To what extent is islamaphobia a problem in british society Essay

To what extent is islamaphobia a problem in british society - Essay Example That concept has seen a significant rise in the UK, and the reasons for it, while somewhat understandably valid, are deluded and overstated. An Inherited Tradition: The Crusades and The New Crusade While islamaphobia might be something new to the United States since 911, it is certainly well entrenched in the thinking of people of the United Kingdom. Beginning with the Crusades, particularly those of Richard the Lionhearted and other British kings who went off to â€Å"fight the good fight† against the Muslims, a natural tendency has developed to mistrust Muslims as treacherous and determined to destroy Christianity, and along with it Western civilization. Feffer (2010) in his defense of Islam writes that the UK culture itself has promoted this notion throughout the ages by reinforcing it in subtle ways, including the teaching and analysis of such epic poems as The Song of Roland, which he contends places untrue emphasis upon the slaughter of Charlemagne’s troops as des cribed in the poem by Muslim warriors. ‘In the real battle of 778, the slayers of the Franks were [really] Christian Basques furious at Charlemagne for pillaging their city of Pamplona’ (Feffer, 2010: par. 3). ... om 1500-1600 the ‘crusade’—verbal, psychological and historical—continued against the Ottoman Empire, passing from one generation to another stories of the atrocities of the Ottoman Empire and their Muslim leaders, defaming, as it went, all of its followers. Ongoing as well was the attitude that Muslims and Islam continually attempted to hide their violent ill-intentioned tendencies under the guise of the peaceful dictates of the Koran. Today that attempt is still being challenged in every respect and from every side, and by his own admission, from a Christian perspective, by Dunkin (2010) in his official condemnation, Ten Myths About Islam. Dunkin writes the following: Jihad is still alive and well today, and is not just the province of a few militant radicals. The forcible advancement of Islam, coupled with a contrived hatred for the Western world, appeals to the hearts and minds of millions of disaffected Muslims worldwide, many of them young and eager t o give their lives in the cause of Allah. Many well-educated Muslims, in the Middle East and in the West, have taken hold of the intellectual cause of Islamism and support this jihad wholeheartedly. (Myth #7) With academics such as Dunkin fanning the flames of anti-religious perception, it is not difficult to reason that such ideas have continued to find their way into modern UK thinking, in a world much more diverse and thus, for many, much more threatening. Islamaphobia and Politics As a prejudice which has developed over centuries, it seems clear that at least one political group in the UK, namely the British National Party and its Campaign Against Islam, presents a clear if not pervasive view of Islam as a violent entity detrimental to the interests of Britain and the British population. With media at

Perception Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Perception - Research Paper Example Many individuals mistake these two separate entities as one in the same. This paper will distinguish the difference between the two and provide clarity of each one’s function. This paper will also define how we as individuals acquire a cultural sense of sensation and perception through our experiences. This paper will define terms that will help you understand the history behind the functions of sensation and perception. The research in this paper will define abnormalities that can affect sensation and perception and the effects of those abnormalities as well as medical research and breakthroughs. Perception and Sensing of Our Everyday Environment Perception and Sensation though working together are different entities performing different functions. The functions performed by both perception and sensation are important to the interpretation of how we experience everyday life in the world around us. Sensation and perception are answerable to the brain. The brain is like a telep hone pole and sensation and perception are some of the wires plugged into it to communicate. Perception and sensation to diffuse the confusion honed by most must be described and defined individually. Let’s begin by first defining sensation and describing sensations functions. Myers (2009) observes or defines sensation as the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment. So what does this mean in laymen’s terms? Basically sensation is the signal we send to our brain that represents our physical experiences in this world we live in. Sensation receptors are recognized by the brain through receiving input up to the brain, which the brain interprets and sends out. There are several interpretation methods that we know as the senses. The five senses are vision, hearing, tasting, touching and smelling. These five senses are used on a daily basis and play very important roles in our everyday lives. Witho ut the use of the five senses, the function of sensation would not exist in our world. Vision is the way we see and interpret the world around us. Vision occurs through the eyes. The eyes have several components that receive and send out light to form visual images. The eye contains several parts, the cornea, the iris, the pupil, the lens, the retina, the fovea, the rods and cones, and the optic nerve to name a few. For the sake of the length of research I will only cover a few parts to give the summarization of the eye’s function and how it transmits to the brain. The parts of the eye that will be discussed are the retina, the rods and the cones and the optic nerve. The â€Å"retina is the light-sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the processing of visual information† (Myers, 2009) The â€Å"rods are the retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision, when cones don’t respond† (Myers, 2009) The â€Å"cones are retinal receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retinal that function in daylight or in well-lit conditions. The cones detect fine detail and give rise to color sensations† (Myers, 2009) The â€Å"optic nerve is the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain† (Myers, 2009) So basically when putting all these functions together here is what happens. Once light enters the eye through the cornea, the retina processes the light through

Hobbes vs Rousseau Essay Example for Free

Hobbes vs Rousseau Essay In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Age of Enlightenment was an important cultural movement of intellectuals in Europe. Philosophers of the time interpreted many theories and concepts about man and inequality in civilization and also ideas about government and the ways in which society could be controlled. Many believed that humans were naturally good, while others believed that humans were inherently bad. The argument of nature has lasted throughout time without a definitive answer, but with centuries of philosophical arguments to aid in the understanding of our own human nature. Two important philosophers of this time period were Thomas Hobbes and Jean Jacques Rousseau. Both philosophers wrote about their ideas of human nature and the state of nature, also addressing equality within the state and the role government and civilization plays in man’s actions. While Hobbes had a very cynical view of man, believing man to be brutal and violent working only towards self-interest, Rousseau had a more positive view; depicting man as essentially good and compassionate, believing that only through society and civilization does man become corrupt. Although both philosophers’ arguments are well developed and supported, Rousseau’s understanding of the natural man and the state of nature is stronger than Hobbes’ opposing views. Rousseau’s positive view of human nature illustrates man as living in harmony with nature while Hobbes’ pessimistic view portrays man acting only for self-interest. Rousseau views the mankind as inherently good, capable of feeling compassion and pity for others around him as well as self-love. The condition of this natural man is a man without any forms of civilization, including clothes and language. Man is able to live individually, peacefully and in harmony when he is in this state of inh erent goodness. However, through civilization man becomes â€Å"wicked.† Oppression and dominance develop through the evolution of civilization, also creating inequality among men, destroying the harmony in which they lived. When man is able to satisfy his own needs, he is able to live peacefully (Rousseau 161). Through evolution of society, man is weakened and begins to depend on others to sustain his life, creating oppression and causing man to lose his natural goodness. Hobbes disagrees with Rousseau’s positive view of the nature of man, believing that men are instinctively violent and evil, acting only out of self-interest or for self-gain. He believes men are constantly in competition to become superior in worth or honor, creating continual jealousy and violence among each other. Hobbes believes that men are so brutal and wicked they are unable to survive as individuals but need a strong, central authority to force peace and cooperation among men. Hobbes states, â€Å"Without the terror of some power to cause them to be observed, are contrary to our natural passions, that carry us to partiality, pride, revenge and the like,† (Hobbes 106). Hobbes believes that in order to control man’s instinctive evil, they need to fear the law. Hobbes admits that inequality is a product of creating this commonwealth, but, unlike Rousseau’s idea of inequality in society, Hobbes says men are ignorant to the inequality, believing that the covenants create equal terms of law among men. This false sense of equality is able to control the violence and competition among men, allowing them to coexist more peacefully. So while Rousseau credits civilization to the destruction of peace and goodness, Hobbes does not believe man has any inherent goodness and thinks civilization is the only way to avoid war. Although Hobbes and Rousseau agree that in a state of nature men are equal, they have opposing views of what man is like in this state. A state of nature is a term used to describe a state lacking a form of government or laws. Rousseau believes in the state of nature, man lives individually in harmony with nature. Rousseau addresses this natural man as a â€Å"savage man,† stating that their actions are determined by their needs and these needs are met without the help of others. In this nature, men are peaceful and good. Men also have a natural sense of pity and compassion in this state (Rousseau 163). Because man lives solitarily, there is no one to dominate or control and thus no competition for power. Rousseau believes that this peace is sustained by the ability of the savage man to feel compassion, which allows them to govern the peace of their nature. However, this peace is diminished as inequality becomes prevalent through the progression of society. As property and family units evolved, man began to change his lifestyle and skills and talents developed (Rousseau 164). Families weakened man and woman in mind and body, causing them to rely on others to successfully fulfill their needs. This was the crucial part in development of oppression and domination, because inequality occurs when man becomes dependent on others to survive. Rousseau states, â€Å"But the moment one man needed the help of another; as soon as it was found to be useful for one to have provisions for two, equality disappeared, property appeared,† (Rousseau 167). The relationship between slave-master or worker-owner develop when men requires the help of another. Inequality creates oppression and domination, which, according to Rousseau, destroy man’s inherent goodness. Hobbes’ view of human nature contrasts Rousseau’s dramatically, seeing as Hobbes believed man to be naturally wicked and only through government systems are men able to live peacefully. Hobbes compares man to a machine, constantly in motion and always seeking something (3). He believes human nature is to act for their own self-interest, which causes men to be in constant competition for honor or worth, creating a state of war. Because Hobbes believes that men are constantly in a state of war, he believes that men are always trying to increase their power to be superior to others. He believes that in the state of nature where man is not governed by central authority, men are constantly in competition. Jealousy and competition among men make it impossible for men to live peacefully in a state of nature, creating the need for a strong, central authority to govern over the peace of man. Contrary to Rousseau, Hobbes believes that government is a way for people to â€Å"get themselves out of that miserable condition of war,† by governing peace that men are incapable of alone (Hobbes 106). Hobbes believes that through strong government, men are forced to coexist peacefully, because covenant creates a false sense of equality among men. Hobbes believes that men are incapable of surviving individually, unlike Rousseau who believes that men are better made to live individually. Their differing views of inherent behavior create contrasting conceptions of the state of nature. Based on their arguments of the nature of mankind, Rousseau’s explanation of man is more complete and logical than Hobbes’. In Rousseau’s view of nature, man is essentially good, able to survive on his own and able to peacefully coexist. This view of man could be considered naà ¯ve by some, but it must be considered that this man is also the â€Å"savage man,† a man before any form of civilization. Rousseau explains that a man is inherently good in a state of nature because he has no desire for power, but does feel pity. Rousseau goes into an in depth description of the development of inequality among men, describing oppression and domination developing and the ways in which these factors destroyed man’s intrinsic goodness. Man was unable to live individually in the new state of society, which destroyed their natural goodness. Being unable to live individually, they were forced to rely on others, which created domination and inequality, which leads to competition for power and corruption. The inequality also led to the diminishment of pity and compassion, which was crucial to man’s ability to peacefully coexist. Rousseau’s thorough time-line of man’s condition created a stronger and more agreeable argument than Hobbes’ pessimistic view of man.

Assignment on human growth and development

Assignment on human growth and development This essay uses theoretical perspectives of social sciences relevant to human growth and development by demonstrating the socialisation process and the impact of family structures on the normal development of Gerry. It uses the Maslows hierarchy of needs to explore the effects of poverty on Gerrys infancy and it will use Balter, Catherin Tamis-Lemonda to support Maslows philosophy needs. Furthermore it will go on to use Bowlbys maternal deprivation hypothesis to show the effects of attachment during Gerrys infancy. More still with the use of Eriksons stages of identity versus role confusion to discuss Gerrys adolescence, the theory of generativity versus stagnation to explore his adulthood developmental task of his contributing and stagnation to society and finally the psychological crisis of ego integrity verses despair to explain the effects and causes during his development in middle adulthood. However, other psychologists theories will be used to support Eriksons theories or cri tic them. During his infancy, 0-2 years by Piaget (1936) (cited in Crawford and Walker 2009 p 22), Gerry and his family experienced poverty because his father had been made redundant. This means that Gerrys family could not afford to meet his basic needs. According to Maslows pyramedical model (1970) ( cited Steers 1998: p21 ) lower -level needs such as food, clothing and shelter have to be fulfilled to a reasonable degree before the more advanced need levels such as self actualisation, esteem, love/ belonging ,and safety are met. It can be argued that the failure of Gerrys family to meet his basic needs had a profound effect on his development. This argument is supported by Balter, Catherin Tamis- Lemonda. They argue that children growing up in poverty develop developmental delays in intellectual development. Social, emotional and behavioural problems (Balter, Catherin Tamis- Lemonda 2003: p.391) (cited Chafel, 1993 and Garbarino, 1993). Poverty goes hand in hand with gross inequality, unemployment and adverse consequences for poor people and society as a whole. Deprivation experienced by poor families affects their quality of life, their health and life expectancy and the education outcomes of their children. Poverty brings despair and fear Rebach and Bruhn (2001: p. 369). This argument is supported by Spode and Saracho, (2006) (cited in Duncan and Brook-Gunn, 1997), who say that children growing up in poverty develop more emotional and behavioural problems than children who live in above the poverty line. This is because early cognitive and behavioural outcomes show to predict later school success. Another challenge that Gerry encountered was maternal deprivation. This occurred when his mother was in hospital during the birth of Lily and as a result, Gerry had to be looked after by his grandmother. According to Bowlbys (1953, 1969) (cited in Smith, Cowe and Blades 2004 p106) maternal deprivation hypothesis, children should not be deprived of contact with the mother during a critical period when the primary attachment relationship is being formed. He also believed that both mother and baby were predisposed biologically to stay in contact and only this relationship would allow normal development. However, critiques of Bowlby like (Oakley 1981) (cited in Holmes 1993: p. 45) argue that to generalise that any separation of mother from child in the first three years of life is likely to be damaging is unwarranted. Oakley further argued that there is no harm in entrusting the infant to the care of a responsible grandmother or baby-minder. However, Archer (1992: p.32) states that Hinde and his colleagues studied the effects of shorter periods of separation from a mother on later behaviour in young rhesus monkeys. The outcomes from the studies indicated by the infants experienced mild disturbance and frustrating situations. It can then be argued that Bowlbys maternal deprivation hypotheses is better placed in explaining what Gerry went through during his separation from his mother. Another challenge that Gerry faced in his infancy was siblings rivalry. This took place at the arrival of the new born Lily. Dun (1993) (cited in Shaffer 2009; .p 388) argues that after a new baby arrives, mothers typically devote less warm and playful attention to the older child, who may respond to this perceived neglect by becoming difficult, disruptive and less securely attached. This results into a spirit of completion, jealousy or resentment between siblings. It can then be argued that the birth of Lily when Gerry was barely two years old might have left Gerry feeling neglected and unwanted because his mother had to give her attention to the new born Lily. Furthermore, Gerry experienced a long-term effect of the extreme war-related trauma which led him to suffer greater emotional difficulties and environmental distress in life. On top of that he experienced more stress when he moved homes from a familiar environment and away from his peers. According to (Bell et al 1990 and Giffoed 1994) (cited in Bell, Greene, Fisher and Baum. 2001), it is augured that environmental distress examines the relationship between the person and his physical environment. More still, Main at al (1985) also adds that the adolescent can become disorganised and disoriented by the loss and trauma if the traumatic experience is not resolved. It can be argued that the war had a profound psychological effect on his development as a 12 year old boy by 1945. Another issue in Gerrys adolescence was lack of positive attitude towards education in school although he changed this attitude while in the army and even chose to pursue an engineering career. This is because Gerry had grown up in an environment where most people worked in the factories and had low levels of education; he believed that his destiny was to work as a factory labourer since he had no environmental support especially from his father that inspired him to pursue education higher. According to Piagets (1984) (cited in van wormer, Besthorn and Keefe 2007) theory of cognitive development, school related concerns about intelligence, achievements and behaviour of learning are accumulated gradually as a function of environmental support. The Social Learning theory posits that children learn and model their social and cognitive behaviour by observing and imitating adults in their environment (Bandura, 1971). Therefore it can be argued that Gerry did not like education because he had no role model. However, it is notable the time Gerry was about to leave the military school, he was faced with the challenge of knowing who he was and what he was going to be upon returning to the community. Having been born in a poor, uneducated family and neighbourhood, it was time for him to ponder whether to remain as he was in his community or to independently identify himself. According to Erikson (1975)s psychosocial development, it appears that Gerry was faced with a stage of identity versus role confusion where adolescents redefine themselves. It should also be noted that events that happened in Gerrys adolescence seemed to have had a more buffering and compensatory effect than his depriving earlier experiences (Bowlby, 1988). The army offered him the opportunity to learn the engineering trade and one could argue that he may have found replacement experiences in form of role models and focus on career direction which prompted him to stay on even after the national service. At this stage, Gerry realised that he did not have any qualification and because of that, life would be difficult for him upon return to civilian life. However critics of the psychosocial model argue that Eriksons findings were based on clinical observations and his work lack ecological validity or statistical analyses. Although critics do hold such opinions, Rutter, (2003) points out that research results strongly support his notion on basic trust, identity, intimate relationship and the developmental crises. (Rutter, 1993 cited in Ewen, 2003). It can be argued that Gerrys identity versus role confusion was resolved by the army by offering him the opportunity to study engineering. Between the age of 40-65 by Havinghurst cited Karin and Walker, (2009, p 98) Gerry was in his middle adulthood, he faced a life with triviality, stagnation, and decline due to the detachment that happened to him during his infancy. According to Bowlbys, (1969, p. 194) attachment theory, he says that early experience in childhood has an important influence on the development and behaviour later in life and an evolutionary component; The propensity to make strong emotional bonds to particular individuals is a basic component of human nature. However Hazen and Shaver, (1987) argue that the pattern established in childhood has no impact on later relationships. More to the above, Feeney and Noller (1993) say if a child experiences avoidant attachment during infancy, as adults, they will tend to have difficulty with intimacy and close relationships. Such people do not put quality time in relationships, are not bothered when they end and normally avoid intimacy by using excuses (such as long work hours), or may fantasize about other people during sex. Their research also holds that adults with an avoidant attachment style are more accepting and likely to engage in casual sex. However Wagner (1987) argues that an adult should not be blamed for the attachment styles formed in infancy, because what ever happened during that time is not necessarily identical to that demonstrated in adult romantic-attachment. This is because a great deal of time that has gone by between infancy and adulthood. Therefore intervening experiences have played a big role in Gerrys attachment styles. Those described as ambivalent or avoidant in infancy can become securely attached as an adult. More to the above he had little to do with his parents especially his father and neither did he have a good relationship with his son. This was because during Gerrys infancy he missed out on the father-son relationship, therefore one can assume he did not get proper supervision during his adolescence and less bonding with his father hence made him have poor parenting skills. According to Banduras (1971) social-cognitive learning theory, he says behaviour is learned through observation and imitation. However, Watson and Skinners (1920) theories of classical and operant conditioning disagree with Bandura by saying that all behaviour is learned as a response to external stimuli or environment. The classical occurs when an organism learns to respond in a particular way and the stimulus does not evoke that type of response and with the operant conditioning, an organism learns through rewards and punishments. It can then be argued that Banduras social-cognitive learning theory better placed Gerrys learning of behaviour. At the age of 51 Gerry should have been looking back at in his memories and feeling fulfilled with his life, but he was faced with depression and found it hard to accept the death of his mother and father even if he did not get on well with them, the loss of relationship with his son and partners. According to Erikson, achieving a sense of integrity means fully accepting oneself, ones accomplishments, and coming to terms with mortality. Accepting responsibility for your life and being able to undo the past and achieve satisfaction with self is essential. On the other hand, Gerry may have looked back at his life with a sense of doubt or gloom over the lifes worth, hence resulting in a feeling of despair. This led to Gerry not being compassionate, more reflective and judicious, thus less tyrannized by his inner conflict and external demands. More still it is seen that Gerry had a number of loses in life and less love for others, like Edina, Elizbieta and his son Emo, retired on heath grounds. All in all, Gerrys early life has been extremely disrupted; he has had two care placements in total as well as many changes of caretakers during his first year. Evidently Gerry did not have a strong sense of bonding with his family and did not have the opportunity to develop a secure attachment during his infancy and childhood. During his middle adulthood he tried to develop an attachment when he got engaged and married to Edina, but due to his effects of separation during his infancy and childhood his internal working model is of mistrust. This led him to be promiscuous. Poverty goes hand in hand with gross inequality, unemployment and adverse consequences for poor people and society as a whole. Deprivation experienced by Gerrys family affected his quality of life, health and life expectancy and his education outcomes it also caused him despair and fear.

Suguru Ishizakis Improvisational Design: Continuous Responsive Digital

Suguru Ishizaki's Improvisational Design: Continuous Responsive Digital Communication Digital communication is interactive, dynamic and continuous. People working with digital communication (visual designers, human-computer interaction professionals, and software engineers) need a unique set of communicative methods that equal this dynamic flow of digital communication expressions. Ishizaki explores the development of a theoretical framework of an iterative process that meets this need and suggests how designers might use the framework. The concept Ishizaki terms improvisational design is illustrated with five brief case studies in this slim nine-chapter book. Ishizaki, a Senior Staff Engineer at QUALCOMM Incorporated, became interested in this topic over twenty years ago, developed his dissertation on the topic and presents it here in a sleek and easy to read volume. Drawing upon the concept of improvisation in music, theater, and dance, Ishizaki proposes that designers of the systems we use in everyday digital communication might follow the same patterns where multiple age...

The Distinguished Works of the Preeminent Black Author, Ralph Ellison E

The Distinguished Works of the Preeminent Black Author, Ralph Ellison Ralph Ellison is one of the most lauded yet misunderstood writers of the twentieth century. Ellison is considered a short-story writer and an essayist at heart, but his most distinguished work is the novel, Invisible Man. Ellison has been called everything from "the greatest black American author" (Brennan) to unnecessarily "excessive" in his writing style ("Ralph Ellison: 1914-1994"). For the most part, Ellison is held in high regard in the literary community. The critical consensus on Ralph Ellison is that he is one of the most influential and passionate authors of his generation. Ralph Waldo Ellison was born on March 1, 1914 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Lewis Alfred Ellison and Ida Ellison (Kennedy and Gioia). From his birth, it seems Ellison was destined to become a writer; his father named him after the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. Early in life, Ellison was influenced by his mother who was an ardent social activist (Kennedy and Gioia). Ellison was raised in a middle-class white neighborhood. After graduating from high school in Oklahoma, Ellison was awarded a scholarship to the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Ellison left school early and moved to Harlem ("Ralph Ellison: 1914-1994"). It was here that he met two of his greatest early influences: the poet Langston Hughes and the novelist Richard Wright (Kennedy and Gioia). In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Ellison was primarily an essayist who was published in several American periodicals. It was in these early years that he wrote "King of the Bingo Game" and the Buster and Riley trilogy. In 1952, Ellison's In visible Man was published in what became his most notable work. Invisible Man won Ellison nume... ...riticism. Galen Group. 16 Apr. 2001 http://www.galenet.com/servlet/LitRC/. Kennedy, X.J. and Dana Gioia. "Ralph Ellison: Biography." Literature Online 24 Apr. 2001 http://longman.awl.com/kennedy/ellison/biography.htm. Langman, F. H. "Reconsidering Invisible Man." Contemporary Literary Criticism. Gale Group. 17 April 2001 http://www.galenet.com/servlet/LitRC/. Mitgang, Herbert. "Invisible Man, As Vivid Today as in 1952." Contemporary Literary Criticism. Gale Group. 16 Apr. 2001 http://www.galenet.com/servlet/LitRC/. "Ralph Ellison: 1914-1994." Contemporary Literary Criticism. Gale Group. 16 April 2001 http://www.galenet.com/servlet/LitRC/. Schor, Edith. "Ralph, Ellison, Journeyman: Three Early Stories." Contemporary Literary Criticism. Gale Group. 17 April 2001 http://www.galenet.com/servlet/LitRC/.

Women have been dealing with what we call today as ‘gender issues’ (to be politically correct) since the beginning of time

Women have been dealing with what we call today as ‘gender issues' (to be politically correct) since the beginning of time. Most other people refer to it as chauvinism or discrimination. This thing however we refer to it as has existed since the beginning of time. Referring back to the bible times of Adam and Eve there was well documented issues of gender differences. We go back to the creation of ‘man' do you really think that man is superior because he was created first, or the fact that man was used to create woman? Or the fact that is was the woman who ate the fruit off of the forbidden tree, does that make the women less superior. Both man and women were ultimately created equal and everybody makes mistakes. Look at cave men for instance, have you ever heard the phrase cave women. No you haven't, when we picture ‘cave men' the way society has groomed the thoughts into our mind, we picture very unattractive men with their clubs dragging their women around by the hair. Women were there only to cook and to bare the children of the tribe. But why has society chosen to put these images out there for us to believe. Do we have any proof that their woman were dragged around by the hair, or is it a simple rhetoric devise to play in the mind of our subconscious thinking to lead us to believe that men have and always have been more superior than women. As the ages have passed not much has changed for women. It wasn't until WWII that women were even given the chance to work. During that era there were no men to work, the economy was taking a serious hit, so they looked upon the women to fill the positions that the men had filled for so long. The women took to their new roles as champions doing the manual hard labor in the factories, leaving their children at home to be cared for by another. During that time in our history I think many people have forgotten the significance of what happened. While then men in our country were out fighting and dying to ensure our freedom, the women were here keeping our country alive the best they could, and they succeeded. At that time women had no education and no training but they managed to be strong and get out there and fight. They also in a way fought for the freedom of our country, the men could have not succeeded without the women that took that stand. It is a known fact that even some fifty years later women do not receive the same opportunities as men. Women have earned the right to be considered as equals and deserve the same equal rights to work as men do. Women have earned that right and have fought for equality, but they still do not receive it. Women do not receive the same job opportunities, promotions and pay as men do. Men are more likely to gain the success in these areas than women, even if the woman is more qualified. Women are the caretakers of the world. Women are the ones who take care of the families; families are what form communities, communities are what make the nations. â€Å"If women have a chance to work and earn as full and equal partners in society their families will flourish. When families flourish, communities and nations will flourish. † (Clinton, H. R. ). If women are successful they will be able to better provide for their families. In doing so, they give their families a better chance at a prosperous life. Society still has a long way to go; according to The American Prospect Inc. Over twenty-five years ago the United Nations developed a global bill of rights to end discrimination against women. The All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was signed by all nations except the United States, Iran, Somalia, and Sudan. For years Jesse Helms led the attack against CEDAW, calling it the work of â€Å"radical feminists† with â€Å"anti-family agenda. † à ¢â‚¬Å"I do not intend to be pushed around by discourteous, demanding women,† he said proactively on the Senate floor in 1999. Helms, is no longer around to exercise his objections. George W. Bush is now standing in the way, even as he justifies two wars against fundamentalism, at least partly in the name of advancing the status of women abroad. † (Chesler, E). Which shows that this world still has along way to go before it sees women as equals. George W. Bush is worried about â€Å"advancing the status of women abroad†, but what about the status of the women right here in the United States. He is the president of the United States and not that of the women abroad. As long as we still have these views that women are not equal. Society will never gain the talent, perspective, and ambition for success that women can bring to the table. â€Å"Around the world, empowering women is now widely considered essential to expanding economic growth, reducing poverty, improving public health, sustaining the environment, and consolidating transitions from tyranny to democracy. A near universal consensus is calling for fundamental changes in practices that have denied rights to women for centuries. If the democrats retake the White House and/or the Senate, it will be rime to insist that the United States finally become an official party to this agreement. † (Chesler, E) A good example of empowering women right here in the United States is based on an article in the San Diego Union Tribune. Based on the statistic of the United Nations, â€Å"Women made up 16. 3 percent of parliament worldwide at the end of 2005, edging up from 15. 7 percent a year earlier. Based on this groups latest statistics, according to the annual survey women have made steady progress in elections since a landmark world conference in Beijing in 1995, when females made up just 11. 3 percent of the world's lawmakers. Women on an average made up 20 percent of the deputies elected in the 39 countries that held parliamentary elections last year. Out of nine countries more than 30 percent of those elected or returning to office in 2005 were women, with Norway topping the list at 37. 9 percent. † (Reuters 2006) The Inter- Parliamentary Union found that women fared the best in Nordic countries and the worst in Arab states. The United States on the other hand ranks 69th among the world's nations, with 66 women in the House of Representatives (15. 2 percent) and 14 female senators (14 percent). The proportion of female legislators fell in eight countries last year: Bolivia, Bulgaria, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Germany, Kyrgyzstan and St. Vincent, and the Grenadines. In two countries, Kyrgyzstan and Micronesia, elections were held in 2005, but no women won seats. In Saudi Arabia, whose parliament was appointed, no women were named because women there do not have the right to vote or run for election. Turns out, that brought the number to a total of nine countries without a single female lawmaker as of the end of last year in 2005: Kyrgyzstan, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saudi Arabia, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and the United Arab Emirates. A new and recent study has shown an impressive and dramatic change from the numbers that we have been seeing in the past. Since 1975 women from all different races have struggled to compete with men on a professional level. As it appears race as well as gender plays a big part in what kind of job one will get, not to mention how much they will be earning. From the graph below is information collected from the online almanac, and as you can see over the past twenty-eight years. White males have dominated the economy white men have maintained a hundred percent of the median annual earnings. While white women, on the other hand over the same twenty-eight year span have increased their median annual earnings by approximately twenty percent, and still only hold seventy-five percent of the median annual earnings. That is twenty five percent less than white men. The Wage Gap, by Gender and Race This graph shows the median annual earnings men and women of different races. It also measures the difference in wage earnings over a twenty -eight year period. As we can see from the graph above race plays an equal part in the effect of annual earnings. Black males are up only four percent in twenty eight years. Hispanic males are down by nine percent over the same twenty eight year span. Black women are up only ten percent and Hispanic women are up ten percent over the past twenty eight years. In America and in other countries all over the world it is about time to start breaking through the barriers and stereotypes that society has welcomed for too long. America should be a role model for the rest of the world. America is considered the land of the free, but as long as these barriers continue to discriminate and divide our country by race and color is it really free? Sure America is known for having the best opportunities in the world, but what is the benefit of having those opportunities if it is subject to race or gender? These are the questions that one must ask every time that thought of race or gender comes into question. That's just it; it shouldn't be a question or an issue. If the qualifications meet the need then there's your answer. Have you ever wondered if you were to submit a resume without a full name just a first initial and a last name what kind of response do you think you would get? Well let me give you some insight into what might happen. I tried this research method to prove my theory that men are more preferred for a job than women and the responses I received were unbelievable. I submitted my resume to several different lines of employment such as computer technology, emergency medical technician (E. M. T), and firefighter. I have significant experience, training, certifications in all these lines of employment. When I received calls from perspective employers they would call (my cell phone, my phone contact number listed on the resume and T. Torres as the name listed on the resume. ) and ask if Mr. Torres was available. Right there they automatically assumed that my gender was male when in fact I am female. When the correction was made the response that I received was even more amazing. All of a sudden they did not have any openings at the time but would call me in the future if anything was available. It is amazing that the judgments that are passed in society today based on your gender or race. We as society could accomplish more than we know if we eliminate gender and racial boundaries, not to mention to overcome the stereotypical images that society has painted for us to believe. According to Russian Education and Society, â€Å"Men hold stereo typical traits of professional competence, rational thinking and an active life stance. Women hold the stereotype of social and communicative skills, heartfelt warmth, and emotional support. † (Razumnikova, O. M. ). We, as society are blaming the gender issues on tradition or religion. Boys and girls are taught at a very early age that ‘girls do this and boys do that'. Eventually as the world progresses children should be taught that girls and boys can do anything alike. There is nothing a man can do that a woman can't, and this is how children should be raised. Motherhood shares the same responsibilities as fatherhood does. So in turn family obligation should not be a factor into a woman getting a job, a promotion or how successful she can be. Women's rights should not be talked upon as if they are separate from human rights. Women are in fact human and should be treated alike. There is a lot of talk classified as human rights, women's rights, and civil rights: they are one in the same, rights are rights and every person should be entitled to the same equal rights as the other, man or woman. I do truly believe that if this was the case the world could be and would be a better place.