Multiculturalism in Lebanon

Multiculturalism in Lebanon Lebanon is a country with a long history which made it what it is today, a multicultural country. In a book called Geopolitique du conflit libanais by Georges Corm, written in French, the Lebanese situation and how it got to the state it is now culturally is explained. This book starts off by saying that everywhere in the world, be it Paris, London or Geneva, the Lebanese is used to be seen in the refined, cosmopolitan world of high finance, international negotiation, and real estate promotion. The author says about the Lebanese, quoting, on a trop coutume de le voir, pignon sur rue (Corm, 1986: 5) which literally means we are extremely used to seeing him, gable on street, the Lebanese. To be able to understand the multiculturalism of the individual carrying the Lebanese nationality, it is primordial to understand major highlights of this countrys history. Corm (1986: 6) highlights the impact several historical moments had on Lebanon and the development of its culture. As is known to all, Lebanon was under French mandate for a very long time. However, before the French occupation, in the previous century, Lebanon had been occupied by the Ottoman Empire. This Ottoman Empire occupation led Napoleon the Third to send an expedition in order to protect the Christians of Lebanon against the ferocity of Ottoman soldiery (Corm, 1986: 10). In 1975, a civil war exploded in Lebanon. Many times, foreign and powerful countries intervened. In 1976, France, ancient occupational force, mentioned the possibility of bringing in Lebanon French troops (army) (Corm, 1986: 9). In 1978, soldiers belonging to the United Nations came to establish their troops in Lebanon. Moreover, in 1981, the United Nations of America also intervened in this civil conflict. Lebanon being a country based on confessionalism (divided into religious groups) (Corm, 1986: 6), the conflict became vaster when there was a separation between the Lebanese populations due to religion. The Christian Maronites asked for the French intervention, while the Druzes asked for British intervention (Corm, 1986: 210). From all of the above, we can see that countries encompassing many different and diverse cultures intervened in Lebanon imposing their language (that is, French and English), and their principles. For example, Lebanese children attending French schools were forbidden the practice of Arabic language within the school walls. In a way, this is the basis of what gave the Lebanese individual the easiness to adapt. The Lebanese got this acceptance of adaptation when he immigrated to other foreign destinations where life promised to be better. Corm (1986: 20) describes a typical Lebanese person as a citizen of the Lebanese capital, Beirut city of patricians, merchants, artisans, and jurists ready to serve any new conqueror. Whether the conqueror was Egyptian, Iranian, Byzantine, French, American or British, it didnt matter. The only thing that mattered to a Lebanese person was that business was stable and always on the run (Corm, 1986: 29). Because of the influence of the West in a country considered as being Oriental, Lebanon was thereof called this junction between the Orient and the Occident (Corm, 1986: 15). The area of study: Culture can be defined as a body of learned behavior, a collection of beliefs, habits and traditions, shared by a group of people and successively learned by people who enter the society (Joynt and Warner, 1996: 33). Society in this context can apply to any level of culture, like nation, organization or profession. While in most instances, a persons nationality is a sufficient indicator of their culture (where the culture is the norm of that nationality), many societies now contain a variety of ethnic groups and individuals may easily be influenced by cultures other than their apparent nationality (Joynt and Warner, 1996: 33). A specific ethnic group can be characterized by its language, politics, attitudes, economy, religion, values, customs, education, etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Joynt and Warner, 1996: 34). A specific ethnic group can also be called a Diaspora. Many definitions were given as to the word Diaspora. Generally, Diasporas are communities that define themselves by reference to a distant homeland from which they once originated (Coles and Timothy, 2004: 1). When an ethnic group or a group belonging to a specific ethnicity, culture, religion, national identity and sometimes race (Coles and Timothy, 2004: 3) are dispersed (that is, dislocated and then relocated voluntarily or not) around the globe, this is what can be called a Diaspora. Coles and Timothy (2004: 4) mention Sheffers notion of a modern Diaspora as residing and acting in host countries while still maintaining strong sentimental and material links with their countries of origin. They therefore have collective memories (Coles and Timothy, 2004: 5) of their traditional country, and they face the same situation as their co-ethnic members (Coles and Timothy, 2004: 5). Diasporas are also divided into two distinct categori es. The first category consists of victim Diasporas who have had a traumatic displacement from their territory (Coles and Timothy, 2004: 6), and the second is the labour Diaspora which is scattering in pursuit of work (Coles and Timothy, 2004: 6). This brings up the cultural aspect of this study. Coles and Timothy (2004: 7) state that Diasporic communities move between regions and do not occupy a single cultural space, which leads to hyphenated communities which constitute the semantic coupling of the homeland and the host state. This affects the process of adaptation, assimilation or internalization of a host countrys culture (Joynt and Warner, 1996: 166). The field of consumer behavior is the study of the processes involved when individuals or groups select, purchase, use or dispose of products, services, ideas or experience, to satisfy needs and desires (Solomon, Barmossy, Askegaard and Hogg, 2006: 6). In addition, people can express their self and their cultural and religious belonging through consumption patterns and sometimes there are cultural clashes (Solomon, Barmossy, Askegaard and Hogg, 2006: 6). This is what links culture and the behavior of Diasporas in host countries to the field of consumer behavior. Accordingly, Nguyen and Polonsky (2003: 1561) say that the number of migrants and migrant communities in first world countries has increased significantly and that the constant process of acculturation and motivations (Nguyen and Polonsky, 2003: 1561) is important in consumption because migrants frequently want to maintain links to their home country (Nguyen and Polonsky, 2003: 1561). This study aims at understanding more clearly the consumer behavior concerning the members of a Diaspora community. In relation to this, the fact that consumer behavior also depends on the type of product consumed has to be taken into consideration. Research suggests that many different social situations have different norms of ethnic behavior (e.g. type and amount of food and drink considered appropriate), suggesting that the relationship between ethnicity and behavior is affected by the type of product being considered (Stayman and Deshpande, 1989: 363). Food and commodities products are more cultural. Therefore, to study culture affecting consumption motives (Henry, 1976: 123), a product class for which specific value orientations can be reasonably expected to affect choice significantly (Henry, 1976: 123) must be selected in a study. Thus, food is chosen in this research for the study of the behavior of Diaspora consumers because food is more than a means of nourishment and sustenance; it is also a key cultural expression, it can provide us with a taste of home and serve to reaffirm ties to their culture of origin (Penalosa, 1994: 41). Sometimes members of a Diaspora can reject some of the consumption patterns (Penalosa, 199 4: 42) that are characteristic of the host country. Furthermore, the products brand and the image that the brand gives to the consumer are also important to consider as cultural values penetrate the creation and perception of commercial symbols (Aaker, Benet-Martinez and Garolera, 2001: 494). To summarize, the cultural function of consumption means that the cultural context should, among other things, be taken into consideration when studying the meaning of objects for consumers and the use they will make of those objects (Wallendorf and Arnould, 1988: 533). There are country differences that can be used to interpret cultural differences in norms, attitudes, behavioral patterns, and important macro socioeconomic variables (Aaker, Benet-Martinez and Garolera, 2001: 499). Examples of country differences are conservatism versus autonomism and hierarchy/mastery versus egalitarian commitment/ harmony that relate to self-enhancement versus self-transcendence (Aaker, Benet-Martinez and Garolera, 2001: 504). These are typical differences between Lebanese and French cultures (Orient versus West). In this study, a questionnaire was distributed online to members of the Lebanese Diaspora in Paris, and semi-structured in-depth interviews were carried out with Lebanese people who had lived or are currently living in Paris. Subsequently, the data collected from the questionnaire was tested on SPSS 15 and a factor analysis was run. As for the interviews, major themes were identified as well as interpreted. Many limitations stood in the way of this study. To list a few, time constraints did not allow enough questionnaires to be collected thus making the statistical analyses less credible. In addition, English was the language used in the questionnaire while the Lebanese in Paris are mainly francophone, and the interviews were carried out in French thus not translating exactly the emotions and the real meaning of the interviewees words. Objectives and Research questions of the study: Following the aim and context of the study, research questions and objectives were derived. This study will aim to examine the socio-cultural aspect of consumer research while focusing on one durable good. Hence, this study focuses on food as it is the most culturally influenced product and as its value orientations affect choice significantly. The last objective aims to show that consumers have purchasing habits and patterns that allow them to express their cultural identity by investigating the attitude and consumption habits of Diaspora consumers when it comes to food. The research questions derived from these objectives and that guided this study are the following: Are Diaspora consumers influenced by the host countrys brands and the way they are marketed? Do Diaspora consumers try to influence other consumers who come from different cultural backgrounds? (relating to the socialization aspect) Which identity do they try to construct while living in a foreign country? Do they preserve their cultural identity or seek a new or different one? And if the latter is true, why? Structure of the study: In the first chapter, the general literature concerning consumer behaviour in a cultural and ethnic context will be reviewed. Following from this, the details of the method used will be specified. Third, the results of the research carried out will be presented and discussed as well as interpreted, before concluding with the limitations of this study as well as its implications for further research.

How Can We Explain the Difference in Achievement with Boys and Girls?

How can we explain the differences in achievement between boys and girls? Statistics show that it is clear that girls achieve more A* to C grades at GCSE then boys. This obviously shows that girls do better and achieve more in schools. In fact, since 1980 to the present day, the percentage of boys who have achieved these grades has risen. But so has the girls. When it comes to girls and boys choosing their options for GCSE, although they are open to pick the same subjects, there still seems to be a split. Girls tend to op for cookery, design technology and sociology. Whereas boys tend to op for resistant materials, P.E and science. So it is clear that there are the ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ subjects. One way the difference is shown in achievement is by setting and streaming in different schools. It is more common for girls to be placed in top set for all their subjects then it is for boys. Girls tend to do better in school then boys. This could be influenced by a t eacher (self- fulfilling prophecy). If girls and some boys are told that they are capable of getting great grades in school, then they are bound to achieve better than other students that are put in bottom set and are told they can only get a D or E, which are mostly boys.This shows that there is a difference between the achievement of boys and girls because girls are more likely to be placed in top set and are encouraged by their teachers to do well, whereas boys are not. Another way the difference is shown is by society and through the jobs that different gender roles take. There has been a divide in women and men jobs for a while. However now, there are increasing job opportunities for women. It is still known that women are more likely to take up jobs like nursing, caring, teaching and so on then it is for men.Men usually take up the job of mechanics, firemen, policemen etc. So in schools, they prepare the students for the job they believe is right for their gender. This shows t hat there are differences because boys must need to be more educated for the jobs they are required to get, whereas girls don’t need to be as much. If boys are ‘more’ educated then girls, then they are more likely to get better grades, but that still doesn’t explain why girls are achieving better than boys! Individual attitudes have a big impact on how a student achieves.Girls tend to always do their homework, always be well behaved and are in the pro- school subculture. Whereas boys tend to never do their homework, always misbehave and are in the anti-school subculture. This shows that girl want to do well in school to have a good life and a well-paid job, but it also shows that boys don’t really care about school and haven’t really thought about their future. This shows that there is a difference in achievement between girls and boys because girls have a better opinion of school and so will achieve better grades then boys as they have a neg ative opinion of school.It’s not that boys’ do less well. Boys’ achievement has been improving but girls have been improving more. All the matters that I have stated are linked. They all seem to state that girls achieve better in school than boys and that boys take their education for granted. There is also a link with boys and girls attainment. Boys tend to be at school less than girls and girls have better punctuality then boys. So, we can conclude that girls achieve better than boys because of their positive attitudes, actually wanting a good life and a good education.

Patrick Henrys Impact On Slavery - 1708 Words

The American Revolution brought many opportunities to light for African Americans. They used it ultimately as a mechanism of obtaining their freedom. The American Revolution brought changes to the relationships between enslaved and free Americas as they were forced to work together in some circumstances. The American Revolution gave African Americans a voice to express their longstanding grievances. They had many grievances, such as slavery and being treated as inferior due to their skin color. During this time, some enslaved Americans, such as Wheatley, were voicing their opinions on the people who were hypocritically speaking out against Britain for enslaving free colonists, yet had slaves of their own (Holton, 5). One of the people who†¦show more content†¦One of the ways in which blacks were awarded new opportunities was in the military. During the American Revolution, there were two sides of the war; the Loyalists who were loyal to King George III and the British govern ment, and the Patriots who supported Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. During this time, some slaves obtained freedom if they served in the military. Those who were not offered that opportunity were enticed to join the Loyalists in return for their freedom. Although, in the end, both sides helped African Americans find their freedom where they could (Holton, 57). During the war, African Americas were used in various ways, such as guides, spies, and soldiers, but they were only allowed to do the jobs that did not require much skill, as people did not think they were very skillful (Holton, 57). One of the first battles in which many African Americans fought in was the Battle of Bunker Hill. On this same day, Congress appointed a southern slaveholder as commander of the newly formed Continental Army. When George Washington arrived to the battle site, he was baffled at the disorganization of the New England soldiers and called for a total reform of the army. One of the things he did during this reform was the removal of slaves and free blacks from the Continental Army. This reform lasted an insignificant amount of time as Washington feared that the free blacks that were no longer in the Continental Army would enlistShow MoreRelatedRhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henry s Speech1375 Words   |  6 Pagescause in the War for Independence, and one of the most influential was Patrick Henry. In his famous speech â€Å"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death† Patrick Henry delivered a powerful speech through the manipulative use of language and word choice. On March 23, 1775, the third Virginia convention was held in St. John s Church in Richmond. The convention was held to discuss relations with Great Britain. This was the place where Patrick Henry made his timeless speech Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death! toRead MoreHenry, Patrick. â€Å"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!† Speech1009 Words   |  5 PagesPatrick Henrys Biblically Charged Spe ech Patrick Henry utilizes advance oratory skills, and various literary devices to illustrate his Give me Liberty or give me death! speech to members of the Virginia legislature. Henry possesses an impressive ability to speak to the hearts of men. His fiery passion combined with biblical passages outline a common theme that implies God sanctions his cause. Henry uses metaphors to invoke prevocational images to give his words life, and foreshadowingRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henrys Speech995 Words   |  4 Pagesbeen shaped by people including, Patrick Henry, George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and many other key players who fought for our independence and left a legacy behind. Henry for instance, was one of the leading figures of the American Revolution. In his most famous speech, he effectively persuades his opponents and supporters of the revolution to unite and fight for independence by using rhetorical devices and appeals. In the first paragraph of Henrys speech, he does not immediatelyRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henry s Speech1840 Words   |  8 Pagesable to immerse themselves into the past by exposing themselves to historical figures’ persuasions and intentions through their creations. One of these pieces of literature that demonstrates these qualities is Patrick Henry’s Address to the Virginia Convention written in 1775. In Patrick Henry’s speech, he uses literary devices, such as diction, tone and syntax, to help the readers understand and relate to the author’s purpose in calling the Virginia Convention to action for one of the most historicalRead MorePatrick Henry s Give Me Liberty1784 Words   |  8 PagesPatrick Henry’s â€Å"Give me Liberty, or Give me Death:† A Rhetorical Analysis On March 23, 1775, in the meeting hall of St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia, a group of important statesmen, merchants, plantation owners, military leaders, and various others met to determine the fate of their beloved colony. The colony of Virginia, under the governorship of Lord Dunmore, was tearing at its seams between monarchists, who remained loyal to the British Crown, and patriots in support of independence. Read MoreCritical Review On Give Me Liberty 1642 Words   |  7 Pages Critical Review of From Slavery to Freedom, Chapter 5: â€Å"Give Me Liberty† By: Brittanie Bartz Date: 9/28/15 Instructor: Dr. John Davis Franklin, John Hope (2010-01-20). From Slavery to Freedom (Page 85). McGraw-Hill Higher Education -A. Kindle Edition. The conquest of the American Revolution has a rather dynamic history of struggle between two nations, one nation wanting economic power, and the other nation wanting economic independence. This rebellion caused anRead MoreEssay about Rationalism in America: The Age That Shaped the World1891 Words   |  8 Pagescharacteristics and point-of-views . One worldview specifically—the Age of Reason—along with its many key concepts and characteristics—the most important being their independence, their self-reliance, and their belief in Rationalism—had an important and lasting impact on modern America. First of all, the colonists valued their independence immensely and it was a key factor in all of their decisions. An example of this is The Declaration of Independence, in which Thomas Jefferson declares in his closing paragraph: Read MoreRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 Pagesappreciated. Most important, however, was the Rastafarian insistence that Africa was the promised land and that Jamaicans should look to Africa for their model of value rather than to Europe, which was seen as foolish and a painful reminder of slavery and oppression. Rasta was an offense to those who wanted to deny the African part of their heritage. And the truth is also that in Jamaica at that time the privileging of lighter-skinned people was standard practice. Rastas were confronting so many

Analysis Of Brunelleschi s The Tower - 1103 Words

Brunelleschi s Dome Persistence is key when it comes to building any kind of structure that is meant to a great one. In everything you do in life you must be persistent to accomplish it the right way and to their fullest capability.In 1418 the town leaders in Florence announced a huge problem they have been putting off for years. That problem was that there was an enormous hole in the top of their church. As time went on the winter rains and summer sun had washed over Santa Maria del Fiore’s high altar. Their building of the church begun in 1296 to show the status of Florence as It was later decided that the structure’s glory would be the largest dome on Earth, ensuring the church would be â€Å"more useful and beautiful, more powerful and honorable† than any other building ever built Florentine fathers in 1418 put out a contest for a dome design and a reward of 200 gold florins. Architects flocked to Florence and put out their ideas for the fathers to judge. Filippo Brunelleschi proposed you build two domes, one inside of the other. But he refused to explain how he’d achieve this design, in fear that his ideas would be taken. Brunelleschi’s stubbornness led to a huge shouting match with the directors of the meeting. He was called â€Å"a buffoon and a babbler.† And had to be thrown out. Brunelleschi’s mysterious design touched their imagination. As a boy, during his goldsmith’s apprenticeship, he mastered drawing and painting, wood carving, sculpture in silver and bronze,Show MoreRelated`The Italian Retreat from Modern Architecture: Gio Ponti, Neoliberty and others3151 Words   |  13 Pagestype of plan Built same time but different era’s Gio Ponti, Ville Bouilhet, Garches, 1925-26, view Gio Ponti, House in Via Domenichino, Milan, 1928-30 Gio Ponti, House in Via Domenichino, Lantern on the rooftop Filippo Brunelleschi, Lantern on top of dome, S. Maria del Fiore, Florence Gio Ponti, Graphic and Textile design work Gio Ponti, Graphic and Textile design work Gio Ponti , Aria dItalia magazine, cover page Gio Ponti , Aria dItalia magazine, cover page Gio Ponti, ‘Domus

The Causes of Teen Pregnancy, Violence, and Drug Abuse Essay

The Causes of Teen Pregnancy, Violence, and Drug Abuse The headlines proclaimed the controversial news: race, poverty, and single-parents were NOT the irrevocable harbingers of drug abuse, teen pregnancy, and violence. Instead, researchers were claiming that behaviors that parents and teens could influence -- such as problems at school and the amount of time spent hanging out with friends and the type of friends they chose -- could predict trouble. Some cynics speculated that this was a right-wing conspiracy to justify abolishing federal programs for the poor. Some assumed that the media, always keen for a dog bites man story, had oversimplified research results to get a newsworthy sound bite. On the other hand, some†¦show more content†¦For example: Smoking: teens that live in a single-parent home are more likely to smoke, regardless of age (middle school or high school), income, or race/ethnicity. Whites are more likely to smoke than Blacks or Hispanics, regardless of income, family structure, or age, although the differences were greater among the older teens. Teens from higher income homes were somewhat less likely to smoke, but among the high school students, neither income nor gender was related to smoking. Alcohol: Students living in single-parent homes were more likely to drink, regardless of age, income, or race/ethnicity. Among high school students, those from more affluent families tended to drink more, regardless of family structure or race/ethnicity. Weapon-related violence: Teens from more affluent homes were less involved with weapon-related violence regardless of family structure or race/ethnicity. Teens who lived with one parent and who were Black or Hispanic were more likely to be involved with weapons regardless of income. Girls were less likely to be involved in violence than boys, in middle school or high school. Suicide Risk: More affluent students, Black students, and those in two-parent homes were slightly less likely to consider or attempt suicide. Girls were more likely to have suicidal thoughts or attempts, in middle school and in high school. Sex: Teens from lower income families were more likely to report having sexual intercourse,Show MoreRelatedEssay on Factors that Lead to Teen Pregnancy1363 Words   |  6 PagesFactors that Lead to Teen Pregnancy Although the overall rate of teen pregnancy has been declining, the rates have remained high for teens that are most vulnerable. The great majority of Americans believe that teen pregnancies are a serious national problem, indeed a problem that is the major component of what is thought to be national moral decline. However, what causes these teens to become pregnant at such a young age? A large body of research has identified a number of factoresRead MoreHigh School Dating : A Not So Cinderella Story1077 Words   |  5 Pagesdistraction of relationship drama causes teenagers to focus less on things like school. This in turn will cause their grades to suffer. Lower grades mean a smaller chance of getting accepted into colleges, or receiving scholarships. Another problem is the emotional impacts of an ugly breakup. Impacts are long lasting at any age, but especially so in high school. This is because students are still developing. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that affected teens have a higher risk for eatingRead MoreTeen Pregnancy : A Social Issue1371 Words   |  6 PagesTeen pregnancy is a very controversial social issue and the vast majority of Americans consider the outrageous rate of teen pregnancies a severe issue, certainly a problematic occurrence that is believed to be a moral decline in our country. Teenagers are physiological ly capable of reproducing but not emotionally or financially prepared to be parents at such a tender age. Through various research studies a plethora of determinants has pin pointed teens unprecedented pregnancies. One cause of thisRead MoreDrug Abuse Essay1546 Words   |  7 PagesThesis: Drug abuse, also known as substance abuse, is a patterned use of a drug in which the user consumes the substance in amounts or with methods which are harmful to themselves or others. Many teens turn to marijuana, prescription drugs, club drugs, alcohol, or other substances as a means of coping with stress, peer influence, and failure of parents to prevent their children from making unreasonable decisions. According to the yearly â€Å"Monitoring the Future† survey of high school age teenagersRead MoreCauses Of Teen Pregnancy1232 Words   |  5 Pagescitizens. There is crime and violence everywhere, although it may not always be reported. The United States is no exception to this. They are number one for many issues. Among these is the U.S. has the highest teen pregnancy rates. The causes of teen pregnancy in the United States today include substance abuse; broken homes; changes in society; and poor sexual education. For the most part, substance abuse is a leading cause of teen pregnancy. Those who abuse substances like drugs and alcohol do not haveRead MoreThe Negative Effects of Teenage Dating1512 Words   |  7 Pagessustaining a relationship over a period of time. Therefore, frequent break ups and arguments lead to attempts of suicide, teenage pregnancy, STD’s, teen violence, and substance abuse. This happens due to lack of experience and a broader understanding of what relationships are (Dasgupta, 2011). The problems of teen dating involving violence, sex, drug and alcohol abuse, and suicide are primarily caused by stressful life events, peer influence, and failure of parents to take their children away fromRead MoreA Review of Three Articles on Domestic Violence Essay examples885 Words   |  4 PagesOne of the most overlooked forms of violence in today’s society is domestic violence. Domestic violence is most likely to occur behind closed doors, which is one of the main reasons why domestic violence is not given that much attention. In most cases domestic violence is the silent, ugly side of dating and people do not like to talk about it. Due to the fact that domestic violence is becoming more common over the years warrants more and more research to help with the ongoing problem. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;WhyRead MoreTeen Pregnancy947 Words   |  4 PagesFACT SHEET WORLD POPULATION DAY 11 JULY 2008 Young People and Family Planning: Teenage Pregnancy DEFINITION Teenage pregnancy is defined as a teenage girl, usually within the ages of 13-19, becoming pregnant. The term in everyday speech usually refers to girls who have not reached legal adulthood, which varies across the world, who become pregnant. THE CURRENT SITUATION †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Half of the world’s population are under 25. Some 1.8 billion are aged 10-25, history’s largest generationRead MoreThe Epidemic of Teenagers Using Drugs1687 Words   |  7 PagesEpidemic of Teenagers Abusing Drugs Krystyn Romualdo COM/156 November 18, 2012 Jackie Hudspeth Jr The Epidemic of Teenagers Abusing Drugs To have known so many people that have struggled with drug addiction in their teenage years it has become very apparent what a vital time in one’s life it is to know the dangers of abusing drugs as a teenager. Even though not all teens abuse drugs, it is an epidemic in the United States because more teens are turning to drugs to escape or use out of boredomRead MoreTeenage Pregnancy And Teen Pregnancy1341 Words   |  6 PagesTeenage pregnancy is a prominent dilemma in our nation because it continues to place adolescents into delinquency. According to the United States Health and Human Services, three out of ten American teen girls will become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of twenty. That is nearly 750,000 teen pregnancies in a year (1) (HHS Pg.2 2014). Also according to U.S. Department of State, teen pregnancy budgets the United States and tax payers approximately seven billion dollars annually (2)

Do you agree with the statement that America has no culture Free Essays

Nowadays the world is a really small place compared to what it used to be before. Twenty first century brought many changes for our society and it had been marked by the rise of a global economy, the rise of the consumerism, mistrust in government, deepening concern of over terrorism and an increase in the power of private enterprise. With the fall of the Soviet Union the USA became the sole superpower, and although it is suffering from many domestic and foreign problems, it still has a huge influence on the world‘s matters . We will write a custom essay sample on Do you agree with the statement that America has no culture? or any similar topic only for you Order Now The same thing is with the culture. The term Americanisation has been used since 1907 for the American impact on other countries. I will write about negative and positive aspects of America’s culture and how it affects our world and how it was formed. One of the main things which form society is a culture. If we are talking about the USA, it is primarily Western, but influenced by the Native American, African, Asian, Polynesian and Latin American cultures too. Despite certain consistent ideological principles (e.g. individualism, egalitarianism, and faith in freedom and democracy), American culture has a variety of expressions due to its geographical scale and demographic diversity. The United States has often been thought of as a melting pot, but now it trends towards cultural diversity, pluralism and the image of a salad bowl. Many American cultural elements, especially from popular culture, have spread across the globe through modern mass media .For example, Hollywood dominates most of the world’s media markets. It is the chief medium by which people across the globe see American fashions, customs, scenery and way of life. The same is with music industry. Many U.S.-based artists, such as Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson are recognized worldwide and have sold over 500 million albums each. Moreover, America‘s corporate business is selling the ideas of freedom, choice, competition for all the world. Cocacola is the most recognised brand in the world and it is a symbol of Americanization and it‘s culture. Furthermore, fast food companies are also often viewed as being a symbol of U.S. marketing dominance. Companies such as Starbucks, McDonald‘s, Burger King and KFC have numerous outlets around the world. Finally, the USA had a lot of really influential poets, such as M.Twain or E.Hemingway whose works continue to be popular to this day. However, all  these things poses quite a few problems if we really want to understand if such thing as „American cultureâ€Å" exists. First of all, the global presence of America‘s influence in business, politics and economy. Multinational food corporations are „killingâ€Å" small business by having less expenses and hiring workers for a lower salary. Speaking about politics, the USA in the last 20 years has participated in more wars or conflicts more than any other nation. Secondly ,the globalisation, which America brings to our homes ,imposes some laws or certain ideas on citizens which might be harmful in the long term for nation‘s economy or it’s standings of values, and customs, which can not be changed if we want to have society with moral standarts. Finally, most of the media and production created by the USA has a really low art value or lack a deeper meaning, because the reason they are created is profit. And if you want to have a profit, you have to sell your merchandise, you don’t need anything really mind provoking. To sum up, I believe that American culture exists ,and there are many great things which were made or created in the USA, such as music or modern technology ,which we use everyday, but we shouldn‘t forget that this country also invented things like weapons of mass destruction and started many wars, because the USA is „the world‘s policeâ€Å" and they have to make sure there is peace in the world. How to cite Do you agree with the statement that America has no culture?, Papers

H and M Enterprise Agreement System †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the H and M Enterprise Agreement. Answer: Introduction The current labour landscape in Australia is characterised by high wages that are n many cases not sustainable by the businesses which are supposed to support them. The labour market has for long been moderated by bargained agreements, which were put to the test by the BOOT, which ensured that they were better for the workers they were to apply to. In recent years, the focus on the BOOT has not always led to the positive results that it was meant to have. Besides increased attention to the compliance of awards as agreed, the sector is also rapidly changing. Additionally, enterprise bargaining has ground to a halt as uncertainty mounts over the issue of penalties. The effects of this situation are not localised on the hospitality and retail markets, or on a particular sector of the economy. Rather, the effects have been felt far beyond, as unemployment rates soar. In particular, the rates have affected youth who are just graduating from college, with up to 18% of them going for more than a year without fulltime employment. Many others are underutilised. One of the solutions to the problem, according to Watson (2017), is the cutting of salaries to a level that will enable the long term unemployed to secure gainful employment, without having to jeopardise the survival of the employers. At the same time, there is a need to ensure that the BOOT does not act as an impediment to the labour market, but rather, acts as a catalyst for improved labour relations and better employment prospects, especially for the youth. This report aims to provide a framework that the Fair Work Commission can use to institute changes to the BOOT. The president as the commissions former vice president implies, may be in need of a way that would make the labour market more adaptive to changes in the economy, and in particular to the rate of unemployment. The report will cover the BOOTs advantages and disadvantages, current issues, as well as other issues. At the same time, the report will look at the challenges which currently face it, with the objective of ensuring that the test is better suited to work in the current situation. The BOOT What and why The Better off overall test is an aspect of the Fair Work Act that was passed in 2009 to better safeguard the compensation rights of employees. Under the Act, the agreement must convince the FWA that the agreement will lead modern and prospective award covered employees better off if it applied, as compared to the relevant modern award applicable. In case this is not the case, the agreement must leave the class to which the employee belongs in a better condition than it would have been under the said relevant award. The FWA makes the test without any consideration to individual agreements agreed to between the employer and the employees. The precursor to the BOOT was the no disadvantage, which also provided that employees should not be left disadvantaged under the agreement. However, it did not give as strong safeguards to this as the BOOT does (McPhail, Jerrard Southcombe, 2015). The FWA may still approve deals that do not meet the BOOT criteria. However, this will only succeed if the deal does not run contrary to any other provision under the FWA. At the same time, the deal may be approved if it does not cause any financial injury to the employee covered (McPhail, Jerrard Southcombe, 2015) The BOOT was a mechanism adopted to better protect workers. The Australian legal system has historically been aimed at ensuring that the more vulnerable in society were taken care of. This involved initiative such as the no disadvantage and among the most recent, the BOOT. The BOOT guarantees the protection of workers in the enterprise bargaining setup, especially by ensuring that there are comprehensive equal pay provisions, and ensuring that all employees are able to enjoy at least the minimum pay standards. Employees who are most likely to be protected by the BOOT are low income earners who have minimal or no bargaining power with their employers. This means that the retail and hospitality industries workers are among the highest beneficiaries (Naughton Pitard, 2013) According to the Fair Work Act, the FW authority has the mandate to determine what constitutes modern award, which will then be considered for the test benchmarking. The modern award may indeed become confusing if there is more than one. In such instances, the authority will allow for flexibility, such that employers and employees can choose what best covers them. The agreement in question must be well understood by the affected employees, who must also be willing to adopt it. This is usually done by way of a vote, where the agreement is backed by the majority (McPhail, Jerrard Southcombe, 2015). Application of BOOT HM, one of the largest clothing designers in the country had come up with a national enterprise agreement which would allow lower weekend and public holiday rates for employees, in return for higher weekday rates. In addition, the agreement committed to a number of undertakings which would enable workers who were adversely affected by the deal to gain respite, and not be disadvantaged by the agreement. The agreement was however rejected. The FWC felt that the agreement left casual workers in many instances in worse off situation than they would be under the existing agreement that was signed in 2010 (Desir, 2017). The FWC came up with several reasons for rejecting the deal on the basis of the test. The company had not provided enough undertakings to show that casual employees especially those who consistently worked on Sundays for an extended amount of time would not be worse off under the new agreement. While HM had agreed to pay casual employees $0.65 per hour, it limited their hours of work to 65%. This meant that their earnings would be more limited than would have been the case under the existing agreement, which did not have such provisions. Additionally, the store had tried to reduce employees salaries by up to $5,000, in order to accommodate budget costs and expansion drives (Marin-Guzman, 2017). The retail giant, Coles, had reached an agreement with workers unions, which had aimed at increasing the hourly rate for employees during weekdays, but cut them during the weekends. The deal also provided for some added benefits, such as blood donor and emergency services leave. It also provided for an extra five minutes meal break for employees who worked for more than 4 hours shifts (Hanan, Coles Workers may Lose Pay Rise after Fair Work Veto, 2016). The agreement has been found by the Fair Work Commission to be deficient in terms of the criteria set by the BOOT test. The agreement had come up with higher rates for weekdays. However, it cut rates for weekended and nights. This meant that employees who were working at night and weekends consistently were likely to be disadvantaged, than would have been the case before (Clarke, Taylor Oakes, 2016). While the company and union suggested this only affected a small number of people, the BOOT requires all employees to be left better off with the deal, which was clearly not the case. Additionally, the decision to give the other benefits as some sort of compensation was found to be insufficient, since the said benefits were overvalued. The companys decision is said to likely impact other retail chains in the country adversely, as retail chains try to expand while making their wage bill more sustainable for this (Hanan, Fair Work Ruling Could hurt Coles Staff, 2016). Strengths and weaknesses of the BOOT Test The Better off Overall test has been instrumental in safeguarding the interests of employees. It has gone further than the no disadvantage agreement, in ensuring that an enterprise bargain has to ensure that all employees are better off that they are under the relevant award. The BOOT also makes it possible for companies and workers to agree on non monetary awards which ultimately leave the employees in a position better off than the current arrangement would be able to (FWC, 2017). On the other hand, the test has complicated the enterprise bargain system, making it increasingly difficult for organizations to reach agreements with their employees on sustainable agreements. For instance, the agreement between HM and the workers union had been backed even by the employees and for a while, by the FWC. However, the need to ensure everyone was better off as a result of the agreement meant that it could not apply. As Watson (2017) notes in his article, it is increasingly necessary to consider wage cuts, with the understanding that it is not unethical, and that it could ultimately mean more jobs. The BOOT system however prevents this. Improving the BOOT The BOOT can be improved by redefining the process. The best approach would be to consider that the best deal may not always involve improving the monetary improvement of the offer, as well as corresponding benefits that may constitute better overall. Rather, the approach may consider the wider industry needs, which include economic sustainability, job creation and equity. As the number of young unemployed graduates rises, the retail and hospitality industries, which traditionally have helped absorb them before they chart more definite career paths. They are currently unable to do this, since they cannot afford the associated wages and benefits as prescribed under BOOT, which even anticipates the potential employees in its tests. This should be reviewed and if necessary, scrapped (Watson, 2017). Conclusion As the decisions regarding Coles and HM, as well as the industry analysis by Watson show, the labour market is in a crisis. This crisis is however not a result of under or oversupply of labour or skills. Instead, it is the result of unsustainable wage regulations which continue to drive up the wage bills for companies. While the BOOT background is positive, since it ensures that the lowest paid are catered for, it has simultaneously made it harder for other workers to access the job market. Analysis of the industry suggests that since the test was implemented in 2010, the rate of unemployment has drastically gone up among the youth, a factor that threatens to harm the community, rather than help it. The implementation of the BOOT regulation has been improved the fortunes of existing workers, but has dimmed the hopes of prospective ones, who have to look further and longer to secure jobs. Recommendations The president should consider some improvements to make the system more receptive to the current atmosphere. The measures should consider the special status of the retail and hospitality industries as first job industries. In light of the soaring unemployment and the attendant social issues, the president should consider changes to the test that will leave not just employees, but also the whole community better off. This will include incentives that enable businesses to hire new employees, by scrapping the provision which also covers potential employees. The will of employees affected in deals should be considered too. The BOOT in the case of Coles did not consider the will of the employees, expressed though the union. References Watson, G, 2017, The entire Fair Work Act awards system is failing the 'better off overall' test, available at URL: https://www.afr.com/opinion/the-entire-fair-work-act-awards-system-is-failing-the-better-off-overall-test-20170327-gv7580 [Accessed 9 May 2017]. Angwin, M 2017, EBAs are now just a blockage to productivity, Australian Financial Review, 14 February, p. 39. Desir, B 2017, HM enterprise agreement fails BOOT, National Retail Association, 29 January. Available at URL: https://www.nra.net.au/hm-enterprise-agreement-fails-boot/ [Accessed 2 March 2017]. Hannan, E 2016, Fair Work ruling could hurt Coles staff, Australian Financial Review, 1 June, p. 3. Hannan, E 2016, Coles workers may lose pay rise after Fair Work veto, Australian Financial Review, 10 June, p. 7. Naughton, R., Pittard, M. 2013. The Voices of the Low Paid and Workers Reliant On Minimum Employment Standards. Adelaide Law Review, 34(1), 120 139. Marin-Guzman, D 2017, Fair Work takes swipe at H M over failing to disclose pay cuts, Australian Financial Review, 18 January, p. 3. McPhail, R, Jerrard, MSouthcombe, A 2015, Employment relations: an integrated approach, Cengage Learning Australia, South Melbourne. Clark, S, Taylor, J Oakes, D 2016, Coles could be forced to renegotiate pay deal with thousands of workers after Fair Work ruling, ABC News, 31 May. Available at URL: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-31/part-time-coles-worker-wins-fair-case-against-supermarket-giant/7463132 [Accessed 28 February 2017].