A point in life Essay Example for Free

A point in life Essay I have come to a point in life that many people have not. I have made a firm decision to recommit myself to pursuing my dreams. While there are those who believe that with an ounce of luck and a ton of persistence anything can be accomplished, I believe that there is no reason to expend so much energy and rely on luck. I believe in taking hold of my destiny and carving out a future for myself based on the decisions that I make in life. Life is simply too short and too precious to be left to luck alone. This is why I have chosen to apply for a course in Nursing at the Saint Xavier University. I have always wanted to help change the world. As a child, I believed that if everyone did their own little part in taking that extra step to help others, the world would be a much better place for everyone. The stark reality of it all hit me not long after that but it did not lessen my resolve. I figured that if so many people I knew did not want to do their part in changing the world then I would probably have to do their share. This is where my motivation to pursue nursing comes from; the drive to go the extra mile just to make a difference in this world. I see my goal in life as similar to that of Nurse Leader Mary Breckenridge in that I know that nursing plays a very important role in the world today. There are few jobs and professions that are as rewarding as nursing. While other jobs may get more publicity, the role that nurses play in the health care industry is highly valued and appreciated. My motivation has to do with the fact that nursing is one of the ways by which I am able to do something that I really want to do in my life and that is to care and help other people. More importantly, I greatly feel that by taking up nursing I will be able to make a difference in this world much like Mary Breckenridge has done. Pursuing my career in nursing is just the first step in my plan. Much like Nurse Leader Mary Breckenridge has done, I too want to be just more than a nurse. I would like to have the opportunity to take a bigger role in making the world a better place to live. My main philosophy in life is to lead by setting an example. I cannot expect others to do what I myself would be willing to do but that does not mean that I cannot hope that others will see the example that I have shown them. This philosophy is one of the many forces that drive me to pursue my dream of pursuing a career in nursing and of becoming so much more in life. The chance to help those who are less fortunate in life, the chance to help people like myself, the opportunity to be of service to humanity; these are the reasons why I have selected nursing as the profession that I will pursue; for, as Eleanor Roosevelt once said, â€Å"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 

Indigenous People :: essays research papers

Indigenous People Indigenous people are those that are native to an area. Throughout the world, there are many groups or tribes of people that have been taken over by the Europeans in their early conquests throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, by immigrating groups of individuals, and by greedy corporate businesses trying to take their land. The people indigenous to Australia, Brazil and South America, and Hawaii are currently fighting for their rights as people: the rights to own land, to be free from prejudice, and to have their lands protected from society. Indigenous People of Brazil and South America The people indigenous to Brazil and South America are an extremely noteworthy group. The Brazilian population originally derives from four ethnic sources. From the beginning, the country has been a mixture of many "races" of people. Of these, are the native Indians, the colonizing Portuguese, the enslaved African blacks, and the various immigrant groups from Europe and Asia. Many of the indigenous tribes are quarreling with Brazil's officials and businesses. Rainforests are depleting at a rapid rate and, as they are a home to many indigenous tribes, is causing great turmoil. Although the Constitution of 1988 claims to recognize the indians' "original land rights to the lands they traditionally occupy" and promise that these lands will be "demarcated" and "protected", the Government Agency Funai is charged with the demarcation of of nearly fifty percent of the lands(PeaceNet). The report claims that, "in reality, most most indian lands whether demarcated or not are coveted for some form of development." This claim is substantiated by the fact that "mineral concessions have been made on fifty-eight percent of all demarcated indian lands, while thirteen percent are affected by hydroelectric projects," (PeaceNet) The link between global environmental change and the rights of indigenous populations results from the close relationship between indigenous people's cultural and economic situations and their environmental settings. Therefore, if the environment of the native Indians of Brazil continues to be changed and removed, the people born on these lands will be exterminated out of existence. Additionally, many societal views of the indigenous people is killing them. The Amnesty International report, as commented upon by PeaceNet cites one occasion in which a thirty-five year old Macuxi Indian by the name of Damiao M endes was found lying face down on a muddy riverbank, shot in the neck. Nearby lay his nineteen year-old nephew, murdered by the same means.

American Dream for Women- Yes or No

Gender- Inequality in labor force The American Dream, one of the most attractive things which draw thousands people to the United States, is just a simple promise: equality. This is where people can work hard and expect to gain from their effort. This is where opportunities are equally provided for anyone who has determination to improve his or her life. Anyone can have equal access to the American Dream. However, it depends. If you are White, you can dream that dream. If you are non-White, you cannot.If you belong to the middle and upper class, you have the right to dream. If you find yourself struggling to have daily meals, you do not have that right. Similarly, if you are male, go ahead, but if you are not, you have to step back. Gender has always been a big problem with the American Dream. Women cannot move themselves to better lives in the same way that men are able to. Gender creates deep-rooted inequality against women in the labor force, through the social construction of gen der roles and femininity.Inequality between two genders shows up as early as in the beginning of one’s career. Influenced by gender roles, women and men tend to choose jobs that can help them fulfill their social expectations (Weisgram, Dinella, and Fulcher 245). For example, men would prefer jobs with high monetary reward to fulfill their breadwinning roles, and women would choose jobs which allow them to have time with their family as they are supposed to be the main caretakers.Women, raised with the idea of femininity, would choose careers related to caring or serving such as teachers and nurses, while men would be more attracted to careers in technology and management fields, which require the supposedly masculine characteristics such as decisiveness. As a result, women have a tendency to choose their careers in female-dominated fields, whose monetary reward generally is lower than those of male-dominated fields. This division of the work force also influences womenâ€⠄¢s expectation of their future salaries.Research shows that men overall have higher pay expectation than women, and people intending to work in male-dominated fields have much higher pay expectation than those who want to work in female-dominated fields (Hogue, DuBois, and Fox- Cardamone 222). Low pay expectation can result in receiving lower pay offers in an equally qualified pool of job applicants, and starting wages can affect one’s career in his or her long term payment (Hogue, DuBois, and Fox-Cardamone 215). This reflects that in reality women who work in ale-dominated fields earn 26% more than other women who have female-dominated jobs, as the U. S. Department of Labor reported in 2008 (qtd. in Hogue, Dubois, and Fox-Cardamone 215). Women, influenced by their gender roles and the concept of femininity, experience inequality in their work choices and pay expectations. Women face difficulties during their careers because of their traditional gender roles as main family c aretakers. Wives, not husbands, are generally the ones who have primary responsibilities in domestic work, either household chores or child care.In dual-earner families, men usually share housework with their partners, yet women still have the main responsibility in organizing family life (Rubin 247). Most people used to consider women entering the work force as expanding their traditional role without men changing theirs (Gilbert and Rader 164). Women were seen as being in conflict between outside work and family; the more time they spent on working outside, the more they would neglect their supposedly main role. Questions were then raised about whether working mothers had negative effects on their children as well as the family as a whole.Although research showed that having dual-earner families had no effect on preschool-age children, especially if additional income was used in daily childcare, this whole viewpoint discouraged women from working outside for a long time (Gilbert a nd Rader 164). Even though our society is now more accepting toward working mothers, women still cannot have the same opportunities as men when it comes to careers, which involve more commitment than jobs. ( Jobs vs careers ) Women are encouraged to have paid jobs to balance their families’ finance, to better their children’s and husbands’ lives.In other words, women’s working outside is seen as part of their traditional role, or part of their femininity: supporting men. Women who want to pursue their professional careers especially those in high levels, have to spend a lot of time working just like their male colleagues. However, unlike men, they are usually criticized as not fulfilling their traditional role. Women who challenge the idea of gender roles are facing a lot of pressure, both from the work place and from their families.As women’s major career is family work, they will not be considered successful if they fail as wives and mothers. The ir occupational success will not be viewed seriously as it is still their secondary role. These negative effects of gender cause a lot of difficulties for women who want to seriously pursue their careers, and create a deep inequality between women and men in the labor force. Although there are more and more women working in male-dominated jobs, it is not the case for the most male-dominated field: leadership.Only 21% of women hold middle management positions, and just 15% can be senior level managers (Sipe, Johnson, and Fisher 340). Only 1. 2% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women, according to a Catalyst study (Gorski). Leadership positions have much better monetary awards than other positions; they can be indications of one’s expertise and success in his or her job and can promote self-esteem as well as confidence. Even though women now have chances to work in diverse fields, they are not given equal opportunities to take leadership roles, which perpetuates the inequality in the wo rkplace.This can be explained, again, by the idea of femininity and masculinity. Masculinity usually includes those traits such as ambitious, analytical, assertive, decisive, independent, etc. , while femininity denotes characteristics such as affectionate, gentle, caring, warm, soft-spoken, etc. â€Å"The first [masculinity] expresses the intellect, the second [femininity] â€Å"the heart†; the first the â€Å"rational† faculties, the second the â€Å"intuitive† or â€Å"emotional†Ã¢â‚¬ ( Jamieson 124).Those feminine traits are not considered suitable for a leader or for a management position, which traditionally requires those masculine traits such as decisiveness and independence. Because of the effect of gender stereotypes, people view women as possessing the â€Å"natural† femininity, and women are often raised in a way which encourages them to develop such traits to live up to their social expectations. Not all men possess these appreciated characteristics, and not all women are feminine in the way our society thinks.However, women as a group have suffered from this idea of femininity as people refuse to acknowledge their strength but focus on their gender- based inability to perform leadership. As a result, in a society that considers men as natural leaders, women find it difficult to break those gender stereotypes in order to prove themselves as effective leaders. According to Noble and Moore (2006), many women who are able to achieve leadership eventually give up their positions (qtd. in Sipe, Johnson, and Fisher 340). In her book Beyond the Double Bind, Kathleen H.Jamieson analyzed the gender-caused prejudice against women who were already leaders. As femininity is opposed to the traditional leadership style, women in those positions must be able to show some certain masculine characteristics. They are then perceived as not acting feminine, which is inappropriate in our gender-based society, or as not being mascul ine enough for effective leadership (Jamieson 121). For example, if a female leader talked assertively, she would be considered unfeminine or even rude for a woman, yet if she did not, she would be criticized as having poor leadership skills.Women with their traditional gender role and their assigned femininity have always confronted difficulties in the workplace. The unequal process starts as soon as they begin to form their ideas about what career they want to pursue, to their lives with a double role as family caretakers and normal employees. It also affects their effort to get promoted to management level; even if they already achieve something, the process works to diminish it. Women have always had to work much harder than men in order to achieve equal statuses.They have to overcome many disadvantages, as well as work against men’s privilege. Men are viewed as natural leaders; women are not. In order to be equal, they have to prove themselves as effective leaders as wel l as better leaders than those supposedly natural leaders. Women were raised in a society which views them as inferior, and to achieve equality means to work hard to change their own minds, as well as others’. Women have never enjoyed the real equality which many politicians mentioned in their articulate speeches.They have never had the right to dream the American Dream, which promises that everyone will have equal chances to work themselves out of poverty and live their dream lives. Works Cited Gilbert, Lucia A. , and Rader, Jill. â€Å"Current Perspectives on Women’s Adult Roles: Work, Family, and Life. † Handbook of the Psychology of Women and Gender. Ed. Rhoda K. Unger. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2001. 156-169. Print. Gorski, Paul C.. â€Å"Class and Poverty Awareness Quiz†. Edchange. 2011. Web. 19 Oct. 2011.Houge, Mary, DuBois, Cathy L. Z. , and Fox-Cardamone, Lee. â€Å"Gender Differences in Pay Expectations: the Roles of Job Intention and S elf-View. † Psychology of Women Quarterly. 34. 2. (2010): 215-227. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Oct. 2011. Jamieson, Kathleen H.. Beyond the Double Bind. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. Print. Rubin, Lillian. â€Å"Families on the Fault Line†. The Social Construction of Difference and Inequality. Ed. Tracy E. Ore. New York: McGraw Hill, 2006. 245-254. Print. Sipe, Stephanie, Johnson, C.Douglas, and Fisher, Donna K.. â€Å"University Students’ Perceptions of Gender Discrimination in the Workplace Reality Versus Fiction. † Journal of Education for Business. 84. 6 (2009):339-349. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Oct. 2011. Weisgram, Erica, Dinella, Lisa, and Fulcher, Megan. â€Å"The Role of Masculinity/ Femininity, Values, and Occupational Value Affordances in Shaping Young Men’s and Women’s Occupational Choices. † Sex Roles. 65. 3/4. (2011): 243-258. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Oct. 2011.

The Internet and How Society Consumes Media - 1493 Words

Currently our society is in the midst of a media shift. Although there is still a need for traditional media, online media is finding its place in consumers needs. It’s important for professionals in the journalism industry to take note and understand the direction this change is taking. Gaskins and Jerit (2012) contributed their research on this topic and introduce it by sharing, â€Å"these findings have important implications for researchers and industry executives who seek to understand the changing nature of the media environment and its effects on the mass public† (p. 191). The purpose of this paper is to be a starting point to the understanding of this changing nature. By answering the following questions, we are able to see the†¦show more content†¦233). In order to keep credibility with sites consumers, the journalists must place a high importance on their work and the accuracy of their stories. There was a study conducted with journalism graduate students that were studying in the Netherlands. The study covered ethical dilemmas with Internet media. One finding derived from the study was, â€Å"the online journalists are confronted with dilemmas that force them to choose between giving up their traditional norms and values and keeping them in a new environment, opting for (gradual) adoption instead of (radical) change† (Deuze Yeshua, 2001, p. 289). Some of the dilemmas the online journalist ran into during this study was, the challenge to create accurate material, verifying hyperlinks were correct and solidifying sources in their stories. Most of the issues mentioned could have been resolved if journalist took their time, checked their material and practiced more of their traditional media ethic habits. How will media outlets distinguish the difference between what the public â€Å"needs† to know and what it â€Å"wants† the to know? In traditional media, there are gatekeepers who manage what will be produced. In regards to journalistic norms, researcher Enli says, â€Å"News production involves â€Å"framing†; stories are framed to match the journalists’ perception of newsworthiness, and how news should be presented†(2007, p. 49). With Internet media, it’s just as important to shape stories in a manner that deliverShow MoreRelatedThe Internet : Political Socialization And The Internet906 Words   |  4 Pagespolitical socialization, which is the process of how the next generation acquires their political orientation and how this process sways society left or right on the political bell curve. Even though families, schools, and peers do sculpt a person political belief, a more recent but astronomically powerful force to shape an individual political opinion would be the internet. 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The use of electronic devices has changed the life of children/adolescent and have exposed them to a volatile and irreparable outcome, in their social interaction with peers and family, self-perception, behavior and sleepRead MoreThe Effects Of Electronic Devices On Children And Adolescents Essay1464 Words   |  6 Pagestime to stop using an electronic device. Children and adolescents today spend â€Å"1 to 3 hours per day during the week and between 1 to 4 hours per day on the weekends† (Kappos, A.D. pg. 556) on computer games, viewing videos, watching television and internet surfing to name a few. The use of electronic devices has changed the life of children/adolescent and have expo sed them to a volatile and irreparable outcome, in their social interaction with peers and family, self-perception, behavior and sleepRead MoreBrainwashed By Advertising : A Cultural Force, Social Values And The Quality Of Life1410 Words   |  6 Pagesalmost anywhere from small town flyers to multi-million dollar Super Bowl TV spots. Advertising affects almost all facets of society, and although initially imagined as an economic tool, advertising is now, â€Å"a socio-cultural force, influencing social values and the quality of life,† (Bondrea and Stefanescu-Mihailia 341). Advertising has both positive and negative influences on society, and depending on opinion, these influences can outweigh each other. While advertising can be used positively, today advertisersRead MoreDiscuss the Role of the Concepts of the Seduced and the Repressed for Understanding the Place of Consumption in Contemporary Consumer Society1659 Words   |  7 Pagesconsumption in contemporary consumer s ociety. This essay will give two sides to Bauman’s concepts and address the implications in order to ascertain whether or not the roles of these concepts do help us to understand the place of consumption, in what is increasingly being referred to by many social scientists as a consumer society. Consumer society is a term used by many social scientists, including Zygmunt Bauman, when referring to contemporary Western society. Hetherington argues that the conceptual