Pros and Cons to Single-Sex Schools - 1271 Words

Single-sex Schools In the 1990s, there were a mere 2 single-sex schools present in the United States due to legal restrictions placed on sex-segregation facilities; however, as laws — the No Child Left Behind Act, Breckenridge ruling, and the Wood County ruling — have allowed for single-gender educational facilities, this number has risen to approximately 500 schools (Lewin; NASSPE: Legal). Popularity of single-gender schools stems from the academic success of their students as show by their test scores and proficiency scores. Biologically, males and females differ in development; therefore, they also require differing methods of teaching. Although critics say that differences in brain development between males and females are†¦show more content†¦Tom Carroll, the creator of Brighter Choice Charter Schools, in support of this proposition states that the key to success in education â€Å" is to eliminate social distraction† which in elementary students he describes as â€Å"goofiness† and in older generations as â€Å" the hormonal issues of attraction and sex and boys and girls being impressed with each other†(Meyer). Single-gender schools remove the mentioned hormonal issues and allow teachers and students to both focus on the subject without the usual distraction and complications that arise when both genders are present. In this way, students perform better when segregated by genders and achieve higher proficiency in subjects. Critics often accuse single-sex education of reinforcing gender stereotypes; however, single-sex schools breakdown gender stereotypes by eliminating both gender intensification and gender gaps. Without the pressures and standards of genders present in coeducational institutions, single-sex schools allow students to explore their skills and interests. Research regarding interest in school subjects of the different genders conducted in 1990, demonstrates the gender-typical preferences of subje cts between coeducational and single-sex facilities (Sax). Boys in coeducational schools tended to prefer masculine subjects such as math and science and disliked feminine subjects such asShow MoreRelatedPros and Cons of Single-Sex School on Students1887 Words   |  8 PagesPROS amp; CONS OF SINGLE-SEX SCHOOL ON STUDENTS Pros amp; Cons of Single-Sex School on Students INTRODUCTION Single-sex school has not been a stranger to us even from back in those old days. It practically shows how gender differences and effects caused by it had largely impacted on the society. People learnt how the attraction between Adam and Eve kind brings a lot of many things, including the separation of these two kinds through - one of the most important thing to the society, the educationRead MoreThe Problem Of Single Sex School Essay963 Words   |  4 PagesSingle-sex school From the beginning, God has created Adam and Eve and made them live together this was an important lesson for the people, to learn how to live together in an equal and fair society. Nowadays, many people do not prefer this method. Also, there are many problems that can hinder them to lead a happy life. Many parents face a big problem to choose a school for their children because of the huge number of types of school. Those types can vary from private, governmental, single-sexRead MoreA Debate about Single-sex Schools647 Words   |  3 Pagesco-ed classes or single-sex classes. Single-sex schools are not beneficial for many reasons. A couple of reasons why single-sex schools are a detriment to children are: they encourage discrimination, they enforce gender stereotypes, and they don’t prepare children for the real world.  ¶2. Cons to Single-Sex Schools Single-sex schools encourage discrimination, by separating students by gender this shows children that it is appropriate to judge someone by their sex. â€Å"Co-ed schools enable studentsRead MoreShould All Schools Adopt More Sex Education?1748 Words   |  7 Pageswhile still being in school,and lastly debunking myths sexual references . Should all schools adopt more sex education classes in schools ? Schools are reconsidering of adopting more sex educational classes in all schools mostly in high schools because kids mostly in high schools are making wrong decisions and being sexually active without the right knowledge about situation so that is why more schools are trying to have these type of classes. People believe more sex education classes canRead MoreSingle Sex Schools : An Old Time Idea1730 Words   |  7 PagesJordan Jackson 04/18/17 Are Single-Sex Schools really the way to go? ENGL- 10300 Single Sex Schools VS. Coed The issue that is being discussed is whether or not it is more beneficial for high school students to go to single-sex schools or coed schools. In her essay â€Å" Single-Sex Schools: An Old Time Idea Whose Time Has Come,† Diane Urbina Argues that it would be more beneficial if we had single-sex schools. The myth is debunked is that boys and girls are restricted by nature in relation to whatRead MoreCOED SCHOOLS1592 Words   |  7 Pagesif it disagrees with the topic (NOT if you disagree). Single-Sex or Co-Ed Schools: Boys and girls SHOULD be educated together. In the UAE, most schools are single-sex. Some people believe that this kind of school offers more benefits for the student. However, others think that coeducational ones are better. This essay will examine the pros and cons of co-ed and single-sex schools. There are several arguments in favour of mixed schools. The first argument is that students will learn to communicateRead MoreAre Girls And Girls Have Trouble Paying Attention Within The Same Classroom?1325 Words   |  6 PagesThis topic is significant to me because in school, guys and girls have trouble paying attention within the same classroom. I want to know, for educational purposes, if children do learn better in same sex schools without the hormonal distractions. In my opinion, I think we would be better educated in a classroom with the same sex. There are less distractions and more of the same thought processes and maturity output. Guys don’t always put in their all when a woman is present, as an example in poetryRead MoreGender Separation in Colleges and Schools635 Words   |  3 PagesWith the mushroom growth of schools and colleges in every nook and cranny, there is another trend in education that has increased overtime; this pertains to increasing co-education schools and colleges. Single gender approach or getting the girls and boys taking education in separate classrooms, schools or colleges is prevalent since long, yet the new trends in education are also leading to a co-education system (Spielhagen, 2008). Despite of a rising trend of co-education system, the debate on whetherRead MoreSex Education : Teaching Sexual Education1827 Words   |  8 PagesTeaching Sexual Education In Schools Sex. You may ask, sex, why do we want to talk about sex? Well simply because if we don t talk about sex now then when? We are sitting here watching teens get pregnant and yet we still are not talking about sex. Along with that more and more kids are sending nudes to be exact 13% of 14- 24 year olds have sent multiple naked photos (Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper). Then we have the fact that ages 15 - 24 are 25% of the sexually active population but obtainRead MoreBenefits Of Single Sex Schools1004 Words   |  5 Pagesmany benefits of Single-Sex Schools, primarily there is a change in student development. Scientists have many theories to this concern. (â€Å"Howell†). For generations, educators have explored ways for students to evolve with personal and educational development. Each individual student has an unlike mechanism for that particular learner. Arranging students in separate classrooms will benefit not only their education, but their personal growth as well (à ¢â‚¬Å"15 Fascinating†). Single Sex Education has been

Botany Durian Free Essays

Durian: Genus: Durio Family: Malvaceae Kingdom: Plantae Tribe: Durioneae Order: Malvales Subfamily: Helicteroideae Scientific Classification: †¢ There are 30 recognized Durio species †¢ Nine of them produce edible fruit 1. Durio zibethinus 2. Durio dulcis 3. We will write a custom essay sample on Botany Durian or any similar topic only for you Order Now Durio grandiflorus 4. Durio graveolens 5. Durio kutejensis 6. Durio lowianus 7. Durio macrantha 8. Durio oxleyanus 9. Durio testudinarum †¢ Durio zibethinus is the only species available in the international market †¢ Other species are sold in locally Species Durian: It is a large-sized tropical fruit tree. The tree can reach a height of 35 – 45m if grown from seeds. Durian trees that are planted on a smooth level of land are smaller in size (10-15m in height). Climate: Climate Condition †¢ Soil: It grows best in fertile, deep soils with abundant organic matter and a pH of 6-7 †¢ Temperature: 25 -30 C; evenly distributed. The trees may survive occasional changes in temperature as low as 10? C and as high as 46 C. †¢ Needs tropical warmth, abundant moisture, and sunshine to thrive. †¢ If coconut can grow and bear well in some climate, except for seaside areas (durians are not salt-tolerant), durians may be possible too. Soils: The durian needs Loamy to sandy loamy is the most suitable soil. This soil is mostly found at the slopes of hills. Soil like â€Å"bris† soil, sulphuric acid and peaty soil is not suitable for durians. Roots: Durian roots have primary taproot going directly down from the trunk and secondary roots growing out from it. Durian Flowers †¢ Durian flowers are strongly fragrant and having nectar †¢ 50-70 mm long and grow in clusters of 1 to 45 individual flowers per cluster †¢ Flower clusters hang from the main and smaller branches, or directly from the trunk of the tree. Period of 3 to 4 weeks of dry weather is needed to stimulate flowering †¢ It takes about one month for a durian flower to develop from first appearance as a tiny bud to an open blossom. †¢ Each flower has 5 sepals and 5 petals †¢ Colour of the flower matches the color of the edible pulp that will develop inside the fruit; – Yellowish petals produce yellow-fleshed Durians ( the most common) – White or Reddish petals will produce white or reddish fleshed Durians. †¢ Durian flowers are normally open from around 3 p. m. to midnight †¢ Durian flowers are hermaphrodites, each having a stamen and pistil in the same flower. Self-pollination rarely happens because the pistil and the stamen do not appear at the same time. †¢ Durian flowers are primarily pollinated by Bats when they visited flowers for nectar †¢ No evidence for any durian pollination happens via the wind †¢ It has been demonstrated that durian fruit-set will greatly increase by human hand-pollination †¢ Usually only 1 or 2 durian fruit develop from each flower cluster Flowerbud and flower: The nocturnal durian flower blooms when night falls and is at its peak at midnight. Usually, no pollen can survive until the next morning, so active pollination occurs during the night. Bats are pollination agents. Durian Leaf †¢ leaves are about 8 – 20 cm long and 2. 5-7. 5 cm wide †¢ Elliptic to oblong in shape †¢ Upper surface is shiny smooth, light or darkgreen †¢ Bottom surface is somewhat scaly, sometimes brown but more often with a golden shine. †¢ Leaves are folded at their mid-rib when they first appear, then stretch out as they mature. Durian Fruit †¢ Durian fruits’ Weight commonly ranges from 2-5 kg, up to 8 kg is also possible. †¢ Thai varieties are generally the largest, as 200 mm long by 175 mm in diameter †¢ Fruits from Philippines and most other regions are sually smaller and lighter †¢ The weight of the fruit and its spiky armor make a durian grove a hazardous place during ripening season, unless the fruits have all been pre-tied with strings or ropes to prevent their fall to the ground, or large safety nets positioned to catch them. Durian Fruit †¢ Inside each fruit there are 5 compartments containing the arils and 1 to 7 seeds of 2-6 cm long with glossy, red-brown seedc oat †¢ The aril or pulp varies extensively between cultivars and different seedlings in aroma, flavor, texture, thickness, and color, usually ream yellow to deep orange, but also rarely in some varieties white and even bright red. †¢ Durians from trees aged 50, 60 years and more have enhanced qualities of flavor, aroma, and texture †¢ Fruits of older trees can be identified visually by having very wrinkled skin on the fruit sections. †¢ Durians are highly perishable. They are fully ripe 2 to 4 days after falling and lose eating quality in 5 or 6 days †¢ The fruit is attractive to a great variety of animals and insects as well as people, including monkeys, gibbons, orangutans, apes, birds, dogs, pigs, rhinoceros, ears, squirrels, tapirs, deer, elephants, tigers, and even the domestic cat. Odor/Smell of Durian — Smell of Durian is a mixture of – Unwashed socks – Rotten fish – City dump on a hot summer’s day – Carrion i n custard – Decayed onion – Turpentine – Garlic Taste of Durian †¢ Taste of the Durian is a mixture of – Custard – Almonds – Cream cheese – Sherry wine – Ice cream spices – Banana Medicinal Properties †¢ Parasitic worms are said to be expelled by eating durian †¢ Fevers are said to be reduced by drinking a tea of the leaves and roots, or applying durian leaf juice to the head. Swellings and skin diseases are said to be healed by applying a tea of the leaves and fruits †¢ People with high blood pressure or pregnant women are traditionally advised not to consume durian †¢ Durian is not recommended for consuming with alcoholic beverages, as the combination of natural substances is a powerful producer of internal gas. Facts About Durian: -The durian is commonly known as the â€Å"king of the fruits. † The name comes from the Malay word duri, meaning â€Å"thorn. † -Durians cannot be plu cked from the tree. You have to wait for durians to drop. The fruit usually drops at night. How to cite Botany Durian, Papers

The Day I Changed free essay sample

It took me until spring 2014 to talk about it comfortably. It took a line game to be exact. Who would have thought crossing an imaginary line could have so much power over me. The proctor repeated â€Å"physical and/or mental disabilities†. My heart raced and body shook as I cross over and said â€Å"I have Holt Oram Syndrome. It’s a syndrome that cause abnormalities in hands, wrist and/or legs. Instead of having a thumb, I have four fingers in each hand with one extending to act like a thumb. With this syndrome it cause my bones to switch in different places , so I don’t have a full rotation on my wrist. I can move my right wrist almost part way, but a quarter of the way on my left. It was uncommon syndrome that doctors won’t very familiar with and lack faith I could do things on my own let alone live. We will write a custom essay sample on The Day I Changed or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It was an uncommon syndrome that alienated me and made me feel ‘different’. That was something I feared and reasons why I became uncomfortable with the topic until that day, the day I saw myself changed. Above any challenge I had growing up, the hardest one was accepting myself. For a long time I really hated being different, always having to figure out a different way for everything whereas to others it became easy. Even doing to simple task like playing hand games became a challenge. I still played them regardless, but it was disappointing that even a silly hand game like ‘Miss Mary Mack’ was difficult because I couldn’t hit the back of my partners hand the ‘normal’ way with my wrist. I hated feeling uncomfortable in a place always wondering if people notice my hands or know. Or embarrassed when I had to hold hands with someone, and they look at my hands realizing I couldn’t rotated it further. I started despising the way I stand wishing my hands can hang straight like everyone else, not awkwardly bending. I already knew I was different, but I didn’t want everyone else to treat or see me as different. I never brought up my hands to pe ople because I didn’t want them to changed their opinion of me to a freak. Everyone said being different is cool and unique, but it was hard for me to see that when having no thumbs sets me apart from others. But what I didn’t realize is as much as I kept on hating myself, I will always be the same girl diagnosed with Holt Oram, nothing was going to change that. I was focus on things that were so difficult not even realizing the things that weren’t like making friends, writing, being in a school where I feel like I belong. But still, I was always nervous of what people thought of me and not what I thought of myself. Maybe it is apparent fear with going to a new place, meeting new people and having them accepting me for me. But like all challenges it must be overcome. I have a condition that I can’t change and accepting that was a challenge on its own, but I just have to go through life doing things the only way I know how. My way and that was finally okay with me. As much as my heart was beating crossing that line was a pivotal moment of accepting myself. To realize that I couldn’t keep hiding or be ashamed of whom I am. I have to remember how far I’ve come in life. I was told I wouldn’t be able to write, do simple task like hold a book, and eat without help, sports, instruments, basically everything. But what I wasnt told was I was going to fight through and overcome it. They didnt tell me this was going to be a challenge I’m going to persevere. I did.

Miscommunication Employment and Carl free essay sample

Carl was supposed to start the applicant’s orientation on June 15. By July 15, the new hires should be in working status. Carl was contacted by Monica on May 15 to ensure he had manuals, training schedule, orientation, policy booklet, drug test, and a series of things handled before the deadline. The day after Memorial Day, Carl went to the office, to make sure all of the paperwork for the new applicants was ready for orientation. When Carl was going through the files, he found things were not what it seemed. A couple of applicants did not complete their applications, nor did they have their transcripts on file. Another problem was applicants were not sent to the mandatory drug testing clinic. Finally the training room where Carl was going to hold is orientation got booked for the same month he was going to hold training for new hires. There are a lot of problems that ABC Inc should be blamed, but Carl is responsible for making sure that all trainees are ready for work. We will write a custom essay sample on Miscommunication: Employment and Carl or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Many of problems should have been avoided. 15 trainees are not ready to go on the next phase of their hiring because of poor planning. This company has some poor communication problems; therefore the hiring process is very sloppy and seems that problems only get fixed when they occur. If even the company itself has poor policies, it does not mean Carl should follow poor standards. Carl should have had a checklist ready in case the any problems would have occurred, he could have fixed the issue. The company’s handbook is its staple. The manual represent rules and values that workers must follow. The orientation manuals were missing pages out of the booklet. Assuming that everything in that manual is important, ABC Inc. cannot afford any pages to be missing. We should look back to see who got hired prior to the discovery of the missing pages, to see who did not receive the information. Another problem is a shortage of orientation manuals. HR is usually overall in charge of this. There is an inventory problem and personnel in charge of keeping inventory. Carl also discovered that applicants did not complete their application. I think both Carl and ABC Inc. should be at fault for this. â€Å"If its never our fault, we cannot take Responsibility for it. If we cannot take Responsibility for it, well always be its victim. † (Bach, R) If we never owe up to our own fault then we can never take reasonability for our actions. One of the biggest problems that occurred was the drug screening process. This could be the biggest problems of the report. This is a mandatory step, which requires all trainees to complete this process before they begins work. If this step is delayed or missed, it puts a stop to all other steps. According to  Yahoo business â€Å"If you have been on a job search recently, you may have noticed that many employers now require that you take a pre-employment drug test. You have to pass the drug test in order to acquire the job that you are seeking. Many people think that this is an unnecessary step for an employer to take. However, the employer doesnt see it the same way. † What are transcripts? According to (Merriam-Webster) â€Å"Definition of  TRANSCRIPT To a written, printed, or typed copy;  especially:  a usually typed copy of dictated or recorded material. † Personal paperwork can be very sensitive material when dealing with your company. Missing transcripts show a lack of securities issues that can lead to problems on both sides. Usually when this happens, the person in charge of that department should have been suspended or fired. These examples show how your company handles its paperwork. The biggest problem is a lack communication. Today we live in a communication based-society. There are a few thing that could have been done different to avoid problems that this company is having. ABC Inc. needs to have all of their information they give and receive from employees stored on an online database. For example: if Carl discovers that the employee manuals have missing pages, he could have downloaded them it from the site. Carl needed to know who completed the application. Online application for trainees to fill out is very useful. He could go online from any computer to check. Any applicant who did not complete the application, could have contacted them on the spot to ensure all applications are filled out correctly. If the company did not feel comfortable with online database, they could go with an assistant that which will handle the processing paperwork. You cannot go wrong if you hire somebody to do a specific job, rather than stack everything on Carl’s plate. A pre-employment drug screening is a big problem because it is importance to have drug free employee. There are two ways to approach this problem. First you can do in-house drug testing. This is fastest and easiest way to get results and know if applicants took the drug screening right on the spot Another way you can get your drug pre-screening for employees is outsourcing at a local clinic. This method is a little more pricy but the testing process handled by professionals. Both methods cannot work if you do not communicate with both parties. Carl discovered that a coworker is occupying the training room the same time he needed to train the new applicants during the orientation. There are a few solutions for this problem. One way is to use local hotel conference rooms. You can reserve a room with only a three day notice in advance. Another method similar to the solution is the website www. regus. com. Regus is a company that has over 4,500 meeting rooms across 600 cities in 100 countries so you can meet your customers in a convenient location. According to Regus. com. This is the best bet when you need a meeting place set up in a small amount of time. It is very important that there is an area where Carl can train new employees. Making sure that they get the right information before they go out to the work force. Carl not have a training room was very important and needed to be addressed. After doing some research I have choose the website www. regus. com. They have the most ready available areas in the world There was one main reason I have chosen to go with Regus over just a local hotel conference room. Once you get the conference room from the hotel, you still have to worry about the materials in the room like Wi-Fi, whiteboard, etc†¦ Regus provides all of amenities with their conference rooms. † This is the perfect solution to any last-minute setup needed. Every problem that Carl had was due to a lack of communication. Once he realized what was wrong, he was stuck trying to fix the problems. I suggest getting an assistant to keep Carl informed once something went wrong. This is also a HR problem, so Carl should have called HR to handle some of these problems. ABC Inc. needs work organization, communications, and more personnel in the HR department. ABC’s is unorganized with their hiring process. Certain steps should be taken to clean that department up and eliminate a lot of confusion on both ends. Maybe have somebody to come in and revamp the whole system would be a good suggestion. The next time there is a lack of communication between Carl and Abc Inc. Carl will have backup a plan. The good thing is that Carl can learn for this experience and move on. This might be a wake call for Carl. ABC Inc might not be the company Carl would like to work for after this. But for Carl, this is a lesson learned and hopefully he will his this in the future to make better descisions. Appendix Appendix A Here are some facts and steps to set up in-house drug testing according to www. usscreeningsource. com â€Å"Developing your own in house drug testing program can save approximately 50% off your current lab fees! 1. Prepare a written substance abuse policy Train your supervisors Educate your employees Consider providing an Employee Assistance Program 2. Implement a drug-testing program 3. Educate your employees â€Å" Appendix A Here is a couple of things www. regus. com company offers. â€Å"You can arrange our meeting rooms for all kinds of business occasions – pick a layout that fits your meeting: * Boardroom –   ideal for formal meetings * Cabaret – great for collaborative working * Theatre – for professional presentations * Classroom – a comfortable education environment   * U-shape – enables and encourages open discussion Or choose from standard meeting rooms, relaxed but confidential interview rooms or video communication suites. All meeting rooms are served by a dedicated support team and include: * FREE  Internet * FREE  Flipchart, whiteboard and markers * FREE  Water * FREE  Pads Plus telephone with speakerphone function, catering services available and use of an LCD projector and screen if required. † References 1. Richard Bach. (n. d. ). BrainyQuote. com. Retrieved April 1, 2013, from BrainyQuote. com Web site: http://www. brainyquote. com/quotes/quotes/r/richardbac389113. html Read more at http://www. brainyquote. com/citation/quotes/quotes/r/richardbac389113. html#9JV

Free Essays on Nirvana And Heaven

NIRVANA AND HEAVEN Most religions have an ultimate goal that each believer should or at least try to accomplish. While Buddhists try to attain that ultimate goal called Nirvana, Christians in the other hand, try to be close to God by achieving their ultimate goal, which is to reach Heaven. Nirvana and Heaven are two different goals of two different religions that can be compared and contrasted. For a better understanding of the similarities and differences of Nirvana and Heaven first we have to understand what each one means or represents. Nirvana is a state of mind; more precisely it is an eternal state of being. Nirvana is a state where the death and rebirth cycle comes to an end. Nirvana also means the end of suffering and human pain. It is a state where desires do not exist and the individual consciousness comes to an end. Heaven is not a state of mind but rather it is an actual place. Heaven is a place of ultimate joy and fulfillment where all those who go there would be close to God. But in Heaven not only God lives; Angels and Saints live in Heaven too. One of the similarities between Heaven and Nirvana is that both lead to salvation. Once Buddhists attain Nirvana, they escape from pain and human suffering. When Christians go to Heaven they also escape from evil things such as pain and human suffering because in Heaven there are not such things. Both Buddhists and Christians try to find their ways to their ultimate goal to escape from all the things that make them suffer and cause them pain. Another similarity that we can observe from Nirvana and Heaven is that both are eternal. Once Buddhists reach the state of Nirvana they escape from the cycle of death and rebirth, that is Buddhists can not die and be born again. Buddhists that attain Nirvana enter into an eternal state of being. As nirvana, Heaven is an eternal place too. Once Christians go to Heaven they live forever close to God. There is no death in Heaven th... Free Essays on Nirvana And Heaven Free Essays on Nirvana And Heaven NIRVANA AND HEAVEN Most religions have an ultimate goal that each believer should or at least try to accomplish. While Buddhists try to attain that ultimate goal called Nirvana, Christians in the other hand, try to be close to God by achieving their ultimate goal, which is to reach Heaven. Nirvana and Heaven are two different goals of two different religions that can be compared and contrasted. For a better understanding of the similarities and differences of Nirvana and Heaven first we have to understand what each one means or represents. Nirvana is a state of mind; more precisely it is an eternal state of being. Nirvana is a state where the death and rebirth cycle comes to an end. Nirvana also means the end of suffering and human pain. It is a state where desires do not exist and the individual consciousness comes to an end. Heaven is not a state of mind but rather it is an actual place. Heaven is a place of ultimate joy and fulfillment where all those who go there would be close to God. But in Heaven not only God lives; Angels and Saints live in Heaven too. One of the similarities between Heaven and Nirvana is that both lead to salvation. Once Buddhists attain Nirvana, they escape from pain and human suffering. When Christians go to Heaven they also escape from evil things such as pain and human suffering because in Heaven there are not such things. Both Buddhists and Christians try to find their ways to their ultimate goal to escape from all the things that make them suffer and cause them pain. Another similarity that we can observe from Nirvana and Heaven is that both are eternal. Once Buddhists reach the state of Nirvana they escape from the cycle of death and rebirth, that is Buddhists can not die and be born again. Buddhists that attain Nirvana enter into an eternal state of being. As nirvana, Heaven is an eternal place too. Once Christians go to Heaven they live forever close to God. There is no death in Heaven th...

International Slave Trade Outlawed In America in 1807

International Slave Trade Outlawed In America in 1807 The importation of African slaves was outlawed by an act of Congress passed in 1807, and signed into law by President Thomas Jefferson. The law was rooted in an obscure passage in the U.S. Constitution, which had stipulated that importing slaves could be prohibited 25 years after the ratification of the Constitution. Though the end of the international slave trade was a significant piece of legislation, it actually did not change much in a practical sense. The importation of slaves had already  been decreasing since the late 1700s. However, had the law had not gone into effect, the importation of slaves many have accelerated as the growth of the cotton industry accelerated following the widespread adoption of the cotton gin. Its important to note that the prohibition against importing African slaves did nothing to control the domestic traffic in slaves and the interstate slave trade. In some states, such as Virginia, changes in farming and the economy meant slave owners did not need great numbers of slaves. Meanwhile, planters of cotton and sugar in the Deep South needed a steady supply of new slaves. So a thriving slave-trading business developed in which slaves would typically sent southward. It was common for slaves to be shipped from Virginia ports to New Orleans, for instance. Solomon Northup, the author of the memoir Twelve Years a Slave, endured being sent from Virginia to bondage on Louisiana plantations. And, of course, an illegal traffic in slave trading across the Atlantic Ocean still continued. Ships of the U.S. Navy, sailing in what was called the African Squadron, were eventually dispatched to defeat the illegal trade. The 1807 Ban on Importing Slaves When the US Constitution was written in 1787, a generally overlooked and peculiar provision was included in Article I, the part of the document dealing with the duties of the legislative branch: Section 9. The migration or importation of such persons as any of the states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person.   In other words, the government could not ban the importation of slaves for 20 years after the adoption of the Constitution. And as the designated year 1808 approached, those opposed to slavery began making plans for legislation that would outlaw the trans-Atlantic slave trade. A senator from Vermont first introduced a bill to ban the importation of slaves in late 1805, and President Thomas Jefferson recommended the same course of action in his annual address to Congress a year later, in December 1806. The law was finally passed by both houses of Congress on March 2, 1807, and Jefferson signed it into law on March 3, 1807. However, given the restriction imposed by Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution, the law would only become effective on January 1, 1808. The law had 10 sections. The first section specifically outlawed the importation of slaves: Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,That from and after the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eight, it shall not be lawful to import or bring into the United States or the territories thereof from any foreign kingdom, place, or country, any negro, mulatto, or person of colour, with intent to hold, sell, or dispose of such negro, mulatto, or person of colour, as a slave, or to be held to service or labour. The following sections set penalties for violations of the law, specified that it would be illegal to fit out ships in American waters to transport slaves, and stated that the U.S. Navy would enforce the law on the high seas. In subsequent years the law was often enforced by the Navy, which dispatched vessels to seize suspected slave ships. The  African Squadron patrolled the west coast of Africa for decades, interdicting ships suspected of carrying slaves. The 1807 law ending the importation of slaves did nothing to stop the buying and selling of slaves within the United States. And, of course, the controversy over slavery would continue for decades, and would not be finally resolved until the end of the Civil War and the passage of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Models of Decision Making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Models of Decision Making - Essay Example This will also lead you to take action on refined management interaction course. Communication and the way you handle it and its deliverance is very important in all forms of entities be it actual or online for the retention of customers. An employee of the bank, the teller, complained directly to the representative of the client that their interbranch deposits and their deposits at the branch itself shall be made under one deposit slip and not in several deposit slips. Client's representative explains that it is made according to the location /outlets depositing. Their policy is one deposit slip per outlet. Since there are lots of outlets near the bank then there are lots of deposit slips that was made and their cut off for making deposit slips is twice a day. Therefore we can expect two deposit slips made for each outlet. It has been happening for a week and the teller was really annoyed that the client did not follow his suggestion. What he did is to confront the representative every time deposits were made, grumble and let the customer wait for long intentionally. Feedback was given to the depositor who called the Branch Head.

What is Foreign Direct Investment Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

What is Foreign Direct Investment - Term Paper Example FDI or Foreign Direct Investment is defined as the scenario where "A company from one country obtains a controlling interest in a (new or existing) firm in another country, and then operates that firm as a part of the multinational business of the investing firm. FDI may be financed through parent company transfer of funds to the new affiliate, borrowing from home-country lenders, borrowing in the host country by the parent company, or any combination of these strategies." (FDI Definition, n.d.)  Foreign direct investment is also a measure of ownership of private enterprise, its stocks, and resources, and used as a growing tool in economic globalization. These investments add up to the GDP (gross domestic product) of industrialized and industrializing economies.  There are quite a few different modes of entry to foreign markets, but almost all of them can be categorized under the following four- exporting, licensing, franchising and direct investment. Each of these entry modes ha s their own set of advantages and disadvantages, and the appropriateness of each of them depends on the market dynamics of the guest country as well as the factors specifics to each company.  Foreign Direct Investment allows the investing firm to varied a degree of control over its overseas business activities. FDI, additionally, offers higher profitability options to the investing company. Control is one of the most important characteristics of FDI, and hence FDI is generally adopted as a preferred mode of entry when control and coordination are critical to the success of international drive of the company. Foreign direct investment is also preferred when the host market prefers buying products that are locally manufactured. Many governments also actively promote FDI as FDI directly adds value to the local economy and generates employment. Additionally, many retail, as well as institutional customers, feel that local manufacturing presence results in better after sales service an d decreases the overall cost of ownership.  However, FDI has its own set of disadvantages too. FDI, by definition, involves a higher commitment level for the company, and the company is exposed to a range of risks including political, geographical and economic risks. FDI is also subject to probable depreciation of the value of its investment in case of an adverse fluctuation of exchange rates. Despite the fact that FDI is generally encouraged by the government, there are cases where government policies act as a roadblock for FDIs. In many countries, government policies forbid foreign countries from owning majority control of a local company in selective or all industries. In some other countries, there are various levels of restrictions in the repatriation of profits. Companies opting for foreign direct investment as the entry mode to other economies or markets also have to face additional challenges in terms of allocating additional bandwidth, adapting to local political, legal a nd business environments. (Marchick D.M. and Slaughter M.J., June 2008)

Boldwoods Christmas party Essay Example for Free

Boldwoods Christmas party Essay Bathsheba Everdene is the main character in a Thomas Hardy novel called Far From the Madding Crowd. Which is set in Wessex. Bathshebas character is along with many other things decisive, brisk, vain, businesslike, and independent. However you see her evolve throughout the book, mainly as a result of her marriage to Frank Troy. At the beginning of the story Hardy seems to focus on her bad qualities, though you still see people wishing to be married to her. Some good qualities are shown as well like her thoughtful response to save Gabriels life. Her first fault is vanity. This trait is mentioned in chapter one, almost everything else follows on from this. Vanity affects the way she behaves in a powerful way. Her vanity makes her annoyed and angry at not attracting Boldwoods attention. When she meets Frank Troy he plays up to her vanity by paying her compliments and showing her flirtatious affection. By the end of the story she shows that she has grown out of or overcome her vanity. Instead of wanting to stand out and have everyone looking at her, at Boldwoods Christmas party, she dresses down and wants to merge into the background. You can also see she is not vain because when Boldwood praises her beauty the comments have no effect. Her life experiences have caused this change in her. The main life experience is her marriage to Frank Troy which affected her the most. She transforms from a confident character to a submissive and introverted figure she becomes less and less like her usual self. The first sign you see of independence is fairly near the beginning in chapter three, when we see her riding the horse. Instead of doing it the conventional ladylike way we see her lie flat on her back on top of the horses back. This could be showing her independence and unconventional behaviour, this would tie in with an independent spirit too wild. She likes to have independence so later on in the story when this is taken away from her we see her rely on Gabriel Oak. She always had her own independence, but when she got married she lost that independence and we see her seek advice and help from Gabriel Oak. At one point in the story she rejects Gabriels advice, but later on in chapter fifty four she asks for it. This shows a big change in her personality. She once would have done her own thing and maybe even sacked Gabriel for his advice whereas she now values both him and his opinion. Her independence continues to be shown throughout the rest if the story, even after her marriage to Frank Troy. Independence along with confidence is showed when she goes to the corn market and is the only woman there. Another characteristic shown is confidence with businesslike skills. An example of this would be when she takes it upon herself to sack her bailiff. I have formed a resolution to have no bailiff at all. Bathshebas confidence continues to be shown with her decision to pay the workers herself in chapter ten. Bathsheba has a lot of confidence in herself. In short I shall astonish you all. This is said shortly after her decision to have no bailiff when she is convincing the staff that she can manage. The speech shows her self-confidence shining and her belief in her own ability. Towards the end of the novel we see her find an even balance between the overconfidence which she showed through the beginning of the novel which made her appear full of herself, compared with when she had little or no confidence and relied on Frank Troy, to finally become a person who can cope on her own but realises she cannot do everything to the best of her ability without assistance. Before we see her lose her self confidence she shows she believes in herself by going to the Corn Market, making her the only woman present. One thing bothers Bathsheba; the fact that Boldwood is the only person who does not take notice of her. This lack of attention shows us how she craves to be the centre of attention; you could even go as far as calling her an attention seeker. She will do silly antics in an attempt to attract peoples attention. For example the Valentines Day card. Bathsheba tries to make herself popular with everyone especially men; this seems to be her biggest desire. In chapter thirteen she mischievously sends a Valentine card to Boldwood to attract his attention. This starts Bathshebas change. She wants people to notice her and does not sit around waiting she takes action for herself. The sending of the Valentines card shows her vain characteristic. A big characteristic she shows throughout is impulsiveness, she does things without thinking. The Valentines Day card is an example of this; another example of this earlier in the book is when she chases Gabriel Oak after he had been wrongly informed that many men wanted her hand in marriage; though she did not want to accept his proposal. She did not think that her actions would show this until after the conversation her and Gabriel had. Many of her actions are on impulse she doesnt think things through first. Later on however she takes time to think about Fannys grave and she decides to clean it up and replant the bulbs on it. This also shows she can be selfless. When Gabriel gives her advice early in the novel she decides she doesnt like what he has to say. She sacks him whilst she was angry and acting highly impulsively. This demonstrates how she doesnt want to face the truth even though she values his opinion; later in the novel after the drowning of Frank Troy she relents asking him for his thoughts.

Descriptive Essay: Grandpas Place -- Descriptive Essays, Observation

Grandpa's Place I know to take one last breath of fresh, clean air before I open the front screen door and then the faded, chipped white wood door. I walk in, and the blend of the aroma of apples and old people suffocates me. As I walk in, the same two-year old cat food is right where it has been for the last six months: in front of the front door on the cold faded tile floor. The cat disappeared four months ago, but I guess there is still hope that he will come back one day. I approach the sliding wooden door to enter the front living room and see some bird feed on the floor that must have been spilled the previous week along with a stack of news papers. This single story brick house was purchased by my Grandma and Grandpa twenty years ago. Ever since, the house has been filled with nothing but love and laughter. Behind the house, there are five or six tall, skinny trees that have died from disease but haven't fallen to the grass covered ground. Near the loose clothes line in the back yard, there are four rose bushes that need water. Dead daises and pansies from the previous summer are the main attraction in the front yard along with a five foot high metal windmill stuck in the middle of a flower garden that needs grease. The two car garage houses a huge '78 black Buick. The ol' Buick hasn't been driven in a while, but my Grandpa claims that it is still in top shape. I guess my Grandpa just keeps it around to remind him of my Grandma. Next to it is a green John Deere tractor with a ripped black seat that has a flat left rear tire, but my Grandpa claims, "It still runs like a champ." Next to it is the push lawnmower. Before I open the door, I can hear the Bronco game being televised on my Grandpa's 36"... ...the same story about so and so and how their daughter's husband's brother did this and that. All this time, I just sit there and watch my Grandpa be happy telling me this story while he slops stuff out of his mouth and onto his already stained clothes. Eventually, we finish our dinner, and I clean up the kitchen. I get all of my stuff together, make a final check that everything is good to go, and sit on a kitchen chair. My Grandpa asks sadly if it is time to go, and I say, "Yeah," with a quivering voice. So, I get up, give my Grandpa a hug and head out the door. I hate leaving this place more than anything. I hate leaving my Grandpa in that house by himself. I push open the front door and breathe in the fresh night air. As I pull out of the narrow leaf covered driveway, I look back to see my Grandpa waving at me through the dirty storm glass windows.

Why We Must Speak English??

Why must we speak English 1. English is the International Language and is one of the most popular and most spoken in the technology world. 2. We need to know English language in order to study any science subject or any computer language. 3. We need to know English to communicate effectively too many developed countries. 4. English is very much important in our life, it is necessary in each and every field. 5. If we know English we never feel tongue tide in front of others. 6. It's a widely spoken language. 7.People take pride in speaking English . 8. if we don't know English, we will leg behind the other. 9. English is a need of hour. 10. Today we can't deny the importance of English in our life. 11. To anyone who lives in an English speaking country, it is of vital importance. 12. Language is always very important, because it is the means of communication. 13. If you cannot speak the language of a place, it will be very difficult to communicate with the people. 14. You can develop your knowledge for betterment of your knowledge. 5. English is awesome !! 16. Can communicate easily with the people that live in USA 17. Because I study in a English school 18. All subject in this school is english 19. 50% of the people in the world speak English 20. You can develop your knowledge for betterment of your knowledge. 21. Knowing a major language helps a person to find more opportunities. 22. Employers want employees that can really understand what they are saying and not having a hard time doing charades and wasting their time more. 23.Knowing a 2nd language always better than knowing only one 24. Easy to find job. 25. English is a universal language, it is widely acceptable in most countries. 26. English is my mother tongue 27. Learning to speak English well may be the best thing you can do to improve your life. 28. English is a interesting subject 29. If we know how to speak englisch very well , we can find a job easily . 30. English language became the most widely spoken and yes for business reasons its the universal language, that everyone needs to know. 31.

Honesty and Justice in the Criminal Justice System Essay

Honesty and Justice are words that describe integrity and character of an individual. â€Å"The word Honesty, by its virtue, describes an individual or an entity that doesn’t lie, cheat, steal, or abuse to get ahead for personal or professional gain† (http://www.freeessays123.com/essay24727/honesty-versus-justice-and-due-process-versus-crime-control.html ). When an individual is honest, they stand for what is right and look for a positive outcome. â€Å"Justice is the entity that we depend on as a country and a community, to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil, legal and illegal† (http://www.freeessays123.com/essay24727/honesty-versus-justice-and-due-process-versus-crime-control.html). Justice is what we depend on to keep us safe from harm to live a better life. In the criminal justice system, there are many ethical issues involved in honesty and justice. Sometimes justice isn’t so honest and individuals make certain decisions that are not e thical, which causes issues and problems for many people. For example, lawyers lie or stretch the truth many times to plea their defendants’ cases by redirecting the focus point on what the prosecution is trying to prove. The reason for the lawyer lying is not to hurt someone else, rather to try to help their defendant not go to jail. I do not agree that this is right because I believe the defendant should pay for the crime they committed. This is where justice and ethics should be presented for the plaintiff. This can be defined as â€Å"pursuing the client’s rights, but not the client’s interests, if those interests are incompatible with the â€Å"truth† (https://litigation-essentials.lexisnexis.com/webcd/appaction=DocumentDispla  y&crawlid=1&doctype=cite&docid=27+Hofstra+L.+Rev.+13&srctype=smi&srcid=3B15&key=194a3f1cb6096596bc374c883c6c206c). â€Å"Integrity and Honesty Integrity can be defined as â€Å"an uncompromising adherence to a code of moral, artistic or other values, utter sincerity, honesty and candor, avoidance of deception, expediency, artificiality or shallowness of any kind† ( http://www.cheathouse.com/essay/importance-integrity-and-honesty-criminal-justice-field#ixzz0jcuzLMOj). This basically means to do what is right at all times regardless of who is watching. We cannot assure that all individuals in the legal system will use integrity and moral values when doing their jobs, but our legal system educates and trains these people to base their work ethics on this type of system. I believe that every case is different and we cannot assure that honesty is maintained and still do justice. For example, every police officer is different and you have those that lie to help catch criminals and those bad cops that lie and use their authority in a negative manner. There will be police officers who go undercover and sell drugs to catch big time drug dealers, and therefore this type of lying is positive because it is for the good of our streets. It is best to be in the situation up close and personal because you can see how the offenders operate and it is easier to catch them. Then you have those officers who use their authority is a negative manner and they do not use ethics in the decisions they make. These kinds of cops are the reason as to why all police officers do not have the best name. It is hard to trust all of them, when they are supposed to be the people who are to protect us. I do not think that justice can be accomplished while maintaining honesty because you must think like a criminal in order to catch a criminal. Criminals will think of every way to commit a crime and get away with it, so the police must be on top of this state of mind to be able to build a case and apprehend these criminals. Coming up with effective strategies to fight crime has always been a debate.

Great literature essay writing tips

Great literature essay writing tips Literature essay When writing a literature review (sometimes called literature essay), you need to present a review of a particular academic source. It is one of the common assignments given to students at college. Sometimes, it can be produced in the form of an annotated bibliography. However, in the majority of cases, it is presented in the introductory paragraph. Moreover, it may be a part of a thesis or research report. The purpose of writing a literature paper is to examine the given topic thoroughly and provide readers with detailed research results. In order to prepare a superior essay, you should take a few steps. First, you should clearly define the aim of writing. Second, present the issue you are going to examine. However, it should not be a numbered list of items providing brief description of a particular academic source. Note that writing essays about literature is very useful. This assignment will help you gain considerable knowledge in a certain academic field. In addition, it is a great opportunity to develop your skills. Therefore, when preparing this work, you will learn how to conduct a research. You will know which methods to use to gather useful material on the discussed subject. Besides, when producing this paper, you will learn to perform an objective analysis of the issue. The key peculiarities of a literature essay paper are the following:It should provide material closely related to the thesis statement; The obtained results should be summarized informing readers about what have been found out and what still should be researched; It should identify controversial questions and present the points that have to be explored.If you want to be sure that you will not miss any points, which should be covered in the paper, answer the following questions:What issue can my work help examine? What is the aim of writing my paper? Am I going to develop a particular concept or idea? Should I do extensive research to consider the subject from different angles? What sources do I use (books, journal entries, websites, etc.)? What subject am I writing my essay on literature (Political science, Philosophy, etc.)? Have I gathered enough information about the discussed subject? Are the collected data reliable? Does my paper contains useful information only or there are unnecessary minor details? Have I used enough sources to cover the topic completely? Have I analyze the gathered facts painstakingly? Have I compared the issues appropriately? Have I discussed the listed points thoroughly? Is the opposing opinion on the matter under consideration presented in my work? Is my paper explicit? Will readers consider it worthy?It is obvious that students use different sources when they write papers such as a drama essay, for example. If you want to be sure that you use proper books, articles, etc., respond to the following questions:Does the author address the issue directly? Is the problem accurately identified? Is its importance illustrated properly? Could the author have adopted more effective methods for tackling the issue? What field the author specializes in? What is the authors theoretical background (political, philosophical, sociological, etc.)? What is the connection between research and theoretical principles? Has the author critically analyzed the sources used for exploring the issue? Does the author present the opposing opinion on the addressed matter?When doing research, you need to determine whether its basic elements are closely related to each other. Check for validity of the calculations made. Make sure that the provided data are analyzed appropriately. As to the conclusion, it has to be based on the presented arguments. When using particular books, you need to make sure that it is worth using them to write your poetry essay or poetry analysis essay. Thus, consider the following questions:Does the author provide impressive examples or put rhetorical questions? Are there enough facts about the explored subject? Is there a specific order of presenting arguments? Do they make the flow of information steady? How does a book or article help solve the considered problem? Is it worth considering when analyzing the issue? In what way is the chosen book related to my thesis?Final Stage You should know that a literature essay is not a numbered list of briefly describes sources. It should provide valuable information about a particular work. Note that it should not start with the name of the scholar. In order to produce a great paper, you should divide your paper into a few units. Each of them should cover a specific point. Do not forget that your analysis should be based on hard data. Remember that there is no need to indicate all the sources which are available to study the issue. You need to analyze those publications that contain useful material on the matter you are going to discuss. If you need to write an annotated bibliography, you should provide a brief description of each entry used for producing your literature review. Nevertheless, you still need to make thorough analysis and choose those sources that contain only relevant information about the explored subject. Do not forget that the issue you are going to examine should be presented in the introductory paragraph. Meanwhile, a conclusion should summarize conducted research. In order to compare the subjects properly, you may categorize them into groups.

What field of business should you pursue based on your personality

What field of business should you pursue based on your personality So you’re thinking about pursuing business but have no clue where you would fit in best? Should you become a public accountant, a digital marketer, or maybe even human resources? The possibilities are endless in business. You are bound to find your perfect match based on what you enjoy doing. This quiz is perfect in helping you decide where your skills will shine in the business field.  Source [ Playbuzz ]

Critical Reply Paper on Election Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Critical Reply Paper on Election - Essay Example The study is based on the idea that inferences made by people on the basis of facial expression and appearance have great value in deciding their voting behaviors. This is the main theory that is argued in the study. The article is trying to statistically prove this theory in the study. The theory is supported by psychological perspectives in the article. The results of the study confirmed the hypothesis that was given in the beginning of the research. The study proved that voting behaviors of people are directly influenced by the inference of competence by the facial expression of the candidates. The result was very substantial so there is no doubt that the results confirmed the hypothesis. This paper makes a conclusion that the political implications of the findings of the study are significant. It shows that how important it is to focus on the pictures of the candidates and how important it is to place them in a right manner. The findings also tell us the importance of marketing the candidate to the people. It is very important that majority of the voters should know the candidate and they should know about his agenda as one cannot leave his or her fate on inference of his or her competence by the voters. Proper knowledge should be provided to people and the good old fashioned way of elections should be followed. The findings related to facial expression and inference of competent may not change the whole structure of future political campaign but they will certainly add a few things to it.

Ogallala aquifer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ogallala aquifer - Essay Example A lot of our water supply comes from water wells that are drilled deep down into the aquifers. We need these aquifers to stay unpolluted in order to continue to enjoy them. The Ogallala aquifer is one of the worlds largest and is located beneath the Great Plains area of the United States. It is fairly shallow but because of its surface area contains an enormous amount of water. This aquifer is vital for the future of the United States, and yet it is not doing very well. The water in it is running low. As one researcher recently framed the issue: Many people assume that large groundwater formations may temporarily run low, but will fill again when rainfall is plentiful – as do lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. However, unless the areas impacted are unaffected by the factors that contribute to high evaporation – such as minimal rainfall, abundant sunshine, low humidity, and periodic strong winds – this assumption is not even remotely correct. Therefore, it is imperative that we find solutions through research to water problems and maintain the aquifer as a continuing resource (Guru, 6). The problems range in severity and the length of time they will occur in. We must take action now to avoid the aquifers depletion and pollution. We need to preserve its use for future generations. To lose the use of this aquifer would be a serious indictment against the United States and a blow to farmers throughout the Midwest who rely on it to irrigate and water their crops. Sadly a number of new techniques threaten the safety of aquifers. In The Whole Fracking Enchilada by Sandra Steingraber, the author discusses how natural gas is extracted from shale. The process can be very destructive to the environment. We have to be mindful of this in the future as we continue to try to meet our energy needs while preserving the quality of our environment and drinking supply. Excessive water use in the extraction of natural resources is another threat to aquifers. We need water

Report to the presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Report to the presentation - Essay Example From the two aspects, success is assured for your presentation (Tolley & Wood 2011). This paper, therefore, seeks to compare two group’s case studies for their presentations. For case study six presentations, the presentation is about the role of the government while case study seven, talks about Ethics and globalization. The paper seeks to compare case studies’ six and seven. For a well written report presentation, it is essential that the group members do a thorough research on the subject matter. The group members should, therefore, read lots of sources to gather information concerning the subject. The reason for this is because having the ability to present a subject area with confidence affects the audience directly. In turn, this gives the audience an impression that will capture their attention. For instance, for case study six, the topic the role of government is clear and readers can easily tell what the presentation is all about. Similarly, case study seven’s topic is also clear and easily communicates the information to its audience. For this reason, both groups have shown strength in explicitly making the subject matter of their presentations simple for the audience to have an idea of what is to be presented. Both case studies discuss ethical issues and leaves questions on h ow to solve the ethical issues. The aspect of researching for a simple and easily understandable subject is essential in capturing the audience’s attention. For both presentations, the members did a lot of research, and this could only be achieved through teamwork and a high level of cooperation (Tolley & Wood 2011). Teamwork and cooperation are vital components that ensure successful presentations, and this is portrayed in case studies one and seven. Another similarity between the case study six and seven is that they leave the reader with an open mind of making an ethical decision in solving the problem at hand. However, both case studies

What is the Impact of HIV/AIDS on Women?

What is the Impact of HIV/AIDS on Women? ABSTRACT This dissertation will outline the major issues surrounding HIV/AIDS infection as it relates to women, with specific reference to women in Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom (UK). It will explore the reasons why women are increasingly at greater risk of infection than males. Underpinned by a feminist analysis of womens oppression, it will include a discussion of how biological, social, sexual, economic and cultural inequalities contribute to womens vulnerability. It will also look at the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and how these factors can influence them to seek services. The differences in what is deemed â€Å"social work† in terms of both definition and practice as well as the differences in the health systems and the healthcare workers involved in delivering services in both countries will also be explored. INTRODUCTION AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, a disease that makes it difficult for the body to fight off infectious diseases. The human immunodeficiency virus known as HIV causes AIDS by infecting and damaging part of the bodys defences its lymphocytes against infection. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell in the bodys immune system and are supposed to fight off invading germs. People may be infected (HIV positive) for many years before full AIDS develops, and they may be unaware of their status. HIV can only be passed on if infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids or breast milk gets inside another persons body. HIV and AIDS can be treated, but there are no vaccines or cures for them (WHO, 2003). HIV/AIDS PREVALENCE IN WOMEN IN ZIMBABWE AND THE UK Increasingly, â€Å"the face of HIV/AIDS is a womans face† (UNAIDS, 2004). AIDS is now the leading cause of death in Sub-Saharan Africa and the fourth-highest cause of death globally (UNAIDS, 2002). AIDS is a profound human tragedy and has been referred to as the â€Å"worlds most deadly undeclared war† (Richardson, 1987). Women and girls are especially vulnerable to HIV infection due to a host of biological, social, cultural and economic factors, including womens entrenched social and economic inequality within sexual relationships and marriage. HIV/AIDS continue their devastating spread, affecting the lives of 16,000 people each day, with women, babies and young people being increasingly affected. The number of people living with HIV/AIDS has now reached almost 40 million globally (UNAIDS and WHO, 2006), and of these an estimated two-thirds live in Sub-Saharan Africa, Zimbabwe included. Zimbabwe is experiencing one of the harshest AIDS epidemics in the world. The HIV prevalence rate in Zimbabwe is among the highest in the world, although recent evidence suggests that prevalence may be starting to decline. In Zimbabwe 1.8 million adults and children are living with HIV/AIDS, with 24.6% of adults infected: women represent 58% of those infected among the 20- to 49-year-old age range. (Consortium on AIDS and International Development, 2006) In a country with such a tense political and social climate, it has been difficult to respond to the crisis. President Robert Mugabe and his government have been widely criticised by the international community, and Zimbabwe has become increasingly isolated, both politically and economically. The country has had to confront a number of severe crises in the past few years, including an unprecedented rise in inflation (in January 2008 it reached 100,000%), a severe cholera epidemic, high rates of unemployment, political violence, and a near-total collapse of the health system (AIDS and HIV Information, 2009). In Britain, HIV prevalence is relatively low and currently stands at 0.2% of the population. Statistics show that at the end of 2008 there were an estimated 88,300 people living with HIV, of whom over a quarter (22,400, or 27%) were unaware of their infection. This compares to the 77,000 people estimated to be living with HIV in 2007, of whom 28% were estimated to be unaware of their HIV infection. Of all diagnoses to the end of 2008, 45% resulted from sex between men and 42% from heterosexual sex, with black Africans representing 35% of newly diagnosed infections (HPA, 2009). According to the Health Protection Agency (2009), there has also been a dramatic increase in the number of women diagnosed with HIV. In the years up to and including 1992, females accounted for 12% of HIV diagnoses, but in 2008 that was 37%. Therefore, as HIV/AIDS is a global pandemic, the eradication of this health issue represents one of humanitys greatest challenges one that requires co-operation and comprehensive collaboration between scientific disciplines, governments, social institutions, the media, social work and healthcare professionals, and the general public (IFSW, 2009). Social workers, by virtue of their training, their commitment to human rights, and the fact that they are uniquely placed within a wide variety of health and welfare settings, can play a very effective role in the global effort to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic (IFSW, 2009). 1. CHAPTER 1 1.1 OVERVIEW OF GENDER AND VULNERABILITY TO HIV/AIDS While women are battling for equal rights throughout the international community, the existing power imbalance between men and women renders women particularly vulnerable to contracting HIV. Womens subordinate position places them at a considerable disadvantage with respect to their fundamental human right to control their own sexuality, and to access prevention, care, treatment, and support services and information. This subordination of women is mainly caused by the socially-constructed relations between men and women or, in other words, the patriarchal structure which is oppressive to women. (Walby, 1990, cited in Richardson, 2000) defines patriarchy as the â€Å"system of social structures and practices that men use to dominate, oppress and exploit women†, thus giving them greater opportunities to access services compared to females. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) and many governments are implementing educational programmes to teach women about protecting th eir health, traditional and cultural practices continue to perpetuate discrimination against women, in turn forcing women into high-risk situations. Unless proactive human-rights policies are enacted to empower, educate, and protect women with regard to their sexual autonomy, HIV/AIDS will continue to spread at an alarming rate and will have a devastating impact on all aspects of society. Even though the root of womens vulnerability lies in the imbalance in power between men and women, biological and sexual practices have an important role to play and mean that HIV transmission is unfortunately more efficient in women than in men. 1.2 WOMENS BIOLOGICAL VULNERABILITY TO HIV/AIDS Women are more biologically vulnerable to HIV than men; research has shown that women are at greater risk than men of contracting HIV both from an individual act of intercourse and from each sexual partnership. This â€Å"biological sexism† applies not only to HIV but to most other sexually transmitted diseases (Hatcher, et al, 1989). A woman has a 50 per cent chance of acquiring gonorrhoea from an infected male partner while a man has a 25 per cent chance if he has sex with an infected woman (Doyal et al., 1994). This is because the vaginal tissue absorbs fluids more easily, including the sperm, which has a higher concentration of the HIV virus than female vaginal secretions and may remain in the vagina for hours following intercourse, thus increasing womens vulnerability to infection. Not only are women more vulnerable to STIs than men, but â€Å"untreated genital infections, especially genital ulcer disease, syphilis and genital herpes, all predispose to HIV infection† (Doyal, 1994). While STDs are not necessarily gender specific, it is likely that women with STDs will remain undiagnosed and untreated for longer, increasing their risk of infection (Finnegan, et al, 1993). This is largely because women tend to remain symptomless for longer than men (Doyal, 1994). Even though much is known about the transmission of HIV to women through unprotected sex with men, less is known about the manifestations, progression, treatment and care of HIV/AIDS in women. Due to the lack of research we can at best speculate on the reasons for this. One reason may be the failure of medical professionals to pick up on possible symptoms which are often present in women: â€Å"existing diagnostic guidelines pay little attention to symptoms such as thrush, herpes, menstrual problems and cervical cell abnormalities that seem to characterise the early stages of the disease process in many women. Indeed a significant number are diagnosed only during pregnancy or when their child is found to be HIV positive†. (Doyal, 1994, p13) Therefore, if researchers persist in ignoring the biological differences, then the realities of the risks of infection and the disease progression in women will remain unacknowledged. As a consequence of this, women will continue to be diagnosed later than men, which ultimately leads to an earlier death. (Gorst, 2001,) Further research into biological differences and the effects of HIV on womens bodies is urgently needed. 1.3 TRADITIONAL AND CULTURAL FACTORS Traditional and customary practices play a part in the vulnerability of women to HIV infection. Practices such as early marriage and the payment of lobola in marriages make women and girls more vulnerable to HIV infection. Marriages among black women in Zimbabwe include bride wealth â€Å"lobola† if the couple is to be socially approved. Bride wealth is increasingly becoming big business in Zimbabwe, with some parents charging as much as US$2,500 plus five or more cattle for an educated girl. (IRIN NEWS, 2009) The insistence on bride wealth as the basis of validating a marriage makes female sexuality a commodity and reduces women to sexual objects, with limited rights and privileges compared to their husbands, who pay in order to marry them, thus leaving them without a say in their relationship. Patriarchal attitudes are also found in Christianity and these have strengthened the traditional customs that men use to control womens sexuality. (Human Rights Monitor, 2001) For example, Eves alleged creation from Adams rib has made women occupy a subordinate position in the Church as well as in the family. Women are therefore viewed merely as second-class citizens who were created as an afterthought. This is to say that if God had seen it fit for Adam to stay alone, then Eve would never have been created and hence women would not exist in this world. Such patriarchal attitudes have seen women being forced to be submissive to males. To make matters worse, once Eve was created she wreaked havoc by giving in to the Devils temptation and pulling Adam into sin. This portrayal of women as the weaker sex has made men treat women as people who have to be kept under constant supervision. St Pauls letter to the Colossians is one example of the letters which Zimbabwean men quote as a justifi cation of their control over women. The woman is expected â€Å"to submit to her husband† (Colossians 3:18) whilst the husband has to love his wife (Colossians 3:19). Therefore, because of these beliefs, women will remain passive and powerless in relation to sexual health, making them more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. 1.4 CONFLICT AND CIVIL UNREST Migration or displacement as a result of civil strife, natural disasters, drought, famine and political oppression has a greater impact on womens vulnerability to HIV infection compared to men. About 75 per cent of all refugees and displaced people are women and children. The political and economic crisis in many African and Asian countries has caused many women to come to the UK in search of safer lives and employment (Freedman, 2003). The World Health Organization (WHO, 2003) states that female immigrant workers are more vulnerable to sexual barter as they try to negotiate for necessary documentation, employment and housing, which further increases their risk of HIV/AIDS infection. In addition, because of the lack of legal documentation these women will experience limited options, receive low status, receive low pay and are often isolated in their work, including marriage, domestic, factory and sex work. These situations place women in vulnerable and powerless positions, with little ability to refuse or negotiate safe sex, thereby increasing their risk to HIV/AIDS. Despite the risks associated with the migration process it is important to recognise the right to ‘freedom of movement and travel irrespective of HIV status (ICW 12 Statement and the Barcelona Bill of Rights, 2002). This was a focal point during the Barcelona HIV/AIDS conference in 2002, because the Spanish authorities denied visas to numerous people from the South many of whom were open about their HIV status. Some countries do have discriminatory policies regarding travel of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) and others are instituting stricter controls. For example, Canada has recently introduced the need for an HIV test for people emigrating to Canada and Australia. Whilst they say it will not affect the final decision it is not clear why they need the information (Tallis, 2002). 1.5 POVERTY AND INEQUALITY Women and men experience poverty differently because of gender inequality: The causes and outcomes of poverty are heavily engendered and yet traditional conceptualisations consistently fail to delineate povertys gender dimensions resulting in policies and programmes which fail to improve the lives of poor women and their families (Beneria and Bisnath, 1998). Despite worldwide attention to existing inequalities and the way these violate a socially-just society, there is no society in the world in which women are treated as equals with men (Doyal, 2001). Major inequalities between men and women still exist in many places from opportunities in education and employment to choices in relationships. Gender and social inequalities make women more vulnerable to HIV infection, especially in societies which afford women a lower status than men. Worldwide, women and girls are disproportionately impacted by poverty, representing 70 per cent of the 1.2 billion people who live in poverty worldwide (Amnesty International, 2005), a phenomenon commonly referred to as the â€Å"feminisation of poverty†. Worldwide, women receive an average of 30-40 per cent less pay than men for the same work (Card et al, 2007). This economic inequality may influence womens ability to control the timing and safety of sexual intercourse. Specifically, economic dependence on men, especially those who are not educated and do not have good jobs, forces women to remain silent about HIV risk issues and to stay with partners who refuse to engage in safe-sex practices. Poverty also leads to greater HIV risk among women by leading them to barter sex for economic gain or survival (Weiss et al, 1996). Commercial sex work is the most well-known way for women to exchange sex for money, food, shelter or other necessities. Most of this sex will be unsafe as women will be at risk of losing economic support from men by insisting on safer sex. Where substance abuse is a factor, the means for obtaining clean needles may be traded for other essentials. Trading or sharing needles is a way to reduce drug-addiction costs. Risk behaviours and disease potential are predictable under such compromised circumstances (Albertyn, 2000, cited in Card, 2007). Educational inequality also contributes to a womans HIV risk directly, by making information on HIV/AIDS less accessible to her, and indirectly, by increasing her economic dependence on a male partner. In particular, studies show that more-educated women are more likely to know how to prevent HIV transmission, delay sexual activity, use healthcare services, and take other steps to prevent the spread of HIV (UNIFEM, 2004). Because many cultures value ignorance about sex as a feature of femininity, many young women are prevented by husbands, fathers, or other family members from obtaining information about HIV/AIDS. Others decline to seek such information out of fear for their reputations. Lack of education about the causes, prevention, and treatment of HIV/AIDS will increase these womens vulnerability to infection. Legal systems and cultural norms in many countries reinforce gender inequality by giving men control over productive resources such as land, through marriage laws that subordinate wives to their husbands and inheritance customs that make males the principal beneficiaries of family property (Baylies, 2000). For example, Zimbabwe has a dual legal system, recognising both common and customary law in marriage. This creates inequalities for many women upon divorce or their husbands death. Women in customary marriages, especially those who are not educated and who live in rural areas, make up approximately 80% of marriages in Zimbabwe, and are not entitled to the same rights as those married under common law; this means that they are often barred from inheriting property and land, or getting custody of their children, thus making them more vulnerable to male dominance and increasing their risk of getting infected with STIs (Womankind, 2002). 1.6 CONCLUSION Power inequalities at social, economic, biological, political and cultural levels mean that women continue to be increasingly more at risk from HIV infection. It is therefore critical that social workers and other healthcare professionals make sure that HIV/AIDS prevention and care programmes address the most immediate perceived barriers to accessing HIV/AIDS prevention and care services. Measures could include vocational training, employment, micro-finance programmes, legal support, safe housing and childcare services. Such measures would empower these women to have options and to take voluntary and informed decisions regarding the adoption of safer practices to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS (UNODC, 2006). There is also the need for a female-controlled form of protection which women can use to protect themselves, for example microbicides, which women can use without the consent or even the knowledge of their partner, thus enabling them to protect themselves if they are forced to engage in unprotected sex. 2. CHAPTER 2 2.1 HIGH-RISK GROUPS OF WOMEN Although there is a vast literature on HIV/AIDS, relatively little has been written about how HIV/AIDS affects women, and what constitutes a high-risk group. In part, this reflects the way AIDS was initially perceived in the West as a â€Å"mens disease†, so much so that until a few years ago a common response to the topic of women and AIDS was â€Å"Do women get AIDS?†, the assumption being that women were at little or no risk (Doyal, et al, 1994). This has never been true of Africa, where the appallingly pervasive epidemic has always been a heterosexual disease and where 55 per cent of those who have been infected were women. In recent years it has become increasingly clear that women can both become infected with HIV and transmit the virus. A study conducted by AWARE (Association for Womens AIDS Research and Education) in America found that women who inject and share needles, have sexual contact with or are artificially inseminated by a man, lesbians, sex workers and those from an ethnic minority, especially black women, were at increased risk of HIV infection (Richardson, 1987). The study also found that most people in these groups are underrepresented in prevention or treatment interventions, and often suffer social stigma, isolation, poverty and marginalisation, which place them at higher risk. Therefore, in this chapter I am going to discuss how some of these groups are vulnerable to infection, and what can be done to prevent and treat infection in these vulnerable groups without inadvertently increasing their stigmatisation. 2.2 PROSTITUTES There is a substantial body of research on the correlation between HIV/AIDS infection and female prostitution. Studies worldwide have revealed cause-and-effect relationships between AIDS and prostitution in a number of areas, including the use of alcohol and/or psychoactive drugs, and have revealed variance in the rate and circumstance of infection from one country to another (OLeary et al, 1996). For example, researchers have found the high rate of AIDS in Africa to be largely a reflection of exposure through sexual activity only, while in the US and Europe, transmission of the AIDS virus is more likely to come from prostitutes or customers who are also IV drug users. Many writers have pointed out that real social concern about HIV infection did not materialise until its potential â€Å"spread to heterosexuals† was recognised. What is less often pointed out is that concern for the â€Å"spread to heterosexuals† has mostly been manifest in concern for the spread to heterosexual men, not heterosexual women (Flowers, 1998). The expressed fear is that HIV will spread from women to men, allegedly through prostitution. In the press and the international scientific literature on AIDS, often the light cast upon Women in Prostitution (WIP) has been a harsh one. WIP have been identified as a â€Å"risk group†, a â€Å"reservoir of infection†, and a â€Å"bridge† for the HIV epidemic. Such technical, epidemiological language has depicted WIP as vectors of HIV infection (Scharf and Toole, 1992). Rather than presenting WIP as links in broader networks of heterosexual HIV transmission, women categorised as prostitutes have bee n described as â€Å"infecting† their unborn infants, their clients and indirectly their clients other female sexual partners, as though HIV originated among WIP (Scharf and Toole, 1992). Like posters from WWI and WWII which aimed to warn armed servicemen in Europe of the danger of contracting gonorrhoea and syphilis (Brandt, 1985, cited in Flowers et al, 1998), some AIDS-prevention posters have caricatured WIP as evil sirens ready to entice men to their deaths (New African, 1987, cited in Larson, 1988). Interestingly, there is evidence that some HIV-positive men may be inclined to claim that their infection came from a female prostitute, in order to cover up its real origins: sex with a man, or IV drug use. 2.3 PROSTITUTION IN ZIMBABWE There are many reasons why women engage in prostitution in Zimbabwe. Studies show that poverty and deviance are the main causes. Other studies have shown that many women engage themselves in prostitution by their own choice and see it as a career path whilst others might be forced into it (Chudakov, 1995). In Zimbabwe prostitution is illegal, and many women and young girls, especially orphans who engage in prostitution, are driven to it by poverty and economic dislocation, which is being caused by the current economic and political crisis the country is experiencing. According to the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), the hunger and disease-ridden conditions in much of Zimbabwe have forced many children into prostitution in order to feed themselves (UNICEF, 2008). Save the Children, a non-governmental organisation working to create positive changes for disadvantaged children in the country, estimate that girls as young as 12 are now selling their bodies for even the most meagr e of meals, such as biscuits and chips. They also state that the issue is further complicated by the growing presence of child traffickers in the region, looking for young girls to abduct and take to South Africa for the use of potential clients at the 2010 World Cup (Mediaglobal, 2009). Combating child prostitution and trafficking is complicated, but prioritising the alleviation of poverty with particular emphasis on fighting poverty from a childs perspective; prioritising education for all, with emphasis on improving access for girls; and provision of information to victims and survivors of child prostitution and/or trafficking, including information about available counselling and legislative services would be helpful (WHO, 2003). 2.4 PROSTITUTION IN THE UK Prostitution in the UK is different from that in Zimbabwe. The laws around prostitution in England and Wales are far from straight-forward. The act of prostitution is not in itself illegal but a string of laws criminalises activities around it. Under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, it is an offence to cause or incite prostitution or control it for personal gain. The 1956 Sexual Offences Act bans running a brothel and its against the law to loiter or solicit sex on the street. Kerb-crawling is also banned, providing it can be shown that the individual was causing a persistent annoyance (BBC NEWS, 2008). Though actual s are scarce, it has been estimated that at least 2 million women are selling sexual favours in Britain. The bulk of these are brothel prostitutes working in parlours, saunas or private health clubs. According to The First Post published on 18/08/08, prostitution was viewed as â€Å"the new profession†. The article stated that prostitution in Britain is booming, and that thousands of young women have chosen prostitution for independence and financial security. The key factor which has led to a huge rise in this kind of prostitution is the influx of girls from Poland and other Eastern European countries which acceded to the EU in 2000. A strong relationship also exists between UK prostitutes and substance abuse, which drives many into the sex business. Intravenous-drug-using prostitutes are particularly prominent in Scottish cities such as Glasgow (OLeary et al, 1996). According to researchers, 70 per cent of the citys streetwalkers are IV drug addicts, injecting heroin, temazepam and tengesic. In Edinburgh, which has the highest rate of HIV-seropositive IV drug addicts of all cities in Britain, a significant number of those addicts testing HIV positive have been identified as prostitutes. Even though sex workers can transmit HIV/AIDS, blaming them encourages stigma and discrimination against all women. It allows the men who infect sex workers and their own wives to deny that they are infecting others. Wives too can infect their husbands, who can in turn infect sex workers. It is therefore important to note that sex workers and their clients are not serving as a â€Å"bridge† for HIV transmission into the rest of the population. 2.4 LESBIANS Can women transmit the disease to other women through sexual activity? The answer to this question is crucial for a community that knows that HIV is within it even though the question might be difficult to answer as there is â€Å"very little† information on this subject (Richardson, 1987). Lesbians were seen as least likely to be infected, as there was an understanding of HIV as a disease which existed in specific groups of people, for example gay males and intravenous-drug users. Because of these biased attitudes toward people, rather than risk behaviours, no data was systematically gathered. This understanding prevented the healthcare system from defining sexual risk behaviours: it stressed people, not sexual behaviours. It has therefore been noted that most lesbians have been in â€Å"risk situations† or engaged in what would be considered as â€Å"risky behaviour† at some stage. Some lesbians inject drugs and may share needles. Also, a significant number of lesbians have had sex with men before coming out, and many will have had unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse Some may still have sex with men for reproductive purposes (Gorna, 1996). Some may be prostitutes who, for economic reasons or through pressure from a pimp, may have had unprotected sex with clients (Richardson, 1989). According to records from a London sexual health clinic for lesbians, 35 per cent of the lesbians who attended had had sex with a man in the previous six months (Gorna, 1996). As Gorna puts it, this emphasises the fact that â€Å"activity is not always consistent with identity†. In other words, â€Å"we are put at risk by what we do, not by how we define ourselves or who we are† (Bury, 1994, p32). Although the risk of HIV infection from sex between women is very small, it is important for lesbians to look at what they do, how they do it and with whom they do it, just like everyone else, as, â€Å"Low risk isnt no risk† (Richardson, D, 2004). However, they may find it difficult to access services and, if they become ill, they may experience special problems, given that the healthcare system is designed for and administered by a predominantly heterosexual population. There may be a lack of recognition of their relationships, which could lead to isolation and depression. For example in Zimbabwe homosexuality is illegal and punishable by imprisonment of up to 10 years. The President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, views lesbians and gays as â€Å"sexual perverts† who are â€Å"lower than dogs and pigs† (BBC NEWS, 1998). In 1995 he ordered the Zimbabwe International Book Fair to ban an exhibit by the civil-rights group Gays and Lesbians in Zimbabwe (GALZ). He follo wed this ban with warnings that homosexuals should leave the country â€Å"voluntarily† or face â€Å"dire consequences†. Soon afterwards Mugabe urged the public to track down and arrest lesbians and gays. Since these incitements, homosexuals have been fire-bombed, arrested, interrogated and threatened with death (Tatchell, 2001). This makes it difficult for lesbians in Zimbabwe to access information and other services, thus increasing their vulnerability to HIV infection. 2.5 ELDERLY WOMEN The number of older people (older than 50 years) with HIV/AIDS is growing fast. Older adults are infected through the same high-risk behaviours as young adults, though they may be unaware that they are at risk of HIV/AIDS. However, when assessing the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic upon the worlds population, older people are often overlooked. HIV-prevention measures rarely target the older generation, despite the fact that many older people are sexually active and therefore still at risk of being exposed to HIV. The older population is steadily growing larger with the maturing of the â€Å"baby-boomer† generation as well as the availability of antiretroviral drugs which extend peoples life expectancy. Social norms about divorce, sex, and dating are changing, and drugs such as Viagra are facilitating a more active sex life for older adults (NAHOF, 2007, cited in Lundy et al, 2009). Heterosexual women aged 50 and older are most in need of the HIV-prevention message. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS, 2006) estimates that around 2.8 million adults aged 50 years and over are living with HIV, representing 7 per cent of all cases. In the UK, the Health Protection Agency reported that almost 4,000 HIV-infected people who were accessing care in 2006 were aged 55 years or over. Data on this subject from low-income countries like Zimbabwe is fairly patchy. This is because HIV/AIDS surveillance is commonly conducted in antenatal clinics, as many people have little other direct contact with medical services. Data from antenatal clinics does not provide information about people who are above child-bearing age, thus making it difficult for healthcare and service providers to make policies that will impact on the elderly who are infected. Firstly, it has been noted that elderly women can be exposed to HIV via non-consensual sexual contact or rape. Research has shown that some criminals appear to target older women for sexual crimes because they appear to be, and often are, vulnerable to attack (Muram et al, 1992). Elderly women in institutional settings such as nursing homes may also be at greater risk. Some estimates suggest that up to 15 per cent of elderly nursing-home residents have been victims of either sexual or physical abuse, thus increasing their vulnerability to HIV infection (Collins, 2002). Exposure to blood tainted with HIV may also occur when an older woman provides care to adult children who may be suffering from AIDS (Levine-Perkell, 1996). Allers (1990) revealed that more than one-third of all adults who contract A Organisational Flexibility: Definition and Benefits Organisational Flexibility: Definition and Benefits How can we define organizational flexibility? There are many definitions for flexibility. In the sense of managing human resources, flexibility can be defined as the organisation adapting to size, composition, responsiveness and the people . their inputs and costs required to achieved organisational objectives and goals. Organisational flexibility can also be defined when work gets done, where it gets done and how work gets done. Organisational Flexibility includes: Having flex time, so the employee chooses the start of their day and the end of their day, Being able to take off time through the day to take care of family issues, for example an employee being able to go everyday to fetch their children from school and take them home then returning to work, Taking a few days off in order to take care of family matters and not losing any leave days or pay. So an example would be taking days off in order to go look after a sick family member or to go to a funeral or something, An employee working some of their daily work hours at home, so an employee either coming into work late due working at home in the morning, or leaving work early and working at home a few hours, Working shifts, this means employees working different times. Maybe working day shift one week and night shift the other week. Some people might prefer this as it would be more predictable. Therefore they can plan lives, When people choose when they want to work, the hours they want to work, knowing when they can take time off each day. Employees will generally have control over their work day or schedule, Employees can sometimes work longer hours during some days of the week in order to get some days off; they have compressed their work week. Which allows them to have more time for themselves, In some cases employees can advance, go up in their jobs even of they choose their work hours or compress their weeks The need for flexibility in the workplace The need for organisational flexibility is very important. When looking at why there is a need a for flexibility there are factors that are creating the need for flexibility in the workplace. Things are changing all the time, which means an organisation, must be able to take on these changes. Aspects such as social, technological, economical, legal, political and other global factors in which a business operate within are changing all the time, so organisations should be able to adapt when these changes happen. So in other words they need to be flexible. As it says there is a need for flexibility in the workplace, but there is also a need for flexibility in the workforce, meaning the staff. As change happens, how work gets done too changes therefore the workforce should also be flexible. Those aspects I mentioned above, I find is not the factor of change that requires the workplace to be flexible. Another factor I find to be important is the employees. People are changing. Their needs and wants are changing, their ways are changing, how they live is changing and how they work is changing too. Therefore some people are not wanting to work normally, having a Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 job. People are wanting to be more flexible with their time, therefore wanting to work less hours, certain days of the week, have time off or whatever it may be. Therefore some of the workplaces might benefit if they make themselves flexible in the sense of offering these things to employees. So the workplace should be flexible with that factor too. There are some aspects that have allowed flexibility to be put in place in the workplace: * The biggest asset to an organisation is the people who work there, therefore this can create competitive advantage through people. Its best if the organisation is flexible in the number of people and the skills in the workplace * Organisation are becoming more flexible in specialization production, so making specialized goods. And shifting from mass productions. Making goods of the same in bulk * There are changes in life-style, private and work life balance and social changes * There are constant technological changes. Therefore HR services are becoming wider; organisations are doing things differently in the sense of technology. E working and so on I suppose in the past organisations were very structured, rigid. And today there still has to be structure in the workplace, as an organisation wont work if there wasnt some form of structure. In todays workplace, heavily structured organisations, with rigid job specifications, with strict management styles wont work. The workplace is changing due the ever changing and not predictable environments. Therefore that is why there is a need for organisational flexibility. Types of Organisational Flexibility There are a number of different types of organisational flexibility. They are: Functional Flexibility- Functional flexibility basically states that employees will do jobs that go beyond what they are actually there to do. So they will perform jobs that they werent originally specified to do. So employees should be able to do different jobs but still do their own. So the organisation will require multi-skilled employees. So for example would be in an organisation, a debtors clerk doing their own job, which is debtors, but also being able to do creditors when required. Numerical Flexibility- This basically involves an organisation bring labour in or taking labour out in accordance service or product demand. The state of the economy can also be a factor for the organisation to bring in or go without labour. They can control this by the number of employees they need at the time. Therefore they will hire as they need. They can do this by hiring casuals or part time workers. Financial Flexibility- Procedural Flexibility- Skills Flexibility- Attitudinal Flexibility- Structural Flexibility-