Us Drug Policy Essays - Drug Control Law, Drug Policy,

Us Drug Policy Q. Would the Amsterdam model be a useful government response to hallucinogen and marijuana use in this country? Why or why not? Amsterdam's coffee shops and cafes are notorious for the tolerated exchange of hashish and marijuana. This example goes completely against the moral principles underlying the United States drug policy. The United States drug policy stands by the zero tolerance rules. Our drug culture does not believe in any such thing as a use of an illegal drug, only abuse. So, why aren't the Dutch facing as many drug related problems as we are? Is a more laissez-faire approach to drugs the answer? We aren't winning the war on drugs. It is clear that the illegal drug use and drug related problems have increased in the United States. I think that the Amsterdam model may act a useful government response to hallucinogen and marijuana use in the United States. We have tried everything from stricter punishments to spending more dollars on drug prevention programs. The anti-drug law has led to the criminalization of more drugs and the imprisonment of more drug users. The cost of prohibition of drugs is getting pricier every year. Lester Grinspoon and James Bakalar stated, ?The arrest of more than 300,000 people a year on marijuana charges contributes the clogging of courts and the overcrowding of prisons. Federal, state, and local governments now spend nearly ten billion dollars a year on drug enforcement and hundreds of millions more to house and feed drug dealers and users in local, state and federal prisons?(80). The drug related problems are increasing rather than decreasing. Isn 't it time that we searched for a better alternative to fighting the war on drugs. I am not saying that legalizing all drugs is the solution. I definitely don't believe that legalizing all drugs would work in our society. I don't think that our society is mature enough to handle the responsibilities that go along with some of the hard drugs. The Dutch policy has come to accept that people are going to use soft drugs. Why not regulate the exchange of these drugs? The Dutch policy refers to this regulation as a ?house dealer? with a more controllable business instead of the dangerous ?black market?. The Public Prosecutions Office has drawn up a guideline for the operation of coffee shops: no sales of cannabis over 5 grammes; no sales of hard drugs or alcohol; no sales to minors; no advertising of the use of soft drugs and no nuisance. The Dutch drug policy bases their tolerance of certain drugs by the risks associated with them. Instead we group all of the illegal drugs together, suggesting that they are all dangerous and addictive. When in fact that is not the case. Some drugs aren't even dangerous and can be helpful with responsible use. Our culture is so uptight about the use of all drugs. We aren't even willing to see the positive effects that they may bring. One plausible explanation that the United States has for not following the Dutch policy is that using these softer drugs will lead to the use and addiction of harder drugs. When in fact studies have shown that despite the tolererant policies in Amsterdam, most Dutch don't try cannabis and even those who do try it usually don't continue using it often, much less harder drugs. Amsterdam serves as a good role model for the United States. Amsterdam proved that a self-governing society is able to handle a drug problem in an inexpensive more practical way. Prohibition isn't the solution to our on going battle with drugs. When are we going to search for a more practical and efficient way to handle our long overdue drug problem? Sociology Essays

The Challenger essays

The Challenger essays As the 1980's approached, the launch of a space shuttle was almost as routine as a trip on an airliner. Space travel had been successful on 24 missions. Most people thought the danger of space travel was nearly eliminated. On January 28, 1986, they were proven wrong. The orbital Challenger was preparing to make it's tenth flight. Everyone in America watched as the seven crew members prepared for Mission 51-L. One of the seven crew members was Sharon Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher and civilian, to fly in space. This fact made this particular launch very famous. The commander of the Challenger was Francis (Dick) Scobee. Scobee was married with two children. He obtained his B.S. Degree in Aerospace from the University of Arizona in 1965. Soon after graduation he entered the Air Force pilot training program. After obtaining his pilot's wings he began his assignments, including a tour in Vietnam. Scobee gained more then 6500 hours of flight time as an Air Force test pilot. He entered NASA's astronaut corps in 1978. Scobee was the pilot of mission STS-41-C, the fifth orbital flight of the Challenger. This mission proved that shuttles could repair satellites in orbit. Michael Smith was the shuttle pilot on board the Challenger and the father of three children. He earned a M.S. Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. He also worked as a test pilot for the US Navy, receiving more than 4300 hours of flying time. In May 1980, Smith was selected to become a NASA astronaut and a year later he received his first assignment as a space shuttle pilot. He was to be pilot of the Challenger. This was Smith's first space flight. There were three mission specialists on the Challenger. Judith Resnik was one of them. Resnik earned a B.S. Degree in electrical engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University, and later received a Ph.D. in the same field. She was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1...

The Business Environment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Business Environment - Assignment Example The company’s mission statement is to bring the best computing knowledge and experience to students, professionals, and consumers around the world, through being innovative in the way it builds its hardware, software, and internet ads. Apple Inc. is subjected to corporate taxes. Apple Inc. shareholders and officers are not liable for any corporate debts. Therefore, in case the business is facing economic times and want to dissolve and leave a specific market due to debts, the shareholders personal assets or finances cannot be used to pay the debts of the company (Lancaster & Reynolds 2002). Virgin Atlantic was formed in 1984 by Richard Branson. The airline is based at London’s Gatwick and Heathrow airports. Furthermore, it is also based in Manchester Airport. It is a limited business which has developed over the years to become the second largest carrier serving major cities across the world. Unlike in Apple Inc., the salaries of the employees are only subjected to self-employment taxes (Balmforth 2009). Employees of Apple Inc. have a major role in decision making of the company. In this company, employees have a major stake because they are liable for the success of the business. In addition, they are expected to ensure that all operations of the business are running smoothly. Due to the fact that they interact with the customers daily, employees are used by the business as an important source of information (Lüsted 2012). They are also expected to be innovative in order to maintain the competitiveness of the business in the market. The community has a major effect on the operations of the business. Unlike Virgin Atlantic which is only focused on the profits, Apple Inc. has a mandate of ensuring that it incorporates the interests of the communities associated with the business in its crucial decisions. In addition, such a company has an obligation to participate

Business marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 9250 words

Business marketing - Essay Example Research is an activity that is intended to arrive at a solution for a question or set of questions. (Ghauri & Gronhaug, 2005). Therefore, research needs to be executed in a systematic way with proper planning. Saunders et al. (2007) perceive research as an onion with different layers (figure 3.1). Figure 3.1: The Research ‘Onion’ Source: Saunders et al., (2007) As per the research onion, the five layers of research are Research philosophy, research approach, research strategy, time horizon and data collection (Saunders et al., 2007). 3.2 RESEARCH PHILOSOPHY Research philosophy refers to the methodology and strategies used by the researcher based on the researcher’s individual assumptions. Saunders et al. (2007) states that a research philosophy is related to the nature and development of the knowledge. Thus, a research philosophy is mostly based on the researcher’s perception about knowledge and its development. A research process is influenced by three ma jor thinking’s of research philosophy which are axiology, ontology and epistemology. Axiology is the frame reference for scientific ethics (Edwards, 1995). As mentioned, axiology forms the study of the ethical part, that is, value and principles by using mathematical proof. Ontology is about the behaviour of social entities. Ontology is regarded with the nature of social entities, where it possesses the question whether social entities can and should be considered as objective entities that have a reality external to the social actors, or whether they can and should be considered social constructions build up from the perceptions and actions of social actors (Bryman & Bell, 2007). The two main theories of ontology are objectivism and contructionism. The third thinking Epistemology explains about knowledge. It raises the question as to what should be considered as the perfect knowledge in a discipline. (Bryman & Bell, 2007). Epistemology ensures whether an area of study is wor th the research. (Gill & Johnson, 2010). The three research divisions of Epistemology are positivism, realism and interpretivism. 3.2.1 Positivism Positivism could be considered as an epistemological position that supports the application of the methods to learning of a social reality and beyond (Bryman & Bell, 2007). Checkland (1999) explains that positivism is a method for procuring knowledge which can be tested publicly with a rational thinking supported by observation and experimentation tools. In a research with positivism, the researcher will adopt a philosophical approach for arriving at a solution. Saunders et al. (2007) Therefore, a rational and thoughtful experimentation is the primary focus of positivism. As per Kolb (1984), a researcher is an accommodator. This is based on the concept of ‘Learning Style Assessment.’ Such researcher falls under the category of positivists. (Figure 3.2). This shows the attitude and interests of the researchers in trying solvin g problems. Positivism stresses on data and observations that are quantifiable and that can be statistically analysed. (Remenyi et al., 1998). Through tools such as questionnaires, data will be collected and statistical tools will be used to analyse the same. Analysis will also be based on the situations. The researcher will prefer working with an evident social certainty and that the end

English-Rule Only Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

English-Rule Only - Research Paper Example Advantages of the Rule The subject that only English should be used at work places creates very strong feelings. Some individuals may believe that it is wrong to speak in a language that others do not understand. In the same way, speakers of languages other than English may believe that complaints against the usage of another language stem from racism or unnecessary suspicion of what is being spoken. But the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regulations state that a restriction to speaking English at all times is disadvantageous to an individual’s employment opportunity on the basis of national origin. The commission believes that English-only rules create an atmosphere of inferiority, isolation and intimidation which is based on national origin that could result in discriminatory working environment (Bothwell-Marketing-Inc, 2011). EEOC regulation clearly states that the rule English-only rule is permissible only where the employer can show that the rule is justified by the necessity of the business. Spun Steak offered a justification that the non-Spanish speaking employees felt bad because they were being insulted in Spanish. The company also noted there were some safety benefits to using a language common to most employees. Employers in areas where the rule applied pointed to safety issues, customer service, and business related justifications which are related to their businesses. But opponents say that the U.S has been a country of immigrants coming from various cultures speaking different languages. In the past the new migrants wanted to quickly assimilate into the local culture and adopt the local language. This helped them in their integration with the local society. However currently, many new migrants foster separate almost ghetto-like communities which interact on a limited basis with the outside. As many of them fail to learn English they do not gain the ability to interact outside their own community and thus cannot easily integrate in the society. This inability to communicate is the basis of mistrust, fear and war among the different cultures (ask-Vile, 2006). Statistics show that about 215 million Americans speak English while only 2 million people speak Spanish (Juggle, 2011). There are already 26 states where English is the only official language Most of the migrants also state that they think everyone should learn English if they are to live in the United States. English is spoken in Congress, courthouses, national parks, and Presidential speeches. It is also spoken in almost every business corner. Every where the English language is spoken (Juggle, 2011). But accounting office report that was released shows that 99.94 percent of all federal government documents are produced in English. The English proponents argue that more than 300 languages are

The Dalit Womens Movement In India

The Dalit Womens Movement In India This paper proposes to look at dalit womens movement (DWM) in India. The dalit womens movement should be analyzed in a relational framework for which we will have to look at the specific history and nature of the Indian nation-state. The other two major movements which have a bearing on DWM are the dalit movement and the womens movement in India. This paper focuses on the DWM particularly the National Federation of dalit women (NFDW). There are a host of regional, state level and national level movements led and participated by dalit women, it is beyond the scope of this paper to discuss all these, so I undertake a study of the NFDW, its politics, strategy, ideology, scope and the theoretical perspectives through which it has been analysed. The NFDW is chronologically a post 1980s phenomena and has been active in a transnational arena with its particular presence in Durban 2001, it has been analysed by social scientists in a transnational framework. I have not overlooked the transnational significance of the movement, but, looked at it in a historical context of Indias history and modernity, the place of dalit women and men within this history and how has the history been challenged by dalit women. The main argument put forward by dalit feminists is that dalit women are a different category in their own right and they should not be subsumed within the category of dalits or women as a whole. Dalit feminists have asked both the dalit movements and womens movements in India for an internal critique because both these movements have neither been able to represent dalit women nor paid attention to their specific structural, social and cultural location within Indian society. Indian society is ridden with multiple and overlapping inequalities which affect women in general and dalit women in particular, in different ways. Dalit feminists have also argued for an analysis of patriarchy within dalit communities because of external and internal factors. Dalit women justify the case for talking differently on the basis of external factors (non-dalit forces homogenizing the issue of dalit women) and internal factors (the patriarchal domination within the dalits). (Guru: 1995:2548) The dalit womens movement has a crucial role to play in the analysis of dalit feminist approach because as Chaudhuri points out it is almost impossible to separate the history of action from the history of ideas. In other words the conceptual debates themselves embodied the history of doing, and vice versa. (Chaudhuri: 2004: xi-xii) therefore what constitutes conceptual history, arises in the context of history of doing (Chaudhuri: 2004: xii) The first part explores the historicity of womans question in India, dalit womens participation in early anti-caste movements is established now but they do not figure in the womens movement led by the AIWC as the womens movement started with a group of bourgeois women who believed in homogeneous womanhood. The second part looks at the question of difference and the articulation of this difference by dalit women through what Rege has called the dalit feminist standpoint (DFS), and the further debate around the DFS. The third part looks at the NFDW in particular. The fourth part tries to locate the DWM in different theoretical frameworks which have been put forward to explain the movement locating it in the present national and international scenario. The questions this paper will explore are: Why is it important to see the dalit womens movement as separate from the Indian womens movement and dalit movement in general? What are the main features of dalit womens movement, particularly the NFDW? How the revolving and overlapping axis of caste, class and gender have affected dalit women in particular? The related concepts are: Patriarchy Patriarchy is defined as Literally, rule of the father the term was originally used to describe social systems based on authority of male heads of household. (A dictionary of sociology 2009/1994:551) The nature of control and subjugation of women varies from one society to the other as it differs due to the differences in class, caste, religion, region, ethnicity and the socio-cultural practices. Thus in the context of India, brahmanical patriarchy, tribal patriarchy and dalit patriarchy are different from each other. Patriarchy within a particular caste or class also differs in terms of their religious and regional variations. (Ray: 2006) Mary E. John argues that there are not separate, multiple patriarchies but multiple patriarchies, the products of social discrimination along class, caste and communal lines, are much more shared and overlapping than diverseà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the growing disparitiesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦would tell a different story, one of unequal patriarchies and disparate genders.(John:2004: 66). Gender According to Ann Oakley sex is a biological term: gender a psychological and cultural one further she says if the proper terms for sex are male and female, the corresponding terms for gender are masculine and feminine; these latter may be quite independent of (biological) sex. (Oakley: 1972:159) Dalit Romila Thapar traces the roots of Dalit in Pali literature in which Dalit means the oppressed. (Quoted in Guru and Geetha: 2000) Dalit is not a caste; it is a constructed identityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Dalit (oppressed or broken) is not a new word. Apparently, it was used in the 1930s as a Hindi and Marathi translation of depressed classes, a term the British used for what are now called the scheduled castesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦The word was also used by B R Ambedkar in his Marathi speeches. The Dalit Panthers revived the term in their 1973 manifestoà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Bharati: 2002) However there is a huge and raging debate over the word Dalit among intellectuals. The issues of terminology are complex and cannot be handled in this space, the study proposes to use dalits for the communities also at times called ex-untouchables, ati-shudras, untouchables, scheduled castes, low castes, harijans etc. Dalit women It has been pointed by dalit activists and intellectuals that dalit women suffer the triple burden of caste, class, and gender (Rao:2006), (Rege:1998), (Dietrich:2006), (Omvedt: 2004),(Malik:1999) they have been called the dalits of the dalits , the downtrodden amongst the downtrodden and the the slaves of the slaves.( Manorama quoted in Hardtmann: 2009:217) However such a construction has been challenged by Shirman as fetishising of dalit womens suffering which tend to reify the living social relationships that constitute dalit womens lives, and to locate dalit women as objects of pity. (Shirman: 2004) Social movement A social movement can be thought of as an informal set of individuals and/ or groups that are involved in confliction relations with clearly identified opponents; are linked by dense informal networks; [and] share a distinct collective identity (della Porta Diani, 2006, p. 20). (Christiansen:2011:4) Feminism Kumari Jayawardena defines feminism as embracing movements for equality within the current system and significant struggles that have attempted to change the system. She asserts that these movements arose in the context of i) the formulation and consolidation of national identities which modernized anti-imperialist movements during the independence struggle and ii) the remaking of pre-capitalist religion and feudal structures in attempt to modernize third world societies (Jayawardena, 1986: 2) ( Quoted in Chaudhuri, 2004: xvi). Nation-State Nation, it is clear, is not the same as state. The latter refers to an independent and autonomous political structure over a specific territory, with a comprehensive legal system and a sufficient concentration of power to maintain law and order. State, in other words, is primarily a political-legal concept, whereas nation is primarily psycho-cultural. Nation and state may exist independently of one another: a nation may exist without a state; a state may exist without a nation. When the two coincide, when the boundaries of the state are approximately coterminous with those of the nation, the result is a nation-state. A nation-state, in other words, is a nation that possesses political sovereignty. It is socially cohesive as well as politically organized and independent. (Enloe and Rejai: 1969:143) The space of dalit women in the womens movement and the dalit movement in India. Chaudhuri has observed that the early womens movement comprised of the women from upper caste and class strata who distanced themselves from party politics and confrontational mode of assertion. The theme of woman as an individual in her own right did not crop up till very late. The theme that emerges is the naturally non-antagonistic relationship of the sexes in India as compared to the westà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Chaudhuri: 2004:119) Chaudhuri discusses that the All India Womens Congress (AIWC) were in favour of joint electorates and rejected the communal award, women the leading members continued to argue, were all sisters under the sari and the institutions and ideals that governed their lives were similar. (Chaudhuri: 2004:130) Chaudhuri also observes the propensity of gender issues to be dispensable while larger political battles are being fought has been a constant of sorts in the history of modern India. (Chaudhuri: 2011: xv) Throughout the nineteenth century different versions of female emancipation came to be tied to the idea of national liberation and regeneration. The early colonial constellation of the arya woman is a sternly elitist concept in class and caste terms, and finds its nationalist shape in social and political thought, literature and a dominant historiographic model of Indiaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the recovery of tradition throughout the proto-nationalist and nationalist period was the recovery of the traditional womanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the vedic woman, both in her own time, and after her appropriation by upper castes and classes in the nineteenth century, is built upon the labour of lower social groups and is also a mark of distinction from them.(Sangari and Vaid: 1989:10) Following these historical developments there has been an ambivalence in india towards feminism, Chaudhuri argues that we cannot exclude women who were pushing feminist agendas without calling them feminists because we cannot impose current notions of feminism on the past thereby assuming an ideal notion of the correct kind of feminism. (Chaudhuri: 2004: xvi-xvii) Another question that Chaudhuri points out is the westernnes of feminism and its subsequent perception by feminists in India. She claims that there is no turning away from the westà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦questions regarding the westerness of feminism has been a constant theme. In a hierarchical society often gender oppression is linked with oppressions based on caste, class, community, tribe and religion, and in such multiple patriarchies men as the principal oppressors is not easily accepted (Chaudhuri, 2004: xxii-xxiii). Manuela Ciotti in a field study done with BSP and Hindu right women activists in UP has drawn attention to the role played by womens husbands or other male family members, who are often not only responsible for womens release into public life, but also act as a source of advice, experience, encouragement and financial support for their political activities. (Ciotti: 2007) The history to which the dalit womens movement traces itself is of Ambedkar and Phule (both men) whose approach however was (unlike that of the early Indian womens movement) confrontationalist as well as pronouncedly antagonist to brahmanic patriarchy. To Phule and Ambedkar, gender issues were not dispensable. This history also brings to light the fact that dalit women were not historically absent from movements but their history has been neglected until recently. They worked side by side dalit men but they have started to organize separately from dalit men with different movements only post the 1970s. Ambedkar not only spoke for and agitated for the rights of Dalits but also Dalit women. He argued that practices of sati, enforced widowhood and child marriage come to be prescribed by Brahmanism in order to regulate and control any transgression of boundaries, i.e., to say he underlines the fact that the caste system can be maintained only through the controls on womens sexuality and in this sense women are the gateways to the caste system [Ambedkar 1992:90] (Rege: 1998) Meenakshi Moon and Urmila Pawar have recorded the participation of dalit women in the early 20th century movements against caste exclusion and oppression, in the following decades womens activities developed from mere participation as beneficiaries or as an audience, to the shouldering of significant responsibility in various fields of activity in the Ambedkar movement. (Moon and Pawar: 2003:49) Moon and Pawars research has thrown light on the unknown facts of the dalit womens participation in the early anti-caste movements, Dr. Ambedkar saw to it that womens conferences were held simultaneously with those of men. By 1930 women had become so conscious that they started conducting their own meetings and conferences independently. (Moon and Pawar: 2003:50) In the Mahad satyagraha of 1927 women not only participated in the procession with Dr. Ambedkar but also participated in the deliberations of the subject committee meetings in passing resolutions about the claim for equal human rights. (Moon and Pawar: 2003:50) Their research also reveals the experiences they (dalit women) had in the field as well as in the family as mother, wife, daughter; what was the effect on their life of Ambedkars movement and speechesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Moon and Pawar: 2003:53) Even the women who were illiterate subscribed to Ambedkars journals to keep the publications alive. They paid four annas to eight annas when their daily wages were hardly a rupee daily. Some women courted arrest with the men in the satayagrahas. Some had to face beatings from their husbands for participating in the movement. At such times they took their infant babies to jail, some carried all their belongings, even chickens. Taking in consideration the extremely backward social atmosphere the achievements of these women were most commendable. (Moon and Pawar: 2003:54-55) The analyses of dalit womens presence in anti caste struggle has brought out the sharp contrast between their participation in movements and their visibility as leaders and decision makers in political parties or dalit movement itself. Dalit women do not play any important role in the political leadership of maharastra (Zelliot:2006:209) Vimal Thorat laments that Dalit identity politics articulates caste identity sharply but resists, deliberately, understanding and articulating the gender dimensions of caste itself (that sees all women not just Dalit women) in a certain lightà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦The Dalit movement has thrown up so many women but articulate women are not invited by Dalit forums, especially the political parties. (Thorat: 2001) The question she asks is Forty years after the Dalit movement, where is the womens share? (Hamari bhagyadari kahan hai?) (Thorat: 2001) Ruth Manorama is of the view that dalit women have to challenge dalit men to reah the leading posts within their own movement. She explains that dalit men have been discriminated throughout their lives by high caste men as well as high caste women. The dalit men now are scared of dalit women and think that they are the same as the high caste women. Now when they have finally grasped the leadership positions they will not part from them. You have to understand them. (Hardtmann: 2009:219) Dietrich argues that while womens movements downplay the caste factor and emphasize unity among women as victims of violence, dalit movements see such violence only from a caste angle and subsume the dalit women within dalits in general.( Dietrich:2006:57) Many Dalit intellectuals deny the persistence of brahmanic patriarchy among the dalits, Kancha Ilaiah admits that patriarchy exists among the dalits, but he compares it to Brahmin patriarchy and contends that it is less oppressive the man woman relations among the dalitBahujan are far more democratic. (Ilaiah: 2006:88) Dalit womens assertion of difference Gopal Guru in dalit women talk differently has posed faith in the new politics of difference that the dalit women have expressed through the formation of the National Federation of Dalit Women (NFDW). Guru brings out the facts that such difference is necessary if dalit women want to fight patriarchy which is external and internal. Other factors that he points out are caste factor does not get adequate recognition in the analysis done by non-dalit, middle-class, urbanised women activists. (Guru: 1995:2548) And the claim for womens solidarity at both national and global levels subsumes contradictions that exist between high caste and dalit women. (Guru: 1995:2548) Rege also points to the trend of the left party-based womens organizations collapsing caste into class, and the autonomous womens groups collapsing caste into sisterhood, both leaving Brahmanism unchallenged. (Rege: 1998) The social and material conditions of dalit women are different and they cannot uncritically ally themselves with larger feminist politics because of the same, so feminists like Rege have called it the dalit feminist standpoint (DFS). (Rege: 1998) The DFS according to Rege analyses what divides women, what unites them but does not unite them easily. As a standpoint located in the material practices of dalit womens lives it rejects a dichotomisation of the material and cultural which equates the material to environmental degradation and brahmanism to the cultural. Brahmanical patriarchies and caste-specific patriarchies are material in their determination of the access to resources, the division of labour the sexual division of labour and division of sexual labour. (Rege: 2000) Criticizing Rege, Chaya Datar argues that Rege has ignored ecofeminism which actually talks about the position of dalit women in society and the exploitation of women as well as the environment and natural degradation. In Datars view the dalit womens movement may not be part of narrow identity politics, insofar as it does not talk of the materiality of the majority of dalit, marginalised women who lose their livelihoods because of environmental degradation but focuses its struggle mainly against brahminical symbols, it cannot aspire to revisioning of society. It cannot become more emancipatory than the present womens movement. (Datar: 1999) According to Anupama Rao dalitbahujan feminists have gone further than merely arguing that Indian feminism is incomplete and exclusive. Rather, they are suggesting that we rethink the genealogy of Indian feminism in order to engage meaningfully with dalit womens difference from the ideal subjects of feminist politics. (Rao: 2006:2-3) Bela Malik argues that a purely dalit or a purely feminist movement cannot adequately help dalit women. (Malik: 1999) she further states that those who have been actively involved with organizing women encounter difficulties that are nowhere addressed in a theoretical literature whose foundational principles are derived from a smattering of normative theories of rights, liberal political theory, an ill-formulated left politics and more recently, occasionally, even a well-intentioned doctrine of entitlements. Kannabiran and Kannabiran(1991) have pointed to how the deadlock between kshatriya and dalit men caused by dalit agricultural labourer women dressing well could be solved only by a decision taken by men of both the communities. It was decided that women of either community would not be allowed to step into each others locations. The sexual assault on dalit women has been used as a common practice for under-mining the manhood of the caste. Some dalit male activists did argue that in passing derogatory remarks about upper caste girls (in incidents such as Chanduru) dalit men were only getting their own back. The emancipatory agenda of the dalit and womens movements will have to be sensitive to these issues and underline the complex interphase between caste and gender as structuring hierarchies in society. (Rege: 1998) The notion of the dalit women as more free and mobile has been taken up by feminists, the arguments have been that although dalit women are vocal and fight their husbands back, they are not under the ideology of husband worship but they face collective threat of physical harm from upper caste forces all the time. (Dietrich: 2006:58), also (Rege: 1998). Kumkum Sangari opines that patriarchies function and persist not only because they are embedded in the social stratification, division of labour, political structure, cultural practices but also because of consent by women. (Sangari: 1996:17) T.P-Vetschera in his study of Dalit women in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra points out to the element of consent by quoting the Dalit women themselves our men dont treat us as badly as animals, this means that they are good'. Women feel that suffering (is) an essential part of a womans life and nothing could be done about it. (P-Vetschera: 1996:246) T.P-Vetscheras study points out that the Mahars have experienced social mobility and in the region caste repression is not so bad. However the lives of Mahar women are full of daily struggles with burgeoning amount of work within and outside home. Their husbands dont help them and they have to cope with clichà ©s which configure them as lazy and having loose morals. (P-Vetschera: 1996:238) They are frequent victims of violence at the hands of their husbands. Some of them are victims of rape and sexual exploitation by high caste men. (P-Vetschera: 1996:239) Sanskritisation or reference group behavior has reined havoc on the freedom and position earlier enjoyed by dalit women in dalit community. (P-Vetschera: 1996:257). A dangerous mixture of tradition and modernity combines not to stop or minimize the exploitation of dalit women but only gives it a new avatar. The National Federation of dalit women (NFDW) Tracing the issues at stake in the post Mandal-Masjid phase of the womens movement, Rege has argued that the assertion of dalit womens voices in the 1990s brings up significant issues for the revisioning of feminist politics. (Rege: 1998). The revival of the womens movement in india came with the new womens movement in the 1970s.Dalit womens activists however, see this movement as a continuation of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the Hindu caste reform tradition.(Hardtmann: 2009:215) They consider the feminist theory developed by non-dalit women as unauthentic since it does not capture their reality. This comprehension gets clearly reflected in the 12- point agenda adopted by the NFDW and in several papers presented by the dalit women at the Maharashtra Dalit Womens Conference held in Pune in May 1995. Dalit women define the concept of dalit strictly in caste terms, refuting the claim of upper caste women to dalithood. Dalit women activists quote Phule and Ambedkar to invalidate the attempt to a non-dalit woman to don dalit identity. (Guru: 1995:2549) In the second half of the 1980s, dalit women came to express a need for a separate platform within the broader womens movement. In the 1987 the first dalit womens national meeting, dalit womens struggles and aspirations, was held in Bangalore. About 200 women from the south of India, but also from Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and west Bengal are said to have attended. This was the beginning of a national network of dalit women which on the 11 august 1995 formed the NFDW. (Guru: 1995:2548-9) (Hardtmann: 2009:215) Three years later some women from NFDW took part in the formation of the national campaign on dalit human rights (NCDHR). (Hardtmann: 2009:216) It is important to note, however, that even if they have organized separately from dalit men, they tried to work in collaboration with them in the NCDHR. NCDHR was officially launched on World Human Rights Day, 10 December 1998; it links dozens of formerly isolated Dalit civil society organizations in fourteen Indian states. (Bob: 2007:179) The NFDW was instrumental in organizing dalit women for the world conference against racism held in Durban in 2001. Dalit activists argued that caste oppression was like race oppression because both were discriminations based on work and descent. This has been a matter of debate in India as well as globally now and the NFDW supported this claim. The World Conference against Racism held at Durban in 2001 and the process that led to the WCAR in India witnessed the freeing of caste from the confines of India into a larger international arena that held out greater possibilities for public debate, alliance building and more powerful resistance. (Kannabiran: 2006) This meant that not only did the dalit movement and questions related to SC become known internationally, but international focus, to a large extent, came to be placed on the situation of SC women. (Hardtmann: 2009:215) The manifesto of NFDW reads: NFDW endeavours to seek and build alliances with all other progressive and democratic movements and forces, in particular the womens movement and the wider Dalit movement at the national level. It thus aspires in a significant way to widen the democratic spaces while at the same time to create and preserve its identity and specificity. This framework will enable the Dalit womens movement to seek the roots of its oppression, the diversities, the nature of changes, if any, in specific regions and historical contexts and in particular, perceive the varied levels of consciousness that exist within it. Source, (Kannabiran: 2006) In the context of the caste and race debate The NFDW focused on the specific interpretation of civil and political rights, the recognition of productive contribution to society in terms of equality, dignity, fair wages and popular perception, the guarantee of security of person and freedom from the threat of sexual and physical assault, right to freedom of religion in a context where conversion for a better life resulted in denial of protections and the right to leadership a claim pitted against non-dalit men, dalit men and non dalit women. (Kannabiran: 2006) Drawing on the definition of racial discrimination in Article 1 of the CERD, the NFDW asserted in the Durban process that discrimination based on caste is indeed a specific form of racism, intertwined with gender since Dalit women face targeted violence from state actors and powerful members of dominant castes and community especially in the case of rape, mutilation and death; they face discrimination in the payment of unequal wages and gender violence at the workplace that includes fields [as agricultural labourers], on the streets [as manual scavengers and garbage pickers], in homes [as domestic workers], and through religious customà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦' (Kannabiran: 2006) The charter of rights of dalit women, formulated in 1999, and christened the Delhi Declaration sets out the guiding principles of dalit womens rights. It declares that dalits are one of the indigenous peoples of India, who as a people are sovereign, with a distinct identity, history, culture and religionSignificantly, dalit women in this charter declared solidarity in the common cause of womens rights in India and the world at large for the establishment of gender partnership in an egalitarian society. (Kannabiran: 2006) Theoretical approaches It is difficult to explain the dalit womens movement with the help of any one of the given theoretical perspectives, because of the particular context in which DWM is located and the specific historical trajectory it has followed; feminist movements in general have been theorized as new social movements (NSM), however the NSM perspective cannot explain DWM until some context based facts are taken in account. The DWM as separate from the dalit movement and the NFDW in particular is chronologically a new phenomena, the movement has been analysed in relation to the current world order. The womens movement, the dalit movement, the dalit womens movement and Feminism in India has to be situated within the particular history of colonialism, nationalism, modernity, nation-state, and presently the global world order with global institutions like the IMF, the World Bank and the United Nations. Feminism in India cannot be isolated from the broader framework of an unequal international world. (Chaudhuri: 2004: xv) Chaudhuri has argued that we should look at the Indian nation-states entry in modernity to understand the womens question in India. Indias entrance to modernity was facilitated by the colonial state and the very construction of modern bourgeois domesticity itself can be discerned in the nineteenth century social reform movement. (Chaudhuri: 2011: x) The social reform movement focused on the high caste-class women as subjects and as well as symbols for Indian tradition has been made clear by Vaid and Sangari (1989). In the context of DWM it becomes crucial to understand gender as a relational term (John 2004) (Hardtmann 2009). Johns question is that how then, should one look at the gendered relations between men and women from the exploited sections of societyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Hardtmann: 2009:209) John has commented that the stereotype of associating women with the inside private sphere and men as a general category with the outside world of economic and political powerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦is very misleading (Hardtmann: 2009:209) because such power is in fact in the hands of a very few men, who are upper caste and Hindu, and middle or upper class, and who may constitute no more than 10 percent of the male population. (John 2004b:253) (Hardtmann: 2009:209) Arguing in the vein of John, Hartmann argues that the world bank, the Indian state, and international corporations agree that one solution to the economic problems of SCs in the Indian society is that poor women enter the private spheres as entrepreneurs. Her question is why poor women and poor men. The implicit assumption of these institutions is that dalit men are economically irresponsible in relation to their families. They are deprived of their so called male responsibility, and as a result they are devoid of constructing their masculinity associated with respect. Women are supported to enter the economic sphere, but when they on the other hand reach an economic position, like Mayawati, they are pictured as immoral and deprived of constructing a so-called femininity, valued and respected in Indian society. (Hardtmann: 2009:225) To invoke Johns pithy description, the thrifty and diligent women are pitted solely against their unruly men. (Chaudhuri: 2011: xxxix) Who are seen as bad subjects of modernity. (Chaudhuri: 2011: xxxix) Hartdmann suggests that to dalit men and women, oppression is not a question of ascribed gender identities in a heteronormative society, rather dalit men and women are not ascribed gender identities, but on the opposite prevented from constructing gender identities related to a neoliberal economic order in the Indian society, where traditional gender roles are clearly defined. (Hardtmann: 2009:225) The DWM traces its origins and ideology to Ambedkar. Ambedkars faith lay in the state as a redeemer of the injustices of the Indian societyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Rao: 2003:24)

Brave New World Vs Reality Essay -- essays research papers fc

Brave New World vs. Reality In many cases when you read a novel you may find comparisons between the "fictional" society and your realistic one. The author may consciously or unconsciously create similarities between these two worlds. The novelist can foresee the future and write according to this vision. In Brave New World, Adlous Huxley envisions the future of our society and the dangerous direction it is headed in. Brave New World is greatly dependant upon soma, as in our world where prescribed drugs and drug abuse are prominent. This is evident when Bernard and Lenina return from the Savage Reservation. Lenina is devastated from her experiences, so decides to take soma. It illustrates how like our world when something upsets us instead of trying to solve the problem we use drugs to mask them. Linda's addiction to soma is also an illustration of the similarities of drug abuse between our two worlds. Linda's return to Brave New World after many years brings her to the abuse of soma. She uses it as an escape from reality. Some of us use drugs to escape from the harshness and the tough brutality of reality. We always dream of the perfect utopia and expect our world to transform into it. Some of us always look for the easy way out and drugs allow us that. A further similarity of Brave New World to us, is when John is in the hospital after his mother's death due to soma abuse, and witnesses the workers receiving their soma rations. John begins to throw the soma out ...

Adults with Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental disorders in the adult stage. Anyone can develop anxiety and depression but its not something to worry about since both can be cured with medication or therapy. It may be caused by different factors and adults more often experience this mental condition.Anxiety and depression are two conditions that should be addressed immediately because it affects people's social life and other life processes. There have also been documented cases that adult who suffered from these commits suicide. This paper discusses the meaning of anxiety and depression among adults and at the same time describe how to get medical treatment before something worse happens.Defining Anxietyâ€Å"Anxiety, in the simplest sense is defined as a form of response or reaction† (Callanan, 1992, p.50). It is one state of emotion wherein individuals tends to feel lesser or more anxious toward a particular event in their life (Callanan, 1992, p.50). Anxiety can be seen as an extreme state of shyness indicated by blushing.Shame occurs when one sees himself as being responsible for negative outcomes or for failing in public. Anxiety is also characterized by a discomfort when performing in front of an audience (stage fright) which can lead to an inhibition of speech.This is one good way to test anxiety because the individual is afraid of being under the scrutiny of others. Both kinds of apprehension in face of tests and interactions share this aspect of evaluation anxiety. The state of anxiety refers to the acute feeling in the process of emotional experiencing.The trait of anxiety refers to a proneness to respond with state anxiety in threatening situations. It can also be defined as excessive worrying which involves fearful reaction (Callanan, 1992, p.50).Although the aforementioned statements cited negativity about the definition of anxiety, Margie Callanan on her book entitled â€Å"Anxiety. In Adult Psychological Problem† (1992) s tated that anxiety is also vital for adult's life survival (Callanan , 1992, p.50).â€Å"It also seems to be a feature of being successful since classic laboratory studies shows that people with moderate levels of anxiety leads them to optimizing task performance and that too much little of anxiety leads to worse performance† (Callanan , 1992, p.50).Defining DepressionDepression is not merely feeling lonely or down. Feeling lonely at times is normal for any person but when this mood persists for weeks or even months, this is no longer a simple case of loneliness. The person experiencing this is under a depressed state (Yip and Lee, 2003, pp.5-11). Depression is a common illness but is also severe.Many people fail to get treatment for this kind of disorder but with proper consultation and treatment, even the worst cases of depression can be cured. Depression in its own meaning is not life threatening but it could have drastic effects on the patient's life as well as the lives of the people around him (Yip and Lee, 2003, p. 157).There are different types of depression but the most common are major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder (Yip and Lee, 2003, p. 7). Other forms of depression are psychotic depression, postpartum depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and bipolar disorder (Yip and Lee, 2003, p. 19).Describing Adults who experiences Anxiety and DepressionCauses/OriginsNo matter what aspects caused the anxious or depressive state among adults, it is no mere state if mind and it may be traced to some physical changes as a person ages because the brain as undergoes an imbalance of neurotransmitters, which is known as the chemical that carries from in the brain and in the nerves (Goroll, et.al., 2003, p. 807).Trauma and stress from financial problems, failed relationships, the death of someone dear, and other extreme life changes are factors that could result in either anxiety or depression. Pessimistic people are also more prone to thes e (Goroll, et.al., 2003, pp.50-58).Other medical conditions such as heart ailments, obesity, HIV and cancer may also lead to anxiety and depression (Goroll, et.al., 2003, pp.49-54). It may also worsen some medical conditions since it weakens the immune system. Some medications may also constitute depression. Moreover, other psychological disorders like schizophrenia for example have been noted to accompany anxiety and depression (Goroll, et.al., 2003, p.79).DiagnosisMagnetic Resonance Technology (MRI) indicates that the brains of depressed people look different from the brain of normal people (Goroll, et.al., 2003, p.300). The area of the brain that is responsible for mood and behavior do not function normally for adult people with anxiety and depression.Talking to the patient is the best step in the diagnosis of anxiety and depression. The doctor should try to find out if symptoms have began to manifest to figure out if there is anxiety and depression and what stage has been reache d.The symptoms could last for the adult's remaining years and may inevitably affect his/her personality and work habits, in which case, other people could lose empathy for the patient. Depression also causes other various changes in behavior (Goroll, et.al., 2003).TreatmentTreatment is never a problem for anxiety and depression patients since even the most extreme cases can be cured. One other disease has been ruled out, and the doctor is certain that the patient is suffering from anxiety and depression (Goroll, et.al., 2003, p. 109).Adult patients who experiences anxious and depressing conditions are usually given prescriptions for countering the said feelings. There are anti-depressants made in order to normalize the secretion of brain chemicals such as neurotransmitters, serotonin and norepinephrine (Goroll, et.al., 2003, p.49).These chemicals aid in regulating the mood of a person and as previously stated, neurotransmitters are secreted in abnormal levels under depression. Thus, normalizing the secretion of this chemical will help the patient recover from depression. These anti-depressants may however have side effects such as headache, nausea, insomnia and nervousness, agitation and sexual problems.Psychotherapy or â€Å"talk therapy† is also another form of treatment for adult anxiety and depression. Cognitive behavioral-therapy and interpersonal theraphy are two forms of psychotherapy that have been proven to work for adult who has anxiety and depression. These kinds of therapy may, however, only be effective for mild to moderate cases of adult anxiety and depression. More severe cases might call for both anti-depressants and psychotherapy (Callanan, 1992, pp.24-42).   If anti-depressants and psychotherapy do not work, electro convulsive therapy, also know as shock therapy is another treatment option. Shock therapy has gained a negative reputation in the past but it has been proven to provide relief for patients that have severe depression (Cal lanan, 1992, p42).Herbal remedies such have been used by some people for some time but research indicated that it is not effective in the treatment of depression. Other research indicated that the plant has components that produce unfavorable reactions with other medications (Goroll, et.al., 2003, p.641).ConclusionAnxiety and Depression are common mental disorders and yet, many fail to get treatment for it because it often goes undiagnosed. Adult people and their family should be aware that anxiety and depression should be taken seriously and whenever the symptoms occur, professional help should always be sought.The two can easily be cured so enduring it should never be an option since it does not affect only adults, but also the people around them.References:Callanan, M. (1992). Anxiety. In Adult Psychological Problems. Champion, L.A., & Power,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   M.J. (Eds). New York: Routledge.Goroll, A.H., Mulley, A.G., & Mulley, A. Jr. (Eds). (2006). Primary Care Medicine.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Amsterdam: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.Yip, P.S., & Lee, D.T. (2003). Depression Among Elderly and Postpartum Women. In   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Depressive Disorders. Maj, M. & Sartorious, N. (Eds). New Jersey: John Wiley and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sons.

The concept of strategic human resource management (SHRM)

The concept of strategic human resource management (SHRM) Strategic human resource management is not a simple process as it keeps on evolving over time. The concept does not have an absolute definition since opinions about it vary between various scholars and analysts. However, one thing that remains clear is that the concept is essential for improved business performance.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The concept of strategic human resource management (SHRM) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It can be regarded as a strategic approach to human resource management which links human resource to the future plans and directions of an organization. Basically this implies that the strategic HRM seeks to ensure that resources are matched with organizational future needs by concerning itself with long term issues relating to employees, organizational culture, values, and commitments. Harter et al. (2006) says that strategic human resource management focuses on increasing producti vity and effectiveness by motivating employees to give their best and work towards achievement of organizational strategic goals. The approach revolves around policies that motivate employees and cause them to be committed towards their work. It entails practices such as employee comprehensive training, employee development activities, developmental appraisal, and staff selection among many others. In the recent years, the notion of high commitment human resource management has been of much interest in many organizations and research studies. Elwood et al. (1996) agrees with the fact that strategic human resource management focuses on shaping organizational culture. HR practices within organization directly affect their culture which eventually is reflected in the company’s overall success. Employee attitudes are affected and shaped by systems of human resource management. Strategic human resource management therefore is linked to increase in organizational effectiveness. It helps create a working condition where employees become highly motivated and focused on the goals of the organization. Employees tend to assume that high commitment practices of human resource are a direct show of commitment by the organization to them. They therefore tend to reciprocate the same gesture by being committed to the organization. Relationship between SHRM and Outsourcing HR The concept of outsourcing human resource can be regarded as part of strategic human resource management. It involves the use of a third party provider to administer the human resource functions in an organization. The popularity of HR outsourcing has increased as most companies seek the expertise of HR outsourcing firms to effectively manage their internal human resource activities.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The main reason why companies opt for the option of outsourcing ke y HR functions is because it is less costly and more efficient than employing HR personnel to execute these functions. According to Galanki and Papalexandris (2005), the HR vendors are able to provide the services at a lower cost because they benefit from economy of scale. The companies then transfer these benefits to their clients. As a result, Galanki and Papalexandris (2005) argue that small and medium sized companies are the ones who benefit the most from the HR vendors. Delmotte and Sels (2008) say that companies may also decide to outsource their HR functions because of the need for knowhow. According to the authors, such companies may lack the necessary knowledge about strategic human resource management or they may simply have outdated information. This therefore requires them to make significant investment into their human resource functionalities. The idea that Delmotte and Sels (2008) are contending is that outsourcing human resource functions offer knowledge and competen ce which in most cases are usually absent from within companies. Case study: discussion of the key HR functions in the organization In this section, the case study of a nonprofit organization based in California shall be analyzed to develop a discussion of key HR functions for organizations. Strategic human resource management is an important aspect for nonprofit organizations. The company had to ensure that its HR functionalities are aligned to its strategic goals in order to experience effective functioning. The organization was found over 25 year ago with the intention of helping individuals struggling with domestic violence, trauma, mental illness, and substance abuse. The main goal was to help children, women, and communities rebuild their lives. The needs within the community increased forcing the company to also expand its operations to meet the increase. However, in the process of this expansion, the company encountered business challenges in its human resource management. T he department was not fully equipped to handle the requirements that accompany large organizations. The company faced a situation where its employees were overloaded with work. There were numerous challenges relating to the employment and staffing. These challenges also began affecting the finances of the organization. Even with the HR manager and a few other HR personnel in place, the department was overwhelmed with the new emerging HR needs.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The concept of strategic human resource management (SHRM) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Key HR functions in the organization include: global mobility, benefit pans, health and welfare, recruiting, payroll, staff performance, and staff development. Cook (1999) suggests that three additional functions can also be effectively outsourced. The three include organizational culture, human resource planning, and performance appraisal system. Critica l analysis of the HR functions that can be outsourced Outsourcing key human resource functionality is designed to help companies integrate their human resource into their needs and goals. With regards to pay and benefits, the payroll clerk job measurements are usually done narrowly since it is considered to one of the back office jobs. This is mostly done by considering the output in terms of paying the employees on time and accurately. Also measures can be done by the finance people to determine the how cost effective and proficient is the job. Outsourcing this function can prove cost effective for the organization since the job of a payroll clerk may not be necessary. Another area that needs outsourcing in the organization is staffing and recruitment. This area falls under organizational man power planning. It seeks to improve and maintain the ability of an organization to attain its entire strategic objective through development of manpower contribution. When an organization deve lops a wrong man power planning, there can be a lot of disruption which will affect the organization adversely. The process of staffing in companies includes recruitment of human resource, selection, training, and promotion. Other processes such as retirement, transfer and demotion also make part of the staffing process. Therefore, recruitment is an initial step of staffing. The entire process of staffing continues with the experience of employees within an organization. Outsourcing firms have the resources and capabilities that ensure staffing and recruitment is done effectively. External sources of recruitment would even be more appropriate in reducing all the chances of biasness. However, despite the recruitment team appointed for conducting the process, that is whether internal or external recruiters, it is appropriate that they be well trained. They have to be aware of the skills and parameters that the company needs from the candidates. All the evaluation processes have to be planned in advance and these include both the technical and human resource interviews and the tests. The systems of performance appraisals focus mainly on the employees who have contributed to the achievement of organizational goals and are also still in a position to assist the organization continue attaining its goals. Promotion is a human resource management best practice that helps to retain employees for long as well as motivating them to perform.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Promotion can be monetary or non monetary. Nonetheless, it has to be an opportunity for the individual employees to grow personally. Performance appraisals are not only aimed at identifying best performing and highly productive employees, but are also aimed at identifying poor performing employees. This is important for an organization because poor performing employees negatively affect performance of an organization. The human resource personnel manager is responsible for coordinating the process of staffing and recruitment. This is a very conscious process that does not require mistakes to be made. Mistakes can lead to major consequences that would pose a serious threat to an organization. The mistakes can affect the brand value of an organization as well as disrupt operations. The manager in charge of recruitment has to define primary and essential skills that are required for each role within an organization. In addition, the education qualification and experience are also to be defined. The entire experience and stages of an employee in an organization constitute the existence of the process of staffing. Once an employee has been recruited for a position, the human resource team needs to identify the individual skills of the employee’s individual skills and integrate them to the skills required for the job. This is achieved through proper training. There is usually a difference in the required skills for the job and the employee’s individual skills. Depending on the size of the gap or difference, the human resource team should be able to come up with proper training for bridging the gap. Training therefore serves an important role of making the employees competent by giving them the confidence to face the task before them. Each employees within an organization needs to be developing and growing in their career. Therefore staffing process takes care of transfers and promotions of employees. Employees need to be aware of the opportunities for growth within the company. This should be clearly communicated to them and the procedure blueprinted. For instance, in most organization, the path up the career ladder is usually certified through performance appraisals. The employees that qualify for promotions must have performed extremely well to deserve the promotions. Such organizations also require work place diversity. Internal human resource personnel may be challenged to ensure the internal working environment is as diverse as a possible. However, outsourcing firms have the skills and expertise in recruitment and staffing needed to ensure diversity within the workplace. Workforce diversity is one of the main dominant staffing issues experienced by organizations. With increase in globalization, many organizations find themselves having a multicultural workforce. Women, minority community, immigrants and the elderly are making job applications. Labor laws in almost any country require that companies have a balance workforce i n terms of gender, and ethnic communities within its location. The challenge is in staffing professionals and specialties. The organizations also have to recognize the cultural needs of their employees and address them appropriately. Adapting to the diversity provides the organizations with the opportunity to retain staff for longer periods. At the same time, such an organization is able to get the best out of each of their employees. Another area that can be considered challenging for the in-house human resource management of the organization is training and development. The demands in employee training and recruitment can be overwhelming for the nonprofit organizations. The workforce definitely matures over time and this requires that the organization creates opportunities for their growth. Training and education of various fields in the market is advancing with time as current technology is integrated in almost every aspect of life. Organizations find it challenging to retain the old employees who do not the current skills and knowledge required for a company to remain competitive in the market. This therefore forces companies to make new recruitments who are enthusiastic and motivated with the latest education and training. Conclusion Outsourcing provides the company with the necessary human resource expertise which may sometimes be difficult to have from within. An HR outsourcing firm would work close with the company to plan, develop, and implement necessary HR capabilities. Outsourcing critical functionality of human resource management works best in a small and medium sized company. This is primarily because employing HR personnel in such a situation can prove more costly for the company than when the functions are outsourced. The outsourcing firms offer end to end services which sometimes the internal human resource personnel may not be able to fully provide. For large companies, the idea of outsourcing HR functionalities may make sense because HR adm inistration can be time consuming. Outsourcing therefore can free up time and employees who can be made to support in other important company activities. In most cases, companies do assume that HR functions can be handled in a short time. However, human resource requires a full time input for it to be effectively handled. Companies may also try to handle the HR functions with a single human resource personnel or a team of unqualified employees. Such an approach can never be effective and does not offer sound solution to the HR issues faced within the companies. Outsourcing the functions of HR ensures that they are handled by experts with the necessary resourcing to for a fulltime input. Management of human resource has a lot of legalities involved and sometimes companies may lack the necessary resources and expertise to handle these legal implications. However, the outsourcing firms are equipped with professional expertise and resources to handle the legal implications of human reso urce management. As a result, employees within the company will end up being more productive, healthy, and happy in line with the company’s strategic goals. References Chew, I. Sharma, B., 2006. The effects of culture and HRM practices on firm perfomance. international journal of manpower, 23(2), pp. 560-581. Cook, M., 1999. Outsourcing Human Resources Functions. Strategies for Providing Enhanced HR Services at Lower Cost. 1st ed. AMACOM, New York. Delmotte, J. Sels, L., 2008. HR outsourcing: threat or opportunity?. Personnel Review, 37(5), pp. 543-563. Elwood, F. H. I., W., J. Trott, J., 1996. Trends Toward a Closer Integration of Vocational Education and Human Resources Development. Journal of Vocational and Technical Education, 12(2), pp. 7-14. Galanaki, E. (.-E. Papalexandris, N., 2005. Outsourcing of human resource management services in Greece. International Journal of Manpower, 26(4), pp. 382-396. Gans, N. Zhou, Y.-P., 2002. Managing learning and turnover in emplo yee staffing. Operations Research, 50(6), p. 991. Guinn, S., Phelps, S., Mason, M. Rosen, B., 2006. The Changing Workforce. Training Development Journal, 43(12), pp. 36-39. Harter, J. K., Schmidt, F. L. Corey, M., 2006. Well-Being in the Workplace and its Relationships to Business Outcomes. Flourishing: the Positive Person and the Good Life, 12(3), pp. 200-239. Henderson, L. Tulloch, J., 2008. Incentives for retaining and motivating health workers in Pacific and Asian countries. Human Resources for Health, 6(18), pp. 23-34. Tarique, I. Schuler, R., 2008. Emerging issues and challenges in global stafï ¬ ng: a North American Perspective. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 19(8), p. 1397–1415.

Activities of an Organization Management Code of Ethics

Activities of an Organization Management Code of Ethics Introduction Corporate social responsibility, which is also referred to as sustainable responsible business or corporate conscience, is a self-regulation mechanism incorporated into the central part of a business. It concerns itself with monitoring and assurance of active obedience with: ethical standards, the general law and the international customs that govern business and non-business activities within an organization.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Activities of an Organization: Management Code of Ethics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Ethics on the other hand, are the decisions and behaviors of an individual or organization that are considered morally fitting. Johnson and Turner (2009) in their study stated that, â€Å"ethics and corporate responsibility are matters for all firms whether they operate internationally or not†. The basis of this reasoning is the acceptance of the unavoidable â €˜truth’ of relativism in relation to ethics and social responsibility (Iyer, 2000). Validity of statement Taking into consideration what has been mentioned above, an argument presents itself and with it, the question: how valid is the statement of that study? According to the aphorism â€Å"Nemo dat Quod non abeit† which literally means that it is impossible for one to give what they do not have; it follows that, an organization in a third world country may have integrated Corporate Social Responsibility into their mission statement , but lack the capability of following through due to lack of resources. Furthermore, â€Å"going global† brings with it new challenges (Iyer, 2009). Taking a case study example of Bolaji, Nigeria, organizations cannot leave the Corporate Social Responsibility dynamic in the hands of the government because governments in third world countries seldom fulfill the expectations of the people that elected them in. â€Å"The contempor ary third world government need to put in place a working infrastructure that will engender business activities†. (Petkoski and Twose, 2003, p.16) After this is done, the corporate players can then be called upon to give back to the community. Application of theories In order for organizations to be able to effectively and efficiently adhere to the stipulations and guidelines of ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility, several theories need to be applied. More specifically, rights and justice theories need to be taken into consideration.Advertising Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Organizations should recognize that their employees and other internal (and external) stakeholders have privileges and rights that go beyond national boundaries and cultures. Managers should be guided by fundamental human rights when making decisions that have ethical constituents (Suder, 2008). Further, justice theories stipulate that economic goods and services should be distributed in a just manner. However, when an organization is engaging in social responsibility and the unequal distribution of goods and services has been viewed to work to everyone’s advantage, then this may be considered as an exception. Corporate governance and its implications to managers When we take a look at the Nigerian Banking system and its Corporate Social Responsibility aspects, we see that it would be necessary for management, more so of the Central bank (as the key player in the economy), to restructure. This would be aimed at comprehensively dividing the roles of management from the management of fiscal policies ultimately creating a more effective social, environmental and economically viable banking system. Drawing from this example we see that, management has the responsibility to clearly outline the corporate structure so as to identify who will be held accounta ble for the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility. Management code of ethics In order for an organization to effectively conduct itself in the required manner, management should adhere to contemporary code of ethics (Cavusgil, Knight and Riesenberger, 2008). These ethics encompass responsibility, respect for people’s rights and dignity and integrity. Management code of ethics focus on four broad areas:Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Activities of an Organization: Management Code of Ethics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Managing the organization which involves creating and sustaining a positive work environment, managing the business by maintaining a viable business venture, managing people through maintenance of commitment and engagement and being mindful of human rights and lastly, managers managing themselves effectively so as to avoid bringing about stress related issues. The code of ethics is meant to guide the management and ensure that the organization fulfills its overall commitments with respect to ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility. Codes organizations must take to make profits Corporate Social Responsibilities are grounded on opposing objectives with the ultimate goals of an organization of profit maximization. However, management should aim at finding the balance between the two objectives. An organization should always strive to adhere to the set out ethical standards because this ultimately increases business efficiency. Being mindful of the environmental and social aspects external to the organization ensures that the presence of the organization is felt in the society. Giving back to the community that enabled your rise to success goes a long way in ensuring that an organization maintains its business. When all this is tied together, we see that adhering to ethics and Corporate Social Responsibilities brings business back to the organizat ions and facilitates profit generation. â€Å"On the macroeconomic level, participation in international business allows firms to achieve economies of scale that cannot be achieved in domestic markets†. (Czikota, Ronkainen and Moffett, 2008) It is, therefore, imperative that the ethics adhered to be of international standards. Classical views â€Å"While the work of Smith, Ricardo, and Mill went far in describing the flow of trade between nations, classical theory was not without its flaws†. (Ajami and Gorddard, 2006, p.50) The Friedman doctrine implies that; as long as an organization is operating within the law, then its only social responsibility should be to continue maximizing its profits.Advertising Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More â€Å"Basically, he argues that managers as agents owe the owner of the corporation, the stockholders, a duty to pursue their interests†. (Crane, 2008, p.138) This is quite misleading because there should be a balance between sole profit making and integration of social and environmental objectives. Cultural relativism suggests that companies should adopt the ethics of the cultures in which they find themselves operating in. This assumption stands to be corrected because in the contemporary world, diverse cultures should all be accommodated. Lastly, the naà ¯ve immoralist argues that a manager should carry him/herself in the manner in which he/she sees the managers of other nations carrying themselves. This implies that, if the managers of other nations are not adhering to the ethical norms, neither should the manager of the multinational firm. This is a very misguided approach considering how stiff the competition is in the global marketplace (Hill, 2005). Bibliography Ajam i, R.A. and Goddard, G.J., 2006. International business: theory and practice. 2nd ed. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe. Cavusgil, S.T., Knight, G.A., Knight, G. and Riesenberger, J.R., 2008. International business: strategy, management, and the new realities. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Crane, A., 2008. The Oxford handbook of corporate social responsibility. Oxford Handbooks Online. Czinkota, M., Ronkainen, I.A. and Moffett, M.H., 2008. Fundamentals of International Business. Gillingham: Wessex Publishing. Hill, C.W.L., 2005. International business: competing in the global marketplace. 5th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Iyer, G.R., 2000. Teaching international business: ethics and corporate social responsibility. New York, NY: Routledge. Iyer, R., 2009. MBA Fundamentals International Business. New York, NY: Kaplan Publishing. Johnson, D. and Turner, C., 2009. International Business: Themes and issues in the Modern Global Economy. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Taylor and Fran cis. Petkoski, D. and Twose, N., 2003. Public Policy for Corporate Social Responsibility. Washington, DC. World Bank. Suder, G.G.S., 2008. International business under adversity: a role in corporate responsibility, conflict prevention, and peace. Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Family values Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Family values - Essay Example These values include unabated and unflinching love and affection among the family members, and extreme care and concern for the fulfilment of all the needs and requirements of the members. â€Å"The family is an intimate social setting where the child first experiences love, care and attention that eventually help in launching him/her into the bigger environment.† (Cruz et al., 2011:3) Hence, it is the moral obligation of the members to abide by these values for the strengthening of the family unit. If any member is in some trouble, or suffering from mental agony, illness or physical problem, the entire family should remain deeply worried till the solution of the problem as well as till his convalescence from the ailment. Another distinguished family value to be followed is the mutual respect and unity, which is rare in any other social institution. The enemy of one member should vehemently be considered as the rival of the entire family, and all members should look down upon him with great hatred and abhorrence. Furthermore, head of family, mostly the father, should work hard to provide financial support to the entire family unit, so that family members could lead a respectable and comfortable life in society. Mother should pay due heed in the brought up, nutrition and socialization of the children. She should also offer her professional services to generate money for the family at the hour of need. Family members must maintain deep feelings of respect and regard for one another. The family values urge the children to remain obedient and complying to the commands of the elders, and always observe honesty, devotion, kindness, compassion and dedication to all family members. Family values motivate the members to exercise generosity and emotional support to others, and forgive the others provided they consciously or unconsciously are hurt by the words or actions of others. Hence, the concepts like deceit, dishonesty,

D-Day Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

D-Day - Essay Example The training and planning for D-Day had began months earlier as the plan came more in focus. The Airbase at Alliance Nebraska had become the center of training and by January 1944, there were 14,000 paratroopers training for the eventual invasion of German occupied France (Flanagan 24). By the evening of June 5, these paratroopers along with glider and C47 cargo aircraft had assembled in airfields in England. When General Eisenhower gave the signal, the aircraft and gliders made the initial advance on France. The 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions would be the first allied troops to land in France (Miller 733). The air operation also included one British division and this initial assault by the paratroopers has been credited with the success of the operation (O'Neill 16). From the moment they touched the ground, they would be confronted by German troops. The Naval armada, one-third American, was moving toward the shore while being protected by an impenetrable air cover. The operation would deliver a naval assault on 5 beaches at Normandy France. The beaches were dubbed Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword, the code names given for the purposes of the operation ("World War II" D-Day"). As they hit the shores, they moved massive amounts of men and armament ashore. The initial assault involved 133,000 men that would increase to 850,000 by the end of June ("World War II" D-Day"). The landing was aided by the recently produced temporary "seagoing harbors" that had been built in British shipyards in total secrecy (Miller 735). These structures allowed the Allies to transform the beaches into serviceable harbors that could resupply the operation pending the capture of a major port at Le Havre (Miller 735). Fierce fighting would rage for days on the beaches of Normandy. Allied troops were faced with terrain that favored the defenders and were met with trained troops from the German Wehrmacht (Zapotoczny 1). Allied planes kept up a constant screen of curtain bombing as the German shore batteries offered fierce resistance. By the end of the fourth day, the German's were wearing down and the once secret French Underground was emerging to join the fight. American Rangers and British Commandos were lunging deep into German held territory at night and destroying the enemy's supply of weapons and communications systems (Miller 738). As the battle continued during the coming days, the German resistance concentrated and became more fierce. Cherbourg was heavily defended by the Germans who had been given an order to fight until they die (Miller 743). On June 22, the allies waged an all out assault on Cherbourg, which began by cutting the German lines of communications (Miller 743). Behind the lines, French Partisans fighting underground paralyzed the German supply lines and blocked the arrival of reinforcements. Fighting would continue in the coming weeks to secure France from the occupation of the German army. The effect of D-Day was to divert German attention and resources away from their battle with the Russians for control of Europe. The invasion of Normandy not only gave the Allied forces a strong foothold in France, it aided the Russian effort. Though the Germans has anticipated a major invasion for some time, the decoy efforts and the massive scope of the invasion was able to scatter and destroy the backbone of the German army in Europe.