Sunday, October 13, 2019
The Functionalist and Marxist Views on the Purpose of Socialisation Es
The Functionalist and Marxist Views on the Purpose of Socialisation Functionalists and Marxists have very similar theories as to the socialisation process. I intend to show this and compare these similarities. There are many well-known functionalists but I am mainly focusing on the views of Talcott Parsons and Emile Durkheim in particular. There are many aspects of the socialisation process to cover both concerning functionalist and Marxist views, these include cultures (made up of many different branches), values (peoples beliefs), and norms (patterns of behaviour). Also primary and secondary socialisation. Functionalists and Marxists both share similar views on the socialisation process. Both viewpoints are based on the substructure of society this is formed by many external influences as follows; the family, media, religion, education and, the state. Both functionalist and Marxists believe that we are the products of social stimuli and are socialised according to our external influences. They both believe in the "top-down" theory seeing society as a stage with all these influences shaping our individual identities. " If society were a stage then we individuals are simply puppets dancing to the tune of the social structures that shape our identities- indeed our lives" (1) Functionalist and Marxists may have similar views but they do not share the same views as to why this process is. I personally believe that in a way we are like puppets, and that we are socialised into what is "right and wrong". I believe the biggest influence to be in the family, because the family are concerned with everything that shapes you... ... a lower class. To me this is wrong, as lower class seems to be putting one in ones place, lower being the operative word. The media do expose people being the positive side but then when one looks at copycat crimes you can't help but blame the media. A lot of influence does come in way of the family but this stems back generations and some adapt quicker to change than others. These too have been socialised by their peers and unfortunately can result in these inequalities in society remaining. However if people did not conform to the norms/values that society thrusts upon them, and there were many deviants, this would surely result in anarchy. But so it is, people do conform, and surely enough society roles on as, as both functionalist and Marxists agree " society is more important than the individuals within it"(12)
Saturday, October 12, 2019
“Citizens of a kind†:: Essays Papers
â€Å"Citizens of a kind†The following clippings from regional Irish newspapers begin in 1923, soon after the founding of the state, and continue to the present day in chronological order. The premise informing the selection is that Travellers are caught in a dynamic of colonialism – misunderstood by the majority they live amongst, and disadvantaged by their difference. Their situation is comparable, in many instances, to that of gypsies throughout Europe and the indigenous minorities of many ex-colonies. It is no coincidence that attitudes toward Travellers, as evidenced by some of the following clippings, hardened in the decades following the founding of the Irish State in the 1920s. The early years of the republic were difficult economically, and a nationalist ideology of a homogenous, mono-cultural, unquestioningly Catholic united state was perpetuated as a consolation for the loss of privileges enjoyed as part of the Empire. The transfer from colonial to post-colonial status problematised the pla ce of this minority population, and internal tensions surfaced in the absence of a colonial presence to demonise. I have concentrated on papers covering the general West of Ireland / Connacht area (Galway, Mayo and Roscommon), and in particular, articles dealing with Galway, since this is my hometown, and a traditional Traveller stronghold. Most clippings are from the longstanding Connacht Tribune. In a report on a Galway Urban Council meeting entitled â€Å"Nomads in Galway: Citizens fear an epidemic†(Connacht Tribiune 10 Mar. 1923: 5), the old colonial fear of being contaminated by the Other (in fact, a fear of secretly being or becoming the Other) is detectable: Mr J.P. O’Brien wrote on behalf of a number of citizens stating that unless the council took steps to have the gypsies who are camping†¦removed, there was a danger of epidemic breaking out. He pointed out that it was illegal for these people to camp within the urban area. They could camp a quarter of a mile outside the urban area, and then only for a couple of days. The strategy of distancing is implicit in the use of the words ‘gypsy’ and ‘nomad’, which connote that these people are somehow foreign, and most explosively, in the use of ‘gypsy’, that they are actually British. (Within the British Isles, gypsies are from Wales and England only.) The word gypsy is a dispossessing of their Irishness, and it is easier to be cruel to what is constructed as being outside the self in a new state where the ideology of nationalism is uppermost.
Friday, October 11, 2019
Film Analysis: The Bird Cage Essay
In the year 1996, Mike Nichols decided to produce and direct the film version of the highly successful 1978 stage play La Cage Aux Follies. Geared towards the western tastes of the American audience, he called the movie The Bird Cage and presented the public with a hilarious yet informative movie about a gay man who fathers a son after an affair with a woman. The film showcases the brilliant talent of Robin Williams as Armand Goldman, father to Val Goldman as portrayed by Dan Futterman. Nathan Lane flawlessly essays the role of Albert Goldman, the â€Å"wife†involved in the homosexual relationship with Armand. Christine Baranski plays Katherine Archer, the biological mother of Val who had a one night stand with the openly gay Armand.            The movie gives us a glimpse into the reality that gay bashing and fear of homosexuals is really an unfounded fear that society insists on propagating rather than understanding that just because a person is homosexual, it does not mean he stops being a real live person. Any homophobic person who views the movie must do so while making the effort to keep an open mind about the topic. The reality is that there is nothing to fear from these people. They, just like any normal person continuously struggles for acceptance and they are normal functioning human beings. They are not an illness, nor a curse from god. Since Val was raised in a homosexual household, he is quite comfortable with his father and â€Å"stepmother†because they function as a family unit. Proving therefore that the dynamics of a family exists regardless of whether the child is raised in a same sex or normal couple household. To Val, there is nothing strange about his family and he is highly confident of his sexuality. His beliefs about how normal his household is get shaken the day he gets engaged to Barbara Keeley ( Calista Flockhart), the daughter of Senator Kevin Keeley, founder of the Coalition for Moral Order, as the name of the organization implies, the good senator would never approve of his daughter marrying a man raised in a homosexual household. In an effort to gain the approval of the senator for their engagement, Val must convince Armand to pretend to be a straight heterosexual for just one night and pretend to be a man with Katherine at his side.            As the night progresses and the best laid plans of Val begin to unravel and his secret threatens to become exposed with the arrival of his â€Å"grandmother†, who is really Albert Goldman in drag, Val realizes how unique his confusing family really is and that it does not matter if he was raised by 2 homosexuals. He eventually comes clean and everything works out in the end.            The Bird Cage is a movie that carries with it a very serious message regarding homophobia and the society that at the time could still be considered intolerant of gay partnerships. Indeed a lot has changed in the past 11 years since this movie was created. At the time the movie was filmed, Director Nichols was setting out to inform the viewing public about the misconceptions and myths about homosexuality by encouraging the homophobic viewer to become more tolerant of the alternative sex while understanding that they too have a place and bring a balance to the world we live in.            In an in independent review by James Berardinelli back in 1996, he praised the film for its creativity and humor in dealing with such a delicate topic as a child raised in a same sex family. Something which at the time was only whispered about. Mr. Berardinelli commented that â€Å"The Birdcage rivals A Midwinter’s Tale for the funniest movie released thus far in 1996. In fact, the film is so boisterously entertaining that it’s easy for the unsuspecting viewer not to realize that there’s a message here. The structure of The Birdcage is designed to show us that there isn’t much difference between conservatives and liberals or straight and gay people. Nichols’ picture preaches tolerance and understanding, but neatly camouflages such themes beneath gaudy sets, colorful costumes, and unrestrained humor. The script has a few lulls, and there are times when it doesn’t make a lot of sense, but there are few better ways to spend a chilly winter evening than peering through the bars of The Birdcage.†           These days, homosexual relationships have begun to receive a certain amount of tolerance and acceptance by society. Although, society still frowns upon allowing a homosexual or, for that matter, lesbian couple to raise a child in a same sex household fearing that such a set up would confuse the child and encourage the child to follow the lifestyle he was immersed in all his life causing the child to become a homosexual, lesbian, or have a certain type of sexual abnormality about the child.            In a normal family, a mother or father is identified by his sexuality. Therefore there is no way to tell who is which in a homosexual family right? Wrong. When you ask a gay couple who is the mother or father in the situation, they will always have a ready answer. This is because one of them seems to be born with the motherly instinct activated. Although it is believed that a child raised in a homosexual household will never experience the mother/father, husband/wife, mother/father relationships, he will however have exposure to the same through relatives in the family who belong to the standard definition of a family.            In the movie, Val realizes towards the end that he has 2 mothers who love him very much. One who gave him life, and the other, a man who, just like his mother has only his best interest at heart. Both persons only wanting to see him happy throughout his life. There is no real gender perception in terms of who is the mother or father role because the dynamic that describes either parent is the same, a person who loves and cares for the child and only wants the best for him or her. Why does that kind of relationship work? Parenthood requires one to be selfless and put the interest of the child ahead of your own. It does not matter if the child comes from a normal parent, one parent, or homosexual parent family, the guiding objective of parenting remains the same.            As evidenced by this movie and actual real life homosexual families, just because one is raised in a homosexual household does not make that person gay. According to the United Families International, there is no truth to the gay gene and therefore it cannot be considered genetic. The organizations explanation goes on to say that â€Å" Homosexuality is not a genetically encoded condition. Contrary to media hype, there is no conclusive or compelling empirical evidence showing any absolute biological, genetic, or hormonal causation for homosexuality. Homosexual activist and molecular biologist Dean Hamer’s study claiming the existence of a homosexual gene has been scientifically discredited. Studies that claim to prove homosexuality is genetic have been purposefully designed from a homosexual advocacy perspective and seek to convince society that homosexuality is innate, psychologically normal, and thus socially desirable. â€Å" As for the possibility of a genetic disposition towards homosexuality the organization claims that ; â€Å" There may be a possibility of the existence of a genetic predisposition toward homosexuality, which is far different from causation. But even this possibility is far from scientifically proven. Predisposition toward something does not mean that it is inevitable, or that such a predisposition cannot or should not be resisted and overcome.†Comparing the predisposition to homosexuality to alcoholism, it is further stated that â€Å" Some people may have a predisposition to alcoholism, yet we do not affirm their disposition, but rather treat their condition and help them change. Current evidence suggests that environmental, familial, and personal influences contribute significantly to the development of homosexual tendencies. Seventy years of therapeutic counseling and case studies show a remarkable consistency concerning the origins of the homosexual impulse as an uncompleted gender identity seeking after its own sex to replace what was not fully developed in childhood†           As for the social issues a child raised in a homosexual household faces, I will agree with those who say that they face a rougher time in the real world than the children from regular parent households. This is mainly because children are by nature mean and love to tease each other without realizing how it emotionally affects their fellow child. This however should only serve to help strengthen the child’s personality as well as help him to further understand how different his or her own family is from everyone else. But, that does not make him any less of a human being nor should it prevent him or her from enjoying childhood. Val was practically raised in a same sex household and he grew up to become a responsible, caring, and understanding individual. Something that cannot often be said even for children raised in normal parent households.            A child comes to this world as a blank slate. It is the parents of the child who write on that slate and determine what a child’s value system will be based upon. A child learns his values in life by the example and reinforcement of his parents. It is up to the parent to teach their child the value of tolerance and acceptance of something that is deemed different in our society such as homosexuality and the fact there will be a few kids here and there whom he or she may mingle with who comes from such an upbringing. Therefore, how comfortable and confident a child will be about his sexual orientation, as well as how he accepts those of a highly different gender than his or hers solely depends upon how the parents explain the moral value of treating each sex fairly while highlighting the need for tolerance and understanding of such people.            To illustrate the point about the value system of a child, one only has to view how well adjusted Val was brought up by both his straight mother, gay father and his partner to see that any value system an adult has in place was developed during his childhood. He was taught the value of tolerance and understanding from the minute he could walk and it made a huge difference in regards to how he accepted people in his life when he became an adult. According to Lois Clark, who compiled the Ohio State University Fact Sheet, communicating with children can help develop their sense of values. Simply put, Ms. Clark indicates that â€Å"When talking to children, it is important to tell them what acceptable behavior is and why it is acceptable. Simply telling a child not to do something does not teach the child anything except he should not do that particular thing. By explaining the reasoning behind the request, the child can learn.†This method of child rearing, wherein the parent will have the opportunity to explain about sexual differences to the child can prove to be a valuable part of a child’s value system in today’s day and age where homosexuality and lesbianism are slowly becoming an accepted part of society. Work Cited Berardinelli, James. (1996). The Bird Cage: A Film Review. Retrieved July 25, 2007 from http://www.reelviews.net/movies/b/birdcage.html Clark, Lois. Topic for Teen Parents. Retrieved July 28, 2007 from http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-Fact/5000/5233.html Dannon Marcello, Imperato Michele, Machlis, Niel, Mike Nichols. Mike Nichols. (1996) The Bird Cage. USA: United Artists. United Families International. (2003). Myth and Reality about Homosexuality–Sexual Orientation Section, Guide to Family Issues. Retrieved July 26, 2007 from http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1034938/posts Â
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Criminological Theory Essay
Criminological theories are logical facts, which help us in understanding and analyzing crime and their causes. Such theories are formed using statistics, case histories, official records and sociological field methods on criminals and their activities. Criminological theories are mainly focused on crime and its causes. Many psycho criminologists had attributed crimes to personality disorders, psychopaths, sociopaths, and antisocial personalities. Emotional disorders are generally considered as cause for crime, which are mostly rooted in childhood experiences where the criminal attempts a suppressed wish or desire. These theories basically correlate crimes to the psyche of the offender, explains the causes and situation that motivates the offender. All theories have to some extent, a set of assumptions like human behavior under economic and social setups, elements of causation, etc. , based on which facts are interpreted and explained A person takes to crime basically to satisfy his or her demands at that point of time. These demands may be vary from material requirements like money, expensive items or even sustenance and lust. The demands on a person normally depend on the environment they are brought up. It has been widely believed that poverty and slum are the breeding ground for criminals. Thus people from slums would take to criminal activities like robbery and murder to make a living and sustain themselves. This does not mean that they would refrain from crime once they get what they need. As needs are always on a recurring basis, they always have their needs to be met. Seeing the easy way of life, they hang on to it, even offering their criminal services for money. Though they may not be in slums anymore now, they graduate to being professional criminals. Similarly crimes like drunken driving, drug abuse and sexual assaults are more associated with youth because the compulsion to seek them is more among the youth. The urge to seek adventure, try new things and the need for sex are very prominent among the youth. Crimes involving businessmen is more associated with economic and property offenses, forgery etc. Although the methods adopted in execution of their crimes may differ, the intention of all criminals is to get what they seek. Though personal requirements and unavailability to get them legally drive people to commit crime, the hesitance or encouragement to commit crime varies widely. These are more dependent on one’s heredity and body dysfunction. A person’s decision to take to crime or refrain from it, the extent and nature of the crime to be committed depends on their heredity, hormone functioning and neuropsychological disorders. Thus we see mentally affected people turning out to be psychopath killers, killing people mercilessly for no reason. Also the reason why people take to crime is significantly different between men and women. Gender plays an important role in the need and nature of crime committed. Men and women have differing offence rates and offence patterns, both as offenders and as victims. The opportunities and capabilities of men and women for crime are different, which is reflected in their crime pattern. This crime committed for needs satisfaction may be analyzed by determining the needs of the criminal who had committed it. By correlating the crime committed, the risks taken and the gains sought; would reflect how badly the criminal required it. These factors in turn would throw up other details to profile the criminal. However it should be emphasized here that it is not possible for any single theory to fully and perfectly explain every crime or deviant act. A good explanation of the crime can only be got by incorporating various theories. It is unfortunate that criminological theories are never completely supported or refuted. While some empirical tests may support the theory; some might offer partial support while the others might refute the theory. Theories are therefore evaluated based on their ‘weight of evidence’, as to whether a majority of tests support or reject the theory. Crime theories are generally not directly specific to crime causation, but helps to understand crime in a bigger perspective, by being more specific on behavior.
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Impact of Selfishness on Personal Life Essay
Every day, people make several decisions that more or less influence their live. However, it is necessary to consider other people and results before the decisions were made, since selfish decisions can cause lots of problems. The selfish choices that selected by the main characters in both â€Å"On the Rainy River†and â€Å"A Pair of Silk Stocking†cause regret and raise conflict between the main characters and themselves . Regret can be caused by selfish decisions. On the one hand, O’Brien, the narrator of the â€Å"On the Rainy River†felt guilty and worried about his families during the way to Canada because he fled away from the war: â€Å"I would go to the war–I would kill and maybe die –because I was embarrassed not to. That was the sad thing†(O’Brien 12). Clearly, O’Brien explained why he decided to go to Canada and continued his life without contradicting his own beliefs. Here he lost his chance at having personal happiness and would have to live with regret from then on. Even though, O’Brien went back and join the army in the end, he still could not get away from the guilt that rose by his decisions: â€Å"I survived, but it’s not a happy ending. I was a coward. I went to the war†(O’Brien 14). Unlike most people, O’Brien did not regarded surviving form the war as a fortunate thing for him, instead, O’Brien considered himself as a coward and did not forgive himself for making the inappropriate decision from now on. On the other hand, Mrs. Sommer, the major character of â€Å"A Pair of Silk Stockings†also felt guilty about her family, for the mother used up all the fifteen pounds to purchase accessories and entertained herself instead of buying â€Å"so and so many yards of percales for new shirt waists for the boys and Janie and Mag†(Chopin 1). The fifteen pounds were supposed to spend on the clothing of their children according to Mrs. Sommers’s plan at beginning, but she spent all for herself. By the end of day, she did not want to go home: â€Å"in truth he saw notingâ€â€unless he were wizard enough to detect a poignant wish, a powerful longing that the cable car would never stop anywhere, but go on forever†(Chopin 3). Mrs. Sommers’s thought reflected her regret since she wished the cable can run forever, so that she did not need to go back home and face her families. Obviously, personal happiness cannot be achieved by selfishness, doing this can create nothing but regret that will follow a person through their life. Furthermore, the selfishness gives raise to conflict between people and themselves. In â€Å"On the Rainy River†, on the one side, O’Brien felt he was â€Å"too good for the war. Too smart, too compassionate, too everything†(O’Brien 3) since the war is completely unreasonable for him. He did not want to be killed or kill anyone else. On the other side, he found himself is completely irresponsible for both his family and country, for the simple reason that he neither supported his country nor protected his family during the most dangerous time. Due to his strong sense of morality and the honourable values like bolstering his own country, O’Brien struggled with two conflicting forces in himself. Similarly, Mrs. Sommers struggled against herself to repress the urges and temptation of the luxury items. At first, she planned to spend the money on her children. However, as soon as she entered the department store, she had a powerful desire for a moment of luxury. She tried to hide the desire because of her economic situations. Eventually â€Å"she went on feeling the soft, sheeny luxurious thingsâ€â€with both hands now, holding them up to see them glisten, and feel them glide serpent-like through her fingers. Two hectic blotches came suddenly into her pale cheeks†(Chopin 2) and undoubtedly she succumbed to her desires. By the end of the short story, Mrs. Sommers was extraordinarily desperate for the luxurious life to never end â€Å"a poignant wish, a powerful longing that the cable car would never stop anywhere, but go on and on with her forever†(Chopin 3). The cable in some way symbolized her dream life since at that time only wealthy people were able to afford cable. Her wish represented she still wanted to enjoy the feeling of that unrealistic luxurious life and was unwilling to return back to reality. Ultimately , being selfish leads to the conflicts between people and themselves and annoyance in their life. Overall, the two short stories namely â€Å"On the Rainy River†and â€Å"A Pair of Silk Stockings†emphasized the negative impact of selfishness on human life. Both O’Brien and Mrs. Sommer suffered the regret and conflicting forces that rose by their selfishness. Therefore it is necessary to consider the result before making a decision since selfish decisions, in long term, cannot bring any happiness and self-satisfactory.
Video case Harley-Daivdson Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Video Harley-Daivdson - Case Study Example s world-famous as an American icon, offering an extremely wide range of Harley-Davidson branded products, including both practical and stylish clothing as well as accessories and merchandise. One way that Harley-Davidson connects with its customers is through the Harley owners club. This is supported financially by the company and is the largest club of its type in the world. The presence and activity of the club serves as a way of advertising and connecting both owners of Harley’s and those who see them with the brand. The club gives a large feeling of comradeship and connectedness to those who ride together even though they are often strangers. The club gives the opportunity for members of the company to interact with customers on a face-to-face basis, as well as for the customers to interact with one another. The brand is not the only way that Harley-Davidson builds customer relationships. Another way is through value. Value is an important part of any customer-business relationship, the customer needs to know that what they are buying is worth the money, and that it will last. Harvey-Davidson promotes the concept of value for their motorbike. Their advertising campaigns often focus on the durability and the image of the motorbike, showing a rider driving past just after showing a boat or another vehicle type breaking. 2. A value proposition relates to the concept that the product is of higher value than competing products in the same market. Value can be described as the benefits derived from the product minus the cost, where the cost also includes the risk. When it comes to owning a Harley, the costs can include costs of running, storing and maintaining the bike, however these are similar if not identical costs as for competing companies. The company focuses on ensuring that their bikes are of good quality, and that they do not require excessive repairs, as a consequence not requiring as much cost in this area. However, this is not their main focus in
Monday, October 7, 2019
Business Ethics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words
Business Ethics - Research Paper Example In order to gets acceptance from the government as well as the bodies controlling policies and laws, organizations have to accept and follow certain rules and regulations and maintain certain standards in the work process. A collaborative study of these regulations, laws and issues can be termed as business ethics. Ethics is always concerned with the moral judgment of business. Every business or organization expects to be in the good books of the government as well as regulatory bodies. Decisions in an organization are taken by higher management but these decisions are always influenced by the culture of the company as well as the external environment in which the company operates. Involving in ethical process might seem difficult and lead to cutting down of short-term profits, but it is very essential for a successful and sustainable long term growth of the organization (Chang, 2011). Companies can significantly benefit from positive corporate social responsibility and ethical behav ior; Customers are attracted to the products and services of the firm, thus, profits and sales get a boost. Employee perception towards the organization becomes positive and loyalty increases. Thus, there is a decrease in labor turnover and overall increase in productivity. As a result of the positive perception growing popularity of the organization, skilled talents are attracted and recruitment costs are reduced significantly. The share price of the company increases and investors are constantly attracted and business is always in growth phase. TOYOTA COMPANY Toyota is one of the largest automaker in the world, headquartered at Toyota, Japan. In terms of revenue, Toyota is the eleventh largest corporation worldwide. The company was founded in 1927 and deals with the manufacturing and production of commercial vehicles, automobiles, engines and motorcycles (Toyota, 2013a). Apart from global leadership in vehicle manufacturing, the company is known for its participation in ecological campaigns and sustainable environment issues. The company believes in theory and practice of sustainable development. Toyota practices total quality management in all its operations. The objectives are to least impact the environment. For creating a sustainable environment, the company has established a plantation programes (Toyota, 2013e). Apart from this, the company is involved in many ecological campaigns and environmental management programes. The organization has been awarded with various awards such as Green Awards (Toyota, 2013d). ETHICS AT TOYOTA Toyota is one of the well recognized conglomerates worldwide. It is imperative that the organization maintains a record of all its transactions and business acts. In this regards, proper maintenance of ethical behavior in the organization is critically important. Quality and ethics are the benchmark for the sustainability of the organization as well as growth and development of the supply chain and other important department of To yota (Toyota, 2013b). Both play a crucial role in the strategic plan of the company. Since it is a vehicle manufacturing company, safety of the consumers will be the top-most priority while designing and manufacturing products. On a broader term, the business ethics for the company can be applied in three major areas; designing and man
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)