Writer's choice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 48

Writer's choice - Essay Example When the decision of abortion is left with a mother, the life of an innocent baby is at risk. Rarely can a mother in an awkward situation make a sound and credible decision pertaining to abortion. However, sometimes the judiciary ignorantly leaves such a decision to the mother. The legal status ought to be resolved by the legislature because of direct contact with legislators with locals. The legislators can easily air the input of locals in law-making chambers hence comprehensive debates can generate reliable statutes. The judiciary should not be involved because many women have been jailed in any countries, including Chile for abortion even when their lives were in danger. Restrictions are better, and the intent of an abortion must be evaluated before a legal action is taken against a mother (Ginsberg et al. 83). This situation notwithstanding, the life of the child must be preserved in case there is no danger posed by the birth process. The legislature can adjust various abortion statutes, depending on the trend and relevance of abortion cases in society. It will deter reckless abortions in

Labelling Processes Essay Example for Free

Labelling Processes Essay The labelling theory is a micro interactionist approach, this is because it focuses on how individuals construct the social world through face-face interactions. It recognises the concept of the ‘procedural self’ where ones identity is continuously constructed and recognised in interaction with significant others, this results in the individual’s behaviour, including that related to crime and deviance. Significant others are those who are in high social power and thus able to dictate influence and actively determine an individual’s life. Such individuals may include police officers, prison officers, politicians, parents and teachers. Feminists would argue however that these are all the males in society, determining and controlling the lives of females, keeping society patriarchal. The influence that significant others place on individuals lives is through the use of labels, the labels aren’t usually based on individual characteristics, more so stereotypes, working assumptions and professional knowledge. For example Cicaurel found that police patrolled working class areas more intensively, resulting in more arrests, this is due to the police’s stereotypical view that delinquent individuals are part of the working class. Lemert distinguishes between primary and secondary deviance in society. Primary deviance involves minor offences such as vandalism or smoking underage and these acts are usually uncaught or insignificant. However an individual may be caught for such acts and inturn be labelled as delinquent or deviant, the social reaction of this label results in the development of secondary deviance: more serious crimes such as assault or drugs. This therefore illustrates that it is not the act itself but the hostile societal reaction by significant others that creates serious deviance, thus crime and deviance being products of the labelling process. Support for this idea is research conducted by Jock Young on hippy marijuana users. Drugs were associated with hippies which demonstrate primary deviance. Police then labelled and persecuted hippies for their behaviour, excluding them from normal society. AS a result a deviant subculture emerged where hippies retreated into closed groups, grew hair out long, wore eccentric clothes and drug use became a central activity. Gove argued that there are two consequences of labelling: creation of sigma, modification of self images. Stigma is the negative branding of an individual and refers to the public condemnation and exclusion of the criminal. The media tend to exaggerate the behaviour of such people, causing increased fear and moral panic in society, resulting in avoidance and constantly being treated with suspicion. Becker refers to a ‘master status’ where once a person is labelled all of their actions are interpreted in light of the label and only negative aspects of that individual’s behaviour are focussed on. Because of the stigma created from the label a modification of self image occurs in the individual. The individual essentially lives up to their deviant label, becoming the person described in the label. The process of deviancy amplification whereby any punishments or treatment therefore reinforce the individual perception of the criminal, thus more crimes fitting to the label are carried out. This theory can however by criticised because it is determinist, where individuals have n control over the process and once they have been labelled they will inevitably turn deviant or criminal. Social action theorists believe in free will and individual’s choice to reject their label. In addition the label may cause the opposite result where an individual seeks to actively prove their label wrong by thriving and succeeding in their work/ life. Furthermore the labelling theory claims that deviant and criminal behaviour only occurs when a label is given, it does not account for crimes committed by those who have no labels placed upon them. Marxists, for example, would argue the theory fails to explain middle class, white collar or corporate crime, since the offenders have high social power and would be significant others rather than the individuals labelled. In conclusion although the labelling theory offers some explanation as to the crime and deviance in today’s society there are many gaps. Other explanation such as subcultural crime and deviance would argue that it is not the interaction of individuals but the illegitimate opportunity structures within society that results in crime and deviance.

Millenium Bug :: essays research papers

The year 2000 is practically around the corner, promising a new era of greatness and wonder . . . as long as you don't own a computer or work with one. The year 2000 is bringing a Pandora's Box of gifts to the computer world, and the latch is slowly coming undone. The year 2000 bug is not really a "bug" or "virus," but is more a computer industry mistake. Many of the PC's, mainframes, and software out there are not designed or programmed to compute a future year ending in double zeros. This is going to be a costly "fix" for the industry to absorb. In fact, Mike Elgan who is the editor of Windows Magazine, says " . . . the problem could cost businesses a total of $600 billion to remedy." (p. 1)The fallacy that mainframes were the only machines to be affected was short lived as industry realized that 60 to 80 million home and small business users doing math or accounting etc. on Windows 3.1 or older software, are just as susceptible to this "bug." Can this be repaired in time? For some, it is already too late. A system that is devised to cut an annual federal deficit to 0 by the year 2002 is already in "hot water." Data will become erroneous as the numbers "just don't add up" anymore. Some PC owners can upgrade their computer's BIOS (or complete operating system) and upgrade the OS (operating system) to Windows 95, this will set them up for another 99 years. Older software however, may very well have to be replaced or at the very least, upgraded.The year 2000 has become a two-fold problem. One is the inability of the computer to adapt to the MM/DD/YY issue, while the second problem is the reluctance to which we seem to be willing to address the impact it will have. Most IS (information system) people are either unconcerned or unprepared. Let me give you a "short take" on the problem we all are facing. To save storage space and perhaps reduce the amount of keystrokes necessary in order to enter the year to date-most IS groups have allocated two digits to represent the year. For example, "1996" is stored as "96" in data files and "2000" will be stored as "00." These two-digit dates will be on millions of files used as input for millions of applications.

Its Time to Regulate and Reform Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide :: Euthanasia Physician Assisted Suicide

It's Time to Regulate and Reform Euthanasia One of the landmark cases that involve euthanasia is that of Karen Ann Quinlan. Quinlan, a twenty-one year old New Jersey resident, overdosed on pills and alcohol in 1975. She was rushed to the hospital where her physical condition gradually deteriorated to a vegetative state. The doctors determined she had no chance of recovery. Before the coma Karen said that if anything ever happened that would leave her physically and mentally incompetent, without any chance of recovery, she would not want to be kept alive by "extraordinary medical procedures," notes Derek Humphry. Karen's parents sought religious counsel from their priest. They were told that the Catholic religion allows the removal of extraordinary care if the patient was in a terminal condition. Karen's parents requested she be removed from the respirator. The hospital denied their request. The Quinlans then directed their request to the court. The superior court denied their request. They took their request to the New Jersey Supreme court where the decision was reversed. Karen was removed from the respirator. To everyone's surprise, Karen began breathing on her own and lived another ten years (Humphry 107). The Quinlan case brought to the forefront patients' desire to die a proud, quiet death. It also brought to the forefront the complications caused by the advancement of medical technology ("Euthanasia"27). Euthanasia has been practiced in Eastern and Western culture since the beginning of civilization. The capability of medical technology to extend life (as demonstrated by the Quinlan case) has made the issue of euthanasia more complicated. Individuals should be allowed to "die with dignity" in the event of terminal illness if he or she wants it. Terminating a patient's life is much more merciful than allowing him or her to die a slow painful death from illness. Those who oppose legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide say that this could lead to involuntary killing of the aged and infirm. I agree that there may be danger of abuse and that the vulnerable need to be protected; therefore, I support passing legislation that monitors and regulates physician assisted suicide. The demand for legislation in support of legalized euthanasia for the terminally ill has been an issue since the beginning of the century.

Schools Should Ask Students to Evaluate Their Teachers

Nowadays, education is at the top of people’s concern. Most of schools consider the interaction between students and teachers as an important role in the teaching process. Therefore, it leads to a policy that students can evaluate their teachers. In my opinion, I support that idea for several reasons.First of all, students are the very people who receive knowledge and lessons from their professors directly thus their evaluations must be exact and appropriate. In fact, it is very difficult to ask people to evaluate something that they never experience by themselves. As an example, customers are always the accurate measuring device of products’ quality because customers often try to find the best product among a lot of ones in the market to use. Similarly, students will express true opinions about their teachers and those opinions are very helpful for schools to know their teachers better. In this way, schools can have right methods to improve their staff.Furthermore, eva luations from students will make teachers perform their tasks better. As teachers know that their students always consider their teaching methods and their profession in every lecture or discussion, they will be stimulated to do well at the class. Besides, students’view will help teachers to find out their most effective teaching way and thus, their skills and experience can be boosted to a higher level.Finally, asking studentd to evaluate their teachers is also a way of showing concern to students. By that way, the schools indicate that they really appriciate their students’opinions and feeling. Hence, students may feel more comfortable and free. Also, when evaluating teachers, students have to pay attention to their lessons and they may realize their attitude of studying as well.To sum up, I strongly believe that schools should ask students to evaluate their teachers. That idea will help both of students and teachers to do better in their tasks. Schools Should Ask Students to Evaluate Their Teachers Nowadays, education is at the top of people’s concern. Most of schools consider the interaction between students and teachers as an important role in the teaching process. Therefore, it leads to a policy that students can evaluate their teachers. In my opinion, I support that idea for several reasons.First of all, students are the very people who receive knowledge and lessons from their professors directly thus their evaluations must be exact and appropriate. In fact, it is very difficult to ask people to evaluate something that they never experience by themselves. As an example, customers are always the accurate measuring device of products’ quality because customers often try to find the best product among a lot of ones in the market to use. Similarly, students will express true opinions about their teachers and those opinions are very helpful for schools to know their teachers better. In this way, schools can have right methods to improve their staff.Furthermore, eva luations from students will make teachers perform their tasks better. As teachers know that their students always consider their teaching methods and their profession in every lecture or discussion, they will be stimulated to do well at the class. Besides, students’view will help teachers to find out their most effective teaching way and thus, their skills and experience can be boosted to a higher level.Finally, asking studentd to evaluate their teachers is also a way of showing concern to students. By that way, the schools indicate that they really appriciate their students’opinions and feeling. Hence, students may feel more comfortable and free. Also, when evaluating teachers, students have to pay attention to their lessons and they may realize their attitude of studying as well.To sum up, I strongly believe that schools should ask students to evaluate their teachers. That idea will help both of students and teachers to do better in their tasks.

R. Buckminster Fuller Essays - Buckminster Fuller, Futurologists

R. Buckminster Fuller Essays - Buckminster Fuller, Futurologists R. Buckminster Fuller Richard Buckminster Fuller was an enginer, mathemitican, and an architect. Twice expelled from Harvard University, buisiness disasters and the death of his four year old daughter brought him close to suicide. He decided to devote his life to proving that technology could save the world from itsself, providing it is properly used. He examined a vertorial system of geometry, Energetic-Synergetic geometry, based on the tetrahedron which provides maximum strength with inimum structure. This led to his patent of a geodesic dome in 1947, a building the strength of which need only increase as the log of its size. Fuller was a research professor at Carbondale, Southern Illinios University, from 1959 to 1968. In 1968 he became a university professor and retired in 1975.

Fashion and Culture Essays

Fashion and Culture Essays Fashion and Culture Essay Fashion and Culture Essay To start with, what the author discusses in the essay are the definition of fashion,the meaning of fashion and the interaction of this meaning with cultural values and finally he discusses the communication of fashion. Then author emphasizes the ways fashion uses to communicate and discussion of communication models that fashion uses by examining whether fashion is the meaning of an interaction between cultural values and visual culture or fashion is a reflection of an identity, a way to convey messages. Author mainly asks the question that fashion by itself can be a method of communication or not. Also supports that fashion is not a method of communication by itself, fashion needs shared meanings and cultural values to send a message. According to the author the definition o fashion is what western people wear and the important terms to use in defining fashion the western and modern, wearing clothes is not just up to a minute. She adds that we can see the link between the fashion and the social structure of a culture. For example if the culture is not civilized and immobile we can not expect this culture have a sense of fashion. The author claims that fashion may be about bodies and by using Joanne Entwisle as a reference in transforming the fashioned bodies to cultured bodies in order to show the effect of culture on fashion. An other aspect the author uses to explain the nature of fashion is meaning. While explaining the term author avoids an account of meaning where meaning is a function of either individual intention or of clothing itself. She adds that in this essay she will use Barthes connotation because it refers work of culture . : The meaning of connotation in the essay can be called ‘all the way down’ and not build and based on anything that is not connotation. According to the author, Barthes connotational meaning is explicitly the product of culture. Since meaning is a product of cultural beliefs and values then different believes and values can generate different meanings. The author gives an example from Barthes famous account of famous Panzani advertisement to explain how different cultural beliefs and values can generate different meanings. This example can be called as Italianicity, members of a culture who has no tourist industry,or no stereotype of Italians will not understand that meaning. Also an other result of this example is that Italians have will have a different take on ad from non Italians. So it can be said that in this example we can clearly see that culture and meaning is the terms that very related each other. A second term used to explore the fashion is communication. Basically the author mentiones about two model of communication. The first one is semiological/cultural studies type . The second one is an approach that sees the communication as an expression, or reflection or sending and receiving a message. To start with the first approach, which argues that communication through fashion is not simply sending and receiving of messages which is ‘because meaning doesn’t pre-exist the process of communication. And meaning doesn’t pre-exist the members of cultures who are communicating,communication cannot be the sending and receiving of pre-existing message,there is no meaning until interaction between cultural values items of fashion’ says the author. According to this model cultural values,beliefs and shared meanings are essential for communication. The author uses some proponents in explaining this model such as Collin Campbel who critisizes the sender/receiver communication model in his essay ‘When the meanning is not a message: A Critique of the Consumption in the Communication Thesis’. Also the author shares the same belief with Wittgenstein, who argues that there are no private languages nor can be, in his ‘Philosophical Investigations’. The second model of communication is sender/receiver model in which communication can be seen as sending and receiving messages and communication as an expression . The author seems to be totally disagree with this model . The proponents used for explaining this model are Elizabeth Rouse and Joanne Entwistle. Elizabeth Rouse decsribes fashion as ’conveying an impression’ while Joanne Entwistle says that ‘the clothes can be expressive of identity’. The cases used in the essay are basically for supporting the semiological /cultural studies type and explaining the communication models by giving examples. The purpose of the first case study is to argue that: very well known people such as George Bush,Tony Blair and Osame bin Laden don’t try to explain themselves with the clothes they wear. They know that the clothes they wear can have meanings for different cultural groups but still it is not conveying a message in simple sense. It is not about expressing their identities to public by using their clothes as described in the sender / receiver model of communication. The purpose of the second case is explaining that how the perception of hoodies change after media provided hoodies new set of values and ideas . And it also explains certain cultural groups may construct different meaning of a particular garment. In conclusion the aim of this essay explain the nature of fashion statements by investigating meaning and communication. Meaning and communication explained by the culture. The essay concluded that meaning and communication needs culture , so that culture is a very important factor to understand the fashion, also it is important for the fashion itself.