America Imagine The World Without Her Essay - 801 Words

There are many documentaries about America, one particular documentary has been written by Mr. Dinesh D’Souza, and it is called: â€Å"America: Imagine the World Without Her.† His inclination in favor of conservative sparks a variety of opinions in America society that shows indignity, empathy, and awareness in the audience. Although I disagree that the Affordable Care Plan as a masterpiece of extortion for the American people. It is clear that Mr. Danish D’Souza bias is against the government in the documentary â€Å"America Imagine the World Without Her.† First, he linked Saul Alinsky with President Barack Obama in regard of the Obama Care plan; Saul Alinsky was a Jewish American community organizer and writer who was a radical from the left ideology. Mr. D’Souza argued that Saul Alinsky had three strategies â€Å"Polarization, Demonization, and Deception† which the President Barack Obama used in the â€Å"Affordable Care Act,† and he pointed out that â€Å"Affordable Care Act† is a masterpiece of extortion and distortion; to be specific, he added â€Å"Obama gives the impression that he is colluding with us against the insurance companies, but in reality, he is colluding with the insurance companies against us.† Basically means that the President Barack Obama is conspiring with the insurance companies to make profit and force Americans to buy insurance. H e claimed that Obama is forcing American to buy insurance they do not want to buy. From the idea that we must feel proud to be Americans and feelShow MoreRelatedImmigration : America A Melting Pot?966 Words   |  4 Pageswondered why many call America a melting pot? Have you ever thought of why there is so much culture in America? Why are there so many different races, styles of clothes, food, and more in America? I will tell you why. It is because of Immigration. Immigration provides a variety of religions, clothing, celebrations, and food to America. Immigrants come from all over the world even today. They come for a multiple of reasons, too. They have benefited America in multiple ways also. America would not be theRead MoreTortilla Curtain: the Myth of the American Dream1253 Words   |  6 PagesAmerica is often portrayed through images of well off middle-class families, shown alongside multiple cars and a large house that is filled with shining appliances and cupboards full of food. For hopeful immigrants to the United States, these images conjure the wide spread myth of the American Dream. Immigrants believe that upon entry into the States, they will obtain prosperity through hard work and determination. The expression was first used in the beginning of the twentieth century when AmericaRead MoreArgumentative Essay On Freedom Of Religion1177 Words   |  5 Pages Imagine a world in disorder, shattered, wandering, and fighting. Imagine people who are oblivious and unaccompanied by lessons to guide them. Imagine a population missing love, unoccupied, and lacking motive. This is the image of a world without the gift of belief and faith. Thanks to this wonderful Amendment, all sorts of religious practices have taken root in our country which is a country whose society is built on freedom. While all our freedoms are picturesque, I believe that the highestRead MoreUtopia Could Happen Tomorrow Essay526 Words   |  3 PagesImagine for a second a place where color does not exist. Imagine a place where everyone lives in a house. Imagine a place where everyone one has a job and violence does not exist. Imagine a place where everything seems; familiar, homely, and secure. 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Pa’ hallar buen trabajo tienesRead MoreEssay on Silver Pavements Golden Roofs893 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Moving to America, for many, has been a reason for opportunity and prosperity. Through persistence, hard work and struggles, they pursue to find success in achieving the ‘American Dream’. One of the major struggles is maintaining one’s traditional values and their individuality while assimilating and not forgetting who he or she really is. The narrator, Jayanti, in â€Å"Silver Pavements, Golden Roofs†, by Chitra Divakaruni, illustrates a good example of how a person loses their individuality and self-identityRead MoreThe Child Of A Man Who Raped Her1288 Words   |  6 PagesImagine for a second that you are a thirteen-year -old girl. Think about being back in middle school with all of your youthfulness, all of your innocence—carefree—just beginning to learn about yourself and the world. You have just begun to feel freedom and feel more like an adult. Now imagine that, one day, you are raped. You are raped by a stranger in your own house, and nobody is around to help you. Now, if that wasn’t horrible enough, imagine finding out nineteen weeks later that you are pregnant—carryingRead MoreCulture And Cultural Identity703 Words   |  3 Pagesand the world. When a person grows inside a culture, it shapes who they are. In â€Å"What is Cultural Identity† it explains why culture is influential. While in the short story â€Å"Where Worlds Collide† there is newcomers from another country that come to America and there’s all these new rules that they don’t understand. They are not from America, To us the rules are normal, to them they are strange and new . Another example of Culture impacting ones views comes from â€Å"Two Ways to Belong in America†, twoRead MoreSuper Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart1301 Words   |  6 PagesImagine a time where every detail about your life (credit score, personality ranking, â€Å"hotness† ranking, etc.) was available to anybody around you through something similar to the present-day iPhone. Now imagine this world being reality. In Gary Shteyngarts Super Sad True Love Story, this idea is reality. Everybody in the world has an à ¤ppà ¤rà ¤ti, and everybody knows everything about one another. But is knowing everything about your friends and neighbors really a good thing, especially when the worldRead MoreUnderstanding the Cold War Today652 Words   |  3 Pagesexperienced something of the Cold War climate in her society, the person grew up in a closed religious environment and was unaware of Russias existence until she broke away. This is because her society too kept her awa y form secular influence and, therefore, all she knew and was brought up to think about was the existence of her own religious nook. The interview was quite amusing. When I asked the person to think about the Cold War, the interviewee joked that her instinctive thought was about the quarrels

Omelas Literary Argument Essay - 1170 Words

March 26, 2012 The Iron Curtain of Omelas The short story, â€Å"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas†, written by Ursula Le Guin, is about a so-called perfect society where the sacrifice of a child is what provides harmony, equality, and prosperity to the citizens of this city. As a reader, one is invited to create and visualize their own utopia, so that one is emerged with the reality of a moral dilemma: the happiness of many for the unhappiness of one. The symbol represented in the story reflects current and past society issues such as military sacrifice, slavery, and injustice. The narrator describes the city of Omelas to have no king (president), political system, technology, weapons, or many of the things that currently permeate our†¦show more content†¦As human beings, we strive for freedom, and as we see in both our world and the one in the story, no one is truly free. â€Å"They know that they, like the child, are not free,† writes the narrator, showing the reader that although the citizens apparently live â€Å"free† in a perfect society, inside their souls, they are not free. There are no slaves in this utopia, as described by the narrator, but in actuality, the child’s freedom is taken from it, similar to slavery. The child symbolizes slavery because it is not free and is a servant to all the citizens of Omelas. The narrator clearly gives the reader a contradiction stating, â€Å"†¦they did without†¦slavery,† but she fails to conclude that the child is a servant of Omelas as a slave is to its owner. The citizens of the city are described as equal, prosperous, and joyous, except for the child who is malnourished, mistreated, and confined. The child lives very much as slaves did in America, where the birth of a slave’s child was to become a slave and never to be freed. The filth and dirt on the bottom floor of the tiny prison where the child sleeps reflects what many slaves used to sleep in. Another symbol t hat reflects slavery in the story would be the smelly mops next to the rusty buckets in the corner of the dirty closet, which serves as a reminder the role the child has as a slave, as a servant to the people. The narrator tells the reader, â€Å"[i]t is afraid of the mops. ItShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas1762 Words   |  8 Pagesestablished fan base that expects for the movie to do justice to its written counterpart. It is definitely a challenge to meet those expectations, but if presented with an exceptional literary work, the job of film makers gets easier. In this case, such a piece comes in the form of Hugo Award winner â€Å"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,† a short story written by Ursula K. Le Guin, who was inspired by Philosopher William James’s quote: â€Å"One could not accept a happiness shared with millions if the condition ofRead MoreBusiness and Management2600 Words   |  11 Pages |The Writer as R eader: Reading and Responding (pp. 11-16). | | | | |The Reader as Writer: Developing a Thesis, Drafting, and Writing an Argument (pp.45-63). | | | | |Reading Literature Closely: Explication (pp 101-114). | | | | |Reading

Constitutional Law

Question: Describe about the constitutional law of UK. Answer: Introduction The government and the Parliament of the UK is a democratic one. The UK Parliament consists of two houses known as the House of Commons and the House of the Lords. Passing of a bill in the Parliament has to get the approval of both the houses and after receiving the Royal Assent, it becomes an act of the Parliament. An act passed in such a manner is binding on the people and authorities who are concerned with the law[1]. As a matter of general legal parlance, subsequent acts replace and repeal the existing ones. The main reason behind this principle is that subsequent acts are passed with amendments that are required in the contemporary world. However, as the UK does not have an unified and coded constitution, the Parliament of the country works mainly based on the principle of an important Doctrine called the Doctrine of Parliamentary Supremacy[2]. According to the Doctrine, Parliamentary sovereignty is the key element of the UK constitution and this makes the Parliament the Supreme Legal Authority in the UK. In the given case scenario, an act was passed (The Marriages Act 2016) by the existing Parliament and the provisions of the act stipulated that the act shall prevail over and above any other subsequent act in this regard. Its provisions also provided that the act can only be amended and repealed by 80% majority of both the Houses. At a later stage, there was a change in the government and the Family Law Act 2021, which made amendments in the provisions of the existing act, replaced the Marriages Act. This essay will try to bring out the legality and validity of such a change in the context of the mentioned Doctrine. Parliamentary supremacy generally means that the legislative body is supreme and above all the other government institutions in UK. This includes the executive and judicial bodies and branches of the government. The Doctrine of Parliamentary supremacy gives power to the Parliament of the country in such a manner that when a law is passed by the Parliament it cannot be challenges in any court of law. The simple logic behind this is that the Parliament is composed of two houses known as the House of the Commons and the House of the Lords and the House of the Commons is constituted by representatives of the common people who have been elected in a democratic manner by the people of the country[3]. Therefore, a certain trust and responsibility is reposed on them that they will act in a just and equitable manner that will not be against any public policy or public interest. This faith of the common people gives the House of Commons their power and it is accepted that whatever decision the y take will be in the good interests of the common people[4]. With this fact as the base, it has been provided in the Doctrine that the laws passed in the Parliament cannot be challenged in any legal forum. The Doctrine has been in operation for a long time and as the UK does not have a written and codified constitution as some other developed countries, the Doctrine has become an important source of law in the country. The Doctrine establishes a relation between the Parliament and the courts of the country. It provides answer to a very sensitive question: Is the Parliament supreme or the Courts? It has already been said and proved that the Parliament holds the supreme power. In other words, the Parliament has the right to make and repeal any law under the constitution of the UK and no person or authority or a recognized body in England has the right to override or set aside the laws passed by the Parliament[5]. Another very important point stipulated by the Doctrine is that no Parliament is authorized to pass any law that future Parliaments cannot change or amend and it is only the Parliament that can change or reverse a law passed by the Parliament. In simple words, a law passed by a Parliament can only be amended or repealed by another Parliament or the same one. Here, it can be seen that the jurisdiction of the courts have been restricted by the Doctrine and they only have the power of judicial interpretation of the laws passed by the Parliament. It has also been provided that a law passed by a Parliament can be changed by a subsequent Parliament by a simple majority (the minimum requirement of a Parliament to pass a bill). Consequently, it can be seen that there is no fundamental constitutional law that the Parliament is unable to change. Thus, the courts are left with just one function that is to oversee that a law is passed in a proper manner in the Parliament before receiving Royal Assent[6]. Some important case laws in this regard Canon Selwyn (1872) [Ex-Parte] and Pickin vs. British Railways Board (1974), where a subsequent law passed by the Parliament amended the provisions of the Enrolled Bill Rule that was passed by the earlier Parliament. Some other cases where the judiciary failed to question the validity of an act passed by the Parliament are Cheyney vs. Conn (1968) and Manual vs. AG (1982)[7]. The situation changes a bit with the inclusion of the UK in the European Union (EU). With the passing of the European Communities Act in 1972, the whole scenario changes a little. According to the laws of the EU, the statutes of the EU will always prevail over national laws. In cases where there is contravention between national and EU law, the laws of the Union will override the national laws. This supremacy of the EU law was provide in the Act of 1972[8]. In the given case scenario, section 1 of the Marriages Act stipulated that only those people who have attained the age of twenty-five be vested with the right to marry. At a later stage, the new government passed the Family Law Act repealed this provision and provided that people who have attained the age of eighteen will be able to marry. This subsequent act was passed with a simple majority in the Parliament and this was not acceding to the provisions of the earlier act that stated that an 80% majority is required. Here the Doctrine of Parliamentary supremacy comes into play. According to the Doctrine, a Parliament cannot pass a law that future Parliaments cannot change[9]. This Doctrine holds immense importance in the legal system of the UK. Irrespective of the situation, the provisions of the Doctrine will always prevail over and above all the laws passed by any Parliament in the UK[10]. According to the said provision of the Doctrine, the section 3 of the Marriages Act will have no constitutional validity. This is due to the fact that a subsequent Parliament of the new government is allowed to change or amend any laws passed by the earlier Parliament in a simple manner an act is passed in the Parliament. In the words of the Doctrine, it can be said that the provisions of the Marriages Act can always be amended by a subsequent Parliament as the case scenario stipulated[11]. The amendments brought about by the Family Law Act are valid and will hold constitutionally implementable. Therefore, in light of the above discussions, it can be said that Henry and Ann will be allowed to enter into the holy sacrament of matrimony since they have attained the age of eighteen years in the year 2024. Conclusion The UK does not have an unified and codified constitution. In essence, the whole country is dependent on the laws and statutes passed by the Parliament. The Parliament in UK holds the ultimate and supreme power and this power of the Parliament has been provided to it by the Doctrine of Parliamentary Supremacy. According to the Doctrine, the Parliament has the power to make and change laws and any individual or body cannot challenge the laws passed by the Parliament in any court of law. The Parliament alone holds the power to change or amend any law passed by it or by any previous Parliament[12]. The Doctrine provides that no Parliament can pass a law that a subsequent Parliament cannot change. Therefore, in the given case, the provisions of the Marriages Act that state that the law cannot be repealed by any subsequent act cannot be held as constitutionally valid. Further its provisions stipulating that a majority of 80% of both the houses will be require to amend or repeal the act wi ll also be invalid in the light of the Doctrine as it provides power to a subsequent Parliament to change any provision of an existing law. Thus, the change brought about by the Family Law Act will be valid and applicable to everyone. Lastly, the changed provisions will allow Henry and Ann to get marries as the new law states that a person can marry if he/she attains an age of eighteen. References 'Bills Legislation' (UK Parliament, 2016) https://www.parliament.uk/business/bills-and-legislation/ accessed 23 March 2016 Dicey, Albert Venn.The law of the constitution. Vol. 1. OUP Oxford, 2013. Gordon, Michael. "The UK's Fundamental Constitutional Principle: Why the UK Parliament Is Still Sovereign and Why It Still Matters."King's Law Journal26.2 (2015): 229-251. Gordon, Michael.Parliamentary sovereignty in the UK constitution: Process, politics and democracy. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2015. Hardt, Sascha.Parliamentary immunity: a comprehensive study of the systems of parliamentary immunity of the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands in a European context. Diss. Maastricht University, 2013. Heywood, Andrew.Essentials of UK politics. Palgrave Macmillan, 2015. 'House Of Commons' (UK Parliament, 2016) https://www.parliament.uk/business/commons/ accessed 23 March 2016 'House Of Lords' (UK Parliament, 2016) https://www.parliament.uk/business/lords/ accessed 23 March 2016 'Making Laws' (UK Parliament, 2016) https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws/ accessed 23 March 2016 'Parliament Supremacy | Law Teacher' (Lawteacher.net, 2016) https://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-essays/constitutional-law/parliament-supremacy.php accessed 23 March 2016 'Parliamentary Sovereignty' (UK Parliament, 2016) https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/sovereignty/ accessed 23 March 2016 'Passage Of A Bill' (UK Parliament, 2016) https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws/passage-bill/ accessed 23 March 2016

Strategic Management in the House of Ajmal

Introduction The House of Ajmal is a family heritage and a sensational force in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The business entails a perfumery, which is based in Dubai and it has been inexistence for close to six decades.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Strategic Management in the House of Ajmal specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It has its origin in India and it is rumored to have come into existence when the very first Arabians visited India and developed a liking to the oriental scents that typify the Asian continent. However, contemporarily, the accuracy of this rumor is insignificant in the face of all the business that the House of Ajmal is closing at the end of the day. The business features amongst the leading perfumeries in the United Arab Emirates, alongside household names such as the Arabian Oud, Zahras Perfumes, Swiss Arabian perfumes, and the Royal Diwan Group. Its formidability as a competitor is evident to its rivals especially when there are international rewards such as the FIFA Perfume Awards that were sponsored by the Fragrance Foundation (founded in 2008), where Ajmal won a number of awards based on its fragrances and exemplary retailing techniques. On the global level, the competitors are numerous ranging from Coty to Elizabeth Arden to Dolce and Gabbana and Chanel. What is of concern is that even other non-perfume sectors such as the clothing lines and celebrity names are entering the race and they have the luxury of sailing past entrance resistors under the glamour of their names.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These factors and many more are justification enough for the house of Ajmal to reconsider its development strategy in light of ensuring continued relevance, sales, and profitability in the future. Superficially, it may not seem to be in jeop ardy of becoming irrelevant especially considering that presently the House of Ajmal runs a $200 million 150000 square foot factory in Dubai, which produces over 50000 bottles of perfumes consisting of an array of Arab and French fragrances daily. However, the new entrants pose a threat to its very existence especially considering that traditionally, most of its products have been targeting the affluent Middle Eastern clientele. External Environment It is interesting to note that the perfume industry is becoming as dynamic as the fashion industry, which is to say that it changes all the time. This versatility has to do with the fact that increasing percentages of consumers are in fact younger than twenty-five years, a fact that can be explained by the ever-evolving market trends that have now seen youthful entrepreneurs taking over the role of production in the society and not necessarily relying on being employed to earn an income. The industry players on the other hand seem to hav e some sort of retarded growth, and whereas some have seen the wisdom of adapting to suit this new clientele, others are still set in their ways, much to their loss and doom. For comparative purposes, it is evident that in the fashion industry, designs keep changing and the only way to stay relevant is by producing chic and trend outfits that are affordable and desirable to the targeted consumers. The same principle applies in perfumery industry.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Strategic Management in the House of Ajmal specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The House of Ajmal has its backbone in the affluent Middle Eastern clientele, but even this phenomenon is rapidly shifting on a negative tangent. Today, only 10 per cent of the United Arab Emirates residents are actually nationals with the rest of the 90 per cent being expatriates. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that even if the House of Ajmal is making ma ny dollars selling to the Middle East, most of its clientele is comprised of expatriates of various nationalities, with conflicting interests in scents. A bonus to the House of Ajmal is that Arabian scents have always been a favorite amongst most consumers, specifically the ouds, ambers, and musks. Another advantage for Ajmal is the fact that their production is not only limited to perfumes, but they have their tentacles spread into air fresheners, body sprays, lotions, essential oils, and even soaps. However, with incumbent brands and designs based on other factors such as celebrity status and seasoned distribution lines such as Burberry’s Clothing line, the house of Ajmal needs a strategy that shall keep it afloat and abreast despite the raging competition. Key Success Factors Introduction With the perfume industry and particularly in the Middle East, there is the advantage of automatic popularity of perfumes among Arabs. This group of people likes to wear layers of perfume that leaves their scent behind even an hour after they leave a room. Additionally, they prefer ouds, masks, and amber perfumes, which are produced locally in the UAE. With this knowledge in mind, to stay relevant, all that a perfumery has to do is to produce a line in these tastes.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, with globalization, there has been emigration and now 90 per cent of the UAE population comprises expatriates. However, this element does not seem to remove from the consumption of perfumes in the Middle East and if anything, it simply adds to the appeal of the United Arab Emirates as a forum for launching new perfume products. The House of Ajmal vs. competition In view of its regional and immediate competition, the House of Ajmal is not faring so badly. As noted above, it boasts revenue of 200 million dollars. Additionally, it has over 100 different varieties of perfumes and an exquisite 70 brands to its name. These brands are distributed locally and internationally through its various retail outlets. In the United Arab Emirates, there are 35 outlets and in Malaysia, which is the newest reach out point for Ajmal (launched in 2010) there are already four new outlets. The other areas of interest under the House of Ajmal’s influence include India, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar. In total, this House boasts a sum of 141 outlets. An immediately interesting competitor is the Arabian Oud, which is a perfumer that came into existence in 1982. Simple arithmetic indicates that the Arabian Oud is only three decades old and thus young enough to be a progeny of the House of Ajmal, but this perfumery already has 620 stores in fifty cities, across 30 countries. Whereas initially the Arabian Oud operated only in the Middle East as the House of Ajmal does now, in 2000, it created a flagship store in the United Kingdom, which was followed closely by launching another store in Paris in 2004. Rivaling the House of Ajmal’s 100 fragrances, the Arabian Oud has 400 individual fragrances. Slowly but surely, the Arabian Oud seems to be bent on taking over the perfume market in the Middle East and beyond. In 2012, it launched the largest perfume store in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and it has made it clear that it intends to carry on in the same t rend. Nevertheless, this development is not such a major cause of worry for the House of Ajmal for brand loyalty is still on its side. Despite the Arabian Oud’s mogul like expansion, the House of Ajmal maintains its clientele among the affluent Middle Eastern population. Therefore, it is important to note that brand loyalty is the only factor that is keeping the House of Ajmal standing. Change is inevitable and it is encouraging that Ajmal has already realized this and is working towards appeasing the newer generation of clientele that demands trendy and contemporary scents. An illustration of this positive attitude towards change is in the design and layout of Ajmal stores. They have an open air feeling that is enhanced by the spacious, stylish, and contemporary surroundings to give a â€Å"unique and interactive sensory experience,† which is proof that Ajmal is aware of the new demands of the new generation clientele. It is even more encouraging that the new stores w ere not designed from scratch, but instead were made over, which implies that the idea is to reform and repackage the new product to suit the targeted consumers. This move is advantageous as it shall mean a reduction in the overall costs as more revenue would have been required if the House of Ajmal were launching an entirely new product. Additionally, it cuts out the risk of hiking the prices of the new products in case the consumer reaction was not as anticipated, in order to cover the advertisement, promotional, and marketing costs related to the new product. As it is, consumers are getting a refurbished version of what they are accustomed to and probably at lower costs and better packaging, which probably explains why they are giving out millions of dollars to secure the same. The final factor is the opportunity of growth that the House of Ajmal can seize. Presently, most of its clientele is the affluent Middle Eastern population as aforementioned. However, it reserves the optio n of going intercontinental and launching its products into the European, Asian, American, and even African markets. It has the raw materials necessary for such a move as it runs a factory in the UAE, which is the hub of raw materials for perfume ingredients and nosers. All that is lacking at present is establishing its presence in these new segments. In the quest to facilitate such an expansion, there are the revolutionized technological advances that have seen to the increased efficiency of distribution throughout the world within a maximum 48 hours, not to mention the Internet as a means of advertising in social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Conclusion This section has looked into the key success factors behind the perfumery that is the House of Ajmal. It has noted the fact that the Middle Eastern population prefers scents rounded about ouds, ambers, and musks and that being in the hub of the UAE, the House of Ajmal can easily access these raw materials for product ion. Secondly, the fact that the House has been in existence for over 60 years grants it credibility and preference in the eyes of most consumers, thus ensuring brand loyalty and securing specific consumers. Third, the fact that the House of Ajmal is a diversified enterprise as it deals with several products including lotions and air fresheners gives it a competitive hedge in the market. This aspect guarantees the perfumery a secure place in the market as it has a variety of products and places it almost evenly with other perfumes that are branded either on celebrity status such as Justin Bieber’s Someday or on famous distribution lines such as Yves Laurent or Burberry Clothing Line. The fourth key success factor is the fact that the House of Ajmal is currently reforming or refurbishing its products to stay relevant as opposed to coming up with an entirely new product as this aspect cuts out many risks related to product development. Finally, Ajmal’s restricted presenc e to the Middle East presents it with the option of expansion as a means of increasing profitability and sales and the various markets that it could easily launch into would be the European, Asian, American, and African markets especially with the revolution in technology and the Internet capabilities. Porter’s Five Forces Introduction In any market, there are constant paradigm shifts as new players enter or old players leave the market. The factors that determine how the paradigm shifts are constant and they can be easily surveyed in light of the House of Ajmal, which is the case study in this strategic management paper. An analysis of these five factors concerning the house of Ajmal shall indicate its credibility as a competitor in the versatile perfumery market in the UAE. Threat of New Entrants In any market, monopoly is never a preference to competitive trading and so there is always an advantage if the market presents opportunities for new companies to join other player s. However, apparently, too many companies in the market reduce the profit margin and makes the company less viable and so it is in the case of Ajmal. The perfume industry, especially in the Middle East, is a luxurious business to engage in; however, there is the issue of qualifications, which requires training and at least six years of apprenticeship. This element is already a barrier to new entrants as the House of Ajmal is 60 years old and before new entrants can make their presence felt, close to another decade shall have passed by in the process. However, this qualification does not bar wealthy business people from acquiring failing businesses, integrating them, and forming a formidable rival for Ajmal, and so this factor has moderate significance regarding Ajmal’s standing in the market. Moreover, the competition that jeopardizes Ajmal’s standing, viz. Arabian Oud, has been in existence for close to thirty years already and if brand loyalty is the only variable t hat is being looked upon to even the odds, Ajmal has no cause for worry. Threat of Substitutes In the perfume industry, substitutes may or may not be rampant. The reason for this on-the-fence conclusion is that several reasons trigger consumer preference in scent. Good advertising may induce brand loyalty especially if emphasis is laid on the quality of the brand in terms of consumer and environment protection. However, brand loyalty may also be induced by the specificity of consumers’ tastes. Nevertheless, the latter reason is a less persuasive argument as many times, consumers prefer the perfume based on the name rather than the scent and they would never choose it in a blind testing procedure where the perfumes are not branded. Consequently, it is safe to posit that there are multiple substitutes in the perfume industry and especially in the Middle East. Consequently, this element is a strong factor in determining Ajmal’s competitiveness and it should be regarded wi th special concentration when coming up with a strategic plan. Bargaining power of Buyers In most markets, the power of the buyer can never be underestimated, and especially in the perfume industry where as noted above there are a myriad of substitutes, it is important to keep buyers happy. Zeroing in on Ajmal reveals a tendency to charge exorbitantly for its goods mostly due to the quality as well as the targeted consumers. It may not seem necessary to cut these costs presently as that class of consumers actually grades goods based on price at times. However, it is also apparent that a new generation of consumers, which is trendy, is coming up and it would prefer affordable prices. As it is, Ajmal only has two viable options and the first is to introduce products that are amenable to this group, which means the products should entail trendy, chic, and affordable perfume splashes and body lotions or soaps among others or to shun this new generation at its own peril. It is encouragin g that Ajmal seems to be working towards satisfying the demands of this new generation of consumers by simply refurbishing its products. In a way, this move achieves two goals as it keeps the older generation ensnared and captures the attention of the new clientele. Consequently, the bargaining power of buyers is definitely a strong factor in determining competitiveness. Bargaining Power of Suppliers This element is another indefinite factor because for instance, the natural oud that is used in the manufacturing of perfumes is said to have run out completely and so most of what is used today is synthetic. Consequently, the scale shifts based on the preference of the manufacturer, viz. between synthetic and natural. Most vintage bestsellers, as Ajmal, prefer to use natural raw materials to produce their perfumes. Consequently, the suppliers of such raw materials have a great bargaining power. In the case of Ajmal, the bargaining power of suppliers is definitely a strong factor in det ermining her competitiveness. However, in view of the refurbishment of its products to meet the demands of a new generation, it is safe to say that in pursuance of a cheaper or rather more affordable product, Ajmal may decide to use synthetic raw materials. Such a move would reduce the suppliers’ bargaining power. However, it may not be necessary for Ajmal to stoop that low as the perfume itself only takes 3 per cent of production and the rest of the cost is due to packaging, marketing, and distribution. Consequently, if Ajmal were to cut on these three costs, it may not need to resort to synthetic raw material and the bargaining power of suppliers of raw materials remains a strong factor whereas that of the suppliers of the packaging and the other factors shall be reduced considerably. Competitive Rivalry In the arena that is the United Arab Emirates, there are few, but very potent competitors in the perfume industry. Presently, Ajmal is doing a good job by holding up its ed ge in light of all the new entrants and if it manages to overcome local competition completely, it shall be well on its way towards succeeding internationally. This aspect is a real possibility especially given that all the competitors seem to be focused on the affluent population in the society, which leaves room for groundbreaking development among the poor to middle class population. Conclusion This segment has dealt with Porter’s five forces in analyzing the viability of the House of Ajmal as a competitor in the United Arab Emirates. The issue of new entrants is of moderate importance to Ajmal’s position in the market for whereas new entrants cannot displace her overnight, acquisitions and mergers are unpredictable, hence they may dominate the market. The threat of substitutes is not a significant factor for Ajmal mostly because it has brand loyalty. The bargaining power of buyers is definitely a strong factor as the new generation consumers have triggered the refu rbishment of Ajmal’s stores and products in a bid to remain relevant. The bargaining power of suppliers is two fold, viz. it divides the suppliers of the ingredients of the perfumes and those of the packaging. The new generation demands can cause either suppliers bargaining power to have greater relevance, but this element is a significant factor. Finally, competitive rivalry is a significant factor and Ajmal’s standing seems to be sure. SWOT Analysis Strengths Ajmal is a market leader as it has been in existence for sixty years and so has brand loyalty Has not ventured into other continents and so it is more manageable Has other products besides perfumes so relevance wider outreach Has its own factory and so production costs are reduced Has its own outlets and so the middleman that is department stores is cut out Is flexible to accommodate demands of new generation Comfortably stayed afloat for sixty years with its clientele purely affluent Opportunities Could easily increase its fragrances by hiring better and more nosers Could integrate technology and internet into its business plan to increase its outreach Could easily expand into the international market Could easily target the new generation of consumers and increase its market hold Weaknesses Has only 100 fragrances while competitors have 400 Its product is customized for the purely affluent consumer Its scope of business is presently only limited to the middle east Threats Rigid stance on the use of natural raw materials as ingredients when e.g. oud no longer exists naturally Arabian Oud as a competitor that is targeting her strongholds in the UAE New legislation by the European Union and other standard boards on quality control Recommendations Generic strategy Market Expansion Ajmal has a solid impression on the consumers in the Middle East. However, it is apparent that the only reason why the competition seems to be catching up is that competition has spread its outr each to other continents and regions and so it is harnessing a greater aggregate market. Consequently, if Ajmal were to follow suit and create new branches in countries such as the United Kingdom, China, Spain, and France, its sales and profitability rations would rocket. This assertion holds because the House has the advantage of a long period in business – 60 years and natural quality products to back it up. Additionally, it should be cheaper to produce for these new markets, as European consumers prefer lighter perfumes that require less natural raw materials. Grand strategy This scheme is also called a master strategy and it provides the general direction for a business action. Specifically, I recommend market development as the grand strategy to be applied. This strategy is both affordable and less risky and it entails marketing the same product, which in Ajmal’s case entails the perfumes, the air fresheners, the lotions, soaps, and body oils and other fragrances, but under a different cosmetic package. In other words, it is simply refurbishing the packaging or by changing the channels of distribution or the contents of advertisements or promotions. Ajmal could adopt this strategy by opening new branches in other cities and countries outside the Middle East. On the advertisement perspective, an example of a solution would be to issue free pamphlets to lure young customers with the impressive depictions of the products therein, in a way akin to what mobile phone suppliers catch the young generation’s attention. Additional advertisement could also be done by creating a fan page on Facebook or a username on Twitter and have millions of followers to comment on the products. Product Development The element of product development could also be implemented as a strategy. In this case, the House of Ajmal could either modify a current product or perfume or create an entirely new product and use established channels to distribute it. As establi shed in the earlier analysis, it would be wiser to simply refurbish existent products as this aspect would reduce the risk of poor turnover ratios incase consumers are not impressed by the new product. Strategy justification The market expansion, market development, and product development strategies proposed for Ajmal are the most viable options in terms of affordability and risk management. Conclusion Ajmal is a market leader in the Middle East perfume industry. However, currently, it faces serious regional and global competition from companies such as Arabian Oud and Coty, respectively. In a bid to avoid being overtaken, the House of Ajmal should utilize several generic and grand strategies namely the market expansion, market development, and product development strategies. These strategies are advantageous due to their affordability and low-risk quality and it would be wise to avoid starting a new product entirely when the brand loyalty has kept consumers attached for close to 6 0 years. Whereas it is true that the company should evolve to be in a position to cater for the younger generation that now makes up to 65 per cent of its consumers. Therefore, it is important to strategize and evaluate how to go about meeting the needs of the young generation. The performance indicators of success shall be visible in the feedback from the surveys that the company shall carry out to measure consumer satisfaction as well as in an increase in the growth and sales rates. Moreover, by creating new branches in new cities and countries, especially outside the Middle East, shall add value to the brand prestige. Soon enough, the company shall enter the league of other global producers of perfume and be in a position to compete at that level. This case study on Strategic Management in the House of Ajmal was written and submitted by user Alissa P. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on An Insight Into Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality is a creation of a highly interactive computer based multimedia environment in which the user becomes a participant with the computer in a "virtually real" world1 We are living in an era characterized by 3D virtual systems created by computer graphics. In the concept called Virtual Reality (VR), the virtual reality engineer is combining computer, video, image-processing, and sensor technologies so that a human can enter into and react with spaces generated by computer graphics. In 1969-70, a MIT scientist went to the University of Utah, where he began to work with vector generated graphics. He built a see-through helmet that used television screens and half-silvered mirrors, so that the environment was visible through the TV displays. It was not yet designed to provide a surrounding environment. It was not until the mid '80's that virtual reality systems were becoming more defined. The AMES contract started in 1985, came up with the first glove in February 1986. The glove is made of thin Lycra and is fitted with 15 sensors that monitor finger flexion, extension, hand position and orientation. Connected to a computer through fiber optic cables. Sensor inputs enable the computer to generate an on screen image of the hand that follows the operator's hand movements. The glove also has miniature vibrators in the finger tips to provide feedback to the operator from grasped virtual objects. Therefore, driven by the proper software, the system all! ows the rator to interact by grabbing and moving a virtual object within a simulated room, while experiencing the "feel" of the object. The virtual reality line includes the Datasuit and the Eyephone. The Datasuit is an instrumented full-body garment that enables full-body interaction with a computer constructed virtual world. In one use, this product is worn by film actors to give realistic movement to animated characters in computer generated special ... Free Essays on An Insight Into Virtual Reality Free Essays on An Insight Into Virtual Reality Virtual Reality is a creation of a highly interactive computer based multimedia environment in which the user becomes a participant with the computer in a "virtually real" world1 We are living in an era characterized by 3D virtual systems created by computer graphics. In the concept called Virtual Reality (VR), the virtual reality engineer is combining computer, video, image-processing, and sensor technologies so that a human can enter into and react with spaces generated by computer graphics. In 1969-70, a MIT scientist went to the University of Utah, where he began to work with vector generated graphics. He built a see-through helmet that used television screens and half-silvered mirrors, so that the environment was visible through the TV displays. It was not yet designed to provide a surrounding environment. It was not until the mid '80's that virtual reality systems were becoming more defined. The AMES contract started in 1985, came up with the first glove in February 1986. The glove is made of thin Lycra and is fitted with 15 sensors that monitor finger flexion, extension, hand position and orientation. Connected to a computer through fiber optic cables. Sensor inputs enable the computer to generate an on screen image of the hand that follows the operator's hand movements. The glove also has miniature vibrators in the finger tips to provide feedback to the operator from grasped virtual objects. Therefore, driven by the proper software, the system all! ows the rator to interact by grabbing and moving a virtual object within a simulated room, while experiencing the "feel" of the object. The virtual reality line includes the Datasuit and the Eyephone. The Datasuit is an instrumented full-body garment that enables full-body interaction with a computer constructed virtual world. In one use, this product is worn by film actors to give realistic movement to animated characters in computer generated special ...

Distance Learning Creative Writing Courses You Must Try

Distance Learning Creative Writing Courses You Must Try Distance Learning: Creative Writing Courses You Must Try Distance learning creative writing courses are a study option where all communication with tutors is held remotely via email, Skype and other electronic means. It is not an innovation anymore; many universities offer distance learning programs. Therefore, you can get high quality education regardless of your location. They are designed for students who have to combine studies with work, family, and for people with special needs, and basically follow the same structure as the in-class ones. The best courses in creative writing will teach you how to apply your knowledge to practice. We found some distance education programs for you, where you can develop and practice your writing skills. Some of them are more expensive than others, but all of them are worth checking out. University of Cambridge offers different courses in creative writing, for example, an introduction to writing bibliographies and other types of non-fiction. On a more creative side, there is an introductory course to short story writing. It is a practical course, which also gives you an overview of the genre itself, as well as important information about sub-genres. You will learn the art of writing through practical exercises. Creative Writing Summer Program  is another course from the Cambridge University. It is more suitable for creative writers who want to develop their existing skills. The program covers different genres of writing, such as poetry, fiction and non-fiction. The great thing about this course is that your tutors are already established writers. You will also learn how to critically assess your own work, writing of other students and tutors. The Oxford University Department for Continuing Education offers a course for beginners Getting Started in Creative Writing. If you love reading and the idea of writing your own fiction, this course will help you put your wishes into practice. You will get into writing stage-by-stage, learn different types of creative and critical methods. The course will help you build your confidence and gain practical experience in using key features (e.g., dialogue, point of view). As part of the course, you will also engage in discussions of other students work via a forum. You can get an MA in Creative Writing at Teesside University. Its a 2 year part-time program, that focuses on practical skills and techniques, as well as the understanding of your own work. You will get an opportunity to experiment and develop your interest, whether its prose, poetry or even screen writing. And last, but certainly not least, if you are completely new to writing, we recommend a program from Exeter University The Craft of Creative Writing. You will explore different forms of creative writing, like poetry, short story, novel writing, writing for performance and travel writing. This one will also help you learn how to apply different techniques, edit your writing, develop analytical reading habits and give constructive feedback. This course is also the cheapest one on the list. If writing is your goal in life, dont just dive into it head first. Take some time to learn the basics.

Easy A Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Easy A - Essay Example Vasquez’s review on the other hand focuses on the negative aspects of the movie; he fails to appreciate and accept that this movie is comedy. He is extremely critical of the way in which Easy A presents humorous situations and he asserts that the focus on being ‘funny’ is so marked that the film fails to appreciate the other realities of life. Beck’s intended audience is a person who has not watched the movie as yet; hence the approach that invites everybody to watch it. It appears to appeal to the youngsters who are more interested in matters pertaining to sexuality. Vasquez on the other hand tries to focus the audiences that are ‘choosy’; who judge the pros and cons of every expenditure that they are about to make. By providing a viewpoint that opposes the idea of watching this film, he supports the notion that this movie is definitely not worth-watching. Vasquez’s language is not academic, as he makes use of various slangs to express his

More horse power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

More horse power - Essay Example The phrase, "the most powerful in its class", may be true as "class" is not defined. According to the case, trucks similar to the Mammoth are used for hauling heavy equipment but the Mammoth is not suited for hauling. This would mean that the Mammoth would be in a different class from the hauling trucks, or in a class of its own. However, it does have a powerful engine which supports the claim that it is the most powerful in its class. All the above support the tagline "The Mammoth. Power, Beauty, Style." The advertisement focuses on qualities not necessarily connected with the product but I don't think this has been done unduly. The company used its good reputation for luxury sedans and sports cars, products which evoke power, beauty and style. The Mammoth advertisement may be targeting the same market as those for its traditional products, considering that the truck was not really built for hauling heavy equipment. The Mammoth can be viewed as simply another vehicle sporting a different design, a hauling truck design. But in the same way that luxury sedans and sports cars serve their intended customers for power, beauty and style, the Mammoth is also being sold to do this, especially since the advertisement depicted the owner getting into the truck in a tuxedo and driving to the opera. It is permissible fo

Modern America Matrix Essay Example for Free

Modern America Matrix Essay After John F Kennedys death, on December 6, 1963. Theodore White wrote an essay for Life magazine in which he compared Kennedys life to the legend of Camelot. Theodore White wrote that this was a time with a â€Å"magic moment in  American history when gallant men danced with beautiful women, when great deeds were done, when artists, writers, and poets met at the White House. There will never be another Camelot again†. Moss, G.D., Thomas, E.A. (2013). Moving on: The American people since 1945 (5th ed. ). Boston, MA: Pearson. Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe was a movie star sex symbol in the 1950’s Marilyn served as a role model for women. The fashion of the day was not about comfort but to be very sexy and femininity conforms to the prevailing sexual stereotype. Moss, G.D., Thomas, E.A. (2013). Moving on: The American people since 1945 (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. Tariff Reductions August 1993, Congress approved a new round of tariff reductions on manufactured goods covered under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. The tariff on manufacturing good had been affect since World War II. In 1993 congress reduced the tariff to help the country’s economic recovery. In 1994, Clinton followed these victories by reducing trade barriers with major Pacific Rim nations. Moss, G.D., Thomas, E.A. (2013). Moving on: The American people since 1945 (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. Peace Corps In 1961, the Kennedy administration launched the Peace corps. This was established to help Latin America and other third world countries. The Peace Corps was formed because of the cold war concerns in third world countries and from a desire to give idealistic young Americans an opportunity for public service. Over the next two years, about 7,500 Peace Corps volunteers were sent to forty-four nations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Most of them worked as teachers; others found jobs in health care, agricultural reform, and community development Moss, G.D., Thomas, E.A. (2013). Moving on: The American people since 1945 (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. Alliance for Progress In the 1960’s the Kennedy  administration developed a multifaceted assistance program called the Alianza para progreso. The Alliance for progress was established to blunt the appeal of Castroism and foreclose Soviet opportunities in Latin America. Over the  life of the program, billions of dollars in loans and grants from both public and private sources were fed into the Alliance for Progress. Moss, G.D., Thomas, E.A. (2013). Moving on: The American people since 1945 (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Ezekiel Essay example -- essays research papers

Ezekiel meaning the strength of God, is one of the four greater prophets in the Old Testament. Ezekiel was the son of a priest named Buzi. Not much is known about Ezekiel’s childhood; much more is know after the age of twenty-five. Ezekiel was taken captive in the captivity of Jehoiachin, about eleven years before the destruction of Jerusalem. He was one of the many members of a community of Jewish people who settled on the banks of the Chebar, a river of Babylon. Ezekiel began prophesying in 595 B.C, and finished prophesying in 573 B.C. Ezekiel prophesied for a period that lasted about twenty-two years. Ezekiel was a married man but little else is known about his family life, he also had a house in his place of exile. His wife died a sudden death during the siege of Jerusalem. He lived among the top of his companions in exile, and their elders consulted with him on all matters. Ezekiel lived in a time of international crisis and conflict. Assyria was the world power in the area under the rule of Tiglath-pilesar III. In 724 B.C Israel raged war upon Assyria, and Israel was no match for Assyria. In 627 B.C the last of the able Assyrian ruler, Ashurbanipal died. Right after the death of Ashurbanipal, Babylon under Nabopolassar wanted independence from Assyria. In 612 B.C the Assyrians under Nineveh surrendered to the rising Babylonians. In 605 B.C the Babylonians were at war against the Egyptians. The Babylonians won and they established themselves as the leading power in the area. During all of this Judea allied with the Babylonians and with this Judea kept her independence. During the last century before Judea was destroyed it was ruled by four rulers and of those rulers, all but Josiah were wicked. Josiah was committed to God and led Judea to him. All the others did not heed the warnings of Ezekiel and Jeremiah from God, and the rulers of Judea chose to reb el against God. God punished Judea by sending Nebuchadnezzar’s army to crush the nation of Judea and flatten the city of Jerusalem. God appeared first to Ezekiel in a storm cloud; God was seated on a throne surrounded by cherubim. He commanded Ezekiel to go to an â€Å"impudent children and stiffhearted† and He gave Ezekiel a scroll to eat, showing Ezekiel complete identification with God’s Word. After Ezekiel returned to the people in Tel-Abib, God spoke to Ezekiel again, telling Ezekiel to be a â€Å"watchma... ...all the people Ezekiel was strange but God did not believed, In God’s eyes, Ezekiel was truthful, forgiving, obedient, and had endurance. He was dependable, patience, faithful, and tolerant. Ezekiel was truthful in all that he spoke because all of his words were from God. Ezekiel was forgiving and tolerant of God when God decided to take Ezekiel’s wife away to make a point. Ezekiel was very obedient as he obeyed God’s every single command including not mourning when his wife died. God gave Ezekiel lots of endurance because he prophetized for over twenty-two years. With his endurance, showed he was always dependable and faithful. All God needed to do was tell Ezekiel what to say or do, and Ezekiel would complete the task without complaint. Ezekiel was very patient even though God did not allow him to speak for seven and a half years and he complied with that. Ezekiel’s death is unknown, but an ancient Jewish tradition states that Ezekiel was killed by his own people because of his preaching. Ezekiel’s body is believed to be buried on the banks of the Euphrates, in the modern-day city of Kifl, just south of the ancient city Babylon. The tomb is said to have built by Jehoiachin.

Angels Demons Chapter 32-35

32 Langdon held his breath as the X-33 spiraled into Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport. Vittoria sat across from him, eyes closed as if trying to will the situation into control. The craft touched down and taxied to a private hangar. â€Å"Sorry for the slow flight,† the pilot apologized, emerging from the cockpit. â€Å"Had to trim her back. Noise regulations over populated areas.† Langdon checked his watch. They had been airborne thirty-seven minutes. The pilot popped the outer door. â€Å"Anybody want to tell me what's going on?† Neither Vittoria nor Langdon responded. â€Å"Fine,† he said, stretching. â€Å"I'll be in the cockpit with the air-conditioning and my music. Just me and Garth.† The late-afternoon sun blazed outside the hangar. Langdon carried his tweed jacket over his shoulder. Vittoria turned her face skyward and inhaled deeply, as if the sun's rays somehow transferred to her some mystical replenishing energy. Mediterraneans, Langdon mused, already sweating. â€Å"Little old for cartoons, aren't you?† Vittoria asked, without opening her eyes. â€Å"I'm sorry?† â€Å"Your wristwatch. I saw it on the plane.† Langdon flushed slightly. He was accustomed to having to defend his timepiece. The collector's edition Mickey Mouse watch had been a childhood gift from his parents. Despite the contorted foolishness of Mickey's outstretched arms designating the hour, it was the only watch Langdon had ever worn. Waterproof and glow-in-the-dark, it was perfect for swimming laps or walking unlit college paths at night. When Langdon's students questioned his fashion sense, he told them he wore Mickey as a daily reminder to stay young at heart. â€Å"It's six o'clock,† he said. Vittoria nodded, eyes still closed. â€Å"I think our ride's here.† Langdon heard the distant whine, looked up, and felt a sinking feeling. Approaching from the north was a helicopter, slicing low across the runway. Langdon had been on a helicopter once in the Andean Palpa Valley looking at the Nazca sand drawings and had not enjoyed it one bit. A flying shoebox. After a morning of space plane rides, Langdon had hoped the Vatican would send a car. Apparently not. The chopper slowed overhead, hovered a moment, and dropped toward the runway in front of them. The craft was white and carried a coat of arms emblazoned on the side – two skeleton keys crossing a shield and papal crown. He knew the symbol well. It was the traditional seal of the Vatican – the sacred symbol of the Holy See or â€Å"holy seat† of government, the seat being literally the ancient throne of St. Peter. The Holy Chopper, Langdon groaned, watching the craft land. He'd forgotten the Vatican owned one of these things, used for transporting the Pope to the airport, to meetings, or to his summer palace in Gandolfo. Langdon definitely would have preferred a car. The pilot jumped from the cockpit and strode toward them across the tarmac. Now it was Vittoria who looked uneasy. â€Å"That's our pilot?† Langdon shared her concern. â€Å"To fly, or not to fly. That is the question.† The pilot looked like he was festooned for a Shakespearean melodrama. His puffy tunic was vertically striped in brilliant blue and gold. He wore matching pantaloons and spats. On his feet were black flats that looked like slippers. On top of it all, he wore a black felt beret. â€Å"Traditional Swiss Guard uniforms,† Langdon explained. â€Å"Designed by Michelangelo himself.† As the man drew closer, Langdon winced. â€Å"I admit, not one of Michelangelo's better efforts.† Despite the man's garish attire, Langdon could tell the pilot meant business. He moved toward them with all the rigidity and dignity of a U.S. Marine. Langdon had read many times about the rigorous requirements for becoming one of the elite Swiss Guard. Recruited from one of Switzerland's four Catholic cantons, applicants had to be Swiss males between nineteen and thirty years old, at least 5 feet 6 inches, trained by the Swiss Army, and unmarried. This imperial corps was envied by world governments as the most allegiant and deadly security force in the world. â€Å"You are from CERN?† the guard asked, arriving before them. His voice was steely. â€Å"Yes, sir,† Langdon replied. â€Å"You made remarkable time,† he said, giving the X-33 a mystified stare. He turned to Vittoria. â€Å"Ma'am, do you have any other clothing?† â€Å"I beg your pardon?† He motioned to her legs. â€Å"Short pants are not permitted inside Vatican City.† Langdon glanced down at Vittoria's legs and frowned. He had forgotten. Vatican City had a strict ban on visible legs above the knee – both male and female. The regulation was a way of showing respect for the sanctity of God's city. â€Å"This is all I have,† she said. â€Å"We came in a hurry.† The guard nodded, clearly displeased. He turned next to Langdon. â€Å"Are you carrying any weapons?† Weapons? Langdon thought. I'm not even carrying a change of underwear! He shook his head. The officer crouched at Langdon's feet and began patting him down, starting at his socks. Trusting guy, Langdon thought. The guard's strong hands moved up Langdon's legs, coming uncomfortably close to his groin. Finally they moved up to his chest and shoulders. Apparently content Langdon was clean, the guard turned to Vittoria. He ran his eyes up her legs and torso. Vittoria glared. â€Å"Don't even think about it.† The guard fixed Vittoria with a gaze clearly intended to intimidate. Vittoria did not flinch. â€Å"What's that?† the guard said, pointing to a faint square bulge in the front pocket of her shorts. Vittoria removed an ultrathin cell phone. The guard took it, clicked it on, waited for a dial tone, and then, apparently satisfied that it was indeed nothing more than a phone, returned it to her. Vittoria slid it back into her pocket. â€Å"Turn around, please,† the guard said. Vittoria obliged, holding her arms out and rotating a full 360 degrees. The guard carefully studied her. Langdon had already decided that Vittoria's form-fitting shorts and blouse were not bulging anywhere they shouldn't have been. Apparently the guard came to the same conclusion. â€Å"Thank you. This way please.† The Swiss Guard chopper churned in neutral as Langdon and Vittoria approached. Vittoria boarded first, like a seasoned pro, barely even stooping as she passed beneath the whirling rotors. Langdon held back a moment. â€Å"No chance of a car?† he yelled, half-joking to the Swiss Guard, who was climbing in the pilot's seat. The man did not answer. Langdon knew that with Rome's maniacal drivers, flying was probably safer anyway. He took a deep breath and boarded, stooping cautiously as he passed beneath the spinning rotors. As the guard fired up the engines, Vittoria called out, â€Å"Have you located the canister?† The guard glanced over his shoulder, looking confused. â€Å"The what?† â€Å"The canister. You called CERN about a canister?† The man shrugged. â€Å"No idea what you're talking about. We've been very busy today. My commander told me to pick you up. That's all I know.† Vittoria gave Langdon an unsettled look. â€Å"Buckle up, please,† the pilot said as the engine revved. Langdon reached for his seat belt and strapped himself in. The tiny fuselage seemed to shrink around him. Then with a roar, the craft shot up and banked sharply north toward Rome. Rome†¦ the caput mundi, where Caesar once ruled, where St. Peter was crucified. The cradle of modern civilization. And at its core†¦ a ticking bomb. 33 Rome from the air is a labyrinth – an indecipherable maze of ancient roadways winding around buildings, fountains, and crumbling ruins. The Vatican chopper stayed low in the sky as it sliced northwest through the permanent smog layer coughed up by the congestion below. Langdon gazed down at the mopeds, sight-seeing buses, and armies of miniature Fiat sedans buzzing around rotaries in all directions. Koyaanisqatsi, he thought, recalling the Hopi term for â€Å"life out of balance.† Vittoria sat in silent determination in the seat beside him. The chopper banked hard. His stomach dropping, Langdon gazed farther into the distance. His eyes found the crumbling ruins of the Roman Coliseum. The Coliseum, Langdon had always thought, was one of history's greatest ironies. Now a dignified symbol for the rise of human culture and civilization, the stadium had been built to host centuries of barbaric events – hungry lions shredding prisoners, armies of slaves battling to the death, gang rapes of exotic women captured from far-off lands, as well as public beheadings and castrations. It was ironic, Langdon thought, or perhaps fitting, that the Coliseum had served as the architectural blueprint for Harvard's Soldier Field – the football stadium where the ancient traditions of savagery were reenacted every fall†¦ crazed fans screaming for bloodshed as Harvard battled Yale. As the chopper headed north, Langdon spied the Roman Forum – the heart of pre-Christian Rome. The decaying columns looked like toppled gravestones in a cemetery that had somehow avoided being swallowed by the metropolis surrounding it. To the west the wide basin of the Tiber River wound enormous arcs across the city. Even from the air Langdon could tell the water was deep. The churning currents were brown, filled with silt and foam from heavy rains. â€Å"Straight ahead,† the pilot said, climbing higher. Langdon and Vittoria looked out and saw it. Like a mountain parting the morning fog, the colossal dome rose out of the haze before them: St. Peter's Basilica. â€Å"Now that,† Langdon said to Vittoria, â€Å"is something Michelangelo got right.† Langdon had never seen St. Peter's from the air. The marble faà §ade blazed like fire in the afternoon sun. Adorned with 140 statues of saints, martyrs, and angels, the Herculean edifice stretched two football fields wide and a staggering six long. The cavernous interior of the basilica had room for over 60,000 worshipers†¦ over one hundred times the population of Vatican City, the smallest country in the world. Incredibly, though, not even a citadel of this magnitude could dwarf the piazza before it. A sprawling expanse of granite, St. Peter's Square was a staggering open space in the congestion of Rome, like a classical Central Park. In front of the basilica, bordering the vast oval common, 284 columns swept outward in four concentric arcs of diminishing size†¦ an architectural trompe de l'oiel used to heighten the piazza's sense of grandeur. As he stared at the magnificent shrine before him, Langdon wondered what St. Peter would think if he were here now. The Saint had died a gruesome death, crucified upside down on this very spot. Now he rested in the most sacred of tombs, buried five stories down, directly beneath the central cupola of the basilica. â€Å"Vatican City,† the pilot said, sounding anything but welcoming. Langdon looked out at the towering stone bastions that loomed ahead – impenetrable fortifications surrounding the complex†¦ a strangely earthly defense for a spiritual world of secrets, power, and mystery. â€Å"Look!† Vittoria said suddenly, grabbing Langdon's arm. She motioned frantically downward toward St. Peter's Square directly beneath them. Langdon put his face to the window and looked. â€Å"Over there,† she said, pointing. Langdon looked. The rear of the piazza looked like a parking lot crowded with a dozen or so trailer trucks. Huge satellite dishes pointed skyward from the roof of every truck. The dishes were emblazoned with familiar names: Televisor Europea Video Italia BBC United Press International Langdon felt suddenly confused, wondering if the news of the antimatter had already leaked out. Vittoria seemed suddenly tense. â€Å"Why is the press here? What's going on?† The pilot turned and gave her an odd look over his shoulder. â€Å"What's going on? You don't know?† â€Å"No,† she fired back, her accent husky and strong. â€Å"Il Conclavo,† he said. â€Å"It is to be sealed in about an hour. The whole world is watching.† Il Conclavo. The word rang a long moment in Langdon's ears before dropping like a brick to the pit of his stomach. Il Conclavo. The Vatican Conclave. How could he have forgotten? It had been in the news recently. Fifteen days ago, the Pope, after a tremendously popular twelve-year reign, had passed away. Every paper in the world had carried the story about the Pope's fatal stroke while sleeping – a sudden and unexpected death many whispered was suspicious. But now, in keeping with the sacred tradition, fifteen days after the death of a Pope, the Vatican was holding Il Conclavo – the sacred ceremony in which the 165 cardinals of the world – the most powerful men in Christendom – gathered in Vatican City to elect the new Pope. Every cardinal on the planet is here today, Langdon thought as the chopper passed over St. Peter's Basilica. The expansive inner world of Vatican City spread out beneath him. The entire power structure of the Roman Catholic Church is sitting on a time bomb. 34 Cardinal Mortati gazed up at the lavish ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and tried to find a moment of quiet reflection. The frescoed walls echoed with the voices of cardinals from nations around the globe. The men jostled in the candlelit tabernacle, whispering excitedly and consulting with one another in numerous languages, the universal tongues being English, Italian, and Spanish. The light in the chapel was usually sublime – long rays of tinted sun slicing through the darkness like rays from heaven – but not today. As was the custom, all of the chapel's windows had been covered in black velvet in the name of secrecy. This ensured that no one on the inside could send signals or communicate in any way with the outside world. The result was a profound darkness lit only by candles†¦ a shimmering radiance that seemed to purify everyone it touched, making them all ghostly†¦ like saints. What privilege, Mortati thought, that I am to oversee this sanctified event. Cardinals over eighty years of age were too old to be eligible for election and did not attend conclave, but at seventy-nine years old, Mortati was the most senior cardinal here and had been appointed to oversee the proceedings. Following tradition, the cardinals gathered here two hours before conclave to catch up with friends and engage in last-minute discussion. At 7 P.M., the late Pope's chamberlain would arrive, give opening prayer, and then leave. Then the Swiss Guard would seal the doors and lock all the cardinals inside. It was then that the oldest and most secretive political ritual in the world would begin. The cardinals would not be released until they decided who among them would be the next Pope. Conclave. Even the name was secretive. â€Å"Con clave† literally meant â€Å"locked with a key.† The cardinals were permitted no contact whatsoever with the outside world. No phone calls. No messages. No whispers through doorways. Conclave was a vacuum, not to be influenced by anything in the outside world. This would ensure that the cardinals kept Solum Dum prae oculis†¦ only God before their eyes. Outside the walls of the chapel, of course, the media watched and waited, speculating as to which of the cardinals would become the ruler of one billion Catholics worldwide. Conclaves created an intense, politically charged atmosphere, and over the centuries they had turned deadly: poisonings, fist fights, and even murder had erupted within the sacred walls. Ancient history, Mortati thought. Tonight's conclave will be unified, blissful, and above all†¦ brief. Or at least that had been his speculation. Now, however, an unexpected development had emerged. Mystifyingly, four cardinals were absent from the chapel. Mortati knew that all the exits to Vatican City were guarded, and the missing cardinals could not have gone far, but still, with less than an hour before opening prayer, he was feeling disconcerted. After all, the four missing men were no ordinary cardinals. They were the cardinals. The chosen four. As overseer of the conclave, Mortati had already sent word through the proper channels to the Swiss Guard alerting them to the cardinals' absence. He had yet to hear back. Other cardinals had now noticed the puzzling absence. The anxious whispers had begun. Of all cardinals, these four should be on time! Cardinal Mortati was starting to fear it might be a long evening after all. He had no idea. 35 The Vatican's helipad, for reasons of safety and noise control, is located in the northwest tip of Vatican City, as far from St. Peter's Basilica as possible. â€Å"Terra firma,† the pilot announced as they touched down. He exited and opened the sliding door for Langdon and Vittoria. Langdon descended from the craft and turned to help Vittoria, but she had already dropped effortlessly to the ground. Every muscle in her body seemed tuned to one objective – finding the antimatter before it left a horrific legacy. After stretching a reflective sun tarp across the cockpit window, the pilot ushered them to an oversized electric golf cart waiting near the helipad. The cart whisked them silently alongside the country's western border – a fifty-foot-tall cement bulwark thick enough to ward off attacks even by tanks. Lining the interior of the wall, posted at fifty-meter intervals, Swiss Guards stood at attention, surveying the interior of the grounds. The cart turned sharply right onto Via della Osservatorio. Signs pointed in all directions: Palazzio Governatorio Collegio Ethiopiana Basilica San Pietro Capella Sistina They accelerated up the manicured road past a squat building marked Radio Vaticana. This, Langdon realized to his amazement, was the hub of the world's most listened-to radio programming – Radio Vaticana – spreading the word of God to millions of listeners around the globe. â€Å"Attenzione,† the pilot said, turning sharply into a rotary. As the cart wound round, Langdon could barely believe the sight now coming into view. Giardini Vaticani, he thought. The heart of Vatican City. Directly ahead rose the rear of St. Peter's Basilica, a view, Langdon realized, most people never saw. To the right loomed the Palace of the Tribunal, the lush papal residence rivaled only by Versailles in its baroque embellishment. The severe-looking Governatorato building was now behind them, housing Vatican City's administration. And up ahead on the left, the massive rectangular edifice of the Vatican Museum. Langdon knew there would be no time for a museum visit this trip. â€Å"Where is everyone?† Vittoria asked, surveying the deserted lawns and walkways. The guard checked his black, military-style chronograph – an odd anachronism beneath his puffy sleeve. â€Å"The cardinals are convened in the Sistine Chapel. Conclave begins in a little under an hour.† Langdon nodded, vaguely recalling that before conclave the cardinals spent two hours inside the Sistine Chapel in quiet reflection and visitations with their fellow cardinals from around the globe. The time was meant to renew old friendships among the cardinals and facilitate a less heated election process. â€Å"And the rest of the residents and staff?† â€Å"Banned from the city for secrecy and security until the conclave concludes.† â€Å"And when does it conclude?† The guard shrugged. â€Å"God only knows.† The words sounded oddly literal. After parking the cart on the wide lawn directly behind St. Peter's Basilica, the guard escorted Langdon and Vittoria up a stone escarpment to a marble plaza off the back of the basilica. Crossing the plaza, they approached the rear wall of the basilica and followed it through a triangular courtyard, across Via Belvedere, and into a series of buildings closely huddled together. Langdon's art history had taught him enough Italian to pick out signs for the Vatican Printing Office, the Tapestry Restoration Lab, Post Office Management, and the Church of St. Ann. They crossed another small square and arrived at their destination. The Office of the Swiss Guard is housed adjacent to Il Corpo di Vigilanza, directly northeast of St. Peter's Basilica. The office is a squat, stone building. On either side of the entrance, like two stone statues, stood a pair of guards. Langdon had to admit, these guards did not look quite so comical. Although they also wore the blue and gold uniform, each wielded the traditional â€Å"Vatican long sword† – an eight-foot spear with a razor-sharp scythe – rumored to have decapitated countless Muslims while defending the Christian crusaders in the fifteenth century. As Langdon and Vittoria approached, the two guards stepped forward, crossing their long swords, blocking the entrance. One looked up at the pilot in confusion. â€Å"I pantaloni,† he said, motioning to Vittoria's shorts. The pilot waved them off. â€Å"Il comandante vuole vederli subito.† The guards frowned. Reluctantly they stepped aside. Inside, the air was cool. It looked nothing like the administrative security offices Langdon would have imagined. Ornate and impeccably furnished, the hallways contained paintings Langdon was certain any museum worldwide would gladly have featured in its main gallery. The pilot pointed down a steep set of stairs. â€Å"Down, please.† Langdon and Vittoria followed the white marble treads as they descended between a gauntlet of nude male sculptures. Each statue wore a fig leaf that was lighter in color than the rest of the body. The Great Castration, Langdon thought. It was one of the most horrific tragedies in Renaissance art. In 1857, Pope Pius IX decided that the accurate representation of the male form might incite lust inside the Vatican. So he got a chisel and mallet and hacked off the genitalia of every single male statue inside Vatican City. He defaced works by Michelangelo, Bramante, and Bernini. Plaster fig leaves were used to patch the damage. Hundreds of sculptures had been emasculated. Langdon had often wondered if there was a huge crate of stone penises someplace. â€Å"Here,† the guard announced. They reached the bottom of the stairs and dead-ended at a heavy, steel door. The guard typed an entry code, and the door slid open. Langdon and Vittoria entered. Beyond the threshold was absolute mayhem.

How Men and Women Communicate Essay

Genderlect: How Men and Women Communicate Describe who the participants of the conversation were. Give the age of each person, location of conversation, relationship of participants to each other, etc. If you do not know the participants, then make your best guess about the characteristics of the conversation participants I was having coffee with a friend and her boyfriend. They were both in their mid twenties and were together for a couple of years. They knew each other ever since in college and they are both working in a respectable company. Describe what the conversation was about, and give specific details about how the conversation relates to genderlect. These details may either support or disagree with the concept of genderlect you read about in the linguistic anthropology learning module. My friend told me that they were planning to get married and are trying to resolve some issues between them before they take the vow. They went to see a counselor and confided their relationship problems and tried to resolve them. They consulted few problems especially trying to understand their differences and establish a harmonious relationship and avoiding conflict. One of the problems that they consulted is their communication problem that usually results in conflict and misunderstanding. The communication of the two is related to genderlect theory of communication as they are observing differences in their way of interacting with other people, especially people belonging from the opposite sex. The couple asked questions pertaining to the communication styles utilized by each other. Women want intimacy and human connection, while men want to retain their independence. Women want their connections and communication to be reciprocated. Men, on the other hand, aim for a position as a sign of their competitive nature. What is your interpretation of genderlect? Do you believe that it is common among people you regularly converse with? Is it more common in certain age groups, social situations, etc? Do you think it does not have much validity? Make sure you refer to your research to back up your argument. Men and women are considered to be different in all aspects. One of their differences is in their way of conversing and interacting with other people. Communication is a vital component of society in trying to achieve unity and understanding. It is important in making a connection with other people. But, one of the hindrances in attaining understanding is that when the two people are different in their way of conversing with each other. Genderlect describes the variation of language inherent to one or the other gender. The genderlect also refers to men and women’s way of communication and how the two differ. There is no need to compare the two means of communication because the two methods are entirely different. The communication process of the two is not a matter of who is right or who is dominant, understanding is hard to achieve due to the prevailing difference of the two communication processes (â€Å"Genderlect,† 2008). According to theories such as the sociolinguistic and genderlect theory, the differences in communication and behavior of the two sexes are anchored on their discernible cultural and social experiences (Poole & Hollingshead, 2004). Deborah Tannen claimed that even if the two people of different sexes came from the same culture, they will not still understand each other. The genderlect theory by Tannen discussed the differences in communication of men and women and the difference in the communication styles the two genders are utilizing (Robinson, 2003). One way of looking at the genderlect is seeing them like two different cultures conversing with each other with so many inherent barriers that hinder the attainment of understanding and unity. One of the fundamental differences of the two genders is that women would like to establish connection and for them, human connection is very important. Men, on the other hand, are more attentive to the status in an interaction. (â€Å"Genderlect,† 2008). Men always try to avoid intangible and confusing conversation. Men always seek â€Å"solid facts† and data than hitting around the bush. However, women are more particular with their feelings and emotions in order to create a rapport and connection with the other person in the interaction. The reason behind this is that men tend to view emotion as a sign of weakness and make themselves vulnerable to any type of attack (â€Å"Genderlect,† 2008). Women are also more engaged in private conversations for they seek to establish more individualized relationships. They refuse to talk more in public for the absence of human connection. They were also undermined by men in public, so they talk less. Men prefer more of the public forum where there is the presence of the audience that may recognize and look up to them. Men want authority and superiority (â€Å"Genderlect,† 2008). For women, conflicts reduce the connection that they are trying to establish, so as much as possible they try to avoid them. Men, on the other hand, find conflict as a way of gaining authority. A sharp conversation and fight imposes the positions and status of the involved persons. Thus, the inherent inferiority of women makes women comply than argue. In reality, men initiate more conflict than women (â€Å"Genderlect,† 2008). Due to the cultural and social experiences of the two sexes, their ways of communication may also be affected. In my own opinion and assessment, the theory is quite true through experiences from conversing with various people. The theory did not stress that conflict and misunderstanding will not always arise when two genders try to communicate. Conflict will also arise due to differences in personality, worldview and opinions, not only gender. The only flaw of the theory is that the theory greatly emphasizes on the goal of men to dominate others and the goal of women to establish deep relationship. These two are no longer applicable today since there have been changes in the society in ways of relating to gender issues and the emergence of women’s power and contemporary feministic views altered this proposition in the theory (Carriero, 2008). Do you think the language behaviors of males and females reflect differences in how we expect males and females to behave? Why or why not? Refer to the text in your discussion. The theory attempts to explain the inherent differences in communication that emerged from the differences in gender. The premises of the theory are well-explained. The theory is anchored on the cultural and social construction of an individual. The inherent role of men is to be dominant and superior. They are always up to compete for the hierarchical positions. Women, on the other hand, are expected to behave as inferior and subtle beings. In the contemporary society, as the theory puts greater emphasis on the goals of the genders in their communication and suggests that interaction is no longer applicable as the society, it also attempts to attain parity and equality among genders. References Carriero, H. (2008, July 25).Do Men and Women Speak Different Dialects?. Associated Content. Retrieved October 10, 2008 from http://www. associatedcontent. com/article/906989/do_men_and_women_speak_different_dialects. html? cat=38. Genderlect. (2008). ChangingMinds. org. Syque. Retrieved October 10, 2008 from http://changingminds. org/explanations/gender/genderlect. htm. Poole, M. S. & Hollingshead, A. B. (2004). Theories of Small Groups: Interdisciplinary Perspective. California: Sage Publications, Inc. Robinson, D. (2003). Becoming a Translator: An Introduction to the Theory and Practice of Translation. Oxon: Routledge.

A Fight for Racial and Gender Equality Professor Ramos Blog

A Fight for Racial and Gender Equality Emma Hurtado English 261 25 February 2019    â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† by Charlotte Perkins Gilman shows the harsh realities of what life was like for some women. Although women were beginning to experience some freedom, their husbands still had a say in what they did, which means they wouldn’t take into consideration what their wives wanted or needed. It is learned that the narrator is suffering from mental illness who feels that she would be better off experiencing freedom and going out to help with her illness. Unfortunately, her husband John, who also happens to be her doctor, feels that it is best to isolate her in her room with very little outside contact. Although she tries to voice her feelings and opinions, she is quickly shut down by John. By the end of the story, the wallpaper has driven her insane, making her feel as though the wallpaper has actually trapped women which symbolizes how she feels about her marriage. Society has come a long way since this story was written, but the conflict presented in â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† is still one that is relevant today. Society has managed to find a way to continue oppressing women in a way that is detrimental to women’s health and their children. The difference between both conflicts presented is the difference in social class and racial group. Charlotte Perkins Gilman writes from the perspective of a white woman who belongs a rich, upper middle class. Gilman’s purpose for writing this story was to share her experiences in hopes of changing the future for all women. This goal of hers was accomplished, but to a certain extent. Although society has progressed a lot since the late 1890’s, we can still see this conflict today in lower-income families and communities. There are groups of women who are still struggling with their mental and physical health due to not being listened to by their health care professionals. Great strides have been made in the last hundred years, but there are still various consequences that have resulted from the original conflict presented in â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper†. The lives of women of color are still at risk today, regardless of their economic status. The connection between both conflicts is the internalized racism and misogyny that is still alive and present in society today. Some of the ways in which Gilman’s story is interesting is because of the way the narrator does not have a name and also because it only focuses on what life was like for women who belonged to an upper class. The narrator having no name really stands out and it seems that Gilman chose to do this to represent the rest of women in society at the time, not just one specific group of women. The narrator doesn’t want to acclimate to a life where she won’t get the help she needs or won’t be able to engage in the activities she enjoys doing. She notices how the women in her life are unlike her, in which they are willing to do whatever their husbands and society tell them to. She is cautious around Jennie, her sister-in-law, because she believes Jennie â€Å"thinks it is the writing† that made the narrator sick (Gilman 423). The narrator had to hide who she was and what she did because she feared that her own family would send her away to Weir Mitchell to receive a different kind of treatment. This conflict is not unusual today and still exists for women of color and lower income families. Although today the situation is different, society has managed to find a way to continue to oppress women in certain communities. One consequence of this is that â€Å"African American women are three to four times more likely to die from childbirth than non-Hispanic white women, and socioeconomic status, education, and other factors do not protect against this disparity† (Novoa and Taylor). There are several different factors that come into play, but one of the main ones is mental health. â€Å"Maternal mental health issues among African American women are largely underreported† (Novoa and Taylor). For a number of different reasons, most women aren’t able to ask for help just like the narrator in Gilman’s story and the results have shown that it has taken a toll on these women and their families. In â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper†, the narrator conceals her pain and suffering because of the way society views women as being incapable of expressing their needs. At the beginning of the story, the narrator reveals how â€Å"John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage† which shows the way in which this kind of toxic behavior is normalized (Gilman 419). Because of these expectations, it shows why she would avoid bringing up anything regarding her mental health. At one point in the story when discussing the narrator’s recovery, she tries to divert the subject to talk about her mental health but as soon as she began, she stopped short, for he sat up straight and looked at me with such a stern, reproachful look that I could not say another word† (Gilman 425). This kind of conflict can still be seen today in a hospital where some women continue to receive horrible care. In both of these situations, the husband and doctors would be expected to do everything in their power to help these women, but unfortunately it does not work out too well for either group. A recent incident from 2016 shows how an African-American woman Simone Landrum experienced a difficult pregnancy but â€Å"she recalls, her doctor told her to lie down - and calm down† making her feel as if â€Å"he threw me away† (Villarosa). Unfortunately, a few days after being sent home, she was back in the hospital with the exact same pain but this time it resulted in her losing the child and the nurses mentioned that she was sick and â€Å"very lucky to be alive† (Villarosa). Both the narrator and Landrum were trying to receive the help they needed from the doctors but instead they were ignored which resulted in the narrator going insane and Landrum losing her baby. Gilman was criticizing the way men would belittle not just women’s health, but also any other small detail about their lives. Women weren’t regarded as equals because men were always the ones who held power in society. Much has changed as shown in current events, but not enough are focusing on all women and the different struggles they experience. One of the struggles that is common now are black women during their pregnancies. The conflict in the story was originally targeted towards all women but now it is much more common in lower social and economic classes and colored women. According to collected data, Kacey Eichelberger states that â€Å"black women face across their reproductive lives and conclude that these outcomes are not only statistically significant, but morally significant and fundamentally unjust† (Eichelberger 1771). These women experience twice as many risks than a white or Hispanic woman would. There are several factors as to why these risks are occurring much more often for black women, such as little access to healthcare. It seems that Gilman would have wanted to achieve gender equity with her story, but it is also important to prioritize racial equity in a situation like this. With the ending of the story and how the narrator ended up going insane, Gilman was trying to show the harm that would occur when medical professionals refuse to acknowledge women and their cries for help and why it is important to care for mothers and pregnant women. She knew she had the responsibility to do what’s right and express how unjust society was back then. Despite having to suffer through her mental illness, Gilman never gave up on trying to make a change whether it was for just one woman or all of them. Although we have come a long way from where we once were, we still have a long way to go before we can say that all women are regarded equally.    Eichelberger, Kacey Y., et al. â€Å"Black Lives Matter: Claiming a Space for Evidence- Based Outrage in Obstetrics and Gynecology.† American Journal Of Public Health, vol. 106, no. 10, Oct. 2016, pp. 1771–1772. EBSCOhost, Novoa, Cristina, and Jamila Taylor. â€Å"Exploring African Americans High Maternal and Infant Death Rates.† Center for American Progress Gilman, Charlotte. â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper.† Literature: The Human Experience. Edited by Richard Abcarian, Marvin Klotz, Samuel Cohen, Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2000 pp. 419-431. Tunà §alp, Ãâ€"zge, et al. â€Å"Listening to Women’s Voices: The Quality of Care of Women Experiencing Severe Maternal Morbidity, in Accra, Ghana.† PLoS ONE, vol. 7, no. 8, Aug. 2012, pp. 1–8. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0044536.