How Does Locality Affect The Type And Amount Of Support...

SOCIAL SURVEY TOPIC QUESTION How does locality affect the type and amount of support for people with disability? The topic for this social research assignment is focused on rural, regional and city based people with disabilities. For this paper a disability is defined as a mental or physical impairment that affects a person’s ability to complete day to day tasks. Quantitative research methods will be critically evaluated and explored throughout this paper on the topic of ‘how locality affects the type and amount of support for people with disability’. The aim is to critique and evaluate the quantitative method as the primary means for collecting data relating to the patterns and trends surrounding this social issue. The interest in this topic has been generated by a personal disability and the amount of support received. Therefore, this research will endeavour to understand if and why there is funding gap between areas of Australia. This will be done by seeing if there is a correlation between, age, area, socio- economic status and severity of disability through targeting a quantitative survey towards a population of disabled people and those who work with the disabled. It is important to understand if there is a gap between the amount and type of services provided through a sociological point of view so that the gap in the services provided between different areas of the state can, if possible, be closed. According to Wark, S, Hussain, R, Edwards, H (2013) those thatShow MoreRelatedMs Lou1635 Words   |  7 Pagesarea of safeguarding individuals from abuse. It identifies different types of abuse and the signs and symptoms that might indicate abuse is occurring. It considers when individuals might be particularly vulnerable to abuse and what a learner must do if abuse is suspected or alleged. Learning Outcomes The learner will: 1 Know how to recognise signs of abuse Assessment Criteria The learner can: 1.1 Define the following types of abuse: ï‚ · Physical abuse ï‚ · Sexual abuse ï‚ · Emotional/psychological abuseRead MoreEssay about Understanding Specific Needs in Health and Social Care3749 Words   |  15 PagesIn this essay I will analyse the concepts of health, disability, illness and behaviour in relation to users of health and social care services. I will take a look into how perceptions of specific needs have changed of time. I will also include the impact of legislation, social policy society and culture on the ways that services are made available to individuals with specific needs. This will include me analysing the needs of individuals with specific needs, explain the current system for supportingRead MoreStricter Strict Regulations For Tobacco Control Essay1935 Words   |  8 PagesThe need to enforce stricter regulations for tobacco control by local communities and individual states is the health policy issue being analyz ed. According to The Healthy People (2010) tobacco use and the availability of its products are harmful to our population in various ways, ranked as one of the top ten leading indicators for health concern. The addictive nature of tobacco has created a high demand for their products, boosting the tobacco industry s profits tremendously, and states gainingRead MoreUnit 7 Pass 1- Explain the Principle Sociological Perspectives2768 Words   |  12 Pagesdefines sociology as being ‘how society is organized and how we experience life’. It looks at the different societies, the groups within these, and how they all interact. Society is organised into various different social institutions, which can be built like building block to make our society; families, the education system, the legal system, the healthcare services etc. Social institutions function accordingly with customs, rules and regulations. A family is a group of people who are related to oneRead MoreUnit 2043853 Words   |  16 PagesUnit 204 Principles of safeguarding and protection in health and social care Learning outcomes and assessment criteria Outcome how to recognise signs of abuse Define the following types of abuse: Physical abuse is an act  of another party involving contact intended to cause feelings of physical pain, injury, or other physical suffering or  bodily harm including hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, or  inappropriate sanctions Sexual abuse  is a  statutory offense that provides that it is a  crimeRead More4222-305 Understand Positive Risk Taking for Individuals with Disabilities (Ld 305)7686 Words   |  31 Pages4222-305 Understand positive risk taking for individuals with disabilities (LD 305) 1. Understand that individuals with disabilities have the same right as everyone else to take risks 1.2 Explain why, traditionally, people with disabilities have been discouraged or prevented from taking risks. In Social Care there is an accountability for the welfare of the individual, whether they are being cared for or enabled to be independent. The enabler has responsibility for the individual, and the CompanyRead MorePhysically Challenged6701 Words   |  27 Pagespersons are of two types. (i) Physically handicapped (ii) Mentally ill. The condition of disability may arise by birth or in accident. Polio, blindness, deafness, dumbness and mental illness may occur by birth or by other incidents or due to ill health. Handicappedness is measured by medical persons in various degrees while they give certificate to the handicapped person. It is estimated that about twelve millions Indians about 1.8 per cent of Indian population have at least one disability or the otherRead MoreEssay on Err Workbook4847 Words   |  20 Pagesany particular order. However, some aspects of the ERR requirements should be completed within three months of starting the apprenticeship to ensure that apprentices are safe to take on the appropriate level of responsibility for the pupils they support. These include, as a minimum, safeguarding, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality. Apprenticeship programmes, therefore, should be carefully planned to ensure coverage of these areas within the first few months. Planning ERRRead MoreThe Information Behavior Of The Elderly6585 Words   |  27 Pagesthe elderly Although many seniors develop new hobbies, participate in community service activities, or even embark on new careers, others are stunted by declining health. Physical and cognitive disabilities can greatly influence the information seeking behaviors of senior citizens. Physical disabilities such as vision impairment and decreases in mobility and manual dexterity limit access to information as well as entire information resources. It is alleged that nearly two-thirds of the legallyRead MoreA Resident Of The United States Of America Essay5193 Words   |  21 Pagesvery difficult to accomplish. Roberto has a disadvantage on his part already since he crossed the border, making his situation more complexed for him to become a resident due to him violating the law. His aspirations are difficult to achieve since he does not have immediate family members that are United States citizen, therefore it is difficult for him to become a United States resident in a fast manner. An alternative t hat may help Roberto become a resident would be if his aunt Celia would file an

What Is The American Dream - 1407 Words

What is the American Dream? If you ask anyone they will provide you with all types of answers, from making a successful life for one to wishing and hoping that America changes and grows as a whole. Personally I believe that the American Dream is the idea that was put in my head as a small child by parents and the other adults around. For me, this was the motion that in the beginning it’s as simple as going to school and make A’s so that I can be accepted into a good college, and then you must work even harder to graduate college in a timely fashion, all of the sudden that that small dream parents had turns into a rather large personal dream and a drive, have to push yourself to meet all of these goals have set to achieve in life, but those goals have to be met in a certain order and time frame that is seen as â€Å"correct† to your family and society. Additionally, the dream is the hope that you will accomplish abundant things with those goals and become successf ul and well-off, all in an adult lifetime. My definition is that the American Dream is just a set of rules that a person is told and trained to follow in the early years of life. One of the first things that I remember being taught as a child is work hard, nothing worth having will be handed to you. That is a huge part of the American dream because if you are not working hard to achieve your goals you will not accomplish anything in your lifetime. The harder a person works the higher up they go with jobs, income,Show MoreRelatedWhat Is The Dream In The American Dream858 Words   |  4 PagesThe Dream in Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men is a novel written by John Steinbeck. The book tells a story of how two opposite individuals, George and Lennie cope with their problems as they travel around California in search of ranch work. Throughout the story Steinbeck displays realism. This category of literature is where the author does not sugar coat life. Steinbeck does not â€Å"romanticize the natural world or human nature† (Curry). In doing so in this type of reality many people have a â€Å"dream†Read MoreWhat Is The American Dream?942 Words   |  4 PagesIf asked the question, â€Å" What is the American Dream?†, many people would have a variety of answers. It may depend on many factors including, how one has been raised, their age, socioeconomic factors, and ethnicity. There have been so many changes in our country over the years from the 1900’s until now including wars, racial beliefs and family structures which led to an array of definitions of the American Dream. An A merican Dream can be different for each person. It can be about many factors as weRead MoreWhat Is The American Dream?895 Words   |  4 PagesSince the very first steps taken on American soil, people have dreamt of pursuing the American dream. What is the American dream? Many people believe that the American dream can’t be defined in one simple sentence. To some people the American dream means getting a new car and to others a new home, but for many Americans it has a deeper meaning. As we have seen, equality has been a struggle from the beginning; but it has led to the liberty within the country. The accomplishments that have been madeRead MoreWhat Is The American Dream?1094 Words   |  5 PagesMost Americans are unsatisfied with their lives. So many people live their lives discontented with where they are in life. They are discontented with their status in society, the money they make, goals they have yet to achieve, their profession, how they didn’t complete their schooling, and the list unfortunately goes on. We as Americans have a large advantage in comparison to most societies within the world, we have the freedom to live the American dream. What is the American dream? The DeclarationRead MoreWhat Does It Mean For The American Dream?864 Words   |  4 PagesWhat does it mean to be an American dream? It is a hope of the American people that everyone has a same opportunity to achieve a success through their resolution, originality, and hard-working. Hundreds and hundred years, millions of people all over the world come to America to search and prove the true of an American dream. Unfortunately, in fact, everybody has different opportunities and obstacles to achieve their dream relate to gender, and especially class. Firstly, a gender is an importantRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article Whats Up With The American Dream 994 Words   |  4 PagesWhat does the american dream mean to you? â€Å"The American dream, to me, means having the opportunity to achieve, because I don t think you should be guaranteed anything other than opportunity† (Leny Wilkens). The Article â€Å"Whats up with the American Dream† is all about how the American Dream is changing. It s transitioning from going to school, working hard, and advancing in your career to being handed a job through the connections you have. The thesis in this article is â€Å"We go to school, studyRead MoreWhat Is The Theme Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby1508 Words   |  7 PagesGatsby†, F. Scott Fitzgerald suggests that the American Dream is illusory and can never be fulfilled. He suggests this concept through Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway, Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan, and Myrtle Wilson. When these people try to purse this unfulfilling dream, only sadness and failure is left for them to feel. In the 1920’s, everyone was following a never ending train of disappointment and failure know as the American Dream. The American Dream was the belief that through hard work, determinationRead MoreWhat Is John Steinbecks Theme Of The American Dream831 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Steinbeck describes a world where the American Dream was a wonderful dream to live but very difficult to live because of the challenges. In the 1930s, the Great Depression was occurring and it was horrible. During this time it was very disturbing how many people were living because they could not afford anything. The American dream was honesty not very achievable during this time period. Many people John Steinbeck reveals the reality of the 1930s in his novel. Steinbeck’s purpose in writingRead MoreThe American Dream Is What Most People Hope For. People1684 Words   |  7 PagesThe American dream is what most people hope for. People migrate to the U.S. wanting to have a better life and people w ho live in the U.S hope to have a prosperous life. The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle shows two different couples trying to achieve the American dream and the things that they face to try and get the dream. Reading this you learn that there are many tribulations that people go through in trying to accomplish the American dream. This book enables the audience to view both perspectivesRead MoreLiving The American Dream : What Do You Think?1889 Words   |  8 PagesWhen you hear about living the American dream, what do you think? Is the American dream the ability to go to school wherever you want and accomplish everything you’ve ever wanted to do with a little hard work and elbow grease? America is moving into a modern technological age, removing jobs from American workers and having a large effect on what American factory work is currently based on. The assembly line is a unique concept that gives each employee a certain category or task that they are required

Correlation between Oil and Gold Prices and the US Dollar Free Essays

Correlation between Oil Gold prices and US dollar The History The forex exchange market is one of the largest and most liquid securities exchanges in the world with over $3. 2 trillion in average daily turnover. This equates to 10 times the average daily turnover of global equity markets and 35 times the average daily turnover of the New York Stock Exchange. We will write a custom essay sample on Correlation between Oil and Gold Prices and the US Dollar or any similar topic only for you Order Now The forex market is open 24 hours a day, 6 days a week, with the EUR/USD accounting for 27% of total turnover. There is plenty of opportunity to make and lose money in currency exchange. The gold standard era in the U. S. officially began with the passing of the Gold Standard Act in 1900. But it was not until World War II that brought about the need for a worldwide standard for currency values and exchange rates. The Bretton Woods Agreement in 1944 established two very important international institutions: the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (now the World Bank). What came from this agreement was that all the world’s currencies would be pegged against the value of gold, and with the U. S. dollar on the gold standard, the U. S. dollar effectively became the world’s reserve currency. The value of gold was fixed at $35 per ounce until the gold standard was effectively withdrawn in 1971 as President Nixon ordered an end to the out-dated system and the price of gold was allowed to â€Å"float†. Now, every major currency is no longer on the gold standard but rather is referred to as â€Å"fiat† currency. This basically means that a country’s own currency is intrinsically worthless because it is not backed by any type of reserve, such as gold. The value each currency is therefore based citizen’s perception of their economy, supply and demand for money in general, and how their currency is compared to other country’s currency. Something to think about though is 40 years ago, the world’s currencies used to be pegged against the price of gold and ultimately the Dollar. Now it would not be a stretch to say that global currency is on an Oil Standard. From 1944 until 1971, US dollars were convertible into gold by central banks in order to adjust for any trade imbalances between countries. Up to that point, the price of gold was fixed at US$35 per ounce, and the price of oil was relatively stable at about US$3. 00 per barrel. Once the US ceased gold convertibility in 1971, OPEC producers were forced to convert their excess US dollars by purchasing gold in the marketplace. This resulted in price increases for both oil and gold, until eventually oil reached US$40 per barrel and gold reached US$850 per ounce. In 1975 when the U. S. Government made a deal with Saudi Arabia and OPEC to only trade oil in U. S. Dollars, their â€Å"partnership† effectively gave the USD a monopoly over all other currencies when it comes to oil trading. The US has enjoyed inexpensive oil-based energy for nearly a century, and this is one of the prime factors behind the unprecedented prosperity of its economy in the 20th century. While the US accounts for only 5 percent of the world’s population, it consumes 25 percent of the world’s fossil fuel-based energy. It imports about 75 percent of its oil, but owns only 2 percent of world reserves. Because of this dependency on both oil and foreign suppliers, any increases in price or supply disruptions will negatively impact the US economy to a greater degree than any other nation. The majority of oil reserves are located in politically unstable regions, with tensions in the Middle East, Venezuela and Nigeria likely to intensify rather than to abate. Because of frequent terrorist attacks, Iraqi oil production is subject to disruption, while the risk of political problems in Saudi Arabia grows. The timing for these risks is uncertain and hard to quantify, but the implications of Peak Oil are predictable and quantifiable, and the effects will be more far-reaching than simply a rising oil price. In the early 1950s, M. King Hubbert, one of the leading geophysicists of the time, developed a predictive model showing that all oil reserves follow a pattern called Hubbert’s Curve, which runs from discovery through to depletion. In any given oil field, as more wells are drilled and as newer and better technology is installed, production initially increases. Eventually, however, regardless of new wells and new technology, a peak output is reached. After this peak is reached, oil production not only begins to decline, but also becomes less cost effective. In fact, at some point in this decline, the energy it takes to extract, transport and refine barrel of oil exceeds the energy contained in that barrel of oil. When that point is reached, extraction of oil is no longer feasible and the reserve is abandoned. In the early years of the 20th century, in the largest oil fields, it was possible to recover 50 barrels of oil for each barrel used in the extraction, transportation and refining process. Today that 50-to-1 ratio has declined to 5-to-1 or less. And it continues to decline. The Correlation between Oil Gold Is there a strong correlation between the prices of gold and oil? It depends on which data are  used to measure. Many price movement studies suggest that the correlation between the two commodity prices over time is quite strong. Typically, these studies rely on data covering extensive periods of time and show that when oil increases in price, gold will inevitably follow. On the other hand, there are correlations calculated from data that show a weak relationship between the two prices. The data in these cases usually cover periods as short as years or months. â€Å"From 1965 to 1994, the monthly correlation between gold and oil weighed in at a  very  impressive +0. 879. From 1995 to 2000, however, this correlation seemingly vanished with a negative 0. 133 reading,† according to a May 2004 article by Zeal LLC. â€Å"Since 2000 though, the historical oil and gold correlation has been restored, now again running positive at +0. 715. †Ã‚  It would seem that gold may be well correlated with oil in the long term, but it is not necessarily so in the short term. While oil prices have exploded and gold prices have shown marked appreciation, protagonists of a tight long-term correlation between the two evoke previous historical price movements such as those in last half of the 1970s. From the mid-1970s to 1980, oil prices rose from around $20 USD per barrel to  more than  $100 USD per barrel in 2008 dollars. Gold followed along and roughly quadrupled in price during that same time period. [pic] The long-term chart above is also very valuable to help visualize just how closely gold and oil prices tend to correlate over strategic time frames. If one looks at major secular trends measured in years, gold and oil pretty much move in lockstep. Yes, they deviate tactically over shorter periods of time as their respective supply-and-demand influences dictate, but over the long run they travel the same path. Their prices tend to oscillate around each other and periodically cross on this chart. Over the entire four-decade span of time charted on this graph, these monthly gold and oil prices have a correlation coefficient of 0. 835 and an R-Square value of 69. 7%. These are very impressive numbers over such a long period of time and really drive home just how closely gold and oil are intertwined. If one focuses his attention on the far right side of this graph, however, a glaring anomaly becomes instantly apparent. Since oil bottomed near $11 in December 1998 ($13 in 2004 dollars) it has surged up dramatically in several subsequent uplegs achieving a mammoth 312% bull-to-date gain. But over the same period of time gold has lagged dramatically, only rallying by 39% or so in nominal terms. So far the gold price has not been able to even attempt to retain parity with oil in recent years. Now the only other similar time in history when oil was strong and gold lagged was in the late 1970s. As this chart reveals, for years gold lagged oil but when it finally did decide to catch up it powered higher with a vengeance. Gold, Oil and Dollar Relationship The answer to this question begins with the historical desire of Arab producers to receive gold in exchange for their oil. This dates back to 1933 when King Ibn Saud demanded payment in gold for the original oil concession in Saudi Arabia. In addition, Islamic law forbids the use of a promise of payment, such as the US dollar, as a medium of exchange. There is growing dissention among religious fundamentalists in Saudi Arabia regarding the exchange of oil for US dollars. Oil, gold and commodities have all been priced in US dollars since 1975 when OPEC officially agreed to sell its oil exclusively for US dollars. Today, apart from geopolitical threats in oil-producing regions, supply/demand imbalances from Peak Oil and increasing demand from developing countries, the price of both gold and oil can be expected to increase as the US dollar declines. With an ever-increasing US money supply, growing triple deficits and mounting debt at all levels, the US dollar is likely to continue the decline that began in 2001. Long term trend analysis shows negative correlation between gold prices and the value of dollar but gold price does not increase proportionately to the diminishing dollar. Market is not so simple that every down-day for the dollar corresponds to an up-day for gold and every up-day for dollar correspond to down day for gold. The effect may not be immediate and the lagging can sometime be attributed to the information gap and time lag which an individual wastes in doldrums not being able how to react to the changes. Daily and weekly fluctuations are not important at all as they don’t give analyst any idea of clear cut trend and interrelationship between them. Inflationary 1970’s saw soaring of gold above $800 while dollar fell. Dollar bounced back in 1980 and rallied before peaking in 1985, while concurrently gold peaked in 1980 and dropped all the way down to $300 during the same 5 years that dollar rallied. The Future of Gold, Oil and Dollar The word â€Å"recession† has been hurled around the biggest financial capitals in the world from New York to London to Tokyo, and no one really wants to be the one to drop the bomb. While all the experts and economists around the world want to debate who is or is not in a recession right now, it is pointless and frankly useless information. The incessant chaos and obvious current state of the global economy is clear cut enough that the world is facing major hurdles in moving forward with our economies. The fact of the matter is, all the major economies are hurting badly and answers are becoming more infrequent and costly as time continues. Amongst a multitude of important topics to discuss in relation to a worldwide recession, the currency markets are a great source of risk and sometimes guaranteed investing opportunities no matter how unpredictable the world’s stock markets are trading. It’s quite clear that over the past six months, the Euro was the place to be if one wanted to lose a lot of money. Sure it was trading at all-time highs versus the Dollar back in May, but with the U. S. slashing interest rates, the Euro has given all of those wonderful gains back and then some, to the tune of 2 year lows. It seemed that an even one-to-one exchange rate was the next stop for the EUR/USD, until the past 10 days when bad went to worse. As bellwether, blue-chip companies continue to fold across the U. S. the only solution the world can come up with is to give them all the money they need to stay alive and skip out on the much publicized Chapter 11. The average U. S. consumer simply cannot handle reality in times of massive financial distress and force the government to hold their hand through this horror movie that is the year 2008. With government money flooding the economy and interest rates on their way to 0% and beyond in the U. S. , inflation is on the brink of exploding and no one is going to want to be anywhere close to a U. S. Dollar. [pic] Oil Relief Rising crude oil prices over the last two years and the general rush to commodities has been a major roadblock for the U. S. Dollar. As discussed above, there has generally been a negative relationship between crude oil prices and the value of the U. S. Dollar. It is no coincidence that as oil prices peaked in May, the Dollar was at all-time lows versus the Euro, and conversely as oil prices have shed over 60% in value since then, the Dollar has rallied against most major currencies. Something that has been a very debatable topic is how crude oil prices have fluctuated so wildly in the past 12 months and the role of speculators in the commodities market. With oil prices falling this year primarily on falling consumption and increasing reserves, how countries like the U. S. and China react to the recent economic turmoil will determine the fate of crude oil prices going through 2009. The recession affecting all the major economies will remain dire without substantial relief in sight in the near future. Provided speculators do not drive the prices up and the recent terrorist attacks in India fail to spread panic in the Middle East, crude prices will remain modest and will not have a major effect on the U. S. Dollar. Nonetheless, if there happens to be a large run-up in oil prices back towards the $100 mark, the Dollar will be back on the defensive. As far as gold is concerned, with such a huge demand for gold coming from around the world, it is no wonder that the price is projected to reach an almost unbelievable $1000 per ounce. One of the biggest importers of gold is China, constituting a large chunk of the price hike. Most of the gold usage is jewellery related. Supply is also a factor. With such a high demand, gold is becoming scarcer. Miners are searching for new sources to combat the possible shortage. The Federal Reserve has a lot of control over the value of the dollar. When it raises interest rates, usually the value of the dollar goes up. Now, with the Fed lowering interest rates in hopes of promoting trade between banks, the value of the dollar is going down and so, the value of gold is going up. How to cite Correlation between Oil and Gold Prices and the US Dollar, Papers

Formula One Singtel Singapore Grand Prix -Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Formula One Singtel Singapore Grand Prix? Answer: Introducation The tourism landscape of Singapore has undergone a significant transformation during recent times. Several international events like Formula One Singtel Singapore Grand Prinx (Since 2008) along with new tourism platter like Integrated Resorts (IRs) have cemented the position of Singapore as one of the top tourisms destination round the world (Lee 2012). Singapore, a small island is majorly inclined on international tourists than that of domestic tourisms to earn their major economy. The number of tourists who are paying a visit to Singapore annually and the amount of money they spend on shopping and availing the services are extremely sensitive to external factors and events (Henderson 2012). The mirroring trends of tourism in Singapore showed that amount of visitors arrival in Singapore rose in during 2007 and 2008 and this lead to the increase in Gross Domestic Profit (GDP) by 3% ($8.0 billion) (Lee 2012). However, by the end of 2008, due to global financial crisis, this GDP experi enced a steep drop of 19% ($6.5 billion or 2.4% of nominal GDP). However, during the first three quarters of 2010, GDP experienced a steep increase by 3.5% of the nominal GDP. This increase in GDP is attributed to tourist expenditure like accommodation, cuisines and shopping (Lee 2012). Keeping these economic benefits in mind, government of Singapore started investing on the tourism department. The lead to the foundation of theme park, gaming zones to the Singapores tourism landscape. All these not only contributed to increase in the GDP but also lead the 111,500 new jobs and this amounts to 3.5% of total employment in Singapore (Tsai 2012). According to the latest report (2017) of Singapore Tourism Board (STB), during 2016, the visitors footfall increased by 7.75 to 16.4 million while the tourism receipts increased even higher, reaching the notch of 13.9% to $24.8 billion. This strong tourism receipt came from visitors investment on food, beverages, shopping and accommodation. According to the chief executive of STB, Mr. Lionel Yeo, "We are heartened by the strong tourism sector performance in 2016. Despite challenges such as weaker economic performance in some of Singapore's top source markets and a Zika virus outbreak, Singapore has managed to attract more quality visitors to contribute to economic growth." (Singapore Tourism Board 2016) Some of the significant investment by government in the tourism sector of Singapore include: Singapore Flyer (2008) and Singapore IR (integrated resorts). These two notable investments increased the attractiveness of Singapore in the global scenario with high tourist yield. In addition to diversify tourism offerings of Singapore, efforts have also been undertaken to expand the capacities of existing tourism set-up. For example, Singapores second cruise terminal at Marina South enhanced the ability of Singapore to give a tough competition to the global cruise industry. Efforts have also been given in the field of developing tourism software in order to enhance the tourism experience in Singapore. In the year 2008, Singapore launched the first ISP 25639 standard for the global exhibition industry under the collaboration of SPRING Singapore, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Singapore Association of Convection and Exhibition Organisers (SACEOS) (Chang 2014). Government also took initiat ives to increase the Singapore visibility in the world map under the Tourism plan 2015. STB further attracted and inaugurated a chain of iconic events in order to showcase Singapore as a prime destination for foreign visitors like Asia Fashion Exchange, The Formula One Singtel Singapore Grand Prix and The World Gourmet Summit (Lee Yi Chen and Ng 2012). In 2016, STB further took some revolutionary steps in order to increase the demand of Singapore as a tourist spot in the global market and thereby increasing the revenue for this island. In order to target international tourist, mostly from China, STB extended its hand to garland the digital partnership with China. This digital marketing campaign with Tuniu and Ctrip helped Singapore to promote longer mono-Singapore package that enabled Chinese citizens to enjoy Singapore in diverse ways. STB also enabled easy access on numerous digital platform of China like WeChat, Tencent, Mafengwo and Dianping. STB also support 52 technology-related projects via Business Improveent Fund and the Experience step-up Fund. This helped the stakeholders to use the technology to improve their productivity in business-to-business (B2B) collaboration and this further enhanced visitors experience. STB also took initiative to promote Hotel Industry Transformation Map along with vibrant tourism. Some of the examples of vibrant tourism initiatives include permanent digital art gallery, HSBC World Rugby Seven Series and Future World at ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands (Singapore Tourism Board 2016). According to STB, in 2017-2018 outlook, political and economic uncertainties will persist along with increase in regional competition for tourism dollars. Nevertheless, Singapore will gain from the projected tourism growth coming from the Asia-Pacific region (Singapore Tourism Board 2016). Singapore Tourism Board (STB), is the main destination management organisation (DMO) for tourism (Singapore Tourism Board 2017). It has four different division namely tourism, corporate service, tourism marketing, regional marketing and tourism business. All these divisions are included under the ministry of industry and trade. Tourist promotion is the main role of STB. However, STB is also engaged in economic development of tourism industry in Singapore. The principal aim of Singapore is to make tourism the main economic pillar of the country via implementation of the well-thought out strategy in collaboration with private and public sector stakeholders. STB also strives for innovative and exciting experience for the visitors in close partnership with medium and large enterprises. The prime focus area of STB is uplifting the position of Singapore as one of the leading exhibition cities in Asia while developing Singapore as the leading leisure destination in Asia. The main function o f management of STB includes promotion and development of Singapore as an exciting tourist destination via giving effective advice to government in regards to tourism promotion. STB also encourage investments in tourism infrastructure while developing innovative tourism product and destination marketing campaign (Singapore Tourism Board 2017). STB, DMO of Singapore is aware of total system definition of the island as a tourist destination since its destination and this is quite evident from the dynamic tourism policies of Singapore. The tourism management of Singapore has undergone an assorted change over decade and present tourism strategies are dependent on three pillars namely uplifting its position as - leading convection and exhibition city in Asia with firm and flexible business environment, dominating Asian leisure destination and the service centre of Asia (Singapore Tourism Board 2017). Under the brand and marketing strategy, STB has deployed the brand Uniquely Singapore to represent the unique identity of the country which has now evolved as yoursingapore (Singapore Tourism Board 2017). STB has also taken initiatives to communicate the brand image to all overseas and domestic stakeholders along with the political travellers. Singapore has also recognised the potential value of Singapore as a brand and has accordingly solved the matter via implementing professional marketing strategies. It also utilises potential mega events in order to promote the brand and attract international tourist like staging formulae one race and youth Olympic (Singapore Tourism Board 2017). In order to promote brand Singapore as a tourist destination in the virtual world, STB has taken initiatives via disseminating broachers, media advertisements and other online initiatives. For instance, it has promoted Sir Stamford Raffles Statue, People of the River sculptures along with Merlion statut e at Merlion Park as famous photo clicking destination. In order to project Singapore as an approachable destination among the political dignitaries, STB has announced to organise Rotary International Convection on 2024 and this would be one of the largest associations Congress till date (Singapore Tourism Board 2017). In order to transform and promote the hotel industry, STB has come forward to take new initiatives. Under the banner of Hotel Industry Transformation Map, STB introduced four key strategies namely building new business model based in man-power, growing business via internationalization and strong quality pipeline talent and innovation through developing new solutions. This new initiative has led to the 15 awarded solutions along with agreement of 30 new participating hotels to pilot these solutions. 3-year hotel careers campaign increase new job opportunity in the field of hotel management and abroad and this lead to fresh infiltration of multiple young aspiring blood in to Singapore tourism business, paving the way for new development. STB has also host Open Hotel Weekends, it was an open house event in which 22 hotels participated for over 2 week in October 2017 and this fresh participation opened channels for new investment in hotel industry in Singapore from few of the notable ho tel tycoons. STB has also taken new initiatives to transform the travel agents operating in Singapore. The Business Information Playbook served as a resource for the travel agents who are planning to adopt new business model based on the tourism footfall in Singapore. In order to further support the travel agents, STB has also led to the foundation of an online portal for sharing of information. STB has also proposed new plan, green lane, for funding and approval of the travel agents willing to invest in Singapore tourism (Singapore Tourism Board 2017). Thus overall, STB is the main public sector body operating as DMO in Singapore. Its contribution towards Singapore tourism is unparalleled as it projects Singapore as one of the global tourist destination via bringing in effective collaboration from hotels, travel agents, business tycoons and international tourists. References Chang, I.Y., 2014. Critical success factors for international travel fairs, using the Taipei International Travel Fair as an example.Acta Oeconomica,64(Supplement 2), pp.165-176. Henderson, J.C., 2012. Planning for Success: Singapore, the Model City-State?.Journal of International Affairs, pp.69-83. Lee Yi Chen, L. and Ng, W.K., 2012. Formula One Singtel Singapore Grand Prix and the City. In6th Conference of the International Forum on Urbanism (IFoU): TOURBANISM, Barcelona, 25-27 gener(pp. 1-10). International Forum on Urbanism. Lee, C.G., 2012. Tourism, trade, and income: Evidence from Singapore.Anatolia,23(3), pp.348-358. Singapore Tourism Board., 2017.New Initiatives To Advance Transformation across Hotel Industry. [online] Available at: https://www.stb.gov.sg/news-and-publications/lists/newsroom/dispform.aspx?ID=734 [Accessed 21 Jan. 2018]. Singapore Tourism Board., 2017.New Initiatives To Help Travel Agents Transform. [online] Available at: https://www.stb.gov.sg/news-and-publications/lists/newsroom/dispform.aspx?ID=733 [Accessed 21 Jan. 2018]. Singapore Tourism Board., 2017.Singapore Set to Host Rotary International Convention 2024, its Largest Association Congress to Date. [online] Available at: https://www.stb.gov.sg/news-and-publications/lists/newsroom/dispform.aspx?ID=735 [Accessed 21 Jan. 2018]. Singapore Tourism Board., 2017.Sir Stamford Raffles Statue and the People of The River sculptures to undergo routine cleaning from 25-26 January 2018. [online] Available at: https://www.stb.gov.sg/news-and-publications/lists/newsroom/dispform.aspx?ID=738 [Accessed 21 Jan. 2018]. Stb.gov.sg. 2016.Singapore Achieves Record Tourism Sector Performance in 2016. [online] Available at: https://www.stb.gov.sg/news-and-publications/lists/newsroom/dispform.aspx?ID=696 [Accessed 21 Jan. 2018]. Tsai, S.P., 2012. Place attachment and tourism marketing: Investigating international tourists in Singapore.International Journal of Tourism Research,14(2), pp.139-152.

Social Work and Social Problems free essay sample

One mark of your skill as a Macro Social Worker would be your ability to understand why social problems exist critique the conventional understandings of social problems and developing your own working definitions of social problems. One place to begin is with the understanding of how social problems differ from personal problems. Definition of Social Problems Social problems have been defined in various ways, according to Lauer and Lauer (2002) a social problem ‘‘is a condition or pattern of behaviour that contradicts some other condition or pattern of behaviour and is defined as incompatible with the desired quality of life; is caused facilitated or prolonged by factors that operate at multiple levels of social life; involves intergroup conflict and requires social action to be resolved. ’’ Sullivan and Thompson assert that a ‘‘social problem exist when influential group defines a social condition as threatening its values, conditions affects a large number of people, and it can be remedied by collective action. We will write a custom essay sample on Social Work and Social Problems or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page ’’ This definition was echoed by Charles Zastrow, again Robert Merton and Robert Nisbert two influential sociologists have defined social problems as ‘‘the substantial, unwanted discrepancies between what is in a society and what a functionally significant collectivity within that society seriously desires to be in it. ’’ We can critique the conventional definition of social problem and develop a new definition that would encompass all the components of a social problem. Now the definition of social problem would be given as ‘‘a condition that is experienced collectively by an identifiable group or community of people, caused by a source external to them that harms their welfare in specific ways, and can only be resolved by the people themselves in partnership with the public and private sectors of society. ’’ Characteristics/Components of Social Problems Many sociologists tend to agree that social problems have the following characteristics and components. 1. The problem must have social causation rather than be an issue of individual behaviour. That is, to say, the cause of the problem must lie outside the individual and his/her immediate environment. 2. The problem must have social and collective solution rather than be an issue of individual solution. That is, to say, the solution of the problem must lie outside the individual and his/her immediate environment. 3. The problem must affect a large number of people. 4. It must be judged by influential number of people to be undesirable. 2 Characteristics/Components of Personal Problems 1. Personal problem is one whose cause lies within the individual and the individual’s immediate environment. 2. Again, its solution lies within the individual and the individual’s immediate environment. The distinction between social and personal problems is not based on the individual’s experience of suffering because a certain amount of suffering occurs in either case (Lauer and Lauer, 2002). For example, in Ghana rural farmers experience a high level of poverty. If we viewed the problem as personal, we would blame the farmer for low production due to his personal inadequacies and the government would not feel obliged or the need to intervene and the problem would continue. If we define the problem as a social problem and state it is due in part to lack of crop diversification, poor rainfall and access to limited farm equipment, it would result in collective action taken by government. New crops irrigation schemes and equipment loaning would all be introduced. Social Change Social Change is the alteration of the basic social structures or social organisation. We would probably always look at the human condition from the perspective of problem orientation, but there may be a better way to approach how to achieve a better social world. One way is by looking at society from the perspective of ‘‘social change. ’’Social change is a proactive approach rather than a reactive one. Instead of looking to the past to discover what went wrong, the social change approach looks ahead to see what is possible. Rather than weaknesses pathologies and problems, people are seen as having strengths, possibilities and solutions with which to build their own futures. Instead of assuming communities are arenas of neglect, crime, and poverty, community is perceived as full of resources, assets and strengths that can be used make better a society. The social change approach/model utilises this assets-based strength approach. AnnWeick and Dennis Saleeby assert that ‘‘to examine the strength and resiliencies ofpeople in their everyday lives signals, an important shift in our thinking. ’’ When this happens, often with the help of a macro social worker, people begin to gain power. This power comes from a new way of thinking called ‘‘social thinking’’ in contrast to ‘‘rational problem solving thinking. ’’Thinking socially begins when people apply their common experiences to mutual reflection, thinking through the issues that plague them, and then arrive at a strategy of action. People who felt helpless, separated and defeated begin to think anew and act anew. They become new people and begin to conceive and construct the world out of those new perceptions of themselves and one another. What began as a problematic and even selfdefeating situation becomes transformed into an opportunity for re-birth and renewal. Macro 3 Social Workers help mobilise people to utilise their assets so they can construct their communities and build their social reality in the way they conceive best. Future Shock Future shock is the term used to describe the trauma experienced by those who are having difficulty accepting the new roles, such as women/girls. Rapid changes like urbanisation can also cause a host of new and unexpected problems like increased crime, faulty shelter and overcrowding. Social Denial Denial takes many forms. We refuse to acknowledge the existence of social problems. When we do admit their existence, we look at them as ‘‘personal’’ problems instead of ‘‘social’’problems. We also deny their existence by excluding problem people from our lives or by rationalising about our inaction. The Objective Subjective Elements in the Definition of Social Problems A social condition maybe defined as a social problem in two ways: (1) Objectively (2) Subjectively The objective definition recognises that a social problem exist as soon as a significant number of individuals are adversely affected by the phenomenon related to social factors, even if no one recognises it (Henshel, 1990). The objective element makes the condition a verifiable situation which can be checked as to the existence and magnitude by impartial observers. This idea was raised by Merton and Nisbert (1971) who made the distinction between a manifest social problem and latent social problem. Latent ones, though real are unnoticed and not defined as problematic. Merton and Nisbert assert that, social problems must be manifest to be objective. This distinction is particularly important one to make in the Africa where social conditions that have historically been perceived as normative are now being redefined as problematic in the context of modernisation. One major example is that of female genital circumcision, which is culturally normal tradition in several African societies but now being redefined as barbaric, dangerous and repressive act used to control the instincts of women. In spite of its significant recognition of the social condition as a problem, the example also highlights a fundamental issue contained in the subjective definition of social problems. The subject definition implies the awareness of certain individuals, not a significant number, that a social condition is a threat to certain cherished values. In the example, it is not the behaviour itself or the social condition that are inherently problematic, but the perception of 4 the event (barbaric, dangerous and repressive) that define the problem. In this regard, one could say that the social problems are fundamentally products of a process of collective definition instead of existing independently as a set of objective social arrangements (Blumer, 1971). In other words, an individual or group often defines a social condition as problematic in terms of his or her own ideology and perceived self interest. The church, the media, lobby groups and social workers, who may not necessarily be in the majority, may consider a social condition as problematic based on their own values and principles. Religious groups are the most obvious examples of those who proselytise about problem areas such as prostitution, homosexuality and drug taking. They therefore, will obviously promote legislations protecting what they consider to be threatening morality. Indeed the role of the media in defining what is and what is acceptable as a social problem, especially to government, cannot be ignored. The process whereby social conditions become defined as a social problem then is complex and problematic in itself. The question that one must is: ‘‘to whom is the event a problem? ’’ Although we might normally state a definition of crime, for example based on specific society’s legal code, this conceptualisation has been challenged by some sociologists (Schwendinger and Schwendinger, 1970). Such a legalistic, state the definition of crime, they argue needs to be considered within a context of universal social justice, ethics, and public wrong and antisocial behaviour. Generally, in developing societies, one issue in re-defining and recognising social condition as social problems, is that this process is now likely to be carried out within an international human rights discourse and related policy documentation, declarations and covenants. However, governments of many African societies regard these developments with suspicion. The question most of them are asking is: ‘‘To whom is the condition problematic? ’’ They argue that the very idea of individual human rights is Eurocentric and maybe foreign to African societies where traditionally, economic, political, cultural and judicial rights were more likely to be held by communities and not by individuals. Shiviji (1989) also maintains that the main human rights discourse in and on Africa, however well mentioned, has objectively been a part of the ideologies of domination. He emphasises that human rights need to be considered within the wider context of the struggles of the African people and the central human rights are the right to self-determination and the right to organise. While considering some of the objective and subjective views inherent in defining social problems, a related issue is that of how social problems should be ranked in terms of their level of seriousness. In the ‘‘Gallup Poll Ratings’’, one sociologist compared the content of thirty-four social problems texts with public definition of social problems over a forty-year period. He found very little similarity between the two. Of the three issues that ranked highest on sociologists’ list (crime and delinquency, marriage and family, and population), two were identified at all in public opinion polls, and one (crime and delinquency) ranked seventh in terms of the frequency with which it was mentioned by the public (Laurer, 1976). In ranking social problems on the African content, Rwomire (2001), asserts that social problems should be classified on the basis of their hypothesised influences. Primary problems 5 as wars and discrimination are the most serious and can lead to secondary problems, which themselves can lead to tertiary problems. War has been one of the most serious and severed social problems experienced in Africa during the past forty (40) years, although paradoxically, it can also be considered a part of the solution to some social problems. One immediate example of the consequence of war in Africa is the destructive capacity of landmines often indiscriminately used over large areas of land. Their capacity to maim and kill arbitrarily long after the wars have ended leads to unacceptable levels of human suffering. The medical care, physical and social rehabilitation of these people is a challenge and a burden to their respective societies. The severe damage caused by landmines is reflected in the ration of amputees to the total population in countries such as Angola (1:470) and Uganda (1:1,100). Wars lead deaths, physical and mental injuries as well as waste of resources. Deaths lead to bereavement, widowhood and orphanhood. Physical and mental injuries lead to occupational handicaps, dependency and traumatic stress disorder. Waste of resources, on the other hand, in turn leads to shortage of consumer goods and increased cost of living. Part of the objective and subjective definition of any social problem, and a necessary pre-requisite for the analysis, interpretation and explanation of the problem is the nature and extent of that problem. What is the problem exactly? How do we measure it? How much of it actually exist? To whom is it a problem? These can be difficult to answer. Individual and group efforts to provide answers to them are not devoid of their own value and principle assumption. The Sociological Study of Social Problems The conduct of human affairs is still outside science in many circles. (Millions of Americans, for example, turn to newspapers astrology for some guidance through their personal problems. In 1977 two out of every three newspapers in the United States carried daily horoscopes. And even within the social sciences there is a constant and bitter controversy about the appropriate mode of thinking about, and gathering information on, social problems. But there is general agreement that sociological knowledge and understanding of social problems must involve two dimensions: The first of these is a systematic set of concepts; the second is that there must be a systematic pursuit of data of evidence about the real world, using these concepts. It is exactly which set of concepts and which data that is still the subjects of argument. Nevertheless, there exist some major sets of concepts, or theories or theoretical perspectives. We shall discuss these briefly because some of them are widely accepted, some are partially accepted, and all are, at the least, interesting for the fifty (50) years. First, we shall discuss concepts from the view point of level of analysis. More simply, we shall see whether theories focus on the individual level of analysis, the cultural level of analysis, or the social structural level of analysis. Second, we shall discuss some perspectives that have been widely used in recent years for the study of social problems. These perspectives will reappear in particular discussions dealing with certain social problems. Some theories are very closely related to particular social problem, for example, individual male pathology may be related to 6 the social problem of rape. Other perspectives are relevant in a broad way to a wide range of social problems, as for example, the American cultural preoccupation with discrimination is an important factor in the social problem of race. Culturally sanctioned discrimination is also important in understanding the social problems of city and country, poverty and affluence, and yet other problems. Third, we shall discuss some of the major sources of evidence used by social scientist in the study of social problems. Sociology also has some special difficulties in the analysis of social problems. Levels of Analysis: Individual, Cultural and Structural Analysis The very first thing that should be understood when we read the literature of sociology is that social scientist cannot search for‘‘the whole truth. ’’It is important to accept the perhaps unwelcome notion that scientific and empirical verification must be limited to a very small piece of social reality. This self-limited sociological approach differs from the manner in which most people apprehend the social realities around them. Perhaps an example will make this clearer. Let us suppose that an average newspaper reader wishes to understand the problem of drug addiction. To help him, a newspaper journalist will write an article purporting to explain the problem. Typically (that is, a good article in a good newspaper, written by reputable and competent journalist), the scientific findings on drug addiction will be presented as a sort of zoo, offering a large collection of truths on a number of levels. The discussion may dwell on body chemistry and about ‘‘neurotransmitters that are involved in feelings of well beings. ’’ It may mention ‘‘genetic mechanisms’’and suggest that heredity may play a major role in predispositions to drug addiction. Quite possibly it will use the terms ‘‘learned behaviour,’’ ‘‘conditioning,’’‘‘personality deficiency,’’‘‘self-esteem,’’ and ‘‘ego defence. ’’ Probably it will offer information about ‘‘drug subcultures,’’ ‘‘social deviance,’’ ‘‘maturing out of drug use,’’ ‘‘social deviance,’’ ‘‘maturing out of drug use,’’ and why the absence of job opportunities in urban minority ghettoes is an important source of ‘‘frustration. ’’ For the average reader this collection of scientific ideas may offer some approximation to the whole truth, but he or she is still looking for the whole truth and is vaguely irritated by this collection of partial truths: Aren’t body chemistry and genes the most ‘‘basic’’ possible explanation of drug addiction? Why is it necessary for a group of psychiatrists and psychologists to study self esteem? Surely the whole truth is there somewhere in the basic genetic mechanisms. Surely the whole truth is there somewhere in the basic genetic mechanisms. Or if there is a drug subculture, why isn’t it possible just to change the subculture and end the problem of drug addiction? A social scientist will look at the problem of drug addiction in quite a different way. He or she attempts to explain the problem in terms of several levels of analysis. He or she attempts to explain the problem in terms of several levels of analysis. Each level is a system of concepts, 7 or a theory. (The relationship between the levels of analysis may also be built into a theory). On the individual level, for instance, personality theory assumes (or takes for granted) the level of body chemistry and neurotransmitters and interest itself in the level of human functioning that involves personality development, where a biologist may dismiss study of personality as secondary, derivative, or even caused by physiology. The social psychologist might be interested in the group processes that influence perception. For him or her, body chemistry and personality are only remotely related to perception. The levels of analysis offered by biology and by personality theory are much less important. The newcomer to the analysis of such a social problem as drug addiction may find this artificial separation of possible causes strange. It is artificial, and it is strange. Yet it is only through such discipline sorting out levels of analysis that meaningful theories can be developed and tested. Without the growth of hypotheses and theories it will not be possible to obtain valid and useful insights into the problems of drug addiction. Without insights public policy on drug addiction will be nothing more useful than a series of falters and stumbles. The Individual Level of Analysis of Social Problems As we deal with the individual level in this discussion, we will be concerned with biological and psychological theories. Such theories are particularly relevant to social problems that involve 1. Certain types of people. Good examples are the youth, the aged, women, blacks and Hispanics. Theories relating to the individual are particularly useful when the social problems involve 2. Special types of behaviour. Good examples are homosexuality and drug abuse There are important and useful biological and psychological theories about why women are different from men and why young people and old people are different from middle-aged people. Individual explanations are useful in understanding why blacks are different from whites. In general, there are three basic grounds for the importance of the level of analysis: (a) Question about the functioning of individuals are well within the interests of sociologists working with social problems. Certain family patterns greatly affect individual development and ‘‘difficult’’ behaviour of adulthood. A significant example is the impact of an absent father on young male children. Lack of a father is supposed to produce certain personality effects. These effects (or processes) in turn are supposed to produce certain social problems. Theories about the effect of an absent father are particularly relevant in some controversial theories that try to account for racial differences. Theories about the dominance of the mother in the home are invoked to explain homosexuality. Sociologists analyse at the level of the individual in order to clarify certain social patterns. 8 (b) The individual level of explanation (changed only slightly to accommodate large groups of people rather than a single person) is a favourite ‘‘man in the street’’approach to the‘‘true’’ explanation for many social problems. It is important for the beginner in sociology to be able to place this particular approach in its sociological context. (c) The individual level of analysis is important in official views of what sociologists consider to be malfunctioning institutions. Usually the man in the street distrusts cultural explanations; he is even more likely to reject structural explanations; Excusing and explaining institutional malfunctions are nearly always done on individual level. Thus the institutional failures so obvious in our society (the school dropout, the criminal who returns to prison again and again; and uncured mental patient) are usually explained by ordinary citizens in terms of individual problems: The child is not motivated to learn; the recidivist cannot learn to control himself; mental patients do not try hard enough to cure themselves. Just why this tendency to individual analysis is so strong is a special worry for sociologist who are concerned about the lack of change in institutions and is of particular importance during the last stage in the career of social problem, i. e. ‘‘institutional criticism’’ The tendency to search for individual level explanation both inside and outside institutions in included in an important new concept. A community psychologist, William Ryan, has worked out the process in detail and somewhat sarcastically describes what amounts to a victim-blaming process: First, identify a social problem. Second, study those affected by the problem and discover in what ways they are different from the rest of usas a consequence of deprivation and injustice. Third, define the differences as the cause of the social problem itself. Finally, of course, assign a government bureaucrat to invent humanitarian action programme to correct the differences. Blaming the victim depends on a process of identification whereby the victim of social problems is identified as strange, different, in other words as a barbarian, a savage. This is how the distressed and disinherited are redefined in order to make it possible for us to look at society’s problems and to attribute their causation to the individuals affected. In other words Ryan is really arguing for a structural analysis (which will be discussed below). He argues further that to mix levels of analysis (explaining the strains and failures of institutions in terms of the characteristics of individuals) is bad social science. Worse yet, mixing levels are convenient and satisfying to bureaucrats inside a malfunctioning institution because it legitimates the way things are and thus deters social change. The Cultural level of Analysis of Social Problems 9 A number of social scientist have tried to describe American culture as a whole; in particular these analyst are interested in recent changes in our basic values and ‘‘designs for living. ’’ An overall description is, however, a difficult task because American culture changes constantly. A great many variations of American culture appear in different, regions, classes and ethnic groups, these are ‘‘subcultures. ’’The norms and values of an upper-middle class black physician in a large southern city probably encompass at least three sets of sub-cultural norms and values that differ from ‘‘basic normal American culture,’’ that is, class, racial and occupational sub-cultures. We are interested in cultural analysis because this is a popular and often useful explanation for the deviations from what seems to be the norm that are in turn factors in social problems. As far as American core culture is concerned, there are some interesting speculations, despite all the difficulties. Some of the best are those done by Francis L. K. Hsu, a Chineseborn anthropologist, and Robin Williams, an important sociologist. Hsu identifies one critical core value in American culture. This is self-reliance. According to Hsu, all other important values spring from this single ideal. Because it is really unattainable in a societal context, it breeds hostility to persons who are dependent and worse yet, a deep sense of insecurity. This insecurity appears in American competitiveness, conformity, ‘‘social climbing,’’ and submission to what Hsu calls the ‘‘tyranny of organisation. ’’Four sets of contradictory themes are linked with self-reliance: 1. Christian love and its contradiction, religious bigotry; 2. Science, progress and humanitarianism and their contradictions, parochialism, group superiority and racism; 3. Puritan ethics and its contradiction, an increasing laxity in sexual mores; 4. Ideals of equality and freedom and their contradictions, totalitarian tendencies and ‘‘witch hunting. ’’ Williams’ core values of American culture are remarkably similar. He lists fifteen of them: activity and work, achievement and success, a moral orientation, humanitarianism, efficiency and practicality, secular and rationality and science, material conformity, nationalism and patriotism, individual personality, racism and group superiority. Both Hsu and Williams tried hard to select persistent themes that distinguish American culture from other cultures, even though some like nationalism, patriotism and group superiority may seem common to all cultures. It is only fair to say that other distinguished scholars have discovered different culture traits. In some areas the core culture maybe important in generating and sustaining social problems. This is true for the nationalism and group superiority themes noticed by Williams. It is also true that contradictions noticed by Hsu and Williams are considered by some theorists as the ultimate source of social problems. A much more controversial view is that certain specific problems, notably drug dependency and violence are deeply rooted in some features of 10 American culture. The basic difficulty in blaming social problems on core values should be obvious. Such argument quickly becomes a kind of sermon or circular explanation: If Americans were better people, we should have less vice; if we were not so racist then then there should be less racism. In this discussion, the cultural explanations will appear in two ways: 1. when there are important changes in the definitions of social categories or types of events over the years and 2. When the subculture of certain groups is directly implicated as a cause of certain problems. The changes in cultural definitions will be particularly significant. Just as our natural history or career, approach to social problems assumes a change over time. Thus the ways in which women, the aged, children, urban life, minorities and the poor are defined have changed dramatically in our own generation and even more during the past hundred (100) years. And as we develop the idea of social problems, we shall see the changing definitions are also very important. Some social problems simply did not exist in earlier ages. Cultural explanations are also used in this discussion when subcultures are implicated as a cause of social problems. Many of the more peripheral or ‘‘outside the mainstream’’ groups in American society might be seen as a problem in themselves. These subcultures may include adolescents, the aged, the poor and minorities. If they tend to develop an antagonistic subculture, this may in turn cause problems. (According to one theorist, many groups of teenagers have their own subcultures, which cause friction with the larger society). We shall be careful about identifying such groups here because American institutions are likely to label sub-cultural groups on the basis of the real or alleged sub-cultural trait even if such traits do not exist. (White policemen, for example are extremely likely to tag black teenagers with certain sub-cultural characteristics, right or wrong). Finally, sub-cultures evolve among the personnel of an institution. School teachers, police and public welfare employees may develop sub-cultures that allow them and their institutions to perform in a manner that aggravates the social problem that the institution is supposed to solve. (If school teachers serving black ghetto children assume that none of their pupils wants to learn, then the resultant lack of interest and bad teaching increase the educational failure of black ghetto children). Thus in order to understand institutional failures to solve certain problems, we must understand the values and norms of institutional occupational groups. The Structural Level of Analysis of Social Problems The approach is concerned with social relationship and the social structure inside which people must live. Sometimes structural theories are almost exclusively concerned with the larger social system. Thus the Marxist perspective (which emphasises social relations in the work place) is 11 basically interested in the ownership of the means of production; for ultimately, according to Marxist view, the capitalist mode of production greatly affects the lives of workers. Many other theorist also emphasise the large social system. Social thinkers, both before and after Karl Marx have looked for explanation of social problems in the differing economic, political and social power of various segments of American (and European) society. Unfortunately, the word ‘‘Marxist’’ is a label that evokes violent partisanship and in controversy it is too easy to dismiss the structural approach to analysis merely in social problems. (On the other side, some Marxists are all too ready to dismiss trivial or derivative any factors except those relating to the economy). Prejudices do not belong in a discipline sociological approach to a set of vexing social problems; to disregard such factors as class and power and the economic life chances of the individuals is to discard one of the major traditions of sociological analysis. The Marxist perspective is a thread in the tradition. In the analysis of social problems, the structural mode is useful in four ways: 1. It is useful in understanding problems based on the inability of certain types of people to gain certain resources: political power, economic advantages, and a group of pleasant benefits that increase self esteem, prestige, deference, being taken seriously. Critical in the acquisition of such resources are the social determinants of age, sex, socioeconomic status  and race. 2. Structural analysis helps us to understand some of the social problems of alcohol, drug abuse, crime, juvenile delinquency as well as some less conventional behaviours generally defined as ‘‘sex problems. ’’ 3. Structural analysis is absolutely critical in understanding the functioning (and malfunctioning) of institutions designed to solve social problems. 4. The structural level of analysis is useful in understanding the behaviour of small groups. It is the source of one of the most famous theories explaining certain types of deviance. In developing this theory, Robert K. Merton argues that, the source of deviance is the disparity between a person’s goals held out to him or her society, history and his or her means of achieving those goals. This neatly explains why lower class boys become delinquent. They have given up identification with the conventional means to success. It can also be use

Paper 1.0

Paper 1.0 Paper 1.0 WHO The Romanticism Era was an artistic revolution that had an abundance of participants. Now out of all this eras partakers there were a few that stood out amongst them all. Artist such as Washington Irving, William Cullen Bryant, Emily Dickinson, The Fireside Poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and the infamous American poet Edgar Allen Poe. Irving was the only author amongst the bunch and wrote a collection of pieces which eventually led to the creation of THE SKETCH BOOK, which had included other popular titles such as RIP VAN WINKLE and THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW. Now Irving was in fact a best selling author but never was able to develop his talents but he did fight for his fellow writers to keep their works safe from copyright issues. William Bryant was a poet alike the rest of the men named before, and his interest grew at quite a young age. Later on in his lifetime Bryant grew an interest in law which lead him to his need to alert the English-speaking world that your voice could be heard through American poetry. Next amongst the poets came Henry Longfellow, his most famous works include PAUL REVERE'S RIDE, THE SONG OF HIAWATHA, and EVANGELINE. Longfellow was known for his lyrical touch upon his poetry and his audience couldn't get enough of the musical was of telling stories and legends. Ralph Emerson was philosopher and a poet and it was showcased in his poetry. Emerson was a companion with the transcendentalism movement and had many poems centered around nature and humanity. His most famous piece published was in fact named NATURE, and it spoke on the inspiration that is gave humanity and how it fulfills everything they need. Emily Dickinson was a writer of sorts who enjoyed exploring the mind and it's dark side, and even dramatized death and the after-death experience. Her writing had a special touch like her peers, her writing was down to the point and never had uneeded words. Her lean and direct sense of writing drew in many and left them wondering and in debate after every

Religion in SouthWest Archaeology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Religion in SouthWest Archaeology - Essay Example vides significant information relating to American Indian societies in the Southwest and their occupation as well as their ways of life before the colonial period. These societies comprised of significant diversities with changing adaptations with archeologists ensuring piecing together field as well as laboratory information in enhancing explanation of American Indian oral histories. The earliest inhabitants of the American Southwest while also touching on the current Mexican north are referred to as American Indians or Paleo-Indians that represents a combination of various Indian cultures. With little knowledge relating to their way o life known, archeological records have enhanced inn providing information relating to their way of life while also drawing the differences resulting from various communities (Mark and Livingood 193). in understanding the earlier way of life of the Paleo-Indians, archeological studies have realized that these communities made simple tools, with the help of flint knapping or stone chipping while also making other crude tools that included pointed elements derived from animal bones. Other tools discovered resulted from wood as well as horns with little artifacts evidencing these tools. Tools developments are equally evidenced with the use of spears among the Paleo-Indians that played a significant role to ensure changing of the way o f life among these natives. The discovery of the spears ensured changing of practice from primary forages to some primary but big hunters with their major prey being mammoths, horses and camels among others. The most possible practice of the hunters would mostly focus on waylaying the animals and use the spear to prick and drive the spear on the animal‘s flesh until the animal fell. The spear points as well as other found artifacts, extinct huge game associations as well as site distribution among other evidence, archeologists has as a result postulated that the ancient Southwest natives wandered, but

Civil rights movements in California Assignment

Civil rights movements in California - Assignment Example Mark Arax claim that society comprise of isolated individuals, passionate about personal gain and acquisition instead of the social good is an unproven hypothesis. Largely, it is an individual idea that lacks public perception and daily human concerns. Mark Arax based his argument on a few failed strategies championed by selfish individuals who pursued to satisfy personal interests. Rather, he should focus on the main theme of social movements of enhancing every citizens’ lives. California Dream predominantly expresses individual freedom and personal gain. Social movements promote wide range of political activities based on shared familiarities of injustice, prejudice, and oppression of certain societal groups. The movements work around identity political realizations, which typically aim to secure the political freedom of a specific group marginalized within its larger context. Struggle for civil liberties and California dream have common themes. Throughout American history s tarting from colonial period through to the new millennium, entail civil society struggles to make the world a better place for present and future generations. Governor Jerry Brown's proposal to divert water from the San Joaquin Delta exhibits controversy. Conversely, both locations require water resource to facilitate economic activities and ensure better lives of the citizens. Rogene Reynolds claims wealthy individuals are interested in transferring the water away from them shares the predicament.

Law7 ass1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Law7 ass1 - Essay Example The opinion basically cites the common law protection against unreasonable charge while at the same time encouraging the values of free trade. Hotels are public accommodations and can only exercise their right to admission to a certain level. The hotels may not refuse accommodation to guests for reasons that are deemed discriminatory. They however have the right to regulate the use of their facilities other than the basic by allowing a certain section of their clientele access to some of their facilities and withholding the privileges so long as the selection criteria does not amount to discrimination by reason of race, origin, nationality, color, religion or Condition. The mode of dressing does not make one a minority. The Unruh Civil Rights aims to protect minority customers from discrimination on the basis of factors such as religion, age, gender, color, ancestry, nationality, disability, medical condition, marital status, or sexual orientation. The hotels in California can therefore legally refuse accommodation to a person dressed in a peculiar manner for instance when the mode of dressing may be offensive to other guests. The same applies to other states and cannot be viewed as discrimination. However, hotels in California and other states may not refuse accommodation to a person on the basis of their dressing if the same boils down to discrimination. An example is when the clothes worn indicate adherence to a certain

Philosophies of the Draft Dodgers

Philosophies of the Draft Dodgers Countercultures, or groups that that break off from a dominant or larger society because they disagree with the societys values or beliefs, can have lasting effects on government policies or global affairs (Thomas 39). One such counterculture is the group of American draft dodgers. These individuals evaded conscription, or mandatory military service, in American since the American Civil War (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). They rejected the American values of patriotism and national security during key wars such as World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War. Also, they broke American laws, a part of the national culture, by burning their draft cards in protest and escaping to Canada to avoid their required service specifically during the Vietnam War (Kennedy and Cohen 891). These actions employed by draft dodgers display their own ideas and voices their rejection of the larger societys views, categorizing them as a counterculture in American history. Although draft dodgers can and have appeared in other countries around the world with mandatory military service, the American draft dodgers are specifically notable for their involvement in a number of American wars and polices. Draft evasion has roots in several areas from pacifism to personal unwillingness. Some countries exempted conscientious objectors to war and the draft (people who opposed bearing arms or violence for reasons related to their philosophy or religion) or provided them with specific jobs that did not require fighting, though others throughout history did not excuse these objectors from service (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). The United States addressed conscientious objectors during the Civil War by allowing them to serve in positions that did not require the use of weaponry (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). However, the 1940 conscript laws clarified objectors as people who were part of a known pacifist group, not individuals that claimed perso nal objections (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). The United States started experiencing draft dodgers during the American Civil War when conscription was first implemented in 1861 (Michael Ray). The affluent society in the North avoided military service by utilizing a bounty system, where the drafted individuals paid substitutes, especially African Americans, to enter the military for them (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). These citizens had an advantage over the poor and the military soon consisted of lower classes, inciting hostility towards both the wealthy and African Americans. Eventually, the Draft Riot of 1863 occurred with public unrest over this system; for four days, New York City rioters targeted African American buildings with violence (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). After the Civil War, the draft also added to the countrys military power during the two World Wars, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. All of these wars presented opportunities fo r draft dodgers, but the most notable wars they affected were the American Civil War and the Vietnam War. Most people associate draft resistance with American participation in the Vietnam War, where public protest of the draft escalated dramatically. Some of the public resistance of the draft stemmed from the Selective Service Systems deferment processes which provided certain people with special opportunities to avoid the draft (Michael Ray). Some draft dodgers resisted conscription by escaping to Canada (Kennedy and Cohen 891). After the Military Selective Service Act of 1967, burning draft cards, or the registration certificates for the draft, exploded as one of the most popular form of protest even though it broke government laws (Michael Ray). Protesters argued that the First Amendment protected their right to freely express opposition to the draft with this method (Michael Ray). David OBrien was one of the draft dodgers who burned their draft cards and ended up facing legal co nsequences (Michael Ray). His case eventually appeared before the Supreme Court in The United States v. OBrien, and the final ruling stated that burning draft cards hindered government actions and was not considered protected free speech (Michael Ray). Draft dodgers held great historical significance in American policy. In the Civil War, the draft dodgers influenced the composition of the military with the use of a bounty system to buy their way out of service (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). Their actions in the Civil War influenced American policy during World War I by prompting the government to abolish the bounty system in the 1917 Selective Service Act (Michael Ray). However, the most active and monumental role the draft dodgers played was during the Vietnam War (Kindig). They helped fuel opposition to the war with new drastic measures of burning draft cards and fleeing the country (Kennedy and Cohen 891). Their vocal actions had an unprecedented impact on the end of American involvement in the Vietnam War and the continuing attitudes later on. Currently, the U.S. draft sits dormant since there is no direct need for it, so draft dodgers appear less frequently in society as active protesters. However, in 1980 the gover nment required draft registration for men in case the draft ever resurfaced, and this policy still affects todays population (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). A sociological perspective and a sociological imagination can help people understand how draft dodgers actions affected the world. With a sociological perspective, people view others actions using scientific reasoning instead of everyday explanations (Thomas 4). It contends that everyone is a social being with hidden meanings behind his or her actions (Thomas 5). Clearly, draft dodgers did not protest the draft purely because of a disapproval of the implementation and process of the draft, although that did play a purpose in their actions. Using the sociological perspective, the actions of draft dodgers often target a larger intent to protest conscription in general and warfare as a method to solve conflict. A significant number of conscientious objectors objected to violence and bearing arms for religious or philosophical reasons, and since some governments did not excuse these objectors from service, they were forced to become draft dodgers in order to uphold their beliefs (The Edi tors of Encyclopedia Britannica). The American draft dodgers actions during the Vietnam War also had these sentiments, after media coverage of the war displayed unpleasant scenes that conflicted with their morals (Kennedy and Cohen 891). Draft dodgers conveyed the arguments for pacifism and nonviolence in their actions, two themes that apply to any country in the world. A sociological imagination, created by C. Wright Mills, allows people to connect their personal actions and experiences with the larger world in order to recognize the effects (Thomas 5). This viewpoint displays the great effects of draft dodger actions on larger bodies such as the United States of American and even the world. They significantly affected United States domestic and foreign policy. The Draft Riot of 1863 over the unfair bounty system influenced later domestic policy in the Selective Service Act of 1917, in which the process was prohibited (Michael Ray). They also influenced interpretation of the First Amendment when the Supreme Court case The United States v. OBrien arose from the protest method of burning draft cards that became popular during the Vietnam War (Michael Ray). The limitations of free speech were clarified for the American public, influencing later forms of protest. On the global perspective, foreign policy during the Vietnam War also received the impact of draft resistance since the protests amplified an opposition to American participation in the war. Their actions influenced the removal of American troops from Vietnam. Ethnocentrism is conviction that one group of people reigns supreme over other inferior groups (Thomas 35). Draft dodgers had an element of ethnocentrism in their actions, contributing to their classification as a counterculture, specifically during times of war. The draft dodgers who were conscientious objectors for religious or philosophical reasons believed that their values of pacifism or their faith were superior to the American sentiments of patriotism, leading them to resist the draft and conscription. Other draft dodgers felt that the value of life, including their own lives, was superior to patriotism, national security, or U.S. global power. They expressed their superior views by attempting to fulfill the requirements for exemption from service (deferment from Selective Service boards for academic or family reasons), burning their draft cards, or fleeing the country in order to not risk their own lives and protest the danger imposed on others lives (Michael Ray). Their ethn ocentrism encouraged draft dodgers to protest and fight for their beliefs rather than just duly accepting their fate as American citizens, resulting in their counterculture status. Cultural relativism practices that the standards of cultures different from one another, so a culture could only receive judgement based on their own point of view (Thomas 36). Using cultural relativism, draft dodgers avoid conscription because of their connection to the American culture from which they split. The American culture emphasized freedom to express and act according to an individuals beliefs (within obvious limitations). These draft dodgers, surrounded by the ideas that sharing opinions is acceptable and appreciated, naturally protested their opposition to drafts and conscription based on their own values and interests. In fact, one could argue that they protested the draft to save their own lives and the lives of their families, a priority for a number of people. A pacifist who is not a part of a formal organization would not receive exemption from conscription but would still have difficulty if drafted because the violence would conflict with his personal values, and ma y even die before fighting and breaking his values; therefore, draft avoidance could save his life (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). The draft sent men off to war whether they wanted to go or not, and unfortunately not all soldiers return home to their families. The families of the men who never return to war are left with a hole in their family structure, especially if the man was unwilling to fight. In this case, protesting and dodging the draft could protect a mans family, a formidable incentive to avoid conscription. Cultural relativism allows other individuals to understand the importance of draft evasion for men and their loved ones. Despite the incentives to evade conscription, I personally do not agree with all of the philosophies of the draft dodgers. The draft dodgers rightfully protested the unfair draft systems such as the bounty system during the Civil War or the subjective deferments of the Selective Service Board and I agree with the ideas of pacifism and resolving conflicts without violence that spurred draft dodgers to reject conscription. However, the draft should remain a possible tool today with modifications that require women to register as well as men to guarantee a suitable fighting force for national security. I cannot see the value in protesting a draft if the whole country faces peril and destruction as a result of a lack of volunteers to a war effort (with hope that such a situation never arises in the future). Also, there is no harm in registering when the government may never activate draft again in ones lifespan, and if the draft is reenacted, then there must be a dire need for soldiers w ith the already impressive advancements in military power through technology and volunteers. Although I cannot agree with their ideas, the fact remains that draft dodgers impacted American policies, values, and history significantly as longstanding counterculture. References   Kennedy, David M. and Lizabeth Cohen. The American Pageant: A History of the American People. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2016. Textbook. Kindig, Jesse. Vietnam War: Draft Resistance. 2008. Website. 3 March 2017. Michael Ray. Selective Service Acts. 10 September 2015. Website. 3 March 2017. The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. Conscientious Objector. 30 June 2010. Website. 3 March 2017. -. Conscription. 16 6 2011. Website. 3 March 2017. -. Draft Riot of 1863. 16 June 2011. Website. 3 March 2017. Thomas, W. LaVerne. Sociology: The Study of Human Relationships. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2003. Textbook.

The War :: essays research papers

The Persian Gulf War all started because of one country’s greed for oil. Iraq accused Kuwait of pumping oil and not sharing the benefits, and Kuwait was pumping more oil than allowed under quotas set by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, it decreased the price of oil, Iraq's main export. Iraq's complaints against Kuwait grew more and more harsh, but they were mostly about money. When Iraqi forces began to assemble near the Kuwaiti border in the summer of 1990, several Arab states tried to intervene the dispute. Kuwait did not want to look weak so they did not ask for any help from the United States or other non-Arab powers for support. Arab mediators convinced Iraq and Kuwait to negotiate their differences in Saudi Arabia, on August 1, 1990, but that meeting resulted only in charges and countercharges. A second meeting was planned to take place in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, but Iraq invaded Kuwait the next day, leading some people to think that Iraqi presiden t Saddam Hussein had planned the invasion all along.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Iraqi attack began shortly after midnight on August 2. About 150,000 Iraqi troops, many of them veterans of the Iran-Iraq War, easily overwhelmed the unprepared and inexperienced Kuwaiti forces, which numbered about 20,000. By dawn, Iraq had assumed control of Kuwait City, the capital, and was soon in complete control of the country. The United Nation Security Council and the Arab League immediately condemned the Iraqi invasion. Four days later, the Security Council forced an economic restriction on Iraq that forbidden nearly all trades with Iraq. Any armed attempt to roll back the Iraqi invasion depended on Saudi Arabia, which shares a border with Iraq and Kuwait. Saudi Arabia did not have the power to fight Iraq alone .So Saudi rulers did eventually open the country to foreign forces, in mainly because they were worried by Iraq's aggressive negotiations also U.S. intelligence reports claimed that Iraqi forces were well positioned for a strike against Saudi A rabia. Beginning a week after the Iraqi take over of Kuwait and continuing for several months, a large international force called the â€Å"international coalition† gathered in Saudi Arabia. The United States sent more than 400,000 troops, and more than 200,000 additional troops came from Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, France, Kuwait, Egypt, Syria, Senegal, Niger, Morocco, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain.