A Sociological Look at the Feminist Movement & the Civil Rights Movement Essay Example for Free

A Sociological Look at the Feminist Movement the Civil Rights Movement Essay For centuries, large groups of individuals have come together to oppose prevailing ideas, challenge conformity and promote great change in beliefs, government policy and overall social reform. Whether it is an instinctual component of human existence or a way of survival as learned from previous generations, social reform is an integral part of Western culture’s growth and development into modern society. When discussing this topic, two very great movements come to mind. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s and the Feminist Movement of the 1960s and 1970s serve as two meaningful and consequential social reform movements. When examined from the sociological perspectives of symbolic interactionism, functional analysis and conflict theory, one can stand to gain a varied ability to conceptualize social phenomenon such as the Civil Rights and Feminist Movements. This writing will serve to review these movements from the three sociological perspectives including the influential impact that society and people have had on one another. Through the first sociological perspective of Symbolic Interactionism, the Civil Rights and Feminist Movements can be interpreted in terms of the symbols for which both represent. Symbolic interactionism examines the symbols that people attach meaning to as well as the impact that their subjective meaning has on the way in which they act (Henslin). Prior to the Civil Rights movement, there were many derogatory words associated with minorities, specifically those of the black race. These words were negative in their connotation and conveyed a sense of inferiority associated with unintelligence and animalistic characteristics. Due to the negative perception of the black race, day to day living had many other symbolic representations of the division between whites and blacks beyond just the words used to describe the segregation. Jim Crow laws, for example, ensured that public facilities maintained the segregation of blacks as it was believed for them to be inferior to the white race including public restrooms, water fountains, parks, theaters, railways, schools and hospitals. The quality of the segregated facilities was, of course, inferior. (Pillai) The many symbols associated with minorities were viewed in a positive light by those superior because they helped to maintain the stability of their beliefs, the conformity and social order for which they sought. As the Civil Rights Movement went underway, the negative symbols associated with minority groups were challenged. As great strides were made to grant equality, the symbolic representation of blacks as inferior to whites slowly shifted thus causing a reform. Symbols that once ensured the segregation of minorities were no longer such. The Supreme Court’s ruling of segregation in schools as unconstitutional granted for equal education and â€Å"freedom rides† helped to desegregate interstate travel (Pillai). Employment discrimination and segregation of public facilities were eventually outlawed (â€Å"Civil Rights Movement†). Although many symbolic representations of how minorities were once subjectively viewed still resonate with many today, the Civil Rights Movement can be said to have challenged and restructured the symbolic representations of minorities thus impacting how we as human beings interact with one another. Prior to the Feminist Movement, many symbols represented the subjective opinions of women and therefore dictated how women were viewed and treated. Women have often been described as the weaker sex, passive, emotional, un-intellectual and dependent (Evans). They were expected to dress a certain way including little to no make-up, no pants and of course, nothing deemed overtly sexy. Women in the workforce were given positions of the clerical nature and often in factory assembly lines. They were viewed as meek and were expected at all times to be respectful, polite, refined and pleasant, never to engage in rowdy behavior or use profanity. (Freeman) Symbolically, women were expected to get married, raise children, cook, clean and maintain an orderly household. Again, the symbols associated with women were believed to be positive by those superior because they maintained the stability of their beliefs. Eventually, many women began to challenge the symbols associated with them including their traditional roles and they began re-thinking the meaning of womanhood which eventually led to the Feminist Movement which similar to the Civil Rights Movement, resulted in reform. New symbols associated with women began to emerge and offered a new subjective view reflecting equality and potential for greatness. Some of these symbols include more gender neutral clothing, the right to sexual expressiveness, diminished emphasis on the double standard and the right to hold jobs of equal pay (Evans). Although some sense of the belief of women as inferior to men still holds true today and can be seen in such concepts as ‘the glass ceiling’ effect, the Feminist Movement played an essential role in reforming the symbols and subjective meanings that are representative of women. When examining these two movements from the Functional Analysis perspective, one will see how many different facets to our society come together to comprise the overall structure, similar to how many different puzzle pieces come together to form the whole picture. Functional analysis looks at how the many different aspects of society are interdependent and together contribute to how society functions at large (Henslin). Examining from a smaller level, it becomes apparent that there were many facets to maintaining the segregation and oppression of minorities and women. Segregated schools systems were inferior in quality in terms of the education being provided to minorities thus resulting in the diminished growth of educational and mental development of black children. The jobs then made available to black men were often that of manual labor requiring limited intelligence. (Pillai) Women often times were educated in order to be groomed for positions such as clerical work and home economics thus unable to really attain higher education (Evans). This kept them working at lower rates and often times they were not up to the educational capacity required to hold higher positions. Religious oppression as well kept women in a role of inferiority often denying them roles in churches and synagogues which men believed were supported by biblical versus such as 1 Corinthians 14 34-45 which stated that women should be kept quiet in the church (Sink). Minorities and women followed suit for so long and did not challenge the status quo out of fear of repercussions. So, for quite some time, these many facets, all interrelated, served to keep the overall picture together and functioning quite well which was a good thing for those viewed as superior. Taken as a whole, if the belief were that minorities and women were inferior and should be kept that way, the many facets of our society such as school, the workplace and religion served to keep that overall vision intact for so long and it worked well to serve that overall belief. It was not until social reform brought about by the Civil Rights and Feminist Movements that those aspects of our society were forced to change in order to support the new vision that minorities, women and proponents of equal rights sought to create. The third perspective of sociology, known as Conflict Theory, is one that promotes social change. Conflict Theory suggests that anywhere inequality potentially exists, there will be competition for scarce resources, contributory to the ever-changing nature of society (Henslin). Interest in Conflict Theory appeared to arise during the 1960s perhaps due to this being a time of turbulent change. The Civil Rights and Feminist Movements were alive during this time. The social order that the ‘elite’ were attempting to force upon minorities and women were being considerably challenged and this evoked fear in those wanting to maintain control. During the Civil Rights Movements, as blacks sought to gain racial equality, desegregation and the right to vote, the ‘elite’ began to fear the loss of ownership of economic, political and social systems and as well feared non-whites gaining control over whites (â€Å"The Civil Rights Movement†). During the Feminist Movement, as women sought to gain empowerment, higher education, equal pay and a voice in government, the ‘elite’ began to fear the loss of job security and better pay as well as concern for who will maintain the household and care for children (Evans). Control over such scarce resources is the driving force in establishing and maintaining social order and just as conflict theory suggests, when inequality exists such as that experienced by minorities and women, there is bound to be conflict which is not only evident in the Civil Rights and Feminists Movements, however on-going and still evident in our society today. When examined from the three sociological perspectives of symbolic interactionism, functional analysis and conflict theory, the contributory factors and ultimate results of the Civil Rights and Feminist Movements can be identified and conceptualized. These two significantly impactful movements lend themselves to having an improved understanding of the many facets that have helped maintain certain aspects of how our society functions and also the many challenges and changes that our society have undergone. The growth and development of Western culture has been largely influenced by social reform including the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s and the Feminist Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. It seems safe to speculate that large groups of individuals will continue to come together to challenge prevailing ideas, defy conformity and advocate for great changes in beliefs, government policy and overall social reform. Works Cited â€Å"Civil Rights Movement†. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. n.d. 8 Dec. 2012. Evans, Sara. â€Å"Women’s Liberation Movement.† Research. Our Voice Our Country. 2009. Our Voice Our Country, Inc. 8 Dec. 2012 Freeman, Joy. â€Å"From Suffrage to Women’s Liberation: Feminism in Twentieth Century America†. Women: A Feminist’s Perspective. n.p. 1995. 8 Dec. 2012. Henslin, James. Essentials of Sociology A Down to Earth Approach. 9th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2011. Pillai, Prabhakar. â€Å"1960s Civil Rights Movement in America†. Buzzle. Buzzle. 2011. 8 Dec. 2012. Sink, Nancy. Women’s Liberation Movement. 1960s – 1980s Women’s Liberation Movement. Evans and Sink. 2008. Nova Online. 8 Dec. 2012

College Admissions Essay: Losing Preconceptions :: College Admissions Essays

Losing Preconceptions    I never wanted to go to London. My heart was set on studying in Jerusalem even before I came to college, but unfortunately the unrest in the region made it impossible for me to go. So I applied to London, and had no idea what lay ahead of me. After spending five incredible months in Europe, I realized that my preconceptions and initial disappointment could not have been more incorrect.    My experiences in Europe are too memorable and life changing than can be described in a simple essay for it is the small details that made my adventure so worthwhile. I remember Charles and Vanessa, the South Africans who ran the hotel I lived in across the street from Hyde Park. I remember trying to go on a different guided walk through London every week so as to learn about all parts of the city. I remember going to a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in which the crowd was completely English and nobody in the crowd stood or showed any emotion for the entire duration of the show.    My experiences were certainly not limited to my time in London. While in a beer hall in Munich, I met a young German police officer that has devoted his life to hunting down Neo-Nazis. In a single night, all my stereotypes about the German people were shattered. I can now say with authority that the best gelato in Italy is in a small fishing village called Corniglia, which is part of the Cinque Terre. However, the three hours of hiking previous may have helped the taste. I can also now say with authority that time seems to stand still while sitting on the park bench at the Park Guell in Barcelona, looking down on the city and the Mediterranean Sea below.    There are countless numbers of these experiences, but what they amount to is that not all learning comes in a classroom. While one can read about Roman civilization in a textbook, the history comes alive while walking through the Roman Forum. One can sit in a lecture about the royal history of England, but it is not the same as walking through the Tower of London.

OD Interventions Essay

  To have a visual study on an organization, one company was chosen as Interport Global Logistics Pvt. Ltd. The visit helped on to take a close look on the company’s various aspects. PROFILE One of the most professional solution providers in the logistics industry IGL has come a long way since its inception. Established in 1991 by current Chairman & Managing Director Mr. Sham Bendre mainly to cater to local transportation services IGL gradually expanded to encompass critical services like Warehousing, Stevedoring, Custom Broking, Forwarding, Project Cargo Handling, NVOCC, 3PL logistics and Export/Import consolidation. Today, IGL has established offices in major cities and ports in India with warehousing facilities and transport equipment to handle any cargo independently. The company also has access to major international ports through its branch offices. Continuing with its tradition of growth and excellence, IGL acquired freight forwarding NVOCC Company in May 2000, thus strengthening its core competencies. The Company is now a registered multimodal operator, operating under own Bill of Lading, IATA, FMC OTI License holder and Custom House Clearing Agent. IGL Bill of Lading is insured with the British Marine Luxembourg SA Marine & Transport Intermodal Cover. IGL is accredited with the prestigious ISO 9000:2000, ISO 14001:2004, ISO 18000:2007 Certification. MISSION Our mission is to provide economical and efficient logistic services to our clients helping their business to become more profitable and competitive in the global market place. IGL is one of the leading service providers for total logistics requirements in India. Our door-to-door services are available at load ports and discharge ports. VISION To provide professionally managed reliable â€Å"One Stop, Door-to-Door Global Logistics Solutions† with commitment, dedication and promise to maintain and enhance the quality of services at realistic costs.  values Customer Focus We listen and anticipate your needs We are easy to do business with We deliver on our commitment and strive to exceed expectation Ethics & Integrity We believe in being honest and truthful at all times We are committed to the training and development of our people We instill trust and loyalty from our suppliers Quality & Innovation We aim for total quality in all we do We are constantly innovating with new id eas and technology We have a policy of continuous review How can we help? We will take nothing for granted! We believe in providing a dedicated customer service manager who will become fully conversant with all your needs and who will work closely with you in identifying opportunities for further cost savings. We will adopt a consultative approach of listening to you in order to fully understand your business requirements before identifying the solution that is right for your business. Our services and pricing structure are based on innovation and on the fair and equitable assessment of the market. CORPORATE TEAM Well-experienced and qualified young executives ready to work round the clock and available for their clients. Operation executives posted at Ports/CFS are well versed with port and custom procedures. Our success is our TEAMWORK. The team comprises of seasoned professionals who are highly skilled in the field of communication, documentation, operations management, export packing, transportation, inventory/supply-chain management and project management. They value hard work, dedication and integrity in all tasks at hand. These qualities, combined with up-to-date knowledge of the past, current and potential logistic issues places the company in a best position to provide the client with the most successful logistics solutions in the Indian market. Our business associates around the world enable us to weave a global network that integrates with our promise to deliver your goods effectively on time every time. Our clientele includes a broad spectrum of personalities from the business world ranging from small exporters & importers to large Multinational Corporations moving major volumes of freight worldwide. ORGANIZATION CHART . FROM THE MANAGER’S DESK The managers have a very positive attitude towards the aim and welfare of the company, they share their thoughts – â€Å"Our employees are our biggest strength in delivering optimum solutions to our clients. † â€Å"Having entered the 20th year of operations, IGL has come a long way since its inception in 1991 and now regarded as one of the most professional logistics solution providers in the industry. We meet challenges head on with our unique professional skills, teamwork, hard work, resilience and innovative strategies while maintaining a positive attitude throughout and following the best practices. As a result we have positioned ourselves as an aggressive and dynamic â€Å"total logistics solutions door-to-door service provider† with a worldwide coverage. While budgetary planning and cost control has always been paramount to modern business management, many important business decisions need to be assessed and analysed in terms of logistics. Therefore, our mission has always been to provide economical and efficient total logistics services to our clients to enable them to make their products more profitable and competitive in the fiercely competitive global market place. We will continue to play to our strengths and work with you to ensure that we continue to serve our clients innovatively and effectively to build long-term relationships. And, finally, we want our investors to be secure in the knowledge that their investment is in a sound company that adheres to the highest levels of financial and corporate governance and delivers a reasonable rate of return on capital employed. † OUR PRINCIPLES INDEPENDENCE: IGL is a closely held, independent organization that bases its code of conduct on the traditional values of an Indian family. In setting our aims and ambitions for the future, the managing team at IGL believes that mutual trust must exist between our clients, staff and partners to ensure success. It is with this concept that the people at the helm feel assured of having established stable, sound foundation for the future. EQUALITY: To achieve its ambitions, the Company has determined that equality in all respects must prevail throughout the company so that staff, our most important asset, can act freely with confidence in their own ability. RESPONSIBILITY: The purpose of our group is for planned, sustained growth within the accepted parameters of ethical business resulting in a long-term relationship with our clients and the well being of our staff and partners. CORE SERVICES Freight Forwarding IGL has a well-established global freight and trade network, offering a single-source solution to manage and transport freight. With an extensive team of experts supervising operations, IGL offers the best-fit customized solutions with its unparalleled access to a vast agent network of air, ocean, rail or road transport facilities. All of which provides its customers with faster and wider access to vital markets globally. What’s more is that, with the large volumes it handles, IGL is also able to offer to customers extremely competitive freight rates across multiple locations. Our Unique Selling Prepositions are: Single Negotiable Documents. Our own Custom Clearance License register in all ports, ICD’s and airports. Door-to-Door Service to any worldwide destination. Ability to offer customized solutions based on individual customer requirements. Range of services that cover every aspect of supply chain solution. Wide international network of partners to expedite cargo movement. Excellent relationships with shipping lines to achieve priority shipping. Documentation Support System. Presence in co-related activities by partner companies, i. e. Shipping, Warehousing, Custom Clearance, Project Forwarding. 24Ãâ€"7 IVRS, on line Cargo Tracking System and SMS service Domestic and International Moving Services The movement household item is fundamental to the relocation process. Integrating the move into a total relocation package can help to reduce overall costs through savings on temporary living and storage arrangements. IGL consultants will work with you to design a complete door-to-door moving service to support you and your relocating employees. IGL ‘s professional moving consultants, packing crews and move managers will handhold your relocating employees through the move process to ensure that all logistical considerations are planned to perfection to ensure a successful and smooth relocation. IGL will arrange for all freight and transportation of household goods. IGL will help arrange for all necessary paperwork and customs documentation to fully prepare the household goods move for shipping. The IGL move manager will provide advice on any customs restrictions as part of the international move. The aim of the service is to provide a level of care that ensures your relocating employees and their household items arrive safely at their new location on time. Our Professional Moving services include: Pre-Move Survey and consultation Export/ Import Documentation support Professional packing of household goods in the home Transportation of household goods Customs clearance Delivery of household goods at destination Comprehensive All Risks Transit Protection NETWORK INTERNATIONAL INDIA

Euthanasia Is A Medical Act Of A Physician Or Any Other...

Euthanasia is defined as the act of a physician or any other person intentionally killing a person by the administration of drugs, at that person’s voluntary and competent request. It is a ‘mercy killing’ which means to take a deliberate action aimed at ending a life to relieve intractable suffering or persisted pain. (Emanuel et al) Euthanasia could also be interpreted as the practice of ending a life painlessly. Euthanasia is technical description of the act regarding the process that is usually used. Euthanasia usually involves the injection of a barbiturate to induce coma. An injection of a neuromuscular relaxant is then administered to prevent respiration thus making the patient succumb to their aliment. From a philosophical point of view, euthanasia makes human life a means to ends suffering since human life has to be forfeited in the act of euthanasia to end suffering. From the medical point of view, euthanasia is a medical act whereby a person is injected with lethal drugs. It is not a medical treatment or therapy, the core intention of the physician is to alleviate and cure, but not to end life (Chell, 2014). Assisted suicide on the other hand is defined as the act of a person intentionally helping another person to end his or her life at that person’s voluntary and competed request. For assisted suicide, the authority of action lies with the person who wants to end his or her life unlike in euthanasia where the authority lies with the person administering theShow MoreRelated Euthanasia Essay1459 Words   |  6 Pages When a person commits an act of euthanasia, he/she brings about the death of another person because he/she believes that the latter’s present existence is so bad that he/she would be better off dead. The word euthanasia originated from the Greek language: eu means â€Å"good† and thanatos means â€Å"death†. 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