Virtual Teams as an Important Part of Global Corporations

Global corporations are entities legalized to run their businesses which offer or deliver their products or services in more than one country. In order to ensure effective coordination of business in these corporations, virtual teams are formed.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Virtual Teams as an Important Part of Global Corporations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Virtual teams refer to a group of persons, who come together to form a team and members are distributed geographically and they are required to work together using electronic means of communication (Alberto, 2003). These teams rarely meet face to face. Virtual teams are of three kinds; software, product or banking teams which are differentiated by their geographical location, functions or cultural boundaries (Alberto, 2003). While a corporation is setting up a virtual team, it should consider the following factors; time zones, culture diversi ty, communication, trust and leadership. These factors determine the quality of coordination by teams and if not well managed they can be issues. In this paper, we examine these issues (factors) which virtual teams of different global corporations face. One of the major issues facing Virtual teams is Time zones and are calculated using Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) mostly, by either adding or subtracting hours. Different areas experience different time zones, although some countries may be geographically far apart from each other but experience the same time zone, for example San Juan and Montreal. Time zones pose a big challenge to virtual teams, especially if team members are working in different time zones, for example one team member in New York and another in London, working on the same to deliver a product or service at a given time (Allison, 1990). Due to time difference one team may be unavailable when problems arise at a one given time, which could lead to mistrust between team s. This is because only one team would be working to resolve the problems which crop up at that given time. Such a scenario can repeat itself and the result is that one group could always be left out in activities involving solving of problems, hence create a feeling of marginalization. This pattern can lead to conflicts whose main cause is difference in time zones (Allison, 1990). Such conflicts can lower the effectiveness in performance of virtual teams.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In order to solve such a conflict, the leadership should ensure that external time zone differences are well measured and their impacts observed. This would ensure that no team is left out in solving of problems due to unavailability caused by overlapping time zones (Espinosa). Another issue that affects virtual teams is that of diversified cultures which emerges as a result of diff erent nationalities. It has both positive and negative impacts on the performance of teams. Culture diversity includes; different individualism values, languages, nationalities and country of origin or birth. When skills, perspectives and talents of different teams from different backgrounds are combined can produce excellent results (Sandy, 2006). Diversity produces a great value as a result of increased flexibility, creativity and innovation. Diversified experiences and perspectives enhance the ideas and information collected by a team and as a result great outcomes are achieved inform of networking and resources to the corporation (Sandy, 2006). Diversity or culture has negative impacts on a virtual team. These negative include difficulty in communication, lack of cohesion or togetherness, misunderstandings and conflicts. Creation of sub groups in and out of a given culture leads to misunderstandings and conflicts in different cultures. Such sub groups comprise of people of the s ame culture, which means interaction with other cultures is closed out (Alberto, 2003). Such groupings lead to decrease in interpersonal and communication skills amongst teams which in turn lower performance of teams and level of satisfaction. These groups also lead to high turnover as a result of less attraction amongst team members. In and out groups also lead to poor communication which can result to less cohesion and social togetherness or integration. As a result diversity leads to poor performance of a team (Sandy, 2006).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Virtual Teams as an Important Part of Global Corporations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In order to ensure healthy relationships amongst team members, the leadership should make a wise decision on the mode of communication to be used. Use of media communication, electronic tools of chatting and telephone conference is some of the modes which red uce diversity differences and groupings (Allan, 2003). The reason is that it reduces face to face conversation which in turn increases cohesiveness, social integration and reduced conflicts which in turn enhance performance and satisfaction (Sandy, 2006). Communication and language issues are also an important factor in enhancing performance a virtual team. Effectiveness of a virtual team depends on the quality of its communication. Media communication and texting are the most used forms of communication but their effectiveness can not be compared to that of face to face communication (Sirka et al, 1999). This is because texts lately have many symbols, shortcuts and pictures which pass given information. Failure to understand such aspects may lead to lack of communication. Communication impacts the effectiveness and performance of virtual teams both positively and negatively. On a positive note, communication in a team ensures fulfillment of goals and performance of duties. It is al so an important factor in ensuring strong bonds of cohesion and reduced conflicts through commitment, loyalty and participation by all team members. Communication helps a team to understand the task it is performing and at the same time encourage exchange of ideas (Sirka et al, 1999). Effective communication ensures the well being of a group by promoting healthy relationships and interaction amongst team members. Lack of effective communication can lead to deterioration in performance and effectiveness of a team. Ineffectiveness in communication can be as a result of language barrier, culture or diversity, unclear messaging and distortions.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This can lead to conflicts, lack of coordination, reduced competitive advantage and success and friction in a team (Thompson, 2011). Language barrier can be as a result of different cultures and nationalities. Language barrier leads to polarization of ideas, mistrust, division in the team and suspicions. To ensure effective communication rare face to face gatherings can reduce some of the challenges of communication in future. Use of code of conduct is used to ensure total functionality of individual members and reduced delays. To ensure effective encoding and decoding of messages, members are discouraged to use non-text forms of communication like emotional icons, jargons or picture messages. In order to reduce language barrier, a common language is used, mostly English (Sirka et al, 1999). Also use of gestures and interpreters as well as translators can enhance communication. Trust is an essential aspect in a virtual team and its main aim to make the team work. Trust in a team ens ures that there is increased security and confidence in a team, promotes openness and effective exchange of information. Trust also brings team members together despite the physical distance between them. In his study Sirka, refers â€Å"trust as the glue of the global workspace† (29-64). Trust also enhances sense on moral duty which increases willingness of team members to assist one another because they feel obliged to. Mistrust in a team may lead to conflicts which in turn will reduce the performance of a team. Mistrust hinders the ability of a group to explore its full potential, deteriorated interpersonal communication and decreased sense of reliability (Sirka et al, 1998). Incase mistrust occurs, the team is advised to be involved in team building and solve problems together. Team building usually helps in assessment of each member’s ability, motivation and successes. Solving problems together will enhance commitment of an individual member to work. Also involvin g the team in occasional face to face gatherings clears mistrust which may have come up (Sirka et al, 1999). Another very important issue facing virtual teams is that of leadership. Leadership can be challenging considering that a leader should oversee and coordinate activities of different teams globally. To ensure good performance of a team, the leader should be able to motivate team members, encouraging member to be disciplined and organize social activities which promote face to face interaction, trust and communication (Timothy, 2002). Effective leadership should prepare team members for different situations that may occur in the group. A leader should be able to recognize contributions of all members regardless of the magnitude. A leader should be a mentor and law enforcer. Due to physical limitation, a leader may not be in a position to observe team members physically. This calls for creativity in leadership to ensure a virtual observation of members (Amabile, 1997). Ineffect iveness n leadership may lead to mistrust and poor performance. Leaders need to be trained in order to acquire the skills required in leadership (Malhotra, 2007). In conclusion, virtual teams form an important part of global corporations. All these factors (discussed) need to be considered and carefully implemented to ensure that virtual team does not fail in its duties (Amabile, 1997). All the issues discussed impact the performance of a team which in turn affects the competitive advantage and success of a corporation. References Alberto, J. (2003). Team Boundary Issues across Multiple Global Firms. Journal of  Management Information Systems, 19 (4), 157-190. Allan, J. and Anne, W. (2003). Language management in multinational companies.  Cross Cultural Management, 10 (2), 37. Allison, S. (1990). Social decision heuristics and the use of shared resources. Journal of  Behavioral Decision Making, 3, 195-204. Amabile T. (1997).Motivating creativity in organizations: On doing what you love and loving what you do. California Management Review, 40 (1), 39-58. Malhotra, A. and Majchrzak, A. and Rosen, B. (2007). Leading virtual teams. The  Academy of Management Perspectives ARCHIVE, 21 (1), 60-69. Sandy, D. (2006). Group decision and negotiation. The Effects of Cultural Diversity in  Virtual Teams versus Face-to-Face Teams, 15, 389-406. Sirka, L. and Kathleen, K. and Dorothy, E. (1998). Antecedents of trust in global virtual teams. Journal of Management Information Systems, 14 (4), 29-64 Sirka, L. and Kathleen, K. and Dorothy, E. (1999). Communication and trust in global Virtual teams. Special issue: communication Processes for Virtual Organizations,  10 (6), 791-815. Thompson, L. (2011). Making the team: A guide for managers.Northwestern University: Prentice Hall. Timothy, R. and Dorothy, E. (2002). Leadership effectiveness in global virtual teams.  Journal of Management Information Systems, 18 (3), 7-40. This research paper on Virtual Teams as an Important Part of Global Corporations was written and submitted by user Hadley Hendricks to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

All About Americas Gilded Age

All About Americas Gilded Age The Gilded Age. The name, popularized by American author Mark Twain, conjures images of gold and jewels, lavish palaces, and wealth beyond imagination. And indeed, during the period we know as the Gilded Age - the late 1800s to the 1920s - American business leaders amassed huge fortunes, creating a suddenly-rich baron class with a fondness for ostentatious displays of newfound wealth. Millionaires built palatial and often gaudy homes in New York City and summer cottages on Long Island and in Newport, Rhode Island. Before long, even refined families like the Astors, who had been wealthy for generations, joined in the whirlwind of architectural excesses. In large cities and then in upscale resort communities, noted established architects like Stanford White and Richard Morris Hunt were designing enormous homes and elegant hotels that mimicked the castles and palaces of Europe. Renaissance, Romanesque, and Rococo styles merged with the opulent European style known as Beaux Arts. The Gilded Age of architecture usually refers to the opulent mansions of the super-wealthy in the United States. The well-to-do built elaborate second homes in the suburbs or in rural settings while at the same time many more people were living in urban tenements and the decaying farmlands of America. Twain was being ironic and satiric in naming this period of American history. Americas Gilded Age The Gilded Age is a time period, an era in history with no specific beginning or end. Families had accumulated wealth from generation to generation - profits from the Industrial Revolution, the building of the railroads, urbanization, the rise of Wall Street and the banking industry, financial gains from the Civil War and Reconstruction, the manufacturing of steel, and the discovery of American crude oil. The names of these families, such as  John Jacob Astor, live on even today. By the time the book The Gilded Age, A Tale of Today was published in 1873, authors Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner could easily describe what  was behind the ostentation of wealth in post-Civil War America. There is no country in the world, sir, that pursues corruption as inveterately as we do, says one character in the book. Now here you are with your railroad complete, and showing its continuation to Hallelujah and thence to Corruptionville. For some observers, the Gilded Age was a time of immorality, dishonesty, and graft. Money is said to have been made off the backs of an expanding immigrant population who found ready employment with men of industry. Men such as John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie are often considered robber barons. Politcal corruption was so pervasive that Twains 19th century book continues to be used as a reference for the 21st century U.S. Senate. In European history this same time period is called the Belle Époque or the Beautiful Age. Architects, too, jumped on the bandwagon of what is often called conspicuous consumption.  Richard Morris Hunt (1827-1895) and Henry Hobson Richardson (1838-1886) were professionally trained in Europe, leading the way to making architecture a valued American profession. Architects the like of Charles Follen McKim (1847-1909) and Stanford White (1853-1906) learned opulence and elegance by working under the leadership of Richardson. Philadelphian Frank Furness (1839-1912) studied under Hunt. The sinking of the Titanic in 1912 put a damper on the boundless optimism and excessive spending of the era. Historians often mark the end of the Gilded Age with the stock market crash of 1929. The grand homes of the Gilded Age now stand as monuments to this time in American history. Many of them are open for tours, and a few have been converted to luxury inns. The 21st Century Gilded Age The great divide between the wealthy few and the poverty of many is not relegated to the end of the 19th century. In reviewing Thomas Pikettys book Capital in the Twenty-First Century, economist Paul Krugman reminds us that It has become a commonplace to say that we are living in a second Gilded Age - or, as Piketty likes to put it, a second Belle Époque - defined by the incredible rise of the one percent. So, where is the equivalent architecture? The Dakota was the first luxury apartment building in New York City during the first Gilded Age. Todays luxury apartments are being designed all over New York City by the likes of Christian de Portzamparc, Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Jean Nouvel, Herzog de Meuron, Annabelle Selldorf, Richard Meier, and Rafael Vià ±oly - they are todays Gilded Age architects. Gilding the Lilly Gilded Age architecture is not so much a type or style of architecture as it describes an extravagance that is not representative of the American population. It falsely characterizes the architecture of the time. To gild is to cover something with a thin layer of gold - to make something appear more worthy than it is or to attempt to improve that which needs no improvement, to overdo, like gilding a lilly. Three centuries earlier than the Gilded Age, even British playwright William Shakespeare used the metaphor in several of his dramas: To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,To throw a perfume on the violet,To smooth the ice, or add another hueUnto the rainbow, or with taper-lightTo seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.- King John, Act 4, Scene 2 All that glitters is not gold;Often have you heard that told:Many a man his life hath soldBut my outside to behold:Gilded tombs do worms enfold.- The Merchant of Venice, Act 2, Scene 7 Architecture of the Gilded Age: Visual Elements Many of the Gilded Age mansions have been taken over by historic societies or transformed by the hospitality industry. The Breakers Mansion is the largest and most elaborate of Newports Gilded Age cottages. It was commissioned by Cornelius Vanderbilt II, designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt, and built oceanside between 1892 and 1895. Across the waters from the Breakers you can live like a millionaire at  Oheka Castle on Long Island in New York State. Built in 1919, the Chà ¢teauesque summer home was built by financier Otto Hermann Kahn. Biltmore Estate and Inn is another Gilded Age mansion that is both a tourist attraction and a place to rest your head in elegance. Constructed for George Washington Vanderbilt at the end of 19th century, Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina took hundreds of workers five years to complete. Architect Richard Morris Hunt modeled the house after a French Renaissance chateau. Vanderbilt Marble House: Railroad baron William K. Vanderbilt spared no expense when he built a house for his wifes birthday. Designed by Richard Morris Hunt, Vanderbilts grand Marble House,  built between 1888 and 1892, cost $11 million, $7 million of which paid for 500,000 cubic feet of white marble. Much of the interior is gilt with gold. The Vanderbilt Mansion on the Hudson River was designed for Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt. Designed by Charles Follen McKim of McKim, Mead White, the  Neoclassical Beaux-Arts Gilded Age architecture is uniquely set in Hyde Park, New York. Rosecliff Mansion was built for Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs - not a household American name like the Vanderbilts. Nevertheless, Stanford White of McKim, Mead White designed and constructed the Newport, Rhode Island cottage between 1898 and 1902. Sources Why We’re in a New Gilded Age by Paul Krugman, The New York Review of Books, May 8, 2014 [accessed Jun 19, 2016]Getty Images include Rosecliff Mansion by Mark Sullivan; Biltmore Estate by George Rose; Gold Room of Marble House by Nathan Benn/Corbis; and Vanderbilt Mansion on the Hudson by Ted Spiegel/Corbis

Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Globalization - Essay Example Fashion images projected in the films, magazines, television, and the Internet have created a global style that has spread across different cultures and geographic boundaries. T-shirts, blue jeans, baseball caps, and athletic costumes are traded everywhere from China to Manhattan, and to the African villages. Fashion systems in Asia, Africa, and the West borrow different kinds of textile elements and styles from one another. All these styles are housed under one roof in the large shopping malls in the rich countries. These products gain the attention of customers belonging to all age-groups, ethnicities, genders, cultures, and professions like high-tech global bazaars. This trend of the homogenizing effect across countries and cultures as well as the increased variety of costumes and accessories within the geographic locations reflects a global paradox. Although the shopping malls in different countries across the world have similar stores and the products sold are same, yet every si ngle item has a huge variety. There is a seemingly baffling and infinite variety of cuts and fits in jeans both for men and women, ranging from the billowing baggy style to the stretched tight jeans, and from tapered at the ankle jeans to the bell-bottom jeans. Different styles have been developed to suit the individualistic needs of men and women belonging to different age-groups, and having different heights and physiques. â€Å"While a somewhat baggy, â€Å"relaxed† cut can signify dignified middle-aged femininity, a baggy cut taken to excess can signify hyper-masculine ghetto street smarts. Each variation takes its turn as an ephemeral and arbitrary signifier of shifting identities based on age, gender, ethnicity, or subculture† (â€Å"Globalization†). These days, the Fashion week in different cities around the world including Oslo, Berlin, Lahore, and Kiev are the same. The Fashion week was first organized in 1943 in the New York City. In those days, it was not possible for the Americans to visit Paris to know the latest trends in fashion. The objective of the organizers of the event was to attract the American designers. Fashion weeks are events in which both national and international designers get an opportunity to display their works which not only helps them gain the media attention but also earns them millions of tourist dollars in revenue. Proliferation of the fashion weeks all over the world is a potential sign of globalization of the fashion industry. These days, the most impressive fashion weeks are annually organized in London, Paris, New York, and Milan. The fashion industry grew by leaps and bounds as the fashion weeks were started to be organized in the Islamic countries. In the year 2006, the first fashion week was organized in Tehran. This fashion week featured modestly dressed women. The models wore hijabs, abayas, gowns, and other Islamic outfits in bright colors and prints. In the same year, fashion week was arrange d in New Delhi which featured 60 designers. Out of the 160 buyers who were attracted by the event, over 70 were international. The event earned the organizers profit worth $50 million. Globalization of the fashion industry reached its apogee with the use of the Internet. Internet not only spread awareness about the latest fashion trends, but also enabled the consumers to shop the latest

The Routines of Decision Making Math Problem Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Routines of Decision Making - Math Problem Example 2. The maximum purchase price for the pair of bindings is $10.00, as this is the cost of production that differs between the alternatives. In case if the price is higher, the company will be realizing a loss. 3. If the production increases from 10.000 units to 12.500, the fixed costs that change between the alternatives allocated to a pair of skis would be the following: 10.000 / 12.500 = $0.8. The fixed cost of 100.000 should be considered when making the decision, as it does not differ between the alternatives. Since all the rest of the production costs remain unchanged, we can simply add the net change in fixed cost from the total cost of production that varies between the alternatives in order to receive the cost of production for a pair of bindings under the new circumstances: 10.00 + 0.8 = 10.80. When considering the long run (30,000 sales form by the end of the third year), the fixed overhead that varies between the alternatives per pair of bindings is only $0.33 (10.000/30.000). Under this sales volume the company should produce the bindings itself.

Archaeology of Nadia Abu E-Haj Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Archaeology of Nadia Abu E-Haj - Essay Example Nadia Abu E-Haj discusses archeology, nationhood, and settlement. According to him, the historical and social scientific scholarship seeks to understand how the production of memory happens. The author clearly carries out an analysis of nationalism and making a memory. Nationalists are said to believe in the continuity of history, social and political aspects. I support with no doubt that, the practice of archeology is not an instance of making or generating a memory. The author has deeply examined how securing archeology is considered as an intellectual pursuit. The practice of nationhood and archeology are entangled. According to the author despite the information that archeology is a national practice, there are nations that are not interested. I agree that there are speakers that carry out the role of society in guiding the national educational project. The Jewish society is not the only society that engages in teaching value antiques to the public (Elhaj 218). Ron Eachus and Gilbert Herbert, on the other hand, discuss a colonial portrait of Jerusalem. The architecture of Palestine is discussed and the landscape deeply discussed. The author discusses the rationale behind the colonial architecture is traced to the colonial power.

Need for Universal Social Security and Pension Schemes

Need for Universal Social Security and Pension Schemes Securing Old Age Abstract Pension system aims on poverty release, consumption smoothing, and insurance coverage in respect of ageing population. In India, most of the old age citizens are not covered under any social security program. A miniscule number of Government employees and few private sector workers retire with pensions. Majority of the total workforce is engaged in the unorganised sector with no access to old age income security. The issue of old-age security is gaining importance and it is now high on the public policy agenda. The developed countries generally provide pension to those who contribute for pension whereas in majority of the developing countries pensions are provided in a discretionary manner which reduces the coverage of pension. The article discusses the need for a universal pension scheme that will help the working population in the unorganized sector with increased coverage of pension. Key words: Pension scheme, Old age, social security Introduction The increased rate of the aged people in the total population has created a substantial demand for old-age social security. Thus it has become important to provide social security to its elderly people. Pension is one of the major component of old age social security. Developed countries have a good pension system with highly organised formal labour markets. Indian old-age income security is not well developed. India, being a welfare State, has taken upon itself the responsibilities of extending various benefits of Social Security and Social Assistance to its citizens. As per the reports out of an estimated work force of about 397 million, around 28 million workers are having the benefit of formal social security protection in India. Rest of the workers are in the unorganised sector. A well organised social security system for the workers in the unorganised sector will help in improving productivity, contribute to the harmonious labour relations and thus contribute to socio and economic development. Social security is a system of protection of individuals who are in need of such protection by the State as an agent of the society. Such protection is relevant in contingencies such as retirement, resignation, retrenchment, death, disablement which are beyond the control of the individual members of the Society. The current study attempts to examine the need for a universal social security and pension scheme. And a non-contributory pension scheme can guarantee a regular income in old age to all residents of the country, regardless of their earnings or occupation. It explains the scope for implementing a universal pension scheme which will increase the pension coverage and ensures proper income security to the old. The findings suggest that a reasonable increase in the amount of the pension and streamlining the delivery mechanism would significantly help to reduce old-age vulnerabilities. The paper concludes with policy directions for reforming the Indian pension system. The coverage of formal old age security is low, as majority of the population belonging to the informal sector of the developing countries is deprived of old age security. Indian pension system could potentially influence policy decisions in other developing countries with similar reliance on the national provident fund system. Indian provident fund schemes are low coverage and under performance schemes due to the investment restrictions. Majority working populations are engaged in the unorganised sector and have no access to any formal system of old age economic securities like provident fund and pension fund. Public sector employees are privileged with a vast pension provisions while private sector employees are aggrieved with low returns from their benefit schemes. Old age and social security The disappearance of large family system in India that took care of the social security needs of all members has necessitated provision of social security for senior citizens. For the senior citizens, social security can works like a protection cell which provides security through the medical benefit and old age pension plan. Social security pensions are meant to help disadvantaged sections of society such as the elderly, widows and disabled persons to live with basic financial security. Social security has gained paramount importance in the changed economic scenario. Social security programmes are actively undertaken even in developed nations. Social security is the financial assistance provided by the Government to the needy citizens such as disabled persons, aged persons, widows, unemployed youths, survivors of the deceased workers to promote their welfare by enabling them to access to food, shelter, health etc. social security acts as safety net for the disadvantageous sections of the society. Social security has gained paramount importance in the changed economic scenario. India also has enacted many social security measures for its needy citizens. In order to protect the welfare of unorganized workers the legislative measures namely minimum wages Act, 1948, the employees compensation Act, 1923, the maternity benefit Act, 1961, the bonded labour system (Abolition) Act, 1976, the contract labour (Regulation Abolition) Act, 1970, the inter-state migrant workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979, the building and other construction workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, etc. were implemented. In India, the elderly population is projected to reach 116 million in 2016 and 179 million in 2026. This raises the need for an effective system of pension. Population in India across Different Age Groups (million) Source: Census of India Percentage Distribution of Population by Broad Age Groups, Sex and Residence, 2012 Source: Sample Registration System (2012). Old age social security plays a pivotal role in a welfare state and one of its’ major components is pension. Pension provides a long-term income security in old age. Need for Pension scheme Need for Pension arises because of: à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · One is not as productive in the old age as in youth. à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · The rise in the nuclear family system as compared to earlier joint family system. à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · Migration of younger earning members as they are no longer interested in their family business. à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · Rapidly growing informal and unorganized sector. à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · Rise in cost of living. à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · Urbanization andimproved standard of life à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · Increase in the life span because of good medical facilities. à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · Bringing unorganized sector into formal scheme of pension. Unlike most of the developing countries, India did not have a universal social security system for the old aged people. As there is no formal pension scheme in India for the newly appointees, a need was felt to have a scheme so that people can save for their future when they are no longer working. Pension is a financial tool for old-age income security. These are generally defined as monthly payments made on superannuation to an individual to enable her/him maintain a decent standard of living post retirement and in old age. The developed countries generally provide pension to those who contribute for pension whereas in majority of the developing countries like India, pensions are provided on a discretionary basis which reduces the overall coverage of pension. The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) was introduced in India in 1995. Currently, five schemes come under the NSAP: the IGNOAPS, the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS), the National Family Benefit Scheme and the Annapurna Scheme. The central government makes a diminutive contribution of Rs 200 per month per person to old-age pensions, raised to Rs 500 per month under IGNOAPS, for persons aged 80 years and above. The patterns of usage of the pension are indicative of its importance in the lives of the benefi ciaries. The accepted defined benefit pension system, which was the broader goal of a welfare state, is slowly giving way to the defined contribution system where risk is borne by the final beneficiaries. Pension reforms in India in the last decade have seen three major initiatives a paradigmatic shift in the civil servants pension scheme, the National Pension Scheme for all citizens and the New Pension System Lite for the economically disadvantaged sections with small savings. Pension system in India Pension plansprovide financial security and stability during old age when people dont have aregular source of income. Retirement plan ensures that people live with pride andwithout compromising on their standard of living during advancing years. Pension scheme gives an opportunity to invest and accumulate savings and get lump sumamount as regular income through annuity plan on retirement. The history of the Indian pension system dates back to the colonial period of British-India. The Royal commission on civil Establishments, in 1881first provided pension benefits to the government employees. Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935 made further provisions and expanded the retirement benefits to the entire public sector workforce. Several provident funds were set up after the independence to extend the coverage to private sector employees. Indian pension system largely hinges on financing through employer and employee participation. It denied the vast majority of the unorganised workforce’s access to formal channels of old age economic support. A common objection to social security pensions is that they might displace or undermine family support for widows and the elderly. Traditionally, joint family structures in India worked as a hedge against old-age economic crisis and a support network that precluded the need for third-party pension instruments. Universal Social Security and Pension Schemes Table: Details of Pension Beneficiaries of Selected Pension Schemes Source: Economic Political Weekly and Government of India. Universal pension schemes are often criticized for high fiscal costs. Recently Government of India announced a slew of low-cost pension and insurance schemes, in the budget for 2015-16. It includes least half-dozen social security schemes like Atal Pension Yojana and Universal Social Security scheme that will lead to a universal social security system for all, especially the poor and the underprivileged. Atal Pension Yojana will provide defined pension according to contribution. Of this, 50 percent contribution would be made by the government The government proposes to work towards Universal Social Security for all Indians. These social schemes reflect the intention that no person suffers from avoidable pain due to illness, old age. In countries like Canada and New Zealand, a progressive income tax system taxes the pensions for higher income individuals, making even the universal pension system relatively targeted. However, most of the lower income countries which might institute a universal pension system may not have a progressive income tax structure and may find it difficult to use the tax system to make the universal pension more targeted. Depending on the income distribution within the country, making the pension small enough may be sufficient for higher income individuals to not bother with collecting the pension. Such is the case in Nepal where higher income Nepalese often do not collect the very low universal benefits. A second set of issues arise regarding the service delivery for a universal pension. In the case of Namibia, despite a mandate for a universal pension, many rural elderly were not receiving the pension. The reasons ranged from lack of access to the pension distribution network and difficulties with verifying age and eligibility to different types of fraud. However, the administrative cost of the system was raised. Since poorer regions are harder to reach, the poorest may still not be reachable with a universal pension without a sizable investment in administrative capacity. This service delivery issue applies to all types of social pensions, not just the universal type. Some countries as noted above, offer universal pensions to all residents above a certain age regardless of income or assets. Even non-citizens who have fulfilled a minimum residency requirement in the country are often eligible. Universal pensions are clearly the best way to drastically reduce old age poverty since all the elderly, regardless of work or contribution experience, are eligible to receive some benefit. However, as with any universal benefit, many people who will be receiving it will not be poor. As a result, in terms of poverty reduction achieved per dollar spent, the expenditure may not be wholly effective. Furthermore, in the countries where such programs have been adopted, such as Namibia13 and Mauritius, cost considerations are forcing the governments to move toward means-testing and other methods of providing old age security. Universal pensions systems involve less administrative apparatus and administrative costs than targeted systems, but the actual benefits, since they are received by the nonpoor as well as the poor, cost more. A large proportion of Indias population is without insurance of any kind, health, accidental or life. Worryingly, as the young population ages, it is also going to be pension-less. Conclusions The current study attempts to examine the need for a universal pension for the elderly. Indian financial sector reforms have made significant progress in the spheres of banking and capital market. But sectors like insurance and pension are still hitherto untouched sectors. India has low coverage pension and the pension system is unable to fulfil its purpose. Since independence, many reforms have been initiated. The introduction of a universal pension scheme will facilitate social security and also helps in assuring the young that in old age there would be national savings to take care of any difficulties, implying that over-accumulation is not necessary during the younger days. The introduction of a universal pension scheme will enhance the welfare of the working cohorts of India majority of whose future lies in uncertainty.

Come Shouting to Zion and the development of African-American Religious Culture :: Religion Shouting Zion Essays

Come Shouting to Zion and the development of African-American Religious Culture Missing Works Cited In detailing the long process by which African-Americans came to embrace Protestant Christianity and shape their own unique form of it, Frey and Wood emphasize African agency throughout. Their case is better supported by evidence in the 19th century than in the 18th, during which time Christianity had little effect on slave society through the efforts of Anglicans, not so much because Africans rejected the gospel as because whites withheld Christian brotherhood from blacks. As blacks in the American South and in the British Caribbean struggled to develop individual and collective identities from the persistent remnants of African culture and their new conditions of life, the series of efforts by evangelicals to convert slaves eventually gave rise to a distinct African-American form of Christian theology, worship style, and religious community. The importance of religion among African Americans, as among all people, rests on fulfilling the human need for an understanding of one’s place in both the spiritual and temporal world. While it is difficult, as Frey and Wood concede, to know with certainty what lay behind Africans’ confessions of conversion to Christianity, we can understand how religion played a critical role in defining social relationships among slaves and between blacks and whites. Frey and Wood explain the appeal and success of Evangelicalism among slaves when they assert, â€Å"Deprived of their traditional supernatural means of dealing with recurrent life crises, [African-Americans] discovered in evangelical conversion requirements an opportunity to reassert personal authority based on their ability to communicate directly with God and to bring others to recognize the need for personal repentance and acceptance of Jesus† (109). One early example that supports this link between religiou s involvement and a sense of personal identity, if not between conversion and increasing social prestige or power, is found in a slave woman who tells Moravian missionaries that her people have come from across the sea and lost their father and mother, and therefore want to know the Moravians’ Father above. The displacement of Africans, for whom locality was critical to interactions with the spiritual world, did not deprive them of their religious cosmologies, but required them to learn the spiritual landscape of their new home and reshape their practices accordingly. Come Shouting to Zion details the many religious rituals that Africans preserved in the new world, especially those surrounding fundamental life events such as the birth and naming of children, marriage, burial ceremonies, and ritual dancing and singing to communicate with ancestors and deities.

Grimm Fairy Tales

Anonymous Disneyfied Fairy Tales Everybody knows how Cinderella found her glass slipper after dancing at the ball. Snow White and Sleeping Beauty were awoken by true loves kiss and lived happily ever after. The Little Mermaid longed to live on shore to be with that one special person. The thing that people don’t know is that the tales are wrong. Grimm Fairy tales are the original fairy tales dating back to early Germany. Disney took the fairy tales and put their own spin on them to be more appealing to children.The origin of the fairytales cast a large shadow over the new â€Å"Disneyfied† tales with major transformations, differences, and a syndrome that sparked from the change as well as up rises among feminists in the community. The Grimm Brothers were German professors who grew famous for publishing classic fairy tales and through their work in linguistics. Linguistics relates to how the sound in words shift over time through translations, specifically relating to h ow translations of tales were changed because of the switching between languages (Grimm Fairy Tales).Before being professors and taking an interest in linguistics, it was a tragedy that originally brought them to discovering the fairytales. Without the tragedy, who knows if the fairy tales would be around today? The Grimm Brothers grew interested in the fairy tales after their father died unexpectedly and the family grew very poor (Brothers Grimm). The Brothers later met a wise man that brought them to a library filled with old books containing a couple tales (Brothers Grimm). The flame continued as they read the tales and grew more of an interest.They started to listen to people’s favorite stories in order to hear vocal patterns and while doing this; it helped them to record the tales that would be later published (Grimm’s Fairy Tales). By understanding the linguistics behind story telling they were able to understand how the pieces of the tale fit together as best as possible. The Grimm Brothers were determined to preserve the true Germanic folktales as they were, however, once popularity spread amongst them, pieces in the story started changing (Brothers Grimm).Originally, the fairy tales were meant to be told at campfires and in taverns as entertainment to adults, not primarily to children like it is nowadays (Layt). Over the years, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm began a collection of the fairytales in the 1800’s that were like the previous European generations- gruesome and cruel (Brothers Grimm). By spending time in the library for a while, the brothers interest flourished and they officially gathered all the fairy tales in one big book that they named their own (Brothers Grimm).They began their own collection of books with stories and folktales, telling them mostly to women (Brothers Grimm). Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm kept a record of the tales and published them officially in 1812 called â€Å"Children’s and Household Tales†, w ith a follow up edition in 1814 (Hunt). Over the various new editions to the collections, the Brothers due to word pronunciation, altered the books as well as changing possible implications of sex, pregnancy and parents changed minor details (The Brothers Grimm).In the Grimm brothers first book, it contained 86 folktales and was popular and very successful (â€Å"Grimm†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). In the next volume, â€Å"Grimm’s Fairy Tales†, 70 more stories were added (â€Å"Grimm†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). After 6 editions, the book contained over 200 stories (â€Å"Grimm†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). The Brothers hard work and dedication throughout the course of making the books led to it being one of the most well known works of German literature in history (â€Å"Grimm†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). The time period in which the books were written reflects Germany’s state of being in many small Germanic communities.Fairy Tales takes places in Kingdoms, much like the small communities seen in Germany at t he time (The Brothers Grimm). This also is an indication of alterations between tales due to the fact there was no unification and as the tale went through the grapevine, making it was easy for things to get changed or mixed up. The fairy tales show life lessons about strangers, trust, and watching what you wish for and carry’s on to be the foundation for popular fairy tales today (The Brothers Grimm).Throughout the stories, abusive parents, distressed damsels, and chivalry are the building blocks for most classic Disney movies (The Brothers Grimm). It wasn’t until the 19th and 20th centuries that original fairy tales became more focused towards children rather than adults (origin). As the focus shifted and things got changed from history, Disney producers feared that by only showing interpretations of Grimm Fairy Tales, it can cause people to lose sight of what the actual fairy tales were (Brothers Grimm).Although things were altered over time, nothing can take away f rom the stories core, spreading them around the world in more than 160 languages (Brothers Grimm). As time went on, other editors changed things as well. They became softer and sweeter, spreading morality, unlike their original descendants from the Germanic folktales (Brothers Grimm). The Grimm Tales show angry, wild beasts in dark forests. Disney shows a softer side by making all animals nice and only changing the mood to horror if completely necessary for the shortest amount of time possible (Disneyfication).American producers now feel that fairy tales must end with a happy ending, ruining the message that was intended to be sent by original fairy tales (Teramis). Modern day authors take the stories and add new humor to take away from the â€Å"scariness† of the tale (Berner). New endings provide unique twists that were altered to create a different version seen in Disney fairytales (Berner). Everybody knows the story of the beautiful girl, Cinderella and how she was saved from her horrible life from a handsome prince and carried off into the sunset to live happily ever after.However, that’s the way that Disney portrays but Grimm’s fairy tales has a little bit of a different view towards it. In the original Cinderella, it is her mother’s words on her bedside before she dies that pushed Cinderella to be the best she can and not to let the abuse her stepmother and stepsisters put on her dragging her down (Holler). In the movie by Disney, he real mother isn’t even mentioned which leaves a hole in the story that may be confusing at first.After years of slaving away for her stepmother and stepsisters, the invitation for the Prince’s ball comes in and they all prepare to go. A slight alteration between the movie and the fairy tales was that it wasn’t just a one-day ball that happened, but a 3-day festival (Taylor). The Prince would look for Cinderella and would only dance with her, turning down any other offers give n to him (Taylor). On the third night, she hurried home because her stepsisters and stepmother was coming home, not because the magic in her dress was wearing off (Taylor).Referring to the magic seen in the movie, in the fairytale itself there is actually no magic present at all or even fairy godmother. Although she exists in the movie and gives Cinderella her beautiful dress and pumpkin coach, she does not exist (Taylor). In the original tale, birds bring a gold dress with gold shoes lined with satin for her to wear (Taylor). Not only is the Godmother made up, but the portrayal of the slippers and blue dress was misleading in the movie as well (Taylor). In another version of the story, the translation between languages may have mixed up the slipper even more.The French words â€Å"verre† and â€Å"vair† sound extremely close meaning that it is uncertain if she had a fur slipper, a glass slipper, or like seen in another translation, a golden slipper (Layt). While at th e ball, it shows her leaving behind her slipper by accident, however, in the Grimm version, the prince convinces her to leave her slipper behind so that he may go find her after the ball (Aschenputtel). In the movie, when the Prince goes to find Cinderella to try on the slipper, he encounters her stepsisters who try to cram their feet into the slippers to prove that it was them he was dancing with.In Grimm’s fairytales, the stepsisters try cutting off their toes and heels from orders of their stepmother so the Prince may take them home (Layt). After the sisters force their feet to fit into the slipper, the prince believed them until he noticed the blood coming from the shoe (Taylor). For a prince who seemed so in love with Cinderella, it shows Grimm’s dark side considering he couldn’t tell the difference between the women and solely relied on the fact that the shoe fit. The prince didn’t realize it was Cinderella right away like in the movie.Due to the st epmothers and stepsisters attempt to trick the prince, the birds who brought her dress to her pecked the eyes out of them for their wickedness showing the harsh Germanic tales that provided exquisite detail (Layt). After they get their eyes pecked out, they live as blind beggars for the rest of their lives with a broken bond between Cinderella and her fortunes (Differences†¦). Cinderella lives happily ever after, however, the stepmother and stepsisters don’t live fortunately like what is shown in the movie with no money, no house, and no toes.Snow White is a loved classic from Disney that shows a beautiful girl who stumbles upon a quaint little cottage in the woods and lives with dwarves until her prince comes to save her. In the original Snow White, it featured her and her sister Red Rose who encountered angry dwarves (Taylor). It is uncertain why the fairytale split it into just Snow White and the dwarves without mentioning her sister (Taylor). The classic poison apple that is seen in Disney’s Snow White was not the original plan of attack from the evil Queen.At first it was silk that the Queen disguised as an old hag brought to the house. She wrapped her up in it so tight that she couldn’t breathe and appeared dead when he dwarves returned home (Taylor). Fortunately, the dwarves saved Snow White when they returned home and cut the laces of the silk, allowing her to breathe again and restore her back to life (Taylor). Not only was there the attempted murder with the silk, but she also tried to poison Snow White with a comb that would make her senseless when contacted with her (Taylor).On the Queen’s third attempt, she finally killed Snow White with a slice of an apple that she poisoned (Taylor). The dwarves were unable to awaken her, however, a glass coffin was made so she could be displayed to show her beauty, even when she was dead (Taylor). The attempts at murder that the Queen did was a different change from the movie tha t only showed the one successful attempt. In the Disney classic, it was not true loves kiss that awakened her, but when the dwarves were carrying her coffin and hit a bump, it dislodged the piece of apple from her throat and allowed her to awaken again (Taylor).Out of the Queens jealousy, she tried to kill Snow White. Snow White’s birth mother died after giving birth and her father remarried and although never mentioned in any Disney movie, the Queen is her jealous stepmother much like Cinderella (Taylor). Despite that small misconception, the biggest and bloodiest change in Snow White comes from the Queen who not only wants her stepdaughter dead, but also wants her heart so she can eat it (Layt). Depending on the translation, the Queen may of asked for other internal organs such as the liver, lungs, intestines, etc. Layt). Unlike the fatal ending in Disney’s Snow White, the Queen must suffer for her wickedness by dancing around on hot iron shoes until she drops dead a t Snow Whites wedding party (Layt). Unfortunately, it wasn’t a quick death off a cliff like seen in the movie. Snow White was one of the earliest and most changed tales from the Grimm’s collection; yet, it is still loved for its originality today. With scarce amounts of detail, the classic story of Sleeping Beauty is one of the most exaggerated tales due to lack of original content (Disneyfication).They needed enough material in the movie by Disney to cover two hours worth of film, changing and elongating the tale greatly (Disneyfication). Disney’s film features a beautiful, young girl named Aurora, Rose for short. In the Grimm’s tales, she is known as Briar-Rose because she lived in it for 100 years of sleep was engulfed in thorns and bushes making it impossible for someone to save her (Dornroschen). Unfortunately, with the new productions and marketing, the evil dragon outside the castle wrapped in the thorns (Dornroschen).However, thorns were a major a nd difficult barrier to get through, but there wasn’t any magical dragon that breathed fire (Dornroschen). The famous spindle is a symbolic feature of the Disney film, but in the original fairy tale, she does not prick her finger on a spindle but does get a piece of flax stuck under her finger nail that causes her to fall asleep, she is put into a deep sleep for 100 years (Layt). While sleeping, a Prince climbs through the barriers and up to her sleeping body but instead of awakening her sleeping with a kiss, he rapes her and causes her to give birth to twins while sleeping (Layt).It is not the Prince’s kiss that will cause her to awaken, but her child sucking on her finger that dislodges the piece of flax under her finger nail, allowing her to wake up early from the 100 years. She wakes up to a very confusing situation with a husband she did not know and kids she didn’t remember having (Layt). The spunky redheaded mermaid under the sea is a well- known classic from Disney. Disney portrays the tale with a mermaid who longs to be a human and sees a prince that she wants to meet pushing her to go on shore even more.She gives up her voice to an evil sea witch to be with him and ends up marrying him, living happily ever after. In the original fairy tale, it is not because her voice was taken away that she couldn’t talk, but because of excessive amounts of pain she felt every time she walked due to her weak leg muscles (Differences†¦). With a young audience from Disney, the Little Mermaid is not lucky enough to have the man she wants and is offered a knife from her sister to kill him as revenge (Differences†¦). Unfortunately, he was not in love with her and she must kill him to revert her back to her â€Å"mermaid† self again (Differences†¦).In Disney’s version, they transformed the ending dramatically. Instead of a sea witch tricking him, she is unable to kill the prince with the knife provided by her sister , so instead she plunges herself into the ocean because she cannot bare to see him with anyone else (Differences†¦). This causes her body to turn into sea foam and she basically commits suicide ending the tale(Differences†¦). Through the recreations of tales, little girls assume that they will live as those in Disney movies (Grimm vs. Disney).Some may grow out of it; however, others may develop Fairy Tale Syndrome (Grimm vs. Disney). Girls who suffer from Fairy Tale Syndrome tend to struggle with relationships, trying to make the wrong guy fit into their lives (Fairytale Syndrome). They are unable to realize you can’t fit a square peg in a round hole. Without realizing it, almost everyone suffers from Fairytale Syndrome meaning that they need that prince to come and sweep them off their feet (Dolnick). It is a subconscious occurrence that people cant help.People think they are in love when they fall under fairytale syndrome. Love is a chemical reaction and when peop le fall in love, their brains release certain kinds of chemicals that puts people on a â€Å"high† making it harder to be resistant in a break up (Dolnick). Love is so emphasized in modern day society that some people may not even realize that they are actually addicted to it (Dolnick). Girls pretend to be something their not causing emotional stress in fear that no one will like them for who they are and feel like they must change (Gender Roles).Girls develop the feeling of being rushed into relationships from the influence of The Little Mermaid who immediately changes her whole life to be with him (Snow White Syndrome). This causes problems in girl’s lives because they didn’t wait and followed the moves (Snow White Syndrome). It is believed that girls agonize over their appearance due to the glamorizing alterations Disney has made, setting high standards for every girl if she wants someone to come for her (Snow White Syndrome). The portrayal of princesseâ€⠄¢s lives make young kids believe everything will come easy to them (Grimm vs. Disney).The view of what is normal to children as they read and watch fairytales act as early foundation for socialization processes of children that may cause them to believe everything comes easy (Kuykendal). Adopted or stepchildren may develop a specific syndrome called â€Å"Cinderella Syndrome† (Syndrome Diagnoses). This leads them to make outrageous stories of abuse and isolation such as what Cinderella suffered from (Syndrome Diagnoses). The portrayal of Cinderella in Disney’s film reflects that women are dependent and terrified unless they are accompanied by a Prince, causing emotional issues in girls (Cinderella Syndrome).Although women may appear okay on the surface, on the inside they are dependent on men due to the demand the Prince receives (Cinderella Syndrome). It doesn’t matter what age; it appears that most women depend on men. While suffering form fairytale syndrome, you may also fall into a Soul Mate Fantasy (Fairytale syndrome). People who have this believe you will meet one person and you will know they are the one and will fall in love right away (Fairytale Syndrome). Although Soul Mate Fantasy may sound harmless, it is often the path towards self-destruction.People tend to set standards too high and cant find anyone or they will fall too fast for someone causing them to get hurt leaving them with emotional issues (Fairytale Syndrome). Master Servant Fantasy may occur as well. This means that people think a rich, handsome man will scoop them up out of their ordinary lives and bring them up to the riches they have (Fairytale Syndrome). What girls don’t realize is that you don’t have to drag yourself down to the bottom with the hopes that maybe someone will come along and pick you up (Fairytale Syndrome).It is believed the Disneyfied fairytales can cause a lot of mental insecurities. If Grimm Fairytales remained as originals, gi rls would not feel this false sense of hope they are receiving from movies. Critics claim that by reading the fairytales, it creates gender stereotypes in kid’s minds showing how they are supposed to act; most of the time women being inferior to men (Kuykendal). A repetitive exposure to gender roles was concerning researchers with fear that a child may grow up with low self esteem (Kuykendal).Critics began to question a child development after they noticed the gender patterns in fairytales around the 1960’s (Kuykendal). After being stripped of its violence in the 17th century, it as greatly criticized in the 18th century and on (Sexes). A set of critics claims Disney productions are sexist (Sexes). New goals formed amongst feminist writers stating that they would try to depict a character that is empowered regardless of the gender they have (Kuykendal). Authors must now revision classic works to reinvent powerful women, male protagonists, and feminist narratives in the ir writing (Kuykendal).Many new feminist authors are altering and are rewriting original fairytales to fit in feminist views rather than fractured or corrupt fairytales (Kuykendal). As new times progress, feminist writers are striving to reject the weak, submissiveness of women and show them that they can be just as strong as men (Kuykendal). In Disney films, a woman always needs a man to save her. A woman is never strong enough to stop them and needs a man to step in for them (Origin). Feminist believe there are two types of women shown in Disney fairytales.The good women are always passive and victimized (Kuykendal). On the contrary, bad women must always be killed or punished. Feminists argue that the powerful figures are always evil and submissive women are rewarded with a happy ending (Kuykendal). Feminist argue that powerful, smart women in fairytales always have a false interpretation because in Disney’s productions they are always hags, witches, or deranged stepmother s (Sexes). Only powerful, immortal women in fairytale are powerful and strong, showing the separation between mortal and immortal (Kuykendal).Mortal women are beautiful yet weak and immortal figures can be beautiful and powerful (Kuykendal). All evil villains in Disney movies act as targets to get killed because they abused the power they were given and it backfired on them very badly (Kuykendal). The only exception to mortal women being powerful is if they are ugly or evil (Kuykendal). In some cases, women with power are ugly and evil showing how only good, submissive women can succeed (Kuykendal). Classic Disney movies also shape men’s views as looking at them as objects of pleasure and servants (Sexism). Women are looked at as images of sex.When men meet princesses, they automatically fall in love with them. Men have no interest in anything else except for the fact that they are beautiful (Chaos). Cinderella is saved from horrible living conditions and gets married to a pr ince because she is beautiful and no other reason (Disney Princesses). Snow White is believed to have been saved by her beauty and sexuality. She was attempted to be killed because of her beauty that imposed a threat to another woman (Disney Princesses). Sleeping beauty was cursed at birth because of a political position amongst her parents.She is killed by another woman out of spite and is woken by a kiss because of the attraction of her sexuality (Disney Princesses). Lastly, the Little Mermaid drastically changes her appearance so she can be more attractive to men. Her voice is taken in exchange but it is her sexuality that makes him fall in love with her making her voice useless (Disney Princesses). Stories portray women as weak, submissive, dependable, and self sacrificing while men remain as powerful figures. Women are always beautiful, however they lack power to control their lives unlike men who are handsome and unstoppable (Kuykendal).Not only are gender stereotypes imposed through women in fairytales but in men as well setting an individual set of standards for them as well (Sexism). In several studies, it was concluded that there was many patterns showing male dominance and female subservience (Kuykendal). Also, in Disney films, it shows how men are defined through primarily physical fitness and appearance (Sexism). Disney movies also show men that have the classic body type for men that is extremely fit and in shape. Only those who are handsome and in shape will get the girl (Sexism).In many films, the outcast in society is seen as opposites to the manly figures being sensitive, short, and not physically fit as the bodies of the heroes (Sexism). All women in fairytales must be moral and are expected to look beyond appearances to what’s inside. Men are allowed to be shallow, however, all women must rise above this (Chaos). In most films, the climax scenes always focus on a man fighting for power to either win a woman’s heart or for prid e in themselves (Sexism). In spite of children’s concerns, feminist caution parents to be careful of what they are exposing their children to.Fairy tales can be immensely influential on children’s minds and by relaying the wrong message it can be harmful (Kuykendal). Fairytales have developed and changed over time, however the building blocks from the Grimm’s Fairy Tales will always be the classics. Disney has changed and modified things but the originals still remain. The new productions show different views and could be potentially harmful to the youth. The Grimm’s Fairy tales will always be a famous work of classic literature that contains only the real stories of fairytales.

U.S. vs. U.N Security Council essays

U.S. vs. U.N Security Council essays The relationship between the United States and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has been very unstable. With most of the international conflicts that occurred during and after the Cold War, the United States has constantly found itself on the defensive with the U.N. and other nations. Where American idealism was the motivating force behind the creation of the United Nations during the waning days of World War II, it was American values that shaped the world organization. However, with the mist of the Cold War arising, the United Nations mirrored the increasing antagonistic competition between the United States and the Soviet Union. United States foreign policy revolved around the prevention of communism and Soviet expansion while the foreign policy goals of the United Nations began to stray away from U.S. policies. With the beginning of the decolonization process emerging, hostile Third World coalitions began to form (which the Soviets allied with) with strong anger towards both European powers and the United States. As a result, U.S. attitude toward the United Nations was filled with wariness and hostility, thus, the U.S. started to become less multilateral and more unilateral in making foreign policy decisions. Although the United States retreated back towards U.N. policies at the end of the Cold War (Reagan Administration), the U.S. has once again has determined its decision making on global security without the support of the United Nations. Despite the fact that the mere creation of the U.N. was to encourage and ensure international security and peace, key questions must be considered- whether or not UNSC approval is necessary for a major power to enter into a conflict or participate in humanitarian intervention. In addition, is the Security Council able to determine what conflicts are just or ethical? In order to answer these important questions, the relationship bet ...

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