Project Planning Management and Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Project Planning Management and Control - Essay Example However, it should not escape the construction industry stakeholders that there are certain core factors and challenges that unpleasantly affect the planning, implementation and the completion of construction projects (Cleland and Gareis, 2006). Thus, construction stakeholders have to be conversant with and knowledgeable about the core principles of project planning, control, and management to successfully execute construction projects. Generally, project management entails all activities that deal with leading, planning, securing, organizing, administering and controlling resources so that defined project goals and objectives are achieved. Unlike normal business undertakings, construction projects are rather unpredictable, non-repetitive and rarely permanent in the functional activities that create the desired objectives. Project managers and workers thus require special and distinct technical and management skills/strategies to ensure all project factors and challenges are identifi ed and addressed thoroughly (Cleland and Gareis, 2006). This paper explores the various factors and challenges in construction projects and the possible solutions to the challenges. ... In most cases, project owners hire project contractors, whose duties include the coordination of all sub-contractors for a project. Different projects require different types and number of contractors. For instance, in simple housing projects, sub-contractors could be metalworkers, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, roofers and dry-wall installers. Effective contractors ensure that no gaps exist between the completion of one stage and the commencement of the next, thus saving time, cost and labor (Kerzner, 2003). Sound contracting principles and practices also ensure that only the best contractors that would not cause project friction by allowing job overlaps and delays are hired. Effective contracting is thus not only essential for the ordering and supplying of materials and laborers but also for the coordination of both off- and on-site sub-contractors (Kerzner, 2003). Furthermore, contractors serve as the link between project owners and workers through properly established commun ication avenues. Among the other construction project factors worth noting are efficiency, organization and project safety. To progress smoothly and realize its goals and objectives, a construction project requires the highest levels of planning and organization. The first indication of organization in construction projects is the presence of labor on-site with all the processes and material supplies well-coordinated (Phillips, 2003). This process and material coordination is particularly important for projects that rely on different suppliers for materials. In fact, in such projects, it would be quite costly if materials are omitted or supplied late. The increased

Ralph Waldo Emerson Essay Example for Free

Ralph Waldo Emerson Essay Those who think Transcendentalism is just a literary movement that took place in the early 1800s are only half correct. Transcendentalism is indeed a literary movement; however, it is much more than that. It is meant to challenge people to think for themselves and cause change. Authors such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee taught the importance of non-conformity and civil disobedience through short stories such as â€Å"Self Reliance† and â€Å"On the Duty of Civil Disobedience†, and the play, The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail. Transcendentalism is based on the belief that knowledge is derived from experience and personal reflection as opposed to reason. Transcendentalism promotes self-revelation because it encourages people to form their own opinions and then voice them in a way that will promote change in society. Transcendentalists ground their philosophy with the idea that every persons inner self is where knowledge is gained. In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s â€Å"Self Reliance†, he says, What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think†¦It is easy in the world to live after the worlds opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. Emerson realizes that it is easy to conform to society, but there is value in forming one’s own opinion. What makes a person great is if he or she can stand out in a crowd of people. While in a crowd, one can see the overall ideas of the group but never the individual thoughts that made up these ideas. Emerson is saying that to be great, one must be able to be with the crowd physically, but mentally remain one’s own person with their own ideas. Because Transcendentalism values individual opinions, it is also important to people such as Henry David Thoreau that everyone, especially the government, is open to other peoples’ opinions. In â€Å"On the Duty of Civil Disobedience† Thoreau says, â€Å"There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power†¦ and treats him accordingly. † Thoreau understands that citizens should be able to influence the government and cause change. To do this, the government needs to treat its citizens with respect. Politicians and other government workers need to do away with their pride and listen to what is really important- the citizens. When people can form their own opinions, respect others’ opinions, and voice their opinions, there will be harmony. In Transcendentalism, people are encouraged not only to form their own opinions, but to voice them as well. Thoreau tells everyone to â€Å"make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it† (Thoreau). He supports transcendentalism by encouraging people to stand up and talk about their opinions. Thoreau understands that change, especially in government can only occur when individuals make their opinions heard. During his life, Thoreau challenged the idea of slavery, government corruption, payment of taxes, and the Mexican-American War. In The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, Thoreau is talking to his old professor about how he should voice his discontent with the Mexican-American War. When Thoreau’s professor asks when he should voice his opinion Thoreau yells, â€Å"‘NOW! A year ago was too late! I’ll get you an audience. This afternoon. At Concord Square! †Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Lawrence and Lee 89). In the play, Thoreau expresses that opinions are no good if they are not proclaimed to the world. If opinions are not voiced they cannot be heard. Transcendentalism values individual opinions and acknowledges that voicing them is crucial if they are going to spearhead change in their society. Transcendentalists agree that self-revelation is wasted if it is not voiced and then heard and thereby causing change. During The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, Thoreau spends a small amount of time as a schoolteacher. While Thoreau is a schoolteacher, he gets into trouble with the schoolmaster because he lets his kids â€Å"Huckleberry† in order to come to a conclusion in a class discussion. After he gets in trouble Thoreau sarcastically tells his students, ‘â€Å"You must not listen to a cricket or smell a flower that has not been approved by the School Committee. You’d better close both ears and hold your nose- though you may have to grow an extra hand to do it†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Lawrence and Lee 20). In this instance, Thoreau is trying to speak out against the strict policy of the school committee. He sees that the policy is unfair and that students should be able to learn in a way that is effective for them. By speaking out against the school committee, Thoreau is opening up the possibility for a reform in the education system. Thoreau sees that there is an opportunity to promote change so he takes it and speaks his opinion. According to Thoreau and other transcendentalists, the government needs to be ameliorated. Thoreau says, â€Å"The government itself, which is only the mode which the people have chosen to execute their will, is equally liable to be abused and perverted before the people can act through it† (Thoreau). Transcendentalists agree that the government usually does not work for the people it is protecting. However, they do realize that it is necessary for the survival of the United States. Thoreau is encouraging people to take a stand against the current government, which he hopes will lead to a reform that will empower people to demand more influence in politics. Transcendentalism emphasizes that individuals need to voice their opinions if change is going to occur. According to Transcendentalists, promoting change in society occurs through self-revelation. There must be free thinking people in the world who are willing to make their voice heard if change is ever going to occur. Today many people think that the American school system is something that needs to be reformed. There is a problem if most students are no longer engaged and excited to go to school. Transcendentalists would say that students should be learning things that are interesting to them and cause them to think beyond what is being taught. Students should be encouraged to investigate and debate ideas in order to come up with their own. If America were still in the Transcendentalism time period, people would be insisting on these types of changes. They know that if they do not speak out, nothing will happen.

Netflix SWOT Analysis Essay -- essays research papers

S.W.O.T. Analysis Strengths: ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Netflix provides a subscription-style e-commerce service. Over 95% of customers pay at least $17.99 a month which includes unlimited rentals with up to three titles at a time. A comparably low monthly fee, allows Netflix to lead market share of online DVD rentals while competing with traditional brick and mortar rental stores. Meanwhile, Netflix might keep the customers who try the service and happy with it continue paying the monthly fee. Therefore, Netflix has fewer problems in predicting revenues. ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Netflix enjoys lower fixed costs due to the fact that it is an online DVD rental company. As an internet business, Netflix incurs less overhead costs than competitors such as Blockbuster, as well as having fewer employees to operate the physical locations, thus labor costs are greatly reduced. ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Netflix gives customers unlimited access to the largest selection of DVD?s. Netflix?s video library consists of over 45,000 titles, making their selection the worlds largest, beating out Blockbuster, Movie Gallery, and Hollywood Video. ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With over 35 distribution centers across the United States, Netflix has the fastest delivery time of any online DVD rental company. Through the use of the United States Postal Service over 90% of DVD?s are received by customers within one day of ordering. ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Netflix?s easy to use website allows customers to browse the video library by category such as action, romance, drama (sixteen total categories) or by using a comprehensive internal search of the library. ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Netflix uses the technology of Cinematch to give customers even better service. Cinematch studies past selections made by members, and begins to recommend titles that would likely be enjoyed by the customer based on previous selections. ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Charging a monthly fee for unlimited rentals, Netflix eliminates due dates and late fees, as well as eliminating the long lines of a brick and mortar store. ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Netflix uses their great customer service to keep customers happy which intern keeps customers from canceling there subscription to the service. If there is a problem that arises during the rental process such as a damaged DVD, or lost DVD during the shipping process, Netflix addresses the problem immediately, and never charges the customer for the problem. ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Netflix was the first company to offer DVD renta... ...fering similar services, either directly or as a partnership with another organization.  §Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Emerging competition from digital cable and satellite companies that offer movies on demand. Time Warner digital cable offers video on demand library consisting of a few hundred selections and growing. Users can purchase a movie with the touch of a button for about $4.00. Customers have access to the movie for up to 24hours. Many video on demand services are now offering technologies that allow users to pause, fast forward and rewind the movies they purchase. Though the selection offered by cable companies is extremely small in comparison to Netflix, it will only be a matter of time before the number of selections will increase drastically.  §Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are a large number of substitute products. Netflix is in the business of providing personal entertainment at an affordable cost. Since any other form of entertainment is considered a substitute, Netflix?s industry is in direct competition with all other forms of entertainment, whether it be reading, physical exercise, regular television, etc. If trends in popular culture move away from those related to movies, revenues may be affected.

Great Essentials for Happiness Essay

Joseph Addison â€Å"The great essentials for happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.† Joseph Addison, a pre-twentieth-century essayist, was an impressive writer. Within his lifetime, he wrote numerous essays and plays, compiled a book on the lives of seven authors, and translated Virgil’s Georgic. While he was alive, the Battle of Blenheim was fought, inspiring one of his most famous and poems. Much of his works were shaped by the contextual influences all around him. Addison was the oldest son of a reverend. He was born on May 1, 1672 in Milston, Wiltshire, England (Joseph Addison 1). His family was very supportive of his writing, and often listened to his latest scribblings proudly. This attention and support is surely what started his successful writing career. Joseph Addison attended Lichfield Grammar School in Salisbury until he was fourteen years old. It was at that age that he was enrolled in the Charterhouse (an English independent school founded in 1611) in London (Joseph Addison 1). While attending the Charterhouse school, he met Richard Steele, a man who became a great friend of Addison’s. In 1687, he moved on to enter Queen’s College, Oxford along with his friend Richard Steele (Biography of Joseph Addison 1). In college, he set himself apart by his scholarship and his shyness. After showing exceptional skill in Latin verse, he won the election for a position as a Demy (a scholar) to Magdalen College in 1689. He was a fellow there from 1697 to 1711, meaning that although he had graduated, he stayed on to work with some of the other graduates and professors in the pursuit of mutual knowledge (Joseph Addison 1). Addison lost no time after his graduation, immediately publishing a book on the lives and works of several of the great English poets. This book, along with a commemorative poem on the Battle of Blenheim, caught the attention of a few very influential people. In Addison they saw a writer whose works could be potentially used in service to the crown (Biography of Joseph Addison 1). Through Lord Keeper Somers, an influential Whig statesman, and Charles Montague, later known as the earl of Halifax, Addison obtained a royal pension. This pension allowed him to travel abroad while studying politics and continuing to write essays (Joseph Addison (1672-1719) 1). His travels lasted from 1699 to 1704. During these five years abroad, Joseph Addison made the acquaintance of several English diplomats and European men of letters, one of which Addison himself had studied to become (Joseph Addison (1672-1719) 1). He started out in France and continued on to Italy, the place that was inspiration for his essay â€Å"Remarks on Several Parts of Italy† (1705) and the rhymed epistle â€Å"A Letter from Italy† (1704). Below, a brief excerpt from Addison’s essay â€Å"Remarks on Several Parts of Italy† (1705) boasts of his luminous writing style and trademark lively personality while writing: THERE is certainly no Place in the World where a Man may Travel with greater Pleasure and Ad|vantage than in Italy. One finds something more particu|lar in the Face of the Country, and more astonishing in the Works of Nature, than can be met with in any other Part of Europe. It is the great School of Musick and Painting, and contains in it all the noblest Productions of Statuary and Architecture both Ancient and Mo|dern. It abounds with Cabinets of Curiosities, and vast Collections of all Kinds of Antiquities. No o|ther Country in the World has such a Variety of Governments, that are so different in their Constitu|tions, and so refined in their Po|liticks (1). When writing, Joseph Addison’s shy, unassuming personality hides away to release a much brighter and more amiable side of him. From there, his travels continued to Switzerland, where he came to an abrupt, albeit temporary, stand-still (Biography of Joseph Addison 1). His travels were interrupted by some rather unfortunate news. While in Geneva during the March of 1702 he learned of the death of King William III, which resulted in his financial backers, Somers and Montague (the earl of Halifax), losing their positions (Joseph Addison (1672-1719) 1). This loss of income, however, did not prevent him from continuing his adventures abroad. He spent the next two years wondering through Austria, the German states, and the Netherlands before finding his way back into England in 1704 (Biography of Joseph Addison 1). Following his return to England, Joseph Addison was made (thanks in part to the publication of his poem The Campaign) the Under-Secretary of State. He kept this position for two years before becoming secretary and the keeper of records for the lord-lieutenant of Ireland (Joseph Addison (1672-1719) 1). In 1711, a change in the ministry lost him yet another government position, and he turned his eyes yet again towards writing as a means of occu pation (Joseph Addison 1). With renewed vigor he once again took to writing essays, this time doing the work for his old friend Steele’s paper, the Tatler. Joseph Addison contributed 42 works to the Tatler, which ran for about two years. Following the discontinuation of the Tatler in January of 1711, Joseph Addison and Richard Steele began publishing the periodical The Spectator (Joseph Addison (1672-1719) 1). One of his first essays published in The Spectator, â€Å"West Minister Abbey† is a beautiful example of the characteristic ease and elegance prose of his lifetime. Many of his essays during this time were a call to arms for the people of England, calling for them to rise to â€Å"higher levels of living and thinking† and aiming to awaken in them a passion to restore their great nation to its old glory. The essay is gloomy, reflecting Addison’s own reflections on death and acknowledging it as the great provider of equity, for as he so eloquently states: Upon this, I began to consider with myself what innumerable multitudes of people lay confused together under the pavement of that ancient cathedral †¦ how beauty, strength, and youth, with old age, weakness, and deformity, lay undistinguished in the same promiscuous heap of matter (2-3). The Spectator was published daily, and it grew to great popularity among the people of England. The Spectator’s political quips and insights into life and the state of their nation lent it a great deal of influence over the people of that time. Of the 555 or so essays featured in the periodical, Addison composed 274 (Biography of Joseph Addison 1). The Spectator lasted 3.5 years and was one of the few bright spots in Joseph Addison’s rather uneventful life, which was filled with personal disappointments (Joseph Addison (1672 -1719) 1). One such disappointment was his marriage to the Dowager Countess of Warwick. They were wed in 1716, and with his bride came a step-son who he had previously tutored. However, all was not bliss in the life of the newlyweds. His wife was said to be arrogant and unsatisfiable; constantly belittling him and pointing out his every short coming (Biography of Joseph Addison 1).. To make matters worse, he lost his position in Parliament due to his painfully overbearing shyness. He died a year later on June 17, 1719 (Joseph Addison (1672-1719) 1). Ironically, Joseph Addison wrote an essay titled â€Å"Defence and Happiness of Married Life† in 1712, four years before his unhappy marriage to the Dowager Countess. In this essay, he writes through the persona of Philogamus in support of marriage, listing the many advantages and enjoyments a married man may experience. After taking a look at his life and then rereading â€Å"Defence and Happiness of Married Life† (1712) one finds it quite ironic to realize that one of the greatest joys of marriage as put-forth is one that he himself was denied in his own marriage: You must have observed, in your Speculations on Human Nature, that nothing is more gratifying to the Mind of Man than Power or Dominion; and this I think my self amply possessed of, as I am the Father of a Family. I am perpetually taken up in giving out Orders, in prescribing Duties, in hearing Parties, in Administering Justice, and in distributing Rewards and Punishments. To speak in the Language of the Centurion, I say unto one, go, and he goeth; and to another, come and he cometh; and to my Servant, do this, and he doeth it. In short, Sir, I look upon my Family as a Patriarchal Sovereignty, in which I am my self both King and Priest (1). Joseph Addison took anything life happened to throw at him and managed to twist it into a delightful essay or haunting poem. Though his life was filled with disappointments, both in his personal life and in his political career, Addison managed to produce numerous essays and poems as well as a book and to top it all off, he co-produced three separate periodicals along with his friend Richard Steele. His writing hints at the contextual influences all around him. Bibliography Addison, Joseph. â€Å"Defence and Happiness of Married Life†. The Spectator. 03 October 1712. Web. 06 May 2013. Addison, Joseph. â€Å"Remarks on Several Parts of Italy†. 1705. Web. 06 May 2013. Addison, Joseph. â€Å"Westminster Abbey†. The Spectator. 30 March 1711. Web. 06 May 2013. < http://addison.classicauthors.net/WestminsterAbbey/> â€Å"Biography of Joseph Addison†. PoemHunter. Web. 06 May 2013. â€Å"Joseph Addison (1672-1719)†. Luminarium. Web. 06 May 2013. â€Å"Joseph Addison†. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online. Web. 06 May. 2013 .

The Negative Effects of the Internet

I wholly disagree with the notion that â€Å"When you give everyone a voice and everyone power, the system usually ends up in a really good place†. This idea is not only naive and foolish but simply untrue. Cyber bullying , cyber stalking and cyber paedophilia are threats that have sprung up in recent years in tandem with the modern phenomenon that is social media where everybody’s voice and opinion can be heard (well, read ) no matter how inappropriate illegal or damaging it may be to another person or even a group of people.Along with these cyber space based problems, content shared or posted online can often step over the threshold of the internet and affect somebody’s day to day life. However, seldom the voice and power given by the internet and social media is responsible for awareness campaigns such as â€Å"Kony 2012†. Unfortunately the harsh and brutal reality is, when people can hide behind computer screens, even gain anonymity if they wish, the d arker side of a person quite often shines through and the system does not end up in â€Å"a really good place†.Cyber bulling, the scourge of my generation and many generations to come is vicious, devastating and unapologetic. Before the days of social media and even widespread mobile phone ownership, let’s say pre 2000 bullying would generally take place in school corridors, maybe within clubs or organisations and within the workplace. Even though bullying was and always will be a traumatic experience, in those days it was escapable, a victim of bullying could go home, or to a friends house or anywhere really out side where they were being bullied and be free of it.With the advent of social networking and text messages the torment of bullying has been made inescapable. Poisonously worded text messages, tormenting wall posts and mocking comments being fired at a person night and day by a coward hiding behind a computer screen is taking bullying to a whole new extreme. I n my opinion cyber bullying is far more detrimental, vicious and calculated then ordinary bullying , because of the power a person can feel hiding behind a computer screen punching out letters, words ,sentences at a rapid pace not even facing the person the toxic words are aimed at. Internet famous â€Å" former â€Å"site model† and myspace girl Leda Muir admitted she has been a victim of hurtful ,offensive and threatening messages on the internet and in the past was also guilty of sending them to other people. She describes the â€Å"instant rush† sending offensive messages gave her, and how she simply forgot about it minutes later. When she talks about receiving comments and messages similar to the ones she herself once sent, it is an entirely different experience.She describes how each derogatory comment and message she received stayed with her for weeks, and how it made her feel belittled, humiliated and depressed even when she didn’t know any of the bulli es personally. These bullies probably felt a similar rush to the one Leda described ,which probably comes from feeling â€Å"drunk on power† after all power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. In the year two thousand and twelve cyber stalking was more common then physical harassment.While in certain aspects it is similar to cyber bullying it is more disturbing, it is based on a twisted obsession with usually a single person with a determined and perverse want to control that person in some aspect. Unlike cyber bullies, cyber stalkers are not chasing an instant power high; they desire something much darker. The aim of a cyber stalker is to get their victim to yield to them in one way or another and may involve other people in this plan.Social media enables these individuals to obtain information such as where you live, work and even who your family members are which in turn gives them the power to make threats to you online using this information. As extreme as i t sounds anyone could be cyber stalked, even as it turns out, Mark Zuckerburg himself who probably has the most heavily protected profile on facebook.His stalker Pradeep Manukonda attempted to contact both Zuckerburg and his sister Randi requesting money. When the police told him to cease contacting Zuckerburg , he ignored them and continued to send the facebook Ceo e-mails, hand written letters(in one of which he describes the â€Å"power to communicate) and flowers. He even went to the extent of travelling to face book’s main offices and even Mark Zuckerburg’s house.This was evidently a traumatic experience for Zuckerburg has he took out a restraining order against his stalker , this is a prime example of when everyone is given power buy information obtained on the internet, things do not end in a good place. Finally the most sickening and disturbing threat on the internet, cyber paedophilia. 99% of children between the ages of twelve and seventeen have access to th e internet and this is something cyber predators are well aware of.Using chat rooms, web cam and an array of social networks paedophiles have the power to seek out potential victims. For example in two thousand and three , a man posted a message in a chat room requesting sexual favours in exchange for money, out of curiosity a pair of fourteen year old girls responded to this message and they were both violated. The man also texted the victims in order to intimidate and threaten them. This clearly illustrates how somebody can abuse the voice and power given to them by cyberspace to horrific effect.When everyone is given a voice, and given power it is up to the person themselves how they use that power. Some my raise awareness, some my rise to fabled â€Å"internet fame† and some may just spend twenty minutes browsing their news feed. However the idea of the whole system ending up in a good place is one of fantasy, some people can turn into power hungry monsters online while o thers may abuse their voice and power for disturbing reasons. When you give every one a voice and everyone power, the system won’t end up in a really good place.

Key Events of Feminism During the 1960s in the U.S.

Key Events of Feminism During the 1960s in the U.S. 1960 May 9: The Food and Drug Administration approved the first oral contraceptive, commonly known as the Pill, for sale as birth control in the United States. 1961 November 1: Women Strike for Peace, founded by Bella Abzug and Dagmar Wilson, drew 50,000 women nationwide to protest nuclear weapons and U.S. involvement in war in southeast Asia.December 14: President John F. Kennedy issued an executive order establishing the Presidents Commission on the Status of Women. He appointed former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to chair the commission. 1962 Sherri Finkbine traveled to Sweden for an abortion after learning that Thalidomide, a tranquilizer drug she had taken, caused extensive deformities to the fetus. 1963 February 17:  The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan was published.May 23: Anne Moody, who later wrote Coming of Age in Mississippi, participated in a Woolworths lunch counter sit-in.June 10: The Equal Pay Act of 1963 was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy.June 16: Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in outer space, another Soviet first in the U.S.-U.S.S.R. space race. 1964 U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including the Title VII prohibition of discrimination based on sex by private employers including employment agencies and unions. 1965 In Griswold v. Connecticut, the Supreme Court struck down a law restricting access to contraception for married couples.The Newark Museum exhibit Women Artists of America: 1707-1964 looked at womens art, often neglected in the art world.Barbara Castle becomes the first UK female minister of state, appointed to become the Minister of Transport.July 2: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission began operations.December: Pauli Murray and Mary Eastwood published Jane Crow and the Law: Sex Discrimination and Title VII in the George Washington Law Review. 1966 The National Organization for Women, known as NOW, was founded.NOW set up task forces to work on key womens issues.Marlo Thomas began starring in the television sitcom That Girl, about a young, independent, single career woman. 1967 President Johnson amended Executive Order 11246, which dealt with affirmative action, to include sex discrimination on the list of prohibited employment discrimination.The feminist group New York Radical Women formed in New York City.June: Naomi Weisstein and Heath Booth held a free school at the University of Chicago on womens issues.  Jo Freeman was among the attendees and was inspired to organize a womans session at the National Conference of New Politics.  A womans caucus of NCNP formed, and when that was belittled from the floor, a group of women met at Jo Freemans apartment a group that evolved into the Chicago Womens Liberation Union.Jo Freemans newsletter Voice of the womens liberation movement gave a name to the new movement.August: The National Welfare Rights Organization formed in Washington D.C. 1968 NOW formed a special committee to launch a major campaign for the Equal Rights Amendment.Shirley Chisholm became the first African-American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.The Womens Equity Action League broke off from NOW to avoid the controversial issues of sexuality, reproductive choice, and the Equal Rights Amendment.The National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) was founded.The National Welfare Rights Organization was founded, with 22,000 members by the next year.Women at the Dagenham (UK) Ford factory stage a strike for equal pay, nearly stopping work at all the UK Ford automobile plants.Women for the first Seattle womens liberation group after a male organizer for SDS at a meeting said that balling a chick together enhanced the political consciousness of poor white young men.  A woman in the audience had called out, And what did it do for the consciousness of the chick?February 23: The EEOC ruled that being female was not a bona fide occupational quali fication of being a flight attendant. September 7: The Miss America Protest by New York Radical Women at the Miss America pageant brought widespread media attention to womens liberation. 1969 The Abortion Counseling Service of Womens Liberation began operating in Chicago under the code name Jane.The radical feminist group Redstockings began in New York.March 21: Redstockings staged an abortion speakout, insisting that womens voices be heard on the issue instead of only male legislators and nuns.May: NOW activists marched in Washington D.C. for Mothers Day, demanding Rights, Not Roses.

Comparison between Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby and Jack Claytons cinematographic adaptation Essays

Comparison between Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby and Jack Claytons cinematographic adaptation Essays Comparison between Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby and Jack Claytons cinematographic adaptation Paper Comparison between Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby and Jack Claytons cinematographic adaptation Paper A good story can be told in many different ways. That is what happens with our oral narrative. It goes from mouth to mouth and each narrator gives to it a teaspoon of personal taste. The same occurs when a novel is transformed into a script for a movie. Movies give us the chance to see with our physical eyes what we have pictured in our minds. Words take human form and carry us along the story. Yet, what we see is very limited, our approach to the characters and events is determined by the purpose of the director; what we see is what he wants us to see. In the case of The Great Gatsby, the story is followed very loyally, but emphasis is put on different aspects, for the movie differs in its objective, and appeals to a different audience. There is a clear difference between Fitzgeralds purpose and the one of Jack Clayton. For the former one, The Great Gatsby is an instrument to criticize the American dream and uncover the shallowness of society. While he introduces Gatsby as someone who respresented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn, he still finds that there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity for the promises of life(p8). For the director of the movie, Gatsby is more literally a man with a romantic readiness that distinguishes himself from the rest. He is a tragic heroe, someone whose romantic blindness finds no place in society. Yet, the movie does not blame society for Gatsbys destruction; no- he is a dreamer, he is deaf to a reality that speaks loud enough. Fitzgerald, through Nicks voice, condemns society very clearly since the beginning and with the most cruel words. Gatsby turned out all right at the end; it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest in the abortive sorrows and shortwide elations of men. (p8). While the writer uses the characters as a bridge to discovering Gatsbys life and as an instrument of disillusion, Clayton puts emphasis on each character as an individual; he embodies in an abstraction what Fitzgerald describes with an artistic pastiche of actions and reactions. In the book, everything we see is seen through the eyes of Nick Carraway. An evidence, and an excellent literary technique, is when Nick has had some many drinks and images in his memory start to be blurred: It was nine oclock- almost immediately afterward I looked at my watch and found it was ten. (p38). The movie, on the other hand, shows us images we can decipher for ourselves. We can see, or at least assume, Nick is tipsy because we see how many drinks he has had, and we observe in his face the lost look of someone who is starting to feel the effect of alcohol. When Nick describes the whiteness of the house and the dresses, he loads his description with similies and visual images. Clayton, on the other side, creates this image phisically; everything in the setting is horribly white, and with a short glance he substitutes the magic of Fitzgeralds words. Nevertheless, his method is not less effective in its purpose, though it is a different one. The book appeals to hypocrisy through the contrast between white and the immorality with which everyone is stained. The movie stays with the superficial meaning of white as the dream in which Gatsby is submerged, the whiteness he creates by filling Nicks house with white daisies and dressing in a white suit. Although the story in the movie is presented by Nick in first person narrative, the movies structure has more to do with the structure of a comic series, where the narrator is only an introduction to the setting and/or the action taking place. Whilst in the book Nick is a filter through which we receive an account on the events, in the movie his intervention between us and the story is very little; he abandons his outsider perspective and plays here a character in his own. This is a resource used by Clayton to emphasize again the importance of each character, including his narrator, as an individual. When drunk, sad or happy, it is not through his voice (internal) that we get to know about his state, but through observing externally his actions and judging for ourselves. Whenever he makes an assumption in the book Now it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one (p90), Clayton replaces that thought for an action in itslef, an action in which Nick has no intervention, the sad look in Gatsbys eyes is something we become aware ourselves, with no need for words. This happens very often, another example is when Nick narrates the moment when, five years ago, he kissed her(p107). Clayton replaces this thoroughly described moment and all its mistery with a romantic dreamlike environment created by Gatsby and Daisy in their moments of reminiscense: D:-I wish you had your uniform G:-I do still have my uniform D:-Then, you are a sentimental man. Yet, everything we see is as imagined by the director, the visual image is therefore imposed on us, in contrast to the image we create ourselves from the reading of the book. Another difference in structure is the chronology of the story. Both of them apply a retrospective view. Yet, the movie follows a circular construction, starting with a walk through Gatsbys house once he is dead, glancing at the collection of pictures and articles of Daisys life, breathing the still air of a house that has held its last party. Then the whole story is told from the beginning, when Nick arrives in Daisys house till we are driven back to the empty house with its lugubrious stillness. This is, once more, a choice made by Clayton to achieve his aim, to portray the romantic aspect of the story. The book on the other hand, is a deliberate criticism born in the interior of a mans soul. It is more of a psychological structure, a telling of the story as it comes to mind, Reading over what I have written so far, I see I have given the impression that the events of three nights severa weeks apart were all that absorbed me (p56), as it makes sense. Nick admits this when he says: He told me all this very much later, but Ive put it down here with the idea of exploding those first wild rumours about his antecedents (p97). Symbols play an important role in both book and movie. Yet, the latter neglects some of the symbols originally found in Fitzgeralds piece. This is the case of the clock that represented the passing of time that Gatsby so foolishly denied. Luckily the clock took this moment to tilt dangerously at the pressure of his head, whereupon he turned and caught it with trembling fingers, and set it back in place, then he said I am sorry about the clock (p84). In the movie, ho wever, the clock never falls. The reason for this is that this symbol does not satisfy the directors purpose. Instead, a bird is presented as a symbol of the love between Daisy and Jay. This feathered creature appears when both of them are together in the poolside. Its second appearance is toward the end, when Daisy is gone forever. Gatsby turns back hoping to find her there, he calls out her name, but the dream is over; the bird flies away abruptly. There is a saying in my country: bird that ate, flew away. This could be a second interpretation, although not as romantic. Movie and book tell the very same story in very different ways, making emphasis in what will contribute to achieving their respective purposes. Both of them are very successful in that and, whatever the choices and changes made by Clayton, they can be easily indulged for he presents to us another aspect of Great Gatsby: the greatness of his individuality. Gatsby dies and is purified, he is a romantic heroe that needs no excuse for he has lived a life in pursue of a dream, which he owns. Both writer and director condemn this illusion: one sceptically calls it hope, the other very superficially calls it love. Fitzgerald lies the blame on society: society killed Gatsbys dream and with it, everything that Gatsby meant. Clayton portrays him as this romantic figure who gives up everything for an illusion. Yet, his means to reach that blind illusion that has no shape nor content any more, that something that was but will never be again, are very distorted in the context of his humanity. What makes him such a special individual is, ironically, what erases any individuality in him, what in the end, kills him for he has no aim any more.

Why You Must Read the Book Hidden Figures

Why You Must Read the Book 'Hidden Figures' Books and movies have a long-standing and complex relationship. When a book becomes a best-seller, there’s an almost inevitable film adaptation in the works almost immediately. Then again, sometimes books that remain under the radar are made into movies, and then become best-sellers. And sometimes a film version of a book sparks a national conversation that the book alone couldn’t quite manage. Such is the case with Margot Lee Shetterly’s book Hidden Figures. The film rights to the book were sold before it even published, and the film was released just three months after the book’s publication last year. And the film has become a sensation, grossing more than $66 million so far and becoming the center of the new conversation on race, sexism, and even the doleful state of the American space program. Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, and Kevin Costner, the film takes a fairly well-worn format- the historical, inspirational true but previously-unknown story- and transcends it by leaving that story fairly unvarnished. It’s also a nearly perfect film for this moment in time, a moment when America is questioning its own identity, its history (and future) in terms of race and gender, and its place as a world leader. In short, Hidden Figures is definitely a movie you want to see. But it’s also a book you must read, even if you’ve seen the movie already and think you know the full story. A Deeper Dive Even though Hidden Figures is more than two hours long, it’s still a movie. That means it inescapably condenses events, elides moments, and deletes or combines characters and moments in order to create a narrative structure and a sense of drama. That’s fine; we all understand that a movie isn’t history. But you’ll never get the full story from a film adaptation. Films can be like the Cliff’s Notes versions of books, giving you a high-altitude overview of a story, but with manipulation and omission of timelines, people, and events. While Hidden Figures the movie might be compelling, enjoyable, and even somewhat educational, you’re missing half the story if you don’t read the book. The White Guy in the Room Speaking of manipulations, let’s talk about Kevin Costner’s character, Al Harrison. The Director of the Space Task Group didn’t actually exist, though of course there was a Director of the Space Task Group. There were several, in fact, during that period of time, and Costner’s character is a composite of three of them, based on the recollections of Katherine G. Johnson herself. Costner’s getting deserved praise for his performance as the white, middle-aged man who isn’t exactly a bad person- he’s just so enmeshed in his white, male privilege and the lack of awareness on racial issues at the time that he doesn’t even notice how oppressed and marginalized the black women in his department are. So there’s no question that the character’s writing and performance are great, and serve the story. The issue is the simple fact that someone in Hollywood knew they needed to have a male star of Costner’s caliber to get the film made and marketed, and that’s why his role is as large as it is, and why he gets a few set-piece speeches (especially the apocryphal destruction of the â€Å"Whites Only† bathroom sign) that make him as much the center of the story as Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson. If all you do is watch the movie, you might think that Al Harrison existed, and was as much a hero as the brilliant female computers that are the true focus of the story. The Reality of Racism Hidden Figures the film is entertainment and as such, it needs villains. There is no doubt that racism was prevalent in the 1960s (as it is today) and that Johnson, Vaughan, and Jackson had to overcome challenges that their white and male colleagues didn’t even know existed. But according to Johnson herself, the film overstates the level of racism she actually experienced. The fact is, while prejudice and segregation were facts, Katherine Johnson says she â€Å"didn’t feel† the segregation at NASA. â€Å"Everybody there was doing research,† she said, â€Å"You had a mission and you worked on it, and it was important to you to do your job...and play bridge at lunch. I didnt feel any segregation. I knew it was there, but I didnt feel it.† Even the infamous bathroom-sprint across the campus was exaggerated; there were, in fact, bathrooms for blacks not nearly as far away- although there were indeed â€Å"white only† and â€Å"black only† facilities, and the black-only bathrooms were harder to find. Jim Parsons’ character, Paul Stafford, is a complete fabrication who serves to embody many of the typical sexist and racist attitudes of the time- but again, doesn’t actually represent anything that Johnson, Jackson, or Vaughan actually experienced. Hollywood needs villains, and so Stafford (as well as Kirsten Dunst’s character Vivian Mitchell) was created to be the oppressive, racist white male of the story, even though Johnson’s recollections of her experience at NASA were largely unremarkable. A Great Book None of this means the story of these women and their work on our space program isn’t well worth your time- it is. Racism and sexism are still problems today, even if we’ve gotten rid of much of the official machinery of it in everyday life. And their story is an inspiring one that languished in obscurity for far too long- even star Octavia Spencer thought the story was made-up when she was first contacted about playing Dorothy Vaughan. Even better, Shetterly has written a great book. Shetterly weaves her own story into the history, making clear the connections between the three women who are the focus of the book and the millions of black women who came after them- women who had a slightly better chance at realizing their dreams in part due to the fight that Vaughan, Johnson, and Jackson took on. And Shetterly writes with a gentle, inspiring tone that celebrates the achievements instead of wallowing in the obstructions. It’s a wonderful reading experience filled with information and incredible background you won’t get from the movie. Further Reading If you want to know a bit more about the role women of all colors played throughout the history of technology in America, try Rise of the Rocket Girls by Nathalia Holt. It tells the fascinating story of the women who worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the 1940s and 1950s and offers another glimpse at how deeply buried the contributions of the marginalized have been in this country. Source Holt, Nathalia. Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars. Paperback, Reprint edition, Back Bay Books, January 17, 2017. Shetterly, Margot Lee. Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race. Paperback, Media Tie In edition, William Morrow Paperbacks, December 6, 2016.

The History and Politics of Charter Schools in Indiana Research Paper - 1

The History and Politics of Charter Schools in Indiana - Research Paper Example Undoubtedly, the numbers of charter schools are increasing rapidly. It has been estimated that there are nearly 4900 charter schools in the United States with an average of 400 charter schools opening on yearly basis (Lake, 2010). On an account, it has been estimated that till 2011, there are total of 36 charter schools that have been authorized in Indiana with 22 schools already functioning while 10 schools were set to start their operations in future. Two schools were shut downed even before opening of their academic operations due to lack of resources while just one school had been shut down officially due to inadequate and unsatisfactory results and governance. These charter schools have increased in number throughout in the state of Indiana with the highest number of charter schools operating in the main city of Indianapolis, where they account for 11 charter schools out of the overall 22 charter schools in the state (Plucker et.al, 2004).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The concept of charter schools was coined in late 1980s. Ever since this concept has come into force, it raised a thought that charter schools would help in increasing the quality of education. The historical movement for charter schools began in 1991. This movement was aimed to achieve a new milestone in offering high-quality education through the establishment of wee-defined public schools for both children and their parents (Source: Mayor Sponsored Charter Schools: 2010). Charter school funding is complex to understand and has gone through many phases of development. Many political camps have appreciated the implementation of charter schools as it would influence the process for improving the standard of education all around the United States (Butryomowicyz, 2011). The state of Indiana has played a key role in the national charter school movement. This law was signed in May 2001 by the Governor

Organizational Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Organizational Behavior - Essay Example ple within the company as well as the company itself so that the end result is one on which everyone solemnly agree, that is to make the company thrive from a revenue-generating angle and image building aspect in the long run. The company that we are talking about in this paper does not have decentralization embedded deep into its roots and hence the employees are not able to make decisions on their own which is a setback in its due right. However, when we compare the same with the software giant Microsoft we come to know decentralization has been applied as a principle in this organization so that it could easily mold itself with the team management concepts that are so very prevalent there. This has thus provided a sense of autonomy to the company and more so its employees who now know how to manage their own selves in the best and the worst of times as well as the ways in which they can effectively contribute in their own capacity towards the betterment of the company and their own personalities too. Similarly, the organizational structure in place for Hewlett Packard (HP) is a decentralized one, much like that of Microsoft as it has involved stakeholders at all levels to come up with their own decisio ns, however some might be challenged every now and then, so that the company functions as a single unit and not a disjointed one. The informal structure of an organization lays the foundation for the formal hierarchy, as people are more easily able to relate to each other as well as to the company for which they are working day in day out. This informal structure builds a sense of trust and belonging within the people and they can easily contribute to the single basic benefit on which the company has housed its attention upon, either to earn benefits at an exorbitant rate or to satisfy the customers/consumers with no holds barred. The grapevine can really build the basis for the formal structure and becomes quite a factor in the final analysis. Similarly, when

Organisation Management System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Organisation Management System - Essay Example Researchers have tried to increase understanding of why new mobile payment technologies are adopted by focusing on either the payee or the payer, which potentially yield a limited understanding of the payer-payee context. I have scrutinised over 50 academic journals in the area of social psychology, technology adoption and mobile payments to retrieve a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon. To this I have identified the Theory of Reasoned Action, the Theory of Planned Behaviour, the Technology Acceptance Model, The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, the Task-Technology Fit model and the Diffusion of Innovations as centrepieces in the academic literature. Founded on these the evolution of the concept has been on-going where several antecedents have been identified to either facilitate or impede the adoption of mobile payment technologies. Different attempts have been made to conceptualise these complexities, however none incorporate a comprehensive understanding of the antecedents of adoption of mobile payment technologies identified in the mobile payment literature with both a payer and payee centric approach which comprehends the payer-payee context. Acknowledging this, I have integrated a framework founded upon social psychology rationales, technology adoption theories and mobile payment literature to increase understanding of why new mobile payment technologies are adopted by payers and payees. Applying my framework to real-life cases I have found several interesting findings such as (1) payer and payee adoption is interrelated, (2) payee adoption is highly influenced by usefulness mediated through task-technology fit and especially the presence of expected functions, (3) payee adoption can be influenced by payer’s costs and the technologies’ consistency with payer’s lifestyle, (4) lack of ease of use is a barrier of adoption in contrast to ease of use as a driver of adoption. Most

Peer to Peer Networking In Business Research Paper

Peer to Peer Networking In Business - Research Paper Example The technology is beneficial in business development and application following economic returns, and its downsides are not any better. Business ethics and legal action indicates implications that are equivalent to theft due to infringement of copyright laws and theft of intellectual property. The above brings about the demerits of running p2p technologies in the world of business for both offices and file-sharing. Peer to peer file sharing is also known as P2P file sharing, and has an important role in its application to the conventional world. This is following office application and business ethics in terms of infringing on people’s rights, as well as benefits for business ideas. Application of p2p technology in business based on the above terms is explored based on how it runs and with its consequences in business and ethics. Working P2P file sharing works in different ways based on the employment of the protocol, such as file querying from server based services to respond on the presence or existence of a file. With this use, the response prompts the owner of the given file to provide the file to the peer who needs it. In fast track protocol, files are based on nodes on a two-tier basis: super nodes and ordinary nodes. Individual computers form nodes, while super nodes are the act as directories for the centralized servers as used above. With p2p software, ordinary nodes connect to super nodes, which query the directory and respond with a list of matches for the user to create a direct peer-to-peer connection (Koskela et al, 2013). This is aimed at fetching the desired file directly from the selected peer. The bitTorrent program is the last protocol of p2p file sharing and is based on a simple concept of sharing. In this program, files are not shared, but rather bits of files are broken down to bits and distributed by different peers at equal sizes to different peers. A single copy of the file piece is distributed to different peers and then the peer s with the different pieces provide them to one another. The peer with the original, complete file is known as a seed. Business Applications Peer-to-peer file sharing is highly beneficial to all users and other potential users based on the intent of use. In this regard, installation of bit Torrent clients is simple, as so is the configuration of all computers on the sharing network. With this in mind, time is saved for purposes that are more constructive rather than spending extended periods working on it. In addition, all resources required for file transfer are shared amongst peers making the file transfer process efficient. This is due to the elimination of servers that store content and are more susceptible to failure, which inconveniences users (Light, 2001). For this reason, p2p allows users to continue functionally without influencing other users thus; is more reliable as compared to server based sharing. In addition, it is relatively cheap as compared to other networks due t o the few resources required and elimination of additional hardware. Maintenance and administration is barely required, making it an easily efficient system as each user manages his or her computer/ node thus controlling resource use at no additional cost of inconvenience. Commercially, p2p can be used for distribution of premium content to consumers, such as games, movies, music and software among others (Light, 2001). This facilitates easy trade in digital content, especially legally licensed content. It can also be used for more services such as video on demand and leasing of copyrighted content by artists and private or independent content producers. In regard to business, p2p

Fashion Journalism - ELLE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Fashion Journalism - ELLE - Essay Example The essay "Fashion Journalism - ELLE" examines the ELLE journal. â€Å"The Eighties† look pictured above is a recall of many fashion trends during the eighties but created with a modern edge. There is a feeling of excess and power with these clothes, and this is shown by the return of the power suite. Exaggerated shoulders top off many of the tops and jackets, creating an overall felling of power and elegance. Punk feelings as well as neon, sequins and metallic are also used, recalling the decade of excess. The Velvet Power Suit, pictured above, is becoming a trend on its own. The plush softens the overall powerful feeling of the suit, but there is still a feeling of glamour present. The designs are retro but also modern, and provide a combination of past and present concepts. Prints are also very popular, making the suit stand out in a crowd. To create a more eye catching feeling, shades such as ruby and amethyst are used, and the material is generally high in lustre. Much as the 80s are becoming popular again in fashion, the â€Å"hippie† jean is also making a strong comeback. In Los Angeles, a strong trend of â€Å"hippie† clothes combined with California fashion is seen on the streets worn by stars such as Nicole Richie and Kate Moss. There is the feeling of cool, casual comfort ability when wearing these jeans. Their faded presentation makes them both eye catching and interesting. The fact that they are oversized increases the delight in wearing them. Pleather bats are making a very big play.... Picture from Elle Magazine Website Pleather bats are making a very big play on the scene in New York. More affordable and resilient than actual leather bags, in the economic recession, many are looking to cut corners with affordability. These bags allow for that concept without losing a sense of fashion. Furthermore, the colors seen are often vibrant and eye-catching, complimenting one's overall look. Fashion Item 3: Striped Polyester, Popular in: Paris Picture from Elle Magazine Website Striped polyester is a very keen fashion in Europe, with a strong focus in Paris. This fashion trend is very modern and sheik, while at the same time, allowing the individual to stand out with a bold contrast of colors and lines. Many of these blazers are made to compliment almost any outfit. New Fashion Designer: A new designer that is becoming very popular in my area is Charleze Mantosh, who owns Belladonna clothing company. Charleze started selling clothes in the retail industry but saw an opening for making her own clothes and selling them as well. Her focus is on rhinestone designs, mostly on T shirts and jeans, which can be made by herself and then resold. As rhinestone designs have become more and more popular, Charleze grasped the concept of ordering various hotfix designs and applying them to T-shirts to sell both by request and in mass. Once she became familiar with this, she was able to also make her own basic designs and add them to T-shirts. When interviewed, Charleze mentioned the difficulty in keeping her store open during this economy. Her ideas for making her own designs and own clothes allowed her to sell many clothes for less, thus drawing more individuals to her store. I discovered when talking to her that fashion design and owning one's

Peer to Peer Networking In Business Research Paper

Peer to Peer Networking In Business - Research Paper Example The technology is beneficial in business development and application following economic returns, and its downsides are not any better. Business ethics and legal action indicates implications that are equivalent to theft due to infringement of copyright laws and theft of intellectual property. The above brings about the demerits of running p2p technologies in the world of business for both offices and file-sharing. Peer to peer file sharing is also known as P2P file sharing, and has an important role in its application to the conventional world. This is following office application and business ethics in terms of infringing on people’s rights, as well as benefits for business ideas. Application of p2p technology in business based on the above terms is explored based on how it runs and with its consequences in business and ethics. Working P2P file sharing works in different ways based on the employment of the protocol, such as file querying from server based services to respond on the presence or existence of a file. With this use, the response prompts the owner of the given file to provide the file to the peer who needs it. In fast track protocol, files are based on nodes on a two-tier basis: super nodes and ordinary nodes. Individual computers form nodes, while super nodes are the act as directories for the centralized servers as used above. With p2p software, ordinary nodes connect to super nodes, which query the directory and respond with a list of matches for the user to create a direct peer-to-peer connection (Koskela et al, 2013). This is aimed at fetching the desired file directly from the selected peer. The bitTorrent program is the last protocol of p2p file sharing and is based on a simple concept of sharing. In this program, files are not shared, but rather bits of files are broken down to bits and distributed by different peers at equal sizes to different peers. A single copy of the file piece is distributed to different peers and then the peer s with the different pieces provide them to one another. The peer with the original, complete file is known as a seed. Business Applications Peer-to-peer file sharing is highly beneficial to all users and other potential users based on the intent of use. In this regard, installation of bit Torrent clients is simple, as so is the configuration of all computers on the sharing network. With this in mind, time is saved for purposes that are more constructive rather than spending extended periods working on it. In addition, all resources required for file transfer are shared amongst peers making the file transfer process efficient. This is due to the elimination of servers that store content and are more susceptible to failure, which inconveniences users (Light, 2001). For this reason, p2p allows users to continue functionally without influencing other users thus; is more reliable as compared to server based sharing. In addition, it is relatively cheap as compared to other networks due t o the few resources required and elimination of additional hardware. Maintenance and administration is barely required, making it an easily efficient system as each user manages his or her computer/ node thus controlling resource use at no additional cost of inconvenience. Commercially, p2p can be used for distribution of premium content to consumers, such as games, movies, music and software among others (Light, 2001). This facilitates easy trade in digital content, especially legally licensed content. It can also be used for more services such as video on demand and leasing of copyrighted content by artists and private or independent content producers. In regard to business, p2p

Proposals.. riding a bicycle in aruria campus Essay

Proposals.. riding a bicycle in aruria campus - Essay Example The proposal also covers the cost of the project. Moreover, it gives details of the team that will be performing this project. Furthermore, there is a detailed schedule of tasks and time required to carry out these tasks, followed by a Gantt chart which gives a visual display of the tasks and time required for their completion. This proposal focuses on the target audience which mainly comprises of the students, faculty and staff at the Auraria campus. The proposal also gives an overview as to why bicycles should be allowed at campus and what benefits can be. For the purpose of achieving results, the proposal also suggests that surveys should be carried out on different campuses to get the opinions of other student bodies. Also, surveys should be carried out at the Auraria campus in order to learn what the students want and how they think this problem can be solved. It is highly possible that with these surveys, the management and the team working on this project, might be able to wor k out something better and more student friendly. The proposal has details that will explain the pros, cons, cost, and qualifications that will help get this plan started. The plan is easy and

Effects of video games on children Essay Example for Free

Effects of video games on children Essay Although video games can increase aggressive behavior, they can improve memory and logistical thinking, as well as teach perseverance. Over the course of the last few decades video games have been integrated into the lives of our children. Video games are very appealing to children of all ages, and even to some adults. There is a variety of video games out there, and they range from educational to very violent. Because of this diverse selection of video games, there is a wide range of positive and negative side effects that these games can have on children. Because a large percentage of our children’s time is spent playing video games, there has been a lot of research in recent years on the positive and negative effects these games have on them. â€Å"Among elementary and middle-school populations, girls play for an average of about 5. 5 hours/week and boys average 13 hours/week,† (Gentile, D. A. 2004). Teenagers also spend a time playing video games. According to Media Analysis Laboratory (1998),†Eighty percent of teens said they played at least occasionally and the average amount of time spent gaming for the sample was 5 hours per week† (para. 19). Video game play has become not only a leisurely pastime for children, but for families also. When parents are not involved in some of their game play the outcome can become a little scary. Children who play video games with their families have a more pro-social attitude compared to their counterparts who play alone. Children who are less social or somewhat anti-social tend to develop aggressive tendancies when spending long hours gaming alone especially when violent video games are involved. Video games have been shown to increase aggressive behavior in some children. Neubert, S. P. (2004) said, â€Å"Individuals high in hostility are more likely to become aggressive when exposed to violent video games. † â€Å"Games in which the only positive outcome is the violent demise of enemies reinforces anti-social behavior. Violent video games desensitize people to aggression,† (Neubert, S. P. , 2004). According to a study done by Douglas A. Gentile. References Media Analysis Laboratory (1998). Video game culture: Leisure and play preferences of B. C. teens. Retrieved from http://www. media-awareness. ca In-Text Citation 1. [Insert the paraphrased material] (Simon Fraser University, Burnaby B. C. , 1998). 2. The Media Analysis Laboratory (1998) website [Insert the paraphrased material]. 3. , [Insert the quotation]† (para. 19).

The Five Elements Of Emotional Intelligence Psychology Essay

The Five Elements Of Emotional Intelligence Psychology Essay Emotional intelligence is the area of cognitive ability involving traits and social skills that facilitate interpersonal behaviour. Intelligence can be broadly defined as the capacity for goal-oriented adaptive behaviour; emotional intelligence focuses on the aspects of intelligence that govern self-knowledge and social adaptation (Rouse, M. 2010, online) In this essay I will be exploring emotional intelligence. I hope to gain an understanding of the five elements of emotional intelligence, how to improve your emotional intelligence and the role it plays in the workplace. I feel it is important, especially as a Social Care student, to understand emotional intelligence and its characteristics, as I will be constantly working with other people. I chose those headings as I feel they are the most appropriate to my future line of work and it would be beneficial to me to understand them at a deeper level. I hope to present a clear, well structured essay on emotional intelligence and provide an insight into how it shapes the people we are. Main body The five elements of emotional intelligence An American psychologist called Daniel Goleman developed a framework that defined emotional intelligence using five elements. The first element is self awareness. People with high emotional intelligence understand their emotions and can control their feelings and are comfortable with who they are. They are aware of what their strengths and weaknesses are and are confident as they trust their intuition. (Mind Tools, 2012) The second element is self regulation. Self regulation is the ability to control your emotions and not act impulsively. People who are able to regulate themselves dont allow themselves to get too angry, worked up, stressed, jealous or impulsive. They generally think before they act, and are able to say no to situations they dont feel comfortable with. (Mind Tools, 2012) The third element is motivation. People with high emotional intelligence are generally highly motivated. They can stay focused on a long-term task in order to see results. They are highly productive and love being challenged. (Mind Tools, 2012) The fourth element is empathy. Empathy is the ability to recognise and understand the feelings and viewpoints of others, even if they are different to your own feelings or viewpoint. Empathetic people can also identify feelings in others when they may not be very obvious. Because of this, those who can empathise can manage relationships, are excellent listeners, dont stereotype or judge and live openly and honestly. (Mind Tools, 2012) The fifth element is social skills. Those with good social skills are easy to talk to and usually come across as team players. They will typically help others to succeed before focusing on their own success. They are good at building and maintaining relationships, can manage disputes and are confident communicators. (Mind Tools, 2012) What the above list describes is a person who can manage their emotions and needs less cognitive strain to deal with personal issues. An individual with high emotional intelligence tends to avoid negative, self destructive behaviour such as excessive drinking, drug use, smoking and violent interactions with others. (Mayer, JD. Salovey, P. Caruso, D.R 2004). How to improve your emotional intelligence It takes more than just understanding the five elements of emotional intelligence to improve yours. Your emotional intelligence is a life long journey that is being developed and improved constantly through practice and encountering new situations, learning to control your emotions better, learning how to identify the emotions and needs of others, while depending on motivation, empathy and social skills to build stable relationships. (Lauber, D. 2010) To improve your self-awareness and self-regulation in order to improve your emotional intelligence, the key is to identify the emotion you are feeling and make a choice as to how to deal with the emotion appropriately. (Lauber, D. 2010) Motivation is an important characteristic of those with high emotional intelligence. It is the individuals want to succeed beyond their expectations. Some people find it hard to keep themselves motivated if they are not interested or passionate about the task at hand. Those with high emotional intelligence work in areas they are passionate about and desire to succeed; they push the boundaries to learn new skills all the time. If you find yourself working in a job that you dont feel passionate about, consider finding the right job. If leaving that job isnt an option for you, find a new hobby or activity that consumes all your interest and passion, one that will make you feel fulfilled. Set out a list of goals and aim to meet them. (Lauber, D. 2010) Empathy is a very important trait to have, especially for those going into social care. It is the ability to understand peoples feelings and seeing things from their point of view. It can be a difficult trait to improve upon. It involves becoming a deep listener to others, reflecting back with others on what they have disclosed, and taking the time to step back and try to understand others perspectives. (Lubar, D.2010) Social skills are obtained by having a good grasp of self-awareness, self-regulation and empathy. Improving your social skills could involve being aware of your subconscious communication, ie body language. Some people arent aware of how much they give away without realising, through their body language, and this can cause problems, as negative body language is easily noticed. Empathy can help you to realise peoples boundaries and know what is and what isnt appropriate to say or do. I think it is clear from the above list that obtaining high emotional intelligence can help individuals have a happier life. I say this because it would be easier for the individual to speak to others, and also understand why people react they way they do to certain things. I can imagine it would be confusing, and perhaps upsetting for someone to not know why someone gets upset or angry over a situation. I can understand now why those with high emotional intelligence can manage relationships better than those with lower emotional intelligence. The importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace The term emotional intelligence is a term that is being used more and more frequently within human resource departments. Employers are looking for employees with high emotional intelligence, seeing it as more important than personality and even IQ. The difference between emotional intelligence and personality is that personality influences a persons tendencies and behaviours, while emotional intelligence can identify the individuals pattern of thinking and allow them to make appropriate, sound decisions. (ZeroRiskHR.com, 2012, online) An employee with high emotional intelligence can communicate well with others, can cope with change, can manage their feelings and impulses, can stay calm in stressful situations, have empathy, remain optimistic in the face of adversity and can manage customer complaints. I was a bit shocked to learn that emotional intelligence was such an important aspect of employment, especially learning that it was more important than IQ and personality. I can understand why it would be important in the workplace, but never thought it was to that extent. If there are people working in a job that requires them to work with other people, I think it is very important they have high emotional intelligence, otherwise people can be left feeling uncomfortable or offended, even by accident. Conclusion Having identified the five elements of emotional intelligence, how to improve your emotional intelligence and the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace, I feel I have gained an insight into its importance in everyday life. I thought it was particularly interesting to find out that employers look for emotional intelligence over personality, although it does make a lot of sense. I also found it interesting that emotional intelligence is something you can build and develop, it isnt something you are either born with or not. I dont see any harm in people always trying to improve their emotional intelligence, even if they consider themselves as someone with high emotional intelligence. On reading the online forums on Moodle, I noticed that a lot of the focus was put on empathy, self-regulation and motivation. Not that many seemed to connect self-awareness and social skills to emotional intelligence. I would have liked to go into the different elements in more detail as I thought it was very interesting that all those little parts of everyday life joins together to make a big chunk of who we are.

Malcolm X Essay -- essays research papers

The 1950’s and 1960’s were decades full of powerful speakers. These speakers could motivate people in such a strong way. They were a huge part of the Civil Rights Movement being successful. One of these powerful speakers was Malcolm X. He led a very interesting, yet tragic life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was one of eight children. His mother, Louise Norton Little, was a homemaker while his father, Earl Little, was a Baptist minister. His father was a devoted follower of Marcus Garvey, who was the Black Nationalist leader. Malcolm had already moved twice by the time he was four because of threats aimed towards his father from white supremacy groups. Earl tried to get his family away from groups like the Black Legion but despite his efforts, the Legion burned down their house in Lansing, Michigan in 1929. In 1931, Malcolm’s father’s body was found mutilated on the town’s trolley tracks. Even though both incidents were ruled by police, the family knew the Black Legion was behind them both. Louise had a very hard time with the death of her husband. A few years after he died, Louise broke down and was committed to a mental institution. Because of this, all eight children were split up into various foster homes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Malcolm was always a very smart student. In junior high, he was at the top in his class. Malcolm went through some hardships in school though. One of his favorite te...

Cultural Awareness and Competence Essay

Cultural awareness and competence refers to the ability of an individual to postpone judgment and prejudice toward other people based on their religious background, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender, age, and such, and also one’s capability of understanding, accepting, and even adapting to unfamiliar culture, points of view, beliefs, ideologies, traditions, etc. Raising one’s cultural awareness and competence requires allocating time and exerting effort in learning and understanding the concepts of multiculturalism or cultural diversity. For instance, developing specific learning goals and a plan of action is an excellent start to promoting cultural awareness. My desire to raise my cultural awareness of two specific groups, particularly homosexuals and individuals belonging to the black population, require that I set personal learning goals and a plan of action that will guide how I am going to go about the process of learning and understanding culture based on race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. For this particular case, I believe that two of my learning goals should include reviewing the history of the African-American people, particularly the reasons why they are being discriminated upon, as well as the unfamiliar cultural practices and traditions and the meaning and significance that deepens or intensify their culture, and understanding the personal sentiments and emotions of homosexuals in order for me to recognize where they are coming from and be able to empathize with them in the process regarding their unfortunate situation especially when it comes to being judged or discriminated because of their sexual orientation. In order for me to realize the aforementioned learning goals, I plan to conduct research by reading books, magazines, newspaper articles, journal publications, research studies, online articles, and such, about black people and homosexuality. Moreover, I feel that there is a need for me to socialize with individuals belonging to the African-American culture and homosexuals in order for me to obtain first-hand information about their sentiments, experiences, knowledge, and such. I believe that through my willingness and determination to immerse myself into the African-American culture and the world of homosexuality, I will be able to promote cultural awareness simply by being conscious of the issues that they burden themselves with. EXODUS International is an online website that discriminates against homosexuals. It is a religion-based organization that provides assistance for individuals who want to â€Å"leave homosexuality. † The organization subtly reiterates that homosexuality is against the will and the word of God and that â€Å"leaving homosexuality† is a way for individuals to live a better life according to what God wants for His children. Moreover, within the lines of EXODUS International’s mission and objectives, the organization clearly mentions that homosexuals will not be able to live a fulfilling and holy life. (EXODUS International, 2005) The blog â€Å"Stuff White People Like† is an online website that discriminates against African-Americans simply because the site is devoted to discuss issues that generalize on the likes and dislikes of white people. The website lists more than one hundred things that white people like. I believe generalizing and labeling things or situations as something that is true or amenable only for a certain race is close to prejudice and bias since one is limiting these things and situations to a particular race only despite the fact that other individuals from diverse racial backgrounds may share the likes and dislikes of white people. (Stuff White People Like, 2009) I can honestly say that I am non-judgmental or prejudice in any way against any group of people in society depending on their race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender, and such. I am also proud to say that my parents raised me well. Although my family is American and adheres to Christianity as a religion, we do not judge other people from different racial backgrounds and religions. Because of my parents and family, I was able to understand that people are different from each other, and although we are different, I do not have the right to judge other people because of it. Moreover, I understand that people have different frames of mind or worldviews and we see things and situations differently. Handling the matter only requires respect and acceptance and the understanding of cultural diversity or multiculturalism. Judging from my self-assessment of my cultural awareness and competency, I believe I will be able to uphold moral and ethical principles in my profession, especially with issues that concern multiculturalism. Perhaps the only challenge that I would have to face is how I am going to develop and increase my cultural awareness to cope with multicultural trends and new information. References EXODUS International. (2005). Thinking of Leaving Homosexuality? Retrieved January 7, 2009, from Exodus International. Website: http://exodus. to/help/? option=com_content&task=view&id=327&Itemid=147 Harvey, C. & Alard, M. J. (2008). Understanding and Managing Diversity, 4th Ed. Prentice Hall. Stuff White People Like. (2009). Retrieved January 7, 2009, from Stuff White People Like. Website: http://stuffwhitepeoplelike. com/

Our Relationship with Others.. Essay

â€Å"Our relationships with others help define who we are† In trying to make sense of ourselves we often look to others and our relationships with them to help us. Our first relationships are with our family. Their influence is often vital to our self- definition. These relationships can give us a sense of who we are and where we have come from and it is often comforting to know we are part of something bigger. Often these relationships are positive, but they can also be negative. Being rejected by our family is not wanted but it can have a big impact on who we are and how we live our lives. It can test our strength of character. As we move through to adulthood and start to gain a greater insight into who we are, we often look to others outside the family and they too can have a lasting influence on us. The people we meet and the experiences we share with them are crucial to our development as individuals. We need to cross these relationships carefully as we balance our uniqueness with conforming to keep those around us happy. Our family strongly influence the sense of who we are and our behavior, family is a part of who we are. What we first connect with is our parents and our family. What our parents said and what they did will influence our behaviour. In the film Skin, Sandra’s father Abraham told Sandra ‘Never give up’ and he never gave up reclassifying Sandra to be white. All of these influence Sandra, even though she left him for nearly 30 years, Sandra still remembered and did as what he said. It made her try to connect with her mother even though she never get her mother write back and Petrus was angry about this, but she never gave up. In the end of the film when Sandra’s children question why she bothers to look for her white family, Sandra said ‘You never stop needing your parents, they are party of who you are.’ For me, my parents influenced me a lot. For example, my mum had always played sport as a young girl and teenager and even now she still plays, an d this has influenced me because I now play or have played every sport that she has, and she is now the coach of my netball team. Where we find happiness is where we belong. Sometimes we need to try to find where we really belong, where people accept us and care for us. In the film  Skin, Sandra was rejected by her father because of her falling in love with Petrus. When she was rejected by her family she felt sad and confused, but she felt she did not belong in the white group and that she will never accepted by the white people, she felt happy when she stayed with Petrus, she had asked Petus ‘how could you make me feel better’ what Petrus did is he just accepted her. When she was rejected by her family Sandra chose to live with Petrus and found out that she was belonging to black community. What Sandra did is try to find where she really did belong, where she will be treated equality and be accepted. When Petrus found out that Sandra keep in touch with her mother, he got angry with Sandra he suspected her loyalty, he rejected her, and Sandra had to take her two children and left Petrus, to try t o find other places where she will have her happiness and make her felt like she belonged. Our sense identity also is influenced by other people, what other people say to us, say about us and how they act around us will change our sense of identity. When we move through to adulthood and start to gain a greater insight into who we are, we usually change our sense of identity by some outside influence. In the film Skin, when Abraham tried to put Sandra into a white school, what happened to her in the school changes herself identity. Sandra did not even know she was coloured unstill she started school where she was the target of prejudice, racism and abuse because the staff and students questioned her status as ‘white ’. When Sandra lived in the boarding, one of a little girl said to Sandra ‘They said you are black.’ When Sandra had maths class the teacher hit her and said she was ‘disgusting’, etc. What happened to her let Sandra know that she is not white, she is coloured and she will never got in the white community. All of these chan ged Sandra, when we can see that even at nearly 30 years old Sandra still feels inadequate, when she talks with people and she’s afraid look at others eye to eye.

Low Socio-Economic Status People and Their Impact on University

Low socio-economic status people and their impact on university participation, choice of university and choice of course in Australia There seem to be persistent inequalities in Australian higher education participation. Over the last two decades the participation numbers for low socio-economic status group have only slightly improved despite improvements in access (Centre for the Study of Higher Education, 2008, p. 15).After the Bradley report which was written following the review of higher education system in 2008, the Australian government has introduced many policies and financial assistance for this demographic in hope of increasing the participation rates to 20 per cent by 2020 (Department of Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations, 2008, p. xiv). However, despite steady increases in overall tertiary participation, the inequalities still remain. People with low socio-economic status are not as successful in applying or gaining access to more prestigious institutions as those with medium or high socio-economic status are (James, 2007, p. ). It is not only participation at university level that is affected with this imbalance. Significant social differences can be seen across different universities as well as different fields of study (Reay et al. 2001, p. 858). Study by Ferguson and Simpson (2011) has found, and James (2007) agrees, that students with low socio-economic background are not so successful in gaining entry into the courses with more competitive entry requirements like medicine, law or architecture.These students were more concentrated in courses such as education, nursing, IT and business (James, 2007, p. 7). James (2007, p. 7) believes that the same is true for the high demand universities, where low socio-economic status students hold a share of only 11 per cent of all places. These differences can be somewhat accredited to the geographical location of these more prestigious universities as they are mainly situated in the metropolita n areas. However, there are other factors that contribute to this imbalance more so.Some experts believe that students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds may not aspire to attend these universities believing that it is not an achievable goal, or they may not perform academically well enough for more competitive courses. Other studies indicate that it is in fact the psychological factors which create socioeconomic imbalances in higher education participation. This paper will look at rates of participation, aspirations, ability and psychological factors and their affect on the decision making process of low socio-economic status students when it comes to higher education.It will argue that there is enough supporting evidence to conclude that this demographic does not have a lot of impact on university participation, choice of university or choice of course. While overall higher education participation rates have improved, socio-economically disadvantaged people are least represen ted group in Australian higher education. James (2007, p. 2) states that ‘social class is the single most reliable predictor of the likelihood that individuals will participate in higher education at some stage in their lives’.Undergraduate Applications, Offers and Acceptances Report from the Department of Education, Employment and Work Relations, states that in 2011, 18. 6 per cent of all applicants were from low socio-economic backgrounds, compared to 30. 6 per cent of applicants from high socio-economic group (DEEWR, 2011, p. 15). It also reports that even though applications by low socio-economic status applicants were up by 3. 4 per cent they were less likely to result in an offer. Low socio-economic status applicants had an offer rate of 79. per cent compared to 83. 5 per cent for applications from high socio-economic status applicants (DEEWR, 2011, p. 15). Even though the rates for applications and offers to higher education for low socio-economic demographic hav e slightly increased, according to DEEWR (2011), this demographic continues to be the least represented at university level. One of the reasons that could explain the current higher education participation numbers by people from low socio-economic background is aspiration.It has to be considered as one of the principal issues in student’s decision making process. According to the English dictionary, to aspire, it means to have a strong desire to achieve something. Consequently, to attend university, an individual needs to aspire to do so. Bowden and Doughney (2010), in their study of secondary students in the western suburbs of Melbourne, have found that those with lower socio-economic status have fewer aspirations to attend university. Instead, they aspire to attend a vocational training institution or gain employment. Difference in spirations among different demographics is mainly influenced by individual’s social systems, such as class, ethnicity, gender, customs an d religion (Bowden & Doughney, 2010, p. 119). Furthermore, in his research for the Department of Education, Science and Training, James has found that there is a strong relationship between parental education levels and young people’s educational aspirations (DEST, 2002, p. 51). Bowden and Doughney’s study results are consistent with James’ findings, as well as Bourdieu’s concept of ‘cultural capital’, which Harker et al. (cited in Webb et al. 002, p. 22) defined as ‘culturally valued taste and consumption pattern’. Therefore, it can be said that those who come from low socio-economic background are at a disadvantage when it comes to entering higher education due to the fact that they were not brought up with the idea of attending university. Academic achievement or student’s ability is seen as another important factor that needs to be considered when studying inequalities in higher education. This is because in Australia, university enrolment process relies heavily on individual’s academic achievement.Student’s academic record is seen as a main way of entry into the university and acquiring all the benefits that come with having a degree. Teese (cited in Ferguson & Simpson, 2011, p. 33) proposed that almost half of low socio-economic status students obtain scores in the lowest academic bands and that only small number of these students receives high academic scores. Ferguson and Simpson conclude that this is due to fewer resources, such as educational, cultural, social and financial, that are available for this group of students, rather than lack of ability.Cardak and Ryan (2009) have come to the similar conclusion. They have found that academic scores of low socio-economic status students are lower due to the fact that their early educational achievements are also lower in comparison to the more advantaged students and their achievements (Cardak & Ryan, 2009, p. 444). Both Ferguson an d Simpson’s and Cardak and Ryan’s studies agree that students with same ability and same academic scores have the same likelihood of attending university regardless of their socio-economic status.They also agree that the quality of academic results rises with the status. Thus, as they don’t have access to as many resources as their more privileged peers, low socio-economic status students are at a disadvantage when it comes to securing a place at university. Although aspirations and academic ability are very important factors in higher education inequality, it could be said that the psychological factors have most of the influence on person’s decision to attend university.Students from low socio-economic background are more conscious of the existence of barriers to their entering higher education (Harris, 2005, p. 4) and are not likely to encounter diverse influences that might persuade them to participate in higher education (DEST, 2002, p. 50). James be lieves that students from this demographic are more likely to be doubtful about their academic ability and achievement and they would possibly be lacking financial support (DEST, 2002, p. 50).He also states that they have less confidence in parental support and a stronger interest in earning an income as soon as they leave school. ‘The perceptions and beliefs held by people with low socio-economic status can all be regarded as habitus, which is described as ‘embodied predispositions that are learned early in the life of a young person’ (Harris, 2005, p. 4). As they lack role models, it is very difficult for these young people to see university participation as something that is relevant to them or something they could achieve (Harris, 2005, p. ). In their UK based study of working class secondary students, Reay et al. (2001, p. 865) have found that this group of students were choosing universities where they were most likely to fit in, as they felt more comfortabl e attending such university and where they could find ‘intellectual and social peers’. Psychological factors play an important role in the decision making process due to the emotions attached to them. Low socio-economic status students seem to have a lot more to consider when deciding on their higher education pathway.As the evidence would suggest, students from low socio-economic background, have very little impact on university participation, choice of university or choice of course at present time. According to the government reports, students from disadvantaged backgrounds are highly under-represented at university level. Thus, higher education in Australia is far from being level playing field for some demographics. The most current review of higher education shows that the participation rates at university in general, as well as different courses and institutions are considerably lower for those ith low socio-economic status. The difference between low and high so cio-economic status groups is quite significant, despite the government’s efforts to improve these numbers by implementing new policies and strategies. As discussed in this paper, the reasons for inequality are varied and complex. However, most of the researchers agree that it is the family attitudes that are at the core of the problem. These attitudes have enormous influence on student’s decision making process. However, there is always a possibility for change.Australian universities, in conjunction with schools and government’s help, need to focus on developing new social networks and transforming set beliefs of disadvantaged students. These changes could be achieved through the use of early interventions and positive role models during middle schooling. Only with successful attitude changes will the higher education participation numbers improve for this particular demographic. References Bowden, MP & Doughney, J 2010, ‘Socio-economic status, cultural diversity and the aspirations of secondary students in the western suburbs of Melbourne, Australia’, High Education, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 115-129, SpringerLink, viewed 2 October 2012. Cardak, BA & Ryan, C 2009, ‘Participation in higher education in Australia: equity and access’, Economic Record, vol. 85, no. 4, pp. 433-448, Wiley Online Library 2012 Full Collection, viewed 25 September 2012. Centre for the Study of Higher Education 2008, ‘Participation and Equity: A Review of the participation in higher education of people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and Indigenous people’, Universities Australia and the Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE), University of Melbourne, viewed 4 October 2012, Department of Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations 2008, ‘Review of Australian higher education – Executive summary’ report prepared by D Bradley, H Noonan & B Scales, Department of Education, Employment, and Workplac e Relations (DEEWR), Canberra, pp. xi-xviii, viewed 25 September 2012,