College essay topics to write about the Partnership - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 1987 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Building Essay Type Research paper Did you like this example? Abstract In recent years Partnering as received significant attention within the construction industry because of the purported benefits this approach brings to the parties involved. Furthermore partnering is a means through which the recommendations of the (1998) Egan Report, a client driven, target focused and integrated approach that is based on alliances rather than confrontation. Partnering also is a mechanism through which Best Value may be achieved. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "College essay topics to write about the Partnership" essay for you Create order This dissertation focuses on a specific public sector partnering project (the Midlothian New Housing Construction Partnership). The Partnership was initiated by Midlothian Council, during 2003, to carry out  £105 million worth of work on a new social housing programme over 5 years. The overall partnership includes client project team, four project management teams alongside Design Teams and Contractors working on individual sites in a collective beneficial manner. The study designed to provide a narrative account of this stage that explains how partnering was established and developed. Furthermore is to highlight strengths and weaknesses of the Midlothian Partnership compared to suggested practice. Partnering was investigated by the use of a web-based survey questionnaire method. The Questionnaire design was based on an extensive review of the literature dealing with partnering. The opinions of parties involved were assessed in relation to the success fact ors, major difficulties and benefits of partnering. Partnering is acknowledged within the literature reviewed as delivering a number of tangible benefits. This study confirms a number of these assertions since the findings indicate a broad agreement tat both the process and the outcomes of partnered projects are beneficial. Respondents believe that partnering can bring significant benefits, including fewer adversarial relationships and increased end-customer satisfaction. However, the risks and barriers are real and must be considered. If all parties work together to control risk events and prevent barriers occurring, then partnering projects should succeed. In sum, partnering can and does work, but all project participants must re-think their attitudes and work to make projects more efficient, successful and free of conflict. Abbreviations BAA British Airports Authority BV- Best Value CBPP- Construction Best Practice Programme CCT- Compulsory Competitive Tendering CIB- Construction Industry Board CII- Construction Industry Institute CT- Construction Team ECI- European Construction Institute EU- European Union F CM- Facilities Construction Manager GPD- Gross Domestic Product HFVN- Housing for Varying Needs HTML- Hyper Text Mark-up Language IRP- Issue Resolution Protocol KPIs- Key Performance Indicators LA- Local Authority MSc- Master of Science M4I- Movement of Innovation MNHCP- Midlothian New Housing Construction Partnership NAO- National Audit Office NEC- New Engineering Contract P21- NHS ProC21ure PPC- Project Partnering Contract PPP- Public Private Partnership UK- United Kingdom Chapter 1.0 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Introduction Rationale for the Research The Construction industry is a very competitive and risky business. It is faced with many problems such as little co-operation, limited trust, and ineffective communication often resulting in an adversarial relationship among all project stakeholders. This type of adversarial relationship is likely to result in construction delays, difficulty in resolving claims, cost over runs, litigation, and a win-lose climate (Moore et al, 1992). In recent times, there has been a growing awareness that accepting the lowest priced bid does not always provide the best value for money. Over the past decade, partnering as been acknowledged in UK as an innovative and non-adversarial approach to the procurement of construction services in the industry. Successive UK construction industry review reports (namely the Latham Report, 1994; the Egan Report, 1998; NAO Report, 2001) rightly emphasised the importance of the partnering arrangements in order to facilitate team working across contract ual boundaries. The use of partnering is becoming more frequent in UK Public Sector construction projects because of the potential benefits that can be achieved from the effective implementation of the project partnering arrangement. In theory, the benefits Partnering brings to a project are straightforward and simple: Projects are done on time and within budget; Problems are pro-actively solved and individuals work together to minimise road blocks; People walk away from a project feeling great about what they have accomplished; There are no residual disagreements or litigation claims after project completion. However, despite this, many organisations are still reluctant to embark on the partnering route or are failing to apply a structured approach to lead to major value enhancements in timelines; quality and lower costs and project partnering is not always successful. This study examines the strengths and weaknesses of partnering in practice and explores the factors that promote or inhibit the development of partnering relationships. The partnering approach and process will be examined through a case study of relatively large-scale partnering project currently undertaken by Midlothian Council. This study concentrates upon this particular project because it offers a chance to explore the very different approach used and to investigate partnering benefits; critical success factors; partnering relationship and communication; as well as major difficulties in partnering implementations. Supporting Literature The UK construction industry has attracted a great deal of criticism in recent years for its inability to meet the needs of its clients. Seminal reports by Latham (1994) ad Egan (1998) both identified a pressing need for change. Subsequently, the UK construction industry has embarked on a sustained campaign to overcome its perceived performance problems through a number of initiatives and radically different approaches to the procurement and management of construction projects. Latham and Egan agendas have concentrated on improving interactions between clients and lead contractors, and in particular the formation of partnerships and strategic alliances (Himes, 1995; Barlow et al, 1997; Crane et al, 19975, Bresnen and Marshall, 1998). Partnering can be regarded as a strategic arrangement whereby a contractor is engaged in a series of projects with the aim of lowering costs and improving efficiency, or can be a short term single project arrangement (Harris and McCaffer, 20 01). Partnerships can operate independently of strategic alliances, where collaborators, having demonstrated, a commitment through previous behavioural attitudes, co-operate and share resources in pursuit of common goals. Thus, each team member is jointly anchored to the process (Walker at al., 2000). Alliances can range in scope from an informal business relationship to a joint venture agreement, the common feature being that collaborators work towards a joint goal. Partnering represents perhaps the most significant development to date as a means of improving project performance, whilst offering direct benefits to the whole supply chain (Dozzi et al., Larson and Drexler, 1997). Several other studies indicate that there is a little doubt about the positive aspects of partnering arrangements. Barrick (1998) identifies instances of comparable success: groups such as Esso, Sainsburys and the British Airports Authority (BAA) are reported to have reached savings of 4 0% on costs and 70% on time. Other research is similarly optimistic in claiming that there is a desire to move beyond narrow self-interest towards a spirit of co-operation and trust (Wood and McDermott), 1999) and that partnering can indeed lead to benefits for all parties (Hamza et al., 1999). Lamont (2001) even suggests empowered as a direct result of partnering and thereby work together more effectively. Indeed, as Bresnen and Marshall (2002) observe, the literature is replete with case study examples of successful partnerships. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that a considerable number of clients and contracting organizations are now adopting a partnering strategy within their relationships. However, there is a less critical analysis of the nature of partnering in practice and whether the claims made for it are consistently justified. Much of the partnering literature tends to concentrate on success stories, which are largely anecdotal and focus on the experien ces of exemplar organizations. Dainty et al. (2001) express related concerns in the sub-contract arena pointing to a fundamental mistrust and scepticism within existing supply chain relationships and a need for attitudinal change. Greenwood (2001) concludes that typical contractor/subcontractor relationships are still cost-driven and potentially adversarial. Similarly, Packham et al (2003) suggest that partnering may not offer many tangible benefits to small construction enterprises and often has a detrimental effect upon the contractor/subcontractor relationship. At the same time, there is also a recognized need for more research into partnering (Bresnen and Marshall, 2000; Lazar, 2000; Li et al., 2000). Research Objectives The aim of this dissertation is to provide a comprehensive study of construction partnering in general, and to specifically examine in detail a current case study of a major partnering housing project. The following tasks are identified as specific dissertation objectives: To review the relevant historic and current literature on partnering theory and practice and in so doing to To review the relevant historic and current literature on partnering theory and practice and in so doing to a. Examine the strengths and weaknesses of partnering; b. Explore the factors that promote or inhibit the implementation of partnering; c. Determine what barriers exist to the implementation of partnering; 2 To evaluate the Midlothian Councils adoption of partnering and in so doing to examine the partnering arrangement used by the Council and compare it against best practice; assess the current state of the project by evaluating the perceptions of the partners involved in the project; identify the specific concerns, barriers, and other problems limiting its effectiveness and; Identify the lessons learned so far and the critical factors that facilitate its successful adoption. Hypothesis The following are the hypothesis, which need to be tested in this dissertation: Partnering is beneficial to the public sector if the significant barriers can be overcome. 1.5 Research Methodology The research adopts a combination of literature review, analysis of a case study of a current partnered project and a questionnaire survey. The research methodology has been developed as follows: The first step of the methodology was to review the recent literature and examine the recent research findings on construction partnering. The information has been extracted from various sources. Published books and research papers have been used to develop the methodology. Construction Journals, management journals, Government reports, and public releases of information from ongoing or completed partnering related studies have been used to compile information. The review is essential as it allows an overall knowledge and understanding of the subject and facilitates focusing on the aims and objectives of this research. The second step was to examine and analyse a current case study to investigate the characteristics of both successful and unsuccessful partnering ef fort. The material for the case study mostly collected from Midlothian Construction Service project files. The partnering data was collected for comparing the partnering approach and processes used against recommended best practice (Identified in the Literature Review). In order to accomplish the aims and objectives of the research, a questionnaire survey was used as the primary research method. The level of in-depth analysis and flexibility required to complete the study required a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. The questionnaire contained closed and open-ended questions handed to participants involved in the project. This method provides sufficient level of investigation for a construction research and allows research data to be collected quickly, for less cost, it is also suggested that a better rate of return can be achieved (Kate Carter and Chris Fortune 2004), provided that the following considerations were taken into account: The questions have to be properly designed to ensure all the relevant data required for the research are collected; The questionnaire has to be tested before being handed to the participants The opinions of various parties (clients, consultants, and contractors) sought and evaluated in relation to the partnered project to identify success factors, common threads and problem areas. The analysis is then presented in tables, graphics or charts to illustrate the results that obtained from the survey. Then, the research questions are used as the guide to test the hypothesis as well as to conclude the findings by determining the aims and objectives of the research. Finally, conclusions from the survey and case study, recommendations made where appropriate. The limitation of the research will then be discussed followed by a statement of further possible research suggested by this study.

The Franks Free Essays

The Franks is about a group of loosely related Germanic ‘barbarian’ tribes that from the third to eighth centuries CE would occupy, and eventually conquer and settle most of the Western Roman province of Gaul which would later come to be known as France, or â€Å"Frankland†. The Franks are portrayed in this documentary as a ‘plague’ to Rome, but one group the Salians to the north of the Rhine River, were actually quite assimilated to Roman Culture and even ided as a buffer between Rome and other invading Barbarians. The Franks were first recognized as an â€Å"auxiliary’ people by the Romans during the reign of Merovech whom is best remembered for being the first leader of the Salian Franks and the original founder of the royal line. We will write a custom essay sample on The Franks or any similar topic only for you Order Now His triumph over the Huns to the west and their neighboring barbarians, the Ostrogoths at Chalons, Gaul in 451 CE recognized his great power, and also paved the way for his son Childeric l. Childeric established ajor territorial conquest during his reign, triumphing over the invading Visigoths to the south, and the Saxons to the southwest in aid to the Romans. His role as a Barbarian ally to the Romans played an important role in The Franks further expanse into Gaul. Childeric continued to rein for twenty-four years until his death in 481 CE, at which time his son Clovis I took control. Clovis I was regarded as the most influential ruler of the Salians, and the â€Å"real† founder of the Merovingian Dynasty; the ame of which was derived from his grandfather Merovech. Clovis was a Pagan like many Franks were at his time, but is allegedly known for having converted to Orthodox (Catholic) Christianity to gain the politic support of the Gallo-Romans (Christians), though it may be argued his wife was the reason for his conversion. Clovis was considered ‘ruthless’ in his tactics to gain complete control of Gaul by murdering every potential rival Frankish leader, even those in his own family. This omination in bloodshed across Gaul is what gives the Frankish people their true identity reinventing them not as barbarians, but as The Franks. Gaul becomes known as Frankia, and later France, and the legacy of a people and their Dynasty which will last for nearly two-hundred years setting the framework for Western Europe. How to cite The Franks, Papers

Performance Measurement and Management †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Performance Measurement and Management. Answer: Introduction: Human resource management is the essential part for the effective business operations in every company. For the discussion, famous retail company Tesco is selected. Tesco is famous as the largest company in the private sector of UK. In current time, there are around 360000 employees working in Tesco. Now, company is operating in almost 12 countries including Japan, UK, China and Turkey. Core business operations of the company are in the grocery sector. Tesco has diversified its range of products and services such as mobile phones and personal finance. The report provides human resource system and organizational chart to analyze that how HR can contribute and impact on the growth and success of the company (Zhao, 2014). The organizational structure of Tesco is hierarchical that reflects large size of the business. At the store level, there are four layers of management in large stores. The organizational structure of Tesco is described below. It is essential to note down that the given structure is not rigid for all the Tesco stores as some stores are operating with the different structure including their size, location, and various specific factors. In case of human resource system of Tesco, there is the guest model which describes overall strategy of human resource management. The human resource system of the company is divided into five different stages i.e. HRM practices, HR outcomes, behavioral outcomes performance outcome and financial outcomes. The human resource department of the company depends upon five basic activities such as recruiting the employees, training and development of the employees, performance appraisal, compensation and improvement of the employees. In the HRM system of Tesco, there are various activities such as recruitment talent analysis, programs to retain the employees, provision of good working environment and ensuring the employees to be treated equally. Based on some frameworks, human resource of the company will be successful in achieving organizational goals (Khalid Rehman, 2010). In the legislative framework, there are some laws which have to followed by the company i.e. health and safety act 1974, working time regulations 1998 and parental leave 2008. There would be new performance management based on the role of employees, objective of work and types of appraisal. HR managed will, try to implement 360 degree feedback to understand the performance of the employees. Company trains employees on the disaster management which is positive for the staff. The staff receives such training so that customers can shop with safety as staff is responsive and trained. In terms of human resource model, Tesco will be evaluated on using range of various models to make sure that is meeting its core business objectives. For the rewards and wages, Tesco will be in line with the existing laws and rules and pay salaries based on the minimum wage law. With the increase of annual profit, the salaries and rewards will also be increased for the employees. Such rewarding of talent wou ld have positive impact on the employees as well as company (Syed Yah, 2012). Organizational and business ethics framework- In the business and organizational ethics framework of Tesco, human resource would focus on the principles of ethics rather than providing products and services. In this manner, human resource will be focused on the implementation of standards related to right, wrong fairness and other behavioral practice in the company. Ethics would be helpful in sharing the decisions taken by the management. Human resource management would need to train the employees with the expertise for ensuring the key skills sets among the employees. In Tesco, managers can identify the needs of training support by the performance measurement of the employees. Further, managers can identify the needs of training based on the analysis of three needs i.e. industry-related needs, job-related needs and task-related needs. Managers can also use some assessment methods for identifying the needs of training like organizational perspective, task related perspectives and individual assessment. By focusing on every type of training need before moving forward in the business, managers would implement best course of action for the company. Each assessment will be helpful in improving various aspects of the company and develop specific training programs to address essential gaps in the company. By these assessments, managers would also be able to improve effectiveness of the company (Waal Kourtit, 2013). Human resource return It is estimated that the cost of the project of human resource is $230,000. It is also assumed that benefit of the project for 1st year is $430,000. So based these assumptions, human resource return on investment is as follows: HROI= Net project benefits / Projects costs Cost of the project = $230,000 Benefits of project (1st year) = $430,000 So, HROI = $430,000-$230,000 / $230,000 = 0.87 x 100 =87% There are number of legal regulations that are needed to be considered by the HR managers while formulating the business operations. Employment protection is one of the major areas that directly impacts to the process of HR policy development in Tesco. Further, health and safety are primary factors as per the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Equality rules have to be followed by Tesco under Equality act 2010 to protect employees from discrimination. One of the important aspects of HR department is related to the development of the various tactics and strategies for the organizational growth. The management of Tesco is focused on the HR strategies for achieving corporate objectives. For this manner, HR managers are focused on motivating employees for the business activities. It is an important part as more motivated employees, better would be their performance. HR is focused in developing the workplace environment more effective for the employees. Further, training and development sessions are also conducted on the regular basis so workforce can be enhanced and motivated efficiently (Briscoe, Schuler Claus, 2011). Performance measurement In Tesco, performance management system has aim to ensure the business objectives are met by the employees. It is the strategic tool to measure the performance of the employees at work. By the performance management system, company is able to analyze individual and groups performance and competencies objectives. For implementing performance management in the company, managers should considered integrated training facility to provide essential training based status and responsibility of the employees to achieve performance goal. In performance management system of Tesco, there are six components i.e. Performance planning in the performance management system, Performance appraisal and review, Feedback on the performance of employees by managers, Pay and reward system i.e. annual compensation, bonus, perks and rewards etc Performance improvement plans by training, mentoring or coaching, and Potential appraisal of employees including promotion and growth plan (Aguinis, 2013) Managing HR contacts To manage the HR contracts in the company Tesco, there is the need the need to adopt an effective system of process. The steps for managing the contract are described below: Reviewing the existing contracts and making appropriate changes, Making clear that what changes are required and comparing them with the original contract, Sending changed documents to the employees, making them comment, amendments or flag any kind of queries and send back to the management, Keep the track of all the comments done by the employees, Review and incorporate the changes as required, and Sending changed contracts back to the employees for the approval and acceptance (Gurbuz, 2009). References Aguinis, H., (2013), Performance management, (3rd), NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall Briscoe, D.R., Schuler, R.S., Claus, L., (2011), IHRM: Policies and Practices for Multinational Enterprises, (3rd), Routledge: Chapman Hall Gurbuz, S., (2009), The effect of high performance HR practices on employees job satisfaction: Istanbul University Journal of The School Of Business Administration, 38, 110-123 Khalid, G., Rehman, M. Z., (2010), Impact of HRM Practices on Orginizational Performance: NUML Journal Management and Technology, 16-27 Syed, N., Yah, L., (2012), Impact of High Performance Human Resource Management Practices on Employee Job Satisfaction: Empirical Analysis: Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, 4(2), 318-342 Waal, A., Kourtit, K., (2013), Performance Measurement and Management in Practice: International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 62(5), pp. 446-473 Zhao, S., (2014), Analyzing and Evaluating Critically Tesco's Current Operations Management: Journal of Management and Sustainability, 4(4), 184

Chaucer and Sophocles Views on Gender Equality

Introduction Chaucer and Sophocles are some of the new generation writers though their writings are based on a number of centuries ago. Their works, â€Å"The Canterbury Tales† and â€Å"The Three Theban plays,† respectively, are innovative piece of writings and are used as vehicles for serious history and story telling.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Chaucer and Sophocles Views on Gender Equality specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Their main agenda is to attempt to show their readers what it was like to be a woman in the United States, particularly during the Ancient Greek period and the Middle Ages. These authors shed light on women’s life, and therefore want the readers to understand a term that comes with many underlying meanings: gender equality. As the authors delve into this issue, they present the readers with a view that women also have the ability of a second thought. Analysis The St atus of Women during this Period Beforehand, women were perceived as inferior and lived according to the rules stipulated to guide the family settings, making them lack a sense of identity in the society. The gender inequality has been addressed where the authors concentrate on the psychological mind of the women as well as their expressive aspects. The minds of the women are probed in an attempt to determine why they behaved as such. The authors attempt to compare their mindsets with that of their male counterparts. Chaucer (1990) illustrates how the Wife of Bath commences her tale with a rape case. This depicts the presence of male dominance over women, since rape serves the purpose of gratifying male sexual urge and, at the same time, humiliating the women. This incident in â€Å"The Canterbury Tales,† thus, brings to light the issues to do with gender dominion, with men dominating the women in the family setting. The women involved play a critical role in representing wom en’s voices. The writings further show that the women cannot fully entrust any ruling made by a male judge since he always treated women’s plea in contempt. Sophocles (1984) illustrates the manner in which Antigone expresses her views, stating that the current ruler of Thebes, Creon, on grounds of carrying out family affairs, has humiliated her. And even as Antigone expresses displeasure over the manner in which the current king treats her, Creon, who is also her uncle, continues to defend his status, claiming that women cannot fully understand men’s point of view unless the men decide to disclose their thoughts. His assertion, therefore, is a clear indication that women were marginalized within the family settings. Likewise, this incident brings to light the issue of gender inequality with a view of revealing the women’s position: failure to entrust state laws simply because men who have a total disregard for women in the society make them.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Authors’ Opinion on Women The ideas presented by the Chaucer’s works try to portray the writer’s point of view: that the Wife of Bath, under all cost, pursues gender equality, and more so, dominating the male gender. This is evidenced by the fact that her speech is characterized by self promoting words, which portray a picture of aggressiveness that attempts to be equal with men and even rule over them. This is clearly portrayed when she quotes that she endeavors to make her husband a debtor as well as a slave (Chaucer 1990). Likewise, the idea presented by the Sophocles works discloses that Antigone is ready to contest with Creon in as far as gender equality is concerned. This is confirmed by the fact that she believes in divine powers, which act as the final arbiter to her decisions, not the king’s laws (Sophocles, 1984). And as such, she went ahead and buried her brother, claiming that the king’s judgments are inconsequential in as far as family issues are concerned. With this information at hand, it is clear that the authors are trying to portray that issues of gender dominion fostered the problems that women faced during this period. This stems from the fact that the women demanded to have their voices heard, but the men would not hear of it. The authors further reveal that women experiencing gender inequality always have a second thought. How the Authors Expressed Themselves The authors expressed their views in the best image and were considerate on the interests of all the women with regard to typical issues affecting them in the society. This is evident in the â€Å"The Canterbury Tales† as the queen states that a judge cannot rule over the case of the loathly lady because he is biased against all women (Chaucer, 1990). This is also evident in â€Å"The Three Theban Plays,† as Antigone dec lares that she does not recognize state laws because they take less concern on the welfare of all the women in the society (Sophocles, 1984). However, Chaucer ridicules the manner in which women behave, stating that even though the Wife of Bath portrays a burning desire for ruling over men, she finds herself using all the gender dominion acquired to provide men with all they long for (Chaucer, 1990). And even though Sophocles shows empathy for Antigone, the author ridicules the manner in which she tries to attain women rights, stating that it is not worthwhile to take away her life because it does not, in any way, add value to her life and to the life of the loved ones in the family setting(Sophocles, 1984). Thus, this makes the authors negative in relation to how women finalized their pursuit of fighting for their rights.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Chaucer and Sophocles Views on Gender Equality specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Period Most Favorable for Women The Ancient Greek Society, according to Woelfel Trulove (2002), marks a period when women were degraded and mistreated in marriage as well as in the political sphere. The marginalization of women in the family setting was evident from their childhood, and as such, girls were considered as women and given in marriage at a very tender age, putting them at risk of death during child delivery. The elder women were also marginalized within marriage as evidenced by the fact that, besides acquiring inheritance from their brothers, they could not acquire any wealth during marriage, or any inheritance from their husbands, or even handle other jobs apart from the domestic duties. However, even though these women could inherit property from their brothers, such property was entirely controlled by their husband. On the other hand, the Middle Ages period, according to Woelfel Trulove (2002), is marked by an emergence of women’s v oices in an effort to acquire equal opportunities with their male counterpart in marriage as well as in the political sphere. As such, women were given opportunities to work in industries, though they handled unskilled labor, which paid very low wages. Additionally, women were in a position of gaining limited grounds in political as well as in religious sphere. But even though women could marry someone of their choice, their marriage was jeopardized by harsh working conditions, leading to death of many at an early age. The women, however, were entitled to inherit their husband’s property in case they were widowed. Given the difference in status of women during the Ancient Greek period and the Middle Ages period, it is clear that the degree to which women were marginalized is lower in the Middle Ages than in the Ancient Greek period, because majority of women acquired limited freedom in the family setting as well as in the political sphere. Despite the unfavorable working cond itions during the Middle Ages, the right of inheritance freed a number of them from economic hardships, unlike the Ancient Greek period when all women suffered. Conclusion Chaucer and Sophocles works focus on the position of women in the society with regard to their social standing in the family setting. The books express how women were treated in the past, the challenges they faced while fighting for their rights, as well as how they applied partiality while fighting for their rights. Since then, the American women have an urge of protecting their gender and not being classified as weak anymore, as they perceive that doing so enhances their equality with men and gives them an obligation for their family and, indeed, their entire country.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More And while the idea of gender equality is rational for the female gender, remember, too, that it creates a number of dilemmas and pressure, as women have to leave their babies behind without an adequate care in an effort to acquire equal opportunities with their male counterparts. References Chaucer, G. (1990). The Canterbury tales. Toronto: Bantam. Sophocles, A. (1984). The three Theban plays. Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England: Penguin Books. Woelfel, J. W., Trulove, S. C. (2002). Patterns in Western civilization, Vol.1 (3rd ed.). Needham Heights, Mass: Ginn Press. This essay on Chaucer and Sophocles Views on Gender Equality was written and submitted by user Rudy Watson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Womanist - Alice Walkers Term for Black Feminist

Womanist - Alice Walkers Term for Black Feminist A black feminist or feminist of color, according to Alice Walker, who first publicly used the term; someone who is committed to the wholeness and well-being of all of humanity, male and female.  Womanism identifies and  critically  analyzes  sexism, anti-black racism, and their intersection. Womanism  recognizes the beauty and strength of embodied black womanhood and seeks connections and solidarity  with black men. Womanism identifies and criticizes sexism in the African American community and racism in the feminist community. Origins Alice Walker introduced the word â€Å"womanist† into feminist parlance in her 1983 book In Search of Our Mothers Gardens: Womanist Prose. In the book, she cites the phrase â€Å"acting womanish,† which was said to a child who acted serious, courageous and grown-up rather than girlish. Many women of color in the 1970s had sought to expand the feminism of the Women’s Liberation Movement beyond its concern for the problems of white middle-class women. The adoption of womanist signified an inclusion of race and class issues in feminism. Alice Walker also used womanist to refer to a woman who loves other women, whether platonically or sexually. Walker used examples from history including educator and activist Anna Julia Cooper and abolitionist and womens rights activist Sojourner Truth. She also used examples from current activism and thought, including writers bell hooks and Audre Lorde, as examples of womanists. The term â€Å"womanist† is thus both an alternative to and an expansion of the term â€Å"feminist.† Womanist Theology Womanist theology centers the experience and perspective of black women in research, analysis, and reflection on theology and ethics.  The term arose in the 1980s as more African American women entered the theological field and questioned that white feminist and black male theologians spoke adequately to the particular experience of African American women. Womanist theology, like womanism in general, also looks at the ways in which black women are portrayed in inadequate or biased ways in the works of white women and black men. Quotes About Womanism Alice Walker: Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavendar. Angela Davis:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"What can we learn from women like Gertrude Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Billie Holiday that we may not be able to learn from Ida B. Wells, Anna Julia Cooper, and Mary Church Terrell? If we were beginning to appreciate the blasphemies of fictionalized blues women- especially their outrageous politics of sexuality- and the knowledge that might be gleaned from their lives about the possibilities of transforming gender relations within black communities, perhaps we also could benefit from a look at the artistic contributions of the original blues women.† Audre Lorde: But the true feminist deals out of a lesbian consciousness whether or not she ever sleeps with women. Yvonne Aburrow:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The patriarchal/kyriarchal/hegemonic culture seeks to regulate and control the body- especially women’s bodies, and especially black women’s bodies- because women, especially black women, are constructed as the Other, the site of resistance to the kyriarchy. Because our existence provokes fear of the Other, fear of wildness, fear of sexuality, fear of letting go- our bodies and our hair (traditionally hair is a source of magical power) must be controlled, groomed, reduced, covered, suppressed.†Ã‚   Womanist Writings: A Selection bell hooks  Aint I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism. 1981.Walker.  In Search of Our Mothers Gardens: Womanist Prose.  1983.Paula J. Giddings.  When and Where I Enter: The Impact of Black Women on Race and Sex in America.  1984.Angela Y. Davis.  Blues Legacies and Black Feminism: Gertrude Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Billie Holiday.  1998.Barbara Smith.  Home Girls: A Black Feminist Anthology.  1998.Nyasha Junior.  An Introduction to Womanist Biblical Interpretation. 2015.

English writting and reading experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

English writting and reading experience - Essay Example Their childish actions left me feeling depressed and mad. The United States is noted for being a globally diverse country and accepting of cultural diversity as it assimilates into their own culture. However, the way I was being treated and what I saw in the actions of my classmates turned out to be the exact opposite of this idealistic dream. I was not treated with respect at all considering that I was a new foreign student at their school. Later on I realized that I was being ridiculed precisely because of that. I was a foreign student who could not express myself in English fluently. I came from another country whose culture and traditions these students did not understand nor obviously respect. My family has always valued the importance of a good education. We have always given emphasis to reading, comprehension, and writing skills in our learning activities due to its importance in our daily lives and interaction with people. As far back as I can remember, I have always been interested in learning about anything and everything that I could see, hear, or feel. During my educational lifetime, I have met many teachers whose influence on my learning abilities have varied from positive to negative. I have had teachers who influenced and encouraged me to learn as much as I could about certain things, and I had teachers whose strictness and unfriendliness caused me to retreat from learning about certain things altogether. I believe a lot of people have the experience of ridicule at some point in their lives by people who could negatively affect their learning process. People judge and stereotype others based upon their education, property, race and looks, making it difficult for them to control their words and deeds. My parents had been ridiculed during their time as well but they learned from those people who judged them or made fun of them. What my father taught me was that a

Comparative Cybercrime Laws Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Comparative Cybercrime Laws - Research Paper Example To start with, the "global village" or the increased globalization of world trade, involving the need to engage in commerce with nations with unfamiliar legal systems. For another thing, the codification of multilateral associations like the European Union, the African Union, or the Arab League has demanded harmonization of laws of their member states. Moreover, there are publications and Internet resources that assemble legal materials from several jurisdictions, without necessarily undertaking comparisons, but they can be seen as "tools of the trade" for comparative lawyers (Norman 2006). Over the last 100 years, comparative law has emancipated into several distinct branches such as comparative criminal law, comparative tax laws, comparative civil law, comparative administrative law, comparative trade laws, comparative commercial law, comparative cyber laws, Comparative Intellectual Property Law, comparative constitutional law, and comparative constitutional law. According to the prevalent view, Montesquieu is regarded as the 'father' of comparative law. His comparative approach is obvious in the following excerpt from Chapter III of Book I of his masterpiece, De l'esprit des lois: They should be in relation to the climate of each country, to the quality of its soil, to its situation and extent, to the principal occupation of the natives, whether husbandmen, huntsmen, or shepherds: they should have relation to the degree of liberty which the constitution will bear; to the religion of the inhabitants, to their inclinations, riches, numbers, commerce, manners, and customs." Also, in Chapter XI (entitled 'How to compare two different Systems of Laws') of Book XXIX, he advises that 'to determine which of those systems [i.e. the French and English systems for the punishment of false witnesses] is most agreeable to reason, we must take them each as a whole and compare them in their entirety.' Yet another excerpt where Montesquieu's comparative approach is evident is the following one from Chapter XIII of Book XXIX: 'As the civil laws depend on the political institutions, because they are made for the same society, whenever there is a design of adopting the civil law of another nation, it would be proper to examine beforehand whether they have both the same institutions and the same political law.' Applicability of the Comparative Concepts The applicability of comparative concepts is still an open question posed to the discipline of comparative law. Comparative concepts are concepts that are applied in micro-comparative research. They provide with criteria on the basis of which the rules of different legal systems may be compared.