Category: Sociology 7256

Society puts way too much emphasis on outward physical appearance. Women especially are impacted by this societal flaw. Women throughout history have dealt with significant barriers to their well-being and restrictions on their abilities. Although society has come a long way in terms of providing women with chances to express themselves more and explore other aspects of their inner selves, modern civilization continues to place supreme emphasis upon a womans appearance as the true measure of her worth rather than more important aspects of her being such as personality, intelligence, compassion or talents. We still have numerous pop culture stars out there like Paris Hilton and her bunch who seem to think being an object talked about is better than being a human making a difference. These empty-headed material-culture superstars have achieved their fame based solely on their beautiful bodies and extreme spending habits. The idea of the Barbie complex is not new, but the importance placed on being blonde, slim and young has created a culture that is inordinately focused upon appearance to the great detriment of most of its members.

Numerous studies have been conducted that link aspects of the appearance culture with increased rates of eating disorders, negative self-image and peer acceptance among adolescents. Adults reinforce the idea that beauty is everything as evidenced in the proliferation of plastic surgery centers offering every type of physically enhancing procedure. The superstar status of such vacuous identities as Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears has sent many adolescents into these centers as well. In a Scotland study questioning 2,000 girls with an average age of 14, four out of ten said they would consider plastic surgery to make themselves slimmer regardless of their current weight status (Gustafson, 2005).

There are arguments that indicate the focus on outward appearance is an unavoidable and even necessary aspect of life. From our earliest history, it has been through our outward appearances that we project who and what we are to other people. Studies have continuously shown that people dress a certain way and acquire certain things to try to evince an attitude of belonging to a particular subset of individuals who embody their ideals (Gilman, 1999).

The only way to adequately combat the flawed associations that have developed in our modern culture regarding the importance of fitting into a stereotyped Barbie doll type image in order to retain some sense of personal worth is through alterations of the images presented by the media that has so skillfully skewed our sense of worth in its dangerous direction. Reinforced by the ideas and activities of their parents, surrounded by role models that have little more than looks in their favor and still leading fabulous fairytale lives as depicted on television and having these concepts reinforced by the skillful manipulations seen in reality shows, teenagers have little option but to believe that the ideal form, carefully constructed in the plastic surgeons chair, is the only way to acceptance and happiness in todays world.

The idea that beauty may buy oneself happiness is a popular myth perpetuated through such practices, but proof that it is a lie can be found everywhere. As women continue to spend more and more in pursuit of an image they will never achieve and even the most beautiful women admit to being miserable in their personal lives, it becomes more and more clear that the true path to happiness must lie in the development of the self. In the end, it is society as a whole that determines what the ideal human form should look like, and therefore it is the responsibility of the adults to determine whether physical measurements should define the quality of the individual or if attention should be redirected to more realistic and less superficial attributes. The concept that youthful appearance automatically means youthful feelings, youthful energy and youthful desirability is wide-spread and helps to drive the body as commodity concept. It is the responsibility of society at large to put an end to the concept of the body beautiful as a major commodity in our culture and to focus attention on more lasting goals and pursuits.

Works Cited

Gustafson, Rod. Parenting and the Media. (2005). Parents Television Council Publications.

Gilman, Sander L. Making the Body Beautiful: A Cultural History of Aesthetic Surgery. Princeton University Press, 1999.

Every person chooses his own way in the world and devotes his life to pursuing some values which are essentially important for him. Once Helen and Scott Nearing chose their path in the life and provided a new approach to the basic standards of the capitalistic world. Their way of living was considered as quite controversial, but the realization of their principles gave the birth to a new socio-philosophical back-to-the-land movement. Helen and Scott Nearing rejected the materialistic ideals which were dependent on the value of money and stated the importance of self-development, self-responsibility, the necessity of going back to the nature and following the natures laws as the best way to live the good life.

What events became the turning point and gave the start for changing of Helen and Scott Nearings vision of the sense of life? The Great Depression appeared to be a real catastrophe for the American society of the thirties and broke the lives of millions of people. Moreover, the personal circumstances and problems in careers affected Nearings desire to alter the conditions of their life greatly. The peculiarities of a new style of living and the ways of realization of their principles were described in many works by Helen and Scott Nearing. The information from the books was discussed by a number of the followers of Nearings approach as specific instructions to pursue.

The message of Living the Good Life is in providing the public with the idea that life cannot absolutely depend on the issues of economics and political aspects, and cannot be evaluated with a definite amount of money. Ideas of making money or getting rich have given people a perverted view of economic principles. The object of economic effort is not money, but livelihood (McKibben 320). Nearings concentrate on the other principles which are essential for our life. They declare the peculiarities of the natural livelihood and address their visions to those people who aware of the necessity of following the laws of the nature.

In Living the Good Life Helen and Scott Nearing present a vivid picture of the reality of their life according to their developed principles. They provide rather optimistic vision of the problem and offer a detailed plan of their way of achieving the goals in simple words. Discussing the role of money in the society, Nearings give the argumentative view of this part. People brought up in a money economy are taught to believe in the importance of getting and keeping money (McKibben, p. 320). There exists an exact freedom and independence from the social, political and economy issues. They accept only the principle of social cooperation as the way to live in society.

Nearings approach to living in society is based on alternative thinking over the aspects of the economics and its role in the life. Helen and Scott Nearing offer to accentuate the meaning of different kinds of activity. They determine the process of working as one of the ruling processes for attaining life purposes. However, their notion of activity was greatly developed.

In a word, we were trying to make a livelihood, and once our needs in this direction were covered, we turned our efforts in other directions,  toward social activities, toward avocations such as reading, writing, music making, toward repairs or replacements of our equipment (McKibben, p. 321).

Helen and Scott Nearing were working out their system of living the good life during their long experiment. This experiment became the cause for the emergence of the back-to-the-land movement. The movement based on the Nearings principles and the idea of living according to the natures rhythms and laws.

Works Cited

McKibben, Bill, ed. American Earth: Environmental Writing Since Thoreau. USA: Library of America, 2008. Print.

Women account for one of the groups most affected by the disparities in the legal system. Therefore, this sphere has been an area of intense interest for feminist researchers and activists. Subsequently, various standpoints are expressed through different means of communication, calling for an equal approach to justice for both sexes. Such kinds of activism positively affect society, as they attract the publics attention to a topical issue. Willison and OBrien (2016) state that the incarceration rate of women in the United States has grown at a quicker pace than a similar number for men. Accordingly, it is possible to conclude that the country is currently experiencing the phenomenon of mass female incarceration, which reflects the unfair side of the legal system.

Postmodern criminology researchers are capable of introducing various feminist perspectives to the discussion. It is necessary to inform the public on existing disparities. Willison and OBrien (2016) argue that feminist social workers must adopt an anti-oppressive orientation to justice-involved women, build social work responses around national reform measures, and advocate for decarceration and restorative justice (p. 37). This way, society and the system will have a comprehensive framework, within which it will be possible to create effective solutions.

References

Willison, J. S., & OBrien, P. (2016). A feminist call for transforming the criminal justice system. Affilia, 32(1), 37-49. Web.

Introduction

Notwithstanding the piece of substantiation that heroin use has always been unlawful for many years, heroin today is trendier; its easier to acquire and to use than the drug of previous days. Heroin still commands an extremely high consequence on the abuser, however, the compulsion, individual and the price on a societal level is disturbing. Even though heroin which is being sold in the streets today is purer than what was available in the past, it still can be cut with poisons substances such as strychnine which can put the users at severe risk (Mushikiwabo, 2006).

Overindulgence presents a relentless danger, and the majority of the overdoses result in death. Apart from death, other wellbeing hazards are linked to heroin. It is in this light that the author indicates that when anything is more powerful than you its better to pull back and surrender (Durlacher, 2000).

Article Review

The article stipulates that most untouchable bands carry the message in their own lives as well as in their songs. Since kids try to be like rock stars, they are liable to copy their usage of drugs. A big number of top substitute bands have been linked to abuse of heroin through an overdose of a member, arrests, admitting the usage of heroin and the recovery is astounding. Some of these bands are Nirvana, Smashing, hole, Everclear, pumpkins, Blind Melon, 7 Year Bitch, skinny puppy, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, the Breeders, stone temple pilots, Alice in Chains, Sex Pistols, sublime, Depeche Mode (Mushikiwabo, 2006). Collectively, these bands have managed to sell over 60 million albums, and that is a heck of a lot of the white and middle-class kids (Humberto, 1998). Bob Dole is trying to make drugs a campaign issue. The author wonders how long it is going to take Bob to turn on MTV.

The music industry is by now forecasting an attack, 10 years ago cocaine was so widespread to an extent that an ex-label manager reported that he was hired after he had had a meeting in the presidents workplace. When executives are asked if there was any heroin quandary in the music industry, many of them will agree.

Outreach Programs

Arts & Sciences, which is the one that organizes the Grammy Awards, is leading the ones who are pushing for an outreach program known as MusiCares. Art & Science organized a symposium of 400 members to discuss the issue of heroin. The scheme is for all stakeholders to finish the deeds of ignorance when an artist has drug issues.

The music industry is far from reaching a consensus on how to handle the problem. Some persons are doubtful of the motives of the managers. Billboard magazine which implicitly accused the people of Cobain of allowing him to die, neither Goldberg nor Silva will discuss the situation openly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I can say that heroin increasingly becoming more fashionable among young people for a multiplicity of reasons. One of the reasons is that heroin is a drug that is more broadly available; it is cheaper and purer than what was available before. Another contributing factor for rising of its popularity is unlike before; heroin can now be smoked or snorted. Heroin is very addictive, and this should be considered.

References

Durlacher, J. (2000). Heroin: Its History and Lore. New York: Carlton Books.

Humberto, F. (1998). Heroin. London: Oxford Publishers.

Mushikiwabo, J. (2006). Rockers, Models, and the New Allure of Heroin. Newsweek. Web.

With the development of the Internet, many terrorist organizations, which are associations of people with the most radical ideas, have actively recruited individuals. This trend leads to increased instability in the public life of the state. Structural decision-making in the political, social, and religious aspects helps localize radical movements and reduce the likelihood of acts of mass violence.

Radicalization is a process in which people become adherents of political, religious, or other extremism. To be radicalized does not mean to become a terrorist: not all people who share extremist views decide to commit acts of violence.

To comprehend the essence of the radicalization process, researchers use various conceptual models. Even though they have different amounts of stages and data, they all have the same purpose. Conceptual models are needed to better understand the origins and reasons for human adoption of radical views. With information about radicalization sources, it becomes possible to tackle the problem with a fundamental approach rather than grappling with the consequences.

According to Borums, Moghaddam, NYPD, and Precht models, presented in the article, a prerequisite for the radicalization of a person is his or her irritation concerning a particular social phenomenon, which manifests itself in an unfair attitude towards others (Borum, 2011). The individuals negative attitude to the social system is intensifying, which, over time, is embodied in extremist and terrorist activities. It should be noted that a persons feeling of internal conflict often arises against the background of racial, religious, or other forms of discrimination and the impossibility of fully integrating into society (Doosje et al., 2016). Subsequently, a person begins to view state institutions as a source of injustice and decides to fight them with radical measures.

The opinion that residents and emigrants from Islamic countries are the most vulnerable to radicalization is erroneous. Scientists cannot identify a single portrait of an extremist since the reasons for the transition to such behavior lie in the persons internal contradictions. In Europe and the United States, some movements are quite popular among the population that support radical ideas of the superiority of the white race over others, an example of it is the Ku Klux Klan (Madison, 2020). Their cardinal opinions are also built on an inner sense of injustice that representatives of other ethnic groups can have equal rights.

Structural solutions are needed to prevent any radicalization of society and individuals. First, political pluralism must be ensured at the state level so that representatives of unpopular opinions can speak and be heard. Second, it is necessary to minimize the possibility of radicalizing a person even in childhood by conducting more lessons in school about the difference in world cultures and religions. Third, it is necessary to make social services more accessible to help people who are experiencing problems or irritation from the current events so that they do not have the thought of moving to radicalism.

The reason for the radicalization of people is their dissatisfaction with the current political and social situation and the inability to speak out and be heard. Knowledge of conceptual models is essential to understand the sources of radicalism and to be able to combat it. There is no characteristic portrait of a radical person  radicalization does not depend on the country of origin, religion, and lifestyle. The feeling of the need to use acts of violence arises because of the internal contradictions of people. To solve radicalization, it is necessary to apply comprehensive measures affecting different aspects of society to increase the level of tolerance between other groups of citizens.

References

Borum, R. (2011). Radicalization into Violent Extremism II: A Review of Conceptual Models and Empirical Research. Journal of Strategic Security, 4(4). Web.

Doosje, B., Moghaddam, F. M., Kruglanski, A. W., De Wolf, A., Mann, L., & Feddes, A. R. (2016). Terrorism, radicalization and de-radicalization. Current Opinion in Psychology, 11, 79-84. Web.

Madison, J. H. (2020). The Ku Klux Klan in the Heartland. Indiana University Press.

The sale of human body parts and the trafficking of people for organ removal have become an increasing global problem in recent years. The offense is committed by transnational networks of criminals, including traffickers, international brokers, health professionals, suppliers, and buyers. Various international organizations have developed legal frameworks to combat the illegal trade in human organs. Until 2000, organ trafficking occurred primarily in South Asia (Columb, 2015). However, the problem developed substantially over time and affected hundreds of thousands of people globally. Today, the commercialization and trafficking of people for the removal of organs occurs in Latin America, North Africa, and regions that experience economic turmoil, social challenges, and political instability, which create favorable conditions for traffickers. The illegal trade entails a whole range of activities that seek to commercialize human organs and tissues for transplantation (Efrat, 2016).

People are trafficked with the primary purpose of removing their organs and transplanting them into recipients who travel abroad looking for paid donors. In the United States, thousands of people die every year in need of liver or kidney transplants that are unavailable (Cherry, 2017). In addition, most patients wait for years to get an organ transplant. During the long period of waiting, the quality of patients life deteriorates. In this regard, most people obtain such organs from the black markets, where donors sell organs to ready buyers. On the one hand, supporters of the organ trade believe that the removal of human organs occurs on donors consent, and the practice acknowledges such individuals as the best judges of their interests (Cherry, 2017). Moreover, donors decide how to utilize their bodies. On the other hand, opponents of human organ trade argue that it undermines altruism, coerces impoverished communities, pervades inequality, and is unethical. This paper proposes the creation of a competitive market policy and examines the benefits of legalizing the commercialization of human organs.

In the current world, it has become possible to save human lives through organ transplants such as livers, kidneys, and liver sections from donors or recently deceased people. A growing body of literature indicates that recipients of human organs wait for years to get them (Cherry, 2017). During the wait, most individuals become unable to perform tasks, and their quality of life diminishes significantly. Furthermore, the patients prospects for post-operation survival deteriorates. Some of them die waiting for organ transplants. The continuous gap between the demand for and the supply of human organs, especially in the United States, is attributable to the illegalization of organ commercialization.

Additionally, the demand for such organs is inversely proportional to the cost. According to Columb (2015), creating a competitive market for human organs can be a panacea to the growing social problem. For instance, the framework can bring demand and supply to equilibrium by incentivizing supply from donors. The competitive market implies that patients in need of organ transplants would get them quickly. It would also shorten the period of waiting and improve the quality of life for deserving people (Efrat, 2016). In consequence, the country can record low mortality rates as the prospects of survival after surgical operations improve (Cherry, 2017). Furthermore, the competitive market policy is likely to discourage illegal black markets for human organs, which relate to additional crimes such as human trafficking and money laundering. It is noteworthy that illicit trade in human organs benefits wealthy people while harming vulnerable populations.

The supply of organ transplants depends on altruism, family pressure, or economic challenges. Altruistic people arrange that upon death, their organs can be used to save lives through transplantation (Efrat, 2016). Other individuals offer themselves as living donors for their household members. It is worth noting that altruistic people who may be willing to provide their organs to non-relatives are barred from doing so because of official suspicion for criminal involvement (Cherry, 2017). However, if recipients pay donors adequately, they could receive organ transplants in two ways. First, the incentive would motivate more people to donate organs when they die. The funds would be transferred to their family beneficiaries (Efrat, 2016). However, opponents of the competitive market framework argue that the policy by itself cannot increase the supply and quality of human organs substantially. For example, organs from deceased donors may be unhealthy, malfunctioning, or be infectious. In addition, some relatives may object to the removal of organs from the dead donors, which can delay the transplantation process. As a result, some organs become unusable (Cherry, 2017).

Furthermore, the transfer of organs such as the heart, kidneys, or liver sections from dead donors requires quick action. Thus, it may be challenging to find an immediate matching recipient. The second approach entails inducing people to sell organs while alive. The potential supply of human organs from live donors is relatively proportional to the demand. Advocates of live donation perceive it as appropriate for matching. Additionally, such organs are often healthy and of better quality than cadaveric organs. Cherry (2017) adds that organs from live donors provide more significant benefits to the recipients. For example, organs such as liver-sections can regenerate themselves. Humans can survive with one kidney. Therefore, if donors undergo proper surgery and after-care, they face a relatively small risk (Efrat, 2016). A competitive market policy enhances the quality of life for both live donors and recipients. According to Columb (2015), live donors, especially in advanced countries, report outstanding post-operative quality of life, and the majority of them do not regret their decisions.

In the United States, a competitive market policy can prevent illegal trade in human organs by securing adequate supply to meet the ever-rising demand. The system can also improve the quality of life for deserving patients by reducing the waiting time for operations. Efrat (2016) notes that illicit trade in human organs exposes humans to multiple risks. For instance, in less developed countries, which are the leading sources of illegal donors, perils are often higher because of low hygiene, poor nutrition, improper surgeries, and inappropriate pre-and post-operative care. Notably, empirical research shows that nearly 50% of kidney donors from India and Iran experience bad health after donation, while some people regret the decision (Cherry, 2017). Poor quality of life for both donors and recipients is attributable to misleading information in the illegal market. In this respect, better regulation of the organ trade can improve the situation by ensuring that donors obtain adequate information before making impulsive organ donation decisions (Cherry, 2017).

Introducing a competitive market policy would allow donors to make informed decisions about compensation for their risks. Moreover, establishing a legal market in human organs from live donors is likely to enable better-placed individuals to accept the perils and burdens associated with organ donation (Efrat, 2016). It is essential to ensure that the market is competitive with little or no substantial barriers to entry. The policy can prevent monopolistic agencies from hiking the prices for organs. A competitive framework is essential to improving the quality of service and increasing efficiency for both donors and recipients. Advocates of legal organ commercialization believe that prohibiting organ sales incentivizes the growth of the black market in live and cadaveric organs. The illegal markets limit organ transplants to a few wealthy people. Columb (2015) posits that illicit trade in organs is perilous because operations are not screened adequately for infections. In addition, organ transplantation occurs without proper matching with recipients (Cherry, 2017).

As such, creating a competitive market policy for human organs is crucial to ensuring that transplants adhere to appropriate standards and involves qualified and accredited surgeons. Evidence-based research indicates that competitive markets promote rivalry among transplantation centers. In turn, such competition encourages patients to be listed for renal transplants. Moreover, competition in organ trade leads to positive outcomes, including a variety of options for patients, lower prices, and improved productivity. Mainly, as organizations seek differentiation strategies to gain a competitive edge, patients benefit from better service quality (Efrat, 2016). Encouraging multiple transplant centers in the legal organ market is likely to protect people from the risks of illegal trade. Therefore, most philosophical arguments against competitive organ markets are invalid. For example, some opponents argue that legalizing organ markets would reduce charitable donations. In contrast, Cherry (2017) maintains that a substantial supply of organs from paid donors would make reductions in altruistic irrelevant. Overall, payments to donors can eliminate black markets in human organs and their adverse consequences.

References

Cherry, M. J. (2017). Organ vouchers and barter markets: Saving lives, reducing suffering, and trading in human organs. Journal of Medicine & Philosophy, 42(5), 503-517.

Columb, S. (2015). Beneath the organ trade: A critical analysis of the organ trafficking discourse. Crime, Law, and Social Change, 63(1-2), 21-47.

Efrat, A. (2016). Global efforts against human trafficking: The misguided conflation of sex, labor, and organ trafficking. International Studies Perspectives, 17(1), 34-54

According to James Q. Whitman, the vast difference between the concepts of privacy in America and Europe is that in the former, it takes the form of the right to be free from state intrusion, while in the latter, this is manifested in the protection of the right to respect and personal dignity, reputation, and informational self-determination (Halbert & Ingulli, 2011). Europeans seek to control their public image to ensure that people see them the way they want to be seen.

A European perspective on privacy, shaped by the way data was collected and used under communism and by dictators such as Franco and Hitler, is reflected in the strength of the European Privacy Directives protections. According to it, the information can only be used for the purpose for which it was collected and be processed with the consent of the subject or for the protection of a third party (Halbert & Ingulli, 2011). The directive severely restricts data collection on racial or ethnic origin, political opinion, religious beliefs, trade union membership, health, or sexuality (Halbert & Ingulli, 2011). It also gives Europeans the right to access and correct inaccuracies in the information collected about them.

The biggest difference from the United States perspective is the European concept of the right to be forgotten. A citizen can submit a request to delete personal data, in particular, a URL to a social network. Simultaneously, in the United States, consumer information may be held by the organizations that process it (Halbert & Ingulli, 2011). In contrast, Europeans have the right to revoke permission for companies to retain their personal data. In Germany, employers social media research is illegal, while US regulators have determined that firms do not violate privacy in this way.

Reference

Halbert, T., & Ingulli, E. (2011). Law and ethics in the business environment. Cengage Learning.

Introduction

The glass ceiling a term coined by Wall Street in 1986 (Ryan and Haslam 2007) is the barrier imposed on women for attaining management positions which in the UK no longer applies as there are many more women in management positions now than has been in the past 15 years. However, the glass ceiling does still exist for specific key management positions.

One interesting factor identified in research on the subject is the willingness of women to take on such positions and to succeed in it despite the trade-offs associated with the work. This has given way to what has been termed as the glass cliff, a term quaintly playing on the glass ceiling metaphor to signify the pitfalls that await women in senior management positions in the operational side of the industry (Ryan and Haslam, 2007). This paper will describe strategies that may be used by employers to maximize the employment of women in UK hospitality.

Facts on Gender Equality

In April 2007, the Gender Equality Duty was enacted for all public sector workplaces as a significant addendum to the Sex Discrimination Act. Women now head Fortune 500 companies, including Hyatt Hotels although, in 38% of companies, no women are on the executive board at all (DiversityInc. 2007; BBC News, 2007). However, a 2005 survey of women in the hospitality industry showed that while they are the majority employed, they still receive remuneration less than that of their male counterparts, averaging a 17% gap in pay. The survey also showed that white and ethnic minority women are most likely to be given the lowest paying jobs overall (Equal Opportunities Commission, 2007; Eurostat, 2007; Grant Thornton, 2004).

It has been observed that even when women break the glass ceiling, their job satisfaction is significantly lower than that of their male counterparts, mostly because they are often restricted to positions with less authority and fewer rewards. Women often find themselves offered positions dealing with human resources or food and beverage management rather than in the primary functions of the business, i.e. general management positions in hotels (Ryan and Haslam, 2007).

The main reason for this second-level discrimination, so to speak, is the perception that having women in key positions tends to adversely affect the performance of British organizations. It has been found that women are more likely to be promoted when the financial stability of the organization is in flux or already experiencing difficulties (Ryan and Haslam, 2007).

This is the crux of the glass cliff concept, where women find themselves being pinpointed as the reason for failures and falling ratings whether it is warranted or not. Because women are believed to be better qualified to handle critical situations, they are often placed in a position of sink or swim, making the work environment highly stressful and making them less than productive in the long run. It also places a greater burden on women managers, which is grossly unfair and essentially discriminatory (Ryan and Haslam, 2007; Personnel Today, 2007).

As a result, women tend to make career choices that shift any responsibility from their shoulders to that of their male counterparts. This is by no means restricted to the hospitality industry; it is a phenomenon that occurs in most service industries. However, while the glass cliff concept may seem to be a loss-loss scenario for women, for those who are well-equipped and determined to follow through with the work, it can actually be considered an opportunity (European Monitoring Centre on Change, 2005).

However, for this to occur to any significant degree, some issues need to be addressed in order for women to believe that aspiring for a senior-level management position would be desirable. These were identified by Yan Zong  as the old boy network, working family conflict, poor childcare support, and biased superiors. The level to which employers strategically address these issues would determine how far the potential benefits of tapping the female labor pool can be maximized, especially in these times with limited qualified human resources and an aging population.

Initiatives by Employers

Pursuant to the public policy initiative, widely referred to as the work-life balance policy, employers are encouraged to implement employee policies that would improve the role of the worker as a carer and family member while remaining a productive member of the industry. This is particularly relevant in the hospitality industry where the hours are seldom regular and seasonal demands result in added stress at critical periods (Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, 2007; Johnson, 2001). The work-life balance strategy seeks to improve businesses by instigating policies that enable recruitment from a larger pool of qualified applicants, retention, and motivation of existing staff, reduction of stress and staff turnover, and increase in productivity as a result of more job satisfaction and holistic approach to employment (Clutterback, 2003). As a result of these goals, businesses will have more opportunities for identifying and retaining personnel with the potential to benefit the company or organization, including women in the hospitality industry (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, 2007).

The work-life balance strategy has identified four corporate strategies that address the concerns of women in senior management. These include formal promotion policies; the rejection of stereotyping and profiling in executive positions; the acceptance of women as senior management material; and providing venues for additional training for women in preparation for management-level positions (Knutson and Schmidgall, 1999; Safe and Health Working). The transition for most major hotels has been much easier than expected, perhaps because of two factors: women have traditionally dominated the hospitality industry in terms of staff-level employment, making it easier for a vertical promotion among the ranks of well-trained staff that has progressed from the entry-level rather than engaging outsiders for top positions; and the dearth of available, qualified new labor for such positions who would surely inculcate the mission and vision of a particular establishment (Centre for Developing Women Business Leaders, 2004).

Promotion within the Ranks

There have been many instances when promotions from within the ranks have involved people who started in an entry-level position, most especially true for female employees. One example of a role model is Nancy Johnson, currently serving as Radisson Hotels and Resorts brand leader and Executive President for Carlson Hotels Worldwide Full Service Hotels. She began as a cocktail waitress and ran a whole gamut of positions as she rose through the ranks. Johnson is also serving as a founding member of The Council for Women in Lodging, concerned primarily with promoting corporate advancement for women in the industry (Hcareer 2007).

Another inspiring example from the employers camp is that of Audrey Gillespie. In 2003, she was general manager of the former Glasgow Travel Inn, now a Premier Travel Inn, and was offered a position as area manager. She was pregnant at the time but her boss continued to support her fully even when she had to go on maternity leave, leaving the crucial tasks that needed to be done to her general managers, who also fully supported her. Gillespie began her career in the industry as a sales executive of the Holiday Inn/Marriott in Glasgow and is now slated to be promoted yet again as Premier Travel Inns regional director for the North and Scotland (Caterer & Hotelkeeper, 2007).

Up to a certain point, women dominate the management playing field in the hospitality industry, but such trends abruptly experience a downturn when it comes to senior management levels. Several polls show that anything short of this level, women have the majority, especially as F&B managers (62%), registered revenue managers (72%), and sales (68%). However, at senior and board levels, the figures drop to 20% on average, and these are mostly concentrated on human resources, public relations, and finance. Core functions, such as general management positions and the kitchen, are normally reserved for men (Hcareer, 2007).

The way for employers to keep the gems of their staff working for them will undoubtedly require some concessions on their part in terms of flexibility of work hours and the prospect of fair and equitable promotion, given that many of their most experienced workers are women. (Shell Group online Media Centre 2002) In the long run, however, it is much easier and more affordable to promote those who are already in the know rather than bringing in an outsider who needs to be trained and indoctrinated with the corporate culture of the organization to ensure a good fit with the rest of the management team as well as the general staff. It is undeniable that a well-deserved promotion within the ranks will encourage others to be similarly diligent and loyal, while a consistent seeking of outside sources for management positions encourages apathy and minimal productivity. In the end, an organization that actively seeks talent and rewards diligence within the ranks will benefit from increased productivity. (Knutson and Schmidgall 1999)

Maximizing a Shrinking Labour Pool

Along the same lines is the strategy of recruiting and retaining the best possible talent from among a small population of qualified individuals. Because women dominate the industry, any hospitality company would do well to remember that an attractive employee package will require more than the standard requirements of the law. Women still considered the primary carer in the household, have much more to contend with when starting out in a career. Many will choose to leave employers when the stress begins to adversely affect their family life, and the consequences in terms of recruitment and training costs can be significant if the turnover is sufficiently high (Caterer & Hotelkeeper, 2007).

With possible senior management promotion in mind, employers should structure employee packages that take into account what would keep an employee interested in retaining their employment. Further instruction and diversity training should be encouraged to maximize the potential talent that each employee can bring to the corporate table. A fresh graduate from the university may begin employment as a waitress as a stopgap measure before moving on to the next job or until marriage, but if an employer has the initiative to keep an eye out for leadership qualities and offer further training to deserving employees, it will go a long way towards solving the problem of retaining people for all levels of the industry, including that of senior management and regional director positions (Hcareers, 2007; Shell Group online Media Centre, 2002).

Discussion

How far should women be encouraged to go for senior management and higher levels in the hospitality industry echelons? It should be to the degree to which men are encouraged because there is no real need for positive discrimination as women, properly trained and screened, are inherently capable of fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of management as men. Advocacy, or what is popularly referred to as affirmative action, is counterproductive in terms of reconciling the old-fashioned to a seeming disruption of what has been a traditionally male-dominated industry (Zhong, 2006).

The proof of the pudding, as the saying goes, is in the tasting. Women should not be promoted to higher management simply because they are women, else it would only strengthen the belief that women increase the risk of failure of an organization when they are given key positions in management (Personnel Today, 2007).

Conclusion

The hospitality industry in the UK is undergoing some major changes in its management labor pool as more and more women choose family over the more demanding and irregular work hours of the industry, especially women.

It is, therefore, necessary to implement work-life balance strategies. Even the most liberal of men would take it amiss if women choose their careers over their families, and many women feel the same way. And since work-life balance works both ways, such strategies would also benefit the families of absentee husbands and fathers who are in positions of responsibility.

The idea of retaining and recruiting from a dwindling labor supply is a reality in many industries, but especially in the hospitality industry where the turnover is traditionally high. It makes good business sense to make concessions for women where it matters most because the benefits on resulting increased productivity are potentially high.

References

BBC News (2007) No women chiefs in 38% of firms. [online]. BBC News.

Caterer & Hotelkeeper (2007) Jobs for the girls  women in hospitality.

Centre for Developing Women Business Leaders (2004) The Female FTSE Report 2004 [online]. Centre for Developing Women Business Leaders. Web.

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (2007) Work-life balance [online]. Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Web.

Clutterbuck, D. 2003, Managing work-life balance: a guide for HR in achieving organizational and individual change. London: CIPD.

Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (2007) Flexible working and work-life balance. [online]. Department for Business, Enterprise, and Regulatory Reform.

DiversityInc. (2007) The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Executive Women. [online] DiversityInc.

Equal Opportunities Commission (2006) Facts about women & men in Great Britain 2006. [online]. Equal Opportunities Commission.

European Monitoring Centre on Change (2005) Hotels and catering  policies, issues, and the future [online]. European Monitoring Centre on Change.

Eurostat (2007) Still a big pay gap between women & men. [online]. International Labour Office.

Grant Thornton (2004) Senior management still male-dominated. [online]. Grant Thornton.

Hcareers (2007) Women in lodging: opportunity knocks. [online]. Hcareers.

Johnson, A. (2001) Launch of the work-life balance guide for the hospitality industry. [online]. Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

Knutson, B. & Schmidgall, R. (1999) Dimensions of the glass ceiling in the hospitality industry. Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly 40 (6). 64-75. Full-text [online]. SAGEPUB.

Opportunity Now (2000) Breaking the barriers  women in senior management. [online]. Business in the Community.

Personnel Today (2007) Women get to break through glass ceiling to senior management but only to do dirty jobs. [online]. Personnel Today.

Ryan, M. & Haslam, S.A. (2007) Women in the boardroom: The risks of being at the top. [online]. Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Safe and Health Working (n.d.) Work-life balance. [online]. Safe and Health Working.

Shell Group online Media Centre (2002) More women in senior management means better business, says Shell Chemicals Chief Executive. [online]. Web.

Yan Zhong (2006) Factors affecting womens career advancement in the hospitality industry: perceptions of students, educators, and industry recruiters. [online]. Texas Tech University. Web.

Introduction

Women believe men lead easier lives than them. In their views, men are given more opportunities and are valued more, thus having more chances to excel in life. While its true that women have had to fight over the years to become more equal to men, being a man doesnt guarantee prosperity. Women can rely on men for emotional and financial support, but the opposite is frowned upon. If a man relies on a woman for financial and emotional support, he is deemed weak and useless. At any time and place, men are always to be independent  they are to bring in money, take care of themselves and their family, and lead.

Being a man means a lot more than having a certain anatomical projection. The pain that men go through is understood best by fellow men  mostly because part of being a man is to disclose ones feelings. Being commanding, independent, intelligent, stoic, and fearless are just a few of the characteristics of being a man. These traits are not inborn and being a man isnt easy at all. Men face much stress being manly  upholding societys determined traits of masculinity.

How do I get to be a man?

Being a man is more than simply having a biologically male body. Therefore, to be a male also means, in relationships with family and work, social acceptance of the role. While the male role is often presented as one of freedom and great opportunity, for many males it means being trapped in a boring or dangerous job for most of the years of their life to support a family. This contradicts the general opinion of it being a male dominated world. In fact many males feel dominated by their role, by their need to work, and by people in positions of power. There are also expectations involved in being a partner in marriage or sex. The awful dragging down of self esteem that arises from not being able to be the husband or lover that brings fulfillment to ones partner ruins the life of many men. The pain of not getting it right, of not being able to be the person your partner could feel happy with, the sight of the love fading from the face of the woman you want so much to give your best to, may end in violent outbursts.

The new manhood, has to accomplish a sense of positive identity without the certain help of a work role. For many, it means confronting real independence. They must live and love, meet changes and make decisions without the support or authority of close family life  away from people they grew up with  without political, religious, trade union or other group power to augment their own. This is the new manhood.

However, in the context according to Theroux, the concept of manhood is to be stupid, be unfeeling, obedient, soldierly, and stop thinking (Clem, 2002-2008). Furthermore, The whole idea of manhood in America is pitiful, a little like having to wear an ill-fitting coat for ones entire life. And what is that coat made out of? Strength, independence, competitiveness, power, and guarded feelings. Be a man! is enough to send chills up ones spine (Theroux, 2007).

By calling man stupid he implies that men are looked upon as slow witted, dull, foolish, and irrational. Theroux believes that society looks at men in this manner. However, they do not look at men as being stupid. Society looks at men as being dominant leaders and the strong hold of the world. As the years have passed by, women have been fighting for better jobs and offices, but yet men still hold the most powerful offices and the better paid jobs.

To be soldierly as discussed by Theroux (2007) is to have characteristics of a person who works zealously for a specified cause. Theroux contradicts himself by saying that society looks at man as stupid and soldierly. Obviously these two definitions form an oxymoron, and clearly man can not be both at the same time. Men do work zealously to get good jobs, high office positions, and to maintain the dominant leadership status. For man to be stupid and soldierly at the same time isnt possible.

American manhood is pitiful. This implies that someone has pity on men. Who? Women? Men? Women are out trying to obtain the offices, leaderships positions, and soldierly status man has. It doesnt seem like women would have pity on the men who have the status they want. Men compete with each other over offices and positions; so why would they pity each other? Therefore, its just not true that men are pitied.

Basically ill fitted coat means a wrong external form or appearance of a profession or class. Man works to achieve status, position, office, rank, leadership, family provider, or insured manhood. When he achieves this he also achieves an external form that fits his profession or class. It is not necessarily true that American manhood is an ill-fitted coat worn for a mans lifetime.

In Theroux (2007) The Male Myth, he emphasized that a man had more pressure to keep a family together. Not many women worked, so the income of the family was placed on the mans shoulders. Whereas now the women are more present in the workforce and some of the work load has been lifted off man. The Vietnam War was fought from 1959-1975, and at the time man was pressured into being manly and going to war. Men, who rejected the war, were looked on as hippies who didnt quite feel the shoes of manhood. Being a man in that time period was more pressured than an average male today.

Mansfiled (2008) says, Manliness is a quality that causes individuals to stand for something. The Greeks used the term thumos to denote the bristling, spirited element shared by human beings and animals that makes them fight back when threatened. Every human being possesses thumos. But those who are manly possess it in abundance, and sometimes in excess. The manly man is not satisfied to let things be as they are, and he makes sure everyone knows it. He invests his perception of injustice with cosmic importance. It can be noble and heroic too.

Conclusion

As a man youre supposed to be self-reliant. Youre always strong. In ordinary daily life, a man was expected to dominate to take care of his family. He has all the say within his family. In the outside of family context, men looked up by women to be the protector, that women feel safe with men. Theroux described being a man as stupid, because at times men would hide their true emotion when put in situations that involves risk while women acted impulsively.

Being a man, one should stand with high dignity and honor; however, it cannot be taken from them for being compassionate to women and suppressed their true feelings. They know how to listen.

References

Clem, Regan. Easy Reviews: Being a Man, by Paul Theroux. Helium. 2002-2008. Web.

Mansfield, Harvey C. Manliness. Being A Man. The Weekly Standard. 2008. Web.

Meyers, Nancy. What Women Want. Film Review. Spirituality & Practice. 1970-2007. Web.

Paul Theroux Analysis:The Male Myth Is a Myth. Web.

Introduction

Scientific and technological progress led to the emergence of a new way of life and caused a significant shift in traditional gender roles and culture in general. The way sex and relationships are viewed in society has significantly changed for the last hundred years. The current situation is unprecedented in multiple different ways, and it brings both new challenges and opportunities for the humanity. Advanced contraception and more accepting social norms provide men and women with a possibility to personally decide how to go about their sexual life. Well-balanced legislation becomes very important to address the issue appropriately, as the landscape of opinions regarding the subject is getting more and more diverse and nuanced. Solving problems in society that might cause a negative tendency is also very important. Non-consensual sex should not be criminalized in cases where the presence of psychological or physical coercion is not evident.

The Danger of not Creating Appropriate Regulations

Failure to develop appropriate protective measures against aggressive sexual behavior is very dangerous as it opens a possibility for abuse and discrimination. As women become victims of sexual aggression and rape much more often compared to men, lack of proper legislation will leave female citizens unprotected (Cobb & Horeck, 2018). The problem is especially significant at a workplace, where economic dependency and subordination structure allow individuals in authority to use their position as a tool in aggressive sexual activity. It is necessary to create juridical regulations that are strict enough to discourage potential sexual offenders from abusing their place in the company. Such laws will ensure safety and protection for the rights of women and healthy workplace environment. Existence of such acts will also provide an additional source of confidence for potential victims of aggressive sexual behavior, encouraging them to stand up for their rights. To promote safety and justice in society, it is critical to take sufficient regulatory measures that would decrease the likelihood of aggressive sexual behavior and provide a sense of protection for citizens.

The Danger of Creating Excessively Strict Laws

On the other hand, unduly strict regulation may have a negative impact on peoples ability to start a relationship and will allow abusing the legislation for personal and other reasons. It is vital to mention that as norms for expressing sexual behavior become too strict, it becomes more and more challenging to draw a line between an appropriate level of initiative and sexual harassment. This tendency may discourage individuals from any engagement in a romantic or sexual relationship because of the risk of being called an offender. The consequences of sexual harassments are very serious, including damage to personal reputation and criminal punishment, and the definition for this term is quite vague. Such a situation allows some individuals to pose as victims and, thus, abuse the law to gain personal benefits. It is essential to create barriers for such activity, as it causes severe damage to society, discredits the law, and diminishes the suffering of real victims. Avoiding taking excessively strict, simplistic, and one-sided measures is critical to creating effective regulation that will help improve the current situation.

The Danger of Politicization of the Discussion

Although the necessity for affirmative consent before a sexual act is universally agreed, the opinions on what can be qualified as appropriate consent differ. The public discussion regarding the matter has become politicized, leading to the polarization of opinions. Recent scandals have shown that oversimplification of the problem and lack of deep understanding of its nature may lead to negative consequences (Cobb & Horeck, 2018). At the same time, the involvement of various political and media figures can lead to using scandals and criminal investigations as a tool against political opponents (Mandell, 2017). In addition to that, the politicization of public conversation regarding the subject leads to the emergence of extreme opposite opinions that are irreconcilable. Political forces might want to use such heated arguments to win the attention and support of the audience, without offering any real solution to the problems. Thus, it is essential to find common ground between liberal and conservative values and points of view on the matter in order to bring the public to a productive discussion.

Negative Consequences of Criminalization of Non-Consensual Sex

New laws and regulations concerning the criminalization of non-consensual sexual activity will affect millions of people as the problem has become widespread, especially among the younger generation. A study has shown that over fifteen percent of women and almost eight present of male undergraduate college student report involvement in a non-consensual sexual act (Herbenick, Fu, Dodge, & Fortenberry, 2019). This statistics makes the question of criminalization of non-consensual sex even more difficult to handle, as it shows how common the problem has become, affecting teenagers and young adults. At the same time, such high parentages show that using criminal punishment for solving the problem will likely lead to the imprisonment of a high number of young people. Such tendency will potentially do more harm than good to the society in general and might not lead to any positive consequences, as the young men, who have experienced prison environment, will very likely engage in further criminal activity. In other words, although the problem in question is severe and has to be addressed, criminalization of non-consensual sex is not necessarily an optimal solution.

The Necessity for Well-Balanced Regulations

In order to adequately address the issue, the legislation needs to be balanced, nuanced, and flexible. Society needs to agree on what levels and forms of consent are appropriate to create protection from sexual aggression without creating extra barriers for regular sexual behavior and starting a romantic relationship. Such laws also need to take into account different aspects of the subject, including specific characteristics of homosexual relationships, cultural tendencies, and other factors. All relevant details are crucial as they may play a significant role in individual cases. Creating such legislation is a very complex process as opinions and attitudes in public widely differ, and norms of behavior and social environment are constantly changing. Working on effective regulation will alleviate the problem and protect the rights of both men and women regardless of position in society and sexual orientation.

Alternative Ways to Address the Problem

Other methods, including adjustment of social norms, promotion of healthy sexual behavior, and sexual education might be useful for addressing the subject. A study has shown that the perception of sexual intentions of other people and the underspending of social norms are predictors of aggressive sexual behavior among college students (Edwards & Vogel, 2015). These data suggest that non-consensual sex is often a result of misinterpretation of sexual signals and lack of understanding of the appropriate behavior in interactions with the opposite sex. Another study conducted in Peru also suggests that fighting against rape-supportive attitude among teenagers is key for reducing the problem of non-consensual sex (Moyano, Monge, & Sierra, 2017). The data shows that public tendencies contributing to the problem are similar cross-culturally, and they should be further studied to find the most effective solution.

In addition to that, watching pornography has been shown to increase the likelihood of aggressive sexual behavior (Wright, Tokunaga, & Kraus, 2015). Easy access to pornographic content via internet leads to extensive exposure of teenagers to violent sexual behavior. In the situation, where appropriate sexual education is lacking, it creates a tendency of adopting the patterns of behavior that are exhibited in such videos as normal. Regulation of this industry might help reduce the prevalence of undesirable patterns of behavior. Emphasizing the unacceptability of aggressive sexual behavior and promoting functional patterns of interactions between men and women will help educate people and have a positive impact on the problem.

The difference in opinions and interpretations in regard to the influence of alcohol and other substances on a persons ability to express consent is another ambiguous aspect of the subject. Research has shown a correlation between alcohol use and the likelihood of non-consensual sexual intercourse (Stappenbeck et al., 2016). Such a close relationship between substance use and the subject shows that this topic needs to be appropriately addressed. Alleviating the problem of alcohol and drug abuse, especially among teenagers, will have a positive impact on the rate of misbehavior, including sexual harassment and non-consensual sex.

Conclusion

Non-consensual sex should not be criminalized because a solution to this complex problem cannot be found only by means of criminal punishment and requires a deeper understanding of the nature of the problem. A careful and well-balanced approach to new legislation is required to ensure that the question is addressed in a way that guarantees the protection of rights of all citizens and equality between sexes. It is also important that laws and regulations can evolve together with society to be able to deal with new challenges and tendencies. Achievement of this goal requires an open public discussion, as it is essential to allow all visions and opinions to be spoken. In addition to proper legislation, society should pay more attention to the factors that are associated with aggressive sexual behavior, such as alcohol and drug use and lack of sexual education. Addressing these social problems will have a positive impact on the situation and help develop and adjust norms for modern life and sexual behavior.

References

Cobb, S., & Horeck, T. (2018). Post Weinstein: Gendered power and harassment in the media industries. Feminist Media Studies, 18(3), 489-508.

Edwards, S. R., & Vogel, D. L. (2015). Young mens likelihood ratings to be sexually aggressive as a function of norms and perceived sexual interest. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 16(1), 88.

Herbenick, D., Fu, T. C., Dodge, B., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2019). The alcohol contexts of consent, wanted sex, sexual pleasure, and sexual assault: Results from a probability survey of undergraduate students. Journal of American college health, 67(2), 144-152.

Mandell, H. (2017). Sex scandals, gender, and power in contemporary American politics. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.

Moyano, N., Monge, F. S., & Sierra, J. C. (2017). Predictors of sexual aggression in adolescents: Gender dominance vs. rape supportive attitudes. The European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context, 9(1), 25-31.

Stappenbeck, C. A., Norris, J., Wegner, R., Bryan, A. E., Davis, K. C., Zawacki, T., & George, W. H. (2016). An event-level investigation of factors associated with young womens experiences of coerced consensual sex. Journal of interpersonal violence. doi: 10.1177/0886260516683178.

Wright, P. J., Tokunaga, R. S., & Kraus, A. (2015). A meta-analysis of pornography consumption and actual acts of sexual aggression in general population studies. Journal of Communication, 66(1), 183-205.