Gender Essay Example for Free

Gender Essay For most of its history, western political theory has ignored women. Women have seldom appeared in its analyses of who should have power, when it finally decided to notice women it usually defended their exclusion from public affairs and their confinement to the home; only rarely have women been seen as political animals worthy of serious consideration. The inequalities that exist between men and women are seen as of little practical importance and theoretical interest. Feminist political theory however, sees women’s situation as central to political analysis, its focuses on why in most societies men appear to have more power and privilege than women and how can this be changed. The term feminist came into use during the 1880’s, indicating support for women’s equal legal, economic, social and political rights with men. (Bryson, 2003) Feminism reflects the varied needs and perceptions of women in different societies and situations. Feminists argue that all women have the right to education, employment, political participation and full legal equality. Although strongly opposed in the past, they are largely accepted in the west today. However, women still remain disadvantaged despite gaining legal rights. (Bryson, 2003) All feminist do not think alike. Depending on time, culture and country feminism around the world have sometimes had different causes and goals. The labels help mark the range of different approaches, perspectives and frameworks a variety have used to shape both their explanations for women’s oppression and their proposed solutions for its elimination. The three groups of feminist theories I will seek to analyse in order to assess their contributions against what is known about Caribbean women and their realities in this essay are Liberal, Radical and Black feminist perspectives. One thing we know about Caribbean women is that they have always worked. Women’s position in the Caribbean has been characterised by a dual work role, they engage in both household and extra household work, in order to provide for their families. Evidence has shown, that after slavery the tradition of female labour continued. Joycelin Massiah states that black women had no choice but to work, because the idea of man as the breadwinner was unrealistic and unattainable. Women were forced to take the major responsibility of their households because a large number of men had emigrated. Erna Brodber examined the role of women in some Caribbean countries. She states that despite the public image of womanhood which stressed on the abstention from physical work for elite woman, Caribbean women continued to seek work outside the household and support themselves. Brodber also states that images of white women portray them as â€Å"delicate† and â€Å"unassuming†, the black woman is portrayed as â€Å"hardworking to the point of being comical†. (Massiah, 1986) Work outside the household however did not free Caribbean women from their household responsibilities; these women still had to ensure their husbands were still taken care of. Men in the Caribbean societies felt that because of economic circumstances, females should be employed outside the home and should contribute to the expenses. They also believe that domestic duties should still remain the woman’s responsibility, even if she is employed. In the public domain, women defer widely to male authority and decision making, but in the domestic domain, she exercises power. (Massiah, 1986) Radical feminism claimed to go to the roots of women’s oppression, and it proclaimed itself as a theory of, by and for women; as such, it was based firmly in women’s own experiences and perceptions. Secondly, it saw the oppression of women as the most fundamental and universal form of domination, and its aim was to understand and develop strategies for the end of that oppression. Thirdly, women as a group had interests opposed to those of men; these interests united them in a common sisterhood that transcended the division of class and race, and meant that women should struggle together to achieve their own liberation. (Bryson, 2003) Radical feminism names all women as part of an oppressed group, stressing that no woman can walk down the street or even live in her home safely without fear of violation from men. French feminist Christine Delphy points out that like all oppressed people, many women do not like to accept that they are part of an oppressed group, developing various forms of denial in order to avoid identification. To the radical feminists, patriarchy is the oppressing structure of male domination. Radical feminism makes male control visible as it is exercised in every sphere of women’s lives, both public and private. It stresses that ‘emancipation’ or ‘equality’ on male terms is not enough. A total revolution of the social structures and the elimination of the processes of patriarchy are essential. (Rowland Klein, 1991) Patriarchy is the domination of men over women. Kate Millet’s early work (1971) is a good example of the approach that ‘sex is a status category with political implications’. Patriarchy, dominates over class, religion, race and culture. Patriarchy is a system of structures and institutions created by men in order to sustain and recreate male power and female subordination. Institutional structures like the law, religion, the family, have ideologies which perpetuate the naturally inferior position of women; socialisation processes to ensure that women and men develop behaviour and belief systems appropriate to the powerful or powerless group to which they belong. These structures are dominated by men who ensure that they maintain these positions. Within the private domain of the family, men have structured a system whereby woman’s reproductive capacity leaves her vulnerable and powerless, domestically exploited, and entrapped in economic dependence. (Rowland Klein, 1991) The family is maintained through the notion of romantic love between men and women, when in fact marriage contracts traditionally have an economic base. Women’s labour within the family, which has been unpaid and unacknowledged, is defined as ‘labour of love’. Women ‘by nature’ are said to be passive, submissive and willing to be led. Processes like socialisation of children encourage this situation to continue. Patriarchy has a material base in 2 senses. First, the economic systems are structured so that women have difficulty getting paid labour in society which values only paid labour and in which money is the currency of power. Women without economic independence cannot sustain themselves without a breadwinner. They cannot leave a brutal husband, cannot withdraw sexual, emotional and physical servicing from men, they cannot have equal say in decisions affecting their own lives. Radical feminists have therefore stressed the necessity for women to exercise economic power in their own lives. The second material base is the woman’s body. Women in marriage are seen to be ‘owned’ by their husbands and cannot bring a civil case of rape. Women’s bodies are advertised and pornography alike objectified and defined as ‘other’ and available for male use. Rowland Klein, 1991) Radical feminists sees the oppression of women as universal, crossing race and cultural boundaries, as well as those of class and other structures like age and physical ability. One of the basic tenets of radical feminism is that any woman in the world has more in common with any other woman regardless of class, race, age, ethnicity, nationality, than any woman has with any man. In Sisterhood is Global (1984) Robin Morgan draws together contributions from feminists in seventy countries, the majority of which are third world countries. She begins with a quote about the global position of women in the report to the UN Commission on the states of women. ‘While women represent half the global population and one third of the labour force, they receive one tenth of the world income and own less than one percent of the world’s property. They are also responsible for two thirds of all working hours’. In the developing world women are responsible for more than fifty percent of all food production. In the industrial nations women are still paid only half to three quarters of men’s wages. Most of the world are starving are women and children. Women in all countries bear the double burden of unpaid housework in association with any paid work they do. Radical feminists thus hold that women are oppressed primarily and in the first instance as women. But because of differences in their lives created by, for example culture and class, women experience oppression differently. (Rowland Klein, 1991) Black feminist theorising has made critical contributions to feminist epistemology. The theory comprises of a body of work by black feminist intellectuals reacting to the failure of existing feminist explanatory framework to adequately comprehend the realities of black women. Feminists like Sojourner Truth, Audre Lorde, Patricia Bell, Patricia Hill Collins as well as many others interrogated existing feminist theories and found them lacking, as they fully ignored or denied black women’s specific experiences. For instance Sojourner Truth’s powerful statement on racial inequalities ‘Ain’t I A Woman’ was a 19th Century deconstruction of the notion of a global, common womanhood and an insistence on inserting black womanhood in the concept of what it meant to be a woman. In her speech Truth argued that white women were placed on a pedestal and gave them certain privileges (mostly that of not working), this attitude was not extended to black women. Speaking of the U. S. A in the 1970’s Audre Lorde stated, â€Å"by and large, within the women’s movement today, white women focus upon their oppression as woman and ignore differences of race, sexual preference, class and age. (Barriteau, 2006) The work of black feminists reveals hierarchies of power within categories of race, class, gender, patriarchal relations, sexuality and sexual orientation. Black feminism demonstrates that white or other feminist theorising refuses or fails to recognise race as a social relation of domination within feminism and society. Radical, socialist and liberal feminist had examined other oppressive social relations but none had made race central to their analysis, black feminist theory exposes racism. They focus on difference in order to understand problems of oppression. Audre Lorde points out that white radical feminist Mary Daly images white women as Goddesses, with African women entering her analysis ‘only as victims and preyers upon each other’. Here Lorde exposes a key distortion that is similar to how early development discourses constructed women in the Caribbean. Women in the south, whether Caribbean, or African were seen as helpless victims in need of international development intervention. (Barriteau, 2006) This theory holds that the constructed invisibility if black women’s lives must be challenged. For example, much of the history of the West Indies was based on the activities of black men. Black feminist thinkers underline the importance of using lived experiences as a criterion for generating knowledge. Deborah King’s concept of multiple jeopardy or multiple consciousness shifted the conception of women’s oppression as confined within ethnic and racial boundaries. She was concerned with the invisibility of black women. She noted that class inequality compounded the problem of racism and sexism for black women and felt that class constituted a third jeopardy. She therefore defined multiple jeopardy as, a way to understand the ways in which various forms of oppression interact in ways that negatively affect the lives of black women. Much of feminist theory represents white ethnocentric feminist theorising and is therefore inadequate in not addressing the concerns of other women, especially black women. (Barriteau, 2006) Unlike radical feminism, black feminism goes on to demonstrate how racist relations follow black women into the private realm. Experiences of relations of oppression within households differ for black or minority women in a racist state. Central to black feminist theorising is the knowledge that patriarchal relations structure women’s lives very differently to their male peers. The ‘rule of the father’ enforces men’s power in the family and society. In the Caribbean, men have assumed the role of patriarchs. Black feminist theory reveals that there are other dimensions to black women’s experiences of the home that are not captured by other feminist theories, especially for those black women who for centuries have been obliged to work outside the home, whether in fields, factories or the homes of others. Many of these women instead of longing to be liberated from the home, they yearn for the opportunity to go home or stay at home. Hazel Carby noted that ideologies of black female domesticity and motherhood have been constructed through black women’s employment in chattel positions as domestic workers and surrogate mothers to white families rather than in relation to their own families. (Barriteau, 2006) In terms of sexuality, black women have been stereotyped as having wild and uncontrollable sexual urges. Black women were presented as either whorish or unsexed; they were either nanny or jezebel. Evelyn Hammond has argued that black women’s sexuality is constructed in opposition to that of white women. In the struggle for sexual liberation, many white women demanded reproductive technologies in order to say yes to sex, while black women wanted autonomy and freedom from a racist and intrusive state in order to say no. (Barriteau, 2006) Criticisms of black feminist theory are that sometimes there is the impression that all oppressions are equal, and it has been critiqued for assuming that black women have a superior standpoint in the world. There is also a sense in which persons of African descent are privileged in black feminist thought. (Bryson, 2003) The final theory I will analyse is the liberal feminist theory. Liberalism is based on the principle of individual liberty, in which every person should be allowed to exercise freedom of choice. Each individual should be given equal opportunities and civil rights, but that was conceived of as a privilege that should extend to European men. When it comes to state interventions in the private sphere, liberals agree that the less we see of Big brother in our homes the better. (Tong, 2009) Liberal feminist Mary Wollstonecraft has been very influential in her writing, ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman’. She wrote at a time when the economic and social position of European women was in decline. These women were left at home with little productive work to do, and they were married to relatively wealthy professional men. These women had no incentive to work outside the home or, if they had several servants inside it. (Tong, 2009) Middle class ladies were, in Wollstonecraft’s estimation, ‘kept’ women who sacrificed health, liberty and virtue for whatever prestige, pleasure and power their husbands could provide. She denied that women are, by nature, more pleasure seeking and pleasure giving than men. She reasoned that if men were confined to the same cages that trap women, men would develop the same flawed characters. She stated that women lacked the power of reason because they were encouraged to indulge themselves and please others. She believed that women should have the same access to education as men. She believed that women should experience full personhood. Other liberalists John Stuart Mill and Harriet Taylor Mill believed women needed suffrage in order to become men’s equals. They claimed the vote gave people the power to express their own political views but also change those systems, structures, and attitudes that contribute to their own and others oppression. (Tong, 2009) Betty Friedan in the Feminist Mystique, studies the lives of white middle class housewives living in the suburbs. She described the dissatisfaction of these women as the problem with no name. She claimed that these women led unfulfilling lives in their traditional roles as mother and wives. She argued that a more meaningful course for these women was to have the opportunity of full time work in the public sphere. She believed that the absence from the home would make children and husbands more self sufficient. She felt that by limiting women to being wives and mothers was limiting their full human development. She also believed that women would always have to work harder than men. (Bryson, 2003) The main critique of liberal feminism is that of racism and classism, they focused primarily on white, middle class women. They also privileged so called male values. They also continue to distinguish between the private and public lives of people without understanding that the private and public sphere often intersect. In conclusion, feminist epistemology has transformed the world for many Caribbean women, as it questions women’s lived experiences and their roles in identity formation. Caribbean women in their roles have mostly preached a strong work ethic and promoted a strong social identity. The Caribbean has a legacy of race and colonial legacies, therefore the experiences and history of Caribbean women has been different. Unlike some the white middle class women in European societies that the liberal feminist talk about, Caribbean women have always had to work and frequently they have been the principal breadwinners in their households. But because of all the earlier groups of feminist theories about women, it paved a way for the new knowledge about Caribbean women and their realities.

Theories of Leadership and Motivation

Theories of Leadership and Motivation Introduction: Leadership is the character which every organisation wants to see in their staff and the person who is self motivated and who can motivate the team members become a good manager. Leadership is nothing but inspiring the team leader is the one who does it, inspiration is nothing but motivation. So leadership and motivation is a chemistry which can take any difficult task to success. The leadership and motivation chemistry is mostly helpful in management sector whether it is in business or in the team; every individual posses leadership but the one who practices on the go become a perfect leader. The main aspect a leader consists is a vision for the certain purpose. When a task or project is taken over by a company the company searches for a leader who posses knowledge on the project and vision how to develop the project, make use of colleagues and give the organisation a profit on it. A leader tends to influence the task to be continued and change to be taken place to make the organisation profitable. There are several theories on leadership by great leaders some of them say that leadership is an action not position or person. These theories help to prepare a perfect leader, all these theories are proposed and practiced by great leaders and managers but latest management considers a leader who follows his role. Leadership theories: Considering leadership reveals school of thought giving different leadership theories such as Great Man theory, trait theory, behaviourist theory, situational leadership theory, contingency theory, transactional theory and transformational theory. Great man theory is the one proposed before twentieth century where it says that leaders are born with the talent and leader should be a man this lead to the next theory trait theory. Trait theory: The trait theory rose from the concepts of the Great Man approach. This theory leads to identify the important characteristics of a successful leader. The people who got the characters as defined by the traits approach are isolated or shortlisted and those are recruited as leaders. This type of approach was mostly implemented in military and still used in some of the area. According to the trait theory the person who got the following skills is said to be a trait. Ambitious and success oriented Adaptable to all kinds of situations Co operative to all the members in the organization Highly active or energetic Dominative Good decision making ability Self-confident Adaptable to stress conditions and Dependable. These are the characters which make a person trait and they should posses some skills which are Skills Intelligent Skilled conceptually Creative Fluent in speaking Tactful Self motivated and self belief Skilled socially When these kinds of skills and characters are identified in the person, the person is recruited in the team. Behavioural theory: The trait study doesnt give any conclusive results and it was hard to measure some more critical issues such as honesty, integrity and loyalty. This leaded the attention to be diverted on to the behaviour theories. The behaviour theory focuses on human relationship and success performance as well. According to behavioural theory the manager believes that the working environment should be like an entertainment place where the expenditure of mental and physical efforts is treated to be play and rest. The idea of manager is an average person not only learns to accept but also seek responsibility. The people will automatically learn to exercise self-control and self direction to achieve the goal or target. The organizational problems can become imaginative and creative. Contingency theory model: This theory illustrates that there are many ways for the manager to lead the team to get best outcome. According to the situation the manager can find a best way to get the best outcome. Fiedler worked on contingency theory according to that he looked for three situations which define the condition of a managerial task. Leader and team member relationship Work structure or project structure Position and power The manager should maintain relation with their team members to get along and create confidence and make them feel free to think about the task and give their ideas to help the task to be finished. Project structure is the job highly structured or unstructured or in between. The power shows how much authority a manager does posses. This theory rates the manager whether the manger is relationship oriented or task oriented. The task oriented managers gets success in such situations where there is good leader and team member relationship and structured projects or tasks doesnt matter whether the position power is weak or strong. And get success when the project is unstructured and does have any sort of good vision by having a strong power and position. The variables which affect the task such as environmental variables are combined in a heavy some and differentiated as favourable and unfavourable situations. The task oriented management style depends on the favourable and unfavourable environment variables but the relationship management style stays in the middle by managing or changing the variables to accumulate with their style. Both styles of managements got their sides to be good when all the performance and team work well in the tasks. There is no good or bad management in these two managements. Task motivated management style leaders do best when the team performs well and they are good in achieving good sales record and performance better than their competitor where as the relationship oriented leaders are helpful to gain positive customer service and build a positive image to the organisation. Transactional and transformational leadership: Transformational leadership is a relationship of mutual simulation and elevation that converts the followers in to leaders and may convert leaders into moral agents Transformational leadership is communicating with the leaders and the team members to take them to higher level something like a leader can become a moral agent and the follower can become a leader. Transactional leadership technique builds the person to finish the certain task such as job done for the time being. Some of the differences between transactional and transformational leadership are Transactional style of leadership builds a man to complete a certain task where as transformational styles builds a member to become a leader. This focuses on task completion and tactical style of management where as transformational leadership focus on strategies and missions. These are some theories of the leadership which shows how a leader act on different situations and how different leaders behave to get success in the organization. Motivation in Management: Theories of motivation: The theories of motivation can be divided into 3 broad categories. Reinforcement theories emphasize the means through which the process of controlling an individuals behavior by manipulating its consequences takes place . Content theories focus primarily on individual needs the physiological or psychological deficiencies that we feel a compulsion to reduce or eliminate. Process theories focus on the thought or cognitive processes that take place within the minds of people and that control their behavior. Early Theories of Motivation: Hierarchy of Needs Theory Theory X and Theory Y Motivation-Hygiene Theory Contemporary Theories of Motivation: ERG Theory McClellands Theory of Needs Cognitive Evaluation Theory Task Characteristics Theories Goal-Setting Theory Equity Theory Hierarchy of Needs Theory: Abraham Maslow hypothesized that within every human being there exists a hierarchy of five needs: Physiological. Safety. Social. Esteem. Self-actualization. Maslow then categorized these 5 needs into lower-order needs and higher-order needs.Lower-order needs are needs that are satisfied externally: physiological and safety needs.Higher-order needs are needs that are satisfied internally (within the person): social, esteem, and self-actualization needs. Theory X and Theory Y of Douglas McGrogor: McGregor concluded that a managers vision of the nature of human beings is based on a certain blend of assumptions and that he or she tends to mold his or her actions toward subordinates according to these assumptions: Employees naturally dislike work and, whenever possible, will attempt to avoid it Since employees dislike work, they must be coerced, controlled, or threatened with punishment to achieve goals Employees will avoid responsibilities and seek formal direction whenever possible Motivation-hygiene Theory: According to Herzberg, the factors leading to job satisfaction are dividing and distinct from those that leads to job dissatisfaction. Hygiene factors include factors such as: company policy and administration, supervision, interpersonal relations, working conditions, and salary. Motivator factors include factors such as: attainment, recognition, the work itself, responsibility and growth. Hygiene Factors Company rule and management; Supervision; association with supervisor; Work circumstances; Salary; Relationship with peers; Personal life; association with subordinates; Status; Safety Motivator Factors: attainment credit; Work itself; Responsibility; progression; Growth Contemporary Theories of Motivation: ERG Theory: ERG Theory proposed by Clayton Alderfer of Yale University: Alderfer fights that there are three groups of core needs: Existence Relatedness Growth Existence group is worried with providing our basic material existence requirements. Relatedness group is the desire we have for maintaining important interpersonal relationships McClellands Theory of Needs: McClellands theory of needs focuses on three needs: Achievement Power Affiliation Cognitive Evaluation Theory: Allocating extrinsic rewards for behaviour that had been previously intrinsically rewarded tends to decrease the overall level of motivation. (This concept was proposed in the late 1960s.)The interdependence of extrinsic and intrinsic rewards is a real phenomenon Task Characteristics Theories: These theories seek to identify task characteristics of jobs, how these characteristics are combined to form different jobs, and their relationship to employee motivation, satisfaction, and performance. Goal-setting theory: Specific and difficult goals lead to higher performance. Feedback leads to higher performance than non-feedback. In addition to feedback, 2 other factors have been found to influence the goals-performance relationship. These are: Goal commitment. Sufficient self-efficacy. Equity Theory: Individuals make comparisons of their job inputs and outcomes relatives to those of others and then act in response so as to remove any inequities. Stacy Adams proposed that this negative tension state provides the motivation to do something to correct it. There are 4 referent comparisons that employee can use: Self-inside. Self-outside. Other inside. Other outside. Conclusion The change in the leadership theories time by time says that the leader should posses certain characters which lead the organisational success whether to believe in maintaining a relationship or to go on tactically the manager or the leader should act to the situation and get success at the end. Depending on the companies motive the leader should react or behave with the team members to achieve the target. Usually maintaining a good relation helps to make the team members life easy and manage the work happily. The team members become more innovative and achieve targets easily where as with tactical style leadership may create some sort of pressure on the team members, there is no guarantee that in every situation relational ship management is successful. the leader should adapt himself for the situation and act according to a particular situation. We have discussed above only a collection of the motivation theories and thoughts of the various proponents of management .In some of the theories and opinion presented, however, one can observe some glimpses of the person and how, perhaps, he or she could be motivated. This is satisfying in itself. But, as noted earlier, practice has been in advance of theory in this field, so let us now move to the realistic side of management of human behaviour and motivation in the workplace.

The Wives Of The Dead English Literature Essay

The Wives Of The Dead English Literature Essay The Wives of The Dead is one of Hawthornes less remembered stories from a sequence of early tales he wrote in 1832. The story takes place in early eighteenth century Massachusetts Bay. Mary and Margaret are the two main characters, they are sister in laws who are drawn closer together because both their husband die within two successive days. However the story is not as simple as the plot. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses his lengthy visual descriptions to create a symbolic and almost supernatural background. If the story is read rapidly the reader may make the mistake of thinking its simply exploring the nature of a womans grief. However buried beneath the deceit of the narrator, lay the details that reveal the true meaning of the story. Like all of Hawthornes writings the story does not lack complexity. As the story advances readers are forced to ask the question of whether the story deals with dreams or reality. A question that is often asked but never holds the value that Hawthorne place s in it in this story. The issue can be major or insignificant thats why Hawthorne says The following story, the simple and domestic incidents of which may be deemed scarcely worth relating (Hawthorne968). The Wives of The Dead illustrates the importance of distinguishing between reality in life and the nature of reality in dreams. Hawthorne writes The Wives of the Dead in the third person omniscient viewpoint. This allows him to tell the story from a godlike perspective. Elements that the main characters might not or can not be noticed are pointed or to the reader. Because of the circumstances in the story, Hawthorne uses this style so the reader has an idea of what is going on while the main character has stepped out of the room or turned away. In this stories case this style is used to give the reader information or an overview about what is going on while the character are sleeping. In third person omniscience, the reader can get the story from Margaret and Marys point of view. This style makes the story more interesting because both characters are blind to something the other one knows. In The Wives of the Dead the visitors that both Margaret and Mary get are unknown by one or the other character. They are unwilling to tell the other about the news they receive about their husbands. The blindness of both p arties causes tension between both characters that only the reader is aware of. The narrator will also do several things other than telling the story. Things such as sometimes commenting and judging characters or events like saying one of the sisters is mild, quiet, yet not feeble character(Hawthorne960). This form of writing also gives the narrator the ability to give misleading or even dishonest details. The narrator does this to make distinguishing between reality and unreality more difficult. Hawthorne provides clues to help distinguish the reality that may be hidden beneath dreams or the dreams that may be hidden under the reality. The first of the two sisters that may or may not have been dreaming is Margaret. She was the first of the two sisters to receive a message that their husband is not dead is Margaret. Margaret is the sister who is of the lively irritable temperament, she does not dream her visit because it happens before she falls asleep (Hawthorne969). Mary falls asleep first while Margaret became more disturbed by feverish, in proportion as the night advanced with its deepest and stillest hours (Hawthorne970). She does not fall asleep before her visits because her grief greatly disturbed her still. The visitor is a friendly innkeeper of the town who is known by Margaret (Hawthorne970). Further validation comes from Goodman Parkers account of having received the news of Margarets husband. Margaret receives word from an express the tiding of the frontiers (Hawthorne970).Goodman Parker states He tells me we had the better in the skirmish you wot of, and that thirteen men report slain are well and sound , and your husband among them(pg. 970)Nothing seems too miraculous or disputable that would indicate a supernatural aspect of a dream. After Margarets visit she goes to Marys room to tell her what has happened. She decides not to tell he because she does not want to further ber sadness. Margaret says Shall I waken her to feel her sorrow sharpened by my happiness (Hawthorne970). After deciding not tell Mary, Margaret notices a look of motionless contentment was how visionless as if her heart, like a deep lake(Hawthorne 971). The reason Mary could or could not have been dreaming are the brief details describing her face before she fell asleep and the description of Stephen. The narrator describes the look on Marys face as motionless contentment which suggests that she has made peace with the death of her husband(Hawthorne969). If she had made peace with the loss of her husband she would not be as likely to fall asleep with the wishful thinking that her husband may still be alive. Her actions before she goes to bed suggest she is trying to move on. Mary began to recollect the precepts of resignation and endurance, which piety had taught her(Hawthorne971) .Therefore, Marys dreaming that her husband is alive is possible but unlikely. If she had looked happy while she is asleep it will be okay to assume that she was dreaming that her husband was alive. However, there are many clues that suggest her visit is a dream, but not necessarily her dream. When Mary awakes for a little time, slumber hung about her lik e a morning mist(Hawthorne971). She is clearly in a state where she can easily fall back to sleep without realizing. When her visitor begins to knock on the door, she listened with imperfect consciousness and she does not answer until she is clearly wide awake (Hawthorne 971). So at the same moment of the knocking, she goes from a drowsy state to being wide awake. The pang of recollection darted into her mind when she answers the door (Hawthorne971). Mary recognizes her visitor and describes him as a unsuccessful wooer of her own named Stephen (Hawthorne972). a rejected lover of Mary who comes by seeking to comfort her with information about the guy who won her over. This is the first clue that seems very unlikely. The storm is over and the moon is out yet when she speaks to Stepehen, she notices that he is soaked. This can just be the narrator giving misleading information, but it serves to cast doubts about if this is really happening or if it is all in her head. The status of Mar ys husband is ultimately harder to prove than that of Margarets, and the evidence that cast doubts on Stephen are normal inconsistencies for a dream. The tale has many structural parallels within it. Each wife is awakened by a visitor who has news about the survival of their husbands. After receiving the good news thy each stop themselves from waking and telling the other what had happened. They are both sleeping restlessly at one point of the story but the story does not say for sure if they are dreaming. The main deception of the story is that what happens is exactly what both characters could dream. The story presents blanketed realities; however, they are not necessarily less real only because some events are not likely. The dramatic background of the story with the rainy twilight of autumn day suggests and is ideal for a dreamlike world (Hawthorne968). It is not clear if one, both, or neither of the characters are dreaming. Discussing the interpretation of the events or dreams is overlooking the purpose of the story. The point is simply a caution against ignorance of the distinction between dreams and reality.

Construction Method Statement Example

Construction Method Statement Example 1.0 Introduction This Construction Method Statement describes the development of six houses in three identical semi-detached blocks on a plot of land. The document will suffice for the majority of works undertaken during the construction but will require alterations or additions for certain projects. This method statement is a qualified assessment based on current information and is subject to refinement as the project evolves. This method statement is prepared to discuss about all the construction process and operations and also emphasize on the health, safety and environmental concerns. 2.0 Preliminary Works 2.1 Access and Material Distribution Constant flow of transport is needed during the construction period. Small access roads and driveways together with temporary roads are constructed to define site circulation routes and provide a suitable surface for plant movement (Chudley Greeno, 2008, p.118). A small access road is set up nearby the storage area of the site to transport materials that are required within a short space of time. A forklift will be used for material offloading and distribution around the site. The location of the access road shows in the Figure 1 site layout plan. Moreover, the road will be subjected to light and heavy day to day traffic such as concrete delivery, steel delivery lorries, brick and block delivery lorries and delivery vehicles generally. All the deliveries will be fitted into a delivery schedule system which is controlled by site personnel under guidance of Construction Manager. (Griffith Watson, 2004, p.392) Materials are closely phased and delivered when assembled which to achieve just-in-time management in this project. Materials that are transported with heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) are expected to take place at night and that certain works may have to be undertaken during this period so that it does not cause disruption to traffic flows, especially at peak times. 2.2 Storage Storage on site is erected to store materials, tools and equipments, spare parts for mechanical plant, and manufactured goods for incorporation in the work. (Griffith Watson, 2004, p.188) The distance between storage and activity areas keeps short to reduce transportation needs in terms of time. Timber and steel reinforcement will be stored in a dry safe place and special store for fuel oils needed by the requirement of legislation. (Griffith Watson, 2004, p.189) 2.3 Site Office A temporary site office will be provided on the site for management purposes and paperwork. These offices will be housed in modular portable units. The size of site office will be calculated based on an example below: Size Example: Office for site agent and assistant plus an allowance for 3 visitors. Assume an internal average height of 2.400. Allow 3.7m2 minimum per person and 11.5m3 minimum per person. Minimum area = 5 x 3.7 = 18.5m2 Minimum volume = 5x 11.5 = 57.5m3 Assume office width of 3.000 then minimum length required is = 57.5/ (32.4) = 57.5/7.2 = 7.986 say 8.000 Area check 38 = 24m2 which is > 18.5m2; satisfactory (Chudley Greeno, 2008, p.94) 2.4 General Site Facilities General site facilities such as toilets, changing facilities, canteen, as well as shelter from inclement weather will be provided on site. Adequate heating, lighting and ventilation are required in all toilet, washing, changing, and accommodation. The requirements of each facilities are specified the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) legislation (Griffith Watson, 2004, p.192). The location of all the facilities must be close together for easy access. The site accommodation will be located in the north corner of the site so to suit site access strategy. A row of single storey accommodation will be needed in the project. All the facilities buildings build in portable. 2.5 Site Enclosure Fencing and Hoarding A minimum height of 2.4m hoarding and fencing will be erected around the perimeter of the site for protection (Griffith Howarth, 2001, p.252). Safety measures outlined by the Albert Building Code (ABC) must be followed. An external signposting will be installed around the hoarding to enable the site to be more visible. Caution signs will also be displayed on fences and gates so that people will be aware when passing through the site. There will be a principle gate to the site along with pedestrian gates for access. 2.6 Safety and Security For both security and safety reasons, site-bases security presence will be provided during normal working hours with a visiting patrol covering nights and weekends to protect against theft and vandals of storage. Site-based security presence with a full 24 hours will be in place during the later stages of the construction works and fit out prior to occupation (Griffith Watson, 2004, p.391). All entry points will be clearly signed with appropriate warning notice. Flood lightings with 500 watts in 7.50m high are installed as a measure of night security. (Chudley Greeno, 2008, p.91) Main Construction Work 3.1 Substructure Concrete strip foundation will be used as the foundation of the houses. Foundation works include excavating, earthwork support, concreting and bricklaying of the strip foundation. Trenches are excavated under the line of the walls and the soil at the bottom of the trenches is compacted. Rough sawn timber as strutting will be temporary support for the sides of excavation for strip foundation. At least 150mm of concrete is placed at the foot of the trench with a concrete pump and brick walls are then built up to the damp proof course (DPC) which will be at least 150mm above ground level. The DPC is bedded on a layer of mortar on each leaf of brick or block cavity foundation wall. (Osbourn Greeno, 1997, p.199) The depth of the strip foundation of 1m 1.2m is adequate to ensure the soil acting as the natural foundation cannot be affected by the weather and stake will be used to determine depth of concrete foundation (Osbourn Greeno, 1997, p.181 186). The strip foundation made of a cont inuous strip of concrete with 1:3:6 mix. Hardcore will be compacted using a vibrating plate or roller and the top of the hardcore is kept below the substructure block work so that the slab can be cast inside the walls. Concrete is protected with a sheet of hessian or sand in cold weather and sheet of polythene in hot weather. (Marshall Worthing, 2000, p.57) The provision of damp proof membrane (DPM) for the entire area on top is between the over site concrete slab and it will be done on a bed of sand or ash of 12mm thickness. 3.2 Superstructure 3.2.1 External Wall Cavity wall will be used in this project as it has good thermal insulation and weather resistance properties. Cement-lime mortar mixes is used to ensure adequate bond of ties to wall. An adequate size of vertical spacing will be required for door and windows opening. 3.2.2 Scaffolding In Mitchells Intro to Building (Osbourn Greeno, 1997, p.207) states that, As the work progress beyond a height where it is unreasonable for the bricklayer to lift materials from ground level, it will be necessary to erect scaffolding to support raised working platform. The scaffolding with aluminum alloy which connected by special fitting or couplings will be used to lay the upper floor wall. 3.2.3 Doors and Windows Temporary props will be erected until lintel construction has been complete. To connect the opening frames with the wall, rigid-angled galvanized mild steel lugs screwed to their side edges as the work proceeds. (Osbourn Greeno, 1997, p.203) DPC will be bedded when the work is carried out. 3.2.4 Internal Wall Work sequence will be similar to external wall but the internal wall is in single leaf. The partition wall will be positioned and used to separate spaces within the building into rooms. Insulated plasterboard will be installed through the wall to gain thermal for the building. (EDP Energy, 2010) 3.2.5 Roof Pitch roof which erected by timber trussed rafters space about 600mm at close centres to provide direct support for roof cladding and ceiling. (Osbourn Greeno, 1997, p.221) Install the ridge board on 2 end posts with temporary bracing and set it straight and level. Each rafters is nailed to the wall-plate which ready placed on a mortar bed on top of cavity block wall. (Osbourn Greeno, 1997, p.221) Prefabricated ladder fixed to the end trussed rafter. Fascia board fixed to the feet of rafter and barge board to the outer face of gable ladder. (Marshall Worthing, 2006 p.94) Install collar ties, purlin and bracing as needed for the rafters and ridge to prevent sagging over time. Timber trusses with bracing are manufactured off-site. Clay tiles will be laid in continuously on the timber battens on sarking felt with 45 degree sloping of pitched roof. Finishes 3.3.1 Internal Wall Finishes Plaster board will be applied to internal wall as finishes with wet plaster method. Half-hour fire resistance will be provided when 5mm coat of wet plaster and 9.5mm thickness wet plaster applied on both sides of partition wall. A gap which is used to provide additional air passage is left between the back of plaster board and the face of the wall. Then the gap will be connected to the cavity to the internal environment to allow air leakage. (Emmitt Gorse, 2005, p.535) Emulsion paint with Water Based Paints Timber will be painted through the wall using the roller method. (Chudley Greeno, 2008, p.669)Skirting board with 19mm thickness will be nailed to the concrete fixing blocks at the base of walls after plastering is completed. (Emmitt Gorse, 2005, p.548-549) 3.3.2 Floor Finishes Skim coats with mix of cement and water applied with a steel float to make smooth finish on screed to allow carpet laid on it as floor finishes. Tackless strip placed around the entire perimeter rooms and shoot masonry screws into the strip and cut the strip by tin snip. Underlayment will be pour to hold the carpet padding. (Beach,1999-2010) 3.3.3 Ceiling Finishes Plasterboard ceiling made with a core of gypsum sandwiched between face sheets of strong durable paper with 2.4 x 1.2 x 9.5 mm thick at centres and it fixed to joist by nailing. Then, 5mm single coat board finish plaster over bonding grade undercoat. (Chudley Greeno, 2008, p.664) 3.4 Existing Services Existing services drawings will be obtained for the site area, which are applicable to the complete development and must be referred to at all times. Prior to any mechanical excavation commencing, each suspect area will be hand dug to confirm the depth and location of any service and clearly marked on the surface. Extreme care will be taken when planning to work in these vicinities i.e. double check with CAT and Genny and follow above procedures. (Marriott 2009) 4.0 Health and Safety 4.1 Significant Hazard Hazard:Â  Moving plant or vehicles Risk:Â  Operative have to be trained and competent to operate the plant or equipment. They should understand the emergency and evacuation procedures. ( Prifysgol Bangor University, 2001-2010) Control Measure:Â  Isolating workers or pedestrians from the moving plant. (Department of Labour, 2007) Maintenance and servicing of plant. (Department of Labour, 2007) Operator must follow all the directions in the hazard management. (Department of Labour, 2007) Hazard:Â  Falls of materials Risk:Â  Materials fall as bricks or steel through hole or gap will cause injury people working below. Control Measure:Â  Keeping working platforms clear of loose materials. Provide a way of preventing materials or other objects rolling, or being kicked, off the edges of platforms by with toe boards, solid barriers, brick guards etc at open edges. ( Prifysgol Bangor University, 2001-2010) Hazard:Â  Safe working platform Free of openings and traps through which peoples feet could get caught, causing them to trip, fall or be injured. ( Prifysgol Bangor University, 2001-2010) Risk:Â  Risk of fire may be occurred. Control Measure:Â  Good housekeeping with keeping the workplace cleans all the time. ( Prifysgol Bangor University, 2001-2010) Hazard:Â  Work at height Risk:Â  Accident as falling from height during laying brick or block at height level and also cladding and roofing. Control Measure:Â  Temporary scaffolding will be used during the height risk works. Assess weather condition before working at high take place. 4.2 Personal Protective Equipment Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is an effective method of controlling occupational hazard. Operatives have to wear safety helmet at all times on site. Besides, suitable safety footwear such as steel-toe-capped boots will be worn by all company personnel. Casual shoes and trainers will not be permitted. All personnel are required to wear high visibility jacket or clothing at all times. This clothing must be suitable for the working environment and prevailing weather conditions. Eye goggles, hearing and respiratory protection and protective clothing will be made available for use where required and according to on site conditions. Furthermore, gloves have to be worn all the time can trap hazardous chemical against skin. 5.0 Potential Environment Impact A review of the potential environment impacts associated with construction works are being considered. Below is a table of the different environment Impacts: Issue:Â  Water contamination Potential Impact:Â  Run-off from plant or vehicle washing. Issue:Â  Material spill to drains and watercourses. Potential Impact:Â  Discharge of contaminated water. Issue:Â  Ground contamination Potential Impact:Â  Disturbing contaminated ground. Issue:Â  Wind blow contamination. Potential Impact:Â  Existing contamination of site. Issue:Â  Spillage and leakage of hazardous substances. Potential Impact:Â  Noise and vibration contamination Issue:Â  Increased road noise levels from vehicles. Potential Impact:Â  Particular methods of construction or use of heavy plant, equipment and haulage. Issue:Â  Traffic Potential Impact:Â  Traffic congestion caused by site. Issue:Â  Increased vehicle movements mainly consisting of heavy goods vehicles. Potential Impact:Â  Transfer materials from vehicles into public road as main road. Issue:Â  Disruption from abnormal or hazardous loads. Potential Impact:Â  Exhaust emissions cause air pollution. Issue:Â  Plant and wildlife contamination Potential Impact:Â  Habitat disruption or destruction Issue:Â  Disruption to wildlife activity Potential Impact:Â  Changes to natural environments ( noise, dust, light ) Issue:Â  Disruption to food or water sources. Potential Impact:Â  Historic/archaeological contamination Issue:Â  Disruption or destruction of natural features Potential Impact:Â  Disruption by temporary works like access road Table 1: Potential Environment Impact

Inventory :: essays research papers

Name: Job #: # of APPLIANCES ft ³ TOTAL # of BEDROOM1/2/3/4/5 ft ³ TOTAL Air Cond. / Window Lg. 20 0 Bed Waterbed Base 10 0 Air Cond. / Window Sm. 15 0 Bed, Bunk (Set 2) 70 0 Dehumidifier 5 0 Bed, King 70 0 Dishwasher 20 0 1 Bed, Queen 65 65 1 Dryer 11 11 Bed, Rollaway 20 0 Freezer, 10' or less 30 0 Bed, Single/Hollywood 40 0 Freezer, 11' to 15' 45 0 2 Bed, Std/Dbl./Full 60 120 Freezer, 16' or more 60 0 Book Box 6 0 Range, 20" Wide 10 0 Chair, Boudoir 10 0 Range, 30" Wide 15 0 2 Chair, Straight 5 10 Range, 36" Wide 30 0 Chaise Lounge 25 0 Refrig. 11 ft ³ or more 60 0 3 Chest of Drawers 25 75 Refrig. 7 to 10 ft ³ 45 0 Chest, Armoire 30 0 2 Refrig. 6 ft ³ or less 30 60 Chest, Batchelor 12 0 1 ShopVac 5 5 Chest, Cedar 15 0 Stackable Washer / Dryer 35 0 Day Bed / Captains Bed 50 0 1 Vacuum Cleaner 5 5 Dresser, Double 40 0 1 Washing Machine 25 25 Dresser, Single 30 0 # of DINING ft ³ Dresser, Triple 50 0 Baker's Rack 15 0 Dresser, Vanity 20 0 Bench, Harvest 10 0 Dresser/Vanity Bch 3 0 1 Buffet (Base) 30 30 Floor Lamp 3 0 Cabinet Corner 20 0 1 Futon 25 25 7 Dining Chair 5 35 3 Lamp 3 9 1 Dining Table 30 30 Mirror 6 0 Hutch (Top) 20 0 2 Night Table 5 10 2 Lamp 3 6 4 Picture 3 12 0 Mirror 6 0 Student Desk 15 0 0 Picture 3 0 3 Trunk 5 15 Tea Cart 10 0 1 Wardrobe Closet,LG 40 40 # of KITCHEN ft ³ 1 Wardrobe Closet,SM 20 20 Baker's Rack 15 0 # of NURSERY ft ³ Breakfast Suite, Chairs 5 0 Baby Carriage 4 0 1 Bread Maker 3 3 Bassinet 5 0 Breakfast Table 10 0 Bed, Youth 30 0 Chair, High 5 0 Chair, Child`s 3 0 High Chair 5 0 Changing Table 25 0 1 Ironing Board 2 2 Chest 12 0 Kitchen Cabinet 30 0 Chest, Toy 5 0 Lamp 3 0 Child`s Rocking Chair 3 0 Microwave Oven 5 0 Crib, Baby 10 0 Microwave Stand 10 0 Playpen 10 0 Mirror 6 0 Rocking Chair 7 0 3 Picture 3 9 Table, Child`s 5 0 Serving Cart 15 0 # of PORCH/OUTDOOR ft ³ 1 0 1 BBQ Grill, Large 10 10 Barstool 3 0 1 BBQ Grill, Small 2 2 1 Toaster Oven 1 1 Bird Bath 10 0 Utility Cabinet 10 0 3 Chair, Plastic 1 3 # of LIVING ROOM ft ³ Chairs, Aluminum 1 0 Bar, Portable 15 0 4 Chairs, Metal 3 12 Bench, Frsd/Piano 5 0 Chairs, Wood 5 0 Bookcase 20 0 Garden Hose & Tools 10 0 Bookshelves, Sect. 5 0 Glider or settee 20 0 Cabinet, Curio 10 0 1 Golf Clubs / Bag 8 8 Chair, Occasional 15 0 Ladder 6' Step 3 0 Chair, Overstuffed 25 0 Ladder, 8' Metal 2 0 Chair, Rocker 12 0 1 Ladder, Extension 8 8 Chair, Straight 5 0 Lawn Mover, Rider (HP) 35 0 Clock, Grandfather 20 0 1 Lawn Mower, Hand 5 5 Desk, Secretary 35 0 Lawn Mower, Power 15 0 Desk, SM/Winthrop 22 0 1 Leaf Blower 5 5 Fireplace Equip. 5 0 Outdoor Child Gym 20 0 Footstool 2 0 Outdoor Child Slide 10 0 Hall Tree Large 12 0 Outdoor Swings 30 0 Hall Tree Rack 2 0 Picnic Bench 5 0 Lamp, Floor/Pole 2 0 Picnic Table 20 0 Lg. Wicker Chair 4 0 Plastic Chair 1 0 Lg. Wicker Sofa 15 0 Roller, Lawn 15 0 Magazine Rack 2 0 Skis / Poles 8 0 Mirror 4 0 Snow Blower 15 0 Music Cabinet 10 0 Spreader, Lawn 2 0 Ottoman 5 0 Statue 0 Papasan Chair 4 0 1 Table, Large 4 4 Phone Stand 4 0 Table, Plastic 2 0 Piano, Baby Gr/Upr 70 0 Table, Small 2 0 Piano, Parlor Gr. 80 0 Trampolene 0 Piano, Spinet/Console 60 0 Umbrella 5 0 3 Picture 3 9 1 Wheelbarrow 8 8 1 Recliner 25 25 # of OFFICE/MISC ft ³ Room Divider 10 0 2 Dr File Cab. Dbl. Wide 20 0 Rugs, Lg. Roll/Pad 10 0 3 Drawer File Cab. 30 0 Rugs, Sm. Roll/Pad 3 0 3 Drawer File Cab. 30 0 Sm. Wicker Chair 2 0 3 Dr File Cab. Dbl. Wide 60 0 Sm. Wicker Sofa 10 0 4 Dr File Cab. Dbl. Wide 40 0 Sofa, Hide, 4 Cush. 60 0 Barbells lbs. 0 1 Sofa, Loveseat 35 35 Basket (Clothes) 5 0 Sofa, Sectional (per sec.) 30 0 1 Bicycle 5 5 1 Sofa, 3 Cushion 50 50 Bowling Ball/Bag 3 0 Table Lamps 3 0 Chairs, Folding 1 0 3 Tables, Coffee/End 5 15 1 Clothes Hamper 5 5 Tables, Drop/Occas 12 0 Cot, Folding 10 0 # of ELECTRONICS ft ³ 1 Desk, Office 30 30 Ceiling Fan 7 0 1 Exercise Machine 20 20 Chair 5 0 Exercycle 5 0 Computer Desk 20 0 Fan 5 0 1 Computer printer 5 5 Fern/Plant Stands 2 0 Copier 40 0 1 Filing Cab. 2 Drawers 10 10 1 DVD 3 3 Filing Cab. 4 Drawers 20 0 Entertainment Ctr. 20 0 Filing Cab.Crdbd 3 0 1 Fax 5 5 Footlockers 5 0 Floor Speaker 5 0 1 Heater, Gas/Electric 5 5

Anabolic Steroids :: essays research papers

If someone guaranteed you amazing results in the weight room with minimal effort by just taking a pill would you take it? You probably would! But, if you knew that these pills could potentially knock 20 years off your life. Would you take it then? You would be suprised to find out how many people would answer yes to that question. In the past three decades, steroids have become a serious problem, more than ever in the athletic field. It is reported that over 3 million athletes and bodybuilders alone have used anabolic steroids . Steroids are a drug that include the male sex hormones, principally, testosterone and estrogen, the female sex hormone. To begin quite simply, it is apparent to most people that men tend to be larger than women. Indeed, a clear cut example of a difference between the sexes is the relative muscle mass. In men the most important growth builder is testosterone, which is made from the cells of the testes. Approximately 8 mg of testosterone is created daily, most of which is metabolized by the liver and excreted through the body in urine form. Testosterone is also present in the blood plasma of women, being derived from the ovaries and adrenal glands, in amounts roughly 30 times less than that found in men. Among the many effects of these androgens is the general growth on the body tissues and an increase in muscle strength. One of the main effects of anabolic steroids is to increase the number of red blood cells and muscle tissue without producing much of the androgenic effects of testosterone. Steroids have been around since the 1950`s and have been used by athletes as a means of improving appearance, muscle mass and strength. The first people to use anabolic steroids for athletic enhancement were the Russians who discovered the drug and had great success. Soon after scientists discovered how to make artificial testosterone and eliminate some of the dangerous side effects. This is when anabolic steroids were first born. Since then they have become very available in almost every country and local gym. Steroids were first developed for medical purposes. They're used in controlling inflammation, strengthening weakened hearts, preventing conception, and alleviating symptoms of arthritis and asthma. There are only three legal uses for steroids, treatment for certain forms of cancer, pituitary dwarfism, and serious hormone disturbances. Unfortunately research has shown that steroids have been abused in almost every kind of sport including professional football, power lifting and bodybuilding.