Free Essays on Workaholism

A Case of Market Culture: Workaholism There is an addiction that is prevalent in our society and of rising concern. Workaholism is a very modern concept which society tends not to recognise it as a problem. It is not a traditional type of addiction, and one that still isn’t fully understood. The effects of workaholism are far more severe than people realise. There is a fine line between loving to work and workaholism, which is a line that is very difficult to define. Even the difference between wanting to succeed and being a workaholic is minor. In order to find this point, certain considerations must be made. Consideration of the cultural values of a society is essential, because the expectations in different cultures differ vastly. The individual psychology of a person should be evaluated, because it is not society as a whole that holds the beliefs of a workaholic. Obsession with work threatens health, relationships, communities and the environment (Sumner, 2003). It is a subculture that has become part of our lives and can have great impact on society. The problem of workaholism exists when work success is seen as a measure of our self-worth. Hard-workers are acknowledged and appreciated in society and so it is difficult to see it as a hazard. This is why it is such an unassuming subculture. People become addicted to work for a number of reasons, including the innate desire to be successful. Work is satisfying to people because they like to succeed and jobs are a medium to measure their success. People have goals that they strive to achieve, and when they attain them they have internal feelings of pride, a sense of accomplishment and achievement. Over achieving can result in praise and promotion, and therefore, success. A workaholic is an overachiever that cannot differentiate between work and their personal lives. Many people in the workforce are faced with workaholism because balancing personal and career demands can be a ma... Free Essays on Workaholism Free Essays on Workaholism A Case of Market Culture: Workaholism There is an addiction that is prevalent in our society and of rising concern. Workaholism is a very modern concept which society tends not to recognise it as a problem. It is not a traditional type of addiction, and one that still isn’t fully understood. The effects of workaholism are far more severe than people realise. There is a fine line between loving to work and workaholism, which is a line that is very difficult to define. Even the difference between wanting to succeed and being a workaholic is minor. In order to find this point, certain considerations must be made. Consideration of the cultural values of a society is essential, because the expectations in different cultures differ vastly. The individual psychology of a person should be evaluated, because it is not society as a whole that holds the beliefs of a workaholic. Obsession with work threatens health, relationships, communities and the environment (Sumner, 2003). It is a subculture that has become part of our lives and can have great impact on society. The problem of workaholism exists when work success is seen as a measure of our self-worth. Hard-workers are acknowledged and appreciated in society and so it is difficult to see it as a hazard. This is why it is such an unassuming subculture. People become addicted to work for a number of reasons, including the innate desire to be successful. Work is satisfying to people because they like to succeed and jobs are a medium to measure their success. People have goals that they strive to achieve, and when they attain them they have internal feelings of pride, a sense of accomplishment and achievement. Over achieving can result in praise and promotion, and therefore, success. A workaholic is an overachiever that cannot differentiate between work and their personal lives. Many people in the workforce are faced with workaholism because balancing personal and career demands can be a ma...

50 Synonyms for Villain

50 Synonyms for Villain 50 Synonyms for â€Å"Villain† 50 Synonyms for â€Å"Villain† By Mark Nichol The store of synonyms for villain is so well stocked that it seems, well, villainous to employ that relatively colorless word in favor of many worthy substitutes especially in humorous contexts. Here’s a roster of appropriate alternatives. 1. Baddie: a bad person, especially a villain or a villain’s underling in a novel, a film, or a television program (usually lighthearted) 2. Beast: a reprehensible person, especially one with coarse, violent habits 3. Black sheep: an amoral, dishonorable person 3. Blackguard: a reprehensible person 4. Brute: a violent person 5. Bully: a violent person, especially one who intimidates or hurts weaker people 6. Cad: a thoughtless, uncaring man 7. Caitiff: a coward or a reprehensible person 8. Cutthroat: a vicious person 9. Dastard: a coward, or a deceitful or treacherous person 10. Desperado: a criminal, especially in the Old West 11. Devil: an evil person 12. Evildoer: a person who commits evil acts 13. Fiend: a malicious or wicked person; alternatively, an addict, a fanatic, or a person extraordinary talented at something 14. Fink: a reprehensible person (lighthearted) 15. Goon: a man who intimidates, injures, or kills in the service of another 16. Heavy: see baddie (more serious in connotation than its close synonym) 17. Heel: a reprehensible person 18. Henchman: a subordinate to a villain; alternatively, a right-hand man 19. Hoodlum: see bully 20. Hooligan: see bully 21. Hound: a reprehensible person; alternatively, an avid collector or searcher 22. Knave: a deceitful person 23. Malefactor: one who treats another person poorly or commits a crime 24. Meanie: an unkind person (lighthearted) 25. Miscreant: a criminal or a violent person; alternatively, a heretic 26. Monster: an extremely wicked person; alternatively, a cruel or deformed person 27. Ne’er-do-well: a worthless person 28. Outlaw: a fugitive from justice 29. Rapscallion: a dishonest or mean-spirited person; also, a mischievous person (often lighthearted, as are most of its close synonyms) 30. Rascal: see rapscallion 31. Reprobate: a depraved person 32. Rogue: a dishonest or reprehensible person; also, a mischievous person, or a vagrant 33. Rough: a violent person 34. Rowdy: see rough 35. Ruffian: see bully 36. Savage: see brute 37. Scalawag: see rapscallion 38. Scamp: see rapscallion 39. Scapegrace: see rapscallion 40. Scofflaw: a person who flouts laws 41. Scoundrel: see rapscallion 42. Serpent: a treacherous person 43. Shark: a devious person 44. Snake: see serpent 45. Thug: a violent person, often in the employ of another 46. Tough: see rough 47. Varlet: see knave 48. Villainness: a female villain 49. Viper: see serpent 50. Wretch: a reprehensible person; alternatively, a miserable person Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:25 Subordinating Conjunctions26 Feel-Good WordsHow to Write a Proposal

Sex Disparities in the Use of IV Rt-PA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Sex Disparities in the Use of IV Rt-PA - Essay Example For the women who are 50 years and above they are less likely to be admitted in the ICU as compared to men. For the women they have to wait for a long time in the emergency section than for the men it has always been believed that men are at more risk when suffering from cancer as compared to the men. A woman suffering from stroke is much different from a man with the same disease. The disease ranges from the symptoms to the treatment process (Gerarld, 2009). ii. Loss of balance and dizziness. When you’re experiencing all this and having trouble when walking one might end up coming to assumptions that it is the intoxication process but these might be one of the symptoms of stroke. v. Severe headaches. When one is suffering from stroke one is likely to experience severe headaches now and then. In a recent study it was noted that 600 patients were found to be experiencing headache women are likely to have headaches than the men. The researchers have indicated that the physicians treat the women who experience stroke in a less aggressive manner than the way they handle men. There are so many differences between thesymptoms of a stroke in a man and in a woman. The rt-PA method of treatment stands for Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator which is an enzyme that has proteins and it helps so much in the breaking of the blood clots. It is a very common method of the treatment of stroke. The research that has been taken in New York it indicates that women have got around 30% lesser odds of getting the treatment using the rt-PA method of treatment. The research has also touched on other sectors and the findings are that women are less likely to receive Thrombolytic treatment in the New York. Thrombolytic treatment of cancer entails the dissolving of the blood clot. The reason why there is a challenge in the chances of women to get thrombolysis is that timeliness

Addiction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Addiction - Essay Example Addiction is as a result of many addictive things in the life of a person. For instance, peer pressure is a major contributor to dependency. An individual can abuse a drug or alcohol because one is forced to do so by the group of friends. There are different forms of addiction, and each of addiction poses its series of risks. While alcohol and drug use often begin as voluntary behaviors, addiction prompts chemical alterations in the brain of an individual. It affects memory, behavior, as well as perception of pleasure and pain (Hollander, 2012). If not controlled in time, addiction can have a lot of adverse impacts on the life of an individual. It is, for this reason, individual’s responsibility as well as of the government to control addiction at all cost. It is, for this reason, individual’s responsibility to ensure that one avoids peer influence at whatever cost. Technology is also another factor that can contribute to addiction, and can also be another form of dependency. Once an individual keeps on looking the deeds of other people in other countries will in one way or another distort the mind of a person. Being on the internet every time is also another addiction. However, once a person is affecte d, there will be greater consequences that will significantly affect once lifestyle. Combination of compulsive cravings with prolonged substance abuse can prompt physical consequences in the entire body of an individual (Haugen & Musser, 2013). In addition, the effects of drug addiction can include stress on the organs, respiratory system and venous that can cause a series of physical health issues. Furthermore, medical concerns like depression and anxiety can severely interrupt social and professional life, contributing to mood swings, chronic fatigue and low interest in previous hobbies and significant life events. Apart from the above medical concerns, chronic use of certain substances can result in long-term neurological

Distinguished organization Essay Example for Free

Distinguished organization Essay I have just received your letter awarding me the prestigious Harrison Bankers Club scholarship for this year. I was overwhelmed by the feeling of achievement and happiness, but I must confess, my feeling of deep gratitude for you took better of me. It was the bright Monday morning when I was seriously pondering over my future plans while skimming through the pages of Business Times. Suddenly my eyes were arrested by an advertisement for grant of scholarships by your company. I immediately consulted my father who spoke very high of your organization. I sincerely acknowledge your efforts for taking time to process my application and the wonderful experience I had during the interview. I was impressed by the transparent, methodical and comprehensive procedure undertaken by you to identify the most deserving candidate. Your staff was courteous, friendly and cooperative. What touched me most was your inspiring conversation and intelligent questions you asked. The whole process was a rich learning experience to me. I feel honored and find myself short of words to express my grateful thoughts for your kind approval. Though few and far between, God has placed people like you to make the earth a beautiful place. Your decision will serve in a long way in promoting the cause of research work I have been always been interested in. It was my long cherished dream to contribute to the fast expanding study of biotechnology, but honestly speaking, the financials constraints held me back. Now I consider it my foremost priority to ensure by all means that my work adds further value to your distinguished organization. I again thank you for your favorable consideration and remain grateful ever for the scholarship to help me advance the studies.

Antigone and Ismene :: English Literature Essays

Antigone and Ismene Tragic heroes are generally people of high social stature with a tragic flaw that usually manifests itself in the form of poor judgment and arrogance, condemning the hero to a disastrous end and establishing the character’s destiny. Antigone is a tragic heroine deeply conflicted between her virtue and her hubris, personifying courage in her civil disobedience against criminal "leadership." A product of incest, her very existence is shameful, but perhaps this is why Antigone has such a burning desire for righteousness. She has great regard for following tradition, and a compulsion to follow these traditions even at the cost of her own life. Sacrifice is one of her qualities and she is ready to die for what she believes in. She shows disdain for Ismene’s cowardice and tendency to be a fair-weather friend. Her reprisals against traitors are especially fiery. Her concern for family becomes almost an unhealthy obsession, and her selflessness is soon shown to be madness and self-infliction. Being a tragic heroine, she shows excellence of character and bravery, but her fatal flaw is that her will to please the gods is greater than her will to preserve her own life. In the end, uncompromised rigidity is her downfall. She obeys the laws of the gods and is careless about the mortal law’s penalty, her own death. Antigone does not understand the need to act according to humanity’s place in the scheme in things, one’s pleasing of the gods should continue up until the point when it puts ones life in danger. Our heroine shows hubris by breaking the rule of the golden mean, not because she is egotistical, but because her head gets in the clouds when she believes herself to be a high and mighty enforcer of virtue. This is a form of arrogance, which Zeus despises. Her conception of justice is so rigid that she puts herself in harm’s way, which is not at all honorable in the eyes of the Greeks. Her ‘holier than thou’ quest has gone too far, and she is stubborn and irrational, lacking the common sense the Greeks so valued. One example of Antigone’s extremely twisted vision of unbending idealism is when she told Ismene she wouldn’t care if she yelled incriminations about the burial from the rooftops, an unnecessary passion and clear disregard of moderation. The exact opposite of her sister, Ismene is, according to Greek conventional wisdom of the time, functioning ideally in her moderation, aware that it is vital not to overstep her boundaries in the overall scheme of things.

Supporting Career Women

Salvaging Sisterhood: Supporting Career Women Women and the Labor Market: the link grows stronger, by Susan Shank examines women and the emergence of their attachment to the labor market. This article takes a look at the labor market changes of women between the ages 25 and 54. Changes with these ages began throughout the post-World War II period and the rate of increase accelerated in the mid-1960's (Shank, 1988). The author links the rapid changes to various social and economic changes that have occurred in the United States.Historically women stayed home for the large part of their childbearing years, owever during the first world war women entered the workforce after the GI's returns women focused more on traditional family duties. After the Second World War far more women entered the workforce and even upon the return of the soldiers continued to stay in the workforce and those that did leave soon returned to work a few years later. According to age women in the 45 to 54 lead th e return to work postwar period. Rates for the 34 to 44 age group increased as well while 25 to 34 age group hardly changed at all.These were the postwar baby-boom years and most married women orking outside the labor force because of their child and family responsibilities (Shank, 1988). In 1960 women of childbearing in large number numbers began to enter the labor market. The spike in women workforce participants showed a very sharp decline in birth rate during this time period as well. Women began to show greater interest in education and work as time progress and delayed traditional familial norms. Black women had a much higher rate of activity in the workforce postwar than that of white women.The gap has since then narrowed by 1987 the rates for both whites and black women were similar. Hispanic women however were much less likely than black or white women to be apart of the workforce due to high birth rate, generally low educational attainment, and cultural roles that emphasiz e women's home and family roles. Women who where married stayed outside the workforce much longer than those that were single especially with the emergence of divorce and single women pregnancies. In 1987, 79 percent of women under the age of 18 were in the labor force compared to 67 percent for women with children (Shank, 1988).Working women generally were working full time hours 35 hours or more per week, to support heir families voluntarily while only 17 percent worked part time. Sixty-eight percent of women 25 to 54 worked for a full year and an additional 10 percent worked 40 to 49 weeks (Shank, 1988). The article written in 1988 states that there will be a future spike in women's participation in the workforce over the next decade is expected to increase 10 percentage points. I feel this article is an accurate picture of how I see the work force nas changed and the picture ot women today.Women nave become more involved in the workforce, bill paying, as well as family managemen t. This article interests me in terms of career and women because my significant other is the single working woman. From a personal perspective women planning a wedding and participate in pre marriage counseling, may try to examine and resolve some of their feelings about work and â€Å"women's work†. Their partner may have some more traditional views about work while she love it and find herself consumed with the high of a fast-paced extremely full life.I recognize the strain of stretching oneself too thin and figuring out how to manage married life, the balance of spousal needs and her routine eelings of her independent self. Controversies have held back improvements for training new counselors and development of treatment systematic treatment procedures. In order to explore treatment protocols, the debate must be addressed to help validate the suggestions of the impact of mothers' employment on family relationships. These consist of exploring the criteria development of th e designation, and effectively learning how to implement accountability for working career mothers'.The literature-based debate indicates how stresses in family relationships dynamics an be stabilized between home and work time, for full-time or part-time working mothers. Today, working mothers symptoms of normality are constructed in a wide variety of ways as viewed by other counseling colleagues, legislators, and the media. These criteria serve to indicate what can be considered the channel of communication for mother's expression of her genuine identity in the American culture.The Journal article read for this assignment related to career mothers, is entitled, â€Å"The impact of mothers' employment on family relationships† and was centered on my personal life style. The study was conducted by South Bank University as a qualitative case study of mothers working in an accountancy firm in both in the hospital and in the accountancy firm setting, in the London area. The inter views for the case study were completed in 2001 utilizing 37 mothers and 30 fathers in couples who had at least one pre-school age child.The information collected from the study revealed surprising results from the mothers, as well as, the fathers perspective. The case study focused on certain highlighted areas such as, how stresses in family relationships could arise as much from the quality of time pent at work by mothers as well as the amount of time they spent at work (emphasis added). During the interview process mothers and fathers were interviewed separately, in order to gain ‘her' and ‘his' perspective on the relationships, (Callender, Edward, Reynolds, 2003).The sample contained a spread of mothers working full- time or part-time in both the workplaces, and across higher, intermediate and lower status Jobs in the two organizations. The majority of the fathers were employed full- time. The study revealed interesting facts in reference to the dynamics of home and work time for mothers. The case study focused mainly on the management of mothers work time versus the amount of time they spend at work. Family-friendly policies and flexible working practices were the key components, as they have an impact on family life.More focus was given to the extent of autonomy and control that mothers experience in the workplace. The article stated that hospital mothers in higher status Jobs were perceived as having low â€Å"time sovereignty' because of an increased emphasis on managerial roles (Callender, Edward, Reynolds, 2003). It also states, by contrast, that in a devolved organizational structure, mothers in lower tatus Jobs in the accountancy firm tended to see themselves as having high levels of time sovereignty (Callender, Edward, Reynolds, 2003).These are key concerns from the case study that employers may consider addressing in the future (Callender, Edward, Reynolds, 2003). The most interesting facts, revealed from the case study, were the fat hers perspective of the impact mothers working and family relationship. A large portion of fathers established that it was beneficial and enhancing to their relationship. Other qualities that enhanced some relationships were the appreciation nd recognition that enabled their partners to express different aspects of her identity.This finding was impressive because the positive response acknowledged the fact that mothers are appreciated and respected for helping their partners financially as well as with raising a family. The fathers also gave an excellent confirmation that mothers are good partners as well as being ‘good' mothers. Fathers also expressed and recognized that the quality of the mother-child relationship enhances the child's ability to develop useful skills, and to provide them with a ositive role model (Callender, Edward, Reynolds, 2003).In contrast, some fathers were not proud or supportive of their partner's Job. A few fathers had mixed feelings or expressed a n egative reaction because enough time was not being devoted to the family (Callender, Edward, Reynolds, 2003). The fathers expressed that the demands of the mother's work load, and not being able to meet the children's needs completely, caused extreme tension in the household (Callender, Edward, Reynolds, 2003). Personally, the choice of a qualitative study to do the research was very informative.Utilizing 37 mothers and 30 fathers, with at least one pre-school child, was a well-balanced statistical advantage in the research of the case study. Women's contribution in the workforce has conduct to the study of career aspirations of women. Career aspirations are impacted by dynamics such as gender, socioeconomic status, race, parent occupation and education level, and parental expectations. Women have become progressively more engaged in the workforce, and salaried employment of women has shifted from partly traditional female-oriented Jobs to more non-traditional, more formerly male-or iented careers.This analysis of literature presents an impression of women's contribution in the workforce and the evolution of women's career development and career aspirations in the latter half of the 20th century. Despite their increasing numbers, women have tended to enter the workforce in lower-status, lower-paying Jobs, and remain clustered in a limited number of conventional careers (Tinklin, Croxford, Ducklin, & Frame, 2005). Because women's career choices were restricted, their earnings lagged behind their male counterparts with comparable education and experience (Farmer, 1985; Stephenson Surge).Income earnings have been found to increase with educational level and years employed (Day ; Newburger, 2002). However, women earned roughly two- thirds the income of their male counterparts. This discrepancy in income was partially attributed to the disparity between traditionally male and traditionally female occupations. For example, women are less likely to be employed in scie nce or engineering Jobs, as these are considered traditionally male occupations. However, females who are employed in these Jobs earn roughly 20% less their male counterparts (Graham ; Smith, 2005).A barrier is any obstacle that prevents forward movement or any event or condition that makes career progress d tticult (Brown ; Barbosa, 2001). Barriers are considerable factors in the career development process, and the start of such barriers often begins when women are children. Such barriers are reinforced throughout women's schooling, college, and work, and they become more complex over time (Brown & Barbosa; Stephenson & Burge, 1997). In contrast, career aspirations characterize an individual's direction toward a desired career goal under epitome circumstances.Career aspirations are influenced by factors such as gender, socioeconomic status, race, parent's occupation and education level, and parental expectations (Khallad, 2000; Watson et al. , 2002). The literature review provided an overview of the research evidence in examining such factors as the parent's role in career behavior and how they affect individual's career decisions. In recent years, studies such as these indicate the increased awareness of the impact of socioeconomic status, race, gender, and on the career decision-making process and career development of women.Results of studies examining the effects of race on career aspirations have been mixed (Mau & Bikos, 2000; and Hellenga et al. ,2002) noted that previous research typically found African Americans to possess lower career aspirations than their European American counterparts. (Osipow and Fitzgerald, 1996) supported this notion, stating African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans exhibit considerably lower educational and occupational outcomes than Caucasians.Additional studies asserted people from minority groups, particularly those from lower class backgrounds, had more restrictive factors nfluencing their career aspirations comp ared with Caucasian persons from higher class backgrounds. In contrast, a study conducted by Arbona and Now (1991) determined there were no ethnic differences with regard to their career aspirations and socioeconomic status. Although few studies exist regarding effects of socioeconomic status on career choice, researchers agree socioeconomic status influences career choice (Gottfredson, 1981; Sellers et al. , 1999).Mau and Bikos (2000) cited previous findings showing a positive association between a familys socioeconomic status and aspirations. Youth from upper socioeconomic statuses were more likely to be well informed of and decide on professional career occupations. In contrast, Brown and Barbosa (2001) found career aspirations of young females who came from low-income families were confined to experiences of their relatives and friends. Influential siblings are thought to play a key role in the career development of adolescents from lower socioeconomic backgrounds (All, McWhirte r, & Chronister, 2005).The differences in findings relative to this literature review indicate more information is necessary and that the target population must be tudied relative to key components such as the focus on successes, achievements, strengths, weaknesses, resources, and the abilities and acquired skills of the children, youth and working mothers. In conclusion, it appears that it is imperative that all of these areas be further studied for working mothers to have effective and successful career development outcomes.

Education in Saudi Arabia and the United States of America Essay

Education continues to be the priority of all nations around the world. Countries devote vast resources to ensure equal opportunity to study for their people. In return, the educated segment of the population becomes the wealth of these nations and will more likely meet the social and economic demands of the country. The educational systems are continuously developed to meet not just the local but also the global demands and challenges. It is more appropriate to look at the disparity on the education sector of one country to another in order to determine what needs to be improved and developed in one’s educational system. This paper aims to provide an assessment on the similarities and differences of education in two countries, Saudi Arabia and the United States of America (USA). The education in Saudi Arabia and the USA are similar in terms of government spending on education, freedom to choose the school where they will attend to, and education for people with special needs, while differ in terms of attitude towards education, literacy rate, religion in school, gender roles, grading scales, and stages of education. Both the Saudi Arabia and USA government spend immense resources on the education sector. The Saudi Arabia government’s increased awareness on the importance of education to its people paved way to its provision of bountiful support to education. Like the USA government, the Saudi Arabia government finance general education for both boys and girls. It also provides free post-secondary education and offers financial help to students. At cases, meals, books, and transportation are subsidized. In the same way, the USA government offers free general and post-secondary education for all financed by the government. In both countries, students are also allowed to choose what school they will attend to. They have the options to enroll in public, private, or home school. Most of the parents prefer to send their children in public school practically because they are much â€Å"free† from burden. There were also those who prefer private schools thinking that these schools might provide better, quality education to their children especially for those seeking a competitive edge in college admission. A few considers home schooling best for their children for reasons that they can effectively tailor a curriculum that would best suit their children’s academic strengths and weaknesses, especially those with disabilities. Aside from home schooling, those with disabilities may be sent to schools which will cater to their needs like schools for the blind, deaf, physically and mentally handicapped, among others (Education, 2005). The Saudi Arabia and USA governments have put on these schools to encourage individuals to their full potential and share social and emotional experiences with their peers having the same conditions as themselves. The curricula in the special classes given to the students were tailored fit to their needs. For instance, the educational programs given to the blind and deaf individuals were different. For sure, blind students were thought of using Braille while deaf students do not. One variation the Saudi Arabia and the USA government have is the attitude towards education. In the USA, school attendance is mandatory and nearly universal at primary and secondary levels. School districts meet to discuss school curricula, funding, teaching, and other policies to further improve the education in the state. On the other hand, in Saudi Arabia, the government does not impose mandatory attendance in school. Although, it is encouraged that the free primary and secondary education are availed since education is given free and open to every citizen. The literacy rate for the two countries presented, are varied. The USA literacy rate is estimated at 99% for both men and women, whereas, literacy rate in Saudi Arabia is estimated at only 84. 7% for men and 70. 8% for women (Literacy, 2007). The Saudi Arabia government recognizes the importance of literacy in propelling the economy; hence, one of its objectives for the education sector is to eradicate illiteracy especially among adults and girls through several literacy programs. In the USA, despite the high literacy rate, the government is continually implementing programs to further develop the education sector. Religion is the main core of education in Saudi Arabia. The curricula developed conform to the Shari’ah (Islamic holy law) and the Qur’an. Men were trained of Islamic education to become members of religious clergy. They provide religious secondary education with focus primarily on Islamic and Arabic studies, although, the curriculum also includes general education. The schools which administer these were Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University and the Islamic University of Medinah (Sedgwick, 2001). On the contrary, education in the USA is not focused on religion but there are some schools which may offer religion subjects that are not quite extensive as religion studies in Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia, education is segregated by sex. Education for boys is different from education for girls. Education is divided into three separately administered systems: general education for boys, education for girls and traditional Islamic education for boys (Sedgwick, 2001). However, in the recent years, education for girls was continuously being developed to meet the growing demands of the country. Unlike in the USA, education is offered to both sexes, giving them equal opportunity to study. The educational programs that were developed cater to both sexes. Grading scales were prepared to gauge the students’ performance on school. Grading scales in the USA and Saudi Arabia differ. In the USA, marks were given on the scale of A to F. In the criterion-referenced system, the equivalent grades of these to 0 to 100 percentile are as follows: A=95-100 or 90-100, B=85-95 or 80-90, C=75-85 or 70-80, D=65-75 or 60-70, and F is given to marks below 65 or 60. There is also the norm-referenced system where marks are given as follows: A=top 10% of the class, B=next 20% of the class, C=next 30% of the class, D=next 20% of the class, and bottom 20% of the class (Grading systems, n. d). On the contrary, the grading scale in Saudi Arabia was given as follows: 5=90-100, 4=80-89, 3=70-79, 2=60-69, and 1=0-59 (Sedgwick, 2001). The stages of education in both countries also vary. Education in Saudi Arabia starts with primary, followed by secondary, and higher education. Primary education is for ages 6 to 12. An intermediate education, which is part of primary education, is carried out for ages 12 to 15. Secondary education is divided into three: general, religious, and technical. These are taken by ages 15 to 18. The higher education is also divided into three stages: the baccaloreus (bachelor’s degree-4 years), darajat al majisteer (master’s degree – 2years), and doctoorah (doctorate– minimum of 3 years) (Sedgwick, 2001). On the other hand, education in the USA is composed of these stages: preschool (1 or 2 yrs), elementary/middle/high school (12 yrs), associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees (Structure: General Information, n. . ). The differences in education in both countries mainly lie on their history, culture, social and economic conditions, whereas, the similarities were bought about by their desire to provide accessible, quality education free and open to all. Education stimulates the people to contribute to its country in addressing the increasing local and global demands. This motivates the countries to improve and further develop its educational system.

History of the Plymouth Colony

History of the Plymouth Colony Established in December 1620 in what is now the U.S. State of Massachusetts, the Plymouth Colony was the first permanent settlement of Europeans in New England and the second in North America, coming just 13 years after the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. While perhaps best known as the source of the tradition of Thanksgiving, the Plymouth Colony introduced the concept of self-government into America and serves as the source of important clues to what being an â€Å"American† really means. The Pilgrims Flee Religious Persecution In 1609, during the reign of King James I, members of the English Separatist Church - the Puritans - emigrated from the England to the town of Leiden in the Netherlands in a futile attempt to escape religious persecution. While they were accepted by the Dutch people and authorities, the Puritans continued to be persecuted by the British Crown. In 1618, English authorities came to Leiden to arrest congregation elder William Brewster for distributing flyers critical of King James and the Anglican Church. While Brewster escaped arrest, the Puritans decided to place the Atlantic Ocean between them and England. In 1619, the Puritans obtained a land patent to establish a settlement in North America near the mouth of the Hudson River. Using money loaned to them by the Dutch Merchant Adventurers, the Puritans - soon to be Pilgrims - obtained provisions and passage on two ships: the Mayflower and the Speedwell. The Voyage of the Mayflower to Plymouth Rock After the Speedwell was found to be unseaworthy, 102 Pilgrims, led by William Bradford, crowded aboard the 106-foot-long Mayflower and set sail for America on September 6, 1620. After two difficult months at sea, land was sighted on November 9 off the coast of Cape Cod. Prevented from reaching its initial Hudson River destination by storms, strong currents, and shallow seas, the Mayflower finally anchored off Cape Cod on November 21. After sending exploratory party ashore, the Mayflower docked near Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts on December 18, 1620. Having sailed from the port of Plymouth in England, the Pilgrims decided to name their settlement Plymouth Colony. The Pilgrims Form a Government While still aboard the Mayflower, all of the adult male Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact. Similar to the U.S. Constitution ratified 169 years later, the Mayflower Compact described the form and function of Plymouth Colony’s government. Under the Compact, the Puritan Separatists, although a minority in the group, were to have total control over the colony’s government during its first 40 years of existence. As leader of the Puritans congregation, William Bradford was chosen to serve as Plymouth’s governor for 30 years after its founding. As governor, Bradford also kept a fascinating, detailed journal known as â€Å"Of Plymouth Plantation† chronicling the voyage of the Mayflower and the daily struggles of the settlers of the Plymouth Colony. A Grim First Year in the Plymouth Colony Over the next two storms forced many of the Pilgrims to stay aboard the Mayflower, ferrying back and forth to shore while building shelters to house their new settlement. In March 1621, they abandoned the safety of the ship and moved ashore permanently. During their first winter, more than half of the settlers died of a disease that afflicted the colony. In his journal, William Bradford referred to the first winter as the â€Å"Starving Time.† â€Å" †¦ being the depth of the winter, and wanting houses and other comforts; being infected with the scurvy and other diseases which this long voyage and their inaccommodate condition had brought upon them. So there died some times two or three of a day in the foresaid time, that of 100 and odd persons, scarce fifty remained.† In stark contrast to the tragic relationships that were to come during America’s western expansion, the Plymouth colonists benefited from a friendly alliance with local Native Americans. Shortly after coming ashore, the Pilgrims encountered a Native American man named Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe, who would come to live as a trusted member of the colony. Early explorer John Smith had kidnapped Squanto and taken him back to England where he was forced into slavery. He learned English before escaping and sailing back to his native land. Along with teaching the colonists how to grow the vitally-needed native food crop of maize, or corn, Squanto acted as an interpreter and peacekeeper between Plymouth’s leaders and local Native American leaders, including Chief Massasoit of the neighboring Pokanoket tribe. With the help of Squanto, William Bradford negotiated a peace treaty with Chief Massasoit which helped ensure the Plymouth Colony’s survival. Under the treaty, the colonists agreed to help protect the Pokanoket from invasion by warring tribes in return for the Pokanoket’s help â€Å"to grow food and catch enough fish to feed the colony. And help the Pilgrims grow and catch the Pokanoket did, to the point that in the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims and the Pokanoket famously shared the first harvest feast now observed as the Thanksgiving holiday. The Legacy of the Pilgrims After playing a major role in King Philip’s War of 1675, one of several Indian Wars fought by Britain in North America, the Plymouth Colony and its residents prospered. In 1691, just 71 years after the Pilgrims first set foot on Plymouth Rock, the colony was merged with the Massachusetts Bay Colony and other territories to form the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Unlike the settlers of Jamestown who had come to North America seeking financial profit, most of the Plymouth colonists had come seeking the freedom of religion denied to them by England. Indeed, the first cherished right ensured to Americans by the Bill of Rights is the â€Å"free exercise† of every individual’s chosen religion. Since its founding in 1897, the General Society of Mayflower Descendants has confirmed more than 82,000 descendants of the Plymouth Pilgrims, including nine U.S. presidents and dozens of notable statespersons and celebrities. Besides Thanksgiving, the legacy of the relatively short-lived Plymouth Colony lies in the Pilgrims’ spirit of independence, self-government, volunteerism, and resistance to authority that have stood as the foundation of American culture throughout history.

Dominant Ideology Thesis

Dominant Ideology Thesis The dominant ideology of a society is the collection of values, attitudes, and beliefs that shape the way it views reality. However, sociologists argue that the dominant ideology is only one of a multitude of ideologies at play and that its preeminence is the only aspect that distinguishes it from other competing viewpoints. In Marxism Sociologists differ on how the dominant ideology manifests itself. Theorists influenced by the writings of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels maintain that the dominant ideology always represents the interests of the ruling class over the workers. For example, the ideology of ancient Egypt that represented the pharaoh as a living god and therefore infallible clearly expressed the interests of the pharaoh, his dynasty, and his entourage. The dominant ideology of bourgeois capitalism functions the same way. There are two ways by which the dominant ideology is perpetuated, according to Marx. Intentional propagation is the work of cultural elites within the ruling class: its writers and intellectuals, who then use mass media to disseminate their ideas.Spontaneous propagations happen when the mass media environment is so total in its efficacy that its basic tenets are unquestioned. Self-censorship among knowledge workers, artists, and others ensures that the dominant ideology is unchallenged and the status quo remains Of course, Marx and Engels predicted that revolutionary consciousness would sweep away such ideologies that kept power from the masses. For example, unionizing and collective actions would upset the world views propagated by the dominant ideology, as these are representations of a working-class ideology.

Marketing case write up Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing case write up - Essay Example McGraw intends to retain Oscar Mayer’s (OM) reputation within Kraft Foods as the fastest growing profit maker, and hopefully achieve a +4% volume growth and +15% profit growth for the coming year. His division has two business lines: the traditional OM meat-based products line and the recently acquired/fast growing Louis Rich (LR) turkey-based products line. He has to tailor his strategy which would balance the interests of both lines and yet, achieve his targets. Strengths: OM products enjoyed customer confidence for nearly 100 years, and contribute a massive 82% or $110 MM of the total profits. Acquisition of LR and investment in its line of white meat products has proven to be a strategically wise decision, as shown by the strong volume growth of its products. Weaknesses: There is a significant shift in consumer preference towards less fat/salt food products, i.e., the LR line, while OM line has been giving the maximum profits; its prices are out of tune with the market. Investment costs for acquisitions and/or A&P to buttress LR business will further depress OM business and depress short-term profits; competition from unbranded products will add to the pressure on pricing and bottom line. LR products are susceptible to copying. In terms of convenience, taste, price and customer satisfaction factors, there is a greater negative bias on OM products. OM’s frozen product ‘stuff n burger’ has not been an outstanding success. Opportunities: LR product line business is showing promise of further growth, albeit at the expense of OM product line. LR can add further range to its existing products through in-house R&D efforts that are already underway. Or, it can acquire one or more mid-size firms dealing in white meat products to complement present facilities and products. Threats: Consumers are shifting to healthier and more convenient foods, directly impacting OM range. LR range of products is easy to copy and competition from branded as well

Investigate whether Financial Conservative Policies Depend on Dissertation

Investigate whether Financial Conservative Policies Depend on Financial Distress - Dissertation Example New York, USA: McGraw-Hill. 23 Gravetter, F. J. & Wallnau, L. B. (2009) Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences. USA: Cengage. 23 Healey, J. F. (2009) The Essentials of Statistics: A Tool for Social Research. USA: Cengage. 23 A. Appendix 25 Abstract Financial conservatism is one of the most important reflectors of the financial state of a company. Ordinarily, such an attitude is adopted by companies which are either in financial distress or operate in a rather risky environment. Financial conservatism could be decomposed into cash conservatism and leverage conservatism each of which are again decided after taking into consideration a number of parameters. There typically is a debate about the degree of accuracy with which a financially distressed company is found to adopt financially conservative policies. The present paper takes up this subject and attempts to empirically analyze the same on the basis of around 950 USA firms, with data collected between 1998 and 2006. A panel data lo git regression model had been set up firstly to assess cash conservatism, then leverage conservatism and finally financial conservatism. ... These policies typically, reflect an environment where the companies are endowed with large cash balances and low leverage. While high cash balance indicates the presence of huge fund reserves to the company while, low leveraged financial structure implies that the concerned firm prefers turning towards equity financing over debt financing when they need funds for investment. However, maintaining such a stance might not necessarily mean that the concerned company is operating in a financially distressful environment. When firms find it difficult to meet their financial obligations to their creditors or fail to meet the same, they are considered as traversing through a phase of financial distress. But, financial conservatism might not imply that the firm in question is in a distressful phase of time; it might even mean that the entity is trying to shield itself against too much openness, which could land it up in a mess. However, one important factor which could be cited at this point is that financially conservative policies are highly transitory in nature. The present paper is targeted towards an examination of the extent to which financial conservatism is a suitable reflector of whether the company in question is literally amidst financially distressful phase or not. 1.1 Research Aims and Objectives The present paper attempts to assess whether firms which maintain a financially conservative policy are actually victims of financial distress or not. There is a high possibility of detecting a company’s financial situation through examining its financial policies. Empirically it had been found that in situations where a particular company is found to align to financially conservative policies over a considerable period of time, it generates some useful