John Proctor is the tragic hero of The Crucible Essay

‘ He is showing he will stop at nothing to get her out of prison and reassuring Elizabeth that she has nothing to worry about. In this scene some of his actions however can be proven to be un-heroic such as the way he treats his servant Mary Warren, this is shown when he says to her ‘ I will bring your guts into your mouth’ suggesting that he will kill her but in a more vicious manner than is truly necessary. This quotes however makes a stronger impact on the audience as Mary Warren is still rather young and is sobbing and its not exactly heroic to reduce a young girl to tears. Act 3 is one of Proctors most heroic scenes, it shows him standing up to a very close knit court, Abigail and all the other accusers, especially when he confesses to his affair with Abigail, which for anyone to do in front of a court must be very hard. ‘ I have known her sir, i have known her’ this means he had sex with her. I believe Miller wrote the character of John Proctor as himself writing the play which is standing up to McCarthyism in the way Proctor is standing up to the court. By telling the court about him and Abigail Proctor shows he is so eager to free his wife that he risks putting himself in jail for adultery which is heroic because he is sacrificing himself for what is right, even though he knows his wife is safe for a year because she is pregnant he still goes through with his claim as he knows it is the right thing to do. Another action that proved him heroic was his gentleness towards Mary Warren after the cruel words he said to her in the last act. In act 4 proctor is yet again very heroic and this scene is where the tragic part comes in because he dies. Proctor though slightly sways towards confessing to witchcraft he says ‘ i want my life’. This shows he is not confessing because he is guilty he is confessing because he wants to stay alive and be with his wife and children. He does however while he is confessing refuse to give any names so he can save his friends ‘ i speak my own sins; i cannot judge another’ this is proving just because he was being weak and confessing to being with the devil he will not condemn another person to an awful fate which he ends up having when he is hanged at the end of this scene which is where the play becomes tragic. In conclusion i think John Proctor is a tragic hero because although he did some un-heroic things such as having an affair and sometimes being unnecessarily vicious he came through in the end, he tried to save his friends and wife, went up against the court and went up against Abigail. All those things show he helps, is honest and stands up for his cause which are all quality’s of a hero. He is a tragic hero because in the course of being a hero he died. This is not the only tragic part though, the fact that nothing came from his death for some time is also tragic, even though Abigail runs away he still gets hung because of how society was in that time and also the court was to embarrassed to admit it had been fooled. It was only some time later that the court finally admitted everything. This comes back to the reason Miller wrote Proctor as he was. In the introduction of the book there is a quote from Miller saying ‘ the political question therefore, of whether witches and communists could be equated was no longer the point. What was manifestly parallel was the guilt, two centuries apart, of holding illicit, suppressed feelings of alienation and hostility toward standard, daylight society as defined by its most orthodox components. ‘ This shows that Miller is not comparing witches and communists, he is simply showing how closely related Americas attitude was towards both and how they accused the ‘standard, daylight society’ of crimes they had nothing to do with and how Miller, like proctor, was risking everything to make a point. Olivia Lee 11. DM Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Miller section.

Cotton, Slavery and the Old South Essay

The Cotton Economy: TERMS DEFINITIONS SIGNIFICANCE King Cotton Phrase used by politicians and whites to describe the importance of the cotton in the south Boom of cotton production began in 1820s The dominance and importance of the cotton in the south transformed it economy, the production continued westward (south) the demand expanded in the north as their â€Å"cultures† developed in different direction Deep South The southernmost region of the US where cotton production dominated Mid –early 1800s, increasing through 1850s The prospects of the deep south and the profit of cotton drew thousands of white settlers to the south to build plantations and move into the planter class, which increased the region’s population and expanded US territory in the west De Bow’s Review A magazine that advocated southern commercial an agricultural expansion Founded in 1846 lasting until 1880 The publisher, De Bow, made the magazine an advocated for southern economic independence from the North, despite it was also evidence of the South’s dependency on the North Colonial Dependency The reality that the rise of cotton in the South increased their dependency upon Northern industry and commerce, caused by: the regions profitability of cotton, the investments in slaves and land left little other investments,  climate, and southern way of life Strengthened with the growing cotton production in the 1800s The cultures of the North and south diverged, but the dependency upon one another did not. Proving to conflict when sectionalism tried to push them White Society in the South TERMS DEFINITIONS SIGNIFICANCE Cavalier Myth The belief that white southerners were free form the acquisitive instincts of the â€Å"Yankees†, more concerned with the refined and gracious way of life and with rapid growth and development (mid 1800s) The myth conformed to the reality of southern society, in a limited way, dividing them from the north Planter Aristocracy The wealthy, white, plantation owners who cultivated 800+ acres with 40-50 slaves and exercised their power beyond their numbers in relation to society Southerner â€Å"Honor† The idea that individuals had to defend their honor, adopting a specific code of chivalry to protect dignity, social station and manhood, a challenge to that would come to a duel The Genteel Southern Lady Hidden behind their dominating husband in southern honor, the southern lady’s life was centered at the home, serving as a hostess and nurturer, rarely engaging in public activities or find employment Plain Folk Typical southerner who was a yeoman farmer who owned almost no slabs and devoted themselves to subsistence farming Poor Whites-hill people (Piedmont) Patriarchal/paternal society A society through which men â€Å"rule† the family and ancestry is traced through males, and in the south small farmers, even more than planters we committed to this family structure Southern society saw men as the masters of homes and woman and children were work force under his control Slavery: the â€Å"Peculiar Institution† TERMS DEFINITION SIGNIFICANCE Slave Codes-significance-the legal basis of slavery The laws that established that slaves could not own property, leave plantation without permission, be out after dark, congregate with other slaves (except church), possess firearms, or strike a white person, etc. (existed when slavery began in the US –developed more as the southern) The slave codes were the legal basis of slavery & they defend race to be anyone with even a trace of African Ancestry to be black, but the codes often different from the reality on plantation House v. Field Slaves House slaves lived close to the master and his family, serving them at the house and developing almost familial relationships, while field slaves had a more physically exhausting job doing work in fields These two types of slaves helped develop the ways of the southern society, which was drastically altered after the emancipation after the civil war Why high slave mortality rate? The slower increase of the black population was a result of it comparatively high death rate; slave mothers had large families, but the enforced poverty in which virtually all African Americans lived ensured that fewer of their children of white parents Urban Slavery-slavery in the cities Urban slaves had a smaller â€Å"market of work† which consisted of mining/lumbering, dock work, driving wagons and such and unlike rural, could not be supervised as closely and profitably, thus they gained more opportunities to mingles with free blacks and whites Free African Americans African Americans who were free from slavery, they were usually blacks or former slaves who: bought freedom, were set free from master for moral reasons or at their death (rare) common of the north, urban regions Domestic v. foreign slave trade Domestic: the transfer of slaves from one part of the southern to another, often through traders who transported slaves over a long distances to markets where owners bid on them Foreign: federal law prohibited the importation of slaves since 1808, but some were smuggled in Importation of slaves legally â€Å"stopped† in 1898 but the domestic and foreign continued throughout the 1800s â€Å"SAMBO† Stereotype A behavioral charade in which they shuffled grinned and head scratched, acting out the role he/she perceived that white society expected of them; this shaped their views toward slavery while truly the slavers were just putting on a show Gabriel Prosser A slave who gathered 1000 other rebellious slaves outside Richmond to revolt, only the plan was given away and Prosser and 35 others were prosecuted-One of a few rare slaves revolts which was the second way slaves expressed their response to slavery Denmark Vesey Free black of Charleston who, with his followers (all 9,000) made preparations for a revolt, but word leaked and they were suppressed (1822)-this was another failed attempt at a revolt against slavery Nat Turners Revolt A slave preacher who lead a group of African Americans, armed with guns and axes, through Southampton Country, Virginia killing sixty white men and children, door to door before their war overpowered by troops  (1831)-Turner’s revolt was the only large-scale slave uprising in the 19c, but the southerners fear of renewed violence continued as long as slavery lasted Slow Motion Work-as a form of resistance Often took less drastic forms than revolt, like running away (underground railroads) defying masters, stealing from masters or neighbors, loosing or breaking tools, preforming improperly and refusing to work all to protest or resist slavery Typically blacks resisted by adding subtle methods of rebellion into their behavior, which slowly became out of hand as the North began to support their actions and the south felt differently, sectional divide Pidgin It retained some African words but it drew primarily, if selectively from English. & while slave language grew more sophisticated as blacks spent in America-and as new generations grew up never having known African Tongues-some features of this early pidgin survived in black speeches for many generations Slave Polytheistic Religions Blacks developed their own version of Christianity, at time incorporating voodoo or other polytheistic religious traditions of Africa. African-American religion was more emotional and joyful. Slave Nuclear Family Crucial institution of black culture. It suffered legal restrictions, most notably lack of legal marriage. Black women began bearing children at younger ages. Slave communities did not condemn premarital pregnancy the way white society did, and black couples often lived together before marrying. Husbands and wives living on separate plantations often had to visit at night in secret. If a slave was moved to a different plantation, often they were adopted into a family in their new community.

Critically evaluate methodologies for achieving risk management Essay

Critically evaluate methodologies for achieving risk management process evaluation and change and comment on the constraints - Essay Example The methodologies for the management of risk in the hospitality industry may be broadly classified as being organisational and financial in nature. The strategies for the management of risks in the hospitality industry may be classified as being defensive, cautious or offensive in nature and these may be dictated by the broad business environment of the day. Risk avoidance, risk reduction or risk transfer are the organisational methodologies for managing risks and their financial counterparts for the management of risks include risk retention, transfer of risk related financial liability and risk repartition in which risks are spread amongst a number of businesses or groups. Whereas a practical organisational strategy is likely to combine a number of techniques to handle risks associated with a hospitality operation, attempts towards the repartition of risks present the best way to deal with situations in a global economy in which the clients of the hospitality industry or the touris ts have a number of alternatives that are available to them. This brief essay attempts to take a look at the methodologies for managing risk in the hospitality industry. Any economic activity is characterised by an associated exposure to risk as a result of the conduct of the activity. Large projects may be exposed to risks associated with delays, cost escalations and exchange rate fluctuations etc. In the hospitality industry, risks may arise as a result of investment risks in ventures, risks arising out of the globalisation of tourism, risks associated with requirements to comply with legal and licensing requirements and health as well as safety risks in establishments. Investment risks and the risks arising out of the globalisation of the tourism industry have to be considered at the time of investing in a new venture and these risks are more of long term or strategic risks in nature. Risks that are associated

English Composition-Progress and Process Reflection beyond the Assignment

English Composition-Progress and Process Reflection beyond the Classroom-Discussion - Assignment Example Teachers grading and mistakes highlighting have made me improve this area greatly. Also, group work and interchanging our article for peer examination have made me able to rate my work against that of the fellow writers and consequently I have been able to improve. Reading my work aloud has enabled me to identify and correct mistakes that may not be detected when reading quietly hence I have perfected my editing. I have been able to choose my words according to the impression I want to make and consequently my grammar has improved with time as I wrote on various topics. Through continuous writing, I have gained new writing skills such as painting word pictures and use of figurative language. This has made me able to make tangible writing reflections as well as creating strong meaning. These writing skills are very applicable beyond the classroom as they help in writing reports, strategies and plans at work. They are also very important in the grant application, online communication, emailing, and Curriculum vitae writing among others. In all these areas, grammatical errors and other poor writing skills may change the meaning of written information and therefore good writing skills become very important. Class work writing practices have helped me to become a better writer. Interacting with peers, being graded and research work introduced in class has med me better my writing skills.  

Select one of the childhood disorders (Anxiety disorder) studied in Essay

Select one of the childhood disorders (Anxiety disorder) studied in the secont half of this module and critically examine the implications for development - Essay Example Anxiety gives a sense of worry, panic, fear and distress to an individual if faced by it. But on the other hand anxiety is a sense of feeling faced by everyone at one time in his lifetime and so it is very important to distinguish between the normal levels of anxiety and the pathological levels of anxiety (Maddocks et al 1994). This can be distinguished clearly if one analyzes the levels of distress faced by children in their life and the effect of this distress on the normal behaviours of the child. Anxiety disorders can be of many types which need to be diagnosed properly to know as to which type of disorder the child is facing with. Generalized Anxiety Disorder shows the symptoms of worry and uneasiness which occurs for a transient period only. The child usually faces the problems of muscle fatigue, lack of concentration, restlessness and tetchiness. Maternal Anxiety Disorder is caused because of stressful conditions faced by the mother while she is pregnant. These children show increased signs of anxiety at the age of 5 years and 6 months (Martin et al., 1999). This usually happens because of gene transmission from the stressed mother to the developing embryo. Moreover if the mother is stressed she would not be able to take proper care of the child and this would lead to anxiety disorder in the child. Another type of Separation Anxiety Disorder occurs when a child is separated from an individual who is very close to him. This is the most common type of anxiety disorder which is seen in 50% of all anxiety treatments (Bell-Dolan 1995). This can be clearly witnessed in real life situations when a mother is first going to drop his soon to attend kindergarten but he is not willing to go. Phobias may also show a sign of anxiety disorder. It usually occurs in children who are faced with intense fear when they are faced with a certain situation or object. The fear

Dividend Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Dividend Policy - Essay Example Various analysts have examined that the dividend policy could highly affect shareholders’ wealth (Gul et al., 2012). The ability of a firm to distribute cash and increase the wealth of shareholders depends on the earnings capability of the firm and its capacity to raise fund from the external sources (Brealey, 2012). There are two ways of raising funds which are debt and equity (Kelly, 2012). Debts are the instrument where the holder gets a fixed payment along with interest (Denis and McKeon, 2012). On the other hand, the equity holders are the owner of the company to the extent of their holding (Hillier et al., 2011). However, as per the Modigiliani and Miller (M&M) model, the dividend policy of an organization has negligible or no effect on the shareholder’s wealth because the firm value is independent of its dividend policy. Moreover, in the accounting process, the dividend paid or received is calculated in cash flow which is very important for calculating the enterp rise value through discounted cash flow method (Brooks and Mukherjee, 2013). Policy Structure of Tesco PlcTesco Plc is one of the largest retailers globally. It is a British multinational, founded in 1919 and is headquartered in England. The payment of dividend has been consistent for 5 years. Nevertheless, in recent days, the wealth of shareholders has been weak as the profit generation of Tesco has been low, but it recovered in 2013-14 as the dividend paid is  £1,193m in comparison to  £1,186m in 2012-13.

Michael Porter's 5 Forces for Target Research Paper - 1

Michael Porter's 5 Forces for Target - Research Paper Example New entrants are firms that have just entered into a market or will do so in the near future (Barney and Hesterly). Because Target just operates within one market, the United States, it is susceptible to new entrants trying to take away some of Target’s market share. Another reason is due to a reducttion in the barriers to entry, e.g. international trade. It is becoming easier and easier for foreign competitors to enter markets because of liberalization of trade. The UK-based company Tesco is perhaps the biggest threat to the American discount deparment store market. Supplies assist firms by contributing raw materials and labor, among other things, to the process of finishing a product (Barney and Hesterly). The bargaining power of suppliers in the discount department store industry is relatively strong because of the wide number of competitors in the market. If suppliers do not like their current relationship with a discount department store, then they can take their business somewhere else. Another reason that suppliers have greater bargaining power is through the increase in online stores. Now, consumers can choose to purchase a product directly from the supplier rather than through the retailer. Buyers are a key component of Target’s marketing schemes because they have the ability to stay with the company or leave if they feel prices are too high (Barney and Hesterly). Because of the wide range of stores in the industry, customers do not feel loyal to one particular brand and can switch their loyalties if another brand offers a product of the same quality for less. As a result, firms are always competing to lower their prices, and this can only be good for the customer because it strengthens their position. Substitute products fulfill customer needs by do so by offering something extra (Barney and Hesterly). In the discount department store industry, the threat of substitutes is

Reservior Dogs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Reservior Dogs - Essay Example They are completely optimistic that the robbery will be successful. They are thus taken by a surprise when law enforcers emerge at the exact place and time they are executing the deal. In the course of the ensuing confrontation with the police, one of their own is killed with a few police officers and civilians escape with gun wounds. When the surviving gangsters meet at the designated meet point after the ordeal they begin to infer that one of them is working as an undercover cop. Joe Cabot a crime planner contracts five thugs to rob a diamond hoard. Although the criminals are almost certain that the plan will succeed, the police botched the robbery. As the criminals regroup in the warehouse to discuss the unsuccessful robbery, they ponder the possibility of a set-up. The story is expressed in form of a flashback while Tarantino maintaining an element of suspense by not revealing the actual diamond store (Berardinelli, "Reservoir Dogs"). Plot construction and background Tarantino ha s used a complex plot construction which is very effective in the development of the story line. He has taken out the warehouse setting’s claustrophobia and has instead offered a sparkling background on the robbery plot, the undercover police officer’s activities and the thugs’ aggressive relationships. ... Sally Menke is very effective at cutting and helps maintain the entire scenes firm and the time-jumping plot conclusive. The time jumping plot of the film ensures that the film is short but interesting. Some of the details especially the actual robbery in the diamond store is kept off-camera. This helps in creating a kind of mystery in the plot construction. Although the movie is exceptionally violent from the first scene to the last, Tarantino has maintained the confrontation between the thugs and the cops off camera (Berardinelli, "Reservoir Dogs"). Since the botched robbery is the major part on which the film is created, leaving the details unrevealed is a unique way of creating suspense. The director describes the confrontation and the ensuing results through a dialogue between different actors in the cast. The entire movie is shot after the botched robbery and the discussions and mysteries facing the thugs make the film very captivating. This is thus not a normal crime movie bec ause the crucial part of the confrontation between the thugs and the cops is not shown to the audience. This makes the movie pure and natural hence making it appear as a reality (Berardinelli, "Reservoir Dogs"). Film position Tarantino managed to minimize the discovered covered while making the movie by ensuring that the casting took long in one location. This enabled him to save a lot on the limited resources that were available to make the film. Productions that are length usually spend a lot of money and can be very costly. In Tarantino’s case, time and resources are saved by limiting the movements in shooting and ensuring that no time is lost while moving from

Media And Terrorism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Media And Terrorism - Research Paper Example Pandalai and Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses (2013) argue that several characteristics make the media to be well suited for terrorist and terrorist activities. One important characteristic that is important for terrorism as related to the media is that it sets the agenda in that the more attention one pays to a certain activity like terror attacks, the more importance and attention the public pays attention to it. Moreover, the way a news item is offered or outlined determines how it will be explained or understood by the target audience or population. It is a matter of fact that terrorists and their terror activities would want to be in the media most probably in a positive way to be seen as fighting for a political, ideological or political cause. The media becomes an important tool for setting and framing this agenda as wanted by the terrorist.  Terrorists adopt the use of the media to set and propagate some of their objectives of terrorism, Whitehead (2013) argues th at terrorists may use the media for purposes of seeking attention, recognition, and legitimacy, which can be achieved through the psychological interaction between them and the media to demoralize enemies. In order to achieve this, terrorists try to gain the attention of the audience to condition their thinking thus creating fear; afterward, they seek for recognition of their motives in order to gain sympathy and respect before using the media to gain quasi-legitimate status to be recognized as important political players. Terrorists participate at several levels in the media either when the media reports a terror attack, when terrorists send their messages through the media or when they have a full control of the media outlet. In the first case, the terrorists carry out an attack and wait to see how the media carries out the story or report it, while the second scenario occurs when those involved in the terror activity send their message to the media after framing their message.

Discuss the role of magistrate and jurors in the legal decision-making Essay

Discuss the role of magistrate and jurors in the legal decision-making process - Essay Example Consider the disadvantages of the services that the magistrates and jurors provide in the legal decision-making. The contribution of magistrates and jurors to the legal decision-making will be assessed based on the consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of the services they provide in the legal decision-making. Courts and Legal Services Act 1990- includes provisions on appointments of District Judges and the courts’ procedure, specifically in respect to distribution of civil business between the County Courts and High Court. The Contempt of Court Act 1981- states that disclosure of anything that took place in the jury room amounts to a contempt of court and is therefore a criminal offence. Juries Act 1974- consolidates particular enactments relating to jury service, jurors, and juries with improvements and corrections made under the Consolidation of Enactments Act 1949. The Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007- contains fundamental legal procedures and courtsà ¢â‚¬â„¢ structure Condron v UK (2001) 31 EHRR 1- provides an example of how magistrates and jurors legal decision-making process can lead to breach of human rights. ... Summary of the arguments that point out that, indeed, the magistrates and jurors play a very critical role in the legal decision-making process. Question 2 Introduction The magistrates and jurors play a very important role in the resolution of both criminal and civil cases (Elliott and Frances, 2008, p. 12). For over 1000 years, jurors have formed a fundamental part of the English Legal System and have played very important role in the legal matters’ resolution for many centuries (Slapper and David, 2001, p. 35). Similarly, magistrates have also been playing a very instrumental role in resolving criminal and civil cases and have in recent years become extensively important in many of the cases in the English Legal System. The jurors form a jury an arrangement that is made up of a specific number of ordinary individuals who are called for service on any legal matter (Forsterlee & Horowitz, 1997, p. 307). Jurors’ main role is to bring their perspective to a case as lay pe rson with no knowledge of law. Jurors combine their common sense, wisdom, and experience to decide the facts relating to a particular case in order to reach a verdict (Cownie et al, 2007, p. 51). It is worth noting that jurors simply decide the verdict and not the law; the jury decides the question of the defendant guilt while the judge decides on the point of law. In respect to magistrates, they are local people volunteering their services. Magistrates do not have formal legal qualifications and are chosen based on their local knowledge. They sit in the magistrates’ court as a bench of two or three magistrates (Sanders and Young, 2004, p. 97). The court trial involves several processes. The initial process within

African-American culture Essay Example for Free

African-American culture Essay â€Å"Everyday Use† by Alice Walker centers in the story between a Mother and her children with conflicting ideas on cultural and ancestral preservation (Mohr). The mother who was described in the story as an uneducated, â€Å"big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands who lived in a rural locality depicted a typical black woman during the 1950s-1960s. The story opens as she waited for her two daughters, Dee and Maggie, as they arrived home from the city studying in a university. Upon their arrival at home, they had a quarrel over the possession of an heirloom quilt. The piece illustrates several levels of meaning. There were various symbolism employed by the writer. The possession of the â€Å"quilt† which the whole story revolved around symbolizes the traditional history and the art of the African-American culture, and to their woman to be specific. Their traditional art gives emphasis on abstract designs as shown by the quilt (Mohr). Moreover, it beautifully creates a transition where something as unimportant and as invaluable as a quilt contained a rich and valued importance such as a cultural representation as the story unfolded. The use of Mrs. Johnson as the point of view in this story has a vital role in how the author contrasted the love for culture as opposed to Mrs. Johnson’s daughter Dee’s who showed less worth towards their Black heritage. Her description as a mother symbolizes the general older generation of the African-American culture while on the other hand her daughters who were then educated in college was a representation of the current (new breed) generation. The dispute over the quilt reflects the two sides of the Black societies. Because of the hidden meanings in the story, there will be several ways one can use in order to explain and interpret the story. The mother experienced a lot of confusions and at the same time the incident revealed to her, her daughters’ contradictory understanding towards their lineage. She described her daughter Maggie like a dog run over by some careless person rich enough to own a car†, that is, she recognized her daughter as unsophisticated but loyal (like a dog), as opposed to Dee who see saw as â€Å"burned us with a lot of knowledge†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . This description mirrored Dee’s central role in the story which is a representation of the materialistic and complicated modern Black who was caught in the confusing web between acknowledging her culture and the â€Å"fitting in trend† that was prevalent after the Black Power Movement (Ogbar). Even with the contrasted description, Mrs. Johnson decided to give the quilt to Maggie; she thus confirmed and affirmed her younger daughter’s idea of self-worth and at the same time revealed her own concept through Maggie’s personality. Another important highlight in the story is the similarity between the names of Dee and to that of their Grandmother Dee and this ultimately set the comparison between Dee and her grandmother. The similarity in the name suggests that they came from the same race but the obvious distinction in their characters showed the degree of the influence of the white’s culture to Dee and the preservation efforts by Grandmother Dee as exemplified by doing traditional quilting. The story â€Å"Everyday Use† is a reflection of the author’s early life. Alice Walker who was involved in the efforts of cultural preservation used literature as a device to convey her position and opinion as a Black African American in their turbulent period of struggle for equality. This short story took place in a setting almost the same as the place where she grew up in Georgia. More striking parallelism is on the character of Maggie Johnson, like Maggie, Alice Walker is also disfigured due to a gunshot wound. On the other hand, her similarities with Dee are reflected in their exemplary intelligence which both gained them scholarships in universities. As observed in this story, Alive Walker blatantly expressed her views and judgments towards this racial discrimination and this story was as effective as it is since this is reflective of her life, therefore the feelings associated with it has deep connection to her. Art, for example writing, as I stressed in the introduction is one of the effective vessel that carries your thoughts when you don’t want to deliberately express an unaccepted idea and also, it is a helpful tool for conveying a strong message at the same time entertaining.

China beer market competetor analysis

China beer market competetor analysis CHINA BEER MARKET COMPETETOR ANALYSIS Quick Over view: Aire Breweries plc. Is UK based beer marketing company that been selling premium beers. The company is enjoying fairly good market share. The beer market has become saturated due to intensive competition and in-line pricing strategies. The Aire Breweries plc. as a part of logical extension decided to enter Chinese market, where beer market is largest in the world next to USA. The Strategic Triangle- 3Cs: The strategic triangle proposed by Kenichi Ohmae states that any company success in long run pivots around 3factors: Corporation, Customers Competition. In construction of Business strategy above factors must be examined thoroughly to arrive at marketing plan. The Corporation: Aira Brewries is beer selling company selling beer brands like Hostenbech- European style lager beer, San Bernanardo Cameolet- British style dark bitter beer, Ark royal British style dark bitter beer, pot of gold- Irish style dark stout beer with premium price. The brands are promoted through super markets, fashionable markets, Up market city centre bars. The copany has high cost structure and has efficiency as its strength. The Customer: The proposed target market China is undoubtedly a large consumer market in the world and beer in particular. The vast spread of consumers with varied languages make MNCs experience the difficulty of convincing Chinese consumers. The competitors: In china due to liberalisation policy many MNCs are trying to make a mark in China market. The competition in china Beer markets is very intensive. China market expects to come up with cost effective products where local sellers have an edge over MNCs. San Miguel is one of top three selling brands in china and largest selling brand in china. Sabmiller is the world second largest selling has 47 breweries and operating in 13 provinces of China. Bud Light beer has bottom line structure. Various players include CBR Brewing company inc. china Food beverage company, China resource enterprise ltd., Fomento Economico Mexicano SA de CV, Scottish new castle, Fujian Yanjing Huiquan Brewing group Kirin Brewery Company Ltd., etc. Quick glance at China Economy: China has recorded 11.9% GDP growth rate accounts for $ US 3565 billion (USD 1 = RMB7) is a clear indication that Chinese have got fair standards of living and spending power of consumer has been remarkable Economic Indicators 2007 2006 GDP (RMB trillion) 24.7 21.1 Per capita GDP (RMB) 2,200 16.084 Per capita disposable income of urban households 13,786 11,759 Per capita Net income for rural households 4,140 3,587 Table: 1 Source: National Bureau of Statistics Market Opportunities threats in China: Due to vast population China will offers great opportunities for potential marketers, provided the market is analyzed and a feasible program is developed. The barriers usually for any MNCs are inadequate market data, inappropriate entry strategy. Poor access to supply chain, vast spread of geographical market, cultural differences etc. It is advocated to distinguish the gap between the developed and less developed markets. Uniform marketing strategy is not suitable in view of large market. The beer market is not similar every where; it is more of localized driven by local tastes and preferences. It could be defined as pool of regional markets. Domestic players will play dominant role and take maximum market share. But their presence is limited to maximum of 2% of national market. Majority of market share i.e. 45% is controlled by 4 players. Beer Market Scenario in China: The high spending level of consumers in China has lead to growth of Beer market in manifolds and ignited by Foreign Direct investment. China has now became largest national beer market in the world crossing USA. There were 4 companies in china and has grown to 60 by 2007. McKinsey Global institute has thrown light on newly emerging segment in the recent past- Urban Middle class who has been earning RMB 100000 ($12000) a year became a hot button to every beer marketer. Table 2 Year Million Liters Annual Growth (%) 2007 32035,83 10.04 2008 33459.42 4.44 2009 34 904.69 4.32 2010 36,371.42 4.20 2011 37.860.59 4.09 Source: http://www.globalbusinessinsights.com/content/rbaa0012m.pdf Growth of China Population Trends: It is a known fact that china is most populated country with 1321 millions as per 31 December 2007 comprise of 51% male 49 percent female. The population size makes china a land of opportunities driven by advanced technology usage while producing. Understanding Chinese Market Risk Element: Small Medium enterprise like Aire breweries may need to mobilize recourses to tap the potential of Chinese beer market. In this regard they have to analyse their strengths weaknesses. Most of MNCs fail because of the poor distribution system and failure to identify a piggy back partner. More over the law in china has been very stringent. Unless the marketer study the cultural aspects thoroughly it may lead to chaotic situation. Cultural aspects of China Market: Chinese consumers are very patriotic and do practice their culture meticulously. Due to strong socialistic approach they support local products. Foreign players may suffer from non-acceptance of their offering due to invisible influences of culture which cannot be demonstrated. Law at China: The china legal system is very complicated and frustrating to MNCs. The familiarity to china culture will facilitate the understanding of law. It is always better to have a local partner to promote the business and as a part of political risk (i.e. confiscation of assets or blockage of funds) handling mechanism Geographical Segmentation: It is wise to adapt Regio-centric approach or Multi Domestic approach to reach vast china market. Here subsidiary in each province of china has to devise their plan to suit the need Preferences of that region. This approach demand to have varied marketing mix with coordinated efforts of other territories. Demographic Profile of Consumers: China population (1341 millions male female ratio 51:49) has been multi-religious ranging from Buddhism, Taoism, Catholics, Protestantism, and Islam, interestingly deal business according to their religions and Socio-cultural values. Since ages Chinese companies have been transferring ancestral values to present generation which establish relationships refer to term â€Å"guan xi†. Relations drive the businesses to offer extent of product mix. Distribution of Population income wise: Table 3 Population (million) Gross National Income (Billion) Low Income 2512 10.20 Middle Income 2667 49.22 High Income 955 49.22 Source: US census Bureau, World Bank group, McKinsey analysis Marketing Mix: Product: China has been largest beer market but with different tastes across the nation. 500 ml and 750 ml are most preferred quantities served in bottles cans. The per capita consumption 18 ltrs has not been impressive when compared with USA (84 ltrs) UK (74 ltrs) per capita consumption. Aire Breweries need to develop localized tastes along with their premium brands. The test marketing will help company to know the preferences. Price: The beer in china market is sold at pretty cheap. 750 ml beer costs 25 cents. Locally made MNC brands Carlsberg and Pabst blue are also sold at fairly cheaper rates. Aire breweries plc., has to adapt bottom line pricing or inline pricing to get acces in the market Promotion: As many languages are used across china, mandarin is widely used language, it is a difficult task to develop a theme while advertising. Few MNCs failed to translate the essence of ad copy lead to waste. It may be advocated to be cautious to understand cultural dimensions while developing ad copy to rural folks Place (Distribution): The mechanism of distribution of beer products in China takes place via Distributors appointed by Manufacturers in turn retailer super markets. Distributor is focal point from which whole-salers supply the goods. Each distributor holds rights to sell one brands. Wholesalers will buy different brands from different distributors and dispense. Foreign players suffer from effective reach. Joint venture structure of distribution will help to overcome problems. Piggyback model of distribution will strengthen Distributor- retailer model. Multi channel mode of distribution will serve the purpose. Marketing Planning: International marketer need to deal with at least two level of uncontrollable uncertainties. The success of marketing program depends on optimal adjustment to business climate in which you are operating. After analyzing opportunities and select the province of china next step is to define the target market. Chinese are got enough disposable income and have been accepting beer as food beverage. Target market will give a direction to develop marketing mix and total number of potential consumers approximately. Aire Breweries should have good local partner to implement marketing strategy and extend support to reach target market. The price and promotion campaign need to be devised according to local practices. Entry Strategy: Once the market profiling is done, it is always good to enter in to the Chinese market through a joint venture. For many years, the Aire Valley Breweries plc, a UK company focused its marketing effort on premium-priced products. As beer market is growing at good rate, it is high time to get in to China market with constructive marketing strategy. A Joint-venture with local partner will offer ease in operations procurement of recourses, recruitment and handling beaurocratic issues. The local partner knowledge on competition, language, culture and business systems can influence the government policy. Conclusion: China is very potential because of vast population but high levels of risk has been demonstrated.Aire breweries may take assistance of local marketing research organisation to seek first hand information for political socio-cultural aspects. References: Kenichi Ohmae, (1990), The Next global stage available at http: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3c%27s_model Jeffrey Hays (2008) wine beer in China available at http://www.factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=142catid News Report (Dec 2006) Beer market in china http://www.globalbusinessinsights.com/content/rbaa0012m.pdf National Bureau of statistics of China, available at http://www.chinaknowledge.com/market/book- Starmas international Business consultants (2009) China trends available at http://www.starmass.com/china_review/economy/_overview/china_macroeconomic.htm China Knowledge Bureau report, (2008) available at http://www.chinaknowledge.com/market/book-china consumer.aspx?subchap=1content=3 Chinese Beer Industry Report, (October 2007) Koncept Analytics Publishers, UK available at http://www.reportbuyer.com.food_drink/alcoholic_drinks/beer/chinese_beer_industry Beer Market in china (2008), A Market analysis of Aroq Ltd. Published at UK available at http://www.justdrinks.com/store/product.aspx?id=68150 Jeffrey Hays (2008) wine beer in China available at http://www.factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=142catid 10. Richard Benson-Armer, Joshua Leibowitz, And Deepak Ramachandran (1999) Global Beer: Whats On Tap? available at https://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/ghost.aspx?ID=/Global_beer_Whats_on_Tap_321 News Report, (December 2006 ) Beer market in China http://www.globalbusinessinsights.com/content/rbaa0012m.pdf Don Lee, (29, April 2009), China relaxes business regulations, Los Angeles Times, available at http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr/29/business/fi-chinaregs29 Charles W. L Hill, 2005, 5th Ed, International Business, Tata McGraw-Hill, New Delhi, India p- 166 Philip R Cateora, John L Graham (2008) 3ed, International Marketing, Tata McGraw-Hill, New Delhi, India p26 InfoPacific Development Inc. (2009), Kompass, China http://www.chinatoday.com/general/a.htm Prof. Jiangang (Jim) Dai Prof. Chen Zhou (March 2008), Beer Distribution In China, Georgia Institute of Technology, available at http://www.scl.gatech.edu/research/china/beerreport2008.pdf China Business Intelligence analysis available at http://chinabizintel.com/industry-updates/several-major-problems-in-chinas-beer-market.html

ICT In The Hospitality Industry

ICT In The Hospitality Industry Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is supposed to be one of the basic building blocks of the modern society and it is a necessary component of business culture. Information and Communication Technology plays a vital role in the hospitality industry and its importance has dramatically increased over the years. In todays world, each and every business uses ICTs and it is no more a distinct characteristic or a unique quality of any business, but using ICTs in a more effective and efficient way will help in obtaining a competitive advantage. Hospitality industry belongs to the service industry and consists of number of fields such as restaurants, lodging, theme parks, transportation, event planning and various other fields within the tourism industry. The hospitality industry always depend upon two main factors: one is the availability of leisure time and the other is the disposable income. Hospitality industries is one of the worlds largest and most permeant industries, the industry has exposed itself to the forces of change, especially by the ongoing developments in ICTs. E-commerce has been negatively influenced by few factors such as the current political developments and the slowing economy, but it is still booming in the hospitality industry. In the hospitality industry, the internet is not only used for gathering information, but it is also being used for acceptance of ordering services over the internet. Information and communication technology and hospitality are two of the most dynamic drivers of our global economy. In the case of hospitality industry, many authors have claimed that tourism must be treated as an information-intensive industry (Poon 1993; Sheldon 1997; Inkpen 1998), whereas, travel and tourism can be defined as an information business. Hospitality industry is a business that is related to information in all the ways, because information is one of the most important quality parameters to support actions for the tourism area as a service industry. Information is also used in various means in the hospitality industry, mainly they are observed in areas where gathering of information, generation, application, processing, application and communication of information is as important for day-to-day operation. Hospitality industry is also considered as a hybrid industry because more than any other services, they are more dominated by information. In the whole tourism sector, hospitality industry is considered as the forefront and it is always sensitive to the competitive pressure which keeps increasing constantly. The industry is also sensitive to the operational needs that are effective and control tools which are always the growing need. In order to overcome all the competitive pressure and to be effective, the use of ICTs will be the only solution as it is capable of bringing in new business opportunities as well as help in the overall business development. NEW INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES Innovation is a process that mediates between two streams of human activity. Market and technology develop in parallel and independently, save for a linkage through innovation. Innovation, therefore, is a response to changes in one or both of these streams. As the market changes, firms have to innovate with new products and services, frequently having to seek out new technology in order to accomplish this. On the other side, rapidly changing technology creates new opportunities and sometimes even creates changes in market structure. As a consequence, the more rapidly that stream changes, the greater the pressure will be for firms to be innovative. (Morton 1991) ICT always has a significant impact on all the industries and the growing importance of ICT in the daily business started causing threats and opportunities for the business. The current markets are changing, becoming bigger, faster, getting more standardised, it is always being segmented properly and all these makes it completely competitive. ICT has created a all new information infrastructure which resulted in a new way of accessing information between the buyer, seller and the middleman. Over the past few years, there has been a transformation from an industrial economy to an information economy in the industrialized world (Parker, 1998). ICT has been completely changing the business world and will also be changing the forms, processes as well as the substance of the firms and organisations. One of the most important scenes in the current world is that ICT has been driving the productivity as well as the profitability of any business. The scenario is not just about the decrease in computing costs or the increase in computing speeds and capacities, it is all about the new ways of using the computers and technology which would influence the existing business processes as well as the value chain in the hospitality industry (Thompson 1990; King 1998). Porter and Millar (Porter and Millar 1985) contend that ICT is also affecting the competition in major ways: ICT can change the structure of an industry, and alter rules of competition. ICT can be used to create sustainable competitive advantage and provide companies with new competitive weapons. ICT enables new business which can be developed from a companys existing activities. Porter (Porter 1985; Porter and Millar 1985; Porter 1995; Porter 2001) recognizes that ICT is reshaping industries and organizations competitiveness by changing the nature or conduct of business. ICT enhances the ability of organizations to manage their resources, increases their productivity, to communicate their policies and market their offerings, and to develop partnerships with all their stakeholders, namely consumers, suppliers, public sector, etc. We can state that ICT supports the development and maintenance of organizational competitiveness and competitive advantage. ICTs ADOPTION IN HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY In the hospitality industry, technology is considered as an important of sustainable competitive advantage and a strategic weapon (Poon, 1993; Sheldon, 1997; Connolly and Olsen, 2000; Rao, Metts and Monge, 2003). Various studies (Buhalis and Main, 1998; Evans and Peacock, 1999; Vich-i-Martorell, G.A., 2004; Tang and Louvieris, 2004) have found that the hospitality industry have been always keen in adopting information technology. The reason for the adoption of ICTs in hospitality industry is that they require a diverse range of information which basically made them encouraged to adopt the technology, as well as because of the widespread use of e-mail and the development of an on-line presence amongst the vast majority of organisations. Buhalis (2003) proposed that internet has been an ideal way of selling inventories on-line because of the broke up nature of the hospitality industry. Further investigation revealed that the level of ICTs adoption varies between various enterprises (Sigala, 2003). In most of the small and medium organisation, these services are available rarely because of the inadequate on-line booking services (Fux et al. (2007). Most of the earlier studies have cited the issue about the problems in answering to e-mails and defensive adoption of e-mail marketing in the small organisations. (Frey et al., 2003; Murphy et al. 2003; Schegg et al. 2006; Schegg et al. 2007). The following indicates the ICT index in the hospitality industry for various activities. Activities and ICT Index 4. ICT IN USE 4.1 Electronic Data Processing (EDP) Electronic Data Processing is usually referred to the use of automated methods to process data. The technology adoption increased before many years but it was basically limited to only the operational and administrative areas. Most of the organisation does not utilize the information that is available in the information system in order to use them in their strategic planning and decision making processes. 4.2 Property Management System (PMS) In the hospitality industry, ICTs are mainly used in booking systems which is considered as an internal technology. Property Management System acts as a central point that coordinates both the technology and hospitality operations. The main purpose of property management system is to manage room inventory, produce billing information and also to record the details of the guests or the customers. In order to integrate the billing and management reports, it often creates a interface with various other systems such as telephone system and food and beverages point of sales terminal. 4.3 Central Reservation System (CRS) Central Reservation System is a computerised system that helps to store and distribute information. When an organisation has a chain or belongs to any franchise group, Central Reservation System always helps in various ways. The system helps to book between all the organisations in the chain and would also accept direct booking from the central reservation office. The systems always have a direct access into property management system which would automatically update information to the front office. 4.4 Global Distribution System (GDS) Global Distribution System is also a computerised system which will include hotels, airlines, car rental and also other travel resources and they are most commonly used by travel agents. Global Distribution System is actually an operation in the computer reservation system and helps to book and sell tickets to multiple airlines. The system is not always connected to the main system and information will not be updated automatically, which means the information has to be updated manually. 4.5 Yield Management (YM) Yield Management which is also known as revenue management is a process in which the consumer behaviour is understood, anticipated and also influenced. It will result in maximizing the revenue as well as the profit from the resources. In the hospitality industry, yield management is used widely and largely in the same way. Using yield management, the rates, rooms and restrictions on sales are calculated in order to maximize the return of the business. The revenue managers in the hospitality industry have acquired over the last few years and in such a global economy the right distribution channel, correct controlling costs and the right marketing mix plays a vital role in yield management. The services are sold to the right people, at the right time and at the right place. Model of ICT INTERNET AND ITS USAGE IN HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY The Internet is a worldwide network and a global system that is interconnected to computer networks which use TCP/IP protocols to serve billions of users. The Internet plays a vital role in the hospitality industry and is being used in various forms. It also supports a wide range of services and tools that would enable communication and also data sharing. Some of the most important usage and activities on the internet are: (Cockburn and Wilson 1996) 5.1 Communication The Internet helps a lot in communication especially in the hospitality industry. It represents the largest part of the traffic that crosses the Internet. eMail is one way to communicate and it is also better for many companies and a way to go online. The main reason eMail is efficient is because it is cheap (eMail costs less than long-distance charges for fax machines or the phone), fast (most Internet mail arrives at its destination only minutes after dispatch), easy to use, and links many companies. The other advantage of eMails is that the message that is being delivered to the destination will already be in the electronic form. It reduces the time to scan and re-enter the data into the computer. eMail is the most used communication medium today for internal as well as for external communication. 5.2 Collaboration Collaboration is one other way the Internet can be used and most of the companies use the Internet to link themselves to the outside world. Usually, the connections are very easy to set up and also are very fast. In the hospitality industry, most of the companies are some way or the other linked with each other, so establishing a connection is very important and the Internet helps a lot. Staples, which is an American office that supplies store chain uses the Internet in a effective way and helps the customer to order various office supplies. Staples have also created their own customized supply catalogs which can run even in the intranet of the customers. All these catalogues will contain various items and their prices which are negotiated in the contract with each company. Using some of the eProcurement technologies, the customers are able to reduce cost of purchase order processing dramatically and also helps them to search and order items electronically (Ghosh 1998). 5.3 Information gathering The Internet can also be used to gather information easily and faster. Many companies use the Internet to gather data and information which can be used as an additional resource, especially companies that are involved in research and development. Almost most of the information and data are available over the Internet free of charge which helps the company to reduce their overall operating costs. One such example is Magna International, which is a leading global supplier of automotive components, systems and also complete modules. The company has created a database of their own which stores all the information about several of their competitors, rivals and partners. Information about their activities, development and future plans are stored in the Internet, most of which are extracted from the Internet. 5.4 Direct marketing and advertising The Internet and worldwide web is a useful resource which most of the companies use to improve their overall performance and profitability of the company. The Internet is an ideal medium in the business world that helps to promote the company as well as their services and products. The Internet marketing is one way of promoting the hospitality industry to the entire world which is also flexible and interactive. It helps to deliver all the required information to the consumers or the customers. Most of the companies in the hospitality industry have created their own homepages on the web which helps to get in contact with millions of people all over the world. It is helpful in one way or the other for the small companies to compete with larger ones. 5.5 Direct online selling Nowadays people are not required to go to some shopping centres or malls to do their shopping. They can do all that at the convenience from their house, companies have got their virtual experience into the web, where the customers can browse through the entire range of catalogs, and also examine their products more in detail. Whereas in the hospitality industry, customers are able to order food, book air tickets, rail tickets, browse through the events, and books the hotels with all the customized options. One good example of online selling will be the companies like Dell and Amazon. Dell sells their computers online, where the customers can choose their required configuration and they sell computers online at the rate of about $1 million a day. The travel platform Tiscover has almost initiated about 500,000 reservations and bookings in the year 2008. Different Forms of eCommerce CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE OF HOSPITALITY The hospitality industry has started realizing gradually that the revolution of ICT has changed all the operational practices and various paradigms; it has also altered the competitiveness of all the major hospitality actors in the market. In order to take advantage of the capabilities of the Internet, the hospitality industry has integrated the front office as well as the back office in a framework. Greater speed, connectivity, information-sharing and transparency is achieved by the convergence of all the technological devices. Because of which, all the organisation in the hospitality industry are focusing more on knowledge-based competition and are in the need for continuous innovation. The management are also under pressure and are forced to stay abreast on all the developments that occur in the market (Connolly et al., 2000). The organisations in the hospitality industry are focussed on increasing their online booking and online services by promoting their presence in the web more aggressively. The organisations have also capitalised on various collaboration and partnership marketing. In order to help the organisations connect to the wide range of distributors in the market, a multi-channel strategies are used. Some of the reports say that there are almost 35,000 websites where the consumers are able to book rooms in various hotels. All these developments have given way to wide range of challenges, integrity of rates, perception of brand, customer value and also segmentation. Because of the advancement in technology, the consumers are able to contact various organisations constantly which in return increase the transparency. The increase in transparency has made the entire organisation in the hospitality industry to rethink about their pricing strategies. The Internet has come up with many new tools for communicating with partners and consumers, which has implication on the distribution of the industry. The personalisation of products, information and processes has resulted in the emergence of high-tech and high-touch opportunities which the industry itself has to appreciate. The industry now has the opportunity to create a relationship with the customers and basically makes it to adopt the customer-centred approach. The organisations are able to add value at each and every stage of consumer interaction just because all the departments in the organisation are coordinated using ICT-enabled processes. In order to demonstrate the benefits and to illustrate the innovation of small properties, the ICTs are utilised strategically. The organisations are also enhancing their virtual size and compete with larger players by developing links with other properties. Whereas, all larger organisations are benefitted from the multi-channel distribution strategies, economies of scale and also from streamlining their operations through e-procurement. Globalised agenda are developed and are ensured that their operations and strategies are coordinated throughout the world by all the larger chain of organisation. In any case, ICTs and the Internet will be critical for the competitiveness of both large and small hospitality organizations. CONCLUSION The aim of the research is to explain the various uses of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the hospitality industry. ICT has been already used by all the key players in the industry which gives them the required competitive advantage, whereas small organisations are at a lower level. However, the Internet can be used as a powerful instrument to overcome all the disadvantages and helps to establish a competitive advantage in the market. Using ICT will not offer a competitive advantage, because the entire world is well aware about the technology and its usage. So the organisation should focus on using the right technology more effectively and efficiently. Basically, there are three objectives which the industry as well as the organisations in the industry has to focus on: Define a framework with which competitive advantage can be gained, and make the process systematised and evaluated from eCommerce solution Consolidating the business values of the Internet Explore the ways in which the competitive advantage can be enhanced and improved The advantages of the internet can be classified into two main categories: one as a primary tool for distribution, reducing the overall costs and by increasing the occupancy rate, and secondly it can be considered as a tool to increase the direct contact with the consumers or the customers. To extend the success factor in the hospitality industry, the internet can be used in product development, online surveys, online booking and also for various personalisations.

Against Schools Essay -- Analysis, John Gatto

The Quality of a child’s education often either limits or opens up a world of opportunities. Those who study the purpose of public education and the way it is distributed throughout society can often identify clear correlations between social class and the type of education a student receives. It is generally known by society that wealthy families obtain the best opportunities money can buy. Education is a tool of intellectual and economical empowerment and since the quality of education is strongly influenced by social class, a smaller portion of the American population obtains the opportunities acquired from a top notch education. Many people believe that educational inequalities are perpetuated from the interests of specific classes, but some researchers like John Gatto believe that there are even stronger social forces in play. In the essay â€Å"Against Schools† the author John Gatto presents three arguments: (1) that are educational system is flawed, (2) that the American educational system is purposely designed to create a massive working class that is easy to manipulate, and (3) alternative teaching methods should be applied to teach children to think for themselves. In this essay I will be summarizing and relating each of these arguments to other educational essays. Also, I will be discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the author’s argument. In John Gatto’s essay â€Å"Against Schools† he states from experience as a school teacher that are current educational system is at fault (148). He claims that classrooms are often filled with boredom manufactured by repetitive class work and unenthusiastic teachings. Students are not actively engaged and challenged by their work and more often than not they have either already covered t... ... people are more advantaged than others and will receive a top notch education, while others will receive a mediocre education that will prepare them less for college and more for a working class job. There most likely is a connection between social class and the educational opportunities presented to students, but it is also possible that other social forces are at play which determines the quality of a student’s education. In Gatto’s essay it was argued that are educational system is designed to perpetuate faults in order to create a manageable society. He supports his argument with various strong statements which makes his logic convincing, but he falls short when backing the credibility of his claims. The strengths of his essay prove to also be its weakness, which results in a piece of literature that only succeeds in arousing emotional reactions from readers.

Electoral Gender-Based Quotas Essay -- Political Science

Hillary Rodham Clinton once said, â€Å"There cannot be true democracy unless women's voices are heard.† In 2006, when Nancy Pelosi became the nation’s first female Speaker of the House, one woman’s voice rang out clear. With this improvement, democracy grew to its truest level ever in terms of women’s equality. Regretfully, female candidates had never been so lucky in the past. There was a time when female candidates were highly underestimated; Men always had higher chance of being selected to any electoral office than any female had, even though they both might have been well qualified for that post. Never in the history of America, males politicians had wanted to recognize those women’ potential and true values; thus, sick and tired of always being misjudged, remarkable females had manifested their desire for equal representation, equal citizenship and equal rights by persistently debating and pleading. Opportunely for them, by the end of 1967 so ciety finally decided to acknowledge the females’ rights; accordingly, several countries decided to establish the gender - based quotas through the affirmative action in order to benefit them. Nowadays, the affirmative action is a growing argument in our society. Some can define it as a quota-based system in which people from different minority groups struggle for their equality and inclusiveness, while others might see it as an unfair way to benefit unqualified groups. But, what is it exactly? The affirmative action mostly refers to rules designed to provide groups that have suffered from discrimination on the ground of race, ethnic and gender in the past, greater opportunities with the principal aim of giving them preferential treatments. Unquestionably, it has aroused jealousy and tons... ... gain something from it. Males’ politicians gain a feminine support, females get to show their skills to the world while us citizens, get to live in a better world in which the government is really looking forward to provide us a superior quality of life. As Suzan Anthony famously said, â€Å"It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union; Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less†. Works Cited †¢ http://www.quotegarden.com/feminism.html †¢ http://www.quotaproject.org/aboutQuotas.cfm †¢ www.wikipedia.org †¢ "Women Represent Only 19 per Cent of Membership in Parliament Worldwide – Speaker." Vibe Ghana. 29 Nov. 2011. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. .

History of Rwanda Essay -- Genocide in Rwanda, Politics

Colonial rule in Rwanda began in 1895. It was used as the primary force for governing during that time and led to the emergence of Rwanda’s national identity. During the colonial era German and Belgian officials regarded the Tutsi, Hutu, and Twa as three distinct national groups. The colonial authorities helped the Rwandan monarchy to centralize its control and expand their social system throughout the Rwandan territory. This eliminated the local social and political variations that had been established earlier in the pre-colonial period. By creating new state institutions in Rwanda, colonial officials were able to import the ideas of nationality associated with the modern nation-state. Ensuing social and political issues surround the idea of how Rwandan nationality should be defined. In other words, which ethnic groups should be considered â€Å"true† citizens of Rwanda? This concern is overshadowing the validity of Rwandan as a national identity. The three ethnic groups found within Rwanda come from a combination of a vast amount of immigration and several economic and social differences. Traditionally it is known that the Twa groups were the original inhabitants; the Hutu migrated from the west, and the Tutsi followed much later from the northeast. Each group naturally took on the language and most cultural practices found in Rwanda, although they implemented some of their own practices as well. The differentiation amongst the groups occurred only during the colonial period and stemmed mainly from European ideas about race and identity than from historic cultural patterns. Colonial administrators attempted to organize power in Rwanda along ethnic lines, and began instituting policies that made the Hutu pariahs and favored the Tuts... ...n support of the overall Government of Rwanda’s initiatives for development, the USAID aims to improve the health and living situations of Rwandans as well as increase the economic and political expansion. To achieve this, USAID tries to promote the improvement of maternal and child health, agriculture and tourism, a more democratic Rwanda, and providing food aid to those that suffer the most. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) (created by the Bush Administration in 2004) works toward granting foreign aid to countries in need. Currently the MCC has collaborated with the USAID to obtain approval of the Threshold Country Plan submitted by the Government of Rwanda in November 2007. Once approved, the plan will be put into use by USAID and will focus on amplifying the forms of justice found in Rwanda; along with civic participation, and human and civil rights. History of Rwanda Essay -- Genocide in Rwanda, Politics Colonial rule in Rwanda began in 1895. It was used as the primary force for governing during that time and led to the emergence of Rwanda’s national identity. During the colonial era German and Belgian officials regarded the Tutsi, Hutu, and Twa as three distinct national groups. The colonial authorities helped the Rwandan monarchy to centralize its control and expand their social system throughout the Rwandan territory. This eliminated the local social and political variations that had been established earlier in the pre-colonial period. By creating new state institutions in Rwanda, colonial officials were able to import the ideas of nationality associated with the modern nation-state. Ensuing social and political issues surround the idea of how Rwandan nationality should be defined. In other words, which ethnic groups should be considered â€Å"true† citizens of Rwanda? This concern is overshadowing the validity of Rwandan as a national identity. The three ethnic groups found within Rwanda come from a combination of a vast amount of immigration and several economic and social differences. Traditionally it is known that the Twa groups were the original inhabitants; the Hutu migrated from the west, and the Tutsi followed much later from the northeast. Each group naturally took on the language and most cultural practices found in Rwanda, although they implemented some of their own practices as well. The differentiation amongst the groups occurred only during the colonial period and stemmed mainly from European ideas about race and identity than from historic cultural patterns. Colonial administrators attempted to organize power in Rwanda along ethnic lines, and began instituting policies that made the Hutu pariahs and favored the Tuts... ...n support of the overall Government of Rwanda’s initiatives for development, the USAID aims to improve the health and living situations of Rwandans as well as increase the economic and political expansion. To achieve this, USAID tries to promote the improvement of maternal and child health, agriculture and tourism, a more democratic Rwanda, and providing food aid to those that suffer the most. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) (created by the Bush Administration in 2004) works toward granting foreign aid to countries in need. Currently the MCC has collaborated with the USAID to obtain approval of the Threshold Country Plan submitted by the Government of Rwanda in November 2007. Once approved, the plan will be put into use by USAID and will focus on amplifying the forms of justice found in Rwanda; along with civic participation, and human and civil rights.

Reaction Paper Leadership Essay

Leaders are made and not born. Leadership skills can be thought to anyone who is willing and given an opportunity to lead an organization. It is important have someone to continue the goals of a company. There are some qualities a great leader should have: Be strong when you are week – This is very important for developing a leader. You need to give them the opportunity to grow strong and they will learn from their own experience in leadership especially when a leader is weak, he has no choice but to become strong. Be brave when you are scared – Risks are very essential in business. You need to be brave to take risks. In developing a leader, it might be risky because they might fail their tasks but learning takes time and someone needs to experience failure in order to succeed. Be humble when you are victorious – Executive leaders don’t shout their success, instead they remain humble and silent. The more you show your achievements, the more people will env y you and will try to destroy you. A few days ago, I had this opportunity to attend a gathering with successful salesman. We played dice game and everyone is aiming for the first price. Theirs this one man beside me, he said that he didn’t want to get the first price because he didn’t want too much greedy, any price will do. I knew this guy as a successful man but he dress and live very simple. The moral lesson I learned is that you don’t need to be greedy and live elegant in life, you just need to stay humble. As a leader, you need to stay humble to your employees. The business world is very crucial place and having too much pride and envy will not earn you anything. Sometimes when the company has too much greediness, they will became impromptu in investing without thinking further and this might became the cause of their downfall. Look at the mirror and not on the window – a great leader don’t need to hear negative feedbacks form others, they look at their self and improve. Other people might tell you that you can’t achieve anything in life or other people will judge you. The important is that you know yourself that you can reach you goals and if ever they judge your capabilities, prove it to them that their wrong. You can’t  explain to everyone that why they shouldn’t judge you, instead make this as your motivation to change other’s belief on you. A great leader is honest of what he/she is capable of. You don’t need to pretend of what you have and promise to a person, you will just break people’s trust on you. Trust is your most important assent – Great companies expands and continually growing because of the people who trust them. They use this trust to get investors and stock holders. They trust this companies that they will became successful someday. Leaders need to gain trust from their employees. If your employee’s don’t trust you, they will not follow your advice and your commands.

Obesity Amongst Mexican Children Essay

Abstract: The prevalence of overweight children in the United States of Mexican descent is higher for second generation than their first generation counterparts. First generation immigrants tend to keep a healthier lifestyle by consuming more fresh fruits and vegetables, walking longer distances and smoking less than the more acculturated Mexican-Americans. Acculturation is a major contributing factor for the alarming rates of obesity within Mexican children. When children of Mexican immigrants are exposed to American society, they develop unhealthy habits such as eating pizza and hot dogs during school lunch hours, access to vending machines, and media exposure where they are constantly bombarded with food related commercials of unhealthy nature. A lower socio-economic status, such as the recently immigrated parents, is also a contributing factor for obesity within Mexican children. High calorie and high fat content foods tend to be less expensive than fresh fruits and fresh vegetables, leading to poorer, unhealthier choices. Fast food chains are prohibitory expensive in Mexico, whereas in the US they are not. As young Mexican children develop their sense of identity while they separate from their parents or caregivers and seek acceptance from their American peers, they integrate themselves into the fast food culture leading to obesity amongst Mexican-American children of second generation in the US. The incidence of obesity in Mexican adults has increased markedly over the years. Data from the 1993 National Survey of Chronic Diseases (Encuesta Nacional de Enfermedades Cronicas) showed an obesity prevalence of 21. 5%. The 2000 National Health Survey (Encuesta Nacional de Salud) indicated that 24% of adults suffered obesity. Data from the 2006 National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT 2006) revealed that 30% of adults of both sexes were obese. (Rojas,R, Aguilar-Salinas, C. , Jimenez, A. , Gomez, F. , Barquera, S. , 2012, p. 8) In the last two decades, the prevalence of childhood obesity, defined as at or above the 95th percentile of body mass index (BMI) for age and gender (Center for Disease Control, 2009), has more than doubled among children aged 6–11 years and tripled among adolescents aged 12–19 years, and here is no evidence that this trend is coming to an end (Ogden, 2002). This is a serious public health concern because obese children and adolescents are at an increased risk for various physical, mental, and emotional health problems, including impaired glucose tolerance , insulin resistance, atherosclerosis , coronary heart disease in adulthood , development of eating disorders, and low self-esteem (Seo, D. & Sa, J. , 2009). The obesity epidemic disproportionately affects racial/ethnic minority children, who are defined as American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian American, Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino, Native Hawaiian, or OBESITY AMONGST MEXICAN CHILDREN: ARE FIRST GENERATION MEXICAN CHILDREN 3 MORE PRONE TO OBESITY THAN THEIR SECOND GENERATION COUNTERPARTS? other Pacific Islander (CDC, 2009). According to estimates based on the 2001–2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), among children aged 6–19 years, 22. 2% of Mexican American children and 20. 5% of non-Hispanic Blacks were obese as compared with only 13. 6% of non-Hispanic whites. Other studies performed by Ogden and colleagues (2002) also affirm a larger prevalence of obesity among Mexican American and Black children compared with white children. These rates of obesity are far from the 2010 national health objective of Healthy People 2010. The higher incidence of obesity among minority children is alarming because these racial/ethnic groups have a lower insulin sensitivity than white children (Seo, D, & Sa, J. 2009). Obesity is an epidemic facing millions of people across the globe, resulting in more than 300,000 deaths in the United States alone (Dishman, 2004). Historically, the majority of people affected by obesity were adults. However, in the last decade this epidemic has spread to our youth. Excess weight in U. S. children has increased in prevalence and has become a serious public health concern. Currently, about 33% of children ages 2–5 in the U. S. are overweight (BMI in the 85th percentile or above), and 12% are considered obese (BMI in the 95th percentile or above) (CDC, 2009). Overweight children have a 70–80% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults, which may lead to an increase in obesity related disease among adults (United States Department of Human Health and Services, 2007). Obesity is one of the leading risk factors for disease and fatal health conditions, such as hypertension, type II diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, and some cancers (CDC, 2009). Not only is obesity linked to clinical conditions, but it may also lead to mental health problems such as self-blame and low self-esteem ( Haboush, A., Phebus, T. , Tanata Ashby, D. , Zaikina-Montgomery, H. , & Kindig, K. , 2011). This paper will focus on the contributing factors for the alarming obesity rates amongst Mexican children. Are second generation Mexican children more prone to obesity than their first generation counterparts? Mexican immigrant parents usually don’t view obesity as a threatening health issue. In fact, some research reports that Mexican mothers see childhood obesity as a sign of good heath (Rosas et al. ) and thinness as a sigh of illness (Sosa, 2012). Acculturation, or the process of adjusting to a new culture, describes social, psychological, and behavioral changes that an individual undergoes as result of immigration (Buttenheim, A. , Pebley, A. , Hsih, K. , Chung, C. , Goldman, N. , 2012). The drastic changes in lifestyle and social interactions that immigrants encounter upon arriving to the United States often put them at risk for negative health consequences (Ogden et al. , 2009). Of the negative health outcomes associated with OBESITY AMONGST MEXICAN CHILDREN: ARE FIRST GENERATION MEXICAN CHILDREN 4 MORE PRONE TO OBESITY THAN THEIR SECOND GENERATION COUNTERPARTS?acculturation in Mexican children, obesity is significant because it has implications for development of chronic diseases such as heart disease and Type II Diabetes (CDC, 2009). Mexican children are at increased risk for obesity upon immigration to the United States and are predisposed to development of chronic diseases,(Buscemi, J. , Beech, B. , & Relyea, G. , 2011). Mexican American mothers’ views on obesity, 40% of mothers with overweight children did not identify overweight as a health issue (Ariza et al. , 2004). When weight was used as an indicator of health, parents were more concerned with the health of skinny children than overweight children. Mexican American mothers were concerned with having thin children because a thin child could become sick and die (Small, L. , Melnyk, B. , Anderson-Gifford, D. , & Hampl, J. 2009). A second and less studied mechanism linking nativity of US immigrants to obesity risk is the interconnectedness of the food environment and migration dynamics in the sending country (Buttenheim et al. , 2012). This is particularly relevant in the case of obesity risk for Mexican-origin children in the US, given the large, circular migration flows between the two countries and the well-documented nutrition transition underway in Mexico (Popkin & Udry, 1998). This transition is characterized by a shift from unprocessed and low energy density diets to highly processed, energy dense foods. The transition is due in part to new food marketing strategies and a simultaneous decrease in physical activity that has accompanied urbanization and economic development in Mexico (Popkin &Udry, 1998). Mexico’s nutrition transition has been notably rapid: Mexico now has the second highest rates of adult obesity among OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries (after the US) (Rosas, 2011). A potential explanation for the increased obesity rates within the Mexican immigrants in the US is acculturative stress (Van Hook et al. , 2011). Mexican-origin immigrants, are often faced with discrimination based on race/ethnicity and immigrant status. This discrimination, in turn, leads to chronic stress and psycho-physiological stress responses, which are known to affect health over the long run . Thus, the process of integration into a society that views Mexican-origin immigrants as being of lower status than other social and racial/ethnic groups may itself result in chronic health problems, even if health behaviors remain constant over time and across immigrant generation. Why would duration of time in the US and immigrant generation affect obesity? The acculturation literature has emphasized the importance of dietary changes by duration in the US and across generation: increased acculturation is hypothesized to lead to decreased consumption of healthy foods and increased consumption of processed high OBESITY AMONGST MEXICAN CHILDREN: ARE FIRST GENERATION MEXICAN CHILDREN 5 MORE PRONE TO OBESITY THAN THEIR SECOND GENERATION COUNTERPARTS? fat/sugar foods. Gordon-Larsen et al. (2003) reported that first generation Mexican immigrant adolescents eat more rice, beans, fruit, and vegetables and less cheese and fast food than second generation Mexican-origin immigrants. Kaiser and colleagues (2007) say that acculturation seems to be a contributing factor for obesity amongst Mexican children. Acculturation can be defined as the process by which immigrants adopt the attitudes, values, customs, beliefs, and behaviors of a new culture. Two studies reported their findings on acculturation and potential implications on the nutritional status of Mexican American children. Kaiser and colleagues (2007) concluded that less acculturated mothers were more likely to provide alternate food choices when a child would not eat and use child-feeding strategies that may contribute to childhood overweight, such as bribes, threats, and punishment. Ariza, Chen, Binns, and Christoffel (2004) conducted a study to test their hypothesis that overweight was more prevalent in highly acculturated Mexican American children aged 5 to 6 years; however, the results did not substantiate an association between overweight and acculturation in this population. Duerksen and colleagues (2007) reported that increased levels of acculturation may lead to higher rates of overweight among Mexican American families if they were eating more meals at fast-food and buffet-style restaurants rather than selecting traditional, authentic Mexican restaurants. Studies indicated that less acculturated Mexican Americans consumed less fat, and more fiber, protein, vitamins A, C, E and B6, folate, calcium, potassium, and magnesium than their more acculturated counterparts (Rosas et al. 2011). Most research conducted across age groups and outcomes indicates that newly-arrived and less acculturated immigrants are healthier and live longer than natives. Unfortunately, this health advantage dissipates with duration of U. S. residence and does not extend to the next generation. In addition to the influence of parents’ acculturation on children’s behaviors, children can accelerate the acculturation process for their families as well because children are more likely to have a consistent exposure to typical American foods at school and likely to affect purchasing decisions of their parents. One of the biggest changes in children’s diets after moving to the United States has been suggested to be with the foods children consume at school. It has been reported that although Mexican American children liked the traditional ethnic foods they received at home, they preferred the American foods they were served at school (e.g. , pizza, hamburgers) (Rosas et al. 2011). Furthermore, there seemed to be a lack of awareness among children about the healthfulness of traditional Mexican foods (such as fruits, vegetables, and beans) or potential health risks of the typical American diet, which was perceived as pizza, hotdogs, hamburgers, and French fries. As children develop their own self and ethnic identities, they may seek separation from their parents and acceptance from their peers, and they may identify fast food and other less healthful food options with the United States culture. This can eventually lead to less healthful dietary patterns both for children and their families because children are likely to affect food-purchasing OBESITY AMONGST MEXICAN CHILDREN: ARE FIRST GENERATION MEXICAN CHILDREN 6 MORE PRONE TO OBESITY THAN THEIR SECOND GENERATION COUNTERPARTS? decisions in their households (Rosas et al. 2011). When looking into the influence of acculturation on food intake behaviors among children and youths, another important element of the social environment must be addressed: media exposure. Media exposure can have detrimental influences at both ends of the spectrum in terms of eating behaviors: children may adopt an unrealistically thin body image through exposure to popular culture, and unhealthy dieting practices or eating disorders may follow. Alternatively, they may increase their consumption of nutrient-poor, energy-dense foods that they are exposed to through advertisements, and this type of behavior may eventually lead to overweight status. There have been some initiatives to limit food marketing aiming at children, but nutritionally poor and energy dense foods (e.g. , high sugar cereals, candy, soft drinks, chips) still constitute the majority of the foods advertised on television (Kunkel et al. 2009). Several reports indicate that children choose advertised foods at significantly higher rates and attempt to influence their parents to purchase these foods. Unfortunately, advertisement of the nutritionally inferior food choices is not limited to television only; it is widespread through a variety of channels such as schools (vending machines, corporate sponsorship of school events and materials, etc. ), and online applications(e.g. , interactive games, sweepstakes, computer screensavers). Media exposure among children has been increasing over the past 10 years, and according to the 2009 estimates (Kunkel et al. 2009). American children spend about 7. 4 hours per day using or watching media such as television, computers, video games or movies. These estimates seem to be even higher among minorities) and individuals with lower socio economical status( SES) (Sussner et al. 2009). Hispanic youths were reported to spend about 5. 5 hours per day watching television while this estimate was 3. 5 hours per day for non-Hispanic whites in 2009. Moreover, screen time seems to increase with greater acculturation (Gordon-Larsen et al. 2003). The data from the 2003–04 National Survey of Children’s Health indicated that, in comparison to U. S. -born non-Hispanic white children with U. S. -born parents, foreign-born Hispanic children with immigrant parents were 31 percent more likely and U. S. -born Hispanic children with U. S. -born parents were 51 percent more likely to watch television. Although foreign-born Hispanics seem to be less likely to consume less healthful foods (Osypuk et al.2009), a reverse trend can be seen if these foods are more expensive in the country of origin but cheaper in the United States. For example, qualitative studies indicated that lower cost and increased availability were among the reasons for Mexican Americans to consume snacks, sweets, and fast food more in the United States . An earlier report pointed out that some foods, such as mayonnaise, margarine, and salad dressing were considered high-status items by many low-income families in Latin America (Romero-Gwynn et al. 1993). Similarly, Mexican adults living in Florida reported that in addition to fast food not being as readily available in their native country, it was more expensive than in the United States and therefore, they tended to eat fast food only for special occasions in their native OBESITY AMONGST MEXICAN CHILDREN: ARE FIRST GENERATION MEXICAN CHILDREN 7 MORE PRONE TO OBESITY THAN THEIR SECOND GENERATION COUNTERPARTS? country. Once these types of foods become more readily available and affordable for the immigrants in the United States, an increase in the consumption levels would be expected. Lower costs, widespread availability, and the convenience of fast food in the United States appear to be an enticing solution especially for time-strapped immigrant families with children (Lindsay et al. 2009). Qualitative studies among immigrants suggest a more relaxed lifestyle in Mexico versus a very busy lifestyle in the United States that leaves less time to cook or prepare foods. This type of lifestyle makes convenience foods very appealing, and it is likely to result in an increase in fast food consumption (Gray et al. 2005). In addition to the economic conditions related to the food environment, limited socioeconomic abilities of individuals also put immigrants at greater risk for unhealthy food intake patterns and entailing health issues. Higher rates of food insecurity and low SES among minorities and immigrants are likely to force individuals to purchase relatively cheaper and filling, but often nutrient-poor, energy-dense foods (Drewnowski and Darmon 2005). A binational study that was conducted in the United States and Mexico provided support for these eating patterns, and it also pointed out the country- or culture-specific variations in these associations. In the United States sample of this study, children with food insecurity were more likely to consume fat, saturated fat, sweets, and fried snacks compared to their food secure counterparts. In Mexico, however, food insecure (versus food secure) children displayed a different food intake pattern that was characterized by higher intakes of carbohydrates, dairy, and vitamin B6 (Rosas et al. 2009). One of the least studied aspects of the relationship between socioeconomic factors and food intake is the residential context and demographic makeup of the neighborhoods. One of the few studies that examined this context in a mostly Hispanic (but mixed ethnic) sample suggested that greater density of immigrants in residential areas was positively related to fruit and vegetable intake after controlling for individual factors such as age, race/ethnicity, language, country of birth, and education (Dubowitz et al. 2008). Another study also reported that high-fat/processed food intake (fats, oils, processed meats, fried potatoes, salty snacks, desserts) was lower in immigrant-dense neighborhoods even after controlling for SES, demographic factors, and acculturation (Rosas et al.2011). These results indicate beneficial dietary intake patterns for all residents (immigrant or not) residing in that area. Some of the potential factors underlying these results could be resulting from socioeconomic advantages through greater social capital, availability of stores with healthier ethnic food options, and higher consumption of healthier food intake habits, social norms, and values in the ethnically dense neighborhoods (Dubowitz et al. 2008). OBESITY AMONGST MEXICAN CHILDREN: ARE FIRST GENERATION MEXICAN CHILDREN 8 MORE PRONE TO OBESITY THAN THEIR SECOND GENERATION COUNTERPARTS? Highly acculturated Hispanic adults were more likely to have higher BMIs than their less acculturated counterparts. Similarly, second or third generation Hispanic youths were reported to be more likely overweight than their first generation counterparts (Popkin and Udry 1998). For adults, the difference in the overweight status by acculturation seems to be seen usually in a range of 10 to 21 years of residence in the United States, but interestingly, BMI differences were detectable by age two among less acculturated mothers’ children in a mostly Hispanic sample (Sussner et al. 2009). Some of the mechanisms underlying these findings could be the existence of cultural beliefs that associate overweight status among children with perception of good health (Sussner et al. 2009), failing to recognize overweight status, or acceptance of a larger body size as a desirable body image among Hispanics. Taken together, these cultural preferences can lead to obesity over time with the additional contribution of the typical environment in the United States that stimulates consumption of energy-dense foods and discourages physical activities. Certain food intake patterns (e. g., energy-dense foods) can lead to overweight or obese status as people acculturate. Although a factor analysis of nationally representative data from the NHANES 2001–02 did not indicate a specific dietary intake pattern in relationship to BMI or waist circumference (as measures of overall or central adiposity) among Mexican Americans (Carrera et al. 2007), it is possible that dietary intake might be related to obesity indirectly, or collectively with other lifestyle factors (e. g. , physical activity). It is also possible that the effects might be most pronounced at specific time periods during acculturation. Supporting this potential mechanism is the results from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health indicating that increased probability of overweight, which was related to changes in lifestyle factors (i. e. , screen time, diet), was detectable among first generation Mexican adolescents but not among second (or more) generation participants (Gordon-Larsen et al. 2003). Although social economic status (SES) is also linked to obesity, this association seems to vary depending on the SES measures used and also by race or ethnicity. For example, in a nationally representative sample of children, both education and income were negatively related to BMI among non-Hispanic whites, but only income was positively related to BMI among Hispanics (Balistreri and Van Hook 2009). As suggested by the authors, increasing education level may be a reflection of changes in knowledge, learning abilities, social class, and personal skills while higher income among immigrants might be an indicator of greater purchasing capacity, which can result in less healthful eating patterns in the absence of adequate nutrition knowledge, skills, and a healthful food environment. SES also seems to have gender-specific and long-term consequences. Data from a nationally representative longitudinal survey among adolescents indicated that there was a strong positive association between long-term (persistent) low SES and obesity among females. Among males, however, obesity rates were highest among those who had a socioeconomically disadvantaged beginning but gained autonomy, for example, home ownership later on. Most importantly, the report pointed out that the effect of SES on OBESITY AMONGST MEXICAN CHILDREN: ARE FIRST GENERATION MEXICAN CHILDREN 9 MORE PRONE TO OBESITY THAN THEIR SECOND GENERATION COUNTERPARTS?obesity was probably initiated before adolescence (Scharoun-Lee et al. 2009). Conclusion: The research has shown that second generation Mexican children are in fact more prone to obesity than their first generation counterparts. Causative factors such as media exposure, school lunch programs, socio-economic factors, and the influence of parents’ own acculturation into American society are all factors that can be addressed through various means with legislative, policy changes, and education. Then we can begin to affect positively the rising trend of obesity in second generation Mexican children in the United States. OBESITY AMONGST MEXICAN CHILDREN: ARE FIRST GENERATION MEXICAN CHILDREN 10 MORE PRONE TO OBESITY THAN THEIR SECOND GENERATION COUNTERPARTS? References: Abraido-Lanza, A. , White, K. , Vasques, E. (2004)Immigrant populations and health. In: Anderson N, editor. Encyclopedia of health and behavior. Newbury Park, CA: Sage; 2004. p. 533–537. Ariza, A. J. , Chen, E. H. , Binns, H. J. , & Christoffel, K. K. (2004). Risk factors for overweight in 5 – to 6-year old Hispanic American children: A pilot study. Journal of Urban Heath, 81 (1), 150-161. Balistreri, K. , & Van Hook, J. (2007). 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