Objectives (MBO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Total Quality Manage ment (TQM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Policy Making . . . . . . . . . . . . Read MoreMarketing Mistakes and Successes175322 Words   |  702 Pagesinformation, and we are even testing Profile Boxes. Learning insights help students see how certain practices—both errors and successes—cross company lines and are prone to be either traps for the unwary or success modes. Discussion Questions and Hands-On Exercises encourage and stimulate student involvement. A recent pedagogical feature is the Team Debate Exercise, in which formal issues and options can be debated for each case. New in some cases are Devil’s Advocate exercises in which students Read MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesthat generated and were in turn fed by imperialist expansionism, one cannot begin to comprehend the causes and consequences of the Great War that began in 1914. That conflict determined the contours of the twentieth century in myriad ways. On the one hand, the war set in motion transformative processes that were clearly major departures from those that defined the nineteenth-century world order. On the other, it perversely unleashed forces that would undermine Western world dominance and greatly

Improving The Quality Of Life For Veterans Suffering From...

The purpose of this literature review is to determine the most effective revenue of providing services and improving the quality of life for Veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). To achieve this purpose, this literature review will determine what preventive measures are being utilized successfully. It will display screening tools and treatments that are being used effectively. This literature review will also mention the cost barriers that veterans face. The majority of returning veterans with PTSD are not receiving sufficient medical care (Tanielian,2008). There many reasons for this phenomenon, which are termed barriers to treatment. Sample/ Number of Subjects Per the research (Sharp Barber, 2011; Institute of Medicine, 2007), effective treatments are available. However, there are such a variety of approaches to treatment that is necessary to determine which ones are effective based upon empirical evidence. Garcia (2011) reported that there are now approxi mately 1.8 million veterans that have served for the United States over centuries. Frequent rates of veterans returning from the Iraq War with PTSD are high. One study found as many as 21.8% of veterans who have accessed Veterans Health Administration healthcare services between 2002 and 2008 were diagnosed with PTSD (Seal, 2009). Another study that as many as 68.2% of Iraq veterans who accessed one Department of Veterans Affairs(VA) Poly-trauma Network Site were given a PTSD diagnosisShow MoreRelatedPsychiatric Center : A Critical Mental Health929 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Different mental health institutes have various policies and procedures that ensure quality delivery of psychiatric care to all mental health patients. Dorothea Dix psychiatric center is among many mental health care providers in America that are striving to deliver quality mental health services to needy Americans. Dorothea Dix psychiatric center provides out- and in-patient care to Maine’s severest mental illness cases. In that case, for over a century, Dorothea Dix psychiatric centerRead MoreIs There An Increased Risk Of Violence During War Veterans With Traumatic Stress Disorder?906 Words   |  4 PagesIs there an increased risk of violence in war veterans suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder? Many researchers believe that individuals with PTSD are on a high risk of violence. Although, all research studies are not on the same page regarding this proclamation. The research findings published on the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs say that despite of PTSD being associated with increased risk of violence, most veterans and non-veterans have never engaged in violence. When factors likeRead MorePost Deployment For Military Veterans Essay1491 Words   |  6 PagesIn the United States, soldiers are currently returning home from war broken and scarred. While some physical wounds are clearly visible others are often hidden/invisible to the naked eye, but men and women proudly wear these wounds as a badge of courage and honor for protecting our nation. These men and women come home rightfully expecting help, assistance and care and get hit with the reality of poor care from the Veteran Health Administration and Department of Defense. T. Stecker, J. FortneyRead MoreAnimal Assisted Therapy Paper891 Words   |  4 PagesOne anxiety disorder that contains trauma related thoughts, negative moods, and alterations in arousal such as anger or hypervigilance is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This disorder has been classified to have high rates of depression and substances abuse. According to Glintborg and Hansen (2017), Adults experiencing PTSD are one of the most difficult populations to treat and have up to a 50 percent chance of dropping out of treatment. However, a new therapeutic approach researchers areRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder ( Ptsd )1674 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), is a silent assassin in which those around the victim have no idea what is taking place within their minds. Only those closest to the person recognize that there is something wrong. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnoses PTSD as persistent re-experiencing of the trauma, efforts to avoid triggers related to the trauma, and hyperarousal or increased reactivity (Reddy, 2014). PTSD is associated with exposure to a traumatic eventRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder ( Ptsd ) Essay1747 Words   |  7 PagesPosttraumatic stress disorder is no longer just associated with veterans of war, but it has seen an increase in cases where women have been raped or sexually abused, or in children who have witnessed or been the victims of violence. The mental health care provider may use animal therapy as a supplement to medications and therapy, or may use it on its own. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health cond ition that is triggered by a traumatic event. The person suffering from PTSD may have experiencedRead MoreThe Use Of Creative Art For A Social Work Setting With Clients With The Skills And Tools Necessary Properly4769 Words   |  20 Pagesskills and lack the ability to adequately express their emotions due to a disability or traumatic event will become necessary. A lack of effective communication is often observed in clients suffering from the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder also know as PTSD. The effects of this disorder can be seen in clients of all age categories and can be the result of long term abuse or exposure to traumatic events. These clients may find it difficult to verbally express their emotions. The useRead MorePaper1475 Words   |  6 Pagesinfluences PTSD symptoms, especially among soldiers. He stated possible treatments that should be investigated in relieving many of these symptoms. One specifically mentioned was a treatment that helps to â€Å"bol ster soldiers’ resilience to traumatic experiences during the treatment† (Fajarito, 2017). Positive attitude, active coping, healthy lifestyle, enhancing social support, spirituality, self-efficacy, and cognitive reappraisal all should be included in reinforcing resilience. For improving soldierRead MoreWhy Should Canine Assisted Therapy Improves Elementary Scores1124 Words   |  5 Pagesstability and goal-oriented support. The animals provide an environment that is judgement free, as well as, encouraging and supportive. Research has proven that animal assisted therapy, overall, reduces blood pressure, heart rate and reduction of stress-related hormones.2,4 The dogs used in Animal Assisted Therapy are certified through various National Organizations and have a predetermined number of location visits prior to receiving certification. The research that has been conducted shows a significantRead MoreCognitive Behavioural Therapy for Ptsd9239 Words   |  37 PagesCogn itive Behavioural and related Therapies for the Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Abstract In this paper the therapies related to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) will be studied in order to determine the applicability thereof for the treatment (and prevention) of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD will be summarised as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders edition 4 with revisions (DSM-IV-TR). The therapy models, their theory

Dr. Williams And Juan Case - 939 Words

In unit seven I was asked to review a case study video regarding Dr. Williams and his client, Juan. The Dr. Williams and Juan case is intriguing because Dr. Williams’s actions toward Juan and his family are lousy and cringe worthy. Quick synopsis, Dr. Williams defy principles E and B stated within the APA code of ethics. Principle E states that Psychologists must respect the dignity and worth of all people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination. Principle B states that Psychologists must establish relationships of trust with clients. The first mistake I recognized Dr. Williams making pertains to his nonexistent eye contact towards his client, Juan. The sense of human connection come from eye†¦show more content†¦If I was hired or was recommend to handle Juan’s case I would first begin by establishing trust between me and Juan. It is crucial for me to establish a healthy relationship with Juan’s parents two. By establishing a healthy relationship between me and Juan and his parents lays down the foundation I would need to successfully assign treatment. I can never underestimate a child’s ability to comprehend what I am saying. Children and kids are intelligent young beings especially due to how fast technology continues to grow. To restate myself, I would first make sure Juan and his parents were comfortable with my being. I believe by treating people like humans and not like representations of money helps create the sense of trust I am looking for. According to Marjorie Adams, â€Å"Organizations with great customer or client relationships are able to grow their businesses without gimmicks, fee cuts or special treatment. You have to be good at what you do, of course, but having a truly successful business is based on one simple concept: trust.† (Adams, 2014). Unlike Dr. Williams, I need to know some backstory on Juan’s health history. I would have no problem with Juan’s parents’ wanting me to contact Juan’s physicians. Consultations must be involve in my therapy. Communication is heavily underrated, and extremely important to a person understanding me and vice versa. I have a duty to whole heartily help Juan to the best of my abilities and resources. According to theShow MoreRelatedImmigration Helps America Essay1190 Words   |  5 Pagesrisen from thousands to a record high of one million immigrants by the year 2008. The table below can represent this information It has been observed that, from history American has served as a destination for most immigrants in the world the world (Williams 16). Immigration to a developed country has a lot of problem associated with it. In particular, United States has not been spared of these problems according to many experts (Massey et al. 53). 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“Gold Miss” Single successful women in work force in Korea Free Essays

string(100) " living alone because they earn enough to support themselves \(Gold Miss Among†¦ , 2007, para\." Two articles that were discussed in class touched on married women in the work force in Korea, Taiwan and Japan. All of these articles examine the changes in married women’s employment that industrialized society face. Higher participation of married women’s employment compared to the past can be explained by higher labor supply and demand caused by industrialization, social structures, changes in women’s role in family, and higher women’s education. We will write a custom essay sample on â€Å"Gold Miss†: Single successful women in work force in Korea or any similar topic only for you Order Now These changes not only affect married women but also single women in Asia. I would like to go delve more into and also go beyond the readings and look more into the single women in general, with specific focus on Korea. Particularly, events regarding women at work has led to the rise of the â€Å"gold miss† in Korean culture recently has created significant cultural shifts in the way the largely Confucian society views women and how these women do business. Korean Culture Korea is home to a deeply Confucian society. Under such a system, women are relegated to a lower position, wherein they have to follow the wishes and dictates of the head of the family: the father, then the husband and then the grown sons. There are strict dictates that has crossed over to national laws on succession. Korean norms have been blamed for the lack of opportunities for women (August and Tuten, 2003, p. 118). Women traditionally stay at home after marriage to take care of family. Children usually live with their parents until they are married and the eldest son is left to care of the aging parents. Women in the Workforce In their study, Rachel August and Tracy Tuten laments that only 48% of women participate in the Korean workforce. The country’s labor market is highly-segregated with jobs that are meant only for men exclusively. Korean men also have a virtual monopoly on managerial and executive level jobs, where only 7% are held by women (August and Tuten, 2003, p. 109). In contrast, women in the United Kingdom have a 66% participation in the labor force, while 33% of employed women hold managerial and executive level jobs (August and Tuten, 2003, p. 109). The pay between men and women is different too, with women getting only 60% of what their male counterparts get (Yoo, 2003, p. 367). Most Korean women had to fight a patriarchal society where in everyone — from employers policymakers, and even fellow employees — prefer males over females. As such, they get jobs that pay less (Brinton, et. al. , 1995, p. 1101) The dismal situation of women is due to the fact that workplaces in Korea lack protection like laws against gender discrimination, harassment and other similar laws. Korean women are also facing challenges in terms of getting their education that would have equipped them with the skills and knowledge needed for higher level positions (August and Tuten, 2003, p. 17). This has changed in recent years, however. With the advent of industrialization in Korea, more and more women had married later and the fertility rate fell. Korean women had more time to participate in the activities of the labor market. Korean women also gained more education, and consequently more work experience, which in turn makes them more attractive to employers (Brinton, et. al. , 1995, p. 1100) Married Korean women are less likely to be involved in formal employment, as many companies also encourage women employees to resign after marriage (Yoo, 2003, p. 384). Shift in Korean Culture The increases in the number of working married women and single woman households both represent a significant departure from the traditional Korean family structure. Women are now choosing to keep their jobs even after marriage and many grown-up children are moving out of the family home to live alone and choosing to postpone marriage. More and more women are also getting higher education compared to women in the 70s and 80s. These grown-up daughters that have successful careers postpone marriage and enjoy their single-blessedness and economic independence. In the past in Korea, marriage used to be only institution frame work for women to secure stability in their lives. But now that social conditions have changed greatly and women exert more power in economic activities women are increasingly taking charge of their lives. Thus, in recent years, more and more women are staying single, earning more, and fighting societal pressures that dictate when they should settle down. They have been termed gold misses, a play of words and a corruption of â€Å"Old Miss†. Gold misses are highly successful single women who are way above the traditional marrying age of the late twenties and early thirties. According to the Chosun Ilbo, an English language Korean newspaper, the typical gold miss has a college degree, a professional job that pays at least KRW40 million (around US$43,000) annually. A gold miss go for sophistication both in looks and image (Gold Miss Among†¦ , 2007, para. 2). More than changing their looks and living upwardly in society, gold misses are changing Korean society. Whereas before, women above thirty are frowned upon as spinsters who failed to catch a husband, with all the attendant stereotypes against it. Now gold misses are seen to enjoy their independence — both personal and economic (Gold Miss Among†¦ , 2007, para. 1). They are also breaking through stereotypes that unmarried women in their mid-thirties have something wrong with them, or have been through a difficult experience, or just plain stubborn. These are women who do not rely on a husband to keep them alive, and they are enjoying it. For Ham In-hee, a sociologist at Ewha Women’s University marriage for a gold miss is a choice, instead of a desperate and only means to be stable. Ham relates that women â€Å"who are financially capable,† have a tendency to marry late (Chosun Ilbo, 2007, para. 3). The view is shared by Lee Woong-jin, chief executive officer of a dating company. Ms. Lee says that gold misses think they can continue living alone because they earn enough to support themselves (Gold Miss Among†¦ , 2007, para. You read "â€Å"Gold Miss†: Single successful women in work force in Korea" in category "Papers" 2). Other changes are evident. Gold misses are known to be ‘fashionistas’, and have influenced trends in Korean fashion and food (Kang, 2008, para. ). Gold misses, though a relatively new development in the conservative Korean culture, are increasing. Kang In-sun, writing for the Chosun Ilbo, reports on data released by the Korea Employment Information Service that says that there were 27,233 gold misses in 2006, an increase of almost twelve-fold from around 2,000 just five years before. The report also says that gold misses are now found in a growing range of industries and profession, securing top jobs in private institutions, filmmaking, theater, writing, broadcasting, medicine, design and management, among others (Kang, 2008, para. ). The number will rise, as 68% of women in their twenties and thirties surveyed indicated that they would like to remain single (Kang, 2008, para. 5). Meanwhile, an overwhelming 90% of girls aged 10 think that marriage is a choice, instead of a must (Kang, 2007, para. 7). The prevalence and impact of gold misses is so widespread that Korean marketers have taken note of them, and have even come up with spin-off labels like â€Å"silver miss† or single women in their 30s who are earning less than KRW30 million, and â€Å"platinum miss† or women who earn more than KRW100 million annually (Kim, 2008, para. ). As more women become more economically active and more financially-independent these days and as views on marriage have changed dramatically, these single professional women, in their thirties and forties without pressure to get married, enjoy the feeling of accomplishment at work and gain more free time for themselves, rather than doing housework and caring for children as housewives do. Having no husbands and children also increases their autonomy on spending. Gold misses are willing to and can spend on anything they want, especially on their self-development, looks, health, skills and on leisure, their changes in lifestyle and spending start to have impact on various industries such as tourism, fashion, art and music business, interior design such as kitchen appliances, and matchmaking business. As a result, the purchasing power of singles makes them an important consumer group. Kim Ji-soo, a culture editor at the Korea Times, writes that while Korean women had been slow to change in a â€Å"strongly Confucian† society, they are now taking on more and new challenges and working in professions that used to be male domain. The causes for the rise of the gold miss are varied, and touches a spectrum of economic and social factors including (but not limited to) higher labor supply and demand caused by industrialization, changes in women’s role in family, higher women’s education, and increase in voices advocating gender equality and equal opportunities at work, among other things. The Korea Times, however, proposes another cause. Bae Ji-sook relates that the cost of marriage, including childrearing, housing and education, could be the main reason why a progressively increasing number of women are opting to stay single. With the shift in Korean thinking with regards to the convention of women getting married in their late twenties or early thirties, there is less pressure to get married and risk acquiring these costs (Bae, 2008, para. 6-8). In fact, a recent survey found that 22% of Korean singles found marriage costs too prohibitive and cited that as one of the reasons not to get married. Other reasons were the prevalence of divorce, and the idea of enjoying the single life. Almost a quarter said that they haven’t found the right one yet. The survey had 1,826 respondents, 70% of them were women (Kang, 2007, paras. 1-4). Traditional values of family and harmony influenced by Confucian philosophy are disappearing, new values of individualism and independence are new inflow, and women are reacting to this change by choosing to work and marry late. On to of these changes in social values, higher cost of marriage and raising children causes further departure from traditional roles for single women. Additionally, women’s success in their career will continue to emerge as a valuable consumer group in the future. With such changes in conventional idea, their economic and social power, and consumer market towards them, they seem to have less reason to get married and the increase the number of unmarried women in their thirties and forties is likely to continue. * * * The rise of the gold misses can thus be seen as a natural consequence of the Korean woman’s progress in the country’s labor market. It is an evolution that took years to unravel. With the change in Korea’s business climate and labor environment, women became introduced into its labor force, an event which led to further changes down the road and created a cyclical cause and effect. As women became more active in their participation in the country’s labor force, the more opportunities opened for them to further their education and chalk up their work experience, which in turn made them more attractive to employers and opened the doors to more jobs. The pressures of society and culture, however, remained. In time, Korean women learned that having their best interests in mind and following the norms do not necessarily go together, and thus the evolution comes to its current form: the gold misses. Combined with this realization are the changes in the country’s norms and governance that allowed for more gender equality. It can be argued then that gold misses are the daughters who are reaping the benefits that have been set up for them by women of the past. They are also blessed to be working at a time when Korean society and culture had eased and changed. But as mothers can differ from their daughters in a lot of ways, so does today’s gold misses and the traditional married working women. Married working women of the past were at most followers of society’s dictated norms of how they should act and when they should act, and at the very least, they were constrained by their culture. Career women felt the urge to get married at an age that is largely dictated by society, at a time when they should have been at their peak, professionally speaking. These women may be doing the deals in the corporate boardroom, but they come home to cook for their husbands and care for their children. Gold misses eschewed that role, and by ignoring societal dictates, they have become progenitors of a new culture. By refusing to be tied down, they have gathered enough power to create a unique culture that soon became more and more mainstream. They became a force to be considered, if only for their collective purchasing power. Without responsibilities to take care of a family, they have the luxury of thinking only for themselves. Instead of being dictated by culture, gold misses have turned the tables and are now dictating what the culture should be. More and more gold misses are stepping into roles that women of the past have not even dreamed of. The arena for male-dominated fields is shrinking as more women are invading the work force. Whereas traditional married working women were contented in defining their value by the men in the lives, and anchoring their stability on their marriage, gold misses are challenging the patriarchal traditions and Confucian hierarchies. Women in the workplace are also changing the business culture away from â€Å"alcohol-inspired karaoke fests† into something more transparent and above-board. These women are also discouraging blind loyalty towards superiors (Asiaweek, 2001, paras. 3-4). Stability is no longer anchored to the thickness of their husbands’ wallets, but their own. Culture and society are two very dynamic forces, and they affect one another. While it is evidently a much better time to be a single work woman in Korea nowadays more than ever, there is still a long way to go to achieve more independence from and equality with men. The gold miss phenomenon is a clear indicator, though, that women in Korea are on the right track. How to cite â€Å"Gold Miss†: Single successful women in work force in Korea, Papers

M Ms Miners and Mercury Essay Example For Students

M Ms Miners and Mercury Essay Word Count: 442 Most miners of the Amazon lead a very pollutedway of life. They pollute the environment they live inand they pollute themselves. The, garimpeiros asthe miners are called in Brazil are independentfarmers of the gold that flows beneath the rivers ofthe Amazon rain-forest. Their daily routine of earlymornings, long hard days, and late nights drinkingand taking cocaine contribute to their way of life. Their only goal in life is to drill for the gold dustwhich seems to collect at the bottoms of waterfallsthen use the profits for illegal self indulgences likecocaine. To extract this gold dust they mustcombine mercury with the dust, and because of themercurys chemical make-up it is able to extract thegold from the useless rock and debris. The mercury,however, isnt the cleanest element for theenvironment. Many garimpeiros carelessly use themercury then dump it into the rivers polluting thewater and the food. Also, the dust from the mercurygets inhaled and eating by the miners, contributingto their polluted way of life. All day dragas, whichare boats used for mining the bottom of rivers, arepulled to locations where gold is thought to befound, moving and polluting. Then there is thecommon drug use among these farmers. The authoreven quotes a man named Lincoln, an owner of adraga, saying, not that I object to cocaine. Its noworse than anything else, as far as I know, andaddicts make goo d workers. To sum thegarimpeiros way of life, they live a life of drinkingand drugs, women and murder. So the polluted wayof life is obvious, men poison the waters and thefood and then ultimately themselves, with the illegalactivities of the mining trade in Brazil. Although most do not realize their way of life andits defects, the struggling people of the Brazillianmining trade have special situations and greataspirations. Most men are poor and the temptationto work as a garimpeiros is great. Their isnt muchwork other then that of an independent miner. Theirline of work has what the author describes as a,free-spirited, picaresque hero. Most men aspireto inevitably find that big strike thats just around thecorner, then get out and raise a decent life,however, this isnt the typical case, most do not,get-out. Now, although this seems really negative,the positive aspect of the garimpo way of life keepsyoung men out of social trouble and keeps thedragas moving and operating. The garimpeiros wayof life should not be subject to the Americanstandard way of living, these people do what theyare brought up to do and act like the culture acts. Tosimplify the miners way of life is to quote a mannamed Ludwig that the author interviewed, Its aCatch 22 situat ion, Damned if you do, Damned ifyou dont.