Floods and Flooding

Floods and Flooding River and coastal flooding are the most frequently occurring natural disasters and are increasing in occurrence. Floods, once purely known as acts of God, are being rapidly enhanced by the works of humans. What Causes Floods? A flood occurs when an area that is normally dry gets submerged in water. If a flood happens in an empty field, then the damage from flooding may be relatively mild. If the flood happens in a city or a suburb, then flooding can cause catastrophic damage and take human lives. Flooding can be caused by many natural things, such as excessive rainfall, extra snow melt that travels downstream, hurricanes, monsoons, and tsunamis. There are also manmade features that can cause flooding, such as burst pipes and dam breaks. Why Are the Number of Floods Increasing? Humans have spent thousands of years trying to curb flooding in order to protect farmland and   homes. Dams, for instance, are built to help regulate the flow of water downstream. However, there are some man-made features that are aiding flooding. Urbanization, for instance, has reduced the earths capability of absorbing excess water. With extra neighborhoods comes an increase in asphalt and concrete-covered surfaces. which cover the once open fields. The earth underneath the new asphalt and concrete can then no longer help absorb the water; instead, water running over the pavement collects quickly and easily disrupts storm drain systems. The more pavement, the more likely a flood will occur. Deforestation is another way that humans have helped increase the potential for flooding. When humans cut down trees, the soil is left without roots to hold down soil or to absorb water. Again, the water builds up and causes flooding. What Areas Are Most at Risk for Flooding? Those areas which are most at risk for floods include low-lying areas, coastal regions, and communities on rivers downstream from dams. Flood waters are extremely dangerous; a mere six inches of swiftly moving water can knock people off their feet, while it takes just 12 inches to move a car. The safest thing to do during a flood is to evacuate and seek shelter on higher ground. It is important to know the safest route to a safe location. A 100-Year Flood Floods are often given designations as a hundred year flood or twenty year flood, etc. The larger the year, the larger the flood. But dont let these terms fool you, a hundred year flood does not mean that such a flood occurs once every 100 years; instead it means that there is a one in 100 (or 1%) chance of such a flood occurring in a given year. Two one-hundred year floods could occur a year apart or even a month apart it all depends on how much rain is falling or how quickly the snow melts. A twenty-year flood has a one in 20 (or 5%) chance of occurring in a particular year. A five-hundred-year flood has a one in 500 chance (0.2%) of occurring in any given year. Flood Preparedness In the United States, homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. If you live in a flood zone or any low-lying area, you should consider purchasing insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. Contact your local insurance agent for more details. You can be prepared for flooding and other disasters by assembling a disaster supplies kit. Take this kit with you if evacuating: A portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries (know the appropriate radio station to listen to during a disaster)Flashlights and extra batteriesFirst aid kit and manualEmergency food and waterNonelectric can openerEssential and prescription medicationsCash and credit cardsSturdy shoesExtra clothes and beddingFood and supplies for pets

Community Health Epidemiolgy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Community Health Epidemiolgy - Essay Example Health statistics from year 2007 show that disease threats include diarrhea, campylobacteriosis and Hepatitis, which have been checked by health programs like the immunization of all age groups – newborns to adults. Other health threats include T.B, Sexually transmitted diseases and HIV, which are the focus of public programs, created to explore and offer their surveillance. From the community genogram, focus is placed on group-centered health education and integrating team networks among the different vulnerable groups. Focus is also placed on the family and other small groups, towards fostering the current healthcare system – so that it can address the health issues discussed. These intervention steps will be affected through the exploratory, analytical and the health action phases, towards realizing the desired changes and solutions to the health threats. Community Health Epidemiology Introduction Jefferson County is a county in the United States, located in the Stat e of Texas. As per the 2010 census statistics, the county had a total population of 252,273. The population density registered in the county stood at an average of 280 per square mile. ... An approximate level of 17.40% of the total population and 14.6% of families live below the poverty line. 24.6 % of those living below the poverty line are composed of those under the age of 18, while 11.8% are composed of those above the age of 65 years. As of January 2011, the unemployment ratio of the county stood at 9.4 percent registering 27,918 members of the total population as unemployed. The underemployment rate for that year stood at 10.7 percent, implying that the county is a home to 26, 993 unemployed citizens and a considerable number of underemployed workers who may not afford substantial healthcare services (Mecke, 1984). Discussion From a careful assessment of the economic, community safety inventory, cultural evaluation, disaster assessment, as well as planning, the results of the county’s health status indicators reflected the following. 10.8 % of the population as uninsured. Behavioral risk factors included alcohol use and abuse, substance abuse, nutrition i mbalances and vulnerability based on unfavorable physical activity patterns. An example here is the recent anti-tobacco campaign, offered to urge people reduce the consumption of tobacco, as well as protect the others from secondhand smoke. Other areas with shortage causing imbalances and deficits in healthcare services administration include socio-economic factors, like economic and social imbalances, as well as inadequate education and limited access to education. Other community health indicators influencing the health patterns depicted within the framework of Jefferson County include vulnerability indicators like crime rate, especially that involving abuse of the elderly and domestic violence. Other causes of health imbalances include

Fundamentals of molecular beam epitaxy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Fundamentals of molecular beam epitaxy - Essay Example Molecular beam epitaxy is a process to produce device grade epitaxial films and mutilayers. This is a very advanced and sophisticated process an have evolved gaining clear edge over competing processes like Liquid Phase Epitaxy, Vapor Phase Epitaxy (VPE) etc. This paper provides basic description of Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) process. Different theoretical concepts of this process and essential ingredients of a MBE system are also briefly discussed. Epitaxial growth refers to the situation in which the depositing layer extends the existing crystalline order of the substrate i.e. growth of the new layer does not cause any crystalline discontinuity on the interface between the substrate and the film. This occurs even during industrial processes like welding and cladding; where the initial mode of solidification is planer mode and the growth layer is essentially epitaxial growth of the existing grains. However, there are many grains on which this growth occurs an also this very soon d egenerates into cellular and cellular dendritic growth and thus disrupting the crystalline order of the substrate. However, it is the planer mode of solidification coupled with solute partitioning between liquid and solid phase which form the basic underlying principle of Liquid Phase Epitaxy (LPE) [1- 3]. Similarly, epitaxial films can be grown by placing a substrate in a chamber filled with vapors of constituent atoms / molecules through a process known as Vapor Phase Epitaxy (VPE) [4 – 6]. ... Many thin film technologies such as LPE, VPE, Sputtering, vacuum deposition etc. were developed for producing high quality epitaxial thin films. However, the films produced by these techniques were structurally different from the substrate and hence not useful for device making. Differential vapor pressure of different constituents atoms / molecules was the main problem associated with VPE. GaAs is one such useful film for device making. IN this case vapor pressures of Ga and As differ by two orders of magnitude at about 600 oC. Therefore, these sources will have to be heated at different temperatures to achieve equal vapor pressure and the temperature will have to be controlled very accurately, which is very difficult. [7]. Attempts were made to use different temperatures for different sources [8] and by exploiting angular distribution of the atomic / molecular fluxes [9] for maintaining desired ratio of atomic fluxes. In 1960s it was not possible to perform online monitoring and ch aracterization of the film growth process and the film itself. Even the characterization of the substrate surface condition and vacuum quality level was also not possible. One had to rely on post deposition characterization of the deposited film for the feedback for the subsequent deposition experiments; which was indeed a very slow, laborious and tiring procedure. Development of small mass spectrometers, auger electron spectroscopy and compact electron diffraction instruments made it possible to characterize the films in-situ while it was getting deposited and Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) was discovered as a result of developing a process for surface characterization [10].In-situ characterization of MBE

The Views of Hilary Clinton and Barrack Obama Essay Example for Free

The Views of Hilary Clinton and Barrack Obama Essay Hilary Clinton and barrack Obama are the two Democrat presidential candidates who are on the race to the White House. They latest reports indicate a tightly held contest and an equally intense campaign to clinch the Democratic Party nominations. Both hold almost similar views as far as how the economy should be and issues about war and mostly on terrorism. They also hold different opinions in health matters. The candidate that musters more delegates is the one that will be the Democrat presidential candidate facing Mc Cain, the Republican presidential candidate in the 2008 election. My main interest in this essay is to analyze on their views on the economy, war and health issue. The two candidates have tried to portray themselves as different from each other, they are however both protectionists when it comes to the trade agreements. Clinton is sounding to be more anti-trade than how Obama sounds. Already Clinton is opposed to the proposed economic terms on trade on Colombia, Panama and South Korea. There are times where both agree on some points, for example they are both opposed to the idea of having a free trade with the Dominican Republic and the Central America in 2005. Obama is for the idea of America doing business with other nations. He believes that this is the only way through which the American economy would be strengthened . He promised that if he were elected as the president of U.S.A. he would try his best to provide and protect the free trade. He will open up more job opportunities by creating foreign markets. He will also set proper job and environmental standards for all nations in the world to follow and resist the idea of free trade that is being advanced by the Central American nations. Obama also promised to review the North American Free Trade Agreement if he will be elected the US president. He is not opposed to the idea of making Mexico and Canada to cooperate with American workers. This will address the issue of workers so that they could adapt to the dynamics of the economy. He will also make amendments to the trade adjustments assistance if elected the president come this 2008 presidential election so that workers would have refresher courses to live up to the times, giving them a competitive edge and job security. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton pledged to strengthen the small enterprises that she believes are the economy’s growth engine. She will dedicate her efforts towards creation of jobs for Americans. Hillary Clinton said that if elected the president, she would strengthen the manufacturing industries as the country is dependent on them and by doing this, Americans will have better living standards. She said that she would fully utilize the nation’s innovation and capital investment to widen economic base for the country. Clinton also pledges to strengthen the rural economy to reverse the trend of urban migration as these areas also contribute to the economy. To achieve this she said she would initiate programs that would enhance the rural economic growth. She also pledged to increase research and technology funding. She would ensure schools; homes and libraries will be equipped with the latest technologies so that they would be competitive in the global market. She criticized Bush’s administration of mismanaging the economy making the gap between the rich and the poor to widen but she promised to solve this problem once elected. She will also help the middle class Americans to stabilize in the economy. On the issues of health care both have similar opinions although in some issues they differ. According to Hillary Clinton she will ensure that every American will be entitled to health insurance but Barrack Obama does not share the same sentiment, as he believes the focus should be on children who should be provided with free insurance. He will also extend health care for the adults who are currently uninsured. Clinton estimates that the cost of implementing her plans would be a hundred and ten billion U.S dollars while Obama’s proposal ranges from 50 to 65 billion U.S dollars. The truth of the mater is that neither of them will provide full insurance cover for every American but both aspire to make this work. While attacking Obama, Clinton criticized his plan saying it is only targeting fifteen million Americans while hers will ensure most of the Americans have free health care. She said most Americans die because they cannot afford quality health care. In her plan, all drivers will be required by law to have auto insurance and promised that all families will be given tax credits so that they would meet their health insurance. If she will be voted in, all households would be able to meet the required health premium. The federal government according to Clinton will subsidize the health insurance for all those families that cannot afford it while businesses and organizations will be required to provide their workers with health insurance. She is quick to add that this plan will not affect small businesses but what will be required is that they will provide these businesses with tax credits to motivate them to do so. The health care providers will be required to pay for those people with huge bills without asking them for more money. Americans, according to Clinton, will be provided with similar private health care that the congress receives and this will be provided to citizens through the employees benefit program that will be a public program similar to that of Medicare. Obama on the other hand pledged to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid so that they would continue taking care of the vulnerable members of the society. These programs mostly target those citizens that are poor and uninsured. He pledged to amend the National Medic Act so that patients who are injured as a result of medical negligence would be compensated. He will also increase funds on research and development so that HIV/AIDS would be contained both in USA as well as in other parts. Both Clinton and Obama have taken issues with the Iraq war. Clinton is currently accusing Obama of not being consistent with opposing the Iraq War, as he was when he assumed the post of a senator. Obama has promised to withdraw American troops from Iraq if he becomes the next president in 2008 election. Obama was not opposed to all wars but was particularly opposed to the Iraq war. He accused president Bush of starting another war instead of finishing that on Osama but Clinton supported Bush to resort to military action if other methods such as diplomatic means failed to restore order in the nation. Currently, she is also advocating for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. We have seen that the two Democrat presidential candidates do agree and disagree on some issues. For example, they both agree that health care for all Americans would be vital but they differ in how the program would be implemented. They both promised to strengthen and widen the country’s economic base so that the quality of life of the Americans would improve and to end the war on Iraq and they both promised to end it once they will assume power. Work Cited. Associated Press. Hillary Clinton blasts Bush economy. May 29, 2007.Accessed at http://www.politics.com/news/stories/0507/4230.html on March 25, 2008 Friel et al. Obama: Most liberal senator in 2007. National Journal 31st Jan 2008; 16 Accessed at http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings on March 25, 2008 Kelly P. Politics. New York Times. January 22, 2008.Retrieved an http://www.nytimes.com/2008/0122/us/politics/22clinton.html on 25 March 2008 Johnson G. Obama-Clinton politics of Health Mandate now playing in mass. Associated Press. Insurance Journal. 2008. Sklar R. Micro Debate: Clinton and Obama on Health care. Huffington Post

Human Genetic Screening :: Science Technology Papers

Human Genetic Screening Humans, like all other living organisms, have genes. These genes instruct our bodies to make proteins, these proteins are the molecules that determine the shape and function of each cell. Each gene or set of genes encode for the production of a particular protein.What is a gene ?The term " gene "was created by Wilhelm Johanssen, a Danish botanist in 1911. He was discussing units of inheritance that Mendel called factors.T.H. Morgan's studies on fruit fly genetics led to the idea of a gene as the smallest unit of recombination. Aggregated with this idea was another that said the gene was the unit of mutation, and another that the gene is the unit of function (the smallest unit of control over the phenotype ). Modern evidence suggests that recombination can occur between any two nucleotide, which make the unit of recombination only one nucleotide long . Some mutations change only one nucleotide, so the unit of mutation could be only one nucleotide long . The unit of function is the cis tron which is about 900-1500 nucleotide long. So we can identify the gene as the length of DNA that codes for one functional product (6). DNA of the human species carries more or less the same set of DNA with some variations . Variations in the DNA sequence can be neutral, others might have positive or negative influence. Genetic screening is testing of this variation (2). Human race carries 3000-4000 diseases in it's genes, and it is important to distinguish between inherited diseases and infectious diseases. Inherited diseases are caused by mutated genes which are inherited by an individual from his or her parents (2). The faulty gene will be one of the many healthy thousands of genes we possess in our cells. To pinpoint the location of these faulty genes, scientists search for variations in larger piece of DNA called markers, these subunits lie nearby on the DNA chain, and form the basis of genetic screening. What is genetic screening ? The principle of genetic screening is based on the binding of a probe to the DNA molecule of the patient or the person to be screened. Complementary DNA nucleotide sequences bind to each other. The probe used is usually single stranded DNA, which binds to the test sample. The DNA sample can be analyzed by a technique called restriction fragment polymorphism (RFLP). In this technique the DNA sample is cut up with a mixture of restriction enzymes which cut the DNA at a specific sequences. Human Genetic Screening :: Science Technology Papers Human Genetic Screening Humans, like all other living organisms, have genes. These genes instruct our bodies to make proteins, these proteins are the molecules that determine the shape and function of each cell. Each gene or set of genes encode for the production of a particular protein.What is a gene ?The term " gene "was created by Wilhelm Johanssen, a Danish botanist in 1911. He was discussing units of inheritance that Mendel called factors.T.H. Morgan's studies on fruit fly genetics led to the idea of a gene as the smallest unit of recombination. Aggregated with this idea was another that said the gene was the unit of mutation, and another that the gene is the unit of function (the smallest unit of control over the phenotype ). Modern evidence suggests that recombination can occur between any two nucleotide, which make the unit of recombination only one nucleotide long . Some mutations change only one nucleotide, so the unit of mutation could be only one nucleotide long . The unit of function is the cis tron which is about 900-1500 nucleotide long. So we can identify the gene as the length of DNA that codes for one functional product (6). DNA of the human species carries more or less the same set of DNA with some variations . Variations in the DNA sequence can be neutral, others might have positive or negative influence. Genetic screening is testing of this variation (2). Human race carries 3000-4000 diseases in it's genes, and it is important to distinguish between inherited diseases and infectious diseases. Inherited diseases are caused by mutated genes which are inherited by an individual from his or her parents (2). The faulty gene will be one of the many healthy thousands of genes we possess in our cells. To pinpoint the location of these faulty genes, scientists search for variations in larger piece of DNA called markers, these subunits lie nearby on the DNA chain, and form the basis of genetic screening. What is genetic screening ? The principle of genetic screening is based on the binding of a probe to the DNA molecule of the patient or the person to be screened. Complementary DNA nucleotide sequences bind to each other. The probe used is usually single stranded DNA, which binds to the test sample. The DNA sample can be analyzed by a technique called restriction fragment polymorphism (RFLP). In this technique the DNA sample is cut up with a mixture of restriction enzymes which cut the DNA at a specific sequences.

Gender Inequalities in the Workplace Essay

The issue of gender inequality has been in the eyes of the public and been in awareness of society for decades. The problem of inequality in employment is one of the most vital issues in today’s society. In order to understand this situation one must try to get to the root of the problem and must understand the factors that cause the female sex to have a much more difficult time in getting the same benefits, wages, and job opportunities as the male sex. The society in which we live has been shaped historically by men. â€Å"A woman’s primary attachment is to the family role; women are therefore less intrinsically committed to work than men and less likely to maintain a high level of specialized knowledge† (Oakley, 1974, p. 28)President Clinton proclaimed April 11, 1996, as the â€Å"National Pay Inequality Awareness Day. In the year 1972, the Equal Employment Opportunity Act was established; the goal of the government was to change and eliminate the discrimination in the workplace. The major aim of these two acts is to protect individual rights and promotes employment opportunities and fairness for everyone within the workplace. We accept that the government is aware of the inequality between men and women in work place, and they are trying every way they can to prevent and discontinue the inequality; so the question is what are the reasons why women are still being treated unfairly at work?Work plays an important role in helping individuals find their true identity as well as helpi ng one builds their self-esteem. However, in the past women were not encouraged to work â€Å"real jobs†, instead they often stayed at home and are often labeled as housewives. The truth is women do work, they always have worked, but the work that they do are often unpaid labor work. Before men assumed that women didn’t really want to work; they didn’t need the money; and that they have different interests. (Kimmel, 2000, p.175) So it was assumed that women either couldn’t do a job, or, if they could, they would neither want to nor need to do it. Now in the twenty-first century things have changed dramatically, more women are educated, and more determined to search for their identity. In order for them to do that, they often time seek employment. Women’s participation in the labor force has grown to such an extent that society can no longer ignore and view women as unimportant. Women face many obstacles when seeking out jobs, and even more obstacles when they are working with men. Sex discrimination and gender inequality have always existed in society, but when does it actually start? The answer is ever since the minute they were born. In 1995 Wall Street Journal report observed that elementary school girls receive smaller allowances and are asked to do more chores than boys. (Kimmel, 2000, p.174) When a woman grows up and enters womanhood, if she wishes to work, she would have to face many irrelevant tribulations. Sex â€Å"discrimination occurs when we treat people unequally because of personal characteristics that are not related to the job. Discrimination can be when we treat people who are similar in different ways, or when we treat people who are different in similar ways.† (Kimmel, 2000) We often discriminate the people we meet because of our past experiences, from what we have learned, and through stereotyping. Stereotyping is the process of judging someone on the basis of our perception of the group to which he or she belongs. (Robbins, 2003) Stereotypes exist because of the differences among individuals. Since it is almost impossible for human brains to process such large degree of differences quickly, people simplify these differences and make generalizations without even noticing doing so. While these generalizations has originally begun with observed differences among people and have a shred of truth to them, most of these generalization have been so largely exaggerated over time that they no longer serve their original purpose of describing people accurately. The way that people make these generalizations are greatly dependent on their ability, background and culture. These characteristics influence how individuals perceive the world around them and their expectations toward others. Socialization and information overload also play a big role in gender stereotyping. Individuals begin learning stereotypes as early as in their infancy. According to The Reproduction Mothering theory by Nancy Chodorow (1978), infants learn expected gender behaviors and stereotypes from their mothers. The girls remain attached to their mothers to learn about emotionally intimacy, while boys are forced to separate from their mothers to be strong and independent. Then from media, school, peers and religion institution, children gradually learned what is to be expected from people who are different from themselves in ethnicity and gender, for instance. The  large amount of information readily available to us today also increases stereotyping. Since it is impossible to take in all the information, individuals have to cope with information overload by simplifying what is around them. Stereotyping generally prevents people from recognizing who an individual really is. When a person believes certain stereotypes to be true, his or her perception of a group will most probably be limited by these stereotypes and are unlikely to change. These groundless generalizations can often delay effective communications as a person assumes things about another. In the workplace, this can lead to not recognizing individual achievements and unfriendly relationships between groups, which reduces employee morale and productivity. It is important to recognize stereotypes in the workplace because of the diverse workforce today. Globalization and feminist movement have greatly increased the diversity in the work force. However, stereotypes delay management from recognizing the value of diversity and reinforce conformity in the workplace, thus limiting the organization’s potential to grow. For instance, managements can miss out good potential employees who can do good. Stereotypes are also â€Å"noises† in communications. (Robbins, 2003) In today’s organizations where communications are essential to success, stereotypes can create misunderstandings and harmfully affect day-to-day operations. Therefore, it is important that people should understand the harmful impact of stereotypes. It is also important to mention that even though occupational sex segregation started to decrease in the 1970’s and in the 1980’s, it still exists in today’s workforce. Such discrimination is operated through interviewing techniques and the stereotypes of the initial recruiter. A recruiter may believe, for example, that a managerial position is a â€Å"man’s job.† He or she may believe that a woman’s nature does not allow her to be a good manager because women are seen to â€Å"lack† leadership, managerial and technical skills. Recruiters should avoid stereotyping and realize that women are ready to join the work force in any type of job. (Robbins, 2003)Men and  women differ in their experiences with both paid and unpaid work. In comparison to men, for example women do a disproportionate share of unpaid – and usually less valued – work. Discrimination at work often leads to income gap, for doing the same job as the men, women get less pay. One of the reasons for the inequality wage gap is the assumption that when a man enters a labor force, he enters for good, while for a woman the assumption is that when she enters will eventually take time out for childbearing and parental leave. This too greatly affects women’s wages; women who drop out of the labor force have lower real wages when they come back to work than they had when they left. Jobs held by mostly females are considered unimportant and lower skilled as compared to male jobs. The other obstacle that women face in workplace is the glass ceiling and the sticky floor; these two elements are barriers preventing women from succeeding and raising their status at work. The glass ceiling is an expression used to describe the inequalities of men and women within the workforce. It seems that women can become employed but then run into an invisible barrier when they try to move up the ladder of hierarchy within the organization (McGuire, 2000, p. 3). Employers should pay close attention to gender stereotyping which exists within a workplace. If they avoid doing so they may lose an opportunity to hire or promote a good employee. In order to avoid gender stereotyping it would be of use to mention the stereotypes that exist today. Some common masculine behavior include: independence, superiority, status, competition and aggression. In contrast, the feminine behaviors are consensus, inferiority, harmony, and gentleness. (Kimmel, 2000) David Geary, a psychology professor at the University of Missouri, Columbia, concluded that such qualities of men and women are generally true. He states that these stereotypical behaviors are strongly influenced by nature. He also mentions that â€Å"Over the course of evolution, these stereotypes have resulted due to strategies used by males and females to attract mates. Men and women use certain sexual strategies in order to reproduce, and they are essential to our mating patterns.† These sexual strategies are the cause of the male and female differences of today including physical attributes, social behavior,  parental interests, and motivational and emotional patterns. However, as an employer, it is important to realize that these are generalities, and that one person can express both masculine and feminine behaviors. People should not be labeled, but instead they should be judged as individuals. Men believe that it is easier to work with men and that men do a better job and therefore deserve more money. Their pride and egos tell them that women cannot do the job as well as they can. These personal beliefs must be changed. Pairing men and women together on teams will expand the male mindset and hopefully help them realize that females and minorities are as equally qualified. Valuing the differences of all employees can make an organization stronger. Society requires that men and women work together and this is not going to change. What has to change is the way we work together. Communication is the key. If we do not communicate effectively, then the best intentions of both genders will fail (Heim, 1995, p.3). â€Å"Society influences what we are taught as children in regards to roles of females and males overflow into the workplace (Hale, 1999, p.14) â€Å"In sum, it is the relationship between social roles, interests, intergroup relationships and organizational culture norms and values that set the conditions that perpetuate unequal employment opportunities and outcomes (Hale, 1999, p.13). It is impossible to change people overnight; especially what they have been taught and what they have always have confidence in generation after generation. The managers of today grew up in families where their mothers stayed at home, kept house, and took care of children. They have been taught at home that men should be the bread winner; the leader of the house, and women should only be housewives and take care of the house. They are also taught that men are stronger and should be the leader of the household and therefore these behaviors flow into the work setting. Even the Bible states that a woman should not be over a man. These beliefs are taught generation after generation. Despite the awareness of gender inequality, there are still arguments about gender difference and assumptions that women and men are from different planets; women and men are still treated distinguishably in society. The  workplace still remains an unequal arena, plague by persistent sex segregation, wage inequality, sex discrimination, and sexual harassment. Women and men work because they want to and because they have to. Employers should not judge women as being non-dependable. Family structure has changed dramatically over the years. Fathers and mothers today now share family responsibilities. To compensate for this change, businesses have introduced flextime, job sharing, telecommuting, on-site child care and parental leave. (Kimmel, 2000) Employers should accommodate a woman’s needs and expand the gender diversity of their company. There was a time where the balance of respect and roles never existed between the two, but today, men and women are truly redefining themse lves and their relationships with each other. Most importantly, women have broken from the bondage of dependence on men. Women no longer have to submit themselves to one main role in family life as the mother. Along with being the mother, women have become the educated breadwinners. As for men, the need for dominancy has changed dramatically because today, men have been found to be the nurturing stay-at-home fathers of their family. Male and female relation is not entirely a dispute on inequality that women received from society, although that is what propels finding equality between the two genders. Besides, men today also require such needs and hiring based on gender is no longer relevant. Rather, male and female relation resolute this emergent society to work together as a unit. References Oakley, Ann. (1974) The Sociology of Housework New York: Pantheon BooksStromberg, Ann H. & Harkess, Shirley. (1978) Women Working: Theories and Facts inPerspective. California: Mayfield Publishing CompanyRobbins, Stephen P. (2003) Organizational Behavior. New Jersey: Prentice HallMcGuire, Gail M. (2000) Gender, Race, Ethnicity, & Networks [Electronic version]. Work &Occupations, 27(4), 500-523. Hale, Mary. (1999) He Says, She Says: Gender and Worklife. Public Administration Review,59(5). Retrieved March 4, 2009, from www.questia.comKimmel, Michael S. (2000) The Gendered Society. New York: Oxford University Press

The Gift of the Magi, by O. Henry Essay - 1234 Words

Stories of love and sacrifice abound in literature. Perhaps one of the most well known stories among teens and adults is the tale of a poor, young couple struggling to find the perfect Christmas gifts for each other using their very limited means. They each manage to get what they think is the perfect gift for the other, but only accomplish this by selling a prized possession which effectively makes the new gifts impractical. This bittersweet narrative, â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† by O. Henry, illustrates the moral idea that a person, motivated by nothing but love for another, can possess a willingness to give in a self-denying way which necessitates that the reader consider that wealth be measured by something more than having money†¦show more content†¦The Magi most likely came a long distance from Persia and sacrificed much to present their costly gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the child. These gifts were esteemed not only because of their intrinsic value, such as the precious metal, gold, but also for their medicinal properties and were traditionally given to a king as a gift of honor. The Magi, also known as wise men or kings, are just that, wise men. They know the value of bringing the gifts to baby Jesus not because He needed gifts, but to show their devotion to Him. They brought these valuable gifts out of respect and love for the new Savior. Love is a defining force for Della and Jim too, overshadowing the poor condition of their finances. Jim and Della do not have much. They would most certainly be considered to be in the lower class, living in a little $8 a week flat in the city and going from a sufficient income of $30 a week to a less than adequate $20 a week with Jim in need of a new overcoat and pair of gloves (Henry). Henry articulates how their love for each other transforms their drab house and surroundings and gray circumstances into a warm and inviting refuge called home. â€Å"One dollar and eighty-sev en cents. That was all Della had,† not nearly enough to get a gift worthy of her beloved Jim (Henry). She desires nothing but to please him and considers him worthy of somethingShow MoreRelatedThe Gift Of The Magi O Henry Analysis787 Words   |  4 Pages In The Gift of the Magi O. Henry brilliantly uses vivid imagery, laughable irony, and a sentimental tone to fully develop an overlaying theme of sacrifice. Imagery is very important in this story, especially when it comes to describing Della and Jim’s treasures so the reader can fully grasp their significance. There are so many good examples of the rich imagery including, â€Å"There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl. So Della did it. Which instigatesRead MoreLove And Selflessness In The Gift Of The Magi By O. Henry702 Words   |  3 PagesIn the â€Å"Gift of the Magi† by O. Henry, there are many ideas about love and selflessness. These concepts are communicated throughout the story through Della and Jim’s hardships. The couple is unprivileged, but they seem to sacrifice what they have, to bring happiness to the other, like the Magi. In the end both find enjoyment in their gifts since they sacrificed something they love, but it shows how much they actually love one another. In O. Henry’s, â€Å"The Gift of the Magi†, the theme explainsRead MoreThe Gift of the Magi: Narritive Essay1549 Words   |  7 PagesTheme and Narrative Elements: The Gift of the Magi ENG 125: Introduction to Literature Theme and Narrative Elements: The Gift of the Magi The Gift of the Magi is a short story that was written by William Sydney Porter, better known by his pseudonym O. Henry in 1906. O. Henry was a prolific author penning many short stories beginning in 1899 until his death in 1910. O. Henry is famous for his trademark surprise endings which he called â€Å"snapper† endings (Clugston, 2010) andRead MoreTheme Of Sacrifice In The Gift Of The Magi746 Words   |  3 PagesO. Henry’s â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† is a story about a couple who buys and gives each other gifts for Christmas. Upon receiving these gifts, the couple discovers that they have each sacrificed the possession necessary to properly use the gift. In the short story, O. Henry implements specific descriptions, character’s actions, and major comparison to develop his overall theme of sacrifice. Firstly, to develop the theme of sacrifice, O. Henry uses specific descriptions of the characters and their possessionsRead MoreThe Gift Of The Magi1132 Words   |  5 PagesThe Magi refers to the Wise Men or Kings in the Gospel of Matthew and Christianity. They visit Jesus after his birth and bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to him. Also, they are important figures of celebrations of Christmas. Christmas gifts are precious, so people want to receive the most valuable gifts at the end of the year, such as the gift of Magi. A famous American writer O. Henry creates The Gift of The Magi, a short story of giving gifts on Christmas Eve, which is a common themeRead MoreThe Gift of the Magi1271 Words   |  6 PagesThe Gift of the Magi Ashlee Stevens ENG125: Introduction to Literature Amy Sloan September 10, 2012 Ashford University The Gift of the Magi The Gift of the Magi was about sacrificial love. The story explained how important it is to be willing to sacrifice for the one that you love. No matter what the circumstance, if a person can unselfishly give of themselves for another, they can experience life in a whole new way. Many people give what is not important to them andRead MoreThe Gift of the Magi1377 Words   |  6 PagesLITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY THE GIFT OF THE MAGI The Gift of the Magi is one of the most popular short stories by O. Henry, a pen name for William Sydney Porter - a renowned American author. Originally published in 1906, in O. Henry’s second collection of short stories, The Gift of the Magi which displays all of the major O. Henry traits in abundance has given him credit for his genuine talent. It has been retold in various forms since then, especially at Christmas time. The storyRead MoreThe Gift of the Magi Theme Analysis707 Words   |  3 Pageslife; that even those who have fallen to the lowest depths in the social scale would, if they could, get back to the higher life†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Rollins 7-8 ). O`Henry came up with this philosophy when writing his many different, entertaining stories. â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† was initially published in 1906 in O`Henry`s second collection of stories. â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† is a perfect story to illustrate how people do anything for the ones they love. The main characters each sell their most valued possession in orderRead MoreLiterary Analysis of The Gift of the Magi1276 Words   |  6 PagesLiterary Analysis of The Gift of the Magi The twists and turns of the plot as it unfolds within O. Henry s â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† are what simply captivate the reader in such a short amount of pages. The story of Jim and Della on a cold Christmas Eve at the turn of 20th century America is centered around what is remarkably relevant to what many readers have experienced in their own lives; the inevitable stresses, sacrifices, and joys of the holiday season. Strapped for cash and wanting to giveRead More life Essay949 Words   |  4 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;William Sydney Porter, better known by his pen name O. Henry, was widely known for his short stories. He is often reffered to as the quot;Master of Short Stories.quot; His stories were filled with twist and irony within the plot. quot;Some have called him the American Maupassant because of his so well made surprising endingsquot; (Online). In 1908 critic Henry James Forman wrote that quot;No talent could be more original or more delightful. The combination