Marriage and How It Has Changed Essay

Marriage has gone through profound changes over the last five decades, but we continue to speak about it as though it’s the same old familiar pattern. To see how much has changed; I am going to look at the shift from the forties, to the sixties, to today. In 1968, less than a year after the famous Summer of Love, as they used to say out in the country, â€Å"The times they were a-changing.† The sexual revolution, Viet Nam, drugs–the youth of the day were convinced the world would never be the same again. Yet they didn’t think about how such changes would affect marriage. It seemed as if they thought it would be about the same as it had been for their parents, except better because they (like most youth of most times) thought they were better than their gray and jaded parents that represented the â€Å"American Gothic† portrayed that day. No matter how you describe it, it was a powerfully attractive vision. The average age at which Americans got married dropped drastically, to just 19 for women. The number of children soared higher than it had for decades, to a peak of 3.7 children per woman in 1957. The goal back then was domesticity, and both partners worked for it–one to earn the pay, the other to make the home. If a man was a good provider, if he didn’t drink or beat his wife, if he was a â€Å"good father† to his children, he was a good husband. A good wife had to be a decent cook and housekeeper, take care of the children and provide emotional support to her husband. Polls taken during that time show that more than 90 percent of people could not imagine an unmarried person being happy. When asked what they thought they had given up for marriage and family, most women said, â€Å"Nothing.† Since the fifties, we’ve chased personal happiness, career and self-fulfillment and assumed that marriage and family would somehow fit in. One sign of this shift is the percentage of couples who say they would stay together â€Å"for the sake of the children,† which sank from about 50 to 20 between 1962 and 1977. We’ve lost something else, something far more surprising: the pure sexual drama of marriage. In Goin’ to the Chapel: Dreams of Love, Realities of Marriage, Charlotte Mayerson describes some startling discoveries about the Ozzie and Harriet generation. While talking in-depth to 100 middle-class women of all ages about their marriages, she  found that those who enjoyed a passionate sexual relationship with their husbands were almost certain to have come of age in the fifties. In contrast, sex just wasn’t that important for younger women. â€Å"Time and time again, the younger women say, ‘On a scale of one to ten, sex, I would say, gets a three,'† Mayerson writes. â€Å"These younger women had plenty of sexual relationships before they married, and the thrill was gone before the wedding day. For many older women, however, the excitement of sex had been a reason to marry, and the passion remained.† Those â€Å"Ozzie and Harriet† marriages, Mayerson suggests, could be considerably more passionate than those that have come since the Sexual Revolution. Baby boomers didn’t rebel against domesticity, they just took it for granted. Marriage wasn’t a treasure for which they worked and sacrificed, they thought of it as an adventure that happened because you fell in love; and it competed with other adventures–sex, travel, success, saving the planet. Today, the fifties serve as an ideological battleground. For conservatives who regret the changes that have come, those years are a reminder of the good old days. For liberals who push society to escape oppressive patriarchal arrangements, they are a dreaded Dark Ages. Their constant cry is, â€Å"We can’t go back to the fifties!† Indeed, we can’t. But we would do well to recognize what we’ve lost and might regain. We’ve lost the emphasis on marriage and children that provided so much stability. Back then, a man’s career was to provide for the family, not his ego; a woman’s ambitions were put on the shelf if they conflicted with the children’s needs. That was certainly restrictive to some, but it created a strong social fabric. Since the fifties, we’ve chased personal happiness, career and self-fulfillment and assumed that marriage and family would somehow fit in. The situation is hardly hopeless. After all, if something like half of all marriages ends in divorce, that means the other half don’t. We can’t guarantee that our children will succeed, but we can certainly prepare them and support them to be numbered among the successful. For previous generations, marriage was an inevitable destination. It didn’t take any special intention; it was a stage in life. For the ’00 generation, marriage  will have to be a much more intentional act. They need encouragement, they need mentors, and most of all they need straight talk. We must ask them: â€Å"Do you know what you’re doing? Are you prepared to make this a success?† We often hear that if we do not learn from the past, we are bound to relive it. In my opinion, it is certainly something that wouldn’t hurt us a single bit in this particular situation. Works Cited Mayerson, Charlotte. Goin’ To the Chapel; Dreams of Love, Realities of Marriage. 1996. Basic Press

Challenges Faced By Social Entrepreneurs In India

Challenges Faced By Social Entrepreneurs In India India achieved an average growth rate of 7.7% from 2002-07; however the dividends of this growth have not trickled down to the bottom of the pyramid (Planning Commission of India 2007). According to UNICEF, 42% of India’s population is below the international poverty line of US$1.25 per day (UNICEF 2005).   [ 1 ]   India’s Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-12) aims to reduce the head-count ratio of consumption poverty by 10 percentage points. However, to solve complex problems such as poverty the government, business and citizen sector need to work together and create innovative solution to pressing problems. In fact, Indian government has recognized the positive impact of citizen sector and has provided increasing levels of funding, under the five-year plans. It is estimated that India has 1.2 million to 1.5 million Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) operating currently. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the legal, tax and regulatory challenges faced by soc ial enterprises and recommends policy action. The paper is organized as follows: Section II puts forward a definition for social entrepreneur; Section III features two pioneering social entrepreneurs; Section IV focuses on the challenges faced by social entrepreneurs in India; and Section V provides recommendations to counter these challenges. II. DEFINITION OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR Social entrepreneurs are not the creation of the modern society. Historically, individuals and groups have combined the concept of entrepreneurship with social value creation to transform a current state of ‘unjust equilibrium’ for a targeted group of society (Roger and Osberg 2007). For example, Florence Nightingale built the foundation for the modern nursing profession at a time when nursing was not considered a respectable profession and lacked any codes, ethics and formal training. Further, this phenomenon was not limited to the developed world even the developing world had its share of so cial innovators. In 1920s, Jamnalal Bajal, founding father of a successful Indian enterprise Bajaj Group   [ 2 ]   , popularized the importance of business ethics and launched social initiatives to eradicate the malice against ‘untouchables’ in Indian society. While social entrepreneurs have existed throughout history, the concept of social entrepreneurship is a relatively recent one. Drawing from social entrepreneurship literature, following are five key components of the concept: (1) creating social value that transforms the lives of those who lack the capacity to change the social and economic ecosystem (2) recognizing and capitalizing on the opportunity embedded in the current state of affairs (3) innovating and dislodging the present system of doing things (4) willing to take risk in this process and undeterred by scarcity of resources (5) forging a new, stable equilibrium that uplifts the lives of the targeted group and expanding this cycle to other geographic al locations (Peredo and McLean 2006) (Roger and Osberg 2007) (Bolton and Thompson 2004). Having emphasized the social entrepreneurs of the past, it is fitting to draw attention to their modern counterparts. III. SUCCESS STORIES OF INDIAN SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS Vikram Akula, SKS Microfinance In 2006, Vikram was named by TIME Magazine as one of the world’s 100 most influential people and was awarded Social Entrepreneur of the Year by Schwab Foundation. Vikram recognized that the traditional banking institutions in India failed to reach out to millions of poor due to lack of collateral and high transaction cost; forcing the poor to be trapped in the vicious cycle of small debt-heavy interest by exploitative money lenders.

Political Science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Political Science - Essay Example ssumed that, â€Å"in the face of a convergence in canons of taste, conceptions of work, recreation, and consumption, people would also take on a more international identity and thus render the nation-state less salient than in the past.† (140) However, as it turned out, neither communications nor the wonders of technology could significantly erode the nation-state. As a matter of fact, it appears to reinforce it. In the perspective of the realists, countries must deal with the challenges that globalization brings by expansive projection of national power such as through increases in military capacities and efforts to open its market to foreign trade. The realism approach to international relations is anchored on the idea that the current international system is inherently lawless that a nation can protect itself from the power of others through alliances and diplomacy if possible and military force if necessary. (Starr 2007, 114) Amid globalization, we have seen the reemergence of rampant nationalism as illustrated in the Balkan conflict, in the areas of the former Soviet Union and to some degree, the relationship of countries within the European Union, one of the success stories of global integration. The realist perspec tive fosters nationalism and the strengthening of national institutions to address the challenges that international economics, politics and security entail. In this theory, a higher level of integration is not necessary to address international challenges. The idea is that integration must be used as a tool to advance national interest and not the way around. Essay Question : Which of these theories - realism, liberal institutionalism, constructivism, and dependency theory- in your view, best explains the central themes and events of the post-Cold War world? While I may be tempted to choose liberalism or dependency theory to explain international contemporary relations, I feel that more recent developments requires us to examine the merits of

Analysis of a business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analysis of a business - Essay Example These changes are due to the new paradigm brought about by the advancement of the internet technology which links employees all over the globe and the more intense competition which requires business organizations to seek for more knowledgeable and skilled individuals to take up posts. In the case of Starbucks, employees will likely be influenced by the three trends above except flexibility in work place that allows the workforce to do their tasks at the comfort of their homes. It should be noted that as the leading coffee shop does not only offer coffees but excellent service, employees need to interact with the customers to deliver this service. However, employees will need to upgrade their skills by undergoing retraining. Starbucks might also opt to further diversify its workforce to pool and utilize different expertise of various groups in its operations. The rapid economic development also posts huge opportunities for Starbucks. It can be noted that the once poor countries in Asia are becoming more developed. This leads to the creation of jobs and the rise in disposable incomes. Starbucks is now poised to pursue geographic expansion in countries like China and India (Geoffrey 1). These nations are currently showing fast growths in their GDP due to business process outsourcing. Technolog Technological developments constantly changes companies' business model including Starbucks which have re cognized the gains of employing a brick and mortar industry. One of the most significant changes in the business environment of Starbucks due to technology improvements is higher productivity in coffee farming. McKinsey's quarterly study reports that the coffee industry's cost structure has significantly improved due to the productivity enhancing innovations such as "cultivation of less frost-prone areas, better mechanized harvesting, and increased irrigation" (Campbell 1). As the globe is clamoring for business practices to build on sustainable development, Starbucks faces the challenge being environment friendly. It should be noted that environmentalists adheres to the preservation of the natural resources and is currently intensifying their thrust for this. In political aspect, countries are more and more integrated due to the establishment of free trade zones and blocs to facilitate the flow of products, services, and investment in each nation. This poses opportunities for Starbucks as it imports its coffee beans from farmers abroad. It will also help Starbucks in its expansion strategies. 2. Identify the policy the organization has regarding business ethics and social responsibility. Starbucks, recognizing the need for sustainable development, has readily embraced societal marketing. The world's n umber one specialty coffee retailer adheres to business ethics and social responsibility. Starbucks' president and CEO Orin Smith states that "social responsibility is not just an add-on to our business" but "an essential part of who we are" (Asmus 3). Starbucks pursues business ethics and social responsibility through its fourfold strategy which includes improving social and economic condition for coffee farmers; minimizing environmental impact; making a positive contribution on where it does business and providing a great work environment for its employees. True to these commitments, the company has launched projects and programs to

Battle of Waterloo Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Battle of Waterloo - Research Paper Example Since the achievement of such an objective is rarely feasible in practicality, although theoretically plausible, the theory of warfare attempts to teach and calculate the moral factors such as the mistakes which the enemy is likely to make; or the impression which can be created to intimidate the enemy forces. Written almost two centuries ago, by a renowned Prussian thinker and theorist, Carl von Cluausewitz, these highly controversial yet oft cited set of principles commonly referred to as the "Principles of War" present a comprehensive summary of the tactics and strategies that can be used during war. These principles have proved to be highly effective over the years, and are adopted by nations worldwide, owing to fact that they encompass all the moral as well as psychological aspects of warfare (Clausewitz, Graham, 2008). This paper on Principles of War: Battle of Waterloo discusses and analyzes the nine principles of war with regard to and as applied in the Battle of Waterloo. Th e Battle of Waterloo: Brief Overview The Battle of Waterloo was fought between the Imperial French army commanded by Emperor Napoleon and the Seventh Coalition - which comprised of an Anglo-allied army commanded by the Duke of Wellington; and the Prussian army commanded by Gebhard von Blucher. It was fought on June 18, 1815 near Waterloo which is in present-day Belgium. Napoleon’s army was defeated by the combined forces i.e. the Seventh Coalition and the Anglo-Allied army, and is considered to be historical since it marked the end of Napoleon’s tyrant rule, and his hundred days of return from exile (BBC History, 2011). The battle was historical since the mighty French emperor and military leader Napoleon’s rule came to an abrupt end after his defeat at the hands of the combined armies led by the British, German, Belgian, Dutch and the Prussians. The principles of war discussed in the following section, aims to discuss, examine, and analyze the various strategie s used by the combined forces against Napoleon’s army, that eventually led to his fall. The nine principles of war: 1. The Principle of Objective: â€Å"No one starts a war—or rather, no one in his senses ought to do so—without first being clear in his mind what he intends to achieve by that war and how he intends to conduct it†. Karl Von Clausewitz (in Mahnken & Maiolo, 2008, pp. 2) The principle of objective refers to the fundamental purpose of the war / military operation, which must be clearly identified, defined and attained in an effective manner. The two parties involved in the battle included Napoleon’s army on one hand, and the allied forces comprising of the British, the Belgians, the Germans, and the Prussians on the other. The basic objective of Napoleon was to continue his accession and dominance, and restore his power after his exile, in the year 1815 and to defeat the allied European forces which had begun to reassemble their armies in a bid to overthrow Napoleon’s rule. Napoleon’s objective was to destroy the efforts of the allied forces, prevent them from gaining more support and expanding their existing coalition, and destroy the British, Prussian, Dutch, and Belgian armies before they could gather more support and assistance from other powers. On the other hand, the basic objective of the allied forces was to stop the emperor’s (Napoleon’s) accession, and overthrow him and thus bring a halt to his reign by defeating him and to end his tyrant rule as the emperor of France. 2. The principle of Offensive: This principle entails the retention, seizing of and exploiting the initiatives of the enemy by launching an offensive

APU fuel saving VS cost of availability of ground carts for cooling Essay

APU fuel saving VS cost of availability of ground carts for cooling and electricity - Essay Example Nevertheless, the APU requires a typical maintenance plan that costs approximately $50 per hour (John, 2015; 210). Considering an aircraft that flies 400 hours in a year, the cost of APU fuel would be $80, 000/year. The cost of maintenance would be $20,000. Therefore, the total annual cost of using the APU power generator would $100, 000. However, the cost might vary depending on changes on fuel price and also labor charges (Thom, 2014; 120). According to Green (2015; 216), there are other expenses that are associated with the use of APU power generators. They have to undergo through a process of approval by the FAA and other governing bodies. This process is very expensive and adds cost to the specified operational costs. Therefore, it is evident that the cost of using APUs is higher than $100, 000 during the first year of use. These expenses are made high due to factors such as high expense of the JET-A fuel that is used by the APUs (Williams, 2015; 514). On the other hand, the cost of using Ground carts is generally lower compared to that of APUs. The cost of using Ground Power Units varies according to the size of aircraft being serviced and also the overall services required (McCartney, 2014; 22). The initial cost of a Ground cart ranges between $12,000 and $18,000. However, charges for 400 Hz electricity and pre-conditioned air are administered on hourly rates, and they depend on the group of the aircraft (Middel, 2015; 418). Most airports classify aircrafts as; size A, size B and size C. For the size A aircrafts, the charges for 400 Hz electricity and pre-conditioned air are $38 per hour and $80 per hour respectively. The charges for size B aircrafts are $66 per hour and $139 per hour for 400 Hz electricity and pre-conditioned air respectively. On the other hand, size C aircrafts are charged $93 per hour and $200 per hour for Hz electricity and pre-conditioned air respectively (Nielsen, 2013; 244). Therefore, considering

Pulmonary Embolism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Pulmonary Embolism - Essay Example The clots can break free, travel to the lung, and block an artery. The condition can uncommonly be caused from fat escaping from fractured bone marrow or from amniotic fluid during childbirth. With a large clot, or many number of clots, pulmonary embolism can cause death. The process by which a pulmonary embolism forms, begins in the blood stream. Blood flows from the right side of the heart to the lungs where it picks up oxygen. The heart pumps this oxygen-rich blood through arteries delivering it to various parts of the body after which it enters another network of veins. The veins carry the now oxygen-poor blood back to the heart, which pumps the blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen again. A blood clot forming in a vein, commonly a deep vein in the leg, can travel with the blood flow back to the lungs and become lodge there.This leads to pulmonary embolism. When the lung arteries become blocked by a blood clot, high blood pressure in the lungs may occur. This results in the heart having to pump harder than usual. A continually overworked heart may enlarge and may eventually fail to function. A large pulmonary embolism can result in failure of both the lungs and heart. However, the sooner a physician can diagnose and treat the condition, increases the chances of surviving a pulmonary embolism. The symptoms of pulmonary embolism differ widel... The symptoms of pulmonary embolism differ widely and often resemble those of other conditions; the classic signs include sudden shortness of breath, chest pain and a cough that produces blood-streaked sputum. Breathing may be very rapid and breathing deeply may cause severe chest pains. Other symptoms include increased pulse rate, dizziness, and fainting. Pulmonary infarction may result if there is a lack of blood flow to the lungs causing some lung tissue to die. In addition the patient may also cough up blood-stained phlegm, have sharp chest pains, and fever. The skin may turn a bluish color from a lack of oxygen when the larger vessels of the lungs are blocked. Chronic pulmonary embolism, where small blood clots deposit themselves in the lungs repeatedly over time, will cause shortness of breath, swelling of the leg and all round weakness (MayoClinic 2006). Risk factors for a pulmonary embolus include: Prolonged bed rest or inactivity (including long trips in planes, cars, or trains), Oral contraceptive use, Surgery (especially pelvic surgery), Childbirth, Massive trauma, Burns, Cancer, Stroke, Heart attack, Heart surgery, Fractures of the hips or femur A blood clot is the first factor towards pulmonary embolism and one that forms in a vein is called a thrombus. A blood clot is a plug of platelets enmeshed in a group of red blood cells and fibrin. Blood clots usually develop to help stop bleeding an injury, but sometimes form without reason. A clot that develops in one part of the body and travels in the bloodstream to another part of the body is called an embolus. Sometimes other substances, such as pieces of a tumor, globules of fat from fractured bones or air bubbles, may enter the bloodstream and become an embolus that blocks arteries. A vein in the leg or