Essay about The Many Faces of Dissociative Identity Disorder

The Many Faces of Dissociative Identity Disorder Abstract This research paper aims to explore the mental disease known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously known as multiple personality disorder. I explore the meaning, symptoms, and effects of DID. My research describes those diagnosed with DID and the probable reasons of why they have the disorder. This study also explains the many different treatments and the effects those treatments might have on a person that has the disorder. I include a research study done on someone diagnosed with DID, the method used to help treat her, and the results of her treatment. Lastly, I state my opinion on DID and the methods I believe with help people prevent, treat, and cope with†¦show more content†¦For example, they may continue to know where the grocery store is, how to use the microwave, how to count, or how to write. Only bits of information directly or indirectly associated with the alter’s memory are lost, the rest is stored. The definite cause of DID is unknown, but one main cause of the disorder is believed to be severe and prolonged trauma experienced during childhood, including emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. Symptoms of DID can include: an inability to remember large parts of childhood, sudden return of memories, as in a flashback and/or flashback to traumatic events, episodes of feeling disconnected or detached from ones body and thoughts, hallucinations, changing levels of functioning, from highly effective to nearly disabled, depression, anxiety, alcohol and/or drug abuse, headaches, and eating disorders. DID is a serious mental illness that occurs across all ethnic groups and all income levels, but has been proven to affect women nine times more than men. Research has shown that the average age for the initial development of alters is 5.9 years old. Statistics show that DID occurs in 0.01 to 1 percent of the general population (Mayo, 2014). First, doctors diagnose dissociative disorders based on a review of symptoms and personal history. The doctor may perform tests to rule out physical conditions that can cause symptoms like amnesia and a sense of unreality. If theShow MoreRelatedDissociative Identity Disorder : Dissociative Identification Disorder1485 Words   |  6 PagesDissociative Identity Disorder Dissociative Identity Disorder is a mental disorder where an individual experiences two or more distinct personalities. When an individual is diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, one personality has dominant control of an individual. This personality controls how a person may act and how they live everyday life. A person diagnosed with this disease may or may not be aware of their alternate personalities. Each personality is contrasting of each other withRead MoreDissociative Identity Disorder ( Multiple Personality )1397 Words   |  6 PagesDissociative Identity Disorder can be difficult to diagnosis as mentioned before. However, a scale has been developed to help a professional with their diagnosis of individuals that may suffer from this mental illness. There have been many studies conducted to test the reliability and validity of this scale. The scale is referred to as The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) and was developed to help measure dissociation in individua ls. The Dissociative Experiences Scale is a twenty-eight item self-reportRead MoreDissociative Identity Disorder ( Dissociative Disorder )1040 Words   |  5 PagesDissociative Identity Disorder Dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder, is a mental illness that is greatly misunderstood, much like many other mental illnesses. Nicholas Spanos, Professor of Psychology, hypothesized Multiple Personality Disorder as a defense against childhood trauma that creates â€Å"dissociation† or a split mental state. The trauma sustained during childhood is so substantial, that the individual creates different identities to cope with itRead MoreDissociative Identity Disorder Essay832 Words   |  4 PagesDissociative identity disorder is a rare mental disorder that is characterized by an individual possessing two or more states of personality. This form of identity disorder is commonly caused by childhood traumas that fall under extreme, repetitive physical, sexual, or emotional abuse (American Psychiatric Association). A famous case of dissociative identity disorder followed the case of Shirley â€Å"Sybil† Mason, who was believed to suffer from female hysteria — an outdated medical diagnosis that wasRead MoreMental Illness : Dissociative Identity Disorder1408 Words   |  6 Pagescertain periods of time? These are all questions that many psychologists and psychiatrists find themselves asking within the psychology community. This is a topic filled with controversy still to this day. Psychology is a field that has been around for a long time, but we are still discovering new illnesses all the time. One mental illness that is becoming more apparent is dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, but some argue that this illness is not real. Read MoreDissociative Identity Disorder : Sybil And Primal Fear1477 Words   |  6 PagesRachel Milbourn Dr. Ozegovic Abnormal Psychology 210 7 October 2015 Dissociative Identity Disorder: Sybil and Primal Fear In the films â€Å"Sybil,† and â€Å"Primal Fear† both characters Sybil, and Aaron seem to be suffering from dissociative identity disorder. According to Comer (2014), someone with dissociative identity disorder, or also known as multiple personality disorder establishes two or more recognizable personalities, often called alternate or sub personalities. Each personality has their ownRead MoreDissociative Identity Disorder1030 Words   |  5 PagesDissociative Identity Disorder Defining what is abnormal is not necessarily easy. There are many different criteria to determine what exactly is normal and what is abnormal. According to Ciccarelli and White (2012) as early as 3000 B.C.E. there have been human skulls found with holes in them. Archaeologists suspect this was caused because of the treatments they had years ago such as â€Å"trepanning†. Trepanning is done nowadays as well to remove extra fluids from the brain, as for years ago doctors didRead MoreDissociative Identity Disorder ( Dissociative Disorder )1194 Words   |  5 PagesDissociative Identity Disorder is a disorder distinguished by the existence of two or more distinct personality states. It is also known as DID or Multiple Personality Disorder. It is very rare, with only 20,000 to 200,000 known US cases per year. Currently, there is no known cure, but treatment can sometimes help. Many believe that DID can be caused by a significant trauma and is used as a coping mechanism to help avo id bad memories. The disorders most often form in kids victim to long-term physicalRead More Multiple Personality Disorder (Dissociative Identity Disorder)735 Words   |  3 Pages Dissociative Identity Disorder, commonly referred to as Multiple Personality Disorder, exists as a bizarre mental disorder in which a person acquires two or more distinct identities or personality states. The disorder received much attention through such accounts as Sybil and The Three Faces of Eve. Multiple Personality Disorder, caused from severe and inhuman sexual, physical, and mental abuse, affects the individuals consciousness and in turn creates altar selves. CategorizedRead MoreDifferent Perspectives On Dissociative Identity Disorder1710 Words   |  7 Pageson life, sometimes even leading to Dissociative Identity Disorder. Even though Dissociative Identity Disorder has a place in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the legitimacy of the psychiatric disorder is still a very much a controversial issue. In these two articles, â€Å"Multiple Personality -- Is It Mental Disorder, Myth, or Metaphor?† published in the Huffington Post website by Frances(2014) and Dimensions of â€Å"Multiple Personality Disorder† by Murray(1994) published by the

The Electoral College Makes A Huge Impact On The U.S, Despite

The electoral college makes a huge impact on the U.S, despite Americans knowing little to nothing about it. What people don’t know is, the electoral college is an out of date burden on the country. Things such as the history, the negative effects on American minorities, and effective alternative. To understand why the electoral college must be scraped, we must first understand why the electoral college came to be in the first place. America is a very new country; our government did not develop until a few hundred years ago. Congress made the decision to build the electoral college due to the lack of technologies. In the article Electoral College Fast Facts, it states, â€Å"Established in Article 2, of the U.S constitution, the Electoral†¦show more content†¦George Bush’s eventual triumph exposed everything: the pain of winner-takes all allocation of electors in 48 of the 50 states; the hazards of the electoral college, where if three electors with cold feet h ad votes for Al Gore instead of Bush then he would have won the presidency, Florida recount be damn; but, above all, the injustice of a system wherein the popular vote winner can lose.† There have been an alarming number of instances where the Electoral College set back the country due to the problems it has caused, and will continue to cause if it’s not replaced. Throughout the time line of America, the electoral college has made a negative impact. There are several negative out comes from having the electoral college. The United States has states that have a larger amount of electoral college. There are states several states that are worth more electoral votes than others. Presidential candidates need at least 270 votes to win an election. This creates the problem of paying little to no attention to states with small electoral votes. Candidates often focused on states with higher amounts of electoral votes such as: California (55), Texas (38), New York (29), Florida ( 29), Illinois (20) and Pennsylvania (20). It was often the strategy to have rallies in these areas to get ahead in electoral votes. â€Å"The system of the Electoral College offers power to the small, less populated states, which is unfair with the larger states. It improves that smallShow MoreRelatedRussian Democracy Case Study876 Words   |  4 Pagesfound out that Russia had been assassinating people when they disagreed with them(Apuzzo, 2017). Sanctions like no United States oil company can do business with Russia, no companies selling drilling tech that are needed to access oil can sold, and the U.S. banks cannot issue long-term loans to Russian businesses for energy-focused projects. But as soon as Donald Trump became President he thought it would best if we could find a way to remove these sanctions. This brings up a question could there haveRead MoreEssay about Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States1564 Words   |  7 PagesUlysses S. Grant the 18th pre sident of the United States who served two consecutive terms, Andrew Jackson being the last to do so, has border lined the average presidential ranking with a 23 in 2009 and a 33 in 2000. Grant’s legacy will include the huge impact of Reconstruction after the Civil War with much repairing left on his hands. Grant was Republican and supported Civil War values that included union, freedom and equality. Grant expanded federal law that protected African American’s civil rightsRead MoreThe Politics Of Political Parties3081 Words   |  13 Pagesin history were people no longer trust political parties to do the right thang by the American people. An exposed, participant angled, workable, and representative system of political parties functioning within free and fair electoral procedures accomplishes duties that make democratic government possible. Political parties always have been in a progression of change. This is because they have had to adjust to developments in their societies, and in the environment in which they operate more largelyRead MoreTexas Politics2692 Words   |  11 PagesTexas is a state that has always been recognized for its size and politics. Elections are a huge part of democratic societies that are intended for citizens to choose their public leaders and approve the policies set by candidates. Political parties and interest groups also play a key role in shaping opportunities for public participation. Most Texans and historians know that the Democratic Party’s historical dominance is important to state politics. It is less likely that people are not aware ofRead MoreEssay on The Glory and The Dream9497 Words   |  38 Pagesâ€Å"was impelled by the conventional wisdom to offer proposals designed to make things worse.† (pg. 21) Chapter 1 1. What businesses flourished during the Great Depression? Why? a. Radio production businesses and radio stations flourished because it was cheap entertainment, in which people could listen to whenever they were. 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Vision The vision of the Company summarizes their commitment to Mexico: â€Å"Contribute toward improving the quality of life for Mexican families.† Their basic belief is Respect for the Individual, Service to OurRead MoreRegents Exam in U.S. History and Government7115 Words   |  29 PagesREGENTS EXAM IN U.S. HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT The University of the State of New York REGENTS HIGH SCHOOL EXAMINATION UNITED STATES HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT Thursday, January 24, 2013 — 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., only Student Name ______________________________________________________________ School Name _______________________________________________________________ The possession or use of any communications device is strictly prohibited when taking this examination. If you have or use any communicationsRead MoreHistory of Internet10240 Words   |  41 Pagestime wasn’t up to the task.) Here is Gibson and Sterling’s answer: with the aid of powerful computers, Britain becomes the world’s first technological superpower. Its first foreign adventure is to intervene in the American Civil War on the side of the U.S. South, which splits the United States into four feuding republics. By the mid-1800s, the world is trying to cope with the multiple afflictions of the twentieth century: credit cards, armored tanks, and fast-food restaurants. Alternative histories areRead MoreEssays for the American Pageant, 14th Ed.11068 Words   |  45 Pagesinferiors, thought it important to bring them Christianity, sought to profit economically from relations with the Native Americans, and forced some Native Americans into slavery. Both brought terrible diseases to the New World, though the Spanish impact was more devastating because of earlier arrival. The Spanish attempted to integrate Native Americans into their colonial societies through intermarriage and through the establishment of agricultural communities with Native American workers. The EnglishRead MoreItaly - Research Paper10557 Words   |  43 Pagesyear unemployment hit 8.6 percent yet it is predicated that Italy will pull out of its recession by the end of 2010. (Economy of Italy, 2010) Culture Values and Norms Since World War II, Italian society has profoundly changed, with a significant impact on daily life. One of the main elements of change is the more visible role women play in society outside the home, such as increased participation in higher education and various professions. One aspect of this changed role is that Italy records one

How to Survive High School free essay sample

Maybe your friends from middle school are going to a different high school, or even if you know other freshmen, you might not know many upperclassmen. This is why it is very important to attend freshman orientations. These are helpful not only because you learn your way around the building and get to meet some of your teachers, but you also get to meet fellow freshmen. When you talk to people at orientation, youll probably find that a lot of them are feeling just like you are. Theyre all new to the school and dont know what to expect either. Talking to your classmates about a common concern could even spark a new friendship. Secondly, you should learn more about your teachers. Some freshman teachers are nice and kind at times. However, in order to avoid their negativity, you must go by all of their rules. Different teachers will have different expectations. We will write a custom essay sample on How to Survive High School or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Learn what they are and dont make your high school experience rough, by trying to make your own rules. Some rules will seem unfair and some will seem stupid, but if you go by them, you will find that life is much easier. You dont have to be a teachers pet to do this, and you just dont have to be a rebel either. Just remember, in all cases, think things through before you act. Sometimes it will save you a lot of trouble in the end. Thirdly, you should maintain a good reputation. Having a good reputation at high school is very important. You should always take responsibility for your actions, and choose them wisely. We remember people by their actions as much as we remember their hair color. While embarrassing moments are unavoidable and nothing to be ashamed about, dishonest or vicious behavior is well within your control. Last but not least, you should always be yourself. I know everyone says it, but if youre not yourself, who else are you going to be? Everyone has their quirks which makes them unique. There’s nothing interesting about a high school full of clones. Embrace your uniqueness. To enjoy your time, always be who you are. Opportunities are going to present themselves, and who knows where these opportunities might lead. Don’t ever change who you are just to fit in. You’ll never be as happy pretending to be someone you’re not when you could be yourself. As you can see, high school is only what you make it. Following my advice will only make your freshman year a lot better. These are a few tips on how to you can survive your freshman year in high school.

Modernist Art In Europe Essays - Modern Art, Art Movements

Modernist Art In Europe Herbert Herbert's thesis of his essay is to investigate the arrival of the machine and modern art and its complexities. During WWI, modernist painting and sculpture paid major attention to machinery, science and industry. Modern art during that time has become a central factor in our culture due to its dominance in public art, museums, media and literature. Herbert brings in background information and stated the avant-garde of Pisarro, van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, etc. The industrial revolution had a stronger grip on society during the 19th century, and during this time, modern art was associated with primitive nature. During the rise of industrial art their was a rise of landscapes and paintings of rural everyday life. Also, the new technique and style which became the handcraft to modern art was so avant-garde from the academic art. Modern art was involved with cubism, futurism and vorticism. He explains that all of these arts consisted of the importance of handcraft, creativity, individuality, and original expression. Herbert keeps bringing in the fact the machine was the leading sign of modernity. There was no more of a gap between handwork and the machine. Also, that the machine became so important in modern art because it was now a part of daily urban life, due to subways, telephones, automobiles, sewing machines, bicycles, televisions, cinema, and more advanced photographic and advertising developments. Herbert states that although the machine became a large factor in art that it was not incorporated in the work of all modernists, such as Picasso and Braque. The author then describes the modern art in epic cubism, and how it focused on geometric architecture and structures of mechanical parts with organic rhythm of daily life. And how Italian futurism dealt with modern city life, but with more immediacy, more implied movement. It was similar to cubist but with more calculations. The cubo-futurists in Russia combined machinery with modernity but did not require the latest industrial form. The Russian Revolution of 1917 led to the adoption of the abstract language. Artists were now considered constructor-inventor because they gave engineering a new creative form. But in France there was no equivalence to Bauhaus or the Constructivists' schooling. The new artistic energies came from the vanguard. Its government did not want radical change. There was the vanguard embrace of modern industry with aesthetic clarity which is related to French culture. Herbert concludes that in modern art there was a very close relationship between art and industry which considering history was avant-garde for its time. I felt that this essay was very clear and to the point. I found it easy to read and somewhat enjoyable. Although I wasn't too sure of Herbert's main thesis I found his essay interesting.

English Architecture During Medeival Times essays

English Architecture During Medeival Times essays English Architecture During Medieval Times Architecture is the practice of building design and the technology applied in constructing a building. Medieval or, English architecture is very appealing in the variety of castles and cathedrals throughout England. Each structure has its own feature and aspects in reflecting the Gothic style of architecture. English architecture is based on the Gothic principal of architecture that has designed the vast castles and cathedrals from early to the late Gothic structures. The most popular form of architecture in England, early Gothic style is referred to as the Bay Design. This design consisted of simply a large building and a collection of different bays throughout the span. The building consisted of a single roof, one central ridge with two planes of rafters. This Medieval form is called a single span. (Braun 91) The most important feature in English architectural punctuation consists of buttresses, broad pilasters to form a sound system for the structure. The buttresses were slender strips employed by architects that supported the main walls. Broad pilasters added great dignity to the wall surfaces and were stepped in place at various angles of the building to propose a sturdier forum. ( Braun 99 ) During the 14th and 15th centuries advanced roofing technology enabled the spans of buildings t be increased. ( Braun 98 ) this meant that enormous cathedrals and castles could be constructed and still retain the strength of smaller structures. The large galleried churches of the tenth through the twelfth centuries were scientifically designed to have many windows to light the gallery floor. By the early Gothic period the row of rounded windows was accepted for being the main principle for lighting. The early Gothic or bay unit design was merely the popular design chosen throughout the early Gothic times in England. The Gothic form of architecture was developed upon th...

How to Make Metamucil Flubber (Recipe)

How to Make Metamucil Flubber (Recipe) This recipe makes the non-sticky sort of rubber or gelatinous slime that is known as flubber. The difficulty is average, but only takes about 15 minutes! Flubber Slime Ingredients 1 teaspoon Metamucil or similar soluble fiber8 ounces watermicrowave-safe bowlmicrowave ovenfood coloring (optional) How To Make Metamucil Flubber Mix 1 teaspoon of Metamucil with 1 cup (8 ounces) of water in a microwaveable bowl. You can add a drop or two of food coloring if you wish. Alternatively, you could add a little powdered drink mix or flavored gelatin to get color/flavor.Place bowl in the microwave and nuke on high for 4-5 minutes (actual time depends on microwave power) or until the goo is about to bubble out of the bowl. Turn off the microwave.Let the mixture cool slightly, then repeat step 3 (microwave until about to overflow). The more times this step is repeated the more rubbery the substance will become. The purpose of the cooling step is to check the consistency of the slime and prevent it from overflowing the container.After 5-6 microwave runs, (carefully - hot hot HOT) pour the flubber onto a plate or cookie sheet. A spoon can be used to spread it out.Allow to cool. There you have it! Non-stick flubber. A knife or cookie cutters may be used to cut the flubber into interesting shapes. The shapes will slowly me lt as the slime flows. Flubber can be stored at room temperature in a sealed baggie for several months. It will last indefinitely in a sealed bag in the refrigerator. Useful Tips If the flubber is sticky then the amount of water needs to be reduced. It should be clammy, but not sticky. Use less water next time.Please use adult supervision. Molten fluids and microwaves are involved!

Campus Safety and Alcohol Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Campus Safety and Alcohol - Essay Example They have known that alcohol use rates are very high among college students. Two of every five American college student are heavy drinkers of alcohol. In this study also they found out that male are heavy drinkers than female. White students are on the highest number while black is the lowest and Hispanics are intermediate. With this data it is very alarming to think about their safeness in campus (O'Molley, PhD & Johnston, PhD, 2005). An examination of the collective data compiled and published annually by the Chronicle of Higher Education suggests that patterns of crime on campus are similar to crime across the United States. Violent crime reports increased and property crime decreased. The number of murders fell from 17 in 1992 to 15 in 1993. The number of arrests for liquor increased suggesting increased law enforcement attention to these violations (Hoover, 2001). What are the effects of alcohol that influences our (students) acts Alcohol is organic substances derived from aliphatic hydrocarbon by the substitution of one or more Hydroxyl groups, OH, for the same number of hydrogen atoms. There are different kinds of alcohol and the kind that is considered drinkable is Ethyl alcohol. This has been known to be fermented from grape juice even in the earliest time (Universal Encyclopedia, 1996). An alcohol is rapidly absorbed by the stomach and small intestine. IT appears in the blood in five minutes and reaches its maximum concentration in two hours. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. It acts at many sites, including the reticular formation, spinal cord, cerebellum and cerebral cortex, and on many neurotransmitter systems. Alcohol is a very small molecule and is soluble in "lipid" and water solutions. Because of these properties, alcohol gets into the bloodstream very easily and also crosses the blood brain barrier. With this effect there will be a late response to our impulses and the drinker will be poor upon thinking straight. Here is a table that tallies the effect of alcohol (http://staff.washington.edu/chudler/alco.html, 2006). : In low doses, alcohol produces: a relaxing effect reduces tension lowers inhibitions impairs concentration slows reflexes impairs reaction time reduces coordination In medium doses, alcohol produces: slur speech cause drowsiness alter emotions In high doses, alcohol produces: vomiting breathing difficulties unconsciousness coma This research conducted a survey about campus safeness and alcohol. Below are tables that present the results (class and the researcher's result): Class results Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8 Q9 Hours Q10 a 6% 15% 33% 42% 9% 34% 17% 27% 32% 0 2% b 22% 29% 7% 50% 38% 40% 42% 40% 42% 1-3 9% c 47% 29% 44% 4% 47% 16% 22% 20% 19% 4-6 36% d 25% 27% 8% 4% 4% 9% 20% 11% 5% 7-9 16% e 0% 0% 8% 0% 1% 1% 0% 1% 1% 10-14 24% 15>= 13% Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% Total 100% Record shows that a 50 percent says that they are reasonably safe in the campus while there are only 4 percent say not really. 40 percent also of the population said that they have to work 1-3 blocks from car to their classes. The table also showed that there are 42 percent of the students said that they drink alcohol 1-2 per week. This table will serve as the standard and bases for the results of the researcher's survey in the class. We will compare the results and analyze the difference and trends. Researcher's

Final Exam Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Final Exam - Assignment Example The number of women will be set as a percentage of the total number of employees. To ensure that there is no salary discrimination, Boeing should adopt a policy of paying their staff depending on their experience and expertise, rather than based on their gender or race. Organizational culture is the accepted way of â€Å"thinking, feeling and acting† in an organization (Bechrast 2). It then follows that ethical organizational culture is the accepted way of thinking, feeling and acting in an organization when it comes to ethics. From this article, it is obvious that discrimination based on gender is a form of organizational culture in Boeing. This is a negative and repressive organizational culture since it leads to the suffering of other people in the organization. The fact that 60% of female employees in Boeing took part in this lawsuit is an indication that this culture is deeply rooted in this organization. In setting the price for the rooms, food and tickets to attend a Notre Dame game, there are several moral and ethical considerations that have to be made. The first is discrimination. By increasing their prices for these facilities when there are games taking place, these business men are discriminating against people who cannot afford such kind of spending. It is only the rich who then get to attend the games and stay in the best hotels. As such, there is no accessibility to these services as a result of their pricing. There is also the issue of price fixing. The owners of businesses collude every time there is a game so that they can fix the prices that they will charge. The consumer has no choice but to pay these prices. Abdication can be defined as the act of abandoning a position of power or responsibility (Bechrast 3). Moral abdication then is the act of abandoning all moral obligations or responsibilities as one embarks on an activity. It is without doubt that charging exorbitant prices is â€Å"an

Game and Football Team Bonds Essay Example for Free

Game and Football Team Bonds Essay It’s the most fun, most competitive, team-oriented sport in the earth. We do anything to win a game. Ladies love us guys want to be us. Everybody loves the game, people are always playing it, and it is the soul of the universe. When you put on the pads, lace up the spikes, and buckle your helmet you walk onto the field with a swagger and nothing else matters. You will forget if you failed a test, fought with a friend, or lost some money. Football is the sport I love the most because of three things. The bond on a football team is like no other sport. Another reason is the hardwood and dedication you put in. Lastly why I play football is to win it all The way a football team bonds with each other over the summer and overnight camps is unbelievable. We don’t all hang out with each other on the weekends, but on Saturdays we are a family. If your team wants to be successful you have to trust that the 10 other players on the field will do their job each and every play. Unlike in most sports you need more than one great player on a team, in fact I’d rather have a team with a bunch of good players. Than have a team with just one or two amazing players. Why do we run back and forth day after day? Hitting and running so hard we ache everywhere. Pushing it so hard we listen to our hearts beat rings in our head, while our lungs desperately gasp for air. Early mornings, late nights, Saturdays and Sundays, an endless amount of pain, deep bruises, broken bones, and torn muscles and ligaments. We hustle thru it all, because we live off our adrenaline, because the game frees your soul, because the party after the big win is spectacular, because you are invincible once you step onto the field. A big play could make you smile all day long and the next day as you joke about it with friends. The rattling of the crowd, the feel of the ball, the image of the spikes in the dirt, it’s a glory to live by. Because it is possible to hustle hard enough you can leave your worries behind. Sweat is the cologne of our accomplishments, Why should anyone push themselves so hard? It’s not for the money, it’s not for the girls, it’s not for bragging rights, and it’s not for the fame. We do it because we love it. And we love the feel of victory. There’s nothing better than after of working your butt of for 3 hours than walking off the field held high. The satisfaction knowing all those sprints and hills you do during the weak all paid off. The feeling that you can’t explain when you beat your cross town rivals knowing you just earned bragging rights for the year. The feeling that you were champions is the one feeling that I am missing I we were won win away from feeling that. But I am going to work hard, so next year I will finally feel what it’s like to be a champion. Why I love the game of football because not everyone can play it. You might be able to play two hand touch with your friends, but can you take the beating? That’s the question. Fans’ cheering you on as the fourth quarter is coming to an end in a close game. The greatest game to be played if football, everyone wants to be like us, but fail when they try.

EhlersDanlos Syndrome :: essays papers

EhlersDanlos Syndrome Ehlers-Danlos sydrome (EDS) is a rare inherited group of connective tissue disorders characterized by defects of the major structural protein in the body (collagen). Collagen is a tough fibrous protein that plays an essential role in binding, holding together, strengthening, and providing elasticity to bodily cells and tissues. There are six major types of EDS that I will discuss, however I will only go into detailed discussion on two of the six types of EDS. The two major types of EDS are Classical EDS and Hypermobile EDS. These two types make up 90% of all EDS cases. I will discuss the general symptoms of these two types along with pathology, then diagnostic factors, and the different treatments for this disorder (Smith). EDS can vary in severity and are transmitted as autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant, or X-linked recessive traits. The primary characteristics are hyperextensible skin and joints (Dia. 1-2, pg.6), tendency to bruise easily (Dia. 3, pg.6), reduced wound healing capability, pseudotumors, and ocular defects. Differences within the six types may reflect inter/intra familial variability or genetic heterogeneity. Each type of EDS is classified symptoms and signs that are resulted (Clarke, D., Skrocki-Czerpak, K., Neumann-Potash, L). There are approximately six types of EDS that have been distinguished but other types exist that are very uncommon. Classical, Hypermobile, Vascular, Kyphoscoliosis, Arthrochalasia, and Dermatosparaxis. Classical and Hypermobile make up over 90% of all reported cases of EDS. With the Classical type of EDS a person would have hyperextensible (stretchy) skin with widened atrophic scars and joint hypermobility. The skin is smooth and velvety with tissue fragility and easy brusability. Also evident are molluscoid pseudotumors (fleshy lesions associated with scars) frequently found over pressure points (e.g. elbows) and subcutaneous spheroids, which are commonly mobile and palpable on the forearms and shins. Complications of joint hypemobility include sprains, dislocation are common in the shoulder, patella and temporomandibular joints Muscle hypotonia and slower gross motor development also can occur It is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner (Clarke, D., Skrocki-Czerpak, K., Neuman n-Potash, L.). In the Hypermobile type of EDS the joints of the body experience Hypermobility, which is the dominant clinical manifestation. General joint hypermobility affects large (elbows, knees) and small (fingers and toes) joints are evident. Skin is hyperextensible, smooth/velvety, and bruising occurs easily as well. Reoccurring joint dislocations are common, and joints such as shoulder, patella, and temporomandibular joint dislocate frequently. Chronic joint and limb pain is a common amongst individuals with Hypermobile type EDS. EhlersDanlos Syndrome :: essays papers EhlersDanlos Syndrome Ehlers-Danlos sydrome (EDS) is a rare inherited group of connective tissue disorders characterized by defects of the major structural protein in the body (collagen). Collagen is a tough fibrous protein that plays an essential role in binding, holding together, strengthening, and providing elasticity to bodily cells and tissues. There are six major types of EDS that I will discuss, however I will only go into detailed discussion on two of the six types of EDS. The two major types of EDS are Classical EDS and Hypermobile EDS. These two types make up 90% of all EDS cases. I will discuss the general symptoms of these two types along with pathology, then diagnostic factors, and the different treatments for this disorder (Smith). EDS can vary in severity and are transmitted as autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant, or X-linked recessive traits. The primary characteristics are hyperextensible skin and joints (Dia. 1-2, pg.6), tendency to bruise easily (Dia. 3, pg.6), reduced wound healing capability, pseudotumors, and ocular defects. Differences within the six types may reflect inter/intra familial variability or genetic heterogeneity. Each type of EDS is classified symptoms and signs that are resulted (Clarke, D., Skrocki-Czerpak, K., Neumann-Potash, L). There are approximately six types of EDS that have been distinguished but other types exist that are very uncommon. Classical, Hypermobile, Vascular, Kyphoscoliosis, Arthrochalasia, and Dermatosparaxis. Classical and Hypermobile make up over 90% of all reported cases of EDS. With the Classical type of EDS a person would have hyperextensible (stretchy) skin with widened atrophic scars and joint hypermobility. The skin is smooth and velvety with tissue fragility and easy brusability. Also evident are molluscoid pseudotumors (fleshy lesions associated with scars) frequently found over pressure points (e.g. elbows) and subcutaneous spheroids, which are commonly mobile and palpable on the forearms and shins. Complications of joint hypemobility include sprains, dislocation are common in the shoulder, patella and temporomandibular joints Muscle hypotonia and slower gross motor development also can occur It is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner (Clarke, D., Skrocki-Czerpak, K., Neuman n-Potash, L.). In the Hypermobile type of EDS the joints of the body experience Hypermobility, which is the dominant clinical manifestation. General joint hypermobility affects large (elbows, knees) and small (fingers and toes) joints are evident. Skin is hyperextensible, smooth/velvety, and bruising occurs easily as well. Reoccurring joint dislocations are common, and joints such as shoulder, patella, and temporomandibular joint dislocate frequently. Chronic joint and limb pain is a common amongst individuals with Hypermobile type EDS.

E Books and Traditional Books Essay

Throughout history of people, writing is the most significant way of communication and knowledge sharing. Human written on the walls and stones in the beginning. After that papers took the place of walls and stones. At the present time, thanks to technological advancement, lettering can write on electronic devices that called as e-books. This situation causes argument between e-book and paper book. It is argued that e-books will take the place of paper books in the future; in spite of benefits of e-books people should paper books, since it causes negative results such as physical sickness on human body, being less interactive and being easily copied. It is claimed that e-books can be read anywhere such as on the bus, in a cafe, subway, airplanes thanks to computer and smart phones; however this advantages result in physical sickness on human body. Computers and smart phones can have hundred of e-books in their memories. For this reason their using areas increasing day to day. Nevertheless this situation is not suitable in terms of human health. Because of making heavy weather of electronic devices for instance looking at screen for a long time, some disorders observable such as eye strain and headaches. Furthermore, due to screen resolution lower than paper, reading on e-books is more difficult. It is clear that e-books devices are harmful for human body. Another frequently heard arguments in favour of e-books is based on thanks to e-books nature is protected, however electronic books without paper less interactive. It stated that forests are destroyed for paper. Therefore e-books are appearing like eco-friend. Nonetheless only old and broken trees are cut to produce paper. In addition, electronic books are lower interaction between reader and writer. As Stokes states e-books are make it difficult to easily mark them up via underlining, highlighting and marginal notes (n. d). In briefly, paper books should be preferred in terms of interaction. Although it is argued that e- books are more available in global world and they are more economic, they are make it difficult to duplicate. It is often maintained that when you have a laptop and wireless internet connection, you can download all of books. Besides cost of e-books are lower than printed versions due to no printing expenses. However, e-books can be downloaded and shared via internet. Thanks to computer and smart phones, e-books are copied without difficult. Besides e-books can be easily hacked,stolen,lost on the internet without approval from the author or publisher. It is indicated in Wikipedia, duplicating of paper books in an amateur printing press is more difficult. To sum up, traditional books should be prefer by readers because they are more interactive, more reliable for preventing to copy and they do not have physical sickness on human body. Even if electronic devices are improved rapidly, none of them can not give friendliness and paper smell of traditional books to readers. They might be our closed friend whatever our age.

Individualism vs Conformity

Individualism vs. Conformity The lives of human beings are centered around the thin blue line that separates conformity and individuality. Many times one is confused and rushed, and this line is drawn too short or too long, thus being too much of a conformist or an individual. The â€Å"individual,† in the American conception, is an independent and inventive agent, relatively autonomous and morally responsible to him or herself.A widespread of specific propositions concerning â€Å"human nature† was derived from this ethnocentric premise. While these cultural propositions are still maintained, at least on the ideal level, in reality a considerable degree of dependency and conformity has developed. Conformity is, in a sense, the remedy for isolation. In the opinion of many Americans, this trend threatens standards of individualism by personal property and product, decisions amongst American youth, and conformity as a whole.First and foremost since the beginning of time, men and women were ideally allowed to voice disagreement with the decisions and practices of the authorities, they were expected to choose the occupation of their preference and be self-supporting, and encouraged to follow their own convictions and beliefs. A number of regulations have been introduced, presumably guaranteeing security and consistency of economic well-being for all Americans; these include, for example, Social Security, Medicare, and other similar measures.However, claims are made that freedom is no longer clearly tied to a social system of private property and passive government. Aside from human property there is human production. In the industrial realm, modern technology and its efficiency have resulted in establishing norms and standards for production as well as consumption. Efficiency and expediency has always been of fascination to outside observers. In the course of this growing industrial efficiency and expediency, individualistic and creative participation in the production process has become greatly reduced for the vast majority of employees.There is even a question whether the product itself meets standards of individuality and uniqueness, since it has been mass-produced and is designed to suit the tastes of thousands of people. Secondly, American youth, on one hand, are brought up in the knowledge of American history, which includes many well-known and glorified examples of individualism and are encouraged to practice this â€Å"truly American† trait. On the other hand, however, American youth are constantly challenged to conform to national and patriotic standards requiring high degrees of conformity to majority opinion.There is a widespread public opinion which perceives an expression of independent individual thinking and believing but as subversive and â€Å"un-American† conduct. One is inclined to conclude that the original individualism is now at war with a strong emphasis on conformity. It appears then that th ere is a serious discrepancy between the American ideal of â€Å"rugged individualism† and its actual implementation. A teenager has to learn carefully that this blueprint for American individualism is not generalizable and that there are definite areas of limitations and prohibitions.The fact of non-generalizability destroys the simplicity and predictability of always responding in identical or similar ways, thereby complicating the learning process and rendering the behavioral blueprint. Conformity is some sort of a psychological shelter. If one does not know what to do and are scared, it is natural to follow the steps of others so that eventually one can find a group to take shelter in. Conformity is essential to life. Humans, being complex animals, live in a society that functions as a whole.If there is a mistake, the entire system may crumble. So, they are obligated to pay taxes and respect the law so that they can stay together as a whole. Conformity is perfectly natura l. Everyone naturally wants to belong to something bigger. They naturally want to be accepted by others. However, in modern terms this acceptance can only be obtained by going further than natural conformity and stepping into popular conformity. At that certain stage Americans tend to follow the same trends in style and personal taste, whether it is music, movies, or even morals.In conclusion, individuality, like conformity, is essential to life even though modern society may not appreciate its value. At one point Americans want to be different from all the rest in one way or another. So one might dress a bit differently and choose to do things that intrigue one another. And, for once, individuals might form our opinions based on what they really feel. However, sooner or later Americans are forced to curb their spontaneous desires so that society does not label everyone as eccentric or weird.Modern life is confusing, so sometimes the vision is blurred and the choices, made in the mi dst of confusion, may force people in extreme directions of either conformity or individuality. Many Americans may follow everyone in everything they do, or may so much of an individual that they become somewhat of a hermit. Yet the trends that threaten standards of individualism by personal property and product, decisions amongst American youth, and conformity as a whole may show a sign of weakness. However, conformity may dominate the lives of Americans, but there is always the chance to make a mark, to become more of an individual than a clone.

buy custom Date Humor and Leadership Style essay

buy custom Date Humor and Leadership Style essay The augmentation of constructive psychology throughout the latest years signifies a move from the precedent unconstructive sequence to the present optimistic psychological and fitness-focused aspects. Observations on humor are amongst them. Humor is a multi-faceted and compound notion that is generally functional in psychology, learning and collective communication. It is deemed to hold the similar notion as positive individual attributes, for instance, hopefulness, faith and bravery. It adds the enjoyment to our everyday life, aids people to cope with tension and supports individual charm and interpersonal connection. Nonetheless, research on humor is rarely implemented at the workplace and problems as mental strength of employees, office acquaintance or organizational behavior, leadership pattern, organizational culture, performance and novelty are infrequently looked at. In truth, the impact of humor on private psychological condition can be broadened to the group. Avolio et al. ( 219) showed that humor was an essential feature and furthermore, the capability of leaders. Leaders continually convey this characteristic to alter their assistants and adherents. The humorous and stirring headship, escapes from doctrinal and reinforces followers with more freedom, via appealing and inspirational interactive conduct for the definitive aim of attaining organizational targets and improving leadership efficiency. Dwight D. Eisenhower stated that A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done. Workplace communication is basically related to verbal and written contact, and for those concerned in leadership ranks, verbal communication evidently prevails. In line with one study, leaders regularly spend between 60%-90% of their time in head to head communication, and between 30%-60% of their time conversing with their followers in the workplace. Clouse and Spurgeon (1-24) stated that humor is a priceless way of attaining transactional plus relational leadership purposes, and others identify the importance of humor with reference to analytical, administrative, and intervening variances. Furthermore, humor encourages a vigorous exchange of thoughts, however might as well operates to 'bring people back into line', and to assist in controlling subsidiaries' behavior. Rus (922) mentioned that at the heart of the leaders of law implementation groups achievement, is the capacity to inspire workers to perform. Whilst some may visualize such impact in terms of power, vigor, supremacy, and control, it can also be slight. Certainly, any chief can employ their executive status inside of a division or a group to acquire deed from the staff. But, the most flourishing leaders employ their personal traits to encourage their employees. Rus (922) argues leadership as an Art, noting that successful leaders are those who take advantage of their individual vigor to persuade others and accomplish results, time after time, even when they progress from one task into a different one. Staff is attentive and reacts to them. As numerous workers endeavor superiority at work by character, most outshine, since the companys leaders generate an encouraging ambience, which involves eminent interactions with friends, subsidiaries, and superiors. For leaders at workplace, humorous headship might not be the chief decisive factor for business achievement; however it is exceedingly imperative for structuring an efficient and effective team that possesses superior excellence. Conger considered that recurrent application of humor by leaders at workplace was a successful approach to motivate or re-establish confidence. Davis and Kleiner (1) also suggested that leaders could attain three considerable upshots via the usage of humor, namely; 1) decreased stress at work; 2) assisted subordinates in recognizing leaders managing patterns through the contact amongst them, and; 3) enthused subordinates or adherents. Likewise, Craumer (3) also deemed that leaders could aid subordinates in adapting to one another and alleviate the pressure and stress among them, through the implementation of humor. This reveals the vital connection task that humor deploys in workplace communications. In addition to determining the discomfiture ensuing from d iverse standpoints, it helps preserve high-quality interpersonal association among team members and heighten the partner caring and respect. For leaders themselves, humor, moreover, signifies a positive outlook to help them cope with hardships effectively without being overpowered. Avolio et al. (219) carried out an experiential scrutiny on the link between leadership and humor. Surveys were handed out to 120 leaders and 320 subordinates within a big Canadian monetary organization. The intent of the research was to weigh the impact of humor against leadership performance in distinct leadership methods, to embrace transformational, conditional reward, and unautocratic leadership approaches. They evaluated the rate of the leaders employment of humor, and connected their result with members success. Outcomes point to distinctions in a variety of leadership styles with regard to the leaders exploitation of humor and subordinates efficiency. A quantitative breakdown demonstrates that transactional leadership is absolutely associated with the utilization of humor and to subordinates presentation. Contingent incentive leadership explains a constructive relationship, just for the use of humor, except that it is unconstructively linked to subordinates performance. Liber al leadership, conversely, is negatively correlated with humor and followers performance simultaneously. These results are sustained by Decker and Rotondo (451) who examined 359 questionnaires from graduates of a management academy. Similar to Avolio et al., they too, discovered that humor improves leadership effectiveness. Specifically, it initiated augmented views of complimentary assignments and relational activities, and was professed as comprising an encouraging consequence on the leaders efficacy. Harry Truman once stated that Anyone who has had the job Ive had and didnt have a sense of humor wouldnt still be here. To the degree that a group lauds humor, its successful exploitation can contribute to an individuals standing or reputation. Not all worklaces support humor, yet, and at times the workplace comic is perceived as troublesome, and turns out to be the attention of displeasure. Alternatively, humor can provide the individual with a practical self-protection or managing plan. Humor can as well be a way of self-discovery, mainly of hard or awkward information. To reach out a thriving usage of managerial humor Dewitte and Verguts (17) suggested three categories of jokes. Set one jokes is unsuccessful in drawing out a funny reaction (e.g. laughter) founded on an unexciting premise. For instance, a little child saying a joke to a grown-up would be improbable to bring out a laugh. Set two jokes are effective because they implement the true equilibrium between originality and tolerable content which bring out laughter or new forms of humorous reaction, whether cognitive or expressive. Set three jokes dont succeed in generating humorous reaction, for they are excessively ridiculous or unpleasant. A person might try to use effective organizational humor related to purpose and opinion. Successful employment of humor in groups is related not only to category number two humor tries, founded upon comprehending the individual, but as well upon endeavors being taken as humorous by all the groups constituents. At its utmost, collective humor leads to a feeling of pleasure that derives not from producing it, but from distributing it. Carrica stated that lots of academics have acknowledged the significant forthcoming function that humor takes within groups. For instance, Carrica noted that humor is an instrument by which social players try to attain purposeful finishes. Foot proposed that, functionally, there are little new practical social talents than humor. If Foot is accurate, then it is necessary for leaders and managers to acquire how to integrate humor into their selection of communication aptitudes. Bob Ross supported the idea that A leader without a sense of humor is apt to be like the grass mower at the cemetery he has lots of people under him, but nobody is paying him any attention. Every management communication action represents both a duty and a social facet. The useful viewpoint of leadership communication deals with task and social conducts that assist organizations to operate more successfully and proficiently. This practical perception has also been implemented to the usage of humor as a model of communication. Though some have proposed that humorousness is merely a decisive feature of leaders, others have accentuated the useful role of humor. For instance, Benne and Sheats (30) depicted joking as one of the attitudes pinpointing to the corresponding role of group maintenance. Benne and Sheats (30) noted the significance of humor as a leadership function to facilitate the reduction of tensions among group associates. Evidently, humor is an indispensable factor to leaders communication preference. As a way into social power, humor may operate as strength to convey agreement or censure of acts, chiefly disapproval of group norms infringements. By entertainingly providing an instance of unsuitable behavior, humor can be exploited not only to direct behavior, but as well to highlight group values and ethics. It is discovered that humor brought about a social weight on employees to obey the rules inspired employees who were not abiding by work codes. Plenty of research has inspected the role of humor in increasing consistency among group affiliates. As such, Benne and Sheats (30) proposed that humor might develop self-confidence by reducing social space of group members, by preventing clash, and by supplying familiar basis. They also discovered that persons resort to humor as an implication of support or fondness, and as means to offer new members, a feeling of comfort in the working environment. Pogrebin and Poole (183) offered three roles of humor that function to put up and uphold group unity. Foremost, humor permits group associates to allocate general experiences and to explore the attitudes, views, and feelings of other group members in a non-intimidating style. Humor helps interpret a persons worry into a group matter, hence strengthening group cohesion. Next, humor encourages social harmony through the joint joking which permits group members to understand that they share a joint perception. This "laughter of inclusion," in addition to humor intended for people outside the set, helps identify social limitations. Third, groups employ humor as a way of communication plan in handling a variety of forces outside their direct power. For instance, "gallows humor" permits group members to laugh at their troubles, representing society and empowering group solidity. Group members exploit humor to convey understanding with each other's affections and to tolerate emotional isolation from a theme by controlling unusual circumstances. Romero and Cruthirds (58) study suggested that there are diverse humor patterns to involve affiliative humor, self-enhancing humor, hostile humor, mild aggressive humor, and self-defeating humor. Those who apply affiliative humor jokes with others draw them with styles of humor that stresses on improving social communications. Affiliative humor resembles social oil that eases up interpersonal relations and produces an optimistic environment. People with self-enhancing humor have a funny perception of life and are not excessively concerned by its foreseeable misfortunes. Individuals, who use aggressive humor, regularly try to control others by indirect warnings of mockery. Aggressive humor can be employed to oppress, demean and induce other kinds of belittling. Romero and Cruthirds (58) consider that easygoing aggressive humor can have constructive roles. For instance, their study has determined that viewing other members being laughed at is associated with compliant attitudes, which is positive in unified teams. It moreover tolerates expression of difference and trouble, without unconstructive distress, while the meaning is sent in a teasing manner. People, who develop self-defeating humor, mock themselves in an effort to entertain and they look for recognition of others. People, who utilize a reasonable quantity of this humor pattern in organizations frequently aspire to diminish their standing level, and try to be more sociable. In proportion to Brook, it is evident that humor decreases dysfunctional strain. When creating a jokee on a nerve-racking condition, one grows a feeling of supremacy and authority over it. Humor drives people to sense that they are brave; without panic, they undergo a bigger sense of power, which is contrary to tense emotions. This state has been demonstrated countless times in movies, in which personalities encounter a lethal conclusion, and fool about their definite downfall (e.g., James Bond). The humor models recognized previously by Romero and Cruthirds (58) as affilative humor and self-enhancing humor were suggested to be the best approaches to cut strain in groups and organizations based on their study. As they stated, affiliative humor may be executed within a collection to alleviate worry ensuing from demanding occasions, since it crafts a shared environment, in order that anxiety-causing variables are joint, and are handled by all affiliates, so that it brings about a we are in this together state of mind, which is positive when reacting to tension. Self-enhancing humor can be predominantly advantageous in cutting down stress, revealing that persons with an elevated sense of humor were more prone to restructure stressful conditions, so that they were viewed as controllable. George Bernard Shaw stated that If you are going to tell people the truth, youd better make them laugh. Otherwise theyll kill you. For the last several years, people have deemed humor for a dependable individual attribute (Martin et al 75). In fact, the meaning of humor in western civilization was unconstructive at first, and slowly turned constructive. At one time, it was perceived that humor was a multi-faceted model that embraced lampoons, jokes, wits and irony, amongst additional unconstructive attitudes. Conversely, more than a few research also discovered an incoherent affiliation between humor and psychological wellbeing or reaction to strain. For instance, Crawford scrutinized and revealed that people with a significant sense of humor, were not constantly with less bodily infections and symptoms. Brooks discovered that individuals with a high sense of humor were not regularly providing more affirmative feelings. Neither were they more hopeful, self-accommodating and more in authority of the outside world. Martin et al (75) found that individuals with a high sense of humor do not always exhibit higher int erpersonal closeness and an adequate interpersonal bond. Consequently, amongst the distinct humor approaches, there may be some that are harmful for physical and psychological health, and can yet be unsafe and damaging to oneself and others. Affiliative humor Affiliative humor is a constructive humor model in support of others. This is a kind of non-aggressive humor. Affiliative humor highlights social relations. It represents a lubricant that can simply facilitate interpersonal weirdness and edginess and encourageeagerness into social events. Likewise, this model ofhumor comprises a positive association with self-worth, optimism, and a positive mood; it is unconstructively connected with tenseness and anxiety. Self-enhancing humor Self-enhancing humor is a constructive humor approach in support of oneself. These people possess a humorous outlook toward their existence. Whenever they cope with strain or complexity, they motivate themselves by humor and preserve their affirmative consciousness. It is an emotion-adaptable or receptive defense method. Self-enhancing humor is frequently in a constructive association with self-worth, hopefulness and positive temper; it is an unenthusiastic association with anxiety and apprehension (Martin et al 75). This type of humor deals with strengthening ones self-assurance. Aggressive humor It is an unconstructive humor model, and it is harmful to others. This is detrimental humor founded on the dominance conjecture that the spokesman is superior to the others. It combines humor with mockery, irony and jeer, and it is disparaging to the addressees. According to Martin et al.s observation, aggressive humor is absolutely affiliated with unfriendliness, aggression, and tenseness, however still to be investigated whether it has a downbeat outcome on the physical and mental health of people (Martin et al 75). Implementing aggressive humor in an organization is intended to maneuver or regulate team associates via one's feeling of dominance. Self-defeating humor It is an unconstructive humor approach, and is detrimental to oneself. Martin et al. (75) proposed that this was harmful humor as well. The speaker seems to be over disparaging to himself/herself in order to make an impact on others. This is an unselfish defense method that is likely to conceal negative emotions ahead of conflicts, throughout humor. This kind of humor is frequently optimistically interrelated with melancholy and anxiety, and negatively interrelated with self-esteem, contentment and social support fulfillment (Martin et al 75). Activating self-defeating humor in an organization is intended to follow everyone, and get consent from others. Crawford considered that humor is a significant facet of manger-follower relations. Directors that employ humor aptly are deemed by their workers as being more relationship-focused. Results in the academic literature are balanced by a surplus of articles in the accepted journalism, which praise the premises of humor for strengthening affiliations, and are also confirmed by numerous examples of eccentric, yet efficient leaders who have tied together the influence of humor, to assemble bonds with their workers. In accordance with Holmes (119), leaders employ a number of discursive agendas in order to incorporate lots of diverse facets of successful contact in their daily relations. In several workplaces, humor is one of these stratagems: humor is an apparent way of attaining relational action and generates a priceless route of engaging various features of successful control. Humor at some degree, is aimed to entertain at all times, and however also achieves a broad spectrum of further objectives. Research performed by Hay, evaluated discussions among friends and defined three inclusive-functions of humor: (1) to accentuate strength differences; (2) to create or preserve unity within the organization; (3) to supply self-preservation, namely, humor employed in self-protection. Buy custom Date Humor and Leadership Style essay

Words with the Suffixes -ance and -ence

Words with the Suffixes -ance and -ence Words with the Suffixes -ance and -ence Words with the Suffixes -ance and -ence By Maeve Maddox One of our readers asks if there is a rule for knowing when to write ence and when to write ance at the ends of words such as: affluence, eloquence, essence, influence, insurgence and ambulance, clairvoyance, finance, ignorance, nuisance In a priority list for English spelling reform, the spellings ence and ance, ent and ant, surely deserve a place near the top. Both ance and ence derive ultimately from Latin endings spelled entia and antia. Before the Sixteenth Century when English scholars busied themselves trying to make English spelling and grammar conform to the logic of Latin, some words that had already entered the language spelled with -ance were altered to ence. NOTE: The silent b came into the word debt at this time. In Middle English the word was usually spelled det or dette, rarely debte. The reforming scholars decided that since the word came from Latin debitum, it needed the b. As for knowing when to write -ence and when to write -ance, I believe that this is a case in which observation and practice offer the best solution. A spell checker can also help. A website called Everything2 formulates several rules for the ence/-ance, -ent/-ant spellings, but the multiplicity of rules and exceptions would seem to demand more mental exertion than simply memorizing the words one has trouble with. I was taught to attach what my teacher called a spelling pronunciation to words that do not sound the way they are spelled. For example, I have no trouble spelling chihuahua because I think /chI hoo-a hoo-a/. The same goes for words in ence and ance, ent and ant. I look at the word and emphasize the ending in my head: de fen DANT, prev a LENT. Do this often enough and the correct spelling will enter your long term memory. CAUTION: Some danger may attach to the use of mental spelling pronunciations: they may slip into your speech. Ive heard more than one TV lawyer pronounce /de fen dent/ as /de fen DANT/. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Mostly Small But Expressive InterjectionsTen Yiddish Expressions You Should KnowInspiring vs. Inspirational

The importance of creativity in children's development Essay

The importance of creativity in children's development - Essay Example This building process is an ongoing, continuous and dynamic process. The progress is a directional step towards increasing autonomy of an individual from dependency. These transformational changes are strongly influenced by genetically determined factors like overall growth, changes in proportion of body and brain parts, and mellowing certain tasks like vision and dietary needs. The specific characteristics occur in a particular sequence and within a specific period. The developmental process can be boosted or nurtured by manipulating various events during early childhood, and physical, social, cultural, learning and emotional areas through environmental stimuli (Ashford et al., 2001). The developmental domains should be gazed and grasped carefully to understand the overall growth of the child. This helps in unfolding abilities of each child. Then, accordingly efforts should be made so that, the child is encouraged to learn and evolve. Bringing together all the development aspects, l ead to flowering of a child. Holistic development of the child is the integrated approach of nurturing child’s all round developmental progress. Nature emphasises on the innate or inborn characteristics of human being based on the concept of the biology. Nurture emphasises on the modifying the innate features by various environmental stimuli or exposure. Human biology is the storehouse of diverse possibilities or the potential personality of the individual which can be become splendid, normal or even abnormal by type of experiences available or made available (Pressley & McCormick, 2006, p.4). Most of the recent developmental psychologists accept the fact of bioecological interpretation of human development. The inseparable disposition and complex interaction of ‘nature’ and ‘nurture’ makes the individual unique person with particular set of abilities. Human intelligence is the most fiercely

Job selection Practical Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Job selection Practical - Essay Example y-rated computer and information systems professional with nine years of comprehensive knowledge in organization, maintenance, development and implementation of information systems along with software to assist firms to stay competitive through training staff, supervision of security operations and giving advice to management on the probable consequences of changes in technology, in addition to broad customer care experience in a fast-paced and highly technical environment. Demonstrated track record in regard to delivering excellent quality project governance that includes the assessment of risks, status reports, project proposals and plans as well as requests for project change 4. Have you improved the telephone or email system of your organization to VOIP or an integrated messaging system? Provide a description of the procedure and the attributes that influenced the choice of the new

World history and american history Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

World history and american history - Assignment Example In sum, the conquests of Islam in the Middle East set the stage for the birth and elaboration of a rich and diverse new civilization of Islam that persist to today. Islamic civilization reworks and combines elements of older traditions such as Judaic and Christian with the ethical and religious ideas of the Qur’an and Muhammad’s teachings to produce a coherent, dynamic new Islam that is evidenced today. The Islam had one motive, to ensure that they converted everybody to Islamic across the Middle East and to accomplish this, they used means rather than the message in order to convert people into Islamic. With their prominent leader Muhammad, who they adored as their god, every utterance he made was to be followed by every Muslim without questioning. He was recognized as distinctive prophet who was a God revealed word by the Qur’an, and he was willing and worked to ensure he converted everyone in the Middle East to Islam. b) Secondly, the political change was other means that led to the mass spread of Islamic religion across the Middle East. The political shift to Islam meant the emergence of the new ruling elite. Although the Believers’’ movement came to include locals in the conquered areas, the new elite was, at first, overwhelmingly composed of Believers who were of Arabian origin and who spoke Arabic as their native tongue. c) Thirdly, another consequence of the conquests for the Islam in the Middle East was the influx of Arabian immigrants, specifically to the new garrison towns in Iraq, Egypt, and various districts and towns in Syria leading to population pressure of Arabs across the Middle East nations. This shows a high similarity with Christianity where the Christians have strongly followed the Bible and the footsteps according to the Christs teachings. The believers will be highly appreciated during the judgment do while the non-believers will be punished, and worship of God is required in order to receive

The Ongoing Objectification of Woman

The Ongoing Objectification of Woman Men look, women are looked at, said John Berger in his seminal 1972 documentary series Ways of Seeing, and in this one sentence, Berger summarised the relationship between men and women, and the objectification of women by men. From Susannah being looked at by the Elders, to Manets Luncheon on the Grass, women in art have been continually portrayed as not only objects of desire, but objects to be owned. One might like to think that feminism, and women, have come a long way, not only from the bra-burning days of the 60s and 70s, and the power-suited days of the 80s, that saw women in positions of power in the city, and in politics; even from the days of early suffrage. Yet one has only to look at a daily newspaper, a womans magazine, a Hollywood movie, let alone a mans magazine, to realise that the objectification of women is as rampant (and I use that word deliberately) as it has ever been. Even in the world of High Art, paintings such as Lucien Freuds of a pregnant Kate Moss still portray woman as something that can be looked at, desired, owned. One would most definitely like to think that women have come a long way since Rousseau stated, in typically succinct fashion, that the doll is the peculiar amusement of the females; from whence we see their taste plainly adapted to their destination. One presumes Rousseau was talking about baby dolls, little girl dolls, to be played with and dressed up in pretty clothes, to sit quietly, prettily and well dressed in a corner, unobejcting and unobjectionable, good practise not only for motherhood but womanhood; but he could equally as well have been talking about that most contemporary of dolls, the Barbie curvaceous, well dressed and pretty, with a wardrobe of clothes that would enable her to follow any career, from astronaut to vet, sexy but sexless, epitomised by the most recent addition to the sisterhood, Burqa Barbie, so that all girls feel represented in a globalised 21st century. All girls that are curvaceous and well dressed, pretty and sexless and quiet, anyway. Mary Wollstonecraft, the mother of European feminism, believed that as long as men saw women as trophy wives, and took mistresses, that the oppression of women should continue, yet she did not solely blame men, believing also that women were complicit in their own objectification, and referring to them as clay figures to be moulded by men. Girls, Wollstonecraft believed, were enslaved to men through their social training. With the coming of post-feminism, one could hope that women had finally broken this male-oriented patriarchal perception of them, but it seems in fact to be the reverse. Young women expose more and more of themselves, stating that they are in control, and they may show as much flesh as they wish in this post-feminist world, but one cannot help but think that Wollstonecraft was right women still base their worth on how much a man values them, and on precious little else. Barbie may be a 21st century astronaut, but unless she is busty and beautiful, Ken will not be i nterested, and Barbie will be worthless, both in her own eyes and those of society. In this essay, I propose to explore how feminism and post feminism have influenced my development as an artist, and to question how the medias continued portrayal of women as a commodity has affected other contemporary artists, both positively and negatively. The goal of feminism, said an early spokeswoman, was to change the nature of art itself, to transform culture in sweeping and permanent ways by introducing into it the heretofore suppressed perspective of women. Barbie as a symbol of woman as object can be found not only in contemporary art, but also in contemporary literature; she has moved into everyday speech as a contemptuous comment on glamorous women (Shes nothing but a Barbie doll! is a derisive criticism aimed at a woman perceived to be beautiful but dumb, ironic when one considers how it is precisely this image that is being sold to us by the media!) Mattel may market Barbie as a modern career girl, far more independent than the original 1950s clothes horse, but is she as complicit in the objectification of modern women as Mary Wollstonecraft stated over 200 years ago? The London based photographer Alex Kliszynski would seem to agree with Wollstonecraft, and has directly questioned such attitudes in a body of work that combines the imagery of pornography with Barbie dolls. (http://areyoushaved.net/2009/10/art-culture-nude-human-barbie-dolls/) The instant reaction of the spectator is one of revulsion, a feeling that something is not right. Such a highly sexualised childs toy is obscene, but maybe that is the intended point of the artwork? Barbie is the ultimate commodified, sexist, male-fantasy view of what women should look like. She has a tiny waist, long legs, and enormous breasts. However, oddly, if you think about it, this highly sexualized body actually lacks sexual parts, or the parts of the body we would see if she were fully nude. She has no vagina. Her breasts have no nipples. In addition, Action Man, an idealized, sexualized male specimen, has no penis and no scrotum. By placing a sexless doll in a lascivious and crude position that should show all the sexual organs but doesnt, Kliszynski is making a comment on the dehumanising of women (and men) by media led objectification; it is his intention to call attention to that disconnection , to make the viewers aware of the sexualized images of women and men that Bar bie and Action Man dolls trade in. However, I think there is another, yet more sinister, way of reading Kliszynskis art work. The dolls are a monstrous combination of human and plastic; even the title of the work is Human Barbie Dolls, suggesting an abnormal mixture of the two. It is possible to understand Kliszynskis piece as a comment on the modern phenomena of body dysmorphia, a disorder that causes a person to believe there is something terribly wrong with an aspect of their face or body, and which often leads them into a series of cosmetic surgeries. Kliszynskis human Barbies symbolise this body dysmorphic tendency prevalent in so much of (western) society, this desire to turn the human body into a work of art, a perfection of flesh and plastic to match the abnormal perception of idealised beauty encouraged by the media. In her poem, Barbie Doll, Marge Piercy makes much the same point: This girlchild was born as usual and presented dolls that did pee-pee and miniature GE stoves and irons and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy. Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said: You have a great big nose and fat legs. She was healthy, tested intelligent, possessed strong arms and back, abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity. She went to and fro apologizing. Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs. She was advised to play coy, exhorted to come on hearty, exercise, diet, smile and wheedle. Her good nature wore out like a fan belt. So she cut off her nose and her legs and offered them up. In the casket displayed on satin she lay with the undertakers cosmetics painted on, a turned-up putty nose, dressed in a pink and white nightie. Doesnt she look pretty? everyone said. Consummation at last. To every woman a happy ending. Both Kliszynski and Piercy have recognised the detrimental effect on the mental and physical health of women (and men) of societys objectification of the human body. By constantly portraying an idealised myth of not just the body but the very role of women in society, the media (and sections of the art world) have created a culture which views the body in its natural human state as somehow wrong and abnormal. Equally, both Kliszynski and Piercy have recognised the complicity of women in this culture; the girl in the poem is healthy and intelligent, born as usual, presumably normal in all respects, and yet she accepts the truth of her low value in society because she is not perceived as physically perfect. Only in death, with her nose cut off and a cosmetically enhanced putty nose in place instead, can she be seen as pretty. Her value as a strong and useful member of society is non-existent in a world that refuses to see past her face. Kliszynski himself has said that the main body of my work is a number of human-dolls that aim to raise questions about the numerous images of the objectified and idealised body that we see in the mass mediaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I came to make this work as a reaction to the lowest-common-denominator approach to masculinity taken by the media which serves and perpetuates the lad or raunch elements of our culture. Curiously this lad/raunch culture seems also to be embraced by many young women; a phenomenon which seems contrary to a properly progressive understanding of gender and identity in a post-feminist era. (http://lostinasupermarket.com/2010/09/barbie-porn-seriously/) Lad magazines such as Maxim, Stuff and various other UK-based magazines intended for teenage boys and young men are notorious for endorsing a highly commodified view of the world men and boys are encouraged to buy lots of bling like cars, stereo components and expensive suits etc. By their very placement in such magazines, in glamorous soft-porn poses, female models become as much merchandise as the gadgets featured in the articles; and as the reader must own the right phone to attain status, so he must have the right woman. Yet this attitude of the body as commodity is ironically trapping men as much as women, and both sexes are in a crisis of identity. Men are met on a daily basis with conflicting images of themselves, from the traditional Action Man role of husband, father, provider, patriarch, to the more sensitive, metro sexual Ken, whose status, like that of Barbie, is defined by how he looks and what he owns. This crisis is as important for men as for women; statistics show that young male suicides are increasing, there is a high rise in cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in males, crime statistics are rising, divorce rates are going through the roof, and with mothers routinely given custody of the children even the role of fatherhood itself has come into question, exacerbated by the rising number of fertility clinics and the ability for women to so easily be single parents. Role models such as Ken and Action Man are without doubt as harmful to young men as a role model such as Barbie can be to young women. No longer seen as breadwinners, or the head of the family in a patriarchal society, men are frequently represented in the media by characters such as Homer Simpson, a chauvinistic, ignorant man who is depicted as very lazy and obsessed with food; his son Bart, often cruel to his sister, is discourteous and ill behaved. He alternative is often portrayed as Ken, an idealized, de-sexualized male with only the acquisition of material items his goal, fast cars and fashion his only interests. Even television shows like Sex and the City imply that men are just there for the sexual gratification of women. It portrays men as tactless, stupid beings that are only there for female entertainment and pleasure. These negative portrayals are as damaging to both genders as the comparative attitudes to women, rooted as they are in gender objectification and the denial of identity. Alternatively, could we welcome this shake-up of traditional gender images? Could it not be that multiplicities of roles are now establishing themselves in modern society? Toys such as Action Man often stereotype men in aggressive roles, and this convention has been questioned in the work of Susan Hiller, who explores social conditioning and attitudes to childhood in her work Punch and Judy. Punch and Judy looks closely at the brutality of slapstick comedy. First filming segments of live Punch and Judy shows the artist then transposed these images on the walls of a square room inviting the viewer to stand in the room with the puppets images looming over them, the puppets acting out violently as so often seen in their performances. Hiller examines how such stereotypical role-play in toys reinforces the assumptions placed on boys and men and how they should act in society. Where feminism fought against such patriarchal, capitalist belief systems, post-feminism seems to be buying right into the raunch culture that Kliszynski highlights. I would define Raunch culture as the whole juvenile, laddish culture that includes the lads magazines as well as strip clubs, prostitution and the celebration of prostitution, highly sexualized adverts and a general attitude that whats best about female empowerment is that more men get to see more women naked. Berger referred to it as the male gaze, Kliszynski as raunch culture, but I believe they are very similar, and it seems to be embraced by many young women, who accept whole-heartedly the entire condescending nonsense of girl power. According to Wollstonecraft, men have widened what should be merely a biological gap of physical differences into a sociological gap: But not content with this natural pre-eminence, men endeavour to sink us still lower, merely to render us alluring objects for the moment. Women, it follows, cannot help but be intoxicated by the adoration which men, under the influence of their senses, pay them. Has Barbie, in representing the most materialistic aspects of modern day culture, encouraging a stereotypical image of womanhood, become a remorseless goddess of modern society? A doll without any social conscience (or conscious), reliant solely on material belongings to bring her happiness, worshipped by millions, representative of a culture that objectifies and vilifies women, no aspect of her suggests any form of spirituality, or higher morality. When Mary Wollstonecraft accused women of their own complicity in this stereotypical view of their gender she caused ripples of anger and irritation down the centuries. How could a so-called feminist turn on her own sex with such accusations? And yet, when one takes the time to think about it, one can see how right she was. Girls play with Barbie dolls bought for them by mothers and aunts, and will, to echo Rousseau, grow up to give Barbie dolls to their daughters, thus fulfilling their destiny. They are complicit in the encouragement of stereotypical values. But what is the alternative? A girl may play with the stereotypical toys of girlhood such as dollies and prams, all pink and sparkly, mass marketed products imposed on them by a performative oriented society, or she may play with the male version of such consumer items, Action Man, cars, trains, guns . . . But what message is actually being sent? If a girl plays with Barbie dolls, she is viewed with contempt for being a typical girl; if she plays with stereotypical boys toys, she attains value in the eyes of society, for being more like a boy. No matter what she does, Barbie girl can never achieve social value by being a girl, and post-feminism has been complicit in such social values. Consuming Passions  was published in the 80s, author Judith Williamsons theory is hardly common knowledge, most likely because it is threatening. She deduces that, contrary to the ideal posed by Mattel and  Barbie, the desirable shape for a woman . . . is that of a  boy.   The highly idealised Barbie has not been without competitors, however. In 1998, Anita Roddick started an Anti-Barbie campaign, under the guise of self -esteem. Roddick started marketing posters of a doll called Ruby: The Real Deal, with posters in the UK shops she owned, all depicting images of the generously proportioned doll with the attached slogan: There are 3 billion women who dont look like supermodels and only 8 who do. With the intention of challenging stereotypes of beauty and countering the pervasive influence of the cosmetics industry, and with a tongue in cheek approach, the underlying message was far more serious and could easily be applied to the stereotypical image of woman and the way western culture objectifies women. Ruby started a worldwide debate about body image and self-esteem, but she was not universally loved. In the United States, the toy company Mattel sent a cease-and-desist order, demanding the images of Ruby were removed from American shop windows because she was making Barbie look bad, an admission surely, that Barbies impossible to achieve figure was detrimental to girls in comparison to the more realistic Ruby? In Hong Kong, posters of Ruby were banned on the MTR (Mass Transit Railway) because the authorities were concerned they would offend passengers. Like Barbie, Ruby was a de-sexualised toy, having no nipples, genitalia or pubic hair; other advertisements on the MTR whic h showed surgically enhanced, partially dressed female models, were allowed to stay. It is hard not to jump to the conclusion that it was the realistic portrayal of the female body that was offensive (and to whom? the male commuters?); in a world where the female body is perceived to be a purchasable status symbol, the male buyers were presumably offended by the depreciation in value of their idealised fantasy. Feminist artist Helen Chadwick (1954-1996) made many works that dealt directly with the role and image of women in society. In Ego Geometria Sum:The Laborers X created in 1984, she had large replicas of childrens wooden bricks transposed with images of her naked self. One may read many meanings into this artwork: is Chadwick struggling with the weight of her own image? By superimposing her naked image onto a childs brick, is she suggesting that she is nothing but a plaything, a toy? She appears to compare herself to a troll doll, held by the hair in a disembodied fist with an inane grin on its face. The troll doll is ugly and deformed looking, and Chadwick is implying that this is how society views her, and womanhood in general, from childhood onwards, if one does not conform to how society wishes one to be. All is not without hope though; Chadwick also portrays a door on one side of the brick, suggestive not only of closure, but also of the potential to open, to allow something in, or something out; a means of escape. As a Jungian archetype, the door also is representative of the feminine, with all the implications of a symbolic opening. In this artwork, is Chadwick exploring issues of entrapment and escape? Several of her works address the role and image of women in society using a wide range of materials, such as flowers, chocolate and meat. She questioned the role of the female body in art as a decorative object; just as decorative and aesthetic ideas about art themselves had been questioned in the 20th century. In 1990, she worked again on themes of sexual identity and gender with her Cibachrome transparencies entitled Eroticism which depict two brains side by side. On the surface, this is yet another apparently simple, if stunning, piece of work, but like the brain itself, this piece contains a multiplicity of layers, waiting to be explored and teased out. The work shows two brains, side by side, mirroring each other. On the sides adjoining, the brains are enlivened by what appears to be blue sparks, or flashes, suggesting brain activity. According to The Wordsworth Dictionary of Symbolism, blue is the colour of the intellect, and of spirituality; it is the medium of truth. In Eroticism, Chadwick is playing with the idea of a meeting of two minds, an attraction based on the intellect and the emotions. Yet we also associate the colour blue with something a little bit naughty, a bit risque, like a blue movie, and I would suggest that Chadwick was also bearing in mind the idea that the brain is often referred to as the largest sexual organ in the body. For Chadwick, in this piece at least, it is the attraction of two people based on a meeting of i ntellect and commonality that is important, not the outward appearance so vital to society. In the 1790s, when Mary Wollstonecraft was writing A Vindication of The Rights of Women , she argued for the need for more civil rights for women, a cause which she believed could only be achieved by permitting women a better education. She argued that a woman was capable of any intellectual feat that a man was provided with and that her early training should not brainwash her into deference to men. Wollstonecraft believed that men discourage women from achieving the same education that they receive routinely, and as long as women are denied this education, they can never hope to achieve equality with men. She builds on this lack of equal education for women in her argument adding that all men (contemporary to her) have a general lack of respect. Two hundred years later, in the 1970s, women were still fighting to achieve this basic level of respect and equality in the academic and artistic worlds, and it was the 1970s that saw the beginnings of a new art movement, the Contemporary Feminist Art Movement. The movement was inspired by demands for social, economic and political change and by the desire of female artists to try and force art galleries and museums to establish a fair representation of their work; there were very few female art teachers at that time, though the majority of students were female. It was common and widely accepted for art exhibitions to contain the works of men only, women being discriminated against openly, with some having to face the double discriminatory blow of also being black. Faith Ringgold (b.1930), an American artist, was told she could only exhibit in the museums devoted to African American art after all the black male artists had had their shows. By the 1970s, feminists and artists had started forming consciousness awareness groups that demonstrated at galleries and museums to expose some of these sexist practices, and opened galleries together for more exposure of their works. With feminist artists wanting to go further than equal representation, their works were often full of political and social content crying out for political change. The womens movement in America had one such artist by the name of Judy Chicago. Born in 1939, Chicago often reflected on issues relating to the lack of female representation in her work, saying Because we are denied knowledge of our history, we are deprived of standing upon each others shoulders and building upon each others hard earned accomplishments. Many female artists voiced these opinions at that time, wishing to transform traditional fine art and sculpture to include feminist awareness, with many exploring the female body with the intention of reclaiming the sexualised images that had been created by the male artist that preceded them. Chicagos piece Dinner Party called out for both art critics and establishments (and the Establishment?) To readdress the fact that so many female artists had been and were being excluded from art history texts used to educate the (largely female) art students currently attending the art education. This large work depicts a banquet, the settings embroidered representations of the vulva in a style appropriate to the women being represented, women Chicago wished to honour, with a further 999 women engraved in gold on the floor tiles. The geometric shape of this piece is fascinating, with the table laid out at a triangle, representing the tri-partite nature of women, the maiden, the mother and the crone. Indeed, an upside down triangle has long been used in paganism to represent the feminine. This work has gone a long way in encouraging women artists to reclaim their identity in representing the female form, and readdress the frequent degradation of female genitalia previously represented in male-created art. The Dutch artist Christina Camphausen (b. 1953) is another example of a female artist intent on reclaiming for women the representation of the female genitalia, publishing a book of her work with the vulva as sole subject. Entitled Yoni Portraits, it is filled with delicate drawings revealing the vulva in all its beauty and variety, images that are sometimes realistic and sometimes symbolic. Taken from ancient Sanskrit, the word Yoni refers to the vulva and womb and better describes femininity than its clinical counterpart (vagina) or its crude pornographic variants (cunt); in Indias sacred language it carries an inherent respect for this intimate part of a womans body which is lacking in English. In the books accompanying texts, the artist makes clear that there is nothing about the Yoni to be ashamed of. Rather, it is a body-part which in many cultures has had very different connotations of power, beauty, fertility and delight. Of her motivation, Christina says: With my work, I endeavour to assist in restoring the Yoni to her rightful and original place of honour, and to induce everyone to regard her with respect, to recognize her beauty and magical power. Though the last decades make it seem that our modern societies are sexually liberated, there still rests a taboo on this intimate part of our bodies. In general, women enjoy more freedom than they used to have, yet it surely is no advance in self-determination that many contemporary women have their intimate, lower lips corrected in order to conform to some artificial standard prescribed by cosmetic surgeons or professional nude models in glossy magazines. To make artwork with the vagina as your subject is still a very brave act, as it is a subject that is often considered inappropriate and generally thought of within the context of pornography, and, in almost all cases, for the exclusive pleasure of men. Many feminists have attempted to remove these prurient connotations by encouraging us to consider vaginas, something not to be ashamed of, but as powerful and expressive components to be proudly protected as an assertive and positive manifestation of our being. Exhibitions are now starting to show that this has changed dramatically in recent years, with many artists who have incorporated imagery of the Vagina in their works exhibiting together. One such exhibition, organized by Francis M. Naumann and David Nolan, and entitled The Visible Vagina took place on January 28, 2010 at the David Nolan Gallery in New York and included artworks by people ranging from Judy Chicago and Nancy Grossman to Robert Mapplethorpe and Pablo Picasso. The most interesting aspect for me is that there was such a strong male presence in the exhibition, and indeed it was arranged by men, a potent sign of how things have progressed. The most striking work in the exhibition for myself has to be the work of Sarah Davis and the piece Britney (Notorious), for amongst over one hundred artworks, very few of which objectify women or suggest a salacious use of imagery, this piece, a painting identical to a paparazzi-type photograph taken of the music star, hovers between art and porn; indeed, in its representation of both, it beggars the question of how art and porn can be addressed within feminist issues. If we accept that art is intended to stimulate the spectator on many levels, academically and emotionally, and that porn is needed to stimulate on a purely sexual level, I wonder how this transformation from paparazzi photograph and all the connotations of furtiveness, spying and secretiveness to painting can alter ones perception. I would like to believe that the artist who views Britney Spears as a strong, confident, self-made woman is a feminist who has staged the initial photograph to reclaim her identity by exposing her vagina just as in Yoni Portraits, believing there is nothing to be ashamed of by showing the power, beauty, fertility and delight this body part represents. Often in the media gaze, Spears is used as an example to criticise young women today, nothing but a Barbie doll. Her abilities as a mother, her career and social life are frequently held up to public scrutiny. Men that are in the public gaze however, may be criticised for their affairs, heir drug dependency, their fights etc., yet rarely for their dress code or indeed for their roles or abilities as fathers. This is a gender bias that has become commonplace and widely accepted. In addition, when Spears chose to wear a revealing dress and decorate her body with piercings and tattoos, the tabloids turned on her viciously, and accused her of mental illness when she publicly shaved her hair off. I feel though, that Spears was sending a message, via the media, about her sense of identity and her value as a woman. By shaving her hair off Spears was questioning the male perception of femaleness and femininity; she was a Rapunzel trapped by her beauty in a tower created by the male gaze. The only way to take control of the situation and to escape, was, like Rapunzel, to chop off all her hair and reassert her own identity away from social expectations and the medias critical portrayal of women. In Ways of Seeing, John Berger explores the difference between nudity and nakedness, suggesting that when one is nude, the spectator (and there must be one) merely sees the human body unclothed. When one is naked, the spectator (even if that is only oneself) sees the real ess ence of the person. Nakedness is far more intimate than nudity. When Spears cut off all her hair it was as if she had removed a disguise, and showed herself to the world fully naked, expressing her inner self. It is this aspect that Davis has picked up on in her piece of art: Britney Spears as a model of sex positive feminism, the un-Barbie goddess of post-feminism. Sex positive feminism, also known as sexually liberal feminism or sex-radical feminism began as a movement in the 1980s. Many women became involved in a direct response to the efforts of anti-porn feminists such as Andrea Dworkin, as they argued that pornography was the centre of feminist theory for womens oppression. This period is known as the feminist sex wars, a time of heated debate between anti-porn feminists and sex-positive feminists, between the notions of the sex industry as an abusive and violent environment for women and the beliefs in womens ability to choose to be highly sexual beings and raises the question of who is exploiting who? When Spears posed for a statue by American sculptor Daniel Edwards (b.1965) for the pro-life movement, she was once again steeped in the controversy of is it art or is it porn? Entitled Monument to Pro-Life this work is a full size sculpture of a naked Britney Spears in childbirth. The sculpture shows Spears on all fours on a bearskin rug, her mouth slightly open and her eyelids heavy, looking as if she is about to cry out. There is no indication of pain or pleasure; it is not at all indicative of sexual provocation or pornography. Her hands lie wrapped around either side of the head of the bear, as if she is using it to act as a medium to the spirit world communicating with the animalistic urges childbirth conjures up. Yet the media has criticised this piece, stating that: Britneys in a position that most would sooner associate with getting pregnant than with giving birth. I believe that in some ways things have deteriorated rather than progressed: the beauty industry and the porn industry, in their own sometimes-converging ways, have caused a lot of that. Going back to the early 70s, as women began to enter the workforce in larger numbers, some of that earning power was used against them by aggressive beauty product marketing. The result has been an increasing focus in the last three decades on dieting, an explosion in both sexes