R.L.Stevenson in ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ to Heighten the Horror Essay

During the novel ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ R.L.Stevenson uses many techniques and language devices such as metaphor, simile, irony and personification to gradually heighten the horror. Stevenson has some powerful passages such as, the trampling of the child, the murder of Sir Danvers Carew and the transformation of Jekyll at Dr Lanyons. Stevenson sets the story in London, 1886, which at this time was the richest part of the entire world. Many of the people who lived there had little contact with crime, which is ironic because Mr Hyde, a character within Dr Jekyll, disturbs the whole scene into that of a scary and tense area. The main settings where horrific things happen are usually described as ‘†¦almost deserted†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ and ‘†¦lamp-lit†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ which is a very good setting for heightening the horror in the novel. It shows mystery and emptiness which makes you wait for intense action, this causes the rhythm and speed of the story to change depending on the setting. A setting described as ‘†¦foggy†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ and ‘†¦nocturnal†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ fits greatly into a society like Dr Jekyll’s in London a place of which is dominated by secrecy the whole way through, which add suspense to the story their makes it more tense for the reader. The mystery begins at the very start, where we meet Utterson who is an intelligent lawyer who does not quickly judge other people. Mr Utterson becomes our guide throughout many of the chapters and we see all of the discoveries he makes. The door in Dr Jekyll’s house stands out because Mr Hyde uses it as if were his own and a theme of mystery evolves around it, because we do not know where it leads to. This is where we first meet Mr Hyde. He is hard to describe but has a strong effect on everybody who meets him. His behaviour is unusual. He tramples on a girl and appears to be really calm about the situation, as if he has no fear in life, which is extraordinary and inhuman. Without a fuss he accepts what he has done wrong and agrees to pay à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½100 compensation. The money is paid by cheque ‘†¦signed by a name [Utterson] cannot mention†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢which gives a really strong sense of mystery which carries through until the end of the novel. In chapter two ‘The Search for Hyde’ the mystery deepens even more. We here that Jekyll has left ‘†¦all his possessions†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ in a signed Will to the evil Mr Hyde. Mr Utterson was the first person in the novel that we heard about, we trust him the most and therefore share in his concerns about Jekyll which appears to be blackmail. All of the mystery that Stevenson adds to the story helps make it more horrific and tense for the raeder. As the story continues, Utterson sees Hyde’s face and describes him as ‘†¦pale and dwarfish†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ and that he is a mix of ‘†¦timidity and boldness†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ which is very intriguing because he show two characteristics in a weird way which gives us the theme of duality. Other people find it hard to describe him, Enfield describes him as giving ‘†¦a strong feeling of deformity†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ but ‘†¦ he is not easy to describe.’ Which forces people to read on further and get deeper into the book. Although he is described as giving ‘†¦a displeasing smile†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ and having a ‘†¦ghastly face†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ the reader is not given a quality description of his face, which in my opinion is done deliberately by Stevenson to give a mysterious image to Mr Hyde. This causes the reader to concentrate on him and want to learn more about him, therefore would be more horrific for the reader because he does not even know what the mutant looks like, we only know his actions. Mr Hyde represents ‘†¦the beast in man†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ and is described as animalistic in many occasions. An example of this is when Mr Utterson meets him and describes him as ‘†¦hissing†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ like a cornered snake. Another is when Poole evaluates him as a ‘†¦thing†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢that squeals ‘†¦like a rat†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ he moves about ‘†¦like a monkey†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ and screams in ‘†¦mere animal terror.’ These are examples of similes which suggest that Hyde is abnormal and is compared with the characters of animals-which relates to the Charles Darwin theory of apes and backward evolution, which would be terrifying for a Victorian reader because they did not believe in the theory. Mr Hyde shows how evil and spiteful he is by making the transforming of character involuntary, for Jekyll to see that his hand is ‘†¦thickly shaded with a swart. growth of hair†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ which makes him describe his double personality and character as ‘†¦the animal within me licking the chops of memory.’ Hyde was haggard in the way that he ‘†¦snarled aloud into a savage laugh†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢which suggests how he is related to evil, like a monster. Many horror stories have monsters and other characters to portray them as horrific, but Stevenson takes it a step further and makes you picture a monster of your own choice with the little information and description given to you, this builds up the tension and horror layer by layer the more you read on. Another theme is shown when the Jekyll/Hyde double in the laboratory is described as having ‘†¦a mask upon his face.’ This shows the dual nature of Jekyll/Hyde. The weather also plays a big part in the story, it effects it by making the atmosphere feel real and heightening the horror. Stevenson uses pathetic fallacy to change the setting and atmosphere into one of which suits the story, ‘†¦it was an early cloudless night†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ and ‘†¦a brilliantly lit lane†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ with a ‘†¦full moon†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢which gives a sense of calmness. Stevenson then gives intense action, which has a strong effect on the reader and therefore effectively heightens the horror. The action is a murder, which is very horrific anyway. A maidservant witnessed the murder from her bedroom window. The maidservant described the victim, Sir Danvers Carew, as ‘†¦an old aged beautiful gentleman†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ she did not recognise him but he seemed to have ‘†¦an innocent and old-world kindness of disposition†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ He came across a small man who the maidservant recognised, Mr Hyde. Sir Danvers Carew addressed Mr Hyde politely but Hyde, without replying, ‘†¦broke out into a great flame of anger†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Carew’s bones ‘†¦audibly shattered.’ The body ‘†¦jumped upon the roadway†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ until it became ‘†¦mangled.’ The murder weapon was a stick made of ‘†¦very tough and heavy wood†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ of which broke ‘†¦under the stress of his insensate cruelty.’ This is by far the most intense and scariest part of the book because Stevenson uses emotive language and other language devices to show a great contrast of description shown between Carew and Hyde of good and evil, which makes Mr Hyde seem an extraordinary evil character of ‘†¦cruelty.’ Dr Henry Jekyll is a well-known chemist and physician with qualifications to his name. We meet him in the third chapter ‘Dr Jekyll was quite at ease’. He is described as a ‘†¦large, well-made, smooth faced man of fifty†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ who had ‘†¦something of a slyish cast.’ He had ‘†¦every mark of capacity and kindness.’ He is a wealthy man whose autobiography is shown in his ‘Statement’ this tells us that he was born into a well-off family and he had a brilliant education. Jekyll is hypocritical to himself because he sees the evil side of his nature (Hyde), yet does not accept him as a natural part of him in his life and is also arrogant, thinking that he can control nature. The theme of duality is shown in many parts of the story, when Utterson shows Mr Guest, a writing expert, a letter and he notices that ‘†¦the two hands are in many points identical†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ between Hyde’s and Jekyll’s handwriting. Stevenson uses irony to make profound statements about the personality of humans, this helps the main theme and adds more information to explain the moral of the story. During the novel, we are told the story through the eyes of many people such as Enfield, Utterson, Lanyon and eventually Jekyll himself. The whole moral and idea of the story is hidden until Lanyon’s narrating, the technique of multiple perspectives which is a very good way of heightening the horror and allows us to see more clearly into their characters and relationships. Another technique used by Stevenson is revealing the plot via letters, diaries and casebooks; this makes us feel that we are actually inside the story, living out what happens and makes us equally confused by not knowing what exactly is happening. Stevenson also uses dreams as the technique of authentication because he uses things like diaries etc to continue the story; an example is when Utterson has a dream, which is full of evil foreboding, which causes the reader to have a greater desire to unmask the mysterious hidden face of Mr Hyde. This is very intense because it is what happens in real life, you have nightmares of bad things and cannot get them off your mind. In conclusion I found out that Stevenson gives a sense of tension throughout the narrating of each character, by using pathetic fallacy, detailed settings, literary devices and strong themes and morals. I think each character has a sense of mystery and horror about them of which we will never get to know. I also think that what you see is not always what you get, because nobody would have known that such an evil character could have came from someone as kind and well mannered as Dr Henry Jekyll. Evil Hyde was a natural part of Jekyll’s personality along with the good side, but because Jekyll was so arrogant he destroyed himself by trying to separate the two. The main theme is that all humans have at least two facets of their personality, good and evil, and that these exist in different measures. It is quite horrific for us to realise that the potential for evil, like Hyde, is inside each and every one of us!!

A Raisin in the Sun Analysis Essay

Throughout the play, A Raisin in the Sun, the Younger family struggles to come together as a family. One of the main impediments in their unity is their differing views on the world. Each character has their own dream and is unwilling to sacrifice that dream for anything. They are afraid of having their dream deferred. Their dreams, especially Walter Lee’s, break the family apart, and it is only when they unite their dreams together that they unite the family. Most of the members of the Younger family have some kind of individual dream. Beneatha wants to be a doctor; Ruth wants to move into a home that is her own; Mama simply wants to keep the family together; and Walter wants to be able to provide comfortably for his family. All these differing dreams and goals cause rifts in the family from time to time, but none more so than Walter Lee Younger’s dream. Walter is a pivotal character in the play. His actions shape the plot unquestionably, and it is because of his strong will and perseverance towards his dream that the plot progresses as it does. He believes that his way is the best for the family and he will do anything to achieve it. After feeling closer to his dream than ever before he tells Travis, â€Å"Just tell me what it is you want to be- and you’ll be it†¦. Whatever you want to be – Yessir! You just name it, son†¦ and I hand you the world! † (Hansberry, 109). This reinforces the idea that Walter thought that his dream would save his son. In her book, Worlds of Pain, Lillian B. Rubin writes, â€Å"For the child – especially a boy – born into a professional middle class home, the sky’s the limit; his dreams are relatively unfettered by constraints†¦ For most working class boys, the experience is just the reverse† (Rubin, 38). The life of a child in a professional middle class home is exactly what Walter wants for his son, and he would do anything to get it. He thought that once he achieved financial security, he could save his son from a working class life. The main issue for Walter, however, would be that his quest for financial security, and ultimately his dream, would come between him, his family, and his marriage. Ruth senses this and tells Mama, â€Å"Mama, something is happening between Walter and me. I don’t know what it is – but he needs something – something I can’t give him anymore. He needs this chance, Lena† (Hansberry, 42). The chance that she refers to was his first step into an investment towards financial security. He put his dreams and ambitions in front of everything because of his strong will. This led to somewhat of an apathy towards any other affairs to the house. Nowhere is this more apparent than when Walter finds out Ruth plans on getting an abortion. After Mama tries to force him to talk things over with his wife, the stage direction states, â€Å"(WALTER picks up his keys and his coat and walks out†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hansberry, 75). This all-consuming dream of Walter’s gets in between Walter and his family and causes tension throughout the plot. Walter lives the poem A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes throughout the play. Once Mama has bought a new house with the money he wanted to use for his investment, Walter says to her, â€Å"you butchered up a dream of mine – you – who always talking ‘bout your children’s dreams†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hansberry, 95). Here he feels like his dream has been deferred and his dream begins to â€Å"stink like rotten meat† (Hughes, 6). Even though most of the people around him could not see his dream like he did, his attitude reeked of unfulfilled expectations. His deferred dream â€Å"fester(s) like a sore†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hughes, 4) and the pain starts to stretch his sanity. He says himself, â€Å"I want so many things that they are driving me kind of crazy†¦ Mama – look at me† (Hansberry, 73). It is this madness and this dream that causes the conflict within the household. The true test of unity for the family came with the second arrival of Mr. Lindner. It is then that Walter has to make a decision that will either bring his family together and place him as head of the household or break them all apart. Ultimately, he puts his family first and even Mama remarks, â€Å"He finally come into his manhood today, didn’t he? Kind of like a rainbow after the rain†¦Ã¢â‚¬  That day he put his family before his dreams. He realized that moving into their own home and standing up for themselves would be the best thing for his family. With this single act, he reinforced himself as the head of the household. Once everyone, especially Walter, come together towards Mama’s dream, they come together as a unit. They no longer act individually but act for the good of the household. They see that their future is dangerous and they must stand together if they are to oppose it. There is no longer talk of abortions or money; they speak more often of the family. This dream of owning their own home is exactly what the family needed and once it was achieved, the Youngers became stronger and closer. Though Walter had to sacrifice the most, mainly his dreams and ambitions, once he did, he led the family through to their unity. His selflessness allowed the family to live in harmony. Professors Bahr & Bahr of Brigham University wrote in their article, Families and Self-Sacrifice: Alternative Models and Meanings for Family Theory, â€Å"We draw from the disciplines of economics, history, philosophy, literature, sociology, and from life as lived by everyday people in making the case that self-sacrifice is a powerful and a essential part of social life generally, and family life in particular† (Bahr, 1231). Self-sacrifice is essential for the family to work together as a unit. An individualistic approach to family life leads only to discord and disunity. Walter Lee Younger made this revelation, perhaps even subconsciously, when he decided to refuse the money that Mr. Lindner offered that was necessary to realize his aspirations. Only once this was achieved could the Youngers be a cohesive family unit. English historian Thomas Fuller once said, â€Å"The darkest hour is just before the dawn. † This famous quote is thoroughly applicable to A Raisin in the Sun. Though the Youngers had severe familial problems, they pulled through it stronger than ever before, thanks to the unifying dream that lit the way through the night.

Gattaca Film Study Essay

Gattaca is often portrayed as a quest film. A quest film is defined as â€Å"a character that is on a journey or adventure with an ultimate goal in mind of completing a task or to obtain an object of significance.† (Merriam-Webster, 2012) The quest often involves overcoming challenges and to do this the character learn something about him/her-self and this then aids them on their â€Å"quest†. Being a quest film, Gattaca shares many characteristics that are often found in other movies of a similar genre. Examples of these include – Pirates of the Caribbean and In Time. Pirates of the Caribbean, is told with the protagonist as Captain Jack Sparrow on a quest to help him obtain immortality. The characters in both Pirates of the Caribbean and Gattaca share many similar traits; they are both after a strongly desired goal and will take the necessary risks to succeed. Gattaca, being produced in 1997, had many cutting edge ideas with such vision leading directors of the time. It was set in what was though the not so distant future of today would look like. It gives us an insight into a world based around the genetically superior, where genes are all that matter. The main character Vincent Freeman has dreamt of becoming an astronaut his whole life but, due to being conceived naturally and receiving a life expectancy of 30 years. He is cast aside in society, labelled a â€Å"Degenerate† and â€Å"Invalid†. Vincent soon learns he will never be able to move ahead in life; to fulfil his dream Vincent uses a â€Å"Borrowed ladder† from a genius named Jerome Eugene Morrow, who is a paraplegic due to an accident overseas. The term a â€Å"Borrowed Ladder† comes as the protagonist Vincent impersonates the life of Jerome thus using his identity. After months of special care, training and changes to his looks, Vincent enters the Aerospace Corporation known as â€Å"Gattaca†. Impersonating Jerome, Freeman becomes the company’s top navigator with a perfect record and clean slate by working hard and working hard to keep his real identity a secret; he is chosen to go on a manned spaceflight to Saturn’s moon Titus, but complications arise. One week before departure, when one of the managing directors is bludgeoned to death. An â€Å"Invalids† profile; Vincent’s old identity, is uncovered by investigators and this threatens to jeopardise his chances of going to Titan. After managing to avoid being caught by using precautions such as placing samples of DNA supplied by Jerome around Gattaca and even receiving help from a young lady, Irene; with whom Vincent develops feelings for. He ends up finally leaving Earth on due course for Titan. Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides (2011) Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides (2011) The Pirates of the Caribbean series are another group of quest movies opened by introducing the goal of the main character, Captain Jack Sparrow. He is always on a quest in search for personal well fortune and benefits. He uses his friends throughout these many adventures, and alike Gattaca, the Protagonist is able to achieve his own desires. During Gattaca, Vincent is aided on several occasions, one being when Irene hides his true identity from the authorities to help him complete his goal/mission. Irene does this; I think because she can understand where he is coming from as she has personal experience suffering in a world where genes are everything. The movie ends with Vincent successfully making it onto the space craft headed to Titan; the ending adds a sense of success but subtly hints to deep sadness with two lines, â€Å"They say every atom in our bodies was once part of a star† and â€Å"Maybe I’m not leaving, maybe I’m going home†. The movie reaches a climax when Vincent is almost discovered by his brother (the leading detective on the case), but manages to get past this by telling his brother that â€Å"he always gave 110 percent†. The quest is completed, as shown in Pirates of the Caribbean, when Captain Jack Sparrow finally manages to overcome a final obstacle and regain ownership of his beloved ship, the Black Pearl. This is exactly the same in Gattaca with Vincent overcoming the final problem of his identity getting potentially exposed by a medical examiner giving him one last routine urine test. It is shown through a simple line that the examiner has known his real identity all along. He achieves his goal and boards the spacecraft without any further problems Vincent achieving this goal shows to us that no matter what ones, goal or dreams are, overcoming the problems you are faced with will ultimately help you in achieve it. Gattaca is a good example of a quest movie because it clearly explains what the goal of the protagonist is and once it has established this, it shows how he overcame his many problems to achieve an ultimate goal. There are many attractions for the audience with many special filming techniques and suspenseful moments utilizing a constant beat to add effect and drama. There is a specific scene in the movie where Vincent is meant to be at home sick but instead is unable to be there so he tells Jerome to impersonate him. There is a problem with this, as to open the door and greet the detective, Jerome must climb a stair case. Without the use of his legs Jerome finds this a challenge because he is a paraplegic. The suspense builds as Jerome struggles up the stairs, racing to get to the top before the detectives reach the door. As you would expect, one last moment effort from Jerome manages to keep the detectives from discovering who he really is. Irene plays a vital role in this scene by acting as if Jerome is Vincent, when she herself is only just finding out the truth. Overall, Gattaca is an excellent example of what a quest film should include. It has a strong story and the director utilizes many techniques with the music, lighting and even camera angles to top it off. The protagonist overcomes challenges; his genes as a place marker for him in society, almost becoming discovered as an â€Å"Invalid† and a brother who is close to exposing his secret. I think that the quest, his personal dream of travelling into space is worthwhile as he learns about himself while doing it.

Compare and contrast paper about two short stories Essay

In the writings â€Å"A Description of New England† by John Smith and â€Å"Of Plymouth Plantation† by William Bradford, the tone of these two selections vary noticeably. Both authors use certain tones to attract and persuade certain audiences. John Smith wrote of what a wonderful place the New World was, while on the other hand Bradford wrote about the difficulties and realities of the New World. Author John Smith, a pilgrim who arrived in the Americas, writes a description of the new land. In â€Å"A Description of New England† he shows what a wonderful world of vast food and pleasure await. William Bradford, another pilgrim who arrived in Plymouth on the coast of Massachusetts, gives his take on the early settling of the new land. In â€Å"Of Plymouth Plantation† he writes a description of what really happened their, how the pilgrims actually lived. In â€Å"A Description of New England,† Smith starts by describing the pleasure and content that risking your life for getting your own piece of land brings to men. He also implies that building your own house, planting your own crops, and having a â€Å"God’s blessing industry† would be easy to have without having any prejudice. He talks about the joy of erecting towns and then populating them. John Smith rarely mentions the Native Americans, but when he does he says that they are good people and that they helped them when the arrived. Smith also makes references to ways of profiting from daily activities such as hunting and farming. This is his way of persuading others to make a voyage to the New World. For example, John Smith states â€Å"For hunting †¦ afford not only chase sufficient for any delight that in that kind of toil or pleasure but such beasts to hunt that besides the delicacy of their bodies for food, and their skins are so rich as may well recompense thy daily labor with a captains pay. By persuading others to come to the New World, it can also be seen that Smith expects to profit from these new settlers. John Smith appears to be directing his writing towards certain financial individuals wanting to invest in the new colonies. In â€Å"Of Plymouth Plantation,† Bradford begins by reminding us how harsh and difficult the trip to the New World was for the pilgrims. He writes about the condition of the men who arrived to the shore. He also mentions that in the New World there was no one to welcome them, more over there was nothing  to stay in, no houses and no inns. When William Bradford mentions the Native Americans, he says that they greeted them with arrows. Bradford also attempts to persuade others to visit the New World, with a religious approach. This attempt is made even though he does describe the difficulties in the New World. In Bradford’s eyes, had not the Puritan Pilgrims been graced by God then their long and demanding exploration, all would have been in vain. Year after year Bradford keeps sight of the signs from God meant to help the Pilgrims of Plymouth, Massachusetts. After years in the New World, Bradford talks of Squanto, the Indian, becoming â€Å"an instrument sent form God for their good. Then he goes onto compare the Pilgrim’s journey to the New World with the Israelites exodus from Egypt. It is clear to see that these religious references are used to persuade his audience to see the purity of the Pilgrim’s journey to Plymouth. William Bradford appears to be writing towards certain religious individuals who want to make a pilgrimage toe the new colonies. Even though the tones of these two writings, â€Å"A Description of New England† by John Smith and â€Å"Of Plymouth Plantation† by William Bradford, vary distinctly, both authors attempt to persuade certain audiences. Smith attempts to persuade the financial advisors who wish to invest in the New World, while Bradford attempts to persuade the religious individuals to make a pilgrimage to the New World. Bradford wrote about the difficulties and realities of the New World, while Smith wrote about how wonderful the New World was. Pilgrim John Smith wrote a description of the new land in which he describes what an astonishing world of vast food and pleasure awaited others. Another Pilgrim, William Bradford, gave a different description of the new land. He gave a description of what really happened, of how the pilgrims really lived.

Balancing Personal Life and Work

In today’s economic condition, work life equilibrium is considered one of the most imperative workplace issues. Work life balance refers to a satisfactory niche between many different roles in an individual’s life. But how to manage this balance to avoid conflict; this topic is discussed through many different aspects enlightened through personal experience. Work Life Balance Before taking any step towards knowing how to achieve work life balance, first we must gain an understanding about what work life balance actually refers to.It is about maintaining equilibrium between work and personal life, facing the multifarious demands in one’s life. The best equilibrium is different for each person because we all have different priorities in life. A young entrepreneur faces different challenges than a family man at the apex of his career. Work life balance involves two factors; Achievement and Enjoyment. Our life will be valuable and balanced when, in all the aspects of life, we are daily achieving success with all the joys of living! My Side of StoryBeing a young student struggling to manage good grades, working part time to support my education during this era of recession as well trying to give my family sufficient of my time as required, at many times I felt the misbalance in my life that is called work-life conflict. I felt unable to manage my time and was highly dissatisfied with my work and progress. Failing health and self esteem and disrupted routine was then a common state of affairs. I was new, hence obsessed with working hard to carve a niche for my career.In order to secure my grades I became overcommitted to my studies as well. I ended up drained every day, spending most of the time on the run†¦ from study to work, work to home and spending rest of the time sitting on computer. All I had once read and heard about work life complications was coming true in my life without my realizing it. It was not until when my parents had to h ave a ‘serious talk’ with me, that I realized where this chaos was leading me to. That instantly snapped me back; I set off to work on improving my standards. The informationIn order to balance one’s work life situation, you may need to look into four quadrants of your life- Friends, Family, Work and Self. Any disturbance in one of them because of the interference of another quadrant may cause work life conflict. Work life conflict must be removed in order to solve the problem and acquire balance. This information regarding the causes can be obtained by observation of daily life experiences and authentic researches conducted. According to the Business Week reports, Individuals who consider their work life balance better than others are likely to work 21% better than those who don’t.Moreover, a study shows people encounter work life conflict have 40% more chances of mood and anxiety disorders, (Kane, 2006); While employees having lower level of this conflic t experience increased job satisfaction. The Evaluation After gathering basic information, now I knew what I was missing and what I got to do. I loved my job, but without my natural energy boosters, I was unhappy and even feeling a bit guilty. My whole time revolved around my work and career, but I couldn’t make up for the very essential part of my life, that is my friends and family.From my newly gained knowledge, I deduced that a balanced approach at my level will be spending quality time with my friends and family that will have a positive physical and psychological impact on me. Moreover, I’ll be free of piled up responsibilities, procrastinated duties, and burden on my mental self, which will eventually also improve my progress in other quadrants of my life. I had to use it to devise such solutions that cancel out where I overdo, and give more space to those I neglected so a balance can be created. The SolutionAs I was already a student I opted for the greatest fa cility available today for work life balance concerned employees- Flexible timings, so that I can have more sense of control over my work. Dinner and meals would at no cost be skipped- they provide a quality time for whole family to be together. Also, sleeping schedules must be maintained, so there remain no health problems. Being present is the key word. No drifting away and being in two places at a time. On weekend there would be no computer, no emails, and no emergency calls from work!I could spend quality time with my family. I could contact my friends, go out and have some fun. Lastly, to spend some of my time on myself; a time to relax or do what pleases me. It’s a kind of meditation, hence keeps your mind calm and alert. Giving my study ample time and not burdening myself with more work than I could manage, was also essential. Conclusion The set of habits I formed as a solution for my work life problem, not only supports but emphasizes a sound balance between work and life activities.Back then I couldn’t see past my work; it still plays a principle part in my life, though it’s not my one and only concern anymore. This equilibrium I discovered open my eyes to worth of other things, that made not only my work, but my life much more gratifying. References Kane, S. (2006). Work Life Balance Strategies. Retrieved July 20, 2009 from http://legalcareers. about. com/od/careertrends/a/worklifebalance. htm Work-Life Balance. (2003). Work-Life Balance Defined- What it really means! Retrieved July 20, 2009 from http://www. worklifebalance. com/worklifebalancedefined. html

Derivative Markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Derivative Markets - Essay Example There are several limitations in the price of future contracts and it is ensured by future arbitrage. The existence of price limits help to minimise the instability of prices by defending organizations against market overreaction. However, price limit can also make future contracts less liquid. Future arbitrage makes future contracts more valuable. Arbitrage generates a strong connection among the futures and commercial values (New York University, n.d.). Limit of arbitrage is significant for behavioural descriptions of irregularities and wider revision of asset valuation. Limit of future arbitrage is a portion of finance plan to clarify variances based on investors’ emotional prejudices. Arbitrageurs can face the following price limitations: Fundamental and non-fundamental risks Short-selling costs Leverage and margin constraints Constraints on equity capital Thus, the above statement 2 is true i.e. there are some defined limitations in future arbitrage in pricing future cont racts (Gromb & Vayanos, 2010). Statement 3 â€Å"A swap contract can create a win/win situation for two swap players plus the financial intermediary arranging the swap† The interest rate swap is a derivative to interchange interest rate for accomplishing lesser borrowing rates. Swap players can change interest rate from static to floating and vice versa. Swapping is beneficial when one player desires to get an amount with a floating interest rate while other player wishes for preventing future risks by getting a static interest rate in its place. In swapping, both players have their own primacies and desires, thus it (swapping) can create win/win situation for them... This essay states that in recent times, the world has converted into an uncertain place for financial organisations. Fluctuations in interest rates have extended, and stock markets are running through growing unpredictability. As a consequence of these variations, the financial organisations have happened to be more anxious about minimising the risks. As the demand for risk reduction techniques has enlarged, it has generated innovative financial tools named financial derivatives. These tools are very convenient in minimising the risks and help financial organisations to hedge. Hedging is a method which is used by financial organisations to counteract the regular risks of price variations. It is considered as important risk managing instrument for portfolio managers, bank executives and corporate accountants. In any derivative contract, the seller comes to an agreement to provide asset at a particular period in future and purchaser approves to pay fixed value for that asset. One can b uild a clean arbitrage if the future contract is mispriced. Majority of future contracts are priced according to arbitrage. In derivative contract, organisations need to choose investments which can provide good return with estimated price measures. It is also termed as speculation. Speculation is a procedure used in finance for securing profit from riskier investments, but it does not ensure security on investment or principal amount. Speculators use several approaches to make a decision prior to obtaining additional risks through investment.

A chance meeting and exciting news Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A chance meeting and exciting news - Essay Example A critical assessment of both options is necessary before the declaration of the decision. Primarily, the first question to address is the money issue. Is the new venture more lucrative than the current position? A critical analysis the remuneration offered here shows that for the first year, working with the partners as consultants would be more financially satisfactory. When the $50,000 is shared equally, the annual salary will be $200,000, which is $50,000 more than what Engulf and Devour are offering. However, this is only assured for the first year only. What happens in the second year if there are no clients? Regardless, comparing the $200,000 offer to the $150,000 provided by Engulf and Devour, the former seems more promising since both opportunities have various uncertainties. Taxation is a key consideration as well. With the partnership being a registered entity, the aspect of double taxation is a partner’s financial obligation. With this consideration, the payment promised by the partnership is much lower after taxation as compared what Engulf and Devour are offering. However, the partnership has a more promising financial future as compared to the job and Engulf and Devour. With the possibility of getting bigger clients, as the reputation improves, the promise of better incomes is higher in the case of the partnership as compared to the current job (Lee 109). Financial concerns are the primary concern for any aspiring entrepreneur. After the financial consideration, the next aspect to take into critical account is assessing the uncertainties of the current contract. What would happen if the contract were to be terminated before it was mature? Likewise, considering the terms of payment is equally crucial. Some clients prefer to pay after the completion of the contract, or on a monthly basis. When handling one’s own business, uncertainties are greater as compared to being employed. Assessing the

Food Journal Analysis #1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Food Journal Analysis #1 - Essay Example As for the rest of the food, which is only 1 yoo-hoo chocolate and 1 plain milk chocolate- the former is good for the body because it provides calcium, and was also the only dairy product I ate during the day, and the latter belongs to the fats, oils and sweets group, which is permissible to eat occasionally. Seeing as how I only ate one bar, the consumption of it is also alright. B. I did not consume the minimum number of servings for each of the food groups. In fact, that was the case in four of the five groups. I had the perfect amount of fruit, 2 cups per day, and a decent amount of grain, 5.1 oz equivalent, when the recommended amount is 7. However, as far as the vegetable, milk and meat and beans groups, I miserably failed to reach the minimum amount: I had 1.3 cups equivalent of vegetables out of the 3 recommended- a bit less than a half; I had 2.1 oz equivalent out of 6 recommended- about a third; and I had 0.2 cup equivalent of milk out of 3 recommended- one-fifteenth of the recommended portion. The reasons for this are simply because I didnt have enough foods of those groups- I didnt have enough vegetables because I ate a small portion of salad; I needed to consume a little more grain, which I could have done by eating another slice of bread or perhaps a small portion of corn flakes; I didnt nearly have enough dairy products, which I could have solved by drinking another glass or too of yoo-hoo chocolate and maybe eating some cheese with the bread; and I didnt have enough meat and beans, which I could have by eating some chicken or turkey or even more fish, and perhaps some beans too. D. My diet provided a certain variety of foods. I consumed foods from all food groups, but in very different quantities. I needed to consume much more food from the milk food group, the meat and beans group and the vegetable group, as well as having a bit more of the grain group, whereas I had the perfect amount of the fruit group. This could have been solved had I

Malnutrition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Malnutrition - Essay Example The study focused primarily on children under the age of five and their caregivers. The sample population consisted of 1978 caregivers and 2201 children. Through a survey consisting of structured questionnaires, the researchers sought the caregivers’ input regarding their feeding practices, and this information, coupled with anthropometric measurements, helped the researchers to deduce the children’s overall nutrition and health status. The researchers discovered at least five prominent health-related problems that affected the children. These problems included widespread stunting among the children as a massive proportion of the children were underweight and wasting. Secondly, the researchers discovered that caregivers in the 7 counties breastfed their children for short durations particularly among children below 36 months. Another critical issue discovered in the counties was the lack of exclusivity in breastfeeding children under 6 months. With regard to breastfeedi ng, the researchers further discovered low prevalence of sustained breastfeeding up to the age of one year. Another critical problem was the inadequate delivery of complementary foods to some infants aged between 6 and 8 months. The last major issue discovered through the research was an increased prevalence of stunting among children who had never received breast milk, as well as those who had not been breastfed for at least 1 year. In addition, it was discovered that stunting was quite prevalent among children whose feeding practices comprised primarily of poor quality semi-solid foods (Zhou, Wang, Ye, Zeng & Wang, 2012). Based on these issues and findings, the researchers determined that poor feeding practices such as lack of exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first 6 months, provision of complementary foods between 6 and 8 months, or provision of poor quality foods, were the primary causes of malnutrition among most children in the 7 counties of China. The primary themes d iscussed in the article include poverty and ignorance, which detrimentally affect caregivers’ provision of superior quality nutrition to their children, particularly those under the critical age of 5 years. The authors hypothesize that there is a close link between poverty and ignorance on the feeding practices of children, and this subsequently results in malnutrition. As a consequence, Zhou, Wang, Ye, Zeng & Wang (2012) proposed the implementation of additional programs to enhance the level of knowledge on effective feeding practices among caregivers. The researchers further suggested that these programs should be implemented in all remote and impoverished regions of China so as to improve the overall health of children under the age of 5 years. The study’s main strength lies in its execution. The study comprises of comprehensive sections that examine different aspects that play a part in asserting the study’s hypothesis. The study, therefore, manages to affir m its hypothesis showing that there is a close link between feeding practices of children below 5 years of age and malnutrition (Zhou, Wang, Ye, Zeng & Wang, 2012). However, the study’s primary weakness involves the ethical requirement of informed consent for all participants. Although the researchers give details of the number of participants and the form of questioning used to

Critically examine the determinants, the benefits and the risks of Essay

Critically examine the determinants, the benefits and the risks of Foreign Direct Investment for Developing Countries, using example of countries of your choice - Essay Example 81). For a country India, that is a developing economy (Banerjee, 2009, p. 75), the element of F.D.I is a mixed phenomenon. It brings along a whole set of conditions, requirements and parameters that are to be taken into regard with reference to processing the foreign direct investment. There are certain industries where the F.D.I benefits the overall health and outlook of the economy, for others there are areas where the Foreign Direct investment does not auger well. This paper looks into the overall scenarios, the determinants, the positives, the negatives, the constraints and considerations that are needed to be taken into account with regard to the Foreign Direct Investment and economy of India. The F.D.I comes into play on account of the meager outlook of the developing states where the resources are limited compared to the overall needs. Owing to this, the country aims for foreign investments. The foreign investment comes along with set of conditions, rules and regulations which makes up for the loss of free environment. Erdal Demirhan and Mahmut Masca have undertaken an investigative study of the developing countries with regard to the F.D.I and the determinants associated with it. Their study takes into account a total of over thirty eight developing countries that have been checked for the impact of F.D.I upon their economy (Demirhan & Masca, 2008). The determinants are presented in the form of variables. These variables are the per capita income, the G.D.P growth rate, labor rates, the overall rate of inflation against the given annual budget and most importantly the tax to G.D.P ratio and overall tax net. These elements have been assessed for to give a clear account of the F.D.I and its overall feasibility against a given economy such as India in this particular case. In order to present the scenario of Indian economy and the overall impact of F.D.I it is important to identify and mention the variables that are mentioned by Erdal Demirhan

Review of the Literature Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Review of the Literature - Assignment Example The theory clearly outlines the population based health strategies for obesity prevention among older nurses including health promotion initiatives (Wu & Huang, 2013). The theory advocates for healthy eating system and proper physical activities practices in preventing obesity. This model of theory also proposes health educational strategies in solving obesity problem among older nurses (Marchiondo, 2014). It also provides a number of health related behaviors in developing public health policies in various health institutions globally (Wu & Huang, 2013). Health education as well as healthy promotion behaviors are some of the research based strategies that are widely used in the prevention and reduction of obesity among older nurses (Newman, 2009). Therefore, the main rationale for the adoption of this theory is due to its wide and broad use in the control and prevention of obesity among older nurses globally. This theory also supports various proposed solutions that are very effective in reducing, controlling and preventing obesity among older nurses (Marchiondo, 2014). This includes proper weight management, avoidance of heavy smoking, adoption of healthy eating habits and regular physical exercise among older nurses. The hypothesis advocates for various behavioral approaches in controlling obesity and adoption of these proposed changes (Weiss, Weisser, & Salario, 2014). The theory provides that behavior changes should be made step by step in order to avoid stress and other destructive conditions among older nurses (Wu & Huang, 2013). This presumption also put into consideration a number of psychological, social as well as emotional coping strategies of older nurses in adopting weight gain management practices. The theory advocates for provision of health promotional interventions through appropriate techniques that

Strategic Management in a Global Environment ( Emirates park resort ) Case Study

Strategic Management in a Global Environment ( Emirates park resort ) - Case Study Example Their most common competitors are resorts and facilities that tend to attract tourists such as; hotels, parks, ski areas, clubs and bars that readily offer leisure activities, game parks, and zoos. As more people continue to know and get enlightened on why to invest in the Middle East and Abu Dhabi to be more precise, new, stronger, aggressive and swifter competitors come into the picture (Saxena, p48). Hence, it is a fact that the external environment of Emirates Resort Park is ever in a dynamic change. There are different definitions of corporate governance, and none of the numerous definitions seem to be sufficient and conclusive enough to define the term corporate governance. But to be sufficiently general at these matter, the term corporate governance can be thought to mean the structure, system and way of administration of an organization that determine the direction and magnitude of development of the institution and how it can achieve its future prospects. It can be thought to mean what is done by the institution’s administration in order to realize its goals. The Emirate Resort Park has a remarkable corporate governance that has helped it to grow from the small Resort it was back in the year 2004 to what it is eleven years later. Its corporate governance is ever introducing new projects and engaging them to completion. These new projects are aimed at giving its visitors or tourists a much better customer experience and also to ensure that it is ever growing to a better place for tourists and also for its workers. One of the projects was its expansion. This is done in order to have more animals in the park and increase the size of the area for the people to interact with the animals. Since it was realized that the parking area is tremendously big. The administration has considered reducing the size of the parking as they give the space to areas that demand more space. Another is the introduction of

Evaluating, Narrating, and Describing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Evaluating, Narrating, and Describing - Essay Example This story has been written in such a way that it is likely to cause mixed feelings among the targeted readers. The story vividly describes the perceptions held by different people about the role of the wife in their lives. Feminists are likely to view this story from a negative perspective since it stereotypes the role of wives as child minders as well as responsible for taking care of the family. the author states that she wants a so that she can go back to school to acquire knowledge which in turn can empower her economically when she gets a well paying job. In different patriarchal societies, men believe that only men should be gainfully employed and the wives should concentrate on performing different household chores. Wives should be dependent on their husbands for any financial needs and they should stay at home in order to take care for the kids. The author states that: â€Å"I want a wife to take care of my children. I want a wife to keep track of the children’s doct or and dentist appointments. And to keep track of mine, too. I want a wife to make sure my children eat properly and are kept clean,† (1). This shows that wives are often viewed as solely responsible for performing household tasks as mentioned above. The author also suggests that a wife should submit herself under her husband and she should do anything desired by him. This is reflected in the following statement: â€Å"I want a wife who will not bother me with rambling complaints about a wife’s duties,† (2). From this statement, it can be seen that a wife is supposed to obey the commands of the husband and she should not complain about her duties. In other words, the author is trying to portray wives as objects of their male counterparts. The author also states that a wife has a duty to satisfy the sexual desires of her husband whenever he feels like having sexual intercourse with her. This is shown in the following statement: â€Å"I want a wife who is sensitiv e to my sexual needs, a wife who makes love passionately and eagerly when I feel like it, a wife who makes sure that I am satisfied,† (2). A close analysis of this statement shows that wives are often treated as sexual objects and they should abide by the sexual demands of their husbands under whatever condition. The author further states that she wants a wife who will not demand sex from the husband even if she feels like doing it. In other words, the wife is portrayed as a person who does not have feelings but just a sexual object. The author also portrays the husband as someone who has the right to engage in extra marital affairs whenever he finds someone appealing than his wife. This shows the extent to which wives are treated in some sections of the society across the globe. This story is likely to strongly appeal to the emotions of women who are forced to view themselves as being relegated to lower levels in the society in a negative way. Feminists and rights activists a re likely to criticise this story in strong and harsh terms since they advocate for equality between men and women. Feminists in different parts of the world argue that there should be equality between men and women and they should also be given equal employment opportunities just like their male counterparts. This would emancipate them so that they would not solely depend on their husbands for survival. Rights activists argue that women should also be economically empowered so that they can also independently make their own

Built Environment Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Built Environment - Article Example This will have a negative impact in the future generation. Research has proven that responsible urbanization practices can help reduce the negative effects on the environment. Responsible urbanization involves urban connectivity which has examples like sewer and water contamination, proper disposal of waste materials, recycling, energy conservation and proper management operations. The article describes ways in which sustainable environment can be achieved but does not provide the exact guidelines on how to achieve. Many readers may find the article convincing but they may not gain much because it lacks guidelines. The writer should have explained further on how energy conservation will be achieved and also the methods of avoiding pollution. However the article is very beneficial towards the conservation of the environment for the future. Waste materials should be disposed properly for example recycling of plastic bags instead of burning them in open air. We find that in the recent days climatic changes have been observed. Places which used to receive rainfall are now experiencing drought. This is due to poor environmental conservation practices like carelessly cutting down trees. If contractors are clearing an area for the purpose of construction, they should also think of environmental construction like planting more trees in neighborhood

How far does Hobbes view of human nature provide a secure basis for Essay

How far does Hobbes view of human nature provide a secure basis for psychology today - Essay Example The civil war in England and the execution of the King himself was an exceptional event in English history. The failed puritan experiment to establish a republican rule was another event that Hobbes witnessed. He seems to have been deeply influenced by the conflicts around him. Many of his reactions in his writings spring from subjective reaction to the external events, which made him crave for order in a state of flux. The civil societies are to be constructed artificially, living the social life in the hands of man’s basic instinct will result in disorder and would imperil the very survival of man. What ought to be the politically correct human conduct is explained by Hobbes by analyzing human nature. According to him there is a natural impulse in all men to amass what they can get. This impulse found in all men inevitably leads to conflict. In this state every one is at war with every one else and nobody’s safety is possible. This results in not satisfying any body’s interests. Man is able to circumvent this situation by giving up the natural right take whatever they can grab and be getting in return for the assurance of insulation from the aggression of their fellow men. This is possible by perpetuating a strong force. Citizens do this by agreeing to hand over their rights and powers to one absolute authority. This voluntary surrender of ones powers in the hand of another power results in the rule by an absolute power. In brief the basic instincts in man meant for his survival can be in conflict with his survival so Hobbes finds the need for regulating it by su rrendering the power of people to another superior power. As James has put it:â€Å"Hobbes grounds his account of this aspect of our passions on a broader notion which he calls power, identifying the powers of the body as nutritive, generative, and motive, and that of the mind as knowledge. Beyond these, however, are

Starbucks's CSR (CORPORATE SOCIAL RESONSIBILITY) Essay

Starbucks's CSR (CORPORATE SOCIAL RESONSIBILITY) - Essay Example There is so much more to Starbucks than the Seattle reputation that is often synonymous with the logo, there is a legitimate series of changes being made both domestically and internationally that improves Starbucks’ reputation and therefore gives the business more clout with stakeholders who, today, are demanding much more responsible behavior for the contemporary corporate organization. Corporate social responsibility is the method by which Starbucks engages consumers and non-business stakeholders, the branding strategy that identifies Starbucks as a significant contributor to the social condition. Regardless of whether Starbucks is actually attempting to improve its reputation or whether the charity it provides is legitimate, such efforts gives the business the appropriate competitive edge that it desires in order to compete with other, localized coffee houses that attempt to build a mom and pop shop mentality for consumers that are interested in fine coffee experiences wit h knowledgeable staff members. What, though, does Starbucks actually do in order to ensure that its quality reputation for responsible business behavior brings value to the entire business model? Primarily, Starbucks establishes the agricultural supply chain utilizing foreign coffee producers that continues to bring extended value to citizens of the United States. The United States, currently, imposes zero or limited tariffs on coffee products that are procured from foreign nations in order to ensure that the American population maintains the volume desired for their consuming needs. This has many advantages for foreign coffee producers, as the product cannot be procured domestically due to climate and, thus, Starbucks is able to exploit opportunities for cheap importation. By giving more buying power to the producers along the supply chain, and then effectively utilizing promotion to, essentially, deceive the regulatory forces that attempt to drive compliance, they are able to buil d a positive brand reputation and negate the attitudes and regulatory powers of many domestic government entities. Giving buyers more power along the supply chain has considerable advantages to the Starbucks company, as they can control pricing and make the individuals working on foreign soils believe they are being done a favor by being expertly exploited for their resources, trust, and willingness to role model these corporate behaviors. Though much of this is simply subjective, there is evidence that such exploitations are known and applauded by the internal governance systems at Starbucks. The business makes considerable loans and grants to foreign coffee growers, which makes it favorable to delay sales of product until the pricing on the market for commodities is complimentary (Starbucks 26). Total commitment in loan guarantees for Starbucks exceeds $6 million, thus giving farmers and Starbucks the competitive advantages required to sustain a positive image in corporate social responsibility. Furthermore, Starbucks, having established that much of its competitive advantage comes from maintaining a positive CSR image, has established a supplier network code of conduct which ensures that product suppliers are keeping up with the corporate image that is so necessary for Starbucks to maintain its position in the market. The code of conduct ensures that Starbucks maintains some level of control over the procurement process and

Importance of nursing theory Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Importance of nursing theory - Assignment Example Section four summarizes the paper. Nursing theory forms the foundation of the practice of nursing. The various theories equip nurses with the vital knowledge they need to attend to patients. Like with many professions, many theories of nursing have been criticized as being out of tune with the practice(Henderson, Schoonbeek, & Paterson, 2011). These critics posit that many theories bear little or no relevance to the practical needs of the profession. The often cited examples are those of the theories of Freud Sigmund who sought to explain everything in terms of sex. Although the claim may be correct, the importance of nursing theory cannot be dismissed altogether. Students of nursing acquire practical skills when they practice the knowledge acquired from the theories. Nursing theories distinguish the profession from others. This distinction is possible because the theories are unique to the profession having been developed by nurses themselves. Besides, nursing has a fairly long history that has enabled it to establish itself. On patient care, nursing theories have helped enhance the care received by patients in the hands of nurses. For instance, during the time of Florence Nightingale, most nurses were uneducated and incompetent. Then Nightingale proposed formal nurse education and training(Zinner, 2014). Today America boasts of the world’s top nursing schools. Improved nurse training has resulted in improved care. In their Environmental Theory, Florence Nightingale described nursing as the process of using the environment of the patient to bring about their recovery. The theory posits that the patient’s environment affects their biological and physiological processes, hence the recovery process(Hallett, 2011). It is the work of the nurse to manipulate the environment so as to make it conducive to the healing process. Nightingale identified five environmental factors that the nurse should seek to manipulate.

Ecotourism in Zanzibar and Kenya Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ecotourism in Zanzibar and Kenya - Essay Example Ecotourism has been argued to play vital roles in salvaging some of the world’s endangered ecosystem. Proponents of the concept also believe that it provides a platform through which state or society can develop or adopt sustainable economic strategies so as to safeguard biological resources. It is worrying to point out the fact that most communities that own biological resources have been pursuing environmentally-damaging strategies. Ideally, ecotourism is helpful in finding a compromise between preserving the natural environment and pursuing development. Even though some countries have successful implemented this concept, others still face a great deal of challenges. Zanzibar and Kenya are some of the few African countries that have successfully implemented ecotourism concept. This essay compares and contrasts some of the ecotourism practices that have been implemented in Zanzibar and Kenya (Honey, 1999). Similarities Creation of the Independent Ecotourism Society (TIES) In both Zanzibar and Kenya, The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) was formed purposely to get a tourism that is friendly to the natural environment and culture of a country. In both countries, the body has employed people who travel from one natural area to another to ascertain the nature of tourism that would conserve the environment and improves well-being of the people (Honey, 1999). The body has been working hard to change the perceptions of the tourists, create environmental awareness and explore natural environments. The independent body is constantly working a vast number of collaborators and supporters. In both countries, the body has attracted members from diverse cultural backgrounds. They draw knowledge from these members and utilize them as channels for spreading information about ecotourism. Ecotourism’s conservation efforts and strategies (Visitors’ attitudes and feedback) In Zanzibar and Kenya, visitors’ attitudes and feedback on ecotourism in the country is taken seriously as it is incorporated into ecotourism management tourism. The information provided by visitors helps in predicting the consequences of actions on the ecotourism experience. It is crucial for any country to take into account satisfaction of tourists and ecological-well being (Honey, 1999). The two countries have been monitoring and assessing the conditions and situations of the sites commonly visited by tourists, and this has helped in the creation and protection of recreational resources for visitors. In addition, this has aid the provision of appropriate recreational experiences. Ideally, the two countries have been using visitor perceptions of the potential effects of tourists to ascertain indicators of monitoring environmental conditions. For example, Kenyan government, through the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources, has been utilizing data on visitors experience about the environmental impacts in Maasaai Mara and Amboseli (Honey, 1999). Main streaming sustainable tourism principles in states policies and programs In the 1980s, tourism sector in Kenya and Zanzibar was completely unplanned. Both governments were weak in their tourist planning and regulation. In addition, they were not even able to implement some of its ecotourism projects. However, this situation changed rapidly in towards the end of 20th century. In Zanzibar, the International Workshop on Ecotourism and Environmental Conservation of 1994 was a turning point of the Zanzibar’s tourism industry. Since then, Zanzibar has mainstreamed its tourist policies and programs to integrate the policy makers to ecotourism programs. This is also happening in Kenya. This practice is implemented using ecotourism workshops and study trips (Honey, 1999). Role of NGOS and

Corruption within Hamlet Essay Example for Free

Corruption within Hamlet Essay Everything is connected in Hamlet, including the welfare of the royal family and the health of the state as a whole. The plays early scenes explore the sense of anxiety and dread that surrounds the transfer of power from one ruler to the next. Throughout the play, characters draw explicit connections between the moral legitimacy of a ruler and the health of the nation. Denmark is frequently described as a physical body made ill by the moral corruption of Claudius and Gertrude, and many observers interpret the presence of the ghost as a supernatural omen indicating that something is rotten in the state of Denmark . The dead King Hamlet is portrayed as a strong, forthright ruler under whose guard the state was in good health, while Claudius, a wicked politician, has corrupted and compromised Denmark to satisfy his own appetites. Hamlet feels Disillusionment. Depression. Despair through the course of the play as he attempts to come to terms with his fathers death and his mothers incestuous marriage to his uncle. While he is attempting to pick up the pieces of his life he consciously embarks on the truth hidden in Ellsinore brought to light by his late fathers appearance at the gates. Deception versus truth; illusion versus reality. In the play, Prince Hamlet constantly has to differentiate amongst them. The exception to the rule in this case lies in Act 2, Scene 2, where an honest conversation takes place between Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. By the use of prose and figurative language, Shakespeare utilizes the passage to illustrate Hamlets view of the cosmos and mankind. Throughout the play, the themes of illusion and deceit have been carefully developed. The entire royal Danish court is ensnared in a web of espionage, betrayal, and lies. Not a single man speaks his mind, nor addresses his purpose clearly. Addressing Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet pleads with them to deliver up honest speech about the intent of their arrival and being the bumbling fools they are, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern disclose their intentions and purposes to Hamlet, revealing the King and  Queens instructions. So for once, truth prevails in this passage. The recurring motif of corruption also appears in the passage. Due to the wicked  internal proceedings in the state of Denmark (e.g. murder, incest), Shakespeare implies that the whole state is soiled, which in turn has a direct negative consequence in the grand scheme of things. Imagery of rank plants is used to enforced and convey this view by using replacing the image of the traditional aesthetically correct beautiful flowers in a garden. Tis an unweeded garden that grows to seed. Things rank and gross in nature possess it merely. Those lines represent Hamlets views on the corruption that is taking place at Ellsinore on how the world to him has become empty and lifeless, dirty and diseased and his place in the world to be entrapped and isolated. He describes the land, in which he lives as, A goodly one, in which there are many confines, wards, and dungeons, Denmark being one o th worst. Hamlets search for truth and truth inside people is highly unsuccessful as only one truthful man exists apart from himself and that is Horatio. Claudius is lustful and deceitful, Polonius is a mindless fool and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are mindless idiots. This loss of enthusiasm and faith in man also stems from the fact that he knows there is more wickedness brewing under  the superficial surface of calm that Claudius is trying to promote. As a culmination of all these factors, Hamlet loses all faith in man and using biblic ideas Hamlet redefines the position of man as simply that which came from dust. From this stance, it is inferred that solely God is Truth. Man, coming from the lowly earth, cannot be depended upon to deliver true thoughts, as his source of origin itself is impure. Through this, Hamlets concludes that Claudius actions and others actions can be accounted for but  not forgiven. Claudius is corruption personified within the play, Hamlets major antagonist is a shrewd, lustful, conniving king who contrasts sharply with the other male characters in the play. Whereas most of the other important men in Hamlet are preoccupied with ideas of justice, revenge, and moral balance, Claudius is bent upon maintaining his own power. The old King Hamlet was apparently a stern warrior, but Claudius is a corrupt politician whose main weapon is his ability to manipulate others through his skillful use of language. Claudiuss speech is compared to poison being poured in the earthe method he used to murder Hamlets father. Claudiuss love for Gertrude may be sincere, but it also seems likely that he married her as a strategic move, to help him win the throne away from Hamlet after the death of the king. As the play progresses, Claudiuss mounting fear of Hamlets insanity leads him to ever greater self-preoccupation; when Gertrude tells him that Hamlet has killed Polonius, Claudius does not remark that Gertrude might have been in danger, but only that he would have been in danger had he been in the room. He tells Laertes the same thing as he attempts to soothe the young mans anger after his fathers death. Claudius is ultimately too crafty for his own good. Rather than allowing Laertes only two methods of killing Hamlet, the sharpened sword and the poison on the blade, Claudius insists on a third, the poisoned goblet. When Gertrude inadvertently drinks the poison and dies, Hamlet is at last able to bring himself to kill Claudius, and the king is felled by his own cowardliness and corruptive nature.

Classroom Scenarios Essay Example for Free

Classroom Scenarios Essay Mrs. Ross has her fourth grade students move their desks together into groups of 2 to do a group activity. She instructs them to pair with anyone they choose. Teresa raises her hand, â€Å"I don’t want to pair with Megan again because she doesn’t do any of the work. Can I have someone else? † Megan who is soft-spoken just looks down at the floor as the class waits for the teacher’s response. Mrs. Ross asks Teresa and Megan to come with her outside and instructs the class to carry on with the activity. 1. What level of mutual respect exists between students and the teacher in this scenario? How did mutual respect affect the classroom dynamics? How would you improve mutual respect in this classroom? A high level a mutual respect exists between students and the teacher in this scenario. Mrs. Ross had to trust the students at least a little bit in order for her to believe they could handle moving their desks around to do group work. Teresa showed respect for Mrs. Ross by raising her hand to properly voice her concern about her partner. Not only did she raise her hand, but she respected and trusted the teacher enough to feel safe expressing her feelings. Although soft-spoken, Megan could have found some way to negatively reply to what Teresa said. However, I believe she respected Mrs. Ross enough to know she could trust her to act in a fair and kind manner, so Megan waited quietly for her response. Mrs. Ross showed respect for the two girls when she asked them to come with her outside. She didn’t just ignore the issue or thoughtlessly assign another partner for Teresa. Mrs. Ross took the time to acknowledge their thoughts and feelings in private where she could assess the situation better without putting either of the girls on the spot. Finally, Mrs. Ross showed respect for the class when she trusted them to carry on with the activity while she stepped out of the class with Megan and Teresa. The class showed respect for Mrs. Ross by continuing to work while she steps outside the classroom for a moment. Mutual respect affected the whole classroom dynamic in a positive way. There was a feeling of cooperative learning. I am pleased with the high level of mutual respect shown in the classroom and find no need for improvement. 2. How well did the teacher handle herself in the scenario? What student-teacher interactions worked well and what did not work? How would you handle the situation? The teacher handled herself very well in this scenario. She could have chosen to react immediately to Teresa’s comment with disappointment and frustration, but instead she calmly asked the two girls to come with her outside. She even thought of the rest of the class and took the time to instruct them so they weren’t left hanging while she went out with Teresa and Megan. Teresa raised her hand, but did not wait to be called on before calling out to the teacher. It was good that she felt safe enough to express her concerns, but not good that she made Megan feel badly in front of the class. I hope, if I was a teacher given the same situation, that I would be able to handle myself in a similar manner. I would want Teresa to know in front of the class that she is to wait until she’s called on to speak, but discussing the rest of the details in front of the class would only put Megan even more in the spotlight and add to her discomfort. 3. What, if any, communication roadblocks are evident in this classroom? How could you remove the communication roadblocks? How would you communicate with the students to resolve this situation? I could not see any communication roadblocks in this classroom. It appears to me that the teacher communicated well with the students, and the students felt comfortable communicating with the teacher. To resolve this situation, I would remind Teresa specifically, as well as the class in general, to raise their hands and then wait to be called on before speaking. I would also ask my class to pay attention to all the instructions. The instructions Mrs. Ross gave told students they could choose their own partner. There was never a need for Teresa to comment on not wanting to be Megan’s partner as Mrs. Ross had already told students to pick their own partner. 4. What conflicts did you observe in this classroom? What conflict resolution methods could you use to resolve the conflicts in this classroom? Are there any peer mediation methods that you could use in this scenario? The conflict in the classroom was between Teresa and Megan. To resolve the conflict I would bring the two students together and have them work cooperatively on the issue with my guidance. I would want both students to feel free to speak their mind, feel listened to, and feel that they are an important part of the solution. I would want them to understand that they both need to be respectful, listen to each other, and try to understand the others’ point of view. As part of the process I would also expect them to work together to come to an agreement they both feel good about. I would not use peer mediation methods in a fourth grade class. 5. What changes would you make to help this classroom become more of a community? Why would developing this classroom into a community be important? I don’t see any changes I would make, but something I would talk to the class about to make the classroom become more of a community would be respect. I would plan a mini lesson on respect and how we treat others for another day. It would be important to help the class develop into a community because community members care about each other, look out for each other, and help each other when needed. I would want my class to work together cooperatively and build a positive learning environment where everyone would feel valued. Tenth Grade Classroom Scenario The bell has rung and Mr. Dunn’s tenth grade math class has settled into their seats. â€Å"Good morning! Let’s begin by having everyone pass their homework to the front of the class. † Tom walks into class 5 minutes late. Mr. Dunn asks, â€Å"Tom, do you have your homework? † Tom looks down at the floor when he answers, â€Å"No, I didn’t finish it. † Mr. Dunn asks, â€Å"Why not? You knew it was due today, right? † Tom just shrugs. Mr. Dunn asks the rest of the class, â€Å"Who else did not turn in their homework today? † Pamela did not do her homework, but is afraid to raise her hand. Mr. Dunn says, â€Å"Good job, class! I appreciate everyone who worked hard to get their work turned in on time. † Daniel chimes in, â€Å"Which is everyone except Tom! † The class laughs. Tom angrily gets out of his chair and storms out of the room as he says, â€Å"I’m sick of this stupid class. † 1.What level of mutual respect exists between students and the teacher in this scenario? How did mutual respect affect the classroom dynamics? How would you improve mutual respect in this classroom? There exists no mutual respect between the students and the teacher. Mr. Dunn’s only attempt at positive enforcement was telling the class â€Å"good job to those who did turn in their homework†. While this seems like praise to those who complied, those who didn’t are left feeling like failures. By Mr. Dunn singling Tom out and embarrassing him, he created a classroom of disrespect and the other students felt free to tease and laugh at Tom. Tom will now view Mr. Dunn as being indifferent if not an enemy and other students may fear if they do anything wrong they will be chastised and humiliated as well. We can see this playing out in the case of Pamela feeling afraid to admit she didn’t do her homework either. Students will not thrive in an environment where they do not feel comfortable and safe and where they risk public ridicule by their peers for not doing their work. To encourage mutual respect teachers should never single out a student in front of the class, but rather talk with him privately at a later time such as after class or when students are busy working. Before making any decisions about consequences for late work seek to understand the reason the student failed to follow through. Show concern and understanding when they are facing difficulties at home or otherwise. Use encouragement rather than negative words and discuss ways you can help them, such as creating a study plan. Make mutual respect a classroom rule that is enforced by consequences for violation. Never allow students to laugh at or embarrass another classmate or group of classmates. 2. How well did the teacher handle himself or herself in the scenario? What student–teacher interactions worked well and what did not work? How would you handle the situation? The teacher did not handle himself well in this situation. The student-teacher interactions were negative and the students were not willing to admit difficulties or problems to the teacher. None of the interactions described worked well. Tom left class because it was so negative. The teacher should handle this situation by having in place a policy for tardiness. The teacher should not waste time bringing attention to tardy students. Students should know what to do when they enter a classroom even if they are tardy. One way to handle tardiness – especially for older students like these ones is to have a required slip students must fill out when they are tardy explaining the reason. They should then have a place they put slips for the teacher to look at later. There should also be a policy for not having homework completed. If the teacher setup these policies at the beginning of the year he would not need to say anything when a student walks in late, the student would know what to do. The teacher put Tom on the spot by singling him out in front of his classmates, and then showed further disrespect by asking him why he didn’t do his homework. It is unnecessary to ask â€Å"you knew it was due today, right? † This statement doesn’t help the situation and is only demeaning to Tom. Most likely he knew the assignment was due and if he had forgotten he would have remembered as soon as Mr. Dunn asked for them. He should not dwell on something Tom cannot go back and remedy. The appropriate thing would be to talk to Tom privately and ask if he is having trouble remembering his assignments. He should show care and concern by offering to help Tom get organized and devise a way to remind himself to do the work. This teacher did not even take the time to find out why Tom had forgotten his homework. He may have had a very good reason in which case Mr. Dunn should consider allowing Tom to make it up. If Mr. Dunn had handled himself appropriately, Tom would not have been so upset as to get up and leave the classroom. Students should not be left feeling worthless and disrespected. 3. What, if any, communication roadblocks are evident in this classroom? How could you remove the communication roadblocks? How would you communicate with the students to resolve this situation? There were several communications roadblocks in place in this classroom. The biggest problem is that the teacher and students had no respect for each other. As stated before, if a teacher models respect for his students and sets in place policies for behavior and academics, his students have clear expectations and are more likely to respect one another. This saves teachers time having to deal with problems as they arise. After the rest of the class has received necessary instruction and direction, the teacher should talk privately with Tom about tardiness and missing homework. The teacher should take time to listen and allow Tom to maintain his dignity. 4. What conflicts did you observe in this classroom? What conflict resolution methods could you use to resolve the conflicts in this classroom? Are there any peer mediation methods that you could use in this scenario? The main conflicts in this classroom are created by the teacher. The teacher publicly humiliated a student in front of the class because he was late and did not turn in his homework. The teacher also created an environment where it is ok to belittle your classmates. To resolve the conflict the teacher should talk to Tom individually and apologize for the way he handled the situation. Mr. Dunn should let Tom see that teachers make mistakes too and that they should not be exempt from apologizing. He should address Tom’s homework including why Tom didn’t finish it and what plan they can come up with that would help Tom remember in the future. He should then talk with the entire class and admit his mistake, emphasizing the rules of mutual respect. He should remind the class it is inappropriate to make fun of or embarrass a fellow student. There is not any real need for peer mediation with the students if the teacher is more respectful the students will be also. 5. What changes would you make to help this classroom become more of a community? Why would developing this classroom into a community be important? The most effective way to create a community in the classroom is to set the tone the first day of class. Allow the students to get to know each other, have group activities and team work projects. Allow and teach students to respect individual differences and celebrate the multitude of talents and cultural practices among classmates. When students feel like they are part of a group they perform better in school, are supported by their peers to do well and do not miss as much school; learning in this environment can be enjoyable and fulfilling. Students should learn to help and encourage one another. Set specific rules that the whole class can decide on together. Ask students what they think a caring, respectful classroom looks like. Brainstorm class rules with them and have them vote on which ones they feel are the most important. Have the students sign their names to a pledge that they will abide by the rules and work together to make the class a nice place to be. Enforce consequences of violation of these rules with consistency. Never put students down or make them feel incompetent – especially in front of others. Listen to students’ needs and treat them with respect if that is what you expect from them. Emphasize promoting positive behaviors rather than fixing negative ones. Help students learn moral values and develop a good work ethic rather than doing things simply because they are told. Rather than punishing for poor behavior, look for ways to correct problems by discussing consequences and choices.

Language Is A Cultural Factor Social Work Essay

Language Is A Cultural Factor Social Work Essay This essay will analyse how issues of race and culture are pertinent to mental health problems and to service responses to minority communities. However, other risk or causal factors will be considered which are essential in fully understanding diagnosis, access to services and outcomes of mental health issues including poverty, racism and violence against women. It appears that a combination of cultural, structural and individualist factors are linked to mental health issues and it will be highlight why an over focus on race and culture (without considering other factors) can be dangerous. Although individual factors will not be discussed in this essay, their importance must be emphasised. Personal elements intersect with other factors (structural and cultural) contributing to mental health problems. Individual factors on their own therefore are not enough but need to be considered in combination with cultural and structural factors. This can be linked to Thompsons PCS Model which looks at Personal, Cultural and Structural issues in terms of anti oppressive practice (Thompson, 1997). It cannot be ignored that issues of race and culture are extremely relevant when considering mental health. However, this essay views race as socially constructed, with little biological validity as a risk factor that fully explains inequalities in health (Bhui et al, 2005, p.496). What is more feasible and supported in studies such as the EMPIRIC study, is that race is a factor which can be a sociological risk to individuals which can be referred to as racial discrimination having the potential to result in lower self esteem, fewer opportunities, and stress leading to mental health problems (Bhui et al, 2005). In the UK racial discrimination does not just refer to the term race as skin colour but also incorporates cultural differences as well (Bhui et al, 2005). Therefore in this essay, when race is referred to as leading to mental health problems; it will be in terms of the explanation put forward previously. It appears that race and culture impact on diagnosis, access to services and outcomes. However, this view is based on research obtained in a short amount of time it was only in 1995 that observing different ethnic groups became obligatory in mental health services which are publically funded (Mind, 2012). However this view is disputed by Glove and Evison (2010) who argue that differences in the pattern of mental health care received by minority ethnic groups in England have been noted since the 1960s and widely debated since the 1980s. Irrespective of this dispute, both agree that research has identified differences between different ethnic groups in diagnosis, treatment and availability of services. A common identification in literature is that there are high rates of psychosis (for example schizophrenia) amongst African Caribbean men and apparently low rates of mental illness among South Asians (NCSR, 2002). Influential pieces of research identifying these differences include the Count Me In census which began in 2005 and was created in support of the Department of Healths five year plan Delivering Race and Equality in Mental Health Care (Mind, 2012). The ultimate aim was to reduce admission rates, detention and seclusion amongst black and minority ethnic groups (Mind, 2012). The census identifies that 22% of 30,500 individuals receiving in-patient care were from minority ethnic groups (CQC, 2010). It also highlights that black men are more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act and that black and black/white mixed race men are three times more likely to be admitted to psychiatric wards and had the highest admission rate of all groups (Mind, 2012). CRITICISM The Fourth National Survey (FNS) of ethnic minorities supports this to an extent. It identifies higher rates of psychosis diagnosis amongst Black Caribbeans compared to white people (Mind, 2012). However, these differences are lower than previous studies have suggested. Studies undertaken prev iously have suggested psychosis occurs mostly amongst black Caribbean men however this study suggests higher rates amongst black Caribbean women (Mind, 2012). Despite these figures, findings have also suggested that Black African Caribbean and South Asian patients are less likely to have their mental health problems detected by a GP (The centre for Social Justice, 2011). Black men have been found to be more likely to be admitted to psychiatric units via the Criminal Justice System (CJS) (NMHDU, 2010). The Count Me in census highlighted that Black Caribbean, Black African and White/Black Caribbean mixed groups are between 40 and 60 per cent more likely to be admitted via the CJS (CQC, 2010). In contrast to this, findings from the census identify that admission rates among South Asian and Chinese groups have remained much lower (below average in many cases) (Care Quality Commission, 2011). This is interesting, as other research has indicated that some specific subgroups of South Asian women (ages 15-24) are at high risk of completed suicide (Raleigh, 1996). Therefore, why are they not getting the necessary support from mental health services ? The EMPIRIC study considers white people as a comparison with Bangladesh, Black Caribbean, Irish, Indian and Pakistani groups (Bhui et al, 2005). This study was undertaken in the community which is quite rare. It considers the impact of racial discrimination in the workplace (Bhui et al, 2005). The study identified that Black Caribbean people reported the highest amount of job denial and Pakistanis the highest level of insult (Bhui et al, 2005). Bangladeshi, White and Irish people were found to be less likely to report discrimination (Bhui et al, 2005). Discrimination in the workplace is common and is a risk factor for common mental disorders (Bhui et al, 2005). The differences between each group in terms of Common Mental Disorders (CMD) were small and there were some variations in terms of age and sex (Bhui et al, 2005). It found CMD were higher amongst Pakistani and Irish men ages 35-54 and higher rates amongst Indian and Pakistani women ages 55-74 (Weich et al, 2004). Common Menta l Disorders were found to be lower in Bangladeshi women than white women which is interesting considering this group has the highest level of socio economic deprivation and the accepted link between poverty and mental health (Weich et al, 2004). There were no differences in rates between Black Caribbean and White people despite them suffering the most job denial and this identifies differences to findings from other key studies which often identify higher rates of mental illness amongst black men in particular (Weich et al, 2004). Therefore this suggests this group may be more resilient or Black Caribbean people with CMD may have been excluded from jobs (Bhui et al, 2005). The EMPIRIC study actually identifies that Black Caribbean women had more CMD than Black Caribbean men (Bhui et al, 2005) and as findings from FNS also suggest an area of concern for this group, it appears further research should be undertaken. There are some criticisms on this study being that what is perceived a s racism does not always impact on current employment experiences (Bhui et al, 2005). It does not consider the fact that CMD may result in more people reporting racial discrimination (Bhui, 2005). More long term and qualitative studies may be beneficial in understanding the impact of racial discrimination (Bhui et al, 2005). However, studies undertaken late 1990s and early 2000 because there was a raise in concern regarding this issue (partially due tot the Rocky Bennett case) therefore the government commissioned this research due to these concerns. However, in recent years things have died down a bit therefore less research is being undertaken so knowledge is not developing and there is no funding available for researchers. Despite this, research already carried out seems to follow suite in identifying differences in the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of mental health for ethnic groups, however these differences are not always on par with each other and identify differences in themselves as already stated (McLean et al, 2003). It is important to understand why variations do exist between ethnic groups in terms of mental health which will be the focus of the rest of this essay. It cannot be ignored that cultural factors undoubtedly play a role in the findings identified previously. Black and minority ethnic (BME) groups may speak in a way which is considered different to white British individuals or they may have dissimilar mannerisms. As a result, this may be interpreted wrongly which could subsequently lead to an incorrect diagnosis of mental health issues (Singh, 2006). As stated western psychiatrists are more likely to misinterpret behaviour and distress that is alien to them as psychosis (Singh, 2006). Individuals may be labelled as strange or unusual because of cultural traits (Singh, 2006). Thus, this identifies that a lack of understanding of cultural differences may impact on interpretations. However, no matter what cultural training people obtain, interpretations of behaviour are always going to vary as cultures are complex and continuously adapting. Another argument relating to race and culture and its link with mental health is that some cultural groups may not react to western-type methods of dealing with mental illness. For example, in Western society, psychiatry is viewed as an objective discipline and therefore the individual receiving the support/therapy is separated from the therapist (Fernando, 2004). It is likely that the therapist will not know the individual and will rarely have any physical contact with them. As put forward the therapist learns the treatment and applies it within the overall medical model of dealing with problems as individual illnesses, disorders or disturbances of what is assumed to be normal mental functioning (Fernando, 2004, p.121). This way of approaching mental health may be different to other cultures for example where more spiritual methods of healing may be used (Fernando, 2004). As a result, certain ethnic groups may not involve themselves in western methods for example going to see a Gene ral Practitioner (GP). Koffman et al (1997) found that in comparison to non-black groups, more black patients who had been admitted were not registered with a doctor. This may be a result of different cultural methods of healing in which western practices do not fit. However, culture should not be considered as stationary or immobile it does and can adapt and change. It is important to recognise that different cultures can begin to interlink with each other as cultures may react to the environment they are in contact with (MDAA, 2012). This identifies how it can be dangerous to focus too much on culture which I will look into further on in the essay. Language is a cultural factor which can impact on the right diagnosis and support for an individual: both diagnosis and treatment are handicapped if there is no common language between doctor and patient (Farooq and Fear, 2003, p.104). Even when an interpreter is involved, they may not be trained in psychiatry which can limit understanding and can have a negative impact on translation (Farooq and Fear, 2003). However, I would argue that at least if an interpreter is involved, they can bridge the language barrier to a significant extent. As argued patients in mental health services will experience a better quality of care when accessing interpreters (Costa, 2011). This is emphasised in the NICE Guidelines for GA, Schizophrenia, Depression and Dementia which puts forward that written material should be translated into different languages and interpreters should be used where appropriate (ref). A mental health professional that comes across a patient of a different culture, who speaks a different language, may not recognise the severity of their symptoms due to the cultural and language differences resulting in lack of support from services for example. Therefore if someone presents to their GP with symptoms these may be misinterpreted if an appropriate interpreter is not present. Therefore although many mental health settings may use interpreters regularly, others may not and the importance of this must be emphasised in order to work through issues of wrong diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of mental health. Although race and culture are evidently pertinent to mental health problems and service responses, it is necessary to consider other factors as an emphasis on cultural issues can sanitize or mask other issues (Chantler et al, 2002, p.649). It seems that mental health services are focusing on cultural differences and understanding cultural diversity in an attempt to overcome the differences in diagnosis and support for different ethnic groups. However, in their attempt to do this they may actually be ignoring other key issues thus potentially making the situation worse or at least maintaining it. Some argue that there is an urgent need to develop cultural competence among nurses and other care workers if they are to meet the needs of the diverse populations they serve (Papadopoulos, L and Tilki M and Lees S). However, professionals may not treat black people any differently just because they are trained to be culturally aware (Fernando, 2004). There are lots of references to cultural competence in the Department of Health and NHS. The government strategy No Health Without Mental Health which replaced New Horizons in 2011 seems to focus on culture but does not seem to acknowledge important links between race and mental health. It is well known that there is a significant link between poverty and mental health (Chantler, 2011). It appears that mental health social work is beginning to revolve around the bio medical model therefore social factors such as poverty are not focused on as much as they should (Chantler, 2011). It has been identified that social exclusion can often be a result of poverty as a lack of financial means results in the poorer sectors of society being unable to involve themselves in societal activities thus resulting in exclusion (Gilchrist and Kyprianou, 2011). Social exclusion/isolation can impact on mental health therefore poverty can be viewed as a risk factor for mental health problems (Chantler, 2011). Being in the lowest social class is often linked with poverty and this is something which spans across different ethnicities and cultures. Therefore white, working class members of society may experience mental health issues which are instigated as a result of poverty thus race and c ulture cannot be viewed as the only factors impacting on mental health other factors which can also impact on white sectors must be recognised. However, black and minority ethnic groups may find it more difficult to move into higher classes as a result of issues such as racism and discrimination thus may remain in low socioeconomic circumstances. This highlights a link between poverty and ethnicity and emphasises the concern that peoples race and culture may result in them being forced into situations which could increase their likelihood of mental distress. It appears that there are two main ways racism can impact on individuals health: the immediate psychological and physical impact and the result of which different races and cultures are not valued within society resulting in social exclusion and disadvantage (Karlsen and Nazroo, 2000). As argued racism, whether openly hostile or lurking in institutional cultures and practices, limits the opportunities and life choices individuals make (Gilchrist and Kyprianou, 2011, p.7). Therefore, certain people of certain races or cultures may feel more comfortable remaining in commun ities together due to racist discrimination or prejudice and as a result may not seek new life opportunities thus potentially remaining in poor socioeconomic circumstances as a result of this forced exclusion (Gilchrist and Kyprianou, 2011). Similarly, discrimination and racism may result in less support within education arenas and less opportunities to excel within employment circles (Gilchrist and Kyprianou, 2011). It has been recognised that unemployment has an impact on mental health (Meltzer et al, 1995). Findings from the Fourth National Survey identify that four fifths of Pakistani and Bangladesh respondents, two-fifths of Indian and Caribbean respondents and one third of Chinese had incomes lower than half the decided national average recognised as poverty (Karlsen and Nazroo, 2000). This compares to one in four white respondents. Thus, this may be the impact of racism, discrimination and disadvantage (Karlsen and Nazroo, 2000) Therefore there seems to be a vicious cycle wh ereby BME groups feel the impact of structural oppressions resulting in fewer opportunities to break away from factors which can lead to an increased risk of mental health problems, such as poverty. Therefore, arguably social exclusion, poverty and class could be reasons why there are higher levels of mental illness in some subcultures of South Asian women for example (Karlsen and Nazroo, 2000). The fact that communities stick together may result in further antagonism and segregation thus resulting in inappropriate support for mental health problems as outsiders may not want to intrude in these cultures they may take the attitude leave them to it which can be very dangerous. Therefore a combination of factors including class and poverty can emphasise mental health issues. It seems that the role of racism as a risk factor for mental health is being ignored or at least undermined by the coalition government. Although the No Health Without Mental Health strategy acknowledges the need to consider causal factors for mental health, it appears to neglect to discuss the pertinent issue of racism/institutional racism which can be viewed as a downfall in response (Watson, 2011). Therefore, it neglects significant links between race and mental health. This is emphasised in its a call to action document, which does not include any BME organisations (Vernon, 2011). Stereotyping of different groups refers to the discrimination of groups based on views they are certain way. So, South Asian groups may be viewed as having lots of family support and not believing in mental illness. This can be dangerous as it may result in services neglecting to offer support to certain races or cultures. Therefore, it appears that some mental health professionals may inherit views regarding racial stereotypes (Fernando, 2004). Another common racist stereotype is that black men are dangerous which again impacts on diagnosis and treatment. A well known example is that of Rocky Bennett. He was killed in 2004 in a medium secure psychiatric unit after being restrained by up to five nurses and an independent inquiry into this accepted that it was a result of institutional racism (Athwal, 2004). This is not a lone incident and has been recognised as an issue across mental health services. A concern which is shared by many including Richard Stone (a member of the Bennett i nquriy panel) and Errol Francis (a campaigner on black mental health) is that cultural/racial awareness training will not reduce institutional abuse, it must be acknowledged and then the behaviour of the professionals and workers needs to change (Athwal, 2004). Once understood and acknowledged, progress can be made to tackle and understand causes (McKenzie, 2007). McKenzie (2007) put forward concern that the importance of Delivering Race Equality would be undermined, which seems to have been the case in No Health without Mental Health as it does not seem to recognise the importance of racism as a risk factor for mental health and the impact it has on service responses (Watson, 2011). Watson (2011) argues that the impression given is that we are moving to a post-racial big society where state multiculturalism is expunged from British values and public consciousness Thus the link is being undermined and if this is the case it is unlikely changes will be made. Chantler et al (2002) undertook a ten month qualitative study with a group of South Asian women who are survivors of self harm or attempted suicide. It seems that survivors highlighted issues causing mental distress including immigration status, poverty, and domestic violence in their accounts however an over focus on cultural sensitivity by professionals and policy makers means that these factors often goes unrecognised (Chantler et al, 2002). Also, important to note is that there does not seem to be much research into the fact that if people are seeking asylum, there is a possibility that their mental health needs may be higher as a result of their experiences prior to migration (Chantler, 2011). As a result of lack of recognition, inappropriate or a lack of support was offered by services. The researchers found that the survivors who had been seeking asylum mentioned policies such as the one year rule as causing them distress and oppression as it meant they were trapped (often in an abusive relationship) for a long period of time without a chance of escape (Chantler et al, 2001). As stated, current immigration legislation strips South Asian women of the legal and personal support available to white British female citizens (Chantler et al, 2002). The survivors identified that they felt these policies ensured that all power was given to the man (Chantler et al, 2002). Policies implemented trying to overcome problems in services by employing South Asian workers needs to be looked into (Chantler et al, 2002). It seems that policy makers used cultural clashes as explanations as to why issues such as domestic violence, immigration issues and poverty were not highlighted (Chantler et al, 2002). Thus in models of mental health, factors such as immigration are neglected. Services claimed to be unable to meet their needs due to cultural conflict (Chantler et al, 2002). All but one of the survivors in the study had suffered domestic violence identifying the link between domestic violence, immigration status and suicide/self harm (Chantler, 2001). It is worth noting that refugees and asylum seekers may have experienced traumatic events before arriving in the UK such as war and poverty therefore they may have higher mental health needs because of their experiences this is not covered much in research and is something which may be beneficial in our understanding. Burman et al (2005) focuses primarily on domestic violence services with regards to African, African-Caribbean, South Asian, Jewish and Irish women, it became evident that culture was seen to be more important than dealing with domestic violence issues. Thus a focus on culture can be seen as an obstruction to offering the appropriate support (Burman, 2005). The study also identifies how other issues such as immigration policies prevent asylum seeking women from being able to leave abusive relationships therefore this needs to considered more (Burman, 2005). racialised dimensions of such policies heightens their exclusionary effects. The outcome of these findings suggests that there needs to be new ways of supporting women from minoritised groups suffering domestic violence (Burman, 2005). Criticisms of study? It seems that in favour of culture, gender issues such as violence against women are often ignored in relation to minority ethnicities (Chantler, 2002). Would this be the case if it were white women? What is interesting is that violence against women is considered a gender issue in relation to white women but is seen as a cultural issue in relation to South Asian women (Chantler et al, 2002). This is something which needs to be recognised and changed. Cultural factors need to be acknowledged to a degree and particularly in certain circumstances for example honour based violence, however it needs to be recognised that culture and race are not always at the forefront of issues. It is important to move away from a complete focus culture in many instances, and consider gender issues as well. Segregating women from minority groups from white women with regards to violence can lead to lack of support thus potentially resulting in self harm/attempted suicide amongst other issues, as a resul t of the mental distress. The research undertaken by Chantler et al (2001) and Burman (2005) highlight this. Conclusion: As a social worker it is important to recognise cultural differences and be open about culture so that interventions are not so difficult however, although being culturally aware is useful, it is impossible to recognise all factors as cultural as there are numerous different cultures which are constantly adapting. Also, as this essay has identified, an over focus on culture can be dangerous. It is important to be conscious of other risk/causal factors of mental health such as violence against women, class and immigration status. It is essential label or stereotype someone based on their race or culture but rather engage, empower and empathise with service users. As Chantlers 2001 study identified, regardless of a service users race or culture, they often just want someone to listen to them. Do not always presume it is about culture as policy has tended to do in recent years. It seems that a combination of structural, cultural and individual factors including gender, poverty and cultu re will enable a greater understanding of diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of mental health. Considering one without the other will limit understanding. Therefore, knowledge needs to be more nuanced. I am not undermining the importance of race and culture in relation to mental health and service responses, as I have acknowledged its importance in this essay. However, do not neglect other equally important factors. Also gender issues need to be considered for example domestic violence. Why is domestic violence considered cultural only when related to certain ethnicities e.g south Asian women SOME violence crimes are specific to certain cultures for example honour based violence, trafficking (UMHDU, 2010) However, all ethnicities within the uk experience gender based violence not just certain ethnic groups and evidence suggests that violence and abuse cause mental health issues (UMHDU, 2010). However it is sometimes only seen as a gender issue when it is white women suffering abuse. Seen as a cultural issue when minority ethnic group. Maybe it isnt a cultural issue but a gender issue Research by Chantler et al many women from different ethnicities dont mention culture/race in their study just mention abuse therefore maybe just need to consider this