Critically appraise the education provision available for people with Diabetes. Education on prevention of Foot Ulcers in Diabetes.

Introduction Currently I am working in a nursing home where the elderly residents have various illnesses including the after effects of strokes and dementia. Due to their age and particular care needs the education for health support workers, senior carers and nurses who are at the centre of this care provision is fundamentally important. The aim of this assignment will therefore be the appraisal of this education, meaning their training and ongoing monitored development, with a specific focus on the prevention of foot ulcers in patients who suffer from diabetes mellitus. This is an important area for consideration because at the moment health care support workers have no formal education in the prevention of foot ulcers in diabetes patients and can be ignorant of its symptoms. As with nurses it is reasonable to expect that they should have attained a certain level of knowledge in this area as the consequences of foot ulcers can be very serious and in cases can lead to amputation. This ultimately has a significant impact on the quality of life of the diabetes sufferer and the carer therefore has a duty of care to protect their patient against this preventable outcome. It should be noted that 85% of cases which end in amputation can avoided (Garay- Sevilla et al., 2002, 81-86). In order to carry out this critical appraisal the first step is to consider the causes of diabetic foot ulcers, it signs and symptoms, treatment and prevention. The assessment of these factors is necessary because it deconstructs the knowledge required by health care workers and subsequently allows the provision of education to be accordingly evaluated for its accuracy and comprehensiveness. The next point to discuss is the current state of education on offer. This will be assessed in terms of how far it provides the level of knowledge needed by people who are in the position of diagnose and treat diabetic foot ulcers. Recommendations for best practice will then be make. Causes of diabetic foot ulcer One of the effects of diabetes is decreased immunity and poor wound healing. In the absence of normal blood flow specific lesions of the arteries, particularly in the extremities, can occur. Diabetic foot syndrome is one such complication and occurs in 15% of all patients with diabetes. These changes are a consequence of the existence of diabetic neuropathy. Motor neuropathy in diabetes leads to muscle atrophy and impaired co-flexors and extensors whilst also effecting deformation rate. Sensory neuropathy, sensory disturbance of pain by temperature and touch, increases the risk of injury which in turn contributes to the formation of ulcers. Autonomic neuropathy results in the formation of arterial venous fistulas and impaired blood oxygenation which leads to disorders affecting the trophic ulcers (Rubin & Peyrot, 1998, 81–87). The syndrome occurs in the later stages of the disease and is one of its most severe complications as it can lead to death. It manifests itself in compl ex changes in the joints and foot nerves, limb deformation, and deep tissue damage. It is also associated with damage to blood vessels, nerves, skin and bones. The initial abnormality takes the form of a pressure point which can be caused by, for example, ill-fitting shoes which cause blistering, cuts, and bites caused by foreign bodies. Vascular disease, resulting in decreased blood flow, contributes to poor healing and infections can be caused by numerous microorganisms (Manson & Spelsberg, 2004, 172–184). Patients who experience sensory disturbances find that pain is suppressed and consequently they might not recognize the seriousness of their situation leading to a delay in treatment. The treatment that is required must be prompt and responsible but it can also be protracted (Lustman et al., 2000, 934–943). Foot problems can affect anyone who has Diabetes regardless of whether they are being treated with insulin, non-insulin, tablets, injections, a controlled diet or physical activity. Signs and symptoms of diabetic foot ulcer In order that treatment is successful it is necessary that health care professionals and care workers can recognize the signs and symptoms of diabetic foot ulcers especially when caring for the elderly who are unable to detect the signs and symptoms. The main features of the disease include explicit sores, prolonged healing sores, changes in the shape of limbs, and, in later stages, gangrene. In the early stages symptoms usually coincide with complaints of fatigue which is accelerated by walking and standing, a sense of gravity, and freezing feet due to the deformation problems with wearing familiar footwear. One of the most pressing reasons for a good standard of education in diabetic foot ulcers is the variety of forms it might take. This means that the health care worker must be able to recognize the condition in different scenarios. The neuropathic foot is the most common form with 70% of cases of diabetic foot falling into this category. It takes the form of a hot pink color with a palpable pulse and impaired deep sensation (Wysocki & Buckloh, 2002, 65–99). Another form is known as ischemic. This condition is caused by peripheral vascular occlusive. Diagnosis includes history (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking) and intermittent claudication. The foot assumes a cold bluish tinge and has no palpable pulse. The sufferer experiences a pain in motion and severe pain at rest (Lustman et al., 2000, 934–943). The final form is neuropatyczno-ischemic. This is characterized by the worst prognosis (Morisaki et al., 2004, 142–145). The main course of action is to preserve the integrity of the skin. This is because the main danger lies in the wounds and fractures where if infection takes hold the result will be purulent inflammation and necrosis. Severe pain or numbness, sores, blisters, and peeling require the most urgent medical intervention because these can lead to gangrene and ultimately amputation of the affected limb. As the only quantifiable sign of inflammation, which indicates tissue lesions, is skin temperature it is necessary to used infrared thermometers. These can be used to determine the temperature of the skin in different areas of the foot. Dermal thermometers are also useful in the interpretation of the different phases of Charcot foot and in determining the most appropriate orthopodologic treatment in each phase. However, these are specialised tools and are unsuitable for carers to use nursing homes. Methods There is very particular method which should be implemented for assessing the health of a diabetes suffer’s feet. It is this type of information which should be included in an educative strategy used to train health care workers. Before measuring the temperature of the skin in the feet, the patient should be barefoot for at least five minutes before the examination to avoid a rise in temperature due to footwear or hosiery. The result should then be recorded. The next step is to repeat the measurement in the same area of the contralateral foot and compare the results obtained. This should be done for all the high risk areas. A difference in temperature of less than 2? c can be considered normal. Once infection has been ruled out, differences greaterthan2? C in diabetic patients are highly suggestive of Charcot activity. When the examination is done in a patient with Charcot foot and the difference is less than 2? C it shows that the acute period has come to an end. If the patie nt observes a difference in temperature greater than 2?C in self-examination on two consecutive days, he or she should contact a healthcare professional to determine the cause of the difference (www.diabeticfootjornal.net). Unfortunately there is no effective treatment for diabetic ulcers but reducing the load on the feet does offer hope of saving the affected limb. Alternative treatments can involve the use of hydrotherapy and ulcer surgery to remove necrotic tissue. Algorithm for the treatment of infected feet includes glycemic control (insulin), strain rates (shoe inserts, crutches, plaster casts), antibiotics and surgical procedures (drainage, incision, removal of dead tissue). Prevention of diabetic foot ulcer One of the most effective treatments is preventative. All patients with Diabetes Mellitus should be screened when there is a sensation of numbness or pain exists even if there are no visible lesions or ulcers (Morisaki et al., 2004, 142–145). The education of health care workers in foot ulcers therefore needs also to take into account prevention. Inspection of the stop should be performed as often as possible. If the skin of the foot shows sign of a scratch or crack you cannot use adhesive, alcohol or fat-containing ointments as these tools lead to further irritation. Redness or paleness, the presence of edema, blunting of the sensitivity, fungal lesions, and the overall deformation of the foot should be examined for deviations from the norm. If identified treatment should start immediately. In addition, from time to time, it is desirable to perform a neurological examination to determine the tactile, thermal, and vibration sensation of the foot. Angiographic diagnosis of vasc ular leg reveals the presence of thrombus. Basic steps can also be taken to prevent the occurrence of gangrene. These include the maintenance of desired blood sugar levels, the monitoring of the hygiene of the feet, making regular visits to an endocrinologist and follow their recommendations. (Clement, 1995, 1204–1214). Good foot care Education is important because good foot care has lots of pitfalls. Using the wrong cream, overcutting toe nails, walking barefoot, wearing the wrong shoes or socks can increase the chances of foot ulcers. It is necessary that the carer should be able to advise diabetes sufferers in all the dos and don’ts when it comes to looking after their feet in the proper manner to decrease the chances of contracting a foot ulcer in the first place (www.patient.co.uk). Some of these dos and don’ts are as follows; In contrast to what might seem like common sense it is vital to avoid using items such as moisturising oils or cream designed for dry skin and the prevention of cracking. Look out for athletes foot (common minor skin infection) as it can cause flaky and cracked skin The space between toes can become sore and can become infected. It is essential to monitor this. Cut your nails by following the shape of the end of the nail. Do not cut down the sides of the nails as this may cause damage or lead the nails to develop an ingrown nail. It is important to wash feet regularly and dry them carefully, especially between toes. Do not walk barefoot even at home You right treads Always wear sole or shoes or other footwear however don’t wear too tight socks around the ankle as they may affect circulation Shoes, trainers and other foot wear should; Fit well to make into accounts any awkward shapes or deformities Have broad front and plenty of room for toes Heels to avoid pressure on toes. Have good laces, buckles to prevent movement and rubbing of feet in the toes When you buy shoes, wear the type of socks that you usually wear Avoid slip on shoes, shoes with pointed toes, sandals, or flip flops. Always feel inside foot wear before you put footwear on to check for stores, rough edges etc. Tips include avoiding food burns and water burns – checking the bath temperature with your hand before stepping in to it It important to avoid using items such as hot water bottles, electric blankets or foot spas. Do not sit too close to fires. Further measures include looking very carefully at the feet each day including between the toes. This involves examining the area for reduced sensation in order to not miss any vital signs of the inset of a foot ulcer. It is also necessary to look for any cuts, abrasions, bruises, blisters, redness or bleeding. If any of these symptoms are spotted carers should immediately inform the nurse who is in charge who should in turn carry contact a podiatrist or similar specialist. Existing education provision To date education in diabetic foot ulcers takes several forms. NICE recommends that all people with diabetes should be offered structured education as an integral part of their diabetes management (www.nice.co.uk). The purpose of this is to raise awareness of the side-effects and complications of diabetes in those who suffer with it. This increases the chance for early identification of foot ulcer symptoms. The XPERT Programme was launched in 2007 to provide education to all health care professionals across Wales so they are able to give structured advice to patients with type2 diabetes. In addition the National Service Framework (NSF) (2001) for diabetes set out a ten year programme for change. It outlined evidence-based standards for the planning, organising, and delivery of diabetes services. This programme represents the Welsh Assembly’s strategy for improving diabetes and through the progressive implementation of the NSF the quality of care and treatment for those living with diabetes (www.wales.gov.uk). However within this long-term plan there is little direct reference to patients in residential or nursing homes. This is also the case with the Desmond, Dafne and Bertie programmes which have little relevance for the care of the elderly. Clearly there is a significant gap within the education of health care professionals. This gap is apparent in the nursing home where I work as none of the staff have received any particular training specifically related to diabetes mellitus. This clearly puts the residents of the home in an at risk category because the chances of their carers recognising the early symptoms of foot ulcers are substantially reduced. Within the nursing home and home care system however there does exist a health care specialist with the expertise to assist in raising awareness about the causes and prevention of foot ulcers; the podiatrist. The work of a podiatrist is overseen by the Chiropody Code Of Conduct which states that chiropodists and podiatrists must be able to work, where appropriate, in partnership with other professional support staff, service users and their relatives and carers. They should also ‘be able to demonstrate effective and appropriate skills in communicating information, advice, instruction and professional opinion to colleagues, service users, their relative s and carers’ (Standards of proficiency, Health Professions Council, 2009). However, in practice this is frequently not the case. The health support workers are not currently included in visits and are not given the opportunity to learn or ask questions when the podiatrists are called to review residents. Neither do they pass on information about their findings to staff on duty. Evidently there is an issue of communication. The podiatrist is not the only person with a professional duty to assist health care workers with their treatment of foot ulcers. The NMC code of conduct states that nurses should work with others to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of those in their care, their families and carers and the wider community. Therefore, the nurse in charge should ensure that learning opportunities are facilitated and that staff have feedback from these specialist visits which help to inform and improve the care delivered to residents. Education – best practice The current provision of education demonstrates that the education of health workers is largely at the discretion of their employers. If individual employers do decide to provide their staff with training there is little in the way of advice to follow and this can result in poorly informed, ill-conceived or simply inadequate education. At the same time it creates a situation whereby health care workers have to rely on experience gained on the job to identify the symptoms of foot ulcers or their own inclination to acquire further knowledge. For new members of the staff who lack experience there might exist a worrying amount of ignorance on the subject. There is however much potential to improve this situation. In best practice education takes a variety of forms. This may include formal study sessions, workplace booklets or posters and online education programmes. Therefore there is potential for foot ulcer education to be flexible and made to suit the particular needs of a workplace. At my workplace none of these options have been made available. Ideally the best situation would be a formal study session where the expert knowledge of a specialist can be imparted and where full training can be given. The information gained should then be reinforced at the workplace through posters or leaflets. Conclusion Conclusively it is very important that diabetic foot ulcers are prevented at all times while treating patients with diabetes, especially in the elderly who might for other reasons associated with dementia and impaired movement find it harder to care for themselves. Education of health care professionals is key in achieving this. They should have the necessary knowledge to help prevent foot ulcers, to recognise the first symptoms of one, and to provide effective treatment. They must also be able to advise the diabetes sufferer on how to care for their feet and how to avoid the contraction of a foot ulcer in the first instance. Despite this clear need for knowledgeable clinicians the situation as it currently stands fails to provide health care workers who look after the elderly with the training they require to the provide the best standard of service possible. Whilst measures are in place for the education of both diabetic sufferers and nurses, more work needs to be done on identifyi ng the educational requirements of those who care for elderly patients. Best practice in education should be drawn upon and formal training sessions organised alongside the better provision of information within the workplace. The expertise of specialists such as podiatrists should also utilised more effectively so that staff within the nursing home are well informed and understand the treatment their patients are undergoing and their specific needs. Communication is at the heart of this.

Hate Crimes toward Sexual Orientation

We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. † – Dry. Martin Luther King Jar. Every day, somewhere in the world, men, women and children are tortured and even killed because of their beliefs, their race, the way they look, or the way they live. And this will go on until the rest of the world stops being quiet and takes a stand against the hatred that causes these crimes. Hate crimes are well known issue in today's society.According to Joseph Healed, â€Å"One possible explanation for at least some hate rimes is that they are fueled by perceived threats, frustration and fear, and anger and scapegoat† is one reason behind the cause (2011). All humanity possesses a voice to the injustice of violence. Inclusion of sexual orientation in the federal hate crime law was rejected by the U. S. Senate in the late asses, even while hate crimes targeting specifically gays and lesbians increased during the same period (Kamala & Nolan, 1999). Sp rees of violence are always directed to one another, especially towards the weak and defenseless.The racial spree killer Benjamin Smith, the ragging death of James Byrd, and the humiliating murder of Matthew Sheppard, all stand as reminders that the bigotry that kills is much more than the few unfortunate reminders of the United States history (Perry, 2001). There is a significant relationship between hate crimes and psychological impact to the victim and the victim's community where a priority response is actually needed. The consequences caused and done by hate crimes cannot be measured solely in terms of physical injury or dollars and cents.Intimidation of other members of the victim's community, leaving hem feeling isolated, vulnerable and unprotected by the law is effected immediately with the presence of hate crimes. By making members of minority communities fearful, angry and suspicious of other groups and of the power structure that is supposed to protect them. These inciden ts can damage the fabric of our society and fragment communities. There was a blob has been found where there lots of victim experienced hate crimes based on sexual orientation.One of them which attracted me the most was from James, who was gay black male (2010), he described how he as assaulted in a public place by someone that he did not even know: [l] was attacked at a bar by a complete stranger! This has been the worst chapter in my journey. As a result of the attack, my right hummers was broken at the surgical neck. The incident occurred at a bar in the city's largest entertainment district. The district's name is Power and Light. It is common knowledge to residents of our area, the district has experienced many problems with issues of discrimination.I work across the street from the district and never experienced any problems until this. The attack occurred inside the bar. It was after a huge football game for our local team. At a certain point, this really drunk guy starting yelling and calling me names! Not one of the bouncers or servers asked him to leave. The whole thing happened very quickly. One minute he was calling me â€Å"Fagged†, the next minute I was being â€Å"attacked†. As he tried to hit me in the face, he lost his footing and fell on top of me in the process. As a result of his weight and mine, my hummers immediately broke.I could feel the bar start, almost instantly! At that point, the wait staff helped Him up and asked him to leave. I was in so much pain at that point, and embarrassed. Not once did any of the bar personnel or district security ask me if I was okay. In that moment, all I could do was leave out of pure disbelief and shame. Once I arrived home, the pain was completely unbearable. I sent a text to one of the team member's from the bar asking her to send emergency personnel to my home. The experience, for me, has been life-changing. I'm now unable to drive. I'm now unable to work. It even has affected my schoo ling.I am right-handed, and this whole situation has given me a whole new understanding of how the world can react to others. According to Barbara Perry, â€Å"Hate crime often referred to as â€Å"ethnocentric† is much more than the act of mean-spirited bigots and it is embedded in the structural and cultural context within which groups interact† (2001). The benefit of criminal offense, a violation of an existing criminal code were assumed by the term hate crime and it may be applied only where a predicate offense, or underlying crime, is committed as a result of bias or prejudiced (Healed, 2005).Such restriction may fulfill the concept within the law enforcement community, but it is not particularly satisfying from a sociological perspective. Although in National Coalition of anti-violence Programs said that documented cases of antigen violence remained relatively stable in recent years, social advocacy group estimate that countless cases of antigen intimidation, ver bal harassment, and physical assault occur every day but go unreported (2005).What is perceived as hate crimes today, in another time or place, may be standard operating procedure which means hate crimes are acceptable in some countries and it is common thing to do which is believed will not give an impact in harmful way toward others. Based on what Perry said, â€Å"Oppressive violence is nested within the complex of exploitation, normalization, powerlessness, and cultural imperialism. It is the processes and imagery associated with cultural imperialism that supports these practices ideologically.Together structural exclusions and cultural imaging leave minority members vulnerable to systemic violence and especially hate crimes† (2001). Therefore, it is difficult to construct a complete definition of the term. Perspective of LIGHT-Q Great minds such as the president, humanitarians, theorists, behaviorist's have tried o mold the concept of hate crimes and each defining it in their own term. However, humanity still failed to grasp the concept by only reading between the lines.For some Christian Right leader's points of view, the leading causes of the destruction of American society and culture are due to the gay rights movement and its so-called homosexual agenda. In his own words, Focus on the Family Founder James Dobson says, â€Å"The battle against gay rights is essentially a second civil war to put control of the U. S. Government in the right hands, meaning those who reject gay rights† (2010). There are lots of religious leaders who are most likely misunderstand and misconstrue are often cowering behind the First Amendment or Justifying their actions by perverting Holy Scriptures.Throughout the years, religious right in America has adopted and retained variety of strategies such as defamation. Its leaders have involved in the crudest type of name-calling, claiming that homosexuality is a choice, dehumidifying or describing them by creating pr ominent myths and instilling fears upon others. â€Å"Myths such as gay people molest children at far higher rate than heterosexuals†, by portraying gay men as a threat to children loud be the most â€Å"efficacious weapon† for stimulating public fears about homosexuality (Escalates, E. & Steinbeck, R. , 2010). According to American Psychological Association (PAP), â€Å"Homosexual men are not more likely to sexually abuse children than heterosexual men are† (2010). Followed by a professor at the University of California, Davis, Gregory Here said, â€Å"One of the top researchers on prejudice against homosexuality, reviewed a series of studies and found no connecting evidence between gay men molesting children at higher rate than a heterosexual male† (cited in Escalates, E. & Steinbeck, R, 2010).Due to instilled fears from communities of faith, it created another path for homophobia to take on such as antigen aggression. Need to understand the concept of how sexual stigma is expressed towards sexual minorities in order to extend how antigen aggression is enabled. The idea that hate crimes involve scapegoat is also supported by the spontaneous, unplanned, and highly emotional nature of this crime. It provides a Justification for expressing anger and hostility towards sexual minorities. In order to understand how sexual stigma is expressed, we need to understand owe antigen aggression is expressed.Sexual stigma refers to â€Å"the negative regard, inferior status, and relative powerlessness that society collectively accords to any non-heterosexual behavior, identity, relationship, or community' (Here, in press; p 2). According to Parrot and Peterson, â€Å"To this day, contemporary theorist still believe that antigen aggression is motivated by the convergence of several different mechanisms, specifically three complimentary theoretical models that explain the motives for antigen aggression have garnered the most attention: sexual pr ejudice, ere dynamics and thrill seeking† (2008).While sexual prejudice, peer dynamics, or thrill seeking may be the sole motivating factor for a particular act of antigen aggression, it is posited that antigen aggression may also be facilitated by various combinations of these motives. Understanding LIGHT-Q (Victim) In order to create a better empathy or perspectives on hate crimes, one of the first steps is to understand them. One of the most difficult challenges of developmental milestones for gay youth is having the courage to reveal their sexual orientation to parents (Savings-Williams, 2001).The disclosure of sexual orientation by a family member clearly fits the description of a stresses because family values may be called into question, such as beliefs about sex, sexuality, and religion. A child's coming out is a salient event that often distorts several aspects of the family system such as family values, roles, expectations and boundaries (Crosier-Burnett et all, 1996 ). Every parent's dream and expectations for a son, who was expected to marry a woman, have children, and carry the family name, may be shattered.The brutality of hate crimes also has consequences for the entire gay community. It is not an exaggeration to conclude that bias-motivated attacks function as a form of terrorism, sending a message to all lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals that they are not safe if they are visible. An aggression based on sexual orientation such as physical aggression, verbal aggression, property damage, etc. , comes with a psychological impact to victims. Risks range from anxiety to depression, fear to post-traumatic stress and possibly, suicide or death (Here, Gillis, & Conga, 1999).The varieties of hate crime factorization can be seen such as in gay-identified settings, public spaces, at home, in schools, in the workplace and by friends and family members. Even when one does not personally know the victim, hate crimes can threaten the illusion of invulner ability that is so important in one's daily life Nonfat-Pullman & Parker, 2012). To top it all, the existence of hate crimes might make even minor instances of harassment more frightening for the victim. Consequently, an incident that appears minor in retrospect might nevertheless have considerable psychological impact on the victim.One type of agency particularly well suited for groups of victims of hate rimes is a local human rights or human relations agency that traditionally deals with cases of inequality such as hate crimes toward sexual orientation. Some human- relations commissions have a community relations component that specializes in interrupt conflict in the community. Not-for-profit registered charity safe houses like Pink Triangle offer services such as providing peer support, educational, research and advocacy services for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, two-spirit and queer (GLOTTAL) persons in the National Capital Region (2012).Certain school systems, those seed to dealing with interrupt tension, can also provide the official context for such groups, particularly when Juveniles are involved, either as victims or perpetrators. Mental health associations or interfaith organizations often have programs designed to promote positive interrupt relations and can provide a setting for groups of hate crime victims. Documentaries such as For the Bible Tells Me So (2007) directed and produced by Daniel G.Karakas, provide the viewer or society with homosexuality and its perceived conflict with religion, as well as various interpretations of what the Bible says about name-sex sexuality. It also includes lengthy interview segments with several sets of religious parents regarding their personal experiences raising homosexual children and also interview with those children. Hate crimes on sexual orientation are crimes fueled by perceived threats, frustration and fear, and anger and scapegoat through the practices of sexual prejudice.Sexual orientation comm only conveys a wrong belief that gay people are more likely to molest children at higher rates than heterosexuals. This appears to have more serious psychological effects on gay men and lesbians, including oppression, stress, anger and even, death than do other crimes. The government should take a decisive action toward hate crimes which makes a minority group's life worst. They are also human beings who have a right to live a normal life like any other without having any scorn from any other people surround them.

What is the place of reason in relationship to understanding animal Essay

What is the place of reason in relationship to understanding animal life Coetzee - Essay Example I will take the chance to talk about these horrors.† (Coetzee, 117) Understanding animal life establishes what form of relation should exist between human beings and animals. Animals learn from experience and future behavior will be formed through earlier experiences. From birth, they pick knowledge from various sources on deaths, heights, fire; water among others. â€Å"The old are thus more experienced than the young, due to years of experience. The old are more cunning and astute because of years of experience acquired through observation. The old are thus less likely to avoid harm† (Coetzee, 123) Therefore, understanding animal life helps to explain why they behave in a particular way. This is because of what they have observed. Animals that have faced danger before will most likely be very conscious of any incoming danger. With this form of information, human beings are made aware of the form of treatment that each animal deserves. â€Å"The observation formed against one animal, is by reasoning extended to other animals† (David, 76). Besides that, understanding animal life is vital in the making of crucial decisions on which animals are fit for consumptions and which are not fit for consumption. A debate ranges where some individuals feel that some animals can be eaten while others cannot and in the meantime there are those that are totally against the consumption of any form of animal viewing it as a horrendous act (Coetzee, 138). To make credible decisions on which animals should be eaten and which should not be eaten, we need a deep understanding of animal life. Understanding animal life also establishes if there is any form of relation ship that exists between human being and animals. Coetzee, asks whether human beings have anything common with animals. Do they reason like animals? Do animals have self-consciousness found in human beings, or a soul? According to this lecture (Coetzee, 119) if animals are like human beings

Chinese and Comparative Company Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Chinese and Comparative Company Law - Essay Example Nevertheless, some generally accepted knowledge includes that of constitutional document sometimes referred to as charter or agreement which is a certificate characterizing the existence of the entity which the law recognizes and allows acting as natural persons and regulating the structure and control of the entity and its members. It was generally accepted that the specific form of the constitutional documents depends upon the type of entity (Djankov, et al, 2002). On one side of the fence, common law is a system of law whose sources are the decisions in cases by judges. Besides, every system will have a legislature that passes new laws and statutes, nevertheless, these do not modify a collected and codified body of law. Common law comes from England and was passed on to Commonwealth countries, and almost every former colony of the British Empire (except for Malta and Scotland ). Furthermore, it is currently observed in, United Kingdom (excluding Scotland), United States (excluding Louisiana) Canada (excluding Quebec), Ireland, Australia, India, South Africa, and Hong Kong and in some other countries. In addition to these countries, several others have adapted the common law system into a mixed system. For instance, India, Pakistan, and Nigeria function largely on a common law system, however, incorporate religious law (Coffee, 2001). Likewise, company refer to a separate legal entity, as in English law, or may simply refer to a business, as i s the common use in the United States. In addition, a company may or may not be a separate legal entity. Any business or commercial economic activity may be referred to as a company; examples of this include "my company", "our company", "the company", and "their company". A corporation may accurately be called a company; nonetheless, a company should not necessarily be called a corporation, which has discrete characteristics. According to Black's Law Dictionary, in the U.S. a company could be a corporation, less commonly, an association, partnership or union, carrying industrial enterprise. Contract is a legally required trade of promises or an accord between parties that the law will implement. Contract law is based on the Latin phrase "pacta sunt servanda" literally, promises must be held in reserve. Breach of a contract is acknowledged by the law and remedies can be provided as many people make contracts everyday. Most of the times, written contracts are mandatory such as when buying a house. On the other hand, the enormous majority of contracts can be and are made orally, like the process where a vendor guarantees the material bought by a customer. Contract law is classified as part of a general law of obligations under civil law systems (La Porta et al, 1998). Therefore, it may be acceptable in China that constitutional documents in common law country may be seen as a contract between the company and the directors, but not in exact acceptable practices. This is so because one of the more prevalent reasons enterprises has second thoughts about doing business in China had been legal in context as there are no established laws that actually guard and protect the interests of investors (Ahlstrom, Nair, Young, 2003). While some countries adopt common law legal systems, judges have the authority and

Northern Short Grass Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Northern Short Grass - Research Paper Example The common animals of the region are bison, cattle, pronghorn, sharp tailed grouse and dung beetle. The grassland soil is probably the richest in the world. The soil of the short grass land is an amalgamation of metamorphic and igneous outwash, limestone, sandstone, shale and loess. The important soil types are mollisols and alfisol. In the past few decades the shortgrass ecosystem has been declared as an endangered habitat due to human invasion. Some of the terms that will be frequently used in this research paper are defined below: Johnson (2001) defines the below mentioned terms in the book â€Å"A Walk in the Prairie†. Prairie: Prairie is a word used for grasslands in North America. The climate of the prairie habitat does not allow the growth of trees. It allows only the growth of small plants (Johnson, 2001). Grassland: A biome where only grass and small plants grow and where the climate is not suitable for the growth of tall trees (Johnson, 2001). Shortgrass: It is a typ e of prairie where the amount of precipitation is very low and because of which the plants in the region are not taller than a person’s knee (Johnson, 2001). Tallgrass: It is another kind of prairie where the amount of precipitation is sufficient for the growth of tall plants (Johnson, 2001). ... According to Malin prairies are the large area of grassland or natural meadows. They have their own type of vegetation which contains less tress and more grass, flowers and other herbs. The height of the grass in the grasslands varies depending upon the type of soil and the amount of precipitation. Grasslands are those areas which, on one hand, are too moist for the deserts and on the other hand are too dry for the growth of forest type of vegetation. They exist due to the seasonal droughts, continuous grazing by the herbivores and occasional fires. These three factors play an important role in preventing the growth of large trees and shrubs. The three types of grasslands are tropical, temperate and cold. However we will restrict ourselves to the discussion of temperate grasslands since shortgrass prairie of the Northern America falls in this category. The aim of this paper is to discuss the shortgrass prairies in North America. The methodology of the research is based on exploration of the relevant literature for a detailed understanding of the topic. Authentic websites and peer reviewed articles and books have been consulted. Several problems related to the area under discussion have been brought into light for a better future of the short grasslands of North America. Maps, diagrams and charts have been included for a detailed understanding of the topic. Pic. 1: Map of grasslands in North America (Source: FAO. 2005) http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/y8344e/y8344e0d.htm Tinker and Hild (2005) describe the location of the grasslands in North America which are found in the east of Rocky Mountains from Nebraska and Wyoming southward through the high plains. The North American grasslands spread in the east between the Great Lakes and Ohio River going as far as Indiana

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict - Essay Example d be we should be prudent in how and what form they can provide financial or political support for Israel, without exempting them from the same accountability demanded of all nations and churches regarding human rights and international law. Lee von Bockmann, James. â€Å"Review: Philosophical Perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, edited by Tomis Kapitan.† Arab Studies Quarterly 21.4 (1999): 105-109. ProQuest. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. Lee von Bockmann reviews the book that Kapitan edited, Philosophical Perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, has the strengths of revealing the dark side of Israel as a terrorist state and a secondary genocide maker because of its violent tactics and consequences. He discusses diverse philosophical perspectives that offers different philosophical lenses for the understanding and resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Mollov, Ben, and Chaim Lavie. â€Å"Culture, Dialogue and Perception Change in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.† International Journal of Conflict Management 12.1 (2001): 69-87. ProQuest. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. Mollov and Lavie conducted a survey on Palestinian and Israeli students to understand how intercultural dialogue on people-to-people levels can result to more positive perceptions of one another. These perceptions can lead to common interests that can support long-term peace aspirations in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and other similar conflict settings. Naqib studies the economic effects of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict on the collapse of the Oslo Accord. He asserts that the Israeli policies and actions have destabilized the Palestinian economy by limiting trade, taxation, labor market flows, and access to land, which resulted to income decline, poverty, and unemployment in Palestinian territories. He argues that two important issues are the Palestinian right of sovereignty and the right to liberate their economy from colonial reliance on Israel. Roy examines the paradigm shifts that

Sex Therapy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sex Therapy - Essay Example A sex therapist has professional training and the required practice to solve sexual problems. They generally have an educational background in other fields like psychology, medicine or social work. Many people have inhibitions in discussing their sexual problems but sex therapists help them overcome it. During their sessions they ask the patient to read various sex related books, practice better sexual communication skills and do touching exercises which are so designed so as to reduce their problem they have during intercourse. Sex therapy does not give a medical degree but has a separate course with its own rules and regulations (Indiadiets.com, 1999). Many women all over the world are facing childbirth problems which can be solved through sex therapy. The sex therapist helps in determining the exact problems that a couple faces in childbirth. He assesses the whole situation and provides the solution accordingly. There are people who have been sexually abused and are suffering from depression. A sex therapist through proper counseling can help such people overcome the problem. Thus sex therapy also helps in clinical works. In a case, a wife had been refered to a sex therapist by a pshcologist.

Outsourcing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Outsourcing - Research Paper Example Why are they still outsourcing from these suppliers. Are there more fundamental principles that need to be considered? This work will try to answer these questions and other issues in more details. National Express is the largest scheduled coach service provider in Europe. In the UK, distinctive white National Express coaches operate to more than 1,000 destinations and carry over 17 million customers a year. The Euro lines coaches additionally operate to over 500 destinations within Europe and Ireland. National Express coach services also serve the major UK airports with additional dedicated on-airport coach and bus services operated by Air links that are based at Gatwick. They also provide a Hotel Hoppa service, which links major hotels at both Heathrow and Gatwick to the airport terminals. Other dedicated airport operations help to serve British Airports Authority (BAA) and the wider airline community at these increasingly busy locations. National Express Ltd is also part of a leading international transport provider - National Express Group (NEG), which itself has over 45,000 employees. In addition to train and bus companies within the UK including Gatwick Express, one, Midland Mainline and Travel West Midlands their overseas operations include student transportation and public transit in the USA & Canada, the management of Stewart International Airport near New York and bus and coach operations in Spain operated by Alsa. In total the National Express Group now carry over 1 billion passengers a year. National Express outsources 80%of their services from third party with whom they have long term contracts. With a growing competition from many other operators, the abolition by the government of the subsidies of elderly and disable passengers, and the financial austerity, National Express like many other companies is under lot of pressure to provide a good value for money service. The aim of this project is to investigate and

Service Quality RTE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Service Quality RTE - Essay Example The service marketing mix includes process, physical evidence, and people. When offering services instead of products, a company's reputation, the process of delivering the service and what is promised, value for the money, and follow up. Other differences include the improbability of services not being able to be returned and a company's service can be based on one particular sales representative. Council (2006) which states "The relationship between the audience and the broadcaster can be very uneven yet good communications between the two are vital for the ongoing development of a truly relevant service. RT is committed to being open to its audience, welcoming all contact, listening to all views, and responding promptly and appropriately. To facilitate communication and to enhance accountability" In order to provide quality services via services marketing, RTE must be aware of key macro economic environmental factors such as the climate in which the company conducts business. Regulations and policies set by the government. The economic environment includes the business cycle, rate of inflation, and interest rates. The changes in society's trends and markets and technological impact are also macro economic environmental factors. A Political, Economic, Socialcultural, and Technological Analysis (P.E.S.T. or PEST Analysis) is used to examine the macro (external) environment that companies must face and deal with when conducting business. External factors can be considered bad and yet a dynamic external environment creates opportunities as changes occur. Macro economic environmental factors are forces which affect companies dramatically if not controlled and addressed accordingly. The macro factors are dynamic and produce major changes and trends. Such factors include technology, politics, the status of the economy, and the Last Name 3 environment. As stated earlier, these factors (along with many other macro economic environmental factors) drive the changes that constantly occur. Demographics, or "The characteristics of human populations and population segments, especially when used to identify consumer markets", as defined by The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (2000) are highly determined. Unlike demographics, however, the macro environmental factor of public opinion is very uncertain. RTE should focus on the factors that are the most important and most uncertain. The company should focus on trends that are observable and measurable as these are good indicators of what changes should expect to happen and the directions in which these changes will take. RTE has an advantage in keeping abreast of the macro environmental factors as the media services (television, radio, business, news,

Impact of television on professional sports Essay Example for Free

Impact of television on professional sports Essay It was in late 1940’s and beginning of 1950’s that television was introduced to the common people. In the words of Marc and Thompson, â€Å"Marshall McLuhan who was earning the distinction of becoming the first ‘media critic,’ described television in the 1950’s as an ‘electronic hearth,’ a kind of proto-cyberworld fireplace, around which families were gathering during this new stage of post-industrial existence. (2005, p. 55) Following sports became completely different with the advent of television. Now there was no need to waste entire day to watch one’s favourite game in the stadium or strain one’s ears to keep track of the latest happenings in the fields through the radio. Those who had not yet brought this powerful medium of entertainment home used to be a part of â€Å"a crowd of people standing in the street in front of an appliance dealership watching TV through the store window. † (Marc and Thompson, 2005, p. 53) So people at homes or as sidewalk audiences started cheering the sportsmen for their efforts that was visible on screen. The television enhanced the status of sports as a social activity that could be viewed at the comfort of homes. It also introduced the masses to different kinds of sports. Earlier people were aware of the sports that were common in their country only. Due to television sportsmen of diverse kinds of sports became household names. Television gave the sportsmen, the fame and recognition across the continents. This was unimaginable otherwise. Boyle and Haynes observed, â€Å"today it is difficult to imagine football without television or a television schedule bereft of football. † (2004, p. 7) This observation is true in a wider context too. Television sector has undergone tremendous growth. Hundred of channels all over the world are dedicated to sports, which telecast not only the game but also each and every aspect of the players’ lives. The top sportsmen enjoy the same fan following and power as the film stars. Where there is maddening fan following and popularity, can money be behind? The salaries of the top players in all the sports have soared really high. It’s no wonder that popular games like tennis, football, cricket etc. have become businesses in their own right. There has been major commercialization of sports since 1950’s – the advent of television. Talking about football Boyle and Haynes lamented, â€Å"the increasing influence that television has exercised over the sport and the unhealthy degree to which clubs have become dependant on television income have meant that the economic aspects of the game have become of considerable interest. † (2004, p. 8) This pathetic state of affairs can be identified with the economics of other professional sports too. All the different sports can be addressed as different products. The mushrooming of rival leagues in each category of product can be compared to different brands of that category, which are constantly trying to outdo each other. This competition or war amongst the rival leagues is benefiting them but deteriorating the spirit of sports. The flow of television money has turned competitive balance into competitive imbalance. However Wigglesworth argued, â€Å"commercialism has always been present in sport in one form or another. It may have begun with the donation of prizes by local tradesmen at holy day recreations and have become more highly organized in rural sports, often sponsored by publicans. † (2007, p. 35) According to Wigglesworth commercialization has helped in the growth of professionalism. This indicates that before 1950’s it was impossible to consider sports as a profession because the players were not paid proper salaries. Thus all the players used to dabble with other professions in order to keep their kitchens running. Since the advent of television, sports have been started being recognised as one of the well-paid professions and each decade after 1950’s has seen a further hike in the players’ salary. The channel boom in the past decade has made the picture rosier for the players as far as their salaries are concerned. Talking about the growth of leagues Wigglesworth observed, â€Å" money from television coverage and all the associated media opportunities was the spur for the bigger clubs to organize themselves into a league†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (2007, p.129). He further elaborated â€Å"even cycling clubs have derived commercial benefits from increased television coverage of the sport during the 1980’s and 1990’s. â€Å"(2007, p. 132) It is since the 1980’s that the television started changing the conventional scenario of sports at a much greater pace than ever before. Some of the top rival leagues, which were created in 1960’s and 1970’s to promote sports, merged sports and media and have even started running their own sport channels, thus taking their rivalry to newer areas. The following statement of Holland paints a gloomy picture of the impact of television on sports: â€Å" As the broadcasting of sport gradually becomes as important as the event itself, there has been growing concern over the adaptation of the sports to suit the needs of television. † (2000, p. 138) It is threatening that all the sports event have become a ground of cut throat competition between the satellite, cable and terrestrial broadcasters. To get the exclusive rights of the major sporting events these parties have been bidding higher and higher. This factor has shook competitive balance to a great extent, which has started proving detrimental for the sports on the whole. So to conclude the impact of television has been both good and bad across all sports, whether it is cricket, rugby, boxing, swimming, horse riding tennis etc. It has been most beneficial to the players of popular sports, financially. The creation of rival leagues can be viewed a positive impact but growing unhealthy rivalry amongst them and competitive imbalance has been some of the drawbacks of television. In the words of Wigglesworth, â€Å"One result of the commercialization of sport through television has been the depersonalization of spectator sport with the old fashioned ‘fan’ becoming simply a customer. † (2007, p. 164). References Boyle, R. and Haynes, R. (2004). Football In The New Media Age. New York: Routledge Holland, P. (2000). The Television Handbook. (2nd ed. ). New York: Routledge. Marc, D. and Thompson, R. J. Television In The Antenna Age: A Concise History. USA: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Walvin, J. (1978). Leisure and Society. UK: Longman. Wigglesworth, N. (2007). The Story Of Sport In England. New York: Routledge.

Globalisation and the Concept of Global Citizenship

Globalisation and the Concept of Global Citizenship â€Å"As globalisation promotes a free-flow of people, ideas and products across national boundaries, individuals will be more identified as global citizens and less prone to xenophobic attitudes.† Discuss. While globalisation promotes a free-flow of people, ideas, and products across national boundaries, it provides opportunities to individuals to become global citizens. However, while this essay will argue that this has made them less prone to xenophobic attitudes, globalisation has also had other impacts which may have only provoked xenophobic attitudes. This essay will examine the impact which globalisation has had on individuals in the workplace, focusing on how Multinational Corporations have increased the need for globally mobile employees, therefore increasing their cultural intelligence along the way. The essay will also explore employees working within global organisations who are not globally mobile, and the impact which globalisation has had on them. The importance of cultural intelligence will also be discussed alongside the growing focus of scholars on cosmopolitan or global citizens, and finally, the essay will examine xenophobia and the impact which globalisation has had upon xenophobic views. Globalisation is the introduction and growth of products, people, information, and money across borders and is an important impact on the shape of national identities and relationships (Ariely, 2011).   Arnett (2002) argues that globalisation is not just a historical process but is also a change in mind-set of citizens around the world and has positively and sometimes negatively redefined national identity and culture. In effect, globalisation defines the world in which we live, and has changed the way in which citizens identify themselves (Ariely, 2011 & Arnett, 2002). However, some researchers have argued that in the process globalisation has undermined national cultures and identity – creating what is moving towards a single identity for all global citizens (Smith, 2007 & Held, McGrew & Perraton, 1999). Effectively, globalisation has been guided by â€Å"economic forces† (Sideri, 1997. Pg.38) with the actions and growth of Multinational Corporations (MNC’s) furthering globalisation (Buckley & Ghauri, 2004). With MNC’s comes the need for the retention and transfer of knowledge between operating units and countries (Elenkov & Manev, 2009). Expatriates (Expats) are used by MNC’s for three main reasons; to fill positions where no suitable candidate exists in the host country, as an opportunity to develop the expatriate’s skills, and most importantly; to transfer important knowledge and corporate culture from home to host countries (Collings et al, 2007). Within MNC’s expats will work with people of many different nationalities, and globalisation is only expediting the mobility required of expatriates, therefore, the number of cultures in which expatriates are working in and becoming accustomed to is increasing (Lee, 2014). Lee (2014) argues that this is exposure to new cultures has increased the number of people which identify as learned bi-culturals, and who feel accustomed to 2 or more cultures after experiencing the identity negotiation process. The knowledge and understanding of different cultures that being bi-cultural brings allows these individuals to adapt quickly and become more adept to different situations (Hong et al, 2000 & Lee, 2014). While individuals will generally undergo an identity negotiation process when entering employment with a new organisation, international experience adds to this further (Lee, 2014). Sanchez et al (2000) explain that during the adjustment process to working within a different culture, an individual may become more attached to their home unit, or alternatively, become more attached to their host unit. This acculturation is essentially a process leading to cultural changes within the individual after interacting with members of different cultures (Lee, 2014), and can be portrayed in a number of strategies by the individual when operating in different cultures. This impacts their identification and adaptation with their home and host country and can lead to positive outcomes – however, two of the outcomes of acculturation can be marginalisation or separation, where an individual does not identify with the host country (Lee, 2014 & Berry, 2005). Another theory of culture acquisition is the identity negotiation process, where when individuals encounter a new culture question their values and beliefs leading to a renegotiation of their own identity through experimentation and reflection (Lee, 2014). While expats seem to have the most experience with operating within different cultures, globalisation has meant that even individuals working within their home country can experience different cultures too (Lee, 2014). Lee (2014) argues that individuals working in organisations undergoing international mergers and acquisitions, as well as those with international subsidiaries can develop an understanding of different cultures. Experience of work within different international contexts may lead individuals to develop a greater understanding of their own as well as different ways of undertaking work (Lee, 2014). It is important to note however, that an individual who is globally mobile may not automatically expose themselves to the culture of the country in which they are working. As mentioned previously, outcomes of acculturation such as marginalisation or separation can mean that the expatriate exhibits low attachment to the society in which they are working. It could therefore be argued that both expatriation and working within a culturally diverse and international organisation could develop an individual’s global identity. Gupta and Govindarajan (2002) explain that a global identity is the awareness of different cultures and the openness to the integration of these cultures to create a competitive advantage. Lee (2018) argues that this competence and adaptability is gained through 3 steps; the understanding of the individuals own culture and cultural lens, acquiring knowledge of other cultures, and improving one’s cultural intelligence. The exposure to different cultures through international assignments and working within a global organisation can assist with the gaining of knowledge of different norms and values (Crowne, 2008). This exposure to different cultures needn’t just be through work either, Crowne (2008) argues that globalisation has allowed for exposure to different cultures through travel, study, and media such as television and film. While some of these methods may have a greater impact, they are all important to the development of an understanding of different cultures. Crowne (2008) argues that any exposure to different cultures is directly associated with an individual’s cultural intelligence, yet some methods of exposure such as expatriation, international education and travel have a greater impact. Cultural intelligence is defined as an individual’s ability to effectively adapt to new cultures and has been found to have a positive impact on integration into multicultural teams (Earley, 2002). Furthermore, employees with higher cultural intelligence are able to adjust more easily to new cultures and show greater performance within multicultural teams and tasks (Templer et al, 2006). Cultural intelligence is born through 4 main dimensions; Cognitive – gaining the knowledge of values and norms of different cultures, Motivational – the commitment to acquiring new knowledge and learn, Behavioural – the ability to adapt to new cultural situations, and Metacognitive – the ability to monitor one’s self, and to adjust based on new experiences (Lee, 2018 & Ang et al, 2007). The importance of cultural intelligence cannot be underestimated, as it assists individuals with seeing past the stereotypes and perhaps xenophobic views of other cultures (Lee, 2018). Furthermore, it stops an individual from casting judgement until all of the facts are known and available (Triandis, 2006 & Elenkov & Manev, 2009). Interestingly, cultural intelligence is directly linked to cross-cultural competence, which reduces the pressure that may be associated with handling difficult decisions in culturally different environments and can increases effectiveness (Elenkov & Manev, 2009). Of course, the cultural intelligence of the majority of individuals will increase through international assignments and working within a global organisation. Elenkov & Manev (2009) further this argument and explain that cultural intelligence is vital for managers within organisations. The GLOBE project found that the leadership styles favoured or expected from country to country vary depending on the cultural variables found in that context (Dorfman et al, 2002), and it can be seen that the cultural intelligence and adaptability of managers and individuals is vital to their performance and effectiveness in different cultures (Elenkov & Manev, 2009). It can therefore be argued that the greater the cultural intelligence of an individual, the more understanding, aware and open they should be to different cultures and therefore less prone to xenophobic attitudes (Lee, 2014). The emerging concept of cosmopolitan global citizens is one still in debate. In its early conception, cosmopolitanism was seen to be an outlook which transcended national boundaries and complemented cultural intelligence (Woodward et al, 2008). The concept has now been developed to incorporate institutional, political, and cultural dimensions (Woodward et al, 2008). From a cultural perspective, most researchers have agreed that cosmopolitanism can be seen as an openness to different cultures as well as the values and beliefs that they may hold. Woodward et al (2008) argue that while an individual does not need to be globally mobile to hold cosmopolitan values, the cultural exposure that expatriates experience may assist them with gaining the attitudes and values associated with cosmopolitanism (Lee, 2014). Furthermore, cosmopolitan citizens are seen to be more engaged with others that identify as cosmopolitan citizens and hold similar worldviews (Lee, 2014). The concept therefore of a cosmopolitan is that of an individual who defines themselves less as part of a single national or cultural identity, and more as a global citizen – who should be less prone to xenophobic attitudes (Lee, 2014). This is supported by Ariely (2017) who showed that identifying as a cosmopolitan reduces xenophobic attitudes, a relationship which is moderated by the level of globalisation in the individuals home country, with those exhibiting higher levels of globalisation demonstrating a stronger negative relation between cosmopolitanism and xenophobic attitudes. The dictionary definition of xenophobia is the fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners, it is usually thought that the term overlaps with racism, however, xenophobic behaviour is based on the idea that an individual is different due to being a member of a different nation or social group (UNESCO, 2018). Ariely (2011) argues that the idea of xenophobia can be based on social identity theory which defines social identity as the differences between social groups with members feeling more strongly associated to the group in which they belong. Xenophobic views are therefore the result of social groups – such as nations and culture, being different from one another (Ariely, 2011). Interestingly, the results of globalisation such as the development of cosmopolitan citizens, bi-culturals and individuals showing a strong cultural intelligence seems to show that globalisation is causing to move towards a more homogenous global citizen identity, instead of heterogeneous national identities (Ariely, 2011). Such â€Å"superordinate† identities could reduce or eliminate differences between national identities, and therefore reduce xenophobic views. It is also important to recognise that some research has shown globalisation to have the opposite effect, heightening nationalistic identities and in turn perhaps causing xenophobic views against those seen with a different social or national identity (Ariely, 2011). Interestingly, Ariely (2011) found that in certain countries, while globalisation may decrease xenophobic attitudes in some people, it can increase them in others. While this study was actually based on xenophobic views against immigrants it paints an interesting picture that globalisation can have many different impacts on different people within the same country, and that context is incredibly important (Ariely, 2011). There are also negative aspects to consider such as the accelerated flows of terrorism, which have only promoted xenophobic attitudes due to the placing of blame on the lack of national borders – which globalisation has had a hand in reducing (Heine & Thakur, 2011). This essay explored the impact which globalisation has had upon individuals around the world. Whether a cosmopolitan citizen, learned or born bi-cultural, or an individual that has developed a strong cultural intelligence, the ability to adapt and understand other cultures seems to reduce the ownership of xenophobic attitudes. The essay found that as individuals gain a greater cultural intelligence, or identify as cosmopolitan or global citizens, they tend to identify less with their national culture/identity and identify more with a global identity. Using social identity theory from Ariely (2011), it can therefore be argued that while xenophobia is usually based on the differences between social, cultural, or national groups – the fact that more people are identifying as global citizens is reducing the differences between these groups around the world, and therefore reducing xenophobic attitudes. References Ang, S., Van Dyne, L., Koh, C., Ng, K., Templer, K., Tay, C. and Chandrasekar, N. (2007). Cultural Intelligence: Its Measurement and Effects on Cultural Judgment and Decision Making, Cultural Adaptation and Task Performance. Management and Organization Review, 3(03), pp.335-371. Ariely, G. (2011). Globalization, immigration and national identity: How the level of globalization affects the relations between nationalism, constructive patriotism and attitudes toward immigrants? Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 15(4), pp.539-557. Ariely, G. (2016). Global identification, xenophobia and globalisation: A cross-national exploration. International Journal of Psychology, 52, pp.87-96. Arnett, J. (2002). The psychology of globalization. American Psychologist, 57(10), pp.774-783. Berry, J. (2005). Acculturation: Living successfully in two cultures. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 29(6), pp.697-712. Buckley, P. and Ghauri, P. (2004). Globalisation, economic geography and the strategy of multinational enterprises. Journal of International Business Studies, 35(2), pp.81-98. Collings, D., Scullion, H. and Morley, M. (2007). Changing patterns of global staffing in the multinational enterprise: Challenges to the conventional expatriate assignment and emerging alternatives. Journal of World Business, 42(2), pp.198-213. Crowne, K. (2008). What leads to cultural intelligence? Business Horizons, 51(5), pp.391-399. Dorfman, P. House, R., Javidan, M., and Hanges, P. (2002). Understanding cultures and implicit leadership theories across the globe: an introduction to project GLOBE. Journal of World Business, 37(1), pp.3-10. Earley, P. (2002). Redefining interactions across cultures and organizations: Moving forward with cultural intelligence. Research in Organizational Behavior, 24, pp.271-299. Elenkov, D. and Manev, I. (2009). Senior expatriate leaderships effects on innovation and the role of cultural intelligence. Journal of World Business, 44(4), pp.357-369. Gupta, A. and Govindarajan, V. (2002). Cultivating a global mindset. Academy of Management Executive, 16(1), pp.116-126. Heine, J. and Thakur, R. (2018). The dark side of globalisation. [online] Available at: https://www.cigionline.org/articles/dark-side-globalisation. Held, D. and McGrew, A. (1999). Global Transformations. Cambridge: Polity. Hong, Y., Morris, M., Chiu, C. and Benet-Martà ­nez, V. (2000). Multicultural minds: A dynamic constructivist approach to culture and cognition. American Psychologist, 55(7), pp.709-720. Lee, H-J., (2018). Global Leadership and Cultural Intelligence. Lee, H-J., (2014) Global leadership practices: a cross-cultural management perspective, London: Palgrave Macmillan Sanchez, J., Spector, P. and Cooper, C. (2000). Adapting to a boundaryless world: A developmental expatriate model. Academy of Management Perspectives, 14(2), pp.96-106. Sideri, S. (1997). Globalisation and regional integration. The European Journal of Development Research, 9(1), pp.38-82. Smith, A. D. (2007). Nationalism in decline? In M. Young, E. Zuelow & A. Strum (Eds.), Nationalism in a global era (pp. 17–32). New York, NY: Routledge. Templer, K., Tay, C. and Chandrasekar, N. (2006). Motivational Cultural Intelligence, Realistic Job Preview, Realistic Living Conditions Preview, and Cross-Cultural Adjustment. Group & Organization Management, 31(1), pp.154-173. Triandis, H. (2006). Cultural Intelligence in Organizations. Group & Organization Management, 31(1), pp.20-26. UNESCO (2018). Xenophobia | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. [online] Available at: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/international-migration/glossary/xenophobia/. Woodward, I., Skrbis, Z. and Bean, C. (2008). Attitudes towards globalization and cosmopolitanism: cultural diversity, personal consumption and the national economy. The British Journal of Sociology, 59(2), pp.207-226. Globalisation and the Concept of Global Citizenship Globalisation and the Concept of Global Citizenship â€Å"As globalisation promotes a free-flow of people, ideas and products across national boundaries, individuals will be more identified as global citizens and less prone to xenophobic attitudes.† Discuss. While globalisation promotes a free-flow of people, ideas, and products across national boundaries, it provides opportunities to individuals to become global citizens. However, while this essay will argue that this has made them less prone to xenophobic attitudes, globalisation has also had other impacts which may have only provoked xenophobic attitudes. This essay will examine the impact which globalisation has had on individuals in the workplace, focusing on how Multinational Corporations have increased the need for globally mobile employees, therefore increasing their cultural intelligence along the way. The essay will also explore employees working within global organisations who are not globally mobile, and the impact which globalisation has had on them. The importance of cultural intelligence will also be discussed alongside the growing focus of scholars on cosmopolitan or global citizens, and finally, the essay will examine xenophobia and the impact which globalisation has had upon xenophobic views. Globalisation is the introduction and growth of products, people, information, and money across borders and is an important impact on the shape of national identities and relationships (Ariely, 2011).   Arnett (2002) argues that globalisation is not just a historical process but is also a change in mind-set of citizens around the world and has positively and sometimes negatively redefined national identity and culture. In effect, globalisation defines the world in which we live, and has changed the way in which citizens identify themselves (Ariely, 2011 & Arnett, 2002). However, some researchers have argued that in the process globalisation has undermined national cultures and identity – creating what is moving towards a single identity for all global citizens (Smith, 2007 & Held, McGrew & Perraton, 1999). Effectively, globalisation has been guided by â€Å"economic forces† (Sideri, 1997. Pg.38) with the actions and growth of Multinational Corporations (MNC’s) furthering globalisation (Buckley & Ghauri, 2004). With MNC’s comes the need for the retention and transfer of knowledge between operating units and countries (Elenkov & Manev, 2009). Expatriates (Expats) are used by MNC’s for three main reasons; to fill positions where no suitable candidate exists in the host country, as an opportunity to develop the expatriate’s skills, and most importantly; to transfer important knowledge and corporate culture from home to host countries (Collings et al, 2007). Within MNC’s expats will work with people of many different nationalities, and globalisation is only expediting the mobility required of expatriates, therefore, the number of cultures in which expatriates are working in and becoming accustomed to is increasing (Lee, 2014). Lee (2014) argues that this is exposure to new cultures has increased the number of people which identify as learned bi-culturals, and who feel accustomed to 2 or more cultures after experiencing the identity negotiation process. The knowledge and understanding of different cultures that being bi-cultural brings allows these individuals to adapt quickly and become more adept to different situations (Hong et al, 2000 & Lee, 2014). While individuals will generally undergo an identity negotiation process when entering employment with a new organisation, international experience adds to this further (Lee, 2014). Sanchez et al (2000) explain that during the adjustment process to working within a different culture, an individual may become more attached to their home unit, or alternatively, become more attached to their host unit. This acculturation is essentially a process leading to cultural changes within the individual after interacting with members of different cultures (Lee, 2014), and can be portrayed in a number of strategies by the individual when operating in different cultures. This impacts their identification and adaptation with their home and host country and can lead to positive outcomes – however, two of the outcomes of acculturation can be marginalisation or separation, where an individual does not identify with the host country (Lee, 2014 & Berry, 2005). Another theory of culture acquisition is the identity negotiation process, where when individuals encounter a new culture question their values and beliefs leading to a renegotiation of their own identity through experimentation and reflection (Lee, 2014). While expats seem to have the most experience with operating within different cultures, globalisation has meant that even individuals working within their home country can experience different cultures too (Lee, 2014). Lee (2014) argues that individuals working in organisations undergoing international mergers and acquisitions, as well as those with international subsidiaries can develop an understanding of different cultures. Experience of work within different international contexts may lead individuals to develop a greater understanding of their own as well as different ways of undertaking work (Lee, 2014). It is important to note however, that an individual who is globally mobile may not automatically expose themselves to the culture of the country in which they are working. As mentioned previously, outcomes of acculturation such as marginalisation or separation can mean that the expatriate exhibits low attachment to the society in which they are working. It could therefore be argued that both expatriation and working within a culturally diverse and international organisation could develop an individual’s global identity. Gupta and Govindarajan (2002) explain that a global identity is the awareness of different cultures and the openness to the integration of these cultures to create a competitive advantage. Lee (2018) argues that this competence and adaptability is gained through 3 steps; the understanding of the individuals own culture and cultural lens, acquiring knowledge of other cultures, and improving one’s cultural intelligence. The exposure to different cultures through international assignments and working within a global organisation can assist with the gaining of knowledge of different norms and values (Crowne, 2008). This exposure to different cultures needn’t just be through work either, Crowne (2008) argues that globalisation has allowed for exposure to different cultures through travel, study, and media such as television and film. While some of these methods may have a greater impact, they are all important to the development of an understanding of different cultures. Crowne (2008) argues that any exposure to different cultures is directly associated with an individual’s cultural intelligence, yet some methods of exposure such as expatriation, international education and travel have a greater impact. Cultural intelligence is defined as an individual’s ability to effectively adapt to new cultures and has been found to have a positive impact on integration into multicultural teams (Earley, 2002). Furthermore, employees with higher cultural intelligence are able to adjust more easily to new cultures and show greater performance within multicultural teams and tasks (Templer et al, 2006). Cultural intelligence is born through 4 main dimensions; Cognitive – gaining the knowledge of values and norms of different cultures, Motivational – the commitment to acquiring new knowledge and learn, Behavioural – the ability to adapt to new cultural situations, and Metacognitive – the ability to monitor one’s self, and to adjust based on new experiences (Lee, 2018 & Ang et al, 2007). The importance of cultural intelligence cannot be underestimated, as it assists individuals with seeing past the stereotypes and perhaps xenophobic views of other cultures (Lee, 2018). Furthermore, it stops an individual from casting judgement until all of the facts are known and available (Triandis, 2006 & Elenkov & Manev, 2009). Interestingly, cultural intelligence is directly linked to cross-cultural competence, which reduces the pressure that may be associated with handling difficult decisions in culturally different environments and can increases effectiveness (Elenkov & Manev, 2009). Of course, the cultural intelligence of the majority of individuals will increase through international assignments and working within a global organisation. Elenkov & Manev (2009) further this argument and explain that cultural intelligence is vital for managers within organisations. The GLOBE project found that the leadership styles favoured or expected from country to country vary depending on the cultural variables found in that context (Dorfman et al, 2002), and it can be seen that the cultural intelligence and adaptability of managers and individuals is vital to their performance and effectiveness in different cultures (Elenkov & Manev, 2009). It can therefore be argued that the greater the cultural intelligence of an individual, the more understanding, aware and open they should be to different cultures and therefore less prone to xenophobic attitudes (Lee, 2014). The emerging concept of cosmopolitan global citizens is one still in debate. In its early conception, cosmopolitanism was seen to be an outlook which transcended national boundaries and complemented cultural intelligence (Woodward et al, 2008). The concept has now been developed to incorporate institutional, political, and cultural dimensions (Woodward et al, 2008). From a cultural perspective, most researchers have agreed that cosmopolitanism can be seen as an openness to different cultures as well as the values and beliefs that they may hold. Woodward et al (2008) argue that while an individual does not need to be globally mobile to hold cosmopolitan values, the cultural exposure that expatriates experience may assist them with gaining the attitudes and values associated with cosmopolitanism (Lee, 2014). Furthermore, cosmopolitan citizens are seen to be more engaged with others that identify as cosmopolitan citizens and hold similar worldviews (Lee, 2014). The concept therefore of a cosmopolitan is that of an individual who defines themselves less as part of a single national or cultural identity, and more as a global citizen – who should be less prone to xenophobic attitudes (Lee, 2014). This is supported by Ariely (2017) who showed that identifying as a cosmopolitan reduces xenophobic attitudes, a relationship which is moderated by the level of globalisation in the individuals home country, with those exhibiting higher levels of globalisation demonstrating a stronger negative relation between cosmopolitanism and xenophobic attitudes. The dictionary definition of xenophobia is the fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners, it is usually thought that the term overlaps with racism, however, xenophobic behaviour is based on the idea that an individual is different due to being a member of a different nation or social group (UNESCO, 2018). Ariely (2011) argues that the idea of xenophobia can be based on social identity theory which defines social identity as the differences between social groups with members feeling more strongly associated to the group in which they belong. Xenophobic views are therefore the result of social groups – such as nations and culture, being different from one another (Ariely, 2011). Interestingly, the results of globalisation such as the development of cosmopolitan citizens, bi-culturals and individuals showing a strong cultural intelligence seems to show that globalisation is causing to move towards a more homogenous global citizen identity, instead of heterogeneous national identities (Ariely, 2011). Such â€Å"superordinate† identities could reduce or eliminate differences between national identities, and therefore reduce xenophobic views. It is also important to recognise that some research has shown globalisation to have the opposite effect, heightening nationalistic identities and in turn perhaps causing xenophobic views against those seen with a different social or national identity (Ariely, 2011). Interestingly, Ariely (2011) found that in certain countries, while globalisation may decrease xenophobic attitudes in some people, it can increase them in others. While this study was actually based on xenophobic views against immigrants it paints an interesting picture that globalisation can have many different impacts on different people within the same country, and that context is incredibly important (Ariely, 2011). There are also negative aspects to consider such as the accelerated flows of terrorism, which have only promoted xenophobic attitudes due to the placing of blame on the lack of national borders – which globalisation has had a hand in reducing (Heine & Thakur, 2011). This essay explored the impact which globalisation has had upon individuals around the world. Whether a cosmopolitan citizen, learned or born bi-cultural, or an individual that has developed a strong cultural intelligence, the ability to adapt and understand other cultures seems to reduce the ownership of xenophobic attitudes. The essay found that as individuals gain a greater cultural intelligence, or identify as cosmopolitan or global citizens, they tend to identify less with their national culture/identity and identify more with a global identity. Using social identity theory from Ariely (2011), it can therefore be argued that while xenophobia is usually based on the differences between social, cultural, or national groups – the fact that more people are identifying as global citizens is reducing the differences between these groups around the world, and therefore reducing xenophobic attitudes. References Ang, S., Van Dyne, L., Koh, C., Ng, K., Templer, K., Tay, C. and Chandrasekar, N. (2007). Cultural Intelligence: Its Measurement and Effects on Cultural Judgment and Decision Making, Cultural Adaptation and Task Performance. Management and Organization Review, 3(03), pp.335-371. Ariely, G. (2011). Globalization, immigration and national identity: How the level of globalization affects the relations between nationalism, constructive patriotism and attitudes toward immigrants? Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 15(4), pp.539-557. Ariely, G. (2016). Global identification, xenophobia and globalisation: A cross-national exploration. International Journal of Psychology, 52, pp.87-96. Arnett, J. (2002). The psychology of globalization. American Psychologist, 57(10), pp.774-783. Berry, J. (2005). Acculturation: Living successfully in two cultures. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 29(6), pp.697-712. Buckley, P. and Ghauri, P. (2004). Globalisation, economic geography and the strategy of multinational enterprises. Journal of International Business Studies, 35(2), pp.81-98. Collings, D., Scullion, H. and Morley, M. (2007). Changing patterns of global staffing in the multinational enterprise: Challenges to the conventional expatriate assignment and emerging alternatives. Journal of World Business, 42(2), pp.198-213. Crowne, K. (2008). What leads to cultural intelligence? Business Horizons, 51(5), pp.391-399. Dorfman, P. House, R., Javidan, M., and Hanges, P. (2002). Understanding cultures and implicit leadership theories across the globe: an introduction to project GLOBE. Journal of World Business, 37(1), pp.3-10. Earley, P. (2002). Redefining interactions across cultures and organizations: Moving forward with cultural intelligence. Research in Organizational Behavior, 24, pp.271-299. Elenkov, D. and Manev, I. (2009). Senior expatriate leaderships effects on innovation and the role of cultural intelligence. Journal of World Business, 44(4), pp.357-369. Gupta, A. and Govindarajan, V. (2002). Cultivating a global mindset. Academy of Management Executive, 16(1), pp.116-126. Heine, J. and Thakur, R. (2018). The dark side of globalisation. [online] Available at: https://www.cigionline.org/articles/dark-side-globalisation. Held, D. and McGrew, A. (1999). Global Transformations. Cambridge: Polity. Hong, Y., Morris, M., Chiu, C. and Benet-Martà ­nez, V. (2000). Multicultural minds: A dynamic constructivist approach to culture and cognition. American Psychologist, 55(7), pp.709-720. Lee, H-J., (2018). Global Leadership and Cultural Intelligence. Lee, H-J., (2014) Global leadership practices: a cross-cultural management perspective, London: Palgrave Macmillan Sanchez, J., Spector, P. and Cooper, C. (2000). Adapting to a boundaryless world: A developmental expatriate model. Academy of Management Perspectives, 14(2), pp.96-106. Sideri, S. (1997). Globalisation and regional integration. The European Journal of Development Research, 9(1), pp.38-82. Smith, A. D. (2007). Nationalism in decline? In M. Young, E. Zuelow & A. Strum (Eds.), Nationalism in a global era (pp. 17–32). New York, NY: Routledge. Templer, K., Tay, C. and Chandrasekar, N. (2006). Motivational Cultural Intelligence, Realistic Job Preview, Realistic Living Conditions Preview, and Cross-Cultural Adjustment. Group & Organization Management, 31(1), pp.154-173. Triandis, H. (2006). Cultural Intelligence in Organizations. Group & Organization Management, 31(1), pp.20-26. UNESCO (2018). Xenophobia | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. [online] Available at: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/international-migration/glossary/xenophobia/. Woodward, I., Skrbis, Z. and Bean, C. (2008). Attitudes towards globalization and cosmopolitanism: cultural diversity, personal consumption and the national economy. The British Journal of Sociology, 59(2), pp.207-226.

Religion as a Method of Improvement for Gender Equality Essay -- Chris

Religion as a Method of Improvement for Gender Equality Although women were still viewed and treated as second-class citizens, the status of women seemed improve under Christianity, especially in regard to social interaction and Islam, especially in regard to legal rights such as inheritance laws. The improvement of women’s situation was particularly pronounced when compared to the even lesser status of women during the Greek and Roman periods. Improvement in the treatment of women under Christianity and Islam is evident in the religious texts of both of the religions. Christianity’s The Gospel According to Mark and The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians and Islam’s central religious text, The Koran, provide concrete evidence as to how women’s treatment under Christianity and Islam was relatively progressive. During the Greek period, women were viewed as inferior citizens, with no real rights. Although Greek drama portrayed many strong, remarkable women, like Antigone, what women in Greece actually experienced was much different. The role of free women in Athens, and many other places in Greece, was confined to the private sphere of the household. Women were restricted to childbearing and supervising the work done in the household; a woman’s value was based on her ability to produce legitimate heirs and to be a homemaker. Young girls were confined to their homes and received no formal education. Instead, their mothers taught them domestic skills, which were viewed as the only appropriate education for a woman at the time. Athenian women were considered unintelligent and submissive, and thus could not vote, buy or sell property, or press legal charges. Thus, Athenian women were viewed as ‘idiots’ because they were unable to... ...ren (Cow 2:233). Letting a man dictate a woman’s personal choices like this may seem surprising in today’s society; however, at the time, Islam was viewed as relatively progressive for women. Like with Christianity, Islamic women are not men’s equals, but instead are provided by Islam with additional rights than before. Under Islam, women experienced more progress than complacency. Thus, women’s situation under Islam is more beneficial than their situation under Greek and Roman rule. Overall, women’s status in society improved in many different aspects—social, legal, and otherwise—under both Islam and Christianity, especially when compared to the Greek and Roman periods. However, women’s strive toward equality did not stop with the improvements that came from the religions. Women today are continually struggling worldwide to receive rights equal to that of men.

A Feminist Analysis of Perceval, Tristan and Isolt, and Aucassin and Ni

A Feminist Analysis of Perceval, Tristan and Isolt, and Aucassin and Nicolette  Ã‚   Currently, there is a debate among feminists as to whether the demeaning portrayal of women in popular media causes or is caused by negative attitudes in modern culture. A similar debate exists among historians of the late middle ages as to whether the rise in popularity of the cult of the Virgin, her portrayal in art, and the code of chivalry caused or was caused by changing attitudes towards women. Many factors in the late middle ages coincided to create an entirely new role for women: contact with the Muslim world in Spain, the rising popularity of religious life, and the aforementioned cultural changes. All of these factors are intertwined with the new attitudes that arose around women. Virginity became exalted, femininity was lauded, courtly love turned women into objects of devotion rather than objects of desire. In short, women were placed on a pedestal. The cultural paradox of this shift in attitudes is that by being placed on that pedestal, women became objects rather than individuals. This dichotomy between respect for women as a group and respect for individual women is clearly shown in three Medieval Romances. Perceval, Tristan and Isolt, and Aucassin and Nicolette may vary greatly in plot, tone and style, but the underlying assumption is the same. In the Medieval Romance, women may be objects of devotion, but they are still merely objects to earned, won, owned and do minated. The first example of this attitude is the saga of the damsel whom Perceval boorishly assaults. This woman, never named, is utterly enslaved and abused by men. Perceval, not heeding her protests, forces her into a compromising situation and then robs he... ...band is a Muslim. The Christian king of Biaucaire, by contrast, does not honor her right to self-determination. The Muslim roots of Nicolette's relative freedom serve as one answer to the question of whether this literature is derivative of the culture or whether it shaped the culture. From this evidence, it seems that the former is true. The pervasiveness of the oppressive attitudes demonstrated in these texts show clearly the dichotomous view of women in the late middle ages. The respect of womanhood which was so central to the chivalric code did not translate into greater freedom for women themselves. Modern opponents of feminism claim that the Women’s Movement has reversed this dichotomy, namely that individual freedoms have devalued women as a group. Perhaps we should ask why our culture has a problem with valuing womanhood and valuing women concurrently. A Feminist Analysis of Perceval, Tristan and Isolt, and Aucassin and Ni A Feminist Analysis of Perceval, Tristan and Isolt, and Aucassin and Nicolette  Ã‚   Currently, there is a debate among feminists as to whether the demeaning portrayal of women in popular media causes or is caused by negative attitudes in modern culture. A similar debate exists among historians of the late middle ages as to whether the rise in popularity of the cult of the Virgin, her portrayal in art, and the code of chivalry caused or was caused by changing attitudes towards women. Many factors in the late middle ages coincided to create an entirely new role for women: contact with the Muslim world in Spain, the rising popularity of religious life, and the aforementioned cultural changes. All of these factors are intertwined with the new attitudes that arose around women. Virginity became exalted, femininity was lauded, courtly love turned women into objects of devotion rather than objects of desire. In short, women were placed on a pedestal. The cultural paradox of this shift in attitudes is that by being placed on that pedestal, women became objects rather than individuals. This dichotomy between respect for women as a group and respect for individual women is clearly shown in three Medieval Romances. Perceval, Tristan and Isolt, and Aucassin and Nicolette may vary greatly in plot, tone and style, but the underlying assumption is the same. In the Medieval Romance, women may be objects of devotion, but they are still merely objects to earned, won, owned and do minated. The first example of this attitude is the saga of the damsel whom Perceval boorishly assaults. This woman, never named, is utterly enslaved and abused by men. Perceval, not heeding her protests, forces her into a compromising situation and then robs he... ...band is a Muslim. The Christian king of Biaucaire, by contrast, does not honor her right to self-determination. The Muslim roots of Nicolette's relative freedom serve as one answer to the question of whether this literature is derivative of the culture or whether it shaped the culture. From this evidence, it seems that the former is true. The pervasiveness of the oppressive attitudes demonstrated in these texts show clearly the dichotomous view of women in the late middle ages. The respect of womanhood which was so central to the chivalric code did not translate into greater freedom for women themselves. Modern opponents of feminism claim that the Women’s Movement has reversed this dichotomy, namely that individual freedoms have devalued women as a group. Perhaps we should ask why our culture has a problem with valuing womanhood and valuing women concurrently.