Category: Perspective

This discussion examines what is the meaning of the concept of ideology and tries different approaches to answering this question. However, this term is very commonly used in the academic sphere but many researchers tend to use it in different ways be it pejorative or meliorative. It is considered a ‘notorious pedigree’. It comes from the Greek; idea ‘form, pattern’ and the term ‘logos’ which denotes a discourse or compilation. An ideology can be understood as a theoretical approach trying to explain what is out there.

Firstly the following essay explores how the term ideology came from a scientific approach and developed debates. The discussion moves on to the meaning of ideology nowadays. Finally, it examines the debate over the possible ‘end of ideology’. The concluding discussion notes that because of… that…

First of all, the term ideology according to a social-scientific viewpoint corresponds to a set of ideas that provides a basis for organized political action, whether this is intended to preserve, modify, or overthrow the existing system of power relationships. We can relate this definition to the one of Antoine Destutt de Tracy who was the first to coin the term « ideology » at the end of the 18th century. However, he had a specific idea of what was an ideology. First, he understood it as a new empirical science of ideas. According to him, this new science was la theorie des theories and had an impact on other sciences since it necessarily preceded all other sciences, which of necessity utilized ‘ideas’. This shows that Dan ideally was supposed to be the supreme science and theory that would help rational entities to understand and live in their present world. However, this is arguable because it would assume that ideologues were the ones able to understand this and more suitable to retain power. This perception was not well perceived by Napoleon Bonaparte who maintained a hostile relationship with the ideologues accusing them of fomenting political unrest. In this aspect, we can see that it created debate among political actors. Some might even say that he seemed to suffer from ‘ideophobia’- pejorative use of ideology indicating intellectual sterility, practical ineptitude, and dangerous political sentiments- tended to stick. Here we can see the dissension between key actors and later on with academics. Another main approach and criticism of the term ideology was the one provided by Marx. Indeed, it was a critique of De Tracy’s theory in the aspect of its social status and its concept. Thus, he first reproached the fact that De Tracy was a ‘minor vulgar bourgeois liberal political economist’ which was a ‘crime’ to him. It is interesting to see that at this time there is a shift in the understanding of the meaning of ideology. Hence, as Marx puts it in his book entitled The German Ideology (1845) it is understood as a pejorative ‘label’ to those who ‘interpret’ the world philosophically but do not appear to be able to change it. However, it is not legitimate in the aspect that he is in a certain aspect an ideologue because he still believes in the construction of a rational society and the improvement of humanity in it. Therefore he created his ideology with his perception of the perfect society. So, we can conclude that ideologies are theories that offer an account of an existing order and give a specific worldview on the matter and what they consider the Good Society and its supposed future.

The term ideology nowadays is mostly used in the political sphere and begets controversy. It was first considered as the science of ideas by De Tracy but nowadays it would be more correct to describe it as a developed social philosophy or worldview. As we learned from history, this has been used badly with the adoption of political ideologies as a necessary part of totalitarian regimes in the interwar period. For instance, in fascist Italy under Mussolini (1918-1945), where state thinking was an instrument of social control and a political weapon. This was especially denounced by (Karl Popper, Hannah Arendt, and J.L. Talmon) This emphasis worked so well that those who sacrificed their lives sometimes conspired as martyrs for those ideologies. This was the case for Gramsci who was kept as a prisoner in Mussolini’s prisons and wrote his famous Prison Diaries. In addition, we can distinguish classical ideological traditions such as liberalism, conservatism, and socialism that were developed in reaction to the industrial society.

An aspect to consider is the idea that ideologies tend to be constructed on a contradiction between generally two rival economic philosophies like the case of capitalism vs socialism. So it has evolved in contradiction to something to exists in some cases. Then we can see that ideologies are also linked to economics and encompass now a major place in many theories such as Marxism with the influence of the infrastructure on the superstructure. In nowadays Western societies we can distinguish that contemporary politics are a mix of old and new ideologies as is the case of feminism which is split into several subcategories such as socialist feminism liberal feminism or even Marxist feminism. Therefore, ideologies can be considered as constant change concepts that adapt themselves. We could also talk about competing epistemologies within the battle of ideologies. During the post-war periods, there were intense ideational battles between political ideologies and certainly the one between capitalism and communism. These conflicts revolved around civilization and its annihilators. They were all trying to promote a specific paradigm and idea of universal truth and a perfect society. For instance, the Western world was following an ideology promoting ‘education, inspiration, direction and conversion’ as missions, very American ideologies. While on the other hand, Eastern Europe was more interested in ‘the conversion of ideas into social levers’ (Bell). It appears that in the Anglo-American world, ‘ideology is all too often an alien implant, something concocted by spinners of dreams, otherworldly intellectuals, or machinators with totalitarian designs’ (Michael Freeden). On the other hand in Europe ideology is still considered a grand theory due to the events of the 20th century such as when the fascists were trying to face communists to impose their ideology on the world. It is nonetheless difficult to draw the line between political doctrines and political ideologies. Politicians need political ideologies and theories to express themselves and denounce systemic abuse and obfuscation through the force of superimposed ideas, and some of their ‘actually is’, and ‘ideology’ power. This is a link to Antonio Gramsci who explained that capitalism was not only achieved by coercion but also by the hegemony of ideas. It was widely spread and there was the domination of language, morality, culture, and common sense, with for instance the Americanization.

But the term ideology has come to a turning point with Charles Taylor talking about the ‘politics of recognition’ becoming a significant point in the contemporary world. Ideologies now serve as a way to ask for recognition of identity essentially. Since the mid-twentieth there have been great debates on whether we could consider that ideologies came to a point of no return, thus, the subject of ‘the end of ideology’ poured a lot of ink into the academic field. This was a result of the collapse of most of the totalitarian regimes in Europe such as fascism and later on communism. Daniel Bell wrote in The End of Ideology that political ideologies were no longer relevant due to Western parties were only interested in power without proposing a political ideology but only promising higher levels of economic growth and material affluence. However, he was the leader and revived the movement of ‘end of history’ theorists notably Fukuyama who assumed that only one ideology was left: liberal democracy because it had won over the other ideologies. There are notable problems with this theory as a whole. Indeed, it was supposed to be a temporary base in reaction to the last world wars and industrialization. Therefore we could ask ourselves if it is still relevant nowadays. In one sense, this theory of the ‘end of ideology’ was a reaction and reflection of the development of Western countries in the post-war period and it coincided with sociology at this time. Indeed, American sociology ‘offered the world the prospect of freedom from ideology, for it offered a “science” of society, in place of superstition’ (see Goldie in Ball et al. eds 1989, 268). But we can also argue that it can be considered a rite of passage to help the improvement of the concept of ideology. As Alasdair MacIntyre commented, the ‘end of ideology’ theorists ‘failed to entertain one crucial alternative possibility: namely, that the end-of-ideology, far from marking the end-of-ideology, was itself a key expression of the ideology of the time and place where it arose’ (MacIntyre 1971, 5).

In sum, this essay provides a general overview of what the term ideology could imply. Firstly, we tried to explain the development of the notion of ideology and the different perceptions of various political theorists. The discussion moved on to the meaning of an ‘ideology’ nowadays and the complications it still encounters in society. Finally, we assessed the approach of ‘the end of ideology’ theory. However, this question is mainly focusing on the term ideology and assumes theoretically that it is still an object of dissension. I would nevertheless argue that ideology is constantly changing and reinventing itself as we saw it with the new theories coming to light with for instance green politics. But are these real ideologies or political theories?

“He didn’t see a man with hopes and dreams, with disappointments and accomplishments. All he saw in front of him was just another nigger.”(Kenneth Eade) The novel The Hate U Give represents institutional oppression, injustice, and bias with the shooting of Khaili Harris. While growing up in an unprivileged community; boys fall into gang life to provide for their families. Where the color of your skin can be the downfall of your life; where cops see you just as a gangbanger, who doesn’t have ambitions or dreams.

Firstly, The Hate U Give manifests harmful bias and injustice when regarding police brutality. Police brutality plays a huge factor in unprivileged black communities, where parents must have a talk with their children about what to do when they encounter law enforcement. The parents Maverick and Lisa have this talk with Starr on how to behave in front of police because being black and having an exchange with a cop can be a life or death situation. Maverick explains to his children the systemic racism that they face every day in society, with the community they live in, and the school they go to. His children also learn the Ten Commandments, the most important phases that make black communities strive to end police brutality “ We want an immediate end to police brutality and the murder of black people, other people of color, and oppressed people.” As a father Maverick thought that teaching his children to conduct themselves accordingly when police officers are around, would prepare them for encounters with law enforcement. But the death of a young black teenage sparked feelings of loss and depression in Maverick’s daughter Starr.

Furthermore, Khalil Harris was a young black man who was killed in a police brutality encounter, officer One-Fifteen shot Khalil in front of his childhood best friend. Officer One-Fifteen then points the gun at Starr who is terrified until he is reassured backup is on his way. The pernicious effect of police brutality in Khalil’s encounter shows that even teenagers are seen as a threat to law enforcement “ INNOCENCE TEENAGERS”. Khalil’s death sparked riots and a huge effect on Garden Heights the town where he grew up then, the reasoning as to why Khalil’s life was lost to a hairbrush angered many folk in Garden Heights. When people suspected that Khaili was a drug dealer and that the cop got rid of one less drug dealer. Starr addresses this issue to the community saying with saying “ I want everyone to know that Khalil mattered too.” The death of Khalil didn’t spark just a controversial protest against police brutality but a way for the media to bolster Officer Brian’s character and justify his actions to killing Khalil.

The foundational values of SBM- sustainability, social justice, and good governance are relevant to business and management and are all linked together. Sustainable development can be simply defined as the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of upcoming generations. There is often a chasm between activities and outcomes. For example, Recently school enrolment and literacy rates have gone up but the employment rate has stagnated, deforestation slowed down but fish stocks are diminishing rapidly. Thus this chasm between activities and outcomes is because of two reasons. (Lele, 2013)

1. The universal appeal of the term Sustainable development is its weakness. It is often interpreted and redefined in ways that limit its goals.
2. The diverse and radical perspective of people. They are unable to articulate a common vision and a joint way forward.

The original definition of sustainable development focused on meeting needs, but the operational part refocused attention on growth, suggesting that economic growth is essential for poverty reduction. Thus under the leadership of the World Bank, the main goals of Sustainable development were redefined as;

• Development as economic growth with a trickle-down effect
• Sustainability as non-declining economic well being
• Equity as participation in the process of development decision-making.

The challenge of sustainable development is to bring a different perspective into at least a dialogue if convergence is not possible and the broad notion of well-being should include a lot more than just freedom. Thus sustainable development is redefined as ecologically sustainable and socially just pursuit of basic material and non-material well-being.

Social justice is a normative account of social relations, i.e. something that is concerned with values. It means an equal distribution of wealth, opportunities, rights, etc. A sustainable environment is a self-sufficient environment that produces less waste, is low on carbon footprints, has more greenery, meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future, and most importantly an environment where every citizen can live meaningful and healthy lives. But is this possible that all citizens have equity? The core concern for sustainability is equity and justice. Even according to the third point of social justice as defined by the World Bank; there should be equity as participation in the process of development making. One of the major concerns for global society’s goal of sustainability is the fear of exclusion of marginalized societies in the participatory process toward a sustainable environment. There is a lack of social stability, increased inequality within as well as between countries, the undermining of the economic bases of our societies, and the list goes on. Surprisingly businesses play a dominant role in social instability.

And so we come to the third challenge; Good Governance. Governance is how sustainable development is built. The objective of good governance is to promote accountability, and efficiency, and to ensure equitable and sustainable development. Good governance ensures that corporations oversee their social responsibilities to ensure sustainability. For the past few years, people have been concerned about saving Earth’s natural resources to make them last as long as possible. Since businesses are significant users of Earth’s natural resources, they must ensure sustainability as well as equity. Good governance ensures that corporations are aware of how their business impacts the environment and whether it ensures social justice and equity among its workers and consumers. Every business should understand the impact it has on people and society. Businesses should be responsible for maintaining human rights, fair labor practices, living conditions, equity, wages, etc. Good governance should ensure that the impact they are having on people is just and equal and thus ensures social justice by creating sustainable places that promote well-being by understanding the needs and demands of people. It is the responsibility of businesses to ensure that the people working for them get equal wages, and opportunities and are not violated of their human rights. This ensures their health and productivity. Healthier and more productive workers then translate to more profits for companies. Providing safer working conditions, living wages, and job security creates a secure supply chain. To ensure a seamless supply chain, logistics play a huge role. Logistics is the process of planning, implementing, and managing the movement and storage of raw materials, work in progress, inventory, finished goods, and associated information from the point of origin to the point of consumption. Logistics ensure a global supply chain by linking together firms in different parts of the world and adding value creations. Businesses have evolved from a push strategy to a pull strategy by outsourcing, free trade agreements, structural adjustments, foreign direct investments, and export-based development. The global supply chain thus created reduces inequality between countries and ensures social justice.

Good governance is not just ensuring social justice but also should keep sustainability as its key goal. Since businesses are the key users of resources, they should be mindful of what they tell and give back to society. Businesses have now aimed to operate as ‘green’ as possible by saving energy, reducing waste, cutting costs, and trying as much as possible to maintain and enhance natural resources. Working towards a sustainable environment has multiple benefits for the business. Stakeholders appreciate and invest heavily in businesses that ensure sustainable goals by preserving energy and resources. Even consumers prioritize businesses that have sustainable supply chains that are transparent as it improves the public’s view of the company which directly impacts their bottom line. Ultimately these efforts increase the corporation’s credibility.

Business would be a success if it developed processes and structures that meet the needs of its current members and support the ability of future generations to maintain a healthy community. Thus, businesses work better under good governance which ensures social justice and sustainable goals. Good governance, social justice, and sustainability are all linked to each other, and we cannot differentiate them. Resolving the issue of good governance will feed through and eradicate the problem of sustainability and social injustice. Since good governance ensures transparency; it would be cautious of its moves as corporations are aware that the public is watching them. Consumers automatically have a bend toward companies that treat their employees right and who exterminate the problem of social instability and inequality while being mindful regarding the nature and the correct usage of resources. Eliminating carbon footprints, ensuring proper disposal of its products using recycling and reusing, and giving back to nature a lot more than what it takes from nature are some points that attract more and more consumers which would automatically reap profits for the business. And the only way businesses can make this dream come true is through good governance. Thus, good governance will help resolve the challenge of sustainability and social justice.

Importance of Soccer and its Benefits

Soccer is arguably the most popular sport in the world. The FIFA World Cup usually takes over all media forms. Those who are not soccer fans sometimes tend to wonder why the sport attracts so much attention compared to many other types of sports. Some soccer fans may also have a hard time trying to explain to you why they are so much in love with it. If you are a player or fan, some research could help you easily point out your source of inspiration that keeps you attracted to the game. I am not a great lover of soccer but often find myself swept up in the frenzy whenever there are major soccer events or a soccer game organized by my friends. Here is my researched list of some of the major benefits of soccer.

Staying Fit and Healthy

Players create positive fitness habits that they can maintain. They get to learn about what it takes to keep in shape and will put in extra effort to enhance their fitness (Hammami, 2018). This explains why soccer players tend to be lean and muscular. Some of the workouts lead to muscle development. The constant running associated with the sport helps them to develop endurance (DA, 2013). Players are more likely to ensure good nutrition. They also limit the time they spend on other activities that do not have significant health benefits such as playing video games or watching TV. They are also more likely to limit the use of drugs that put their well-being at risk.

Source of Income

Soccer has the potential to generate high revenues for a country. People pay fees to watch major games. Media stations usually spend millions of dollars to get the rights to air certain tournaments that have a huge following (Rohde & Breuer, 2016). For instance, the English Premier League is the world’s most popular soccer league system with a significant contribution to the English economy. Professional soccer players have made the game their career with a good number ranking among the highest-paid personalities in the world. Entertainment joints, restaurants, and betting firms also make money out of soccer events.

Enhances People’s Social Life

Soccer players tend to build good relationships with their teammates. They spend a considerable amount of time together during training sessions, travels, and tournaments. The bond they share promotes a sense of unity helping to foster friendships. Soccer fans also tend to develop similar bonds as they meet during the games and in some of the forums organized by fans of various teams. For people who work from home and have no significant social avenues where they get to interact with others, playing soccer on a part-time basis may be just what they need to develop a great social life.

Now that you are aware of the core benefits of soccer, I am sure most of you would love the opportunity to enhance your health, and social life, and even make money out of it. The first step to enjoying some of these benefits would be to look out for opportunities that will help you get started which are readily available. You could even start by mobilizing some of your friends for weekly soccer games together and enhance your involvement with time. You will begin to enjoy the benefits as soon as you get started.

“If Singapore is a nanny state, then I am proud to have fostered one”. This quote by the late Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew aptly suggests the strength of governance in Singapore. A country ridden with natural resources emphasizes good governance to shape policies that will help Singapore survive. Singapore’s education policy is a key factor in helping the nation grow. In particular, the shift in focus of the nation’s education policy from 1979 to 1996 has had a significant impact on my personal experience. Hence, this essay will look into our nation’s education policy and assess how it made a profound impact on my family and me.

Famed for having a rags-to-riches story, Singapore’s remarkable development from a struggling underdeveloped nation to becoming an economic powerhouse and one of the four Asian tigers in Asia tells a fascinating tale. Upon closer examination, our nation’s education policy is one of the key engines of growth worth analyzing.

Singapore’s education policy from the late 1950s to the late 1970s was one of ‘survival’. There was a need to capitalize on our strategic location. Hence, our founding fathers adopted an education policy that complemented our export-oriented economy. There was a heavy focus on getting citizens basic education. Equipping them with basic technical skills that will attract multinational corporations to set up factories here was crucial. This would help to kick start the economy and lift Singaporeans out of poverty. The plan worked. However, the turning point came in 1979, when there was a shift in focus from a ‘survival’ to an ‘efficiency-driven’ phase. Personally, I believe that this was the pivotal moment that saw Singapore turn into a highly educated nation, capable of producing brilliant minds that continue to contribute to our economy today.

The efficiency-driven phase saw a change from focusing on basic education to designing a system that allows all individuals to maximize their academic potential. This was done in hopes of developing highly skilled workers that will attract companies with a higher tech base. This would hopefully power the economy to even greater heights and raise the standard of living even higher. To achieve this goal, the government created what is known today as ‘streaming’. Students now had multiple paths in their academic pursuit – academic-driven schools preparing students for universities, polytechnics that focused on occupational development, and technical institutes that focused on vocational training. Together with an Asian culture that promotes hard work, many thrived under the rigorous education system. The policy became a success.

This policy change is precisely what allowed my father to become the first member of his family to be university-educated. My father’s entrance into a university proved to help my family hugely. Becoming a degree holder meant that he could uplift my family’s social status – from a lower working class to an upper middle class. He was able to earn institutionalized cultural capital, making him more employable. He managed to attain a job that was deemed more ‘important’ in society.

However, my father’s recount of his university experience in Green Bay, Wisconsin, highlights the contrast between Eastern and Western culture. Growing up in an era without the Internet, he did not have much access to information regarding overseas universities. Everything he knew prior to his move to Wisconsin was through physical collaterals. Hence, when he arrived in the States, he experienced a huge culture shock. Everything from the way people spoke to the food they ate was a stark contrast to our beloved Singlish accent and chicken rice. He mentioned that it was incredibly hard to find Asian food in America, especially in the Eighties when globalization had not taken off. Furthermore, the low censorship in America created a liberal and ‘wild’ culture. This was a stark contrast to tightly controlled and ‘nanny state’ Singapore. More than just culture shock, he also experienced racism. He came to figure out that many Americans were unaware of Asians and viewed them as an ‘exotic breed’. He attributes this to the representation of Asians in media, carrying a mysterious demeanor and speaking broken English with a heavy Chinese accent. As a member of the minority, he would have to brave comments regarding his skin color and height. After living in the States for over a decade, he experienced re-entry shock upon arriving back in Singapore. He had developed an American accent and other ‘American’ habits such as slang that made him ‘mainstream’ during his stay in America.

My father grew up in a time when Singapore shifted its policy in the hopes of producing exquisite minds that could productively contribute to the economy. My father was able to thrive. Because of him, I was fortunate enough to be born into an upper-middle-class family. My father’s success has allowed me to live a privileged life. He was able to move our family into a home along Bukit Timah in order to send my sister and me to the top schools. We attended many extracurricular classes such as ballet and piano. Whenever we were struggling in school, my parents could easily hire tutors for help. I lead a life drastically different from the humble beginnings of my parents’ generation. I am fortunate to have experienced such intergenerational upward mobility.

All that glitters is not gold. It is by chance that I was born into a family that has benefited from such a policy change. However, my father’s case should not be viewed without acknowledging that the Singaporean dream – flourishing in this education, and attaining the ‘5Cs’ should be taken with a pinch of salt. Underneath the fairytale-like story of our education policy lies a hard truth – a ‘pressure cooker system’ that has seen the downfall of many others as well, creating an ever-increasing gap in society.

Introduction

William Hazlitt’s essay ‘On The Want Of Money’ explores the theme of the impact of financial constraints on human life and happiness. Through his masterful use of rhetoric, Hazlitt presents a compelling argument that delves into the complexities of wealth and poverty. This rhetorical analysis essay will examine the persuasive techniques employed by Hazlitt, including his use of ethos, pathos, and logos, to convey his message effectively and engage the readers in a critical evaluation of the societal perception of money.

Ethos

Hazlitt establishes his credibility and authority on the subject by sharing personal anecdotes and observations. He presents himself as a keen observer of human behavior, drawing from his own experiences and interactions with people from various social classes. By sharing his insights and reflections, he establishes a sense of trust with the readers, enhancing the persuasive impact of his argument.

Pathos

Hazlitt appeals to the readers’ emotions by vividly describing the effects of poverty on individuals and society as a whole. He paints a bleak picture of the struggles faced by those without sufficient means, evoking empathy and compassion. Through poignant and evocative language, he elicits an emotional response, urging the readers to reflect on the harsh realities faced by the less fortunate.

Logos

Hazlitt employs logical reasoning to support his argument and challenge prevailing notions about the importance of money. He highlights the contradictions and inconsistencies in societal values, pointing out that money is often valued more than personal virtues or intellectual pursuits. He presents logical arguments to question the notion that wealth equates to happiness and argues that the pursuit of money often leads to moral compromises and personal dissatisfaction.

Style and Tone

Hazlitt’s writing style is characterized by its clarity, precision, and critical tone. He employs rhetorical devices such as irony, repetition, and parallelism to enhance the impact of his arguments. His use of vivid imagery and figurative language effectively conveys the stark contrast between the opulent lifestyles of the rich and the dire circumstances faced by the poor.

Structure and Organization

Hazlitt structures his essay in a logical and coherent manner, moving from one point to another seamlessly. He begins by establishing the significance of money in society and then proceeds to dissect the various ways in which it influences human behavior and relationships. He builds his argument systematically, providing evidence and examples to support each claim. This organized structure allows the readers to follow his line of reasoning and reinforces the effectiveness of his persuasive message.

Conclusion

In ‘On The Want Of Money,’ William Hazlitt utilizes a combination of ethos, pathos, and logos to present a compelling argument about the impact of wealth and poverty on human lives. Through his skillful use of rhetoric, he challenges societal values and urges the readers to critically examine their own attitudes towards money. Hazlitt’s ability to evoke emotions, present logical reasoning, and craft his message with clarity and precision make this essay a thought-provoking and persuasive piece of literature. His insights continue to resonate today, reminding us of the complexities surrounding money and its influence on our perceptions of happiness and fulfillment.

Sexism is defined as discrimination towards someone else based on their sex and gender. In other words, it is the differential treatment between males and females. However, a new gender has become available to use in ten out of the fifty states in the U.S., and that gender is “X”, which means that an individual does not want to be classified as a male or female (Lam, 2019). It is known to be more of a non-binary gender. In a research study, sexism has happened to forty-two percent of working women in the United States (Parker & Funk, 2017). It has become a norm to become sexist towards women rather than men.

In today’s society, the amount of discrimination has increased dramatically and it is only getting worse because no one is putting an end to it. For example, when gunme Omar Mateen murdered forty-nine individuals at an Orlando nightclub called Pulse back in 2016, chaos erupted throughout the US. It was seen as a hate crime because the Pulse nightclub was filled with hundreds of LGBT individuals. Although three years have passed since that massacre, no solution has been created to help protect individuals from sexism.

Everyone has a right to be who they want to be, and no one should be allowed to discriminate against others just because they do not agree with their views. Sure, every person is entitled to their opinions, but for any disagreements to be publicly announced is not fair. With three current genders now, I think it has made some people feel relieved, while others are appalled by this decision. The ones who oppose this “X” gender, believe that this is ridiculous. They believe that there should only be two genders: male and female. Even though there are individuals who currently have an” X” on their I.D. or Driver’s License, they are more prone to have safety risks in public. They are more likely to become an easier target. Most of the time, men are the ones who are the harassers that prey on women and other genders. Men feel less accustomed to being gender discriminated and it has always been that way for decades.

The impact of gender inequality on women becomes more severe depending on their position in a career. For example, if a male and a female with the same amount of experience were to apply for a high-end position at a company, the male would tend to get hired first. When there are males in a superior position, there are often cases in which they discriminate harshly against a coworker who is a female. According to (Swim, Aikin, Hall, & Hunter, 1995), “modern sexism is characterized by the denial of continued discrimination, antagonism toward women’s demands, and lack of support for policies designed to help women”. A woman is capable of doing a man’s job just as a man is capable of doing a woman’s job.

Personal beliefs, history, and experiences: Throughout my life, I have run into many conflicts out in public when a boss is a male and the one positioned under the boss is usually a female, the male begins to treat the female like a puppy to fetch their needs. I have been discriminated against in a workplace setting. I once worked at a restoration company and they would not allow me to do the “men’s” job which was remodeling buildings because they said I would get hurt. Instead, they made me sweep and mop the floors of things they spilled. I felt that it was unfair of them to judge me and automatically assume that I was not good enough to do that job. In reality, it was good enough. I had done the previous remodeling before with my uncle’s company.

Learning about sexism has not shaped my perspective because I have experienced it firsthand. I just do not understand how many people can have that much hatred towards others based on gender.

Although I still cannot process this prejudice, I am learning to put my personal feelings aside for the ones who dislike other genders. I find it very easy to communicate effectively with those who are still unsure as to who they are and those of other genders.

Sexism is and will always be around until a permanent solution is found in which hatred no longer exists. No gender is better than the other and people need to come to realize that. If everyone would keep their opinions to themselves, I think the world would be a much happier place. I always tell the ones who are being discriminatory, “You know everyone will end up the same way no matter how they are or what they look like” and it makes them realize I am right.

Introduction

The phenomenon: of teamwork will be investigated in this assignment. Teamwork will be limited to teamwork in general, International, and virtual environments. The subgenres of teamwork will be analyzed through the SWOT analysis, thus, teamwork strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/threats will be investigated.

Discussion

Teamwork in general

According to my personal experience, strength is productivity. Because the workload is distributed between the members the final product gets a higher quality because one member has less work to do which means members can pay extra attention to details instead of every aspect of the assigned task.

Regarding the weakness, different levels of leadership skills have been a problem. This has been marginally worse once the number of group members increases. Bad leadership distracts the focus away from the task and it cripples the team’s productivity.

Working with other people as a team is a great opportunity and it is very rewarding when it is over. For example, improved relationship, and communication skills together with new experiences after the team’s task is completed.

There are clear advantages to teamwork, however, disadvantages are inevitable. If teamwork is unsustainable it could ruin the relationship one had with the members before the team was built. Teamwork is not for everyone and some simply can not work well in a team. It can also lead to disagreement and conflicts, which equals less production.

Teamwork in an international environment

According to Joseph J. Distefano, and Martha L. Maznevski, (2000) research, there are three types of international teamwork, the Destroyers, the Equalizers, and the Creators. In this assignment, I have translated these phenomena into strengths, opportunities, and threats.

First and foremost, the equalizers, are seen most frequently in international teamwork. Team members are often culturally different and may further complement each other to work more efficiently, thus a strength (Joseph J. Distefano, Martha L. Maznevski, (2000).

A recurring weakness with International teams was that the teamwork did not create the expected value. Instead, team members happened to clash, and the international teams were either paralyzed into inaction or other times worse (Joseph J. Distefano, Martha L. Maznevski, (2000).

International teamwork has the opportunity to surpass teamwork located in the same physical setting, the Creators, and their differences are explicitly recognized, accepted, and even nurtured (Joseph J. Distefano, Martha L. Maznevski, (2000).

Lastly, the Destroyers, are a possible threat to international teamwork. in these cases, instead of converting each member’s energy into effective work, it is drained into negative stereotyping. Their “teamwork” destroyed value rather than creating it (Joseph J. Distefano, Martha L. Maznevski, (2000).

Teamwork in a virtual environment

Technology is constantly evolving, and it has even improved how we humans can work together. Being able to perform teamwork elsewhere is economical. The lease, computer equipment, electricity, employee costs, etc, all add up (Entrepreneur Europe, (2015). When eliminating the office’s distractions, and travel and allowing an amount of flexibility in working hours productivity increased (Business News Daily, (2019).

Unfortunately, The strength of virtual teamwork is also its weakness. Working outside of their office has also proven to increase the employee’s risk of being burned out (Harvard Extension School, (2017), (Harvard Business Review (2018).

With virtual teamwork, there are close to no restrictions and endless possibilities. One opportunity is to work with people in different time zones and continents and recruit employees who are qualified but are unwilling to move (Cascio & Shurygailo, (2003).

When working in virtual teamwork the cultural differences between the members increase the number of conflicts, no different from international teamwork (Joseph J. Distefano, Martha L. Maznevski, (2000), (Harvard Extension School, (2017). Something that is accepted in one culture might lead to conflicts, mistrust, and difficulties in collaboration with other members’ cultures (Joseph J. Distefano, Martha L. Maznevski, (2000).

Introduction-

The game on which I am going to write my report is Soccer. Affiliation football, soccer, or football is a group activity played between two groups each comprising eleven players. It is a ball game played on a rectangular grass field with an objective at each end. The object of the game is to score by moving the spheroid ball into the restricting objective. Other than the goalkeepers, players may not utilize their hands or arms to push the ball as a rule play. The champ of the match is the group that has scored the most objectives toward the finish of the match.

What kind of pictures will I use in my presentation-

The photos that I am going to utilize will accord to the progressions of the game. To assist the individual with understanding what the game resembles, I will utilize certain photos to demonstrate the game like the pitch, hardware, and so on. I will get the photos from the sources from where I will get data about the progressions of the game. I will likewise post a reference for that at last.

How soccer started –

It is said that soccer started on 20th August, in Carton, Ohio, United States. Rutgers and Princeton played ( November 6, 1869 ) what was charged as the principal school football match-up. Nonetheless, it wasn’t until the 1880s that an extraordinary rugby player from Yale, Walter Camp, spearheaded guidelines changes that gradually changed rugby into the new round of American Football.

Changes made to soccer –

While soccer has changed fundamentally since its commencement, maybe the greatest change players have needed to make is as far as the genuine physical requests of the game. Indeed, there have quite been the same number of changes since the commencement of the game as there have been in the course of the most recent 2 decades. This is on account of the development of innovation that even though has helped players perform better, has additionally expanded the trouble of doing so.

Soccer nowadays –

Soccer players nowadays must be much fitter than used to be, as they are required to cover over half more separation than players of days gone by. Not only do these players need to run further, more frequently, but they also need to do so at a lot faster speeds to stay aware of the competitors they are going up against.

Introduction

Ray Bradbury’s short story, “The Veldt,” presents a cautionary tale about the dangers of uncontrolled technological advancement and its potential impact on humanity. The story depicts a future where a virtual reality nursery takes control over the lives of its inhabitants, leading to disastrous consequences. This essay argues that “The Veldt” serves as a strong argument against unregulated technology and highlights the need for responsible use and critical examination of its implications.

Loss of Human Connection

“The Veldt” presents a compelling argument against the loss of human connection in an increasingly technology-dependent society. The virtual reality nursery in the story becomes a substitute for genuine human interaction, leading to emotional detachment and isolation. The children, Peter and Wendy, become deeply engrossed in the virtual African savannah, neglecting their parents and their own emotional growth. The story warns that an overreliance on technology can sever vital human connections, resulting in alienation and loneliness.

Erosion of Parental Responsibility

Bradbury’s story emphasizes the erosion of parental responsibility caused by uncontrolled technology. George and Lydia, the parents in “The Veldt,” initially embrace the convenience of the automated home, but they fail to recognize the negative consequences of the virtual reality nursery. They become passive spectators in their children’s lives, relinquishing their parental duties to the machines. This lack of parental involvement enables the children’s unchecked desires and fantasies, ultimately leading to tragic events. The story serves as a reminder that parents must remain vigilant and actively engage in their children’s lives to ensure their emotional and psychological well-being.

Unchecked Technological Desires

“The Veldt” argues against the dangers of unchecked technological desires. The virtual reality nursery in the story is a manifestation of the children’s uncontrolled fantasies, creating a dangerous environment. The story warns that giving in to every technological whim without considering the ethical and moral implications can lead to disastrous consequences. The nursery’s transformation into a deadly savannah mirrors the destructive potential of uncontrolled desires and serves as a reminder to critically examine the impact of technology on our lives.

Ethical Questions Surrounding Technology

Bradbury’s story raises important ethical questions about the role of technology in society. “The Veldt” challenges us to reflect on the potential consequences of unregulated technology, such as the invasion of privacy, loss of autonomy, and ethical dilemmas arising from advanced virtual reality. The story urges us to consider the long-term societal implications of technological advancements and the ethical responsibilities that come with their development and use.

The Need for Responsible Technological Integration

“The Veldt” ultimately argues for responsible technological integration. While the story highlights the dangers of uncontrolled technology, it does not advocate for complete rejection or avoidance of technological advancements. Instead, it calls for a balanced and thoughtful approach. It encourages us to harness technology for the betterment of humanity while being mindful of its potential negative effects. By establishing guidelines, regulations, and ethical frameworks, we can ensure that technology remains a tool that enhances our lives rather than controls them.

Conclusion

“The Veldt” presents a compelling argument against uncontrolled technological advancement and the potential dangers it poses to human connection, parental responsibility, and ethical considerations. Bradbury’s story serves as a warning, urging us to approach technology with caution, responsibility, and critical thinking. By recognizing the risks and consequences associated with unregulated technology, we can actively shape a future where technology remains a servant to humanity rather than its master. “The Veldt” serves as a powerful reminder of our responsibility to strike a balance between technological innovation and the preservation of what makes us fundamentally human.