Friday, November 8, 2019

Compare the female characters in DH Lawrences Tickets, Please and Thomas Hardys Tony Kytes, the Arch-Deceiver Essay Example

Compare the female characters in DH Lawrences Tickets, Please and Thomas Hardys Tony Kytes, the Arch Compare the female characters in DH Lawrences Tickets, Please and Thomas Hardys Tony Kytes, the Arch-Deceiver Paper Compare the female characters in DH Lawrences Tickets, Please and Thomas Hardys Tony Kytes, the Arch-Deceiver Paper Essay Topic: Literature Short Fiction of Dh Lawrence Both DH Lawrences Tickets, Please and Tony Kytes, the Arch-Deceiver deal with relationships between men and women and the rejection of women by men. At the beginning of Tickets, Please, Annie is peremptory and one of the fearless young hussies that controls the tramcars. At the end after Annie and John Thomas roller coaster-like relationship, it is clear that something has broken in her. Annie tried very hard to keep John Thomas at arms length, which is emphasised by its repetition, whereas, in Tony Kytes, the women are almost desperate to marry Tony Kytes. But in the end, after Hannah Jolliver had refused Tony Kytes, Unity Sallet will not take Hannahs leavings and walks away but looks back to see if Tony is following her. In the end, Tony ends up with Milly, after-all as she doesnt believe that Tony didnt really mean what he had said to them. In Tickets, Please, the women cope with their rejection by attacking him, and in Tony Kytes the women cope with rejection by secretly wishing to marry him. In Tony Kytes, the man gets the girl at the end, but the man in Tickets, Please gets nothing. Throughout history, the relationship between men and women has changed significantly due to the social and historical climate. In the Victorian era, women were treated as objects that were owned by the young suitors that were found for them. Their main aim in life was to find a young man and settle down. As time progressed and the First World War began, men had to leave to fight a common enemy. This meant that women had acquired a new role as they started to work in factories, in the jobs the men had left behind. This set a new agenda for women as they took back control of their lives. This means that although the stories deal with the same subject, the time difference sets them apart. This fact also alters the way the women in the stories act. Annie, from Tickets, Please stays sharp all the way through the story, even when rejected by John Thomas. The women in Tony Kytes, on the other hand, are more concerned with looking for a husband, and so they are more willing to forgive Tonys deceit. In the opening paragraph of Tickets, Please, DH Lawrence describes a single-line tramway system that boldly makes its way through the black industrial countryside up hill and down dale hrough the long, ugly villages of the Midlands. Repetition of ugly and again conveys just how boring dull and ugly the countryside is and how tedious the journey becomes. The way that DH Lawrence opens the story is effective. He describes the journey of the rickety, old tram that plunges itself into darkness as it races through stark, grimy, cold little market places. It conveys metaphorically the roller coaster-like relationship that Annie has with the slithering snail, John Thomas. The short phrases in the first sentence linked with commas, also gives the impression of a dangerous tram journey. The train speeds through the Midlands and the speed is conveyed by the use of word like up and down, high, tilting, rush, down and up again. We feel as if we are travelling by tram as it gathers momentum before reaching a climax. The reader is held on tenterhooks at a precipitous drop. Lawrence uses personification to describe the tram, city-cars and the gloomy Midlands. The tram is described as reckless, breathless and as patient suggesting that something is wrong with it. It also referred to as bold. He uses alliteration in pause and purr as the tram observes with curious satisfaction. This animal imagery, suggests that the tramcar is cat-like. The movement in the first sentence suggests the darting and movements of a cat. The city cars are great crimson and cream coloured, which makes the tramcar feel somewhat abashed, but it is still perky, jaunty and daredevil like Annie. The simile green as a jaunty sprig of parsley out of a black colliery garden acts as a medium to draw contrast between the colourful reckless tram and its bleak surroundings. The opening paragraph in Tickets, Please prepares the reader for Annies character by metaphorically comparing the trams journey to her brave and courageous nature. This prepares us for Annies entrance because Annie and the tram display the bold and reckless spirit. Verbs like plunges, tilting prepare the reader for Annies reckless, breathless adventure with John Thomas. The most important adjective that links Annie and the tram is bold, because it suggests the danger involved in the tram journey and the danger in Annies relationship with John Thomas. Animal imagery is used when Annie is introduced. Words like wild, alive little creature and swift depict Annies quick nature. In Tony Kytes the surroundings are very different from Tickets, Please. It is set in Dorset countryside in the 1890s and portrays an idyllic picture of fields and carts, whereas in Tickets, Please the industrial countryside sets the tone for a bleak landscape. In Tony Kytes there is very little description but from the tone and mood of the characters conversation it can be constructed as warm and bright where everyone is jolly. Both John Thomas and Tony Kytes are popular with the ladies and have had many different partners. Tony Kytes has a weak character, as he is indecisive on who to marry, whereas, John Thomas, a fine cock-of-the-walk, is in complete control of the relationships he has. Tony Kytes is very serious looking and unsmiling young man. He had many scars from Smallpox on his face, which gave him a rugged yet handsome appearance. He was the womens favourite and he loved em in shoals. On the other hand, John Thomas is very good looking with an impudent smile which draws the ladies to him. In Tickets, Please John Thomas is portrayed as a confident dominant character who is always in charge of the relationship whereas Tony Kytes also controls the women who are eager to please him. They hide in the cart when told to do so. John Thomas does not want a serious relationship while Tony Kytes is ready for commitment. Unlike John Thomas who resented women who took an intelligent interest in him, Tony Kytes is not intentionally deceptive as he lies to them in order to save their feelings. In the opening paragraph of Tickets, Please, DH Lawrence prepares the reader for Annies character by describing the tramcars that are driven by men unfit for active service: cripples and hunchbacks. As a result of the war there was gender balance as men and women were companions in peril. The strong hussies were a contrast to the delicate young men. The semantic field of animals is used in describing the fearless young hussies that pounce on youths who try to evade their ticket-machine. Annie is peremptory and suspicious; she guards her Thermopylae with her heart of stone. In contrast, her vulnerability shown by her wild romance which beats in her sturdy bosom. She is something of a Tartar and has kept John Thomas at arms length with her sharp tongue for many months. Annie and John Thomas are companions in peril, brief equality brought about by the war. As the men were away at war, all the jobs that were previously done by men had to be done by women. This brought on a very good feeling between the girls and drivers. On the other hand, Milly Richards in Tony Kytes is a nice, light, tender, little thing. She epitomises the ideal, weak, submissive Victorian woman. Unity Sallet is a handsome girl who Tony had been very tender toward before he had been engaged to Milly. Unity like Annie is blunt and forward and flirts with Tony, she repeats his name in a tender chide to flatter him. Unity takes control of him by asking him by asking him if she is prettier than she? When Tony speaks to Milly, she repeats you, which emphasises that Tony had requested her presence; she suggests that she had been keeping a promise like any reliable person would do. Milly fits in with the Victorian view of women in that she is subservient. She expects men to make decisions and makes little complaint about Tonys flirtation with Unity and Hannah but her grief at Tonys deceit is shown when she lets out a long moan. It is significant that she is metaphorically compared to a mouse when she emits an angry, spiteful squeak. Milly unlike Annie is weak. She respects his name to make him feel big and important. She greets him with My dear Tony, which shows that she feels graced by his presence. Certainly dearest Tony, she emphasises agreeing to all his suggestions and comments. This shows that Milly is humbled to do whatever Tony wants her to do. For Annie, John Thomas represents power, danger and excitement, like the fairground rides, but like the rides, he is an artificial wartime substitute- showy on the outside but lacking substance. Lawrence warns the reader that their relationship is doomed as he has been involved in scandal. He is always walking ou t with new girls who quit the service frequently when he leaves them. The reader gets the impression that Annie will get the same treatment. Lawrence writes that there was a sad decline in brilliance and luxury; the coconut shies were artificial wartime substitutes which is a warning of the decline and artificial nature of the couples relationship. Nouns like Dragons and the adjective grim-toothed suggest the excitement and fascination John Thomas has for Annie. The electrical metaphor shows the power and force pulling them apart and like electricity, which is quick like their relationship. The dark, damp and drizzly fields show that their relationship is dark and dying which is emphasised by the alliteration. The repetition of after-all suggests that Annie is making excuses for being with John Thomas. She is attracted to him having held him at arms length in the past knowing his character. D H Lawrence repeats after-all to emphasise the fact that deep down Annie knows that she should not succumb to John Thomas and show her struggle with feeling. Her helplessness and vulnerability is highlighted as she makes justifications for her behaviour. In Millys relationship with Tony Kytes, neither is in control, others make their decisions for them. Tony Kytes father wants him to marry Milly, so he initially he decides against her, then Hannah and Unitys rejection pushes Tony Kytes into marriage with Milly. Milly is a traditional Victorian girl, which means that she is very loyal and will do whatever Tony wants her to because she reflects values of the Victorian era. At the end of the story, Tony loses control of the cart, which is a metaphor for him, losing control of the three women he was controlling earlier. Annie believes that she can control John Thomas as she prided herself that he could not leave her. The possessive female was aroused in Annie and she wanted to take an intelligent interest in him. John Thomas is in control and so he left her. The short sentence conveys the finality and brutality of the break-up. She is startled, staggered and uncertain and feels fury, indignation, desolation, misery and a spasm of despair, while John Thomas is like an animal, enjoying pastures new. She missed the warm glow she felt inside whenever she was near him. She exacts revenge because he steps on her car impudently, letting her see by the moment of his that the had gone away to somebody else. D H Lawrence uses the repetition of then to show the stages in Annies grief. It breaks down the paragraph like punctuation and it gives her emotions and reactions a monotonous feel. It gives you the impression that Annie has gone through various stages in her feelings almost like a tidal wave. Annie exacts her revenge on John Thomas by organising the other girls to attack John Thomas. Annies movement is metaphorically described as a cat. The girls are in control, but see their action as fun whereas John Thomas sees red and he butted through the girls and wrenched at the door. He is violent but also afraid. The girls brutality and savagery is conveyed as they act like animals, wild creatures. They rain blows in a wild frenzy and mad terror and strike him with wild blows. John Thomas is at the mercy of the captor and is like a defeated animal while the girls metaphorically gain control. The animal imagery vividly conveys the womens anger, pain and frustration. Lawrence writes outside was the darkness and lawlessness of wartime which is comparing the cosy interior of the waiting room to the lawlessness of the womens behaviour. It is an ironic metaphor to trick the reader into thinking it is pleasant in the room until the violence breaks out. In Tony Kytes, Hardy does not concentrate unlike Lawrence. John Thomas gives into pressure and chooses Annie but with malice. She refuses to have him but with bitter hopelessness as if she would have liked to have had him under different circumstances. But in the end nobody wants him. In Tony Kytes, Tony gives into pressure when they talk to him on the cart. Both Unity and Hannah flirt with him and put him under pressure to choose one of them instead of Milly. He persuades then to get under the tarpaulin by saying hell reconsider his decision to marry Milly, Ill put a loving question to you instead of Milly. The anger of the girls is directed at each other because they are jealous of Tonys interest in each other. Tony gives in to pressure from the girls but seems content to have Milly in the end, although she is not his original choice. Tickets, Please is written in the third person. It is objective and formal and it creates distance between the writer and the reader. It evokes the seriousness of the tale and sets a dark scene starting with a long descriptive opening paragraph. The reader feels as if something bad might happen to Annie after keeping John Thomas at arms length when she finally gives in to him. It contains a serious message about relationships and what men and women are capable of doing to each other. In Tony Kytes there is little description: it is told in the first person narrative, as a fictional character reminisces about events in the story. Its written in an informal style as much of the tale unfolds through dialogue. The characters are humorous and their actions are more like something you might read in a fairy tale. The introduction is conversational and informal which suggests the light-hearted nature of the story. The narrator does not place a lot of emphasis on the tale. He is slightly scornful of the women and their ridiculous behaviour. The landscape in Tickets, Please hints at different traits of the characters and is symbolic of Annie and John Thomas relationship. Tony Kytes is timid and meek, with his idyllic and romanticised notions. The title Tony Kytes, the Arch-Deceiver is ironic because hes not really an arch-deceiver. Hes just weak and pathetic which is shown in his indecisive behaviour. It mocks Tony because his deceit finally rebounds on him. The title Tickets, Please refers to the girls job on the tramcars, but also suggests that the story is about them. Both stories are written by men, which makes the women portrayed to be the mens ideal. It is significant that at the end of the stories the women want the men in spite of their treatment, which suggests that ultimately the men are the winners. In Tony Kytes, the girls seem frivolous, they dont seem like real people with emotions, unlike Tickets, Please, where the girls emotions seem real, like many women, Annie prided herself that he could not leave her. Words of the period have been used but the writers to make the stories feel more authentic. The dialect used is relative to both stories in the way it is written. Words such as twas, ee and baddish are used to give flavour of the period and reflect the West Country mode of speech. In Tickets, Please the words like hussies and lasses suggests the working class environment of the countryside. Lawrence gives the impression that women are on the same as footing as men. They are capable of deciding what they want and how they get it, even if in the end theyre dissatisfied at the outcome. Hardy gives the impression that women want to get married and that marriage is not about love, but about whom the man would like to marry. In conclusion, human nature is very powerful and the plots make the reader reflect on the human experience.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Function of the Federal Reserve System in the US Economy

The Function of the Federal Reserve System in the US Economy When countries issue currency, especially fiat currency that is not specifically backed by any commodity, it is necessary to have a central bank whose job it is to monitor and regulate the supply, distribution, and transacting of currency. In the United States, the central bank is called the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve currently consists of the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, D.C., and twelve regional Federal Reserve banks located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Kansas City, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Richmond, San Francisco, and St. Louis. Created in 1913, the history of the Federal Reserve represents the federal government’s   ongoing effort to achieve the goals of any central banking system - ensure a secure American financial system by maintaining a stable currency backed by the benefits of high employment and minimal inflation.   Brief History of the Federal Reserve System The Federal Reserve was created on December 23, 1913, with the enactment of the Federal Reserve Act. In crafting the landmark legislation, Congress was responding to a series of economic panics, bank failures, and credit scarcity that had plagued the nation for decades. When President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act into law on December 23, 1913, it stood as a classic example of an all-too-rare politically bipartisan compromise balancing the need for a consistently regulated centralized national banking system with the competing interests of established private banks backed by a strong â€Å"will of the people† populist sentiment. Over the more than 100 years since its creation, responding to economic disasters, such as the Great Depression in the 1930s and the Great Recession during the 2000s, have required the Federal Reserve to expand its roles and responsibilities. The Federal Reserve and the Great Depression As U.S. Representative Carter Glass had warned, years of speculative investments led to the disastrous â€Å"Black Thursday† stock market crash of October 29, 1929. By 1933, the resulting Great Depression had resulted in the failure of nearly 10,000 banks, leading newly inaugurated President Franklin D. Roosevelt to declare a banking holiday. Many people blamed the crash on the Federal Reserve’s failure to stop the speculative lending practices quickly enough and for its lack of an in-depth understanding of monetary economics necessary to implement regulations that might have lessened the devastating poverty resulting from the Great Depression.  Ã‚   In response to the Great Depression, Congress passed the Banking Act of 1933, better known as the Glass-Steagall Act. The Act separated commercial from investment banking and required collateral in the form of government securities for Federal Reserve notes. In addition, Glass-Steagall required the Federal Reserve to examine and certify all banking and financial holding companies. In a final financial reform, President Roosevelt effectively ended the long-standing practice of backing U.S. currency by physical precious metals by recalling all gold and paper silver certificates, effectively ending the gold standard. Over the years since the Great Depression, the duties of the Federal Reserve expanded significantly. Today, its responsibilities include supervising and regulating banks, maintaining the stability of the financial system and providing financial services to depository institutions, the U.S. government, and foreign official institutions. How Does the Federal Reserve System Work? The Federal Reserve system is overseen by a seven-member board of governors, with one member of this committee chosen as the chairman (commonly known as the Chairman of the Fed). The president of the United States is responsible for appointing Fed chairmen to four-year terms (with confirmation from the Senate), and the current Fed chair is Janet Yellen. (The regular members of the board of governors serve fourteen-year terms.) The presidents of the regional banks are appointed by each individual branchs board of directors. The Federal Reserve system serves a number of functions, which generally fall into a couple of categories: first, it is the Feds job to ensure that the banking system stays responsible and solvent. While this does sometimes mean that the Fed has to work with the three branches of government to think about explicit legislation and regulation, it more often means that the Fed works in a transactional sense to clear checks and to act as a lender to banks that want to borrow money themselves. (The Fed does this mainly to keep the system stable and is referred to as the lender of last resort, since the process is not really encouraged.) The other function of the Federal Reserve system is to control the money supply. The Federal Reserve can control the amount of money (highly liquid assets such as currency and checking deposits) in a number of ways. The most common way is to increase and decrease the amount of money in the economy via open-market operations. Open-Market Operations Open-market operations simply refer to the process of the Federal Reserve buying and selling U.S. government bonds. When the Federal Reserve wants to increase the money supply, it simply purchases government bonds from the public. This works to increase the money supply because, as the buyer of the bonds, the Federal Reserve is giving out dollars to the public. The Federal Reserve also keeps government bonds in its portfolio and sells them when it wants to decrease the money supply. Selling decreases the money supply because the buyers of the bonds give currency to the Federal Reserve, which takes that cash out of the hands of the public. There are two important things to note about open-market operations: first, the Fed itself isnt directly responsible for printing money. Printing money is handled by the Treasury, and there are multiple channels by which the money gets into circulation. (Sometimes, for example, the new money just replaces worn-out currency.) Second, the Federal Reserve doesnt actually create or issue the government bonds, it just handles them in secondary markets. (Technically, open-market operations could be conducted with a number of different assets, but it makes sense for the government to manipulate the supply and demand of an asset that was issued by the government itself.) Other Monetary Policy Tools Although not used nearly as frequently as open-market operations, there are other tools that the Federal Reserve can use to change the amount of money in the economy. One option is to change the reserve requirement for banks. Banks create money in an economy when they loan out customers deposits (since both the deposit and the loan count as money), and the reserve requirement is the percentage of deposits that banks have to keep on hand rather than lending out. An increase in the reserve requirement, therefore, restricts the amount that banks can lend out and thus reduces the money supply. Conversely, a decrease in the reserve requirement increases the number of loans that banks can make and increases the money supply. (This, of course, assumes that banks want to lend more when they are allowed to do so.) The Federal Reserve can also change the money supply by changing the interest rate that it charges banks when it acts as the lender of last resort. The process by which banks borrow from the Federal Reserve is called the discount window, and the interest rate that the Federal Reserve charges is called the discount rate. When the discount rate is increased, it is more expensive for banks to borrow in order to cover their reserve requirements. Therefore, a higher discount rate causes banks to be more careful about reserves and make fewer loans, which reduces the money supply. On the other hand, lowering the discount rate makes it cheaper for banks to rely on borrowing from the Federal Reserve and increases the number of loans they are willing to make, thus increasing the money supply. Decisions regarding monetary policy are handled by the Federal Open Market Committee, which meets approximately every six weeks in Washington in order to discuss changing the money supply and other economic issues. Updated by Robert Longley

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Business Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business Analysis - Essay Example The cash flow for a particular period reflects the flow of cash in future for that period. But due to a loss in the time value of money, the present value of the cash flow is actually less than the actual value. To have a realistic view of the cash flows the actual values need to be converted into what are called as the Present Values. The factor by which the actual value is multiplied to calculate the present value is called the Discount Factor. Discount factor lies between 0 and 1. It is determined by the rate of return on capital during a given period and can be calculated using compounding (Johnson, Derek). Using the net present value approach, it can be found out that the net cash flows are positive in all quarters and the initial investment is also recovered within a quarter. The Net present value is hence positive and comes out as  £5,030,687. The NPV (Net Present value) calculations can be done using an excel spread sheet. An extract of the same is shown in Figure 2.1. Thus, it can be concluded from this that, the boutique must go with the development plan. There are several key factors that can affect the cash flows. One of them is the Build-up factor. If the build-up factor becomes negative i.e. there is a decrease in income in the following quarters due to some reason, the NPV decreases. The NPV turns negative at -57% build-up factor for each quarter as shown in Figure 3.1. This is where the decision gets reversed. This could happen in case of adverse external circumstances. The second factor which can affect cash flow is Cost of Sales. If due to an increase in raw material costs or due to some other factors, Cost of Sales rise as much as 89% of the sales, the NPV becomes negative and the decision has to be reversed. This is shown in Figure 3.2. Thirdly, the increase in rent can have an impact on net cash flows especially in wake of continuously rising real estate prices. If the rent increases to  £1427 per sq. m.,

Friday, November 1, 2019

Procurement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Procurement - Essay Example Nike, Inc. is an American company which is engaged in development, manufacturing, design and worldwide marketing of apparel, accessories, footwear, equipment and services. The company has its headquartered in Oregon, United States. It was founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports. It is a major manufacturer of sports equipment which has achieved revenue of $ 24 billion in 2012. Nike also operates retail stores under the name Nike town. It has left mark in athletic shoe. Nike which views itself as a sporting wear has now expanded into fashion apparel business which produces high-priced casual clothing for young adults and teenagers. Nike as a brand has many distinct brands into their portfolio. Nike Brand which develops designs and sells athletic gear and sports casual products. Converse is another brand which markets, designs and distributes luxury shoes, apparel and accessories. Cole Haan designs, distributes and markets the handbags, luxury shoes and outwear. Nike Golf also markets, de signs apparel, footwear, accessories. Famous director Nicolai Fuglsig has directed a campaign named New â€Å"Possibilities† campaign which is inspired by â€Å"Just Do It† campaign which was debuted 25 years ago. By the â€Å"Just Do It â€Å"motto, the company is aiming at inspiring people to challenge them to maximum potential. The campaign features actors like Serena Williams, Andre Berto, Gerad Pique, LeBron James and Chris Pine. The â€Å"Possibilities† campaign wants to inspire people to be their best with challenges like Nike Fuel and Nike + Running. The campaign begins with a line like if one can run a mile, then one should run a race, a marathon or even outrun a movie star. Thus different challenges and scenarios emerge and each time they need to push their limits. This campaign shows people a way of setting their goals so as to think about their athletic potential and help them in achieving their goals through services, products and inspiration. Even

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Internet Technology, Marketing, and Security Essay

Internet Technology, Marketing, and Security - Essay Example Social Media includes internet sites which facilitate the communication between individuals with the help of pictures, videos and writings. This essay will focus on the role of Social Media Marketing in the business profit generation. The researcher would consider the contribution of Social Media in marketing activities of Pepsi. In the later stage, the paper would consider several other empirical case studies and enumerate the importance of Social Media Marketing in future. The learnt from the essay would help to understand the importance of internet commercial segments (Bosari, 2012). Growing Popularity of Social Media Marketing CompuServe was the first Social Media networking site, established in United States in the 19th century. With the rise in literacy levels and the progress in technology, the proportion of internet users has increased significantly. Currently, famous social networking sites like, Youtube, are viewed by approximately 4 billion viewers per day. About 1.11 bill ion individuals across the world are regular users of Facebook and the viewership ratings for Twitter are about 500 million (Bosari, 2012). In the contemporary world, such sites are used for both commercial and non-commercial purposes. The corporate business firms often use Social Media for marketing their products to the consumers. In the theory of Customer Behavior Management, Customer Relationship Management plays a pivotal role. There are various reasons for which Social Media Marketing has become so popular in the modern days. There are: Social Media helps the companies to easily reach a wider base of customers across different marketplaces. The marketing activities through Social Media are relatively less costly that the other forms of traditional marketing methods. Online shopping has become a popular shopping destination in the modern world. The growing popularity of the digital marketplaces has forced the companies to set marketing strategies through internet media. Most of the consumers today are preoccupied with their daily activities. The proportion of television or radio viewers is much lesser than the proportion of the internet users. Thus, marketing consumer goods and services in the social networking sites helps the companies to reach out to a wider customer base, within the least possible time. Special Media marketing activities of the companies help to reduce their cost of marketing. The accumulated finances which are saved can be used by the companies for the purpose of growth and development. Social Media marketing is a more comprehensive, flexible and trendy form of marketing as opposed to the traditional methods (Bosari, 2012). Figure 1: Growing Popularity of Social Media Marketing (Source: Acra, 2012) The above bar graph shows that among all the different uses of internet media, Social Media is the most popular of them. Figure 2: Steps of Purchase (Source: Acra, 2012) The above graph shows the marketing stages. Figure 3: Social Fieldwork Cycle (Source: Acra, 2012) The above graph shows that social media marketing gives the maximum importance to ‘consumerism’. Advantages and Disadvantages There are various types of advantages and disadvantages of Social Media marketing. Advantages Social Media marketing activities help to enhance the business-to-customer relationships. It helps to engage the customers in

Monday, October 28, 2019

Women in India Essay Example for Free

Women in India Essay The status of women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few millennia. From equal status with men in ancient times through the low points of the medieval period, to the promotion of equal rights by many reformers, the history of women in India has been eventful. In modern India, women have held high offices in India including that of the President, Prime Minister, Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Leader of the Opposition. As of 2011, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of the parliament) were women. However, women in India continue to face atrocities such as rape, acid throwing, dowry killings while young girls are forced into prostitution; as of late rape has seen a sharp increase following several high profile cases of young girls brutally raped in public areas. According to a global poll conducted by Thomson Reuters, India is the fourth most dangerous country in the world for women, and the worst country for women among the G20 countries. Historical practices Traditions such as sati, jauhar, and devadasi among some communities have been banned and are largely defunct in modern India. However, some instances of these practices are still found in remote parts of India. The purdah is still practised by Indian women in some communities, and child marriage remains prevalent despite it being illegal under current Indian law. Sati Sati is an old, almost completely defunct custom among some communities, in which the widow was immolated alive on her husbands funeral pyre. Although the act was supposed to be voluntary on the widows part, it is believed to have sometimes been forced on the widow. It was abolished by the British in 1829. There have been around forty reported cases of sati since independence. In 1987, the Roop Kanwar case in Rajasthan led to The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act. Jauhar Jauhar refers to the practice of voluntary immolation by wives and daughters of defeated warriors, in order to avoid capture and consequent molestation by the enemy. The practice was followed by the wives of defeated Rajput rulers, who are known to place a high premium on honour. Purdah Purdah is the practice among some communities of requiring women to cover their bodies so as to conceal their skin and form. It imposes restrictions on the mobility of women, curtails their right to interact freely, and is a symbol of the subordination of women. It does not reflect the religious teachings of either Hinduism or Islam, contrary to common belief. Devadasis Devadasi is a religious practice in some parts of southern India, in which women are married to a deity or temple. The ritual was well-established by the 10th century A. D. In later periods, illegitimate sexual exploitation of devadasis became the norm in some parts of India. Women in independent India Women in India now participate fully in areas such as education, sports, politics, media, art and culture, service sectors, science and technology, etc. Indira Gandhi, who served as Prime Minister of India for an aggregate period of fifteen years, is the worlds longest serving woman Prime Minister. The Constitution of India guarantees to all Indian women equality (Article 14), no discrimination by the State (Article 15(1)), equality of opportunity (Article 16), and equal pay for equal work (Article 39(d)). In addition, it allows special provisions to be made by the State in favour of women and children (Article 15(3)), renounces practices derogatory to the dignity of women (Article 51(A) (e)), and also allows for provisions to be made by the State for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief. (Article 42). Feminist activism in India gained momentum in the late 1970s. One of the first national-level issues that brought womens groups together was the Mathura rape case. The acquittal of policemen accused of raping a young girl Mathura in a police station led to country-wide protests in 1979-1980. The protests, widely covered by the national media, forced the Government to amend the Evidence Act, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Indian Penal Code; and created a new offence, custodial rape. Female activists also united over issues such as female infanticide, gender bias, womens health, and womens literacy. Since alcoholism is often associated with violence against women in India many women groups launched anti-liquor campaigns in Andhra Pradesh, Himachal  Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and other states. Many Indian Muslim women have questioned the fundamental leaders interpretation of womens rights under the Shariat law and have criticized the triple talaq system. In 1990s, grants from foreign donor agencies enabled the formation of new women-oriented NGOs. Self-help groups and NGOs such as Self Employed Womens Association (SEWA) have played a major role in the advancement of womens rights in India. Many women have emerged as leaders of local movements; for example, Medha Patkar of the Narmada Bachao Andolan. The Government of India declared 2001 as the Year of Womens Empowerment (Swashakti). The National Policy For The Empowerment Of Women came was passed in 2001. In 2006, the case of Imrana, a Muslim rape victim, was highlighted by the media. Imrana was raped by her father-in-law. The pronouncement of some Muslim clerics that Imrana should marry her father-in-law led to widespread protests, and finally Imranas father-in-law was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The verdict was welcomed by many womens groups and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. In 2010 March 9, one day after International Womens day, Rajya Sabha passed the Womens Reservation Bill requiring that 33% of seats in Indias Parliament and state legislative bodies be reserved for women. Crimes against women Police records in India show a high incidence of crimes against women. The National Crime Records Bureau reported in 1998 that by 2010 growth in the rate of crimes against women would exceed the population growth rate. Earlier, many crimes against women were not reported to police due to the social stigma attached to rape and molestation. Official statistics show a dramatic increase in the number of reported crimes against women. Acid Throwing A Thomas Reuters Foundation survey says that India is the fourth most dangerous place in the world for women to live in. Women belonging to any class, caste, creed or religion can be victims of this cruel form of violence and disfigurement, a premeditated crime intended to kill or maim permanently and act as a lesson to put a woman in her place. In India, acid attacks on women who dared to refuse a mans proposal of marriage or asked for a divorce are a form of revenge. Acid is cheap, easily available, and the quickest way to destroy a womans life. The number of acid attacks have been rising. Child marriage Child marriage has been traditionally prevalent in India and continues to this day. Historically, child brides would live with their parents until they reached puberty. In the past, child widows were condemned to a life of great agony, shaved heads, living in isolation, and being shunned by society. Although child marriage was outlawed in 1860, it is still a common practice. According to UNICEF’s â€Å"State of the World’s Children-2009† report, 47% of Indias women aged 20–24 were married before the legal age of 18, rising to 56% in rural areas. The report also showed that 40% of the worlds child marriages occur in India. Domestic violence The number of incidents of domestic violence is higher among the lower Socio-Economic Classes (SECs). [citation needed] The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 came into force on 26 October 2006. Dowry In 1961, the Government of India passed the Dowry Prohibition Act, making dowry demands in wedding arrangements illegal. However, many cases of dowry-related domestic violence, suicides and murders have been reported. In the 1980s, numerous such cases were reported. In 1985, the Dowry Prohibition (maintenance of lists of presents to the bride and bridegroom) Rules were framed. According to these rules, a signed list should be maintained of presents given at the time of the marriage to the bride and the bridegroom. The list should contain a brief description of each present, its approximate value, the name of who has given the present, and relationship to the recipient. However, such rules are rarely enforced. A 1997 report claimed that each year at least 5,000 women in India die dowry-related deaths, and at least a dozen die each day in kitchen fires thought to be intentional. The term for this is bride burning and is criticized within India itself. Amongst the urban educated, such dowry abuse has reduced considerably. Female infanticide and sex-selective abortion In India, the male-female sex ratio is skewed dramatically in favour of males, the chief reason being the high number of females who die before reaching adulthood. Tribal societies in India have a less skewed sex ratio than other caste groups. This is in spite of the fact that tribal communities have far lower income levels, lower literacy rates, and less adequate health facilities. Many experts suggest the higher number of males in India can be attributed to female infanticides and sex-selective abortions. Ultrasound scanning constitutes a major leap forward in providing for the care of mother and baby, and with scanners becoming portable, these advantages have spread to rural populations. However, ultrasound scans often reveal the sex of the baby, allowing pregnant women to decide to abort female foetuses and try again later for a male child. This practice is usually considered the main reason for the change in the ratio of male to female children being born. In 1994 the Indian government passed a law forbidding women or their families from asking about the sex of the baby after an ultrasound scan (or any other test which would yield that information) and also expressly forbade doctors or any other persons from providing that information. However, in practice this law (like the law forbidding dowries) is widely ignored, and levels of abortion on female foetuses remain high and the sex ratio at birth keeps getting more skewed. Female infanticide (killing of girl infants) is still prevalent in some rural areas. Sometimes this is infanticide by neglect, for example families may not spend money on critical medicines or withhold care from a sick girl. Continuing abuse of the dowry tradition has been one of the main reasons for sex-selective abortions and female infanticides in India. Rape Rape in India has been described by Radha Kumar as one of Indias most common crimes against women and by the UN’s human-rights chief as a â€Å"national problem†. In the 1980s, womens rights groups lobbied for marital rape to be declared unlawful, as until 1983, the criminal law (amendment) act stated that sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under fifteen years of age is not rape. Marital rape is now illegal in India but is still widespread. While per-capita reported incidents are quite low compared to other countries, even developed countries, a new case is reported every 20 minutes. New Delhi has the highest rate of rape-reports among Indian cities. Sources show that rape cases in India have doubled between 1990 and 2008. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 24,206 rape cases were registered in India in 2011, although experts agree that the number of unreported cases is much higher. Sexual harassment Eve teasing is a euphemism used for sexual harassment or molestation of women by men. Many activists blame the rising incidents of sexual harassment against women on the influence of Western culture. In 1987, The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act was passed to prohibit indecent representation of women through advertisements or in publications, writings, paintings or in any other manner. Of the total number of crimes against women reported in 1990, half related to molestation and harassment in the workplace. In 1997, in a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court of India took a strong stand against sexual harassment of women in the workplace. The Court also laid down detailed guidelines for prevention and redressal of grievances. The National Commission for Women subsequently elaborated these guidelines into a Code of Conduct for employers.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Ancient Egyptian Religion As S :: essays research papers fc

Ancient Egyptian Religion as Seen in Art and Architecture   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As the hot Egyptian sun beats down upon his head, the archeologist realizes his time is drawing to a close. The local government had allotted a period of two weeks for the expedition to take place, and the thirteenth day is now in its peak. The search for the tomb of the great king Menes has, thus far, been a complete failure. The archeologist begins to feel a bit queasy, realizing his sudden failure; however, a cavalcade of shouts suddenly penetrates the intensely hot air. He strains his burning eyes to find the source of the commotion. Then he sees it: the corner of some ancient edifice is peeking sleepily from the sand and grit that buried it so long ago.  ³Could this be it, ² the archeologist asks himself, still in awe over the pale stone that his eyes now gaze upon. It seems almost impossible that the tracks of a culture so great could be covered by such an inadequate foe as time. But even now as he gazes upon the tomb in success, the archeologist sees no culture behind these artifacts; he merely sees the makings of a fortune.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It will be nearly fifty years before the people represented by these pieces of time are honored for their diverse culture. Once vast and thriving, the Ancient Egyptian culture was a center of commerce, philosophy, and religion alike. The people had a culture like that of no other group in history; however, its complexity has led to many misconceptions about the Ancient Egyptian populace. The ever-popular archaic art style of a figure in profile surrounded by hieroglyphs has become the world ¹s favorite view of the Egyptian. As a result of this ignorance, the cultural aspects of this society are not fully appreciated. One of the greatest little-known truths about the people of this society is that they based almost everything they did around their spiritual beliefs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the life of Egyptian people, religion [played] a far more   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  important part than modern man can imagine. With the peoples   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  of antiquity, as in Europe in the Middle Ages, belief in gods or in   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  one god [formed] the focal point of man ¹s world-outlook. Religion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  [provided] the stimulus to art and philosophy and a matrix for   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  the development of moral principles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (Woldering 28) This similarity between everyday tasks and belief in the gods lead to advances in numerous aspects of this society.