Buchi Emechetas The Joys of Motherhood as an African Feminist Text Ess

Buchi Emecheta's The Joys of Motherhood as an African Feminist Text Upon my first reading of Buchi Emecheta's The Joys of Motherhood, I immediately rejoiced--in this novel, I had finally encountered an account of a female protagonist in colonial and postcolonial African life. In my hands rested a work that gave names and voices to the silent, forgotten mothers and co-wives of novels by male African writers such as Chinua Achebe. Emecheta, I felt, provided a much-needed glimpse into the world of the African woman, a world harsher than that of the African male because woman is doubly marginalized. As a female in Africa, the opposite of male, woman suffers sexual oppression; as an African, the opposite of white in an ever-colonized nation, the African woman also suffers racial oppression. Nnu Ego, Emecheta's protagonist, became at once for me the poster female of Africa, a representative of all subjugated African women, and her story alerted me to all the wrongs committed against African women, wrongs that could only be righted through feminist discours e. As with many surface readings I have performed as a student of literature, however, my perspective on The Joys of Motherhood began to evolve. First, I realized and accepted Nnu Ego's failure to react against oppressive forces in order to bring about change for herself and the daughters of Africa; I consoled myself, reasoning that the novel still deserves the feminist label because it calls attention to the plight of the African woman and because its author and protagonist are female. Rereading the novel, however, also triggered the silencing of my initial response. I focused on such passages as the dying wish of Ona, Nnu Ego's mother, who implored Agbadi, Nnu Ego's father, ... ...econd African Writers Conference, Stockholm, 1986. Ed. Kirsten Holst Petersen. Upsala: Scandinavian Institute of African Studies, 1998. 173-202. ---. The Joys of Motherhood. New York: George Braziller, 1979. Nnoromele, Salome C. "Representing the African Woman: Subjectivity and Self in The Joys of Motherhood." Critique 43.2 (2002): 178-190. Ogundipe-Leslie, Molora. "The Female Writer and Her Commitment." Women in African Literature Today. Ed. Eldred Durosimi Jones. Trenton, N.J.: Africa World Press, 1987. 5-14. Okeke, Phil E. "Reconfiguring Tradition: Women's Rights and Social Status in Contemporary Nigeria." Africa Today 47.1 (2000): 49-63. Schipper, Mineke. "Mother Africa on a Pedestal: The Male Heritage in African Literature and Criticism." Women in African Literature Today. Ed. Eldred Durosimi Jones. Trenton, N.J.: Africa World Press, 1987. 35-53.

Systems Theory Paper

Systems Theory Paper Communication is essential in our society today. There are many different types and methods of communication that people use. Throughout life, people learn to use communication in order to interact in the everyday world. People form groups to place themselves where they think they belong in society. Whether people know they are doing it or not, they consciously or subconsciously place themselves into certain groups. There are many different reasons for people to join different groups, these being for learning, activity, personal growth, and problem solving.Members of groups must all contribute in order to complete a task. People can have both positive and negative effects on groups. There are many concepts that help people understand systems through groups. The ripple effect is an important element of systems theory. The ripple effect works as a chain reaction and spreads across the entire group. This can be either a positive or negative spread. The effect is cau sed when one person in a group effects everyone else in that same group.An example of a positive ripple effect is if a child receives a scholarship to college then that whole family will benefit positively from the news because they will be happy. The happiness will spread from the child to the rest of the family. Families are a strong form of a group because the mood or feelings of one person in the household effects the other members of the family whether positively or negatively. Another example of a positive ripple effect that I have experienced is being on a soccer team. When one person is excited about a game and determined to win, all the other team members will start the get the same feeling.The vibe of determination to win is passed on through communication. A negative effect of the ripple effect would be a spread of a disease in a certain group. If one person has a disease that is contagious then they hold the risk of passing it on to the rest of the group members. A perso nal experience that I have had of this is in grade school when one child came to school with strep throat and eventually all the members of the class ended up getting it. The ripple effect is a strong element that can be a good or bad thing for groups.Another element that is important in groups and systems is dynamic equilibrium. Dynamic equilibrium deals with managing stability and change within a group. If a group doesn’t manage their equilibrium, than they will be affected negatively. However, if their equilibrium is managed than they won’t run into any problems. For example, if there is too much stability in a group than it is not healthy, and if there is too much change in a group than it can be overwhelming and things may get out of hand. There is a certain medium that a system should be at in order to promote growth and success within that group.For example, if a sports team decides to never practice than they will not grow or excel, but if they practice too muc h than they will be tired for the game and will not perform as well. Dynamic equilibrium is an important element within systems. Finally, an essentially important element within systems is the group size and complexity. The more members that a group has, the more complex problems they are going to have to deal with. Size is a critical element in any human system. For example, even with such a basic group need to schedule meetings, as the size of the group increases, problems increase.The more people that are in a group, the more people that are not going to be able to meet on a certain date. However, there are also complexities within smaller groups. For example, people will feel more obligated to agree to whatever everyone else agrees with when the group is smaller. If there are four people in a group who all agree on one idea and the fifth person has a good idea also, that person feels pressure to comply with the rest of the group. Group size will also affect cooperation levels. T he higher number of people a group has the more people there are too cause distractions and not pay attention.Group size greatly affects the complexity within systems. Groups are extremely difficult systems to manage due to many elements. However, there are also some elements that make groups easier to manage. Systems are very complicated and most people don’t realize that they deal with them everyday. People join groups without even knowing they are joining a group. People also join groups knowing what they will have to deal with to make that system work. Groups are essential in living life and no person will ever go through life without being part of one. By Josh B

Personal Administration Essay

Personnel administration, better known as human resources (HR) management, is the coordination and regulation of employees in a company. It involves organizing, recruiting, hiring, training, and assessing workers. Conflict resolution and legal compliance also are important aspects. With a good HR team doing their jobs well, a company will often be ultimately more efficient and competitive, generating additional revenue. Organization In most businesses, a well-organized workforce translates to greater efficiency, productivity, and revenue. The first goal of personnel administration, therefore, is to organize all employees in such a way that allows them to cooperate and complete tasks in the best way possible. Examples of issues in this area include how many departments are necessary, how many individuals should be in each department, what the manager to employee ratio should be, and what alternate chains of command should be used when managers cannot be contacted. Organization also deals with how to assign individuals to specific projects, as well as keeping the employees healthy and safe in the work environment. Recruitment and Hiring Once those in a company’s personnel administration team know how to organize workers and their projects, they begin to recruit and hire employees actively. They post notices about positions available, organize or take part in events such as job fairs, and conduct initial interviews to find the most qualified and experienced candidates. They then pass on information about the final candidates to department managers, who often conduct the last interviews and make the call about whom to hire. Training Employees who are new to a company do not always know the business’ policies and procedures, even if they have incredible experience and skill sets. Training is almost always necessary to remedy this. Members of the HR department may develop the training events and documentation needed to get employees working efficiently. They also put together and oversee additional training, such as that needed to advance to a different position in the company. In some instances, they partner with various educational  institutions to develop programs that will allow employees to get certifications or degrees related to the industry. Assessment Most companies want to know that their employees are performing at a certain level. They also want to know that the workers are following policies and procedures well. One duty of the personnel administration team, therefore, is to develop techniques and tools that managers can use for assessment purposes. A common example is a standardized form for an employee performance review. HR workers use the data collected through these items to analyze the activity within the company and to make decisions such as whether to increase pay. Conflict Resolution An advantage of using people over machines is that individuals can be innovative and display logical thought processes based on experience, but people do not always get along as they strive to do this. The HR department is responsible for resolving conflicts that may arise in the company, especially those between different levels of management. They also work to resolve conflicts that are not interpersonal, such as a new employee feeling out of place in his work environment. Keeping detailed records related to these activities is a must, as some conflicts eventually lead to disciplinary action or termination that, if not properly executed, can lead to lawsuits. Personnel management workers generally have an easier time resolving conflicts when they have a solid framework of clear policies and procedures to fall back on. The policies and procedures let the personnel department employees remain objective as they try to find viable solutions. They also ensure that any solutions proposed are in line with company objectives. The HR team works closely with members of management to put together policy and procedure documentation for this reason. Legal Compliance Members of the HR team look at policies and regulations not just for their company, but for their jurisdiction. They ensure that employees fill out the proper tax forms, for example, and any other government required paperwork. This task is challenging because new legislation is passed regularly, requiring the personnel administration workers to adjust the activities and documentation within the business. It is critical because failure to comply  with even one regulation can put the reputation and operation of the company at risk. Personnel Administration The scope of personnel administration is quite wide. It includes all activities which help the management in getting the work done by the labour force in the best manner possible to accomplish the organizational objectives. The main objective in any organization is the optimum utilization of available resources. Personnel administration is primarily concerned with the organization of men; therefore, the main objective may be summarized as to utilize the available human resources in a a way so as to get the work done effectively to the maximum satisfaction of the individual worker to seek their cooperation in accomplishing the general goals of the organization. The objectives of personnel administration can be classified into General objectives and specific objectives. General objectives 1. Maximum individual development – the employer should always be careful in developing the personality of each individual. If an act of the employer can adversely affect the personality of the individual, he should avoid it. Employer should establish and support such human values that may have social recognition and importance. They should always be regarded as partners and given due importance. The objective of Personnel administration as a bridge between the management and the employees is to keep the management apprised of positive accomplishments and warning signals in the personnel practices. If the human assets of an organization are being misused in the process of profit maximization, it is definitely a short term achievement, because in the long run, the adverse effects felt by the work force will translate into lesser profits for the organization. 2. Desirable working relationship between employer and employee – it is the major objective of personnel administration to achieve a desirable working relationship between the employer and the employees so that they may cooperate with the management. Both of them must rely on each other. The personnel administrator should get it realized to the top management that personnel should be given fair and equitable treatment and on the other hand, convey to the workers that they  should cooperate in achieving the goals of the management. The basic responsibility for the personnel lies with the supervisors although the administrator supplies tools such as policy, record keeping, control and advice. His objective is therefore to ensure that the line supervisor is aware of his personnel responsibilities and carries them out responsibly. Simultaneously he should also ensure ethical conduct amongst all personnel and on the part of each supervisor towards each employee for whom he is res ponsible. 3. Specialized services – The administrator provides the tools such as record keeping, policy making, controlling and advising. Although not directly responsible for the personnel, who lie with the line supervisor, he may examine causes for non-efficiency or non-effectiveness, suggest remedial measure, perform research into proposed personnel procedures, handle negotiations with a government agency, etc. The basic objective here is to provide assistance to the line supervisor whilst simultaneously ensuring that the line supervisor meets his responsibilities to the personnel. 4. Molding of human resources – Human beings is the most important resource and the only active factor which engages all other factors of production. Therefore, the administrator should emphasize the effective utilization of human resources as compared to physical resources so that production and productivity is optimized. Other factors of production will be ineffective without effective molding of human resources. Specific objectives 1. Selection of the right type and number of persons 2. Proper orientation and introduction of new employees to their jobs 3. Organisation of suitable training facilities 4. Provision of better working conditions and facilities. 5. Provision of sound, fair and effective wage and salary administration and incentives. 6. Good industrial relations with representative trade unions 7. Personnel research Duties of Personnel Staff In a dynamic working environment, the boundaries of any role cannot be clearly defined. However, the duties of Personnel staff may be described as under:- 1. As a Service Provider – providing information on market statistics of personnel availability, pay rates, etc. Interpret the complex  laws and legislations. Employment and placement programs, employee compensation programs, training and development programs, labour relations could be stated to be the duty as a service provider. It must be noted that there will often be an overlap between the different roles that a Personnel staff may assume 2. As a facilitator – advises the supervisors on employee problems, facilitates training and development, and when performance appraisals are done. One of the responsibilities of Personnel staff is also to ensure that other managers who undertake such activities are well equipped to do so. 3. as a consultant – to help the supervisors resolve problems due to lack of motiv ation, lack of training, grievances, etc. 4. As an auditor – to ensure that all members of the management perform their respective roles, to determine whether personnel policies and procedures are being administered uniformly by supervisors.

Why Journalism Ethics and Objectivity Matter

Why Journalism Ethics and Objectivity Matter Recently a journalism student from the University of Maryland interviewed me about journalism ethics. He asked probing and insightful questions that made me really think about the subject, so Ive decided to post his queries and my answers here. What Is the Importance of Ethics in Journalism? Because of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the press in this country is not regulated by the government. But that makes journalistic ethics all the more important, for the obvious reason that with great power comes great responsibility. One need only look to cases where journalistic ethics have been breached - for example, fabulists like Stephen Glass or the 2011 phone-hacking scandal in Britain - to see the implications of unethical news practices. News outlets must regulate themselves, not only to maintain their credibility with the public, but also because they run the risk of the government attempting to do so. What Are the Biggest Ethical Dilemmas Surrounding Objectivity? Theres often a lot of discussion about whether journalists should be objective or tell the truth, as if these were contradictory goals. When it comes to discussions like these, a distinction must be made between issues in which a quantifiable kind of truth can be found and issues in which there are gray areas. For instance, a reporter might do a story surveying statistics about the death penalty in order to discover whether it acts as a deterrent. If the statistics show dramatically lower homicide rates in states with the death penalty, then that might seem to indicate that it is indeed an effective deterrent or vice versa. On the other hand, is the death penalty just? Thats a philosophical issue thats been debated for decades, and the questions it raises cant really be answered by objective journalism. For a journalist, finding the truth is always the ultimate goal, but that can be elusive. Has the Concept of Objectivity Changed Since the Start of Your Career in Journalism? In recent years the idea of objectivity has been derided as a fixture of the so-called legacy media. Many of the digital pundits argue that true objectivity is impossible, and that therefore journalists should be open about their beliefs and biases as a way of being more transparent with their readers. I disagree with this view, but its certainly one that has become influential, especially with newer online news outlets. As a Whole, Do You Think Journalists Still Prioritize Objectivity? What Are Journalists Doing Right and Wrong Today, in Regards to Objectivity? I think objectivity is still valued at most news outlets, particularly for the so-called hard news sections of newspapers or websites. People forget that much of a daily newspaper consists of opinion, in editorials, arts and entertainment reviews and the sports section. But I think most editors and publishers, and readers for that matter, still value having on impartial voice when it comes to hard news coverage. I think its a mistake to blur the lines between objective reporting and opinion, but thats certainly happening, most notably on the cable news networks. What Is the Future of Objectivity in Journalism? Do You Think the Anti-Objectivity Argument Will Ever Win Out? I think the idea of impartial reporting will continue to have value. Certainly, the anti-objectivity proponents have made inroads, but I dont think objective news coverage is going to disappear anytime soon.

Directing Scene- The Dining Room essays

Directing Scene- The Dining Room essays Having no previous directing experience I was not quite sure what to expect coming into this project. Having a primarily performance background in theatre I was somewhat nervous about having to now be the one giving the direction and instruction rather then taking it. I was, however, able to use my performance background to help me in directing the scene because I was able to think about the direction I was giving to the actors in more in terms of what could a director do to help me understand this moment in the scene if I were acting in it? I started the process by casting people in the scene based partially on who I felt would be able to be able to portray the character correctly and also partially on scheduling convenience. Having previously acting in scenes for directing classes, I knew from personal experience how difficult it could be arrange rehearsals around several peoples busy schedules. I attempted to avoid this conflict by casting Becky Wilson and Chris Wood in my sc ene. I have seen both of them act in the past and felt they could easily carry the characters in the scene and I share a house with them so arranging times for rehearsals was a bit easier since I saw them both very often. Once we started rehearsing the scene, I noticed that it was much easier then I had expected to convey my ideas about the scene to them. At first I found it a bit difficult, being primarily an actor myself, to direct them with their lines and not simply say the line for them as I wanted it to be said. However, as we continued through our rehearsing, I was able to think of other ways to give them the idea of what I wanted from them. Becky and Chris were also very quick to adapt to what I was saying to them, which made my task a lot easier. Having been in productions where cast members just could not understand what the director was trying to say or were unsure how to change how they acted a scene, I knew that it w...

Homework Harm and Struggles Let Us Ban It

Homework Harm and Struggles Let Us Ban It Homework Ban: Failure in Class or a Recharge Before Next Day’s School? Disputes about homework and its amount will probably exist as long as education itself. Students oppose it, teachers and some parents enforce it, and some parents begin to doubt the practice and ask questions about how exactly this additional workload is going to help their children to be curious thinkers if all kids want to do every day is to get a bit more sleep. This gloomy picture made us come up with two issues up front: first, we will scrutinize real pros and cons of heavy homework load, and second, we will offer you a solution to your ordeal. If today’s tasks are just impossible (as if other daily tasks are much easier!) just let us know, and we will help you out of any written task you can think of. We have been dealing with stressed students and abundant assignments long enough to know how to accomplish them efficiently and not to compromise your grades. Now back to the question of homework. What Science Has to Say About Homework Role in Students’ Academic Success Scholars including biologists and children psychologists have long studied how kids’ bodies and minds function and arrived at a conclusion that home task does not essentially improve learning outcomes of students. Only certain limited amounts of work at home do boost learning and make students more confident in applying their theoretical gains to real-life challenges. But the tradition of abundant homework with heavy stress on memorization dates back to times ages ago when kids’ needs were not taken into account and adults treated kids in ways they believed were right, not in ways that were actually right. Since then the education system was thoroughly overhauled, both for the benefit of students and the country, but the concept of homework did not change much. Moreover, in various countries approach to homework is different, in some teachers assign loads of it, and in some kids have plenty of time to rest and enjoy themselves after school, and their academic level does not trail behind the US students level. Recently, the debate has moved to the public sphere, with thoughtful arguments in media both for and against homework. HuffPost claims that only 30 minutes of work is allowed. The Atlantic takes the more measured stand and calculates what load suits what age. Teachers, parents, and experts all voice their sincere beliefs and facts to support their positions. But can these debates be boiled down to some concise lists? Actually, yes. We will begin with a more inspiring part: 10 Solid Reasons Homework Should Be Eliminated (or at least heavily limited in amount). Unfortunately, the existence of these facts will not make colleges and schools skip home tasks overnight, but at least you will be equipped to support your position about homework when asking a teacher to give fewer tasks for home studies. And these arguments will be related neither to laziness nor to boredom (these two are too easy to dismiss). Stealing home time that can be spent resting, communicating with parents, siblings or friends – or just engaging in enriching things that you really like. Students spend in school long hours that can be compared to a full workday – and they are required to do more work at home. In adults’ world it is called overtime and is paid for at double rates, and here it is considered a benefit for students just for the sake of its own. Unnecessary work that does not actually impact knowledge or academic success. For homework to be useful and impact study outcomes positively, many factors are to be taken into consideration while tasks are assigned. Namely, the age of students, the total load of homework for the day, the complexity of the material, its familiarity to students, and many more. But usually, tasks are just dumped on a student’s plate, both discussed and undiscussed in class. What a teacher did not manage to cover in class is supposed to be mastered by students on their own. This is not what homework should be like, experts say. Making students fail at next day tests. Long hours of afterschool work exhaust students even more, and the next day they feel fatigued and distressed, and they hardly remember things they need to pass tests (especially if large home tasks were in a different subject). So they fail, and instead of benefiting from homework they have low scores in tests as well. Pressure on mental health and a negative impact on mood. It is obvious that additional challenging work is no good for developing self-perception and attitudes to the world. The unnecessary challenge to students who have other tasks like job, sports or looking after siblings. Instead of pursuing healthy pastime or hobbies that can develop into careers, students spend time doing useless tasks. And then they are expected to know for sure what they want to do in the future! No assistance in doing tasks. One of the biggest problems with homework. Students have no one to ask if they have troubles with homework, and so they just repeat their mistakes over and over. Standardization of ways students has to learn things. People are wired for different channels of learning, and while some can learn by reading, others just physically need to listen or to watch a video to understand something. Writing is not everybody’s talent. Yes, writing in itself is challenging. Not everyone can come up with a decent essay in, say, history or sociology. Just skip it. The content of tasks does not coincide with the content covered in class. One more improper way to give home task. The lack of time in class and overly packed curricula are not the problems of students, they are problems of boards and educators who design curricula without knowing what goes on in real classrooms. But since teachers are required to meet milestones, they dump the load on students to study at home. This is a total no-no from a scientific viewpoint, but it happens often. Artificial reason for bitter arguments between parents and kids. Yes, teenage is hard, and fights over homework only aggravate already tense and complex relations between parents and kids. 8 Facts That Show That Homework Can Be Useful (Under Certain Conditions) Helps to reduce time spent on gadgets in time of digital intoxication. Yes, maybe, it does not require browsing the web for a couple of hours and typing a paper for three more hours. Helps to learn time management (if given in reasonable amounts). Yes, if a load is manageable then time distribution planning is important. But today homework just consumes all waking time of students. No management needed. Helps master critical thinking and train memory. Yes, if a material was already covered in class and discussed. Then going over it can help students see the connection they did not notice or ask questions that go beyond the surface of events. If they see the material for the first time, they have more questions than answers – and no one is here to answer them. Gives a sense of responsibility and accomplishment. Yes, if work is manageable then completing it before doing something for fun makes kids feel responsible and proud. Boosts research skills. Yes, if students have a framework of knowledge already and are required to elaborate it through research. A doubtful benefit, as researches show today. But anyhow, creating a written project does require research planning, drafting and creating a final version. This is a good training session in switching between tasks. Topics for discussions with parents. Cool, if parents can participate and help children grasp the topics better. Refreshing study materials in memory before tests. Yes, but home task should include only the subject related to the next day’s test. Then it will not divert time and attention and will help to understand and memorize stuff better. So, What Is the Conclusion About Homework? As any medicine, it has its proper dosage and plans of administering. If everything is observed carefully, a home task is a valuable tool to boost learning and develop students’ thinking. But if the load is too big or too complex, it poisons minds, exhausts bodies and in general makes school a gruesome place. So it is up to teachers (and education boards and committees) to manage homework amounts more carefully and so inspire kids’ curiosity and openness to learning. If nothing else helps, we are the last bastion that will take a punch and save your grades by delivering fast and high-quality homework assistance. Remember that.

Studies suggest that culturally-influenced concepts of gender role Essay

Studies suggest that culturally-influenced concepts of gender role norms are associated with health - Essay Example ever, argue that women can become economically empowered through microfinance initiatives and be able to realize improvements in self-confidence and esteem, solve household conflicts as well as participating in decision making (p. 1795). Conversely, through their IMAGE study, the researchers argue that microfinance interventions empowers women economically and helps to reduce sexual IPV or physical violence by enabling them to challenge gender violence, demand better treatment, leave violent relationships, mobilize community groupings to denounce gender-based violence, in addition to, addressing the problem of HIV/AIDS infections (P. 1798). On the other hand, Pulerwitz et al. (2015) argues that, â€Å"Certain gender norms—or social expectations about men’s and women’s appropriate roles, rights, and responsibilities—have been shown to be associated with the risk of IPV as well as the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)† (p. 132). However, through interventions aimed at addressing inequitable gender norms, reductions in violence and positive health outcomes can be realized (P. 132). This can be realized by incorporating boys and men in initiatives aimed at shunning inequitable gender norms by changing their attitudes and beliefs, as well as the need for inclusive household decision-making (p. 135). The emic knowledge is predominant in cultural setups and is guided by the people`s beliefs, meaning and is determined by the local customs or norms. In the African American society, there exist MSN, who are men who have sex with other men. The emic approach can help in carrying out an investigation into the cultural factors contributing to MSN that has led to the widespread of HIV/AIDS among African American men. Taking an insider’s perspective, it is possible to understand gender norms and be able to distinguish appropriate gender roles, responsibilities and rights for each sex (Pulerwitz et al., 2015). Thus, using the emic approach the