Friday, December 27, 2019

The European Union A Peaceful Solution Of The Crisis

In March 2014 the Russian Federation (Russia) annexed the Ukrainian territory of Crimea following escalating tensions and conflict within Ukraine. The European Union (EU) considers the annexation of Crimea â€Å"a clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity by acts of aggression by Russia†. Russia considers the inclusion of Crimea within its territory as an expression of the democratic free will of the people following a local referendum on 16 March 2014. The EU believes negotiations can lead to a peaceful solution of the crisis. The EU has imposed a series of escalating ‘restrictive measures’ (economic sanctions) in an attempt to apply diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia in response to its annexation of Crimea.†¦show more content†¦In order for sanctions to be effective, the EU must ensure the cost of sanctions to Russia is larger than the benefit of annexing Crimea. The EU has implemented ‘targeted’ economic sanctions against Russia. To date these targeted economic sanctions have been applied to five major state-owned Russian banks, three major energy companies, three major Russian defence companies, provision of certain financial services and on providing loans to state-owned Russian banks (further detail is provided at Appendix A). In response Russia has implemented counter economic sanctions against the EU, specifically targeting food and agricultural products. The effectiveness of sanctions in applying economic pressure can be understood by examining its impact on demand, output, cyclical unemployment and inflation in the Russian economy. As shown in figure 1 these economy components are inextricably linked, changes in one component causes flow on effects to the others. Changes in each of these components will be considered in turn. Changes in Output The difference between actual and potential Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is known as the ‘output gap’. In December 2014 the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) measured the output gap for the economy at -2%, indicating a ‘recessionary gap’. In March 2015 the CBR revised its forecasts and estimated the

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Gender Discrimination And Its Impact On Society - 1231 Words

Inequality is a concept which expands over different locations, societies and time in history. It surrounds us in everyday life and has become normalised to the point that one does not pay a second thought. This concept is often not recognised if not for awareness or education on the subject. Yet, it is also important to think about the causes of such outcomes, for example the use of discrimination. This divides people simply based on their race, sex, age and even gender, often making it hard to grab certain opportunities. Discrimination, in one way or another, then becomes the stem of inequalities in certain areas - such as the workplace. Specifically for the female population in several countries. Gender discrimination has been†¦show more content†¦Women are often perceived to be soft spoken, gentle and having a purpose of reproduction in our patriarchal society. If we do not comply to these expectations we are seen as deviant and disrupting societal rules. As such expectations are placed upon us we are already robbed of the opportunity of taking upon or being given desired jobs. When your race and ethnicity comes into play then this task becomes seemingly more difficult. For example, with institutionalised racism we see the police force paying more mind to young Maori youth when it comes to offending. The Ministry of Health recorded a staggering 27% of adult Maori having had experienced some form of discrimination in 2011. The discrimination being a result of the stereotypes placed upon them by fellow New Zealanders and even the media. With these institutions constantly targeting these groups, we are more inclined to believe the surrounding stereotypes. Many employers take these perceptions onboard when a person of the said ethnicity applies for a job. These forms of discrimination then contribute towards inequality and risks job opportunities for women. We are already placed into what are considered the less-skilful and caring jobs such administrative work, clerical roles or nursing. If a woman works as a nurse it is expected as society thinks it is because of her caring nature. If a woman takes upon a job in a maleShow MoreRelatedGender Roles And Gender Responsibilities1116 Words   |  5 PagesGender roles and gender division in biological perspectives were an issue in global societies. Even in today’s societies depending on the geographical areas around the world, gender roles are socially divided. However other geographic countries completely equal, such as Iceland. Laws such as a third gender option at birth, then decision followed by the child. The third gender option would be judged negatively in some other geographic parts of our globally social societies. What kind of impact doRead MoreStereotypes : Sexism And Dis crimination701 Words   |  3 Pagesto be some stereotypes that are false, but you shouldn’t try to change yourself to fit that statement. Sexism and discrimination can come from stereotypes, but they are not true because we are unique in many ways and we can be defined by one label. Stereotypes can be defined as an explained image that creates a meaning for different groups of society, and they impact our society in numerous ways (Stereotype). For example, in an interview with Guy Raz from NPR, Jamila Lyiscott says that â€Å"I’m forcedRead MoreGender, Sexual Orientation And Education1746 Words   |  7 PagesIn today’s society, there are divides that impede the movement of progress. These divides may disperse around a number of issues that revolve around gender, religion, sexual orientation and education. These divides have created an un-opened minded society that judge people and groups based on the prejudices and stereotypes that treat them differently. In the aspect of identity discrimination, American society plays a big role in keeping those that are different isolated from the rest of the worldRead MoreSocial Construction Of Race And Gender1529 Words   |  7 Pagesof Race and Gender, Patriarchy and Prejudice and Discrimination in the Society Social construct may be defined as the social mechanism or a category which has been created by the society. It may either be a perception which is created by an individual or an idea which is constructed as a result of the culture. The present society has created a large number of constructs which are not good. In this paper, the discussion will be done on the social construction of race and gender and the problemsRead MoreGender And Gender Equality746 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"Behind every great man, there is a great woman.† Gender discrimination is portrayed negatively toward a person, especially of a woman because of her sexual identity. It differentiates from workplace, such as getting less paid for the same profession, to violent crime being committed. On a worldly scale, women are still victims of abuse, rape and violence in modern day societies. Even though there are laws against the discrimination of women, it is really a concerning issue and everyone shou ld beRead MoreRace and Ethicity within Sociology959 Words   |  4 Pagesof racial discrimination, this sense of inequality can be seen occurring behind the scenes within our society. Within the subtopic of race, several areas including our current culture, social psychology and the current format of our social institutions allow for the production and often the reproduction of racial discrimination in our day and age. Throughout this course, the various readings and class lectures have been very beneficial when examining the impact that racial discrimination and inequalityRead MoreMedia s Influence On Gender Relations And Sexuality1230 Words   |  5 PagesHistorically, media represented gender and sexuality in the way that matched the dominant public view and mirrors the evolution of gender-related biases and stereotypes and views on sexuality. In the course of time, gender relations and sexuality evolved and changed and all these changes found their reflection in mass media (B onvillain, 1995, 210). Mass media, in their turn, portrayed gender relations and sexuality according to the dominant cultural view on gender relations and sexuality. This isRead MoreGender Roles And Expectations : A Streetcar Named Desire 1096 Words   |  5 PagesGender Equality in Our Society Gender roles and expectations have a lot of impacts on our society and it needs to be changed in order to create a better civilisation. Although our society has ameliorated tremendously in the past years, there are still some discriminatory actions among genders that are affecting someone s life negatively. Any remaining differential between genders need to be changed for a better moral standard of living. The Impacts of gender roles and expectations can be seenRead MoreGender Differences And Gender Inequality1717 Words   |  7 Pages Gender differences and gender inequality are sometimes used interchangeably but do not refer to the same thing. The two concepts are common in gender literature; however, they are not uniform across different cultures based on the degree of conservative attitudes present. The significant differences between sexes and used as arguments against equal rights primarily against women’s rights. Hence, the gender issue has continually been created in light of the standard views or conceptions ofRead MoreHealth and Social Care Unit 19 Essay1547 Words   |  7 Pagesexplaining the concept of an unequal society, be describing social inequalities that exist in society, also I will be discussing the impact of social inequalities on groups in society. Finally I will evaluate the impact of social inequalities in society. P1 We live in a society that is very unequal, in a way that people get treated differently depending on their social class, race or gender. Social inequality means the situation in which individual groups in a society do not have equal social status

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Othello (982 words) Essay Example For Students

Othello (982 words) Essay OthelloI am not what I am. An essay on Othello, question No 4. I will discuss this quote in relation to Lacans ideas about language as the symbolic order. My aim is to show how Othello finds his identity threatened byDesdemonas reaction to his tales. In order to explain Lacans ideas very briefly I will quote from Pam Morris: Literature and Feminism, (Blackwell, 1993) where she discusses the resolution of theOedipal crisis. For Freud the outcome of the childs fear of castration is its submission to the reality principle and hence its entry into the social order. For Lacan thismust coincide with the childs entry into the language system..Language is thus the Law of the father; a linguistic system within which our social andgender identity is always already structured. (p. 104)Othellos identity in the Venetian society is his role as the Moor. Few people use his real name when talking about him. When speaking the given quote, Othello istelling the Venetians how he won Desdemonas heart by telling her the story of his life, and he now retells it to the Venetians. This tale-telling is a way of employingthe linguistic system to reshape for himself a new identity with more positive connotations than the Moor can offer. The Moor is an expression the Venetiansconnect to other expressions in the linguistic system which all have a negative value. Examples are such expressions as old black ram, a Barbary horse, lascivious,and a devil. The negative overtone of these words will reflect back on Othello. He cant change his origins but he can try to change the connotations of the Moor. He can fill the expression with a new content and thereby give himself an identity he can be more comfortable with. This is what Othello is doing when he is retellinghis history. Othello is obviously a good narrator; Desdemona cant get enough of his story. Expressions like seriously incline, with haste and greedy ear showDesdemonas eagerness for his storytelling. And ever./Sheld come again shows that this has been happening over a period of time without Desdemona growingtired of his tales. The given quote implies that Othello feels he has been too clever for his own benefit. Desdemonas craving for his autobiography is felt as a threat; itmay jeopardize his new identity. Othello says that she would: Devour up my discourse. It is in this discourse that his identity exists. If she devours up his discourse,she devours up his identity and leaves him where he started; as the Moor. Desdemona may represent the all-engulfing mother of the pre-Oedipal stage. This is a stage without structure, language or identity, an opposite to the linguisticsystem, the Law of the father. It is with a greedy ear she devours up my discourse. An ear is sometimes used to symbolize female genitalia and will hereemphasize the fact that Othello feels the threat to be feminine. That he, through his discourse, is devoured shows that this feminine threat is all-engulfing. If Othellorefuses to accept his old role as the Moor he will either be without an identity or be dragged by his self-fashioned identity back into the pre-Oedipal stage. Theseoptions are two sides of the same coin, he will lose himself either way. To give up ones self is the same as suicide. Both death and the pre-Oedipal stage are sphereswithout language, structure, intention or identity. To give way to the one or the other will have the same result for Othello; he will no longer be a conscious being. To save himself, Othello must get control over this greedy ear. Female sexuality was considered something scary which could best be controlled through marriage. .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012 , .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012 .postImageUrl , .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012 , .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012:hover , .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012:visited , .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012:active { border:0!important; } .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012:active , .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012 .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ubdecca20de670efba4de5ef77e635012:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Political Correctness In The Classroom EssayA loose tongue was a sign of loose sexuality. Othello extends this notion to include Desdemonas greedy ear. He marries Desdemona and all is well until Iagoimplies that Desdemona is unfaithful. Unfaithfulness in a woman will reflect back on her husband. A cuckold is a ridiculous figure in other peoples eyes. He must be seriously lacking in person for his wifeto run after other men. Othello sees himself in the same situation as before the marriage. Instead of using her ears she is now using her sexuality to destroy the identityhe has built up for himself. I have already pointed out how ears and sexuality are connected in Othellos m ind. Either way the results are the same for Othellosidentity. He sees his positive image of himself slipping away: Farewell the plumed troops and the big wars/ That makes ambition virtue!.Farewell: Othellosoccupations gone. (III, iii, 352-353+360) The one way to control this threat is to passivize Desdemona completely by killing her. He realizes too late the effect thisaction will have on his own situation. She was the only person who would accept the identity he had been fronting. He even had difficulties believing in it himself,which made him an easy victim for Iago. So when he killed Desdemona he killed the positive image of himself. The person he saw as a threat to his identity was theonly person who actually sustained it. Because he had such difficulties in believing in himself he found it impossible that anybody else should do so. This insecurityproves his undoing. His positive self-image gone, he is left a choice between the Moor or nothingness. The moment Emilia realizes Ot hello is the murderer shereverts to calling him expressions connected to the negative image of the Moor: And you the blacker devil!thou art a devil. (V, ii, 129, 131) He cant standbeing this person, the only one society and the symbolic order can offer him. To construct his own identity has proven impossible. To be without an identity, anon-personn implies death. He chooses to free himself of this unwanted identity by stepping out of the social order and the language system by means of suicide. Shakespeare

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

The Hawthorn studies Essay Example

The Hawthorn studies Essay The Hawthorn Studies took place in Western Electric Companys Hawthorne works in Chicago between 1924 and 1932. Originally setting out with the objective to find the relationship between physical environment and productivity, their conclusion was far different. Stephen P. Robbins (2000, p93) The Hawthorn Studies made an important contribution to our understanding of group behaviour. Before the contribution of the Hawthorne studies very different theories were prominent within organisations. Rather than a Human Resource culture, scientific management such as Fordism and Taylorism were popular, and these theories concentrated on the workers motivation to work being money. Many believe that the Hawthorn studies were a precursor to the Human Relations approach that is in wide use today. That the findings of the studies led to more research into behaviour at work, rather than concentrating on other production varying factors. To show how much of a contribution the studies made to the understanding of behaviour at work, it is also necessary to look into modern studies. This is so that the value of the initial Hawthorn Studies can be gauged in how studies and theories were approached in their wake. When the Hawthorne Studies began, the aim was to find a relationship between workers physical environment and their output. This task was much in tune with the scientific management approach which measured workers an attempted to increase production by increased efficiency. Firstly, a study into the effect of lighting on production took place. Rather than find a direct relationship as expected, it was found that groups under close observation had rising production. We will write a custom essay sample on The Hawthorn studies specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Hawthorn studies specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Hawthorn studies specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This rise in output was independent from any changes in the lighting, and this could not be explained. Looking for answers into the rising production, new experiments were setup and overseen by Harvard Professor Elton Mayo. During the next phase of experiments in the relay assembly test room, a small group of women workers were isolated so that they could be studied more carefully. Over a multiyear period it was found that this small groups production was increasing steadily. Sickness and absence also dropped to a third of that in the rest of the factory. The conclusion was that the women saw themselves as a special group, and this was resulting in the increased production. A third phase of the experiment was setup in the bank wiring observation room. The aim of this experiment was to ascertain the effect of a piece rate wage incentive plan. Assumptions were made that individuals would maximise their own output and therefore their earnings. However the study discovered that the employees did not individually maximise their performance. Instead the output was controlled by their group. Stephen P. Robbins (2000, p92) Their output became controlled by a norm that determined what was a proper days work. This conclusion was very different from previous theories where it was assumed that a workers motivation came from pay and conditions. Morgan Witzel (2000, p8) By the time the project was finished, ten years later, its scope had been widened to include nearly every factor, psychological and physical, personal and professional, in work and home life, which might affect the employee and his or her performance, and more than 20,000 people had been studied and interviewed. So although setting out with intentions of carrying on scientific management, the Hawthorn studies uncovered new theories and observations of motivation and employee behaviour. In order to assess the contribution of the Hawthorne Studies, we must look at how behaviour at work was understood before them, and the theories that were utilised by management. Scientific management was born in the early 1900s by Frederick W Taylor. Taylors theories were very different to those born out of the Hawthorn Studies. Tony J. Watson (1980, p44) Taylorism sees the worker basically as an economic animal, a self-seeking non-social individual who prefers managers to do their job- related thinking for them. Using this model of the motivation to work of employees, management simply needed to organize the work and offer monetary incentives which would increase production. Many large organizations such as Ford adopted this strategy, and scientific management was the accepted management theory. Taylor was the first to write on the subject of scientific management, but it was Henry Ford who famously implemented it. Fordism treated workers as another machine and had very simplistic assumptions regarding motivation to work. Taking scientific management on board, these companies were also accepting that their employees behaviour was dependent on pay and conditions. It was not that these companies dismissed other factors, more that they were as yet undiscovered. There were however many critics of Scientific Management and some problems associated with it. Many union leaders were concerned by the practises of introducing this system, not by the higher rates of pay and security offered by some practises. It was the practises where employers introduced piece-rate wages then cut the rates as soon as higher production was reached. Other practises which had introduced correct rates, found production did not meet targets set, and punitive action was then taken. Because Scientific Management did not take into account groups and social behaviour, if targets were not met there was no other explanation other than the workers were not trying their best. It was not until the conclusions of the Hawthorne Studies that other factors were taken into account, and more explanations of workers behaviour could be made. It is widely recognized that the Hawthorne Studies were key in the development of HR (Human Relations) concept. Buchanan, D. and Huczynski, A (1985, p186) Companies concluded that the employees receptivity to managements goals depended on the extent to which the boss could meet employees social needs, such as that for acceptance. In this sense, the human relations approach to management was born. This approach is widely used today and takes into account the factors such as groups and social variables, which were documented during the Hawthorn Studies. To Human Relations theorists, management need to provide a work environment, within which employees can fulfil their social needs. These social needs were identified from the Hawthorn studies, and have since been used in many HR models. Management can use this information to introduce modern techniques such as team building, communication and supportive supervision. All of these techniques, as with scientific management are implemented to managerial needs, and ultimately to increase productivity. Other studies have since been carried out in the wake of the Hawthorne observations. The Luton studies conducted by Goldthorpe et al (1962) were carried out to establish the workers orientation to work. Workers there were well paid and perceived their work as a means to secure pay and security. The employees orientation to work was formed independently from their current employment. It was of little intrinsic value to them, their motivation came from class, community and family background. These studies opened up new areas of debate, and posed questions to management. How could they motivate workers, who gained little or no motivation from work, but only from personal backgrounds? This forced management theorists to think about the employees life outside the organization as well as within work.