Social Protection And Social Safety Net

Social Protection And Social Safety Net What is social protection and safety net? Social protection is a broad set of public arrangements and instruments that help individuals, households and communities in managing risks and shocks well, assure a basic level of consumption to the extreme poor. Social protection includes: social insurance, social assistance, safety nets, social services, legal and regulatory protection. So that social protection should complement family, community, and market mechanisms for protect the vulnerable against livelihood risk, and enhance the social status and assisting the very poor. Safety nets are basically income maintenance programs that protect a person or household against two adverse outcomes: a chronic incapacity to work and earn, and a decline in this capacity caused by imperfectly predictable lifecycle events (such as the sudden death of a bread winner), sharp shortfalls in aggregate demand or expenditure shocks (through economic recession or transition), or very bad harvests. Safety net programs serve two important redistribution (such as transfers to disadvantaged groups) and insurance (such as drought relief). (World Bank, 2003) Social safety net is non-contributory, ex post intervention, it is paid for by the Government from general revenues includes taxation and development assistance, in order to deal with existing poverty or shocks that have already occurred and targeted to the poor and vulnerable. Well-designed safety net can protect the poor in the short term and it also can promote growth, for instance, it can enable the poor to engage in the economy by expanding their opportunities to take risks, diversify livelihoods, innovate, invest the human capital of their children etc. Safety net instruments include: unconditional cash and near-cash transfers, for instance, non-contributory old age pensions and disability payments; conditional transfers includes conditional cash transfers such as scholarships and conditional in-kind transfers such as food rations and nutrition and feeding programs; unconditional food and other in-kind transfers; fee waivers for health, education and other basic services; general commodity price subsidies includes for food or energy; public workfare. Social risk management concepts Arrangements to manage risks can be made in advance, before a shock has occurred risk reduction and risk mitigation can be taken into account. Risk reduction is arrangements that make it less likely that shock will occur, and risk mitigation is arrangements that ensure that if a shock does occur, the effects are small rather than large. Moreover arrangements to manage risks also can be made after a shock has occurred, coping strategies to deal with the impact of the shock Links between poverty, vulnerability and growth The poor are the most vulnerable group, they are exposed to diverse risks, so are more likely to suffer a shock; they have fewer resources to deal with these risks, so when a shock does occur, the effects of a shock are more serious for the poor; the rich can afford insurance, or use savings to cope, but the poor generally cant. High vulnerability makes the poor avoid risk, so they are unable or unwilling to engage in higher risk or higher return activities. Therefore reducing vulnerability is thus both a means and an end: as a means, reducing vulnerability expands opportunities and supports growth; as an end, reducing vulnerability reduces poverty, which is a goal in its own right. Shocks can affect people as individuals or groups Individuals Groups(geographical communities, occupational groups) Shocks Accident, illness, old age, house burns down, robbery, family business fails etc Macroeconomic and labor market shocks, war, riots, nature disasters, disease epidemic etc Safety net plays multiple roles in national development policy Safety net plays multiple roles in national development policy, such as reduce poverty and inequality directly by raising the living standards of those at the bottom of society; help households manage risk and vulnerability that experience a shock to keep their children in school, to continue eating enough, to avoid selling productive assets; enable households to make long-term investments; encourage households to innovate, take some risks, invest in their childrens education and health (human capital of the next generation); help Governments make policy reforms and ensure political support for reform by compensating those who suffer short-term losses due to reforms needed for long-term economic growth. Safety net is only one part of an overall poverty reduction strategy. à ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã‹â€ Sourceà ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã… ¡Kalanidhi Subbarao. Social Safety Nets: Concepts and Definitions. World Bank.à ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã¢â‚¬ ° The figure above illustrate what safety nets contains and belongs, safety nets contains and also belongs a part of social protection, equity, social risk management and poverty reduction. Equity includes land redistribution, enforcement of contracts and property rights, universal education and safety nets. Poverty Reduction contains providing services and facilities to the poor, and safety nets provide security. Social risk management supplies insurance and safety nets. Social insurance (social security) These are ex ante, contributory schemes to mitigate risk that people pay small sums (contributions) in advance, generally on a regular basis. This entitles them to benefits when shocks or events occur, for instance health insurance, contributory old-age pensions and unemployment insurance. Social insurance is most easily provided for non-poor groups in formal employment who can pay contributions; have a little spare cash left after buying food and other immediate needs; and have regular, stable wage incomes. Social insurance is very important in developed countries and middle-income developing countries, and typically plays a smaller role in low income countries. However, some low income countries are piloting insurance schemes for poor people, In Ethiopia and India, the rainfall index-based crop insurance programs have been done very successfully. The disaster insurance programs have been done very well in Bangladesh. Steps in an overall strategy in developing a national safety nets system Identify major risks and vulnerable groups by collecting and analyzing household data; Review existing programs and identify gaps in coverage Review options for instruments to address each of these gaps Identify available financial envelope, such as raise taxes, reallocate existing public spending from inefficient and ineffective programs. Review institutional capacity and weaknesses Choose a combination of instruments to cover major risks and groups. Weave different programs and instruments together into a coherent system. In a poor country with limited capacity, likely to start with safety nets, but build up social insurance over time Social safety net in Egypt One out of every five people is poor in Egypt, and the poverty increased mildly between 2001 and 2005 from 18.36 percent to 19.63 percent. The government of Egypt has worked on reforms of economic, social and political transformation. This reform driven by the need to raise sustainable economic growth, and ensure that the poor benefit from it. The role of state also redefined, the state can no longer be seen as the job provider, goods and subsidies supplier. But the state is faced with the challenge of poverty reduction, and oversees the public interest and protects the poor and vulnerable. Furthermore, the Government must redefine the social safety net to improve people serves by expand programs in fighting poverty. Poverty continues to be a major policy challenge Poverty continues to be a major challenge in Egypt, with one out of every five people (about 13.6 million people) living below the poverty line. In order to attack poverty, a better understanding of who the poor are should be included initially. In Egypt, almost three quarters of the poor live in rural areas, in Upper Egypt, most of them working in agriculture and construction and with little education. Strengthening the social safety net In Egypt, while the social safety net provide assistance to the poor critically, benefit still many more non-poor individuals and group than poor, and do little to reduce overall poverty. Egypt spends about 2 percent of its GDP on the core social safety net, a roughly stable level since 2000. It does not have every type of program above, but resources are devoted to: General social protection (5 percent of GDP); Consumer subsidies on food (1.7 percent of GDP); SFD (Social Fund for Development) programs (0.18 percent of GDP); and Social assistance cash transfers from MOISA (Ministry of Insurance and Social Affairs) (0.12 percent of GDP). The largest share of resources, 8.1 percent of GDP, is spent on energy subsidies to producers and consumers which serve as an important safety net but also absorb resources that could be better directed to the poor. (World Bank, 2005) Those numbers is significantly below most European countries. So that reform of the safety net is important for three reasons: firstly, the program often does not reach the poor and the fewer subsidies can not provide meaningful assistance. Secondly, programs are too expensive when subsidies taken into account. And thirdly, inefficient programs that with overlapping beneficiaries and objectives. Administration of Social Assistance Programs in Egypt Eligibility for MOISA (Ministry of Insurance and Social Affairs) social assistance cash-transfer programs require applicant supported with document including family birth certificates and salary records at a local MOISA office. This assistance program supply more subsidies to females than males. Application is followed up with a home visit by social workers and a decision is made within 60 days. Total expenditures for the programs were 1.1 billion of Egyptian Pound in 2004, this figure includes pension and social assistance functions. Geographic targeting The geographic target should aim in overall poverty reduction, but not reduces poverty in the poorest areas. If all the existing resource devoted to poorest area, no matter the resident is poor or not, the uniform distribution would decrease poverty in the Upper Rural areas. However, poverty will increase slightly in the other areas. Nowadays Egypt use basic poverty map to guide projects, which contains regularly household income, consumption and expenditure. Smart Safety Net in Egypt The project intends to create E-Government, which brings all information and services of government for citizens online, and make service more efficient. This project started in 2005, and it will be finished in 2010. The card itself contains a variety of information as the number of family members, birth, death and other eligibility criteria, which will automatically verify the rations and accurate amounts transferred. Government of Egypt expected the smart-card system will decrease the cost of providing subsidies by 10 percent, and amount of saving is 400 million Egyptian pounds annually. This is a pilot project, which will gradually be expanded nationally. (Ministry of State for Administrative Development, www.mcit.gov.eg ) Conditional Cash Transfer Programs (CCTs) Conditional cash transfer programs (CCTs) are a relatively new instrument that seeks to foster human capital development. The cash helps reduce poverty in its own right, compensates families for the opportunity cost of changing behavior, and is expected to contribute to long-term human capital development for the young. (Rawlings and Rubio, 2004) The target more focuses on vulnerable families with children. So that cash transfer can be an important mechanism to alleviate poverty, such as education and basic health care must be available for the poor. CCTs had a great impact in some countries, for instance, Mexico provided additional equipment and medicines in order to meet increased health services demanded; Nicaragua provided teachers and pay for school materials; Honduras provided direct CCTs to schools and health centers. CCTs become more popular in Latin America, Jamaica used CCT to replaced former food stamps and social assistance programs; Mexico used CCT to replaced the tortilla subsidy; Brazil created the largest CCT in the developing world by consolidating four cash transfer programs into the Bolsa Familla program. Using Nicaragua as an example, CCTs have a great impact in education, health and consumption: Nicaragua CCTs Program Impact Education (primary school) Health (children under 2 years-old) Consumption (Per capita annual) + 21.7% +18.3% +N$ 753 CCTs have also been a means to consolidate disparate cash transfer programs into more efficient, effective targeted interventions to support human capital formation. (Ayala, 2003) Conclusions Social safety nets are the most important priority, which deal with existing poverty or shocks have already occurred and targeted to the poor and vulnerable. Before policy making and action implementing, several questions should be figure out initially: Who are the poor and vulnerable group? What kind of risk face now? What programs against what risks? What programs cover what kind of groups? Where is the gap? What is the new challenge? For each program and instrument, the steps in developing national social safety nets can be: firstly set objects; secondly develop an implementation structure to clear define the institutional roles and responsibilities; thirdly, develop mechanisms for targeting, enrolment and payment, use technology to help policy making and action implementing, such as use poverty maps and smart cards in Egypt; finally, monitory and evaluate during the programs, which can be good experiences to learn. While getting better understanding of poverty causes and dynamics, however social protection and social safety nets still face many challenges, there is a need for a long-term strategy to fulfill a number of specific gaps in the future.

The Plight of the Black Seminoles Essay examples -- American America H

The Plight of the Black Seminoles Scattered throughout the Southwest and into Northern Mexico, descendants of the Black Seminoles and Maroons are living in this modern world today. Over one hundred years ago, the U.S. government seemed determined to systematically eliminate the Native Americans and manipulate the descendants of the Black slaves. That imperialistic attitude allowed the policies of the U.S. government to treat groups of people with less respect and concern than they treated their livestock. To understand the plight of the Black Seminoles one has to look back in history to slavery days of the Southern states, and at tribal changes of the Florida Natives. At the beginning of the eighteenth century Native Americans from various groups went into Spanish Florida, establishing a new identity as Seminoles (Littlefield 7). The Seminoles broke off from the Creek tribe. The word Seminole means, "one who has camped out from the regular towns," or "runaway" (Markowitz 213)." Black slaves also fled to the open territory of Florida. The Seminoles who owned slaves did not do so in the traditional plantation style of bondage. The Blacks (who were also known as Maroons) were not subordinate to their chiefs (Laurence 30). The distinction between runaway or, slave, blurred and eventually vanished. Blacks who lived among the Seminoles were useful as interpreters because they spoke English, or some other European language, and they soon learned the Seminole Muskogean dialect. The slaves who fled to Florida as adults knew the ways of whites and could often predict behavior of a particular situation. Thus the association between Blacks and Seminoles was one of affection and mutual respect (Laurence 14). Intermarriage inevit... ...ribes, and the unfavorable conditions of the Indian Territory of Oklahoma, but they managed to survive. The fact that they were not completely eradicated and still have descendants living today is a testimony to their tenacity, bravery, and enduring strength of spirit. Works Cited Champagne,Duane.Chronology of Native North American History.Detroit,1994. Laurence,Foster.Negro-Indian Relationships in the Southeast. University of Pennsylvania,1931. Littlefield,Daniel.Africans and Seminoles from Removal to Emancipation.Westport,CT:Greenwood,1977. Markowitz,Harvey."Trail of Tears".American Indians.Pasadena, CA.Salem Press,1995. Mulroy,Kevin.Freedom on the Border.Lubbock,Tx.Texas Tech,1993. Porter,Wiggens,Kenneth.The Black Seminoles.University Press, Florida,1996. Waldman,Carl.Who Was Who in Native American History.New York, NY.Facts On File,1990.

Baghban :: Ravi Chopra

The story starts as Raj is on the verge of his retirement and now he wants to spend more time with his family comprising of wife, children and grand-children. Raj and Pooja spend forty years together. They are very compatible. In their whole life they tried to give their sons a comfortable life. As for example when Aman needs a loan and Raj readily offers it to him even though he is retiring. He does this because he believes that his successful sons will do anything to take care of their parents. But as a matter of fact fate has stored something else for Raj and Pooja. Raj takes early retirement from the bank to spend some more quality time with his wife Pooja. They couple think that now it is their children’s responsibility to take care of them. But unfortunately none of them are actually agreeable to do so. At the time of retirement Raj has no money and that is why his children are indecisive to take their parents. The avoid eth whole case Malhotra children decide some ridiculous thing. They say that the mother would reside with Aman, who is the eldest one. They also decide that father will stay with the second son i.e. Samir. After six months, they would shift to the third and fourth sons i.e. Sahil and Nasir respectively. The reason behind taking this decision by the children was something else. They thought that their parents would never be ready to live without one another. But as Pooja requests a lot Raj could not deny them even if he does not like the whole idea of separation with Pooja. Raj eventually agrees with the decision taken by his four sons. When they go with them in their respective houses, their children as well as maids start ill-treating them. Raj and Pooja feels exhausted and wants to get rid of this loneliness. While living with the second son, Raj used to go to a cafe, run by Paresh Rawal and Lilette Dubey. They use to call him ‘couch potato’ i.e. big brother. To kill his leisure time Raj starts looking upon the cafe’s account and also writing a book on family values and thoughts. The limit of their tolerance breaks down when the sons forget their parent’s anniversary and scheduled for their parents journey to the alternate sons. Raj and Pooja meets in a place where they met at their first anniversary.

Personal Statement for School of Allied Medical Professions

For as long as I can remember, I have been interested in working as a healthcare professional.   Like most children, I was at first interested in the glamour of being a doctor, maybe a surgeon, and saving a person’s life each and every time I worked–just like every doctor on every television program for the last two generations, I would be both loved and respected by the people I treated.Over time, of course, a more realistic perspective came into being.   I learned that there were choices other than being the beloved and good-natured general practitioner and the witty and fascinating surgeon.This awareness has sharpened my interest in being a member of the healthcare profession, however, now that I am aware of just how many people contribute in so many different capacities.   Having learned more about the field of respiratory therapy, I am convinced that it is an area in which I can truly make a difference.Unlike many other areas in the healthcare professions, an individual with a baccalaureate degree in respiratory therapy can actually help people change their lives.At that level of study, a person can work either in clinical or non-clinical fields, opening a wide realm of possibilities for future careers from patient care to research to education.   Respiratory therapy requires its practitioners to be both skilled and educated, not only in the very basics of anatomy and physiology, but also in the use of a variety of physical skills and the knowledge to use wide range of sometimes complex equipment.I foresee this degree as one that will launch me on a long-term career in which being a therapist is only the beginning.   I know that I will be able to not only enjoy my work in this field; however, I also know that it will give me the opportunity to build on what I have learned and broaden the reach that I have to be of use to those in need.With a degree from OSU and the entry level licensure that such a degree will allow me to obtain, I know that I would possess the tools that would enable me to be in charge of my own professional destiny.This ability to grow and either diversify or specialize is of great importance to me.   I know that, as a student, it is impossible for me to learn all that I either need to or wish to learn at this level of education.   I have a curious nature and a drive to succeed, both of which should be of benefit in pursuing this lifelong dream of working in healthcare.I also feel that my desire to continue my studies in the future can only help me succeed in a rapidly progressing and changing field.   Continuing education units are not only required by many places of employment to maintain an individual’s position; in my opinion they are also a necessity to keep up with the improvements in techniques and technology if one is truly interested in continuing to serve one’s patients in the best manner possible.I believe that the program at Ohio State University will give me the background that I require to make an excellent start in my field of choice.   I feel that its limited intake of students would enable me to get the guidance that I would need to excel in the field of my choice when I enter the workforce.I also feel that I can benefit greatly from the wide variety of clinical experiences offered at OSU as I explore what area of respiratory therapy in which I can best offer my skills and knowledge.   Finally, I am excited by the opportunities for research and the possibility to sit for an entry-level licensure exam in my senior year.I realize that both of these opportunities will help me hit the ground running after graduation and help propel me forward as I pursue my future in respiratory therapy.At this point in my educational career, I have taken all of my general education requirements, including courses in biology, chemistry, calculus, physics, medical terminology, and others.   In this upcoming term I will be taking anatomy and physiol ogy.   I feel that my record as a student speaks for itself.From this point forward I realize that I must put all of my efforts into my education.   Studies in my major concentration will allow for few mistakes if I am to succeed in the future and will offer even fewer chances to correct mistakes if they are made.   With so few opportunities to enter the program I know it falls upon me not to waste the chance to finish this degree, if I am permitted the chance to begin.   I am sure that I have the drive to achieve the goals that I have set for myself, as long as I am given the guidance and the knowledge that I need to further myself in my studies.   I am confident that the program at OSU will help me further myself as a student and as a professional in the years to come and would value the chance to learn from such a skilled professional team.Previous to this term, I have taken the opportunity to volunteer at the Grant Medical Center, where I worked in the radiation oncolo gy department.   Although it was not a volunteer opportunity in respiratory therapy, the 50 hours of clinical observation that I did in that area allowed me to see the treatments for bladder cancer, uterine cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and brain tumors.The experience both intrigued me and reinforced in me the desire to enter the healthcare field.   The patients’ will to survive and to thrive was astounding; the dedication that the people at Grant have to help them to survive and to thrive was inspiring.To be honest, such dedication was also a bit frightening, as it occurred to me that there was a great deal of work and personal investment that accompanied it.   While daunting, I know that I am equal to the task ahead, both as a student and as a future professional.I am confident that I have a lot to offer the healthcare profession and even more to offer the field of respiratory therapy.   I know that with my drive and my dedication to my studies that I can achi eve my dreams of working in the healthcare field and can also be an asset to the class with which I study.   I look forward to studying with your fine program in the future.

Unraveling of cultural meaning and sociological dimensions of Sex and the City by means of an ideological analysis

In 1998, TIME Magazine ran a front-cover story questioning the relevancy of feminism today. It asked: â€Å"Is feminism dead? â€Å"1 (Bellafante 29/06/98). The breeding pit of Naomi Wolf, Gloria Steinem, Germaine Greer and the rest of radical clan had allegedly been buried. Instead, fictitious feminist icons like Ally McBeal, Bridget Jones, the Spice Girls, Charlie's Angels, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or Carrie Bradshaw, have taken part of the flightiness of contemporary feminism. The newfangled feminist motto, as the Spice Girls proclaimed, is Girl Power – and that's as far as it goes – muting the traditional voices of a civil rights movement which once declared the ‘personal to be the political'. The shift from a radical movement to a rather disinterested feminist condition is particularly evident in the TV hit-series, Sex and the City. The widely-acclaimed show has popularly blended upbeat feminist maxims with the everyday-life of four single women in their 30s, engaging in their self-contained universe, New York City. Often defined as the prototype of feminism stepping into the boundaries of mainstream popular culture, the series has never lacked an explicit exploration of the single woman and implicit reinforcement of female sexuality. But does the embracement of intellectual, financial, and sexual freedom automatically spell a valid feminist message? Although the depiction of sexually explicit images has rendered the series progressive and controversial, its critical standing should be instead attributed to the feminist archetypes it attempts to embody. The progressive portrayals of women in the mainstream media have led to the suggestion that the breakdown of traditional gender-specific stereotypes could potentially render any cultural text feminist (Berger 1995, p. 29). Particularly the advent of a multiplicity in feminisms, from radical and Marxist to liberal and postmodernist, has translated feminist thought into an increasingly blurred and unfixed discourse. Given this hypothetical assumption of a cultural crisis in feminist practice and theory, this essay is concerned with the deconstruction and unraveling of cultural meaning and sociological dimensions of Sex and the City by means of an ideological analysis. Accordingly, the following essay attempts to look at how cultural context shapes feminist strategies and concerns. At this point, it should be noted that the Third-wave agenda of Sex and the City does not necessarily suggest a forging of an entire movement, but rather what a feminist movement might look like for a generation which has largely been affected by the Mothers of Feminism. SEXHAUSTED FEMINISM In every episode of Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw, the lead character and protagonist of the show, types a question on her laptop raising issues of sex, men, and relationships. In the very first episode, she wondered: â€Å"Can women have sex like men? â€Å". The frankness of this question promptly sets the controversial, yet revolutionary tone of the show. As elaborated in subsequent episodes, the answer to Carrie's question is a clear yes – without apologies. On this level, the show deliberately enters into the territory of feminism with its gender play, attempting to breakaway from traditional sex-role definitions. This in itself resembles the radical forms of the feminist movement in the 1970s which embraced consciousness-raising as a tactic. If consciousness-raising is the â€Å"systematic attempt to break though ideological assumptions† (Brown 1990, p. 14), then Sex and the City does indeed successfully elude prevalent constructed installations of male/ female functions in sexual intercourse. However, the use of sexually explicit images to override traditional sexual imbalances adds fuel to both, feminist applause and criticism. Given the precedence of sexual depictions over other forms of pivotal feminist inquiries, Sex and the City becomes highly vulnerable to the male gaze. This sets out two significant contradictory aspects of the series – one which arises from feminist discourse and the other developed through the dominant ideology of patriarchy. While sexual freedom is undoubtedly a bold proponent of feminist theory, the female characters in Sex and the City also adhere to a traditional exhibitionist role of being looked at and displayed (Mulvey 1989, p. 19). The four characters as sexual objects have fused male voyeurism and desire with that of feminist narrative, taking the postmodern voyeur into new, but also familiar ideological regions. The struggle in determining the ideological position of Sex and the City does not end here. Feminist author, Camille Paglia, argued that the series was a victory for the â€Å"huge wing of us pro-sex feminists† over the â€Å"1980s anti-porn, anti-sex wing of feminists† (cited in Maddox 09/02/04). Paglia's comments underscore the feminist refusal of a fixed and static ideological premise. In 1985, for example, two anti-porn feminist activists, Catherine MacKinnon and Andrea Dworkin (cited in Califia 1994, p. 123), argued that pornography should be eliminated as a matter of public policy because the â€Å"bigotry and contempt it promotes†¦ diminish opportunities for equality of [women's] rights†. The competing sub-ideological codes underpinning the overall ideology of feminism is further appropriated by the show itself. Ultimate pro-sex feminism is best embodied by the character of Samantha Jones, a PR executive, who orders sex a la carte, with no emotional commitments attached. In stark contrast, an idealist view of romantic relationships is upheld by the character of Charlotte York, a conservative art dealer, who is reluctant to solely attribute sex with female lust. But the puzzling and contradictory ideological signals of the lead characters of Sex and the City are indeed part of the show's postmodern feminist agenda. In order to negotiate how the politics of feminism has been negotiated in Sex and the City it is important to recognize the essence of postmodern- or third-wave feminism. As opposed to other traditional feminist forms, postmodern feminism is much more open to new considerations of gender. Instead of affixing a precondition for feminist thought, postmodern feminists stress the way men and women interact with one another, discarding traditionalist notions of gender naturalness and normality (Bessant and Watts 2002: 48). Rather, feminists with postmodern sympathies argue that we need to acknowledge human diversity, asking â€Å"What is the natural woman anyway? â€Å". This gives primacy to the postmodern acceptance that gender cannot be separated from culture. WIMMIN OR WOMEN ? Singlehood and the breakdown of the family unit are the acclaimed elements in labelling the series feminist. All main characters of Sex and the City fulfil meaningful functions that engender economic, intellectual, and sexual liberation, stimulating the formation of an alternative ideology – a crucial component for building a social movement in the 21st Century (Ryan 2001, p. 305). However, despite the storyline of Sex and the City invoking an alternative ideology, it does not essentially disagree with dominant ideologies. Although the strong bond and friendship between the four leading characters incites a theme of sisterhood throughout the series, the uniting of four basically diverse individuals into a group with common interests in matters of sex, men, and relationships lacks a counterbalancing framework that opposes and attempts to revamp the political and economic structures of society. As Green (1998, p. 1) importantly affirms, â€Å"†¦ in the contemporary post-feminist era, patriarchal traditions in visual culture are seemingly challenged, yet ultimately produced†. Patriarchal and capitalist codes are therefore not only naturalized in Sex and the City, but merged into feminist discourse. Perhaps the most revealing statement Sex and the City makes about its feminist outlook lies in Carrie's first effective ideological statement: â€Å"New York is all about sex and hence not about marriage†. At first glance, this appraisal of singlehood through the romance genre might seem to present a paradox. Despite the glorification of female bonding and alternative family forms, the seemingly counter-ideological premise of Sex and the City only ascends in the show's first few seasons. Its post-feminist sentiments are subsequently watered down, negotiated, and limited by the dominance of the romance genre to the extent that by the end of the entire series, two of the main characters are married and the other two in a faithful monogamous relationship. This happily-ever-after formulaic conclusion is of strict adherence to the clichid literary styles of the Hollywood romance genre, as opposed to a groundbreaking counter-cultural narrative. In an interview with Candace Bushnell, the author who created Sex and the City, renowned feminist and author of the Beauty Myth, Naomi Wolf, asked her if she believed the characters of the show to be feminist (Wolf 2003, p. 17). â€Å"They're obviously feminist,† she responded. â€Å"You can be a feminist but that doesn't contradict the human desire for love. † But such ‘human desire for love' is particularly safeguarded by Hollywood and the producers of Sex and the City as well. Here, love is portrayed as a prescribed condition for marriage as if romantic love through â€Å"emotional dramas are virtually the only acceptable means of moving towards marriage† (Weisser 2001, p. 257). Indeed, disgruntled feminists of the second-wave have unconditionally asserted that the prevalence of love â€Å"justifies our exploitation by men and simultaneously ensnares us into oppressive relationships with them†. To advance the flourishing of romance in a seemingly natural and neutral manner, Sex and the City is brought to a close with an absence of scenes of what succeeds the ever-after ending. Wexman reaffirms that â€Å"Hollywood films erase contradictions by making the happy ending coincide with the monogamous marriage as culmination of romantic passion and freezing this passion in an eternal moment of unproblematic unhappiness† (cited in Evans and Delayto 1998, p. 7). Ideologically, Sex and the City reinforces a â€Å"desperation theme† (Dines and Humez 2003, p. 129). The implications of such are substantiated when Charlotte cries, â€Å"I have been dating since I was 15, when is my Mr. Right going to come along? In another episode, Carrie similarly bemoans her single status during Charlotte's wedding, saying, â€Å"I would die to have a strong man catch me when I fall†. And although Miranda Hobbes, a successful lawyer and single mother, asks early-on in the series, â€Å"Why do we get stuck with old maiden and spinster and men get to be bachelors and playboys? â€Å", she later draws a surprising revelation: â€Å"I must not end up old maiden or spinster†. The retreat into desperation and marriage as a strategy towards addressing cultural anxieties is at the forefront in Sex and the City, yet is unsuccessful in acknowledging feminist discourse. Instead, Sex and the City is manufactured as a cultural product which translates romance and marriage into woman's ultimate sexual and political identity. The characters of Sex and the City do not entirely – if at all – escape traditional gender role expectations. By adhering to the framework of dominant ideologies, the women are confined to specific gender, sexual, racial, ethnic and class stereotypes. All four characters are White, upper-middle class, attractive, feminine, and heterosexually appealing. This further extends to the show's predominant representation of marriage as a monogamous Judeo-Christian value. It can therefore be argued that the effect of such representations boils down an ideological impact of mainstream capitalist and patriarchal norms, instead of a preponderance of unorthodox feminist beliefs. I ? NEW YORK Its credit sequence flaunts famous landmarks like the Chrysler Building, World Trade Center, Brooklyn Bridge, or Fifth Avenue. New York City, the alleged capital of the world, is proactive in bestowing the four characters their freedom and is implicitly a fifth representational character in Sex and the City. As Richards (2003, p. 48) affirms, â€Å"More often than not it seems impossible that they could enjoy and indulge is such sexual freedom in any other American city†. Drawing on what Carrie once said – â€Å"New York is all about sex, and hence not about marriage† -renders New York a ‘singles ghetto'. Fostering singlehood through the visual projection of the city is advanced by separating the singles from the marrieds. Single women walk, live and breathe at the very heart of the postmodern city, whilst married people are confined to the private spaces of suburbia – Connecticut or the Hamptons. To survive in a metropolitan city like New York, Sex and the City suggests that one must be single. Samantha, for example, affirms that â€Å"this is the first time in the history of Manhattan that women have had as much power and money as men†. Although an abundance of exterior shots establishes a sense of postmodern reality and familiarity of the Big Apple, Samantha's observations of Manhattan potentially exclude many women from the social boundaries of Sex and the City and hence, from feminist discourse. Race is a significant factor in terms of how the series sets up criteria for who becomes a feminist. Sanders (2004, p. 7) argues that the surnames of the leading characters – Bradshaw, Jones, York, Hobbes – would not look out of place in a â€Å"white-shoe investment bank†. For a city that has flourished into a global hotspot for multiculturalism and become the permanent address of many foreign immigrants, New York is depicted as distinctly White, outwardly projecting a message that only Whiteness is given access to the highest level of rewards, including that of an entire ideology. Confining feminism to women of a White and middle-class background naturalises feminism as an elitist establishment, undermining the struggle of minorities. Women who have failed to achieve economic freedom, lesbians who have yet to achieve sexual freedom, or single women with children, are all but entirely excluded. The prevailing milieu of inequitable feminist sentiments, however, is fuelled by the narrative and visual structures of the romance genre. Green (1998, p. 30), for example, attributes the romance genre to a â€Å"white racial consciousness inseparable from our notion of love, heroism, and public life†. The absence of the Other therefore â€Å"embodies the most basic material meaning of our social order in its very lack of embodiedness†. Accordingly, the social order of Sex and the City invites lipstick lesbians to its culture, while macho femmes are completely iced out. A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO SHOES The construction of feminine identity and womanhood is a crucial quality perpetuated in Sex and the City. Not only are the four main characters perceived as naturally beautiful and aesthetically appealing, but their fetishised consumption of commodity products endorses patriarchal capitalism. The second-wave of feminism in the '60s and '70s charged consumerism for penetrating the inequitable model of female identity that was â€Å"deeply conservative† (MacDonald 1995, p. 6). Yet the series has come close to resemble a spin-off weekly PR event, boosting luxury brands from Fendi and Manolo Blahnik to Prada and Jimmy Choo. As a consequence, it may be argued that Sex and the City masks the socio-political nervous system of feminism, by portraying females in a narrow range of settings and activities, thus abiding to stereotypes determined as uniquely feminine (Soo Ching 2003, p. 12). The four characters are very rarely seen at work, but are financially capable to much on-screen shopping, socialising at parties, lunching on a day-to-day basis, and dating wealthy professional men. Bailey (2003, p. 10) illustrates the embedded paradox: â€Å"Sex and the City lacks a larger political agenda, but is still concerned with effects of individual choices on individual lives†. Derived from the Marx's analysis of capitalist societies and his term â€Å"commodity fetishism†, Wolfgang Haug (1987, p. 8) determined products in a capitalist society to be designed to â€Å"stimulate in the onlooker the desire to possess and the impulse to buy†. There is a bold connection here between the culture of women's magazines and Sex and the City. Feminist media critics have raised concern over the monolithic compositions of a â€Å"woman's world† imbued in women's magazines (Bignell 2004, p. 216). The ideological composition of women's magazine represent feminine identity as set a set of social conventions, norms, problems and desires, passed on and appropriated by the series itself. But as McCracken (1993, p. 136) argues, â€Å"within the discursive structure, to be beautiful, one must fear being non-beautiful; to be in fashion, one must fear being out of fashion; to be self-confident, one must first feel insecure†. Underlying the production of patriarchal capitalism in Sex and the City, feminism therefore endangers, rather than enhances, the concept of strengthening women's civil rights. In this instance, capitalism, via feminist discourse, masks the essence of consumer goods as being produced in an inherently patriarchal system for patriarchal gain. Product placement in the series not only accomplishes commodity hegemony, but automatically weakens the show's ties with feminism. Instead, the absolute value of feminism is commodified, which Goldman (1992, p. 130) readily labels â€Å"commodity feminism†. He argues that â€Å"commodity feminism depoliticises and individualises feminism and defuses its potential political impact†. From this perspective Sex and the City can be argued to render invisible the questions of economic status, work and social power for women. According to Bignell (2004, p. 217), the fascination with self-indulgent and pretentious activities like shopping and socialising, is a focus â€Å"relatively trivial aspects of women's lives†, as opposed to raising concern over abortion, the sexual division of labour, the representation of women in politics, or the stereotypical images pursued by the media. CONCLUSION It has been more than 40 years since Betty Friedan attacked the role of women in marriage through her writings in the Feminine Mystique. Although the time-worn pages of her book might have dried out and been stacked away, feminism is indeed still alive. As evidenced by the various ideological traditions and perspectives in reading Sex and the City, one cannot conclusively determine whether the nature of the show is feminist or non-feminist. Rather, it should be acknowledged that contemporary feminism bears an abundance of ideological contradictions and complexities. This is not to say that feminism is indefinable, but part of a shift from its initial historical beliefs and assumptions. It is again arguable that postmodern feminism has severely misdirected the elements of feminism to an irrational and apolitical uncertainty. Although it may be argued that the postmodern version simply defines feminism in a flexible and relaxing way, its discourse is invariably formalised by those in power. Feminism is ideologically withheld in Sex and the City by reinforcing traditional gendered stereotypes and a consumerist culture based on the dominant ideologies of patriarchy and capitalism, respectively. Although embellished with postmodern feminist rhetoric, Sex and the City enforces a restrictive social space for women fused with the boundaries romantic love and marriage. However, despite its limitations, Sex and the City deserves acknowledgement for the (admittedly negotiated) challenge it poses to feminist assumptions, as well as the return of women's rights on the social agenda.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Motorcycle.

All over the world are millions of motorcycles. With different shapes, colors, and dimensions. This is a motor vehicle similar to a bicycle but usually larger and heavier, chiefly for one rider but some times having two saddles or an attached side car for passenger. Also a motorcycle is fun and very useful but also dangerous. Motorcycles have many advantages and disadvantages. First, one of the advantages of this kind of vehicle is the gas miles per gallon. Motorcycles have smaller engines so they consume less gas. Therefore, a regular motorcycle usually expends fifty-five miles per gallon.For example; if you ride daily ten miles, you have to fill the tank ones each with two or thee gallons of fuel. Second, another advantage is that motorcycles have more parking facilities. Bikes usually have more parking because they are less popular than cars and also smaller. For example; In my college are building a new parking garage but now a days there is no parking for cars, but there is park ing for motorcycles. Third, the last advantage is the maintaining of a motorcycle. Maintaining a motorcycle is very inexpensive. Riders usually change the oil and fix the problems.Perhaps, this service is very inexpensive. Also, the parts of a motorcycle are less expensive than cars. Some bikes just cost the same as just the engine of a car. On the other hand, one of the disadvantages is the weather condition. Riders have to check the weather before the go out because this vehicle don’t have roof neither windows that can guard you from the water, iced, and high and low temperatures. Furthermore, another disadvantage is the storage space. Motorcycles cant moved big goods. They usually have small compartment that you can storage a backpack or some grocery bags.If you have to move a box or you did a huge shopping, you will need a car. Last but not least, motorcycles are dangerous. This vehicle doesn’t have safe systems like air bags or safety belt. Therefore, you are the bumper of the bike. Usually a motorcycle accident is dangerous than a car accident.. To sum up, motorcycles have advantages and disadvantages like good gas millage, more parking spaces and inexpensive maintenance otherwise they are dangerous, not weather proof and less storage facilities. In my personal opinion, I think that having a motorcycle is awesome but with respect and attention.

Math Internal Assessment Gold Medal Heights

Gold Medal Heights The heights achieved by gold medalists in the high jump have been recorded starting from the 1932 Olympics to the 1980 Olympics. The table below shows the Year in row 1 and the Height in centimeters in row 2 Year| 1932| 1936| 1948| 1952| 1956| 1960| 1964| 1968| 1972| 1976| 1980| Height (cm)| 197| 203| 198| 204| 212| 216| 218| 224| 223| 225| 236| They were recorded to show a pattern year after year and to reveal a trend. The data graph below plots the height on the y-axis and the year on the x-axis. Data Graph 1 Height (cm) Height (cm) Year YearIn Data Graph 1 the data shown represents the height in cm achieved by gold medalists in accordance to the year in which the Olympic games were held. The Graph shows a gradual increase in height as the years increase. The parameters shown in this are the heights, which can be measured during each year to show the rise. The constraints of this task are finding a function to fit the data point shown in Data Graph 1. Some other constraints would be that there aren’t any outliers in the graph and it has been a pretty steady linear rise. The type of function that models the behavior of the function is linear.This type of function models it because the points resemble a line rather than a curve. To represent the points plotted in Data Graph 1 a function is created. To start deciphering a function I started with the equation – Y = mx + b To show the slope of the line since the function is linear. For the first point the function would have to satisfy 197 = m (1932) + b In order for the line to be steep the b value or y intercept will have to be low to give it a more upward positive slope. Y = mx -1000 197 = m (1932) -1000 1197 = m (1932) m = 0. 619The final linear equation to satisfy some points would be y = 0. 62x – 1000 The graph below shoes the model linear function and the original data points to show their relationship. Graph 2 Year Year Height (cm) Height (cm) The graph above shows t he linear function y = 0. 62x – 1000 in relation to the data points plotted on Data Graph 1. The differences between the function and the points plotted is that the function does not full satisfy all the x and y values. The outliers in this case are from the years 1948, 1952, and 1980 which all of y values that do not meet the function closely.Using regression the following function and graph is found. The function and line found using regression matches the one found by me. The linear function does not cross all points but shows the gradual shape in which the points plotted make. Another function that is used is a quadratic function Quadratic functions are set up as: Y = px2 + tx +b To make this function resemble the points plotted on the Graph 1 the p value will have to be very small to widen the shape of the quadratic The b value also has to be small to resemble the y intercept and to give the graph a more upward slopeI used the function: Y = 0. 0000512Ãâ€"2 + 0. 5171x â €“ 1010 In order for this function to work it must satisfy the point of (1964, 218) Y = 0. 0000512 (1964)2 + 0. 5171 (1964) – 1010 Y = 0. 0000512 (3857296) + 1015. 58 – 1010 Y = 197. 49 + 1015. 58 – 1010 Y = 218 This graph of the function y = 0. 0000512Ãâ€"2 +0. 5171x – 1010 is shown in the following Graph 3 as it is against the points plotted in Data Graph 1 Graph 3 Height (cm) Height (cm) Year Year It is shown in Graph 3 that the quadratic function does resemble the shape of the line plotted by the points in Data Graph 1.In Graph 4 both functions are shown against the original data points plotted in Data Graph 1. Graph 4 Height (cm) Height (cm) Year Year Had the games been held in 1940 and 1944 the winning heights would be estimated as: Y = 0. 62(1940) – 1000 Y = 1202. 8 – 1000 Y = 202. 8 When the x value of 1940 is plugged into the linear equation y = 0. 62x – 1000 the y value, or winning height in the year 1940, would be 202. 8. Y = 0. 0000512(1940)2 + 0. 5171(1940) – 1010 Y = 0. 0000512(3763600) + 1003. 17 – 1010 Y = 192. 69 + 1003. 17 – 1010 Y = 185. 86 When the x value 1940 is plugged into the quadratic equation y = 0. 000512Ãâ€"2 + 0. 5171x – 1010 the y value, or winning height for 1940, is 185. 86. In order to make a more accurate estimate for the winning height in 1940 the average of both terms, 202. 8 and 185. 86, are taken. 202. 8 + 185. 86 / 2 = 194. 33 The estimated winning height in 1940 would be 194. 33 For the estimated winning height in 1944: Y = 0. 62(1944) – 1000 Y = 1205. 28 – 1000 Y = 205. 28 When the x value of 1944 is plugged into the linear equation 0. 62x – 1000 the y value, or winning height in 1944, is 205. 8. Y = 0. 0000512(1944)2 + 0. 5171(1944) – 1010Y = 0. 0000512(3779136) + 1005. 24 – 1010 Y = 193. 49 + 1005. 24 – 1010 Y = 188. 73 When the x value of 1944 is plugged into the quadratic equation of 0. 00005 12Ãâ€"2 + 0. 5171x + 1010 the y value, or winning height in 1944, is 188. 73. To have a more accurate estimate of the winning height the average of the two y values of two functions is taken. 188. 73 + 205. 28 / 2 = 197. 01 The winning height for the 1944 Olympics would be estimated at 197. 01 Graph 5 Year Year Height (cm) Height (cm) Graph 5 shows all the data from the 1896 Olympics to the 2008 Olympics.The red line is the quadratic function f(x) = 0. 0000512Ãâ€"2 + 0. 5171x – 1010 and the blue line represents the linear function f(x) = 0. 62x -1000. The function models that are represented in Graph 5 do not fully resemble the points plotted from the gold medal high jump heights but have an overall shape of the rise in height from year to year. Graph 6 Height (cm) Height (cm) Year Year The graph above shows all data point plotted on a graph. The overall trend or shape resemble that of a cubic. Graph 7 The shape of the cubic resembles more of the shape shown in the data poi nts plotted on Graph 6.The modifications that need to be made on my models are that the quadratic function needs to have a more curve to it than just a straight line. To do that I need to change the variables a, b, and c in the equation f(x) = ax2 + bx + c f(x) = 0. 0000512Ãâ€"2 + 0. 5171x -1010 Graph 8 Height (cm) Height (cm) Year Year In a zoomed out view the graph shows the overall shape of the quadratic shape of the red line and how it goes through the black data points and how the linear equation is completely straight. IB Mathematics SL Year 2 Internal Assessment Gold Medal Heights Date Due: February 11, 2013