Mirror, Mirror on the Wall free essay sample

Mirror , Mirror on the WallWhen you wake up from a nights sleep first thing most people do is go to the bathroom. A lot of people miss a key an element in that process which is looking in the mirror. Some people look in the mirror before they do anything else. But what do you really see when you look in the mirror? Some see the makeup they didnt wash off from the night before. Others see acne that they struggle with daily. And its a group of people that see a stranger in the reflection of the mirror. That stranger is the body that is reflecting but the true person is in the inside that they hold true to their hearts. Gender identity is something that has been a difficult journey for at least 1 million people in the United States according to the CDC ( https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/gender/transgender/index.html) . It must be a struggle to feel like you are going against everything that you were taught, and every society has deemed correct. But for some people in this country thats how they live their life every day. I would like to highlight what science deems as true, what society compounds and call true with science backing them up, and shine the light on a special case that contradicts the former.Gender identity is a persons concept of him or herself whether male or female, this can be either the same as their biological gender or it could be different (Schwartz, 2008). Most of the people out there are satisfied at being the gender they were born, though some may feel that they should be the opposite sex. This a simple explanation of what the Nature influence comes from. What you are born with and as should be who you are. And in most cases that is true. Someones gender as opposed to their sex is mainly a social construction and their own thoughts and feelings about their gender have a great impact on the development of their own identity. We as women biologically give birth to children and society gives us the fitting title of mother. This title has an influence on how women are defined in society, including their role in as well (Ohle, 2006). This thought creates the link between the belief that sex is associated with biology and a man or womens gender identity in any society is determined socially and psychologically which includes historically and culturally (Ohle, 2006). In the determination of gender identity, social and cultural perceptions of what is considered masculine and feminine traits along with roles are major players in determining what is right.With that being said, its believed that gender isnt a nature thing it is a nurture thing. Something that is learned from the environment and culture that you are exposed to (Ohle,2006). After the baby is born and doctors say whether its a girl or a boy, parents begin to raise the baby as such based on the gender or sex of the child. Which is also known as core gender identity (Dreger, 2009). Research has been collected and its been found that core gender identity takes place by age two or three, in some cases the child may be as old as five before the core gender identity is complete. But it is also believed that the parents have the power over this the gender role decision. A parents influence make up the largest contributing factor in determining environmental influences (Dreger, 2009). The same research has proven that behavioral changes happen when parents of either sex interact with different genders (Dreger, 2009). Some examples of this are that girls are cuddled more often, and boys are encouraged to play more assertively. Sooner or later the concept of his or her gender develops (Ghosh, 2009). Parents can often become overly worried about certain behaviors, but this tends to only confuse the child even more. Which is quite common and sad because the societal push of what a girl or boy should do or how they should act is not always the right example. Its ok for boys to cry and its ok for girls to play football if that is what they want to do and its not impeding on their development as a person.Now lets get back to the science aspect and start from the beginning. Every fetus begins life as a female because of the X chromosome coming from the mother; this is the only chromosome active for the first few weeks of gestation. At the eighth week the fetus takes a chromosome from the father who can be either an X or a Y (Wickens, 2005). If the fetus takes an X chromosome it will stay a female, but if it takes a Y chromosome it begins making testosterone and other male hormones and will begin to develop as a male. These different hormones work in the brain to create the male sex organs and genitalia (Wickens, 2005). What I just described is something we learn a little about in high school biology and in more depth in an embryology or other higher-level college course. It sounds cut and dry so why cant it be just that simple. This is how the saying, Men determine what the childs sex will be got established. Because of the second chromosome coming from them. But there are some situations during gestation a fetuss brain produces male hormones but the fetus still becomes a female. Other times the fetus does not produce enough testosterone for the fetus to become completely male. This is known as hermaphroditism (Ghosh, 2009). Society today calls this intersex. And these cases are few and far in between now but because it has happened and still can happen some parents now are going towards not labeling their child until they reach puberty and then allows them to determine who they want to be regardless of how they were born according to science.The special case I was referring to in the beginning is one about a lady that grew up in the deep south in the late 60s early 70s. She was born and raised up to be a healthy young woman. Everything that society said she should have to be the regular little girl was given. Baby dolls, dresses, lace socks (very southern tradition), and tea parties. Around 10 years old she felt like something wasnt right. She understood that she was a girl, but she didnt think it matched with her spirit. After a while she didnt act the rest of the girls including her sisters which became a problem in some cases. She wanted to hang with the boys more and venture off in what they were interested in. Her family around her just labeled it as her being a tomboy but she knew it was much more.She never had a boyfriend and wasnt interested in one. And once she got in high school her mother had to basically threaten her to put on anything feminine. By the time she reached her senior year she finally accepted the fact that not only was she attracted to females but that she didnt identify with females. She truly felt like she was a man trapped in a womans body. She was afraid to tell her family because of what the backlash could be and didnt want to risk the aftermath. So, after she graduated she left home for a summer trip and never came back. Through out her life she has evolved into the person she is today and from choice in clothes to a voluntary hysterectomy which is an extreme step she does it try to find piece in herself. The person I speak of is my mother. She has always maintained that the only reason that I am on this earth is because she was raped, and no one believed she was pregnant because of the fact everyone knowing that she didnt like guys in that way. So once everyone found out the truth of her pregnancy it was to late for her to have an abortion. At that time, she was very sad and mad because she didnt want any kids which is why Im the only child. But nonetheless she cherishes me like Im not human.As I listened to her story when I got older and was able to comprehend it was to clear to me that the sex you are at birth can possibly be different than your gender. Even though society has combined to two there is evidence that can very well contradict the status quo. Gender identity shouldnt have to be synonymous to the sex youre born with. And that doesnt make either wrong or less than the other. Once youre born it takes both nature and nurture to mold you into who end up being. So, if when you look in the mirror and see something different than what science says is ok nothing is wrong with that. And a perfect example of that is the younger children in my family who has only seen my mother as a male call her Uncle Jack instead of Auntie Jackie and she answers like its second nature. The mirror on the wall can be tricky but it will tell you what you see and what other people see. Sometimes it may be the same answer and other times it may be different.ReferencesSelf Identity, Vol. 7 Issue 1, p34-53, 20p, 1 Chart; DOI: 10. 1080/15298860600980185 Dreger, A. (2009).Gender Identity Disorder in Childhood: Inconclusive Advice to Parents. The Hastings Center Report, 39(1). 26-9. From: ProQuest database. Ghosh, S. MD (2009).Sexuality, Gender Identity. From: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/917990-overview Ohle, A. (2006).The Effects of Culture on Gender Identity. From: http://ematusov.soe.udel.edufinal.paper.pub/_pwfsfp/000000a8.htm Schwartz, N. (2008)Sexual differentiation of the human brain in relation to gender identity and sexual orientation. Functional Neurology, 24(1), 17-28. From: ProQuest database. Wickens, A. P. (2005).Jackqueline Eppss recalls her childhood and early adulthood with a short account of present day- 1969-1990, 2001- present

An Argumentative Essay About Abortion Sample

An Argumentative Essay About Abortion SampleThe topic of an argumentative essay about abortion is not a new one. In fact, this debate has been going on for over thirty years now, so it should not be a surprise that there are still arguments to be made. In addition, abortion and its legalization are still quite controversial, and people are still debating just what is right and wrong.Arguments about abortion tend to center around moral and ethical issues regarding the decision to terminate a pregnancy. What are the consequences of terminating a pregnancy in the future, and are these consequences worth it?In a sense, the question of abortion is all about when you have to make the decision and whether or not you should. A debate as to what constitutes an abortion has been going on for decades. Many people believe that the term 'abortion' refers to the destruction of a fetus. Others believe that abortion simply refers to the removal of a viable fetus, and not the entire process.In this i nstance, the debate can get very confusing, and people are trying to figure out what is legal and what is not. In some states, the process is called 'dismemberment', in others it is called 'partial-birth abortion'. There are others who believe that these terms are also debatable, so they try to take each individual case into consideration.Arguments about abortion have made their way onto college campuses. There have been numerous controversial events where people have debated the merits of abortion, and students have been watching and trying to determine the truth behind it. In addition, there have been many arguments as to whether or not abortion is moral, which has made the topic even more volatile.This topic has become more complex because it deals with a person's future, their body, and their ability to control their own body. The potential for a woman to feel guilt over their decision to terminate a pregnancy is high. Abortion is illegal in many places, and parents must face th e difficult task of whether or not their child is worth the pain and suffering. Not all women regret having an abortion, but some do.Arguments about abortion are really personal. They focus on what is right and wrong, and whether or not a particular decision is easy to make or hard to make. Sometimes, some argue that an abortion is okay, and other times an abortion is immoral. It is up to the reader to decide.This is just one of many simple topics that college students can discuss with their friends and classmates. This is where they can get educated and educate others. College is a great time to be able to learn from someone else's mistakes.

Expository Essay Sample on Accounting Informational Systems

Expository Essay Sample on Accounting Informational Systems Just several years before, people, whose work consisted in conducting the financial account of organization, were engaged in much more tedious work than now. Now, these workers are helped by machines – computers, the computer programs are specially created for the conducting of such kind of work. Some people can say that before also existed such  «machines », but do you remember how much nerves it cost for you just to reprint this miserable payment because of casual jamming of the keys?! Before, work which was conducting during the whole day by several workers, computer makes immediately, you just need to enter information and all is done. So what does it mean actually It is the golden age for small and middle-size business? It means that for the conducting of business, businessmen dont necessary need to hire a lot of skilled employees, they can simply purchase good computer with specialized, for their type of business software. In this way owners of the business will save money (decreasing amount of money spending on salaries and production) and produce more free time in oder to do something else for earning more money. Now, I would like to turn your attention to an accounting information system and explain what it is. So, accounting information system is database which emits bookkeeper to meet his engagements. Bookkeepers engagements means record keeping in accordance with the legislation. It is principally significant that an accountant will make actions only having on hands an agreement or writing active document about transferring of the money to a supplier or the extract of an account to a buyer. For posting, i.e. reflectioning in an account, on the accounts of record-keeping, for example receiving materials, an accountant can with help of a computer network get information from a storage which is, maybe, hundreds or thousands kilometers away, that materials are acted on a storage. So for accountant, regard to Accounting IS, for him it is not necessary to wait till papers will be brought. Development of computer technologies influenced very much on the whole world not speaking just about separate part accountings information systems. With development of computers, develops software under each type of computers. For example about 5 years before accountants prepared the annual accounting in OS DOS that was an innovation for many and a little bit difficult because far not all people could afford a computer, and work in DOS required from a user certain skills of work in it. Nowadays appeared more powerful computers as a result appeared other operating systems, accordingly other programs. Today, practically everybody is able to use a modern computer, and the use of accounting’s programs became simple and clear for the people who work in this sphere. Creation of machines able to get and pass the enormous volume of information influenced in sharp reduction of time for treatment of information and terms of making a decision, reduction of amount of people working for an enterprise. Before on storages worked a lot of people which wrote down the name, amount, cost of got and given out materials in the paper cards of account. Then they made themselves Financial report after ____________ month ____year. In this gaps were put information about arrival and expense of materials. In conclusion it is obvious to point out that today, each business conducts all this work with help of programs: informational, accounting and etc. Technique development allowed to create such structures of bookkeeping programs which allow to take into account everything to the little things in the mode of the real times. If some years before for treatment of accounting payments people required a month, than now, if you have all required documents, acts, payments it is matter of two days. Only regard to development of techniques opportunities we can take into account and process more large amounts of information. Development of technique results in possibility of creation of more difficult (I mean detailer) informational systems, including book-keeping, complicating (going into a details) the structure of the informative systems of accountant, and simplifying book-keepers life. If you need custom essays, research papers, term papers, thesis, dissertation on Accounting, Technology or other discipline feel free to contact our professional custom writing service.

Attentional Spotlights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Attentional Spotlights - Essay Example In the study conducted by Vargha-Khadem and his associates in 2005, they have concluded that the ability to focus, organize and correlate information is important in the development of the communication and social skills that eventually set our species apart from other primates. These evolutionary developments include molecular neurological activities related to visual attention that has streamlined the brain into the identified activity centers (Mangun, 1995). According to Tong (2004), the "longstanding notion that spatial attention cannot be divided stems from the assumptions of early philosophers, such as Descartes, that consciousness itself is unitary and indivisible" is being challenged by neuroimages chronicling the neural activities that occur in the brain's retinotopic visual areas (p. 524). An important element in these changing perspectives is the technology that is becoming available for researches. There has been progression inclination towards the existence of multiple attention points in recent years. There has been evidence that attention spotlights are active concurrently at various areas of the brain given a common stimuli (Mller et al, 2003). At the same time, there are some researches that also point out that these concurrent activities many not necessarily be attention spotlights but rather are independent and unrelated cognitive neural activity (LaBerge et al, 1997). There is significant divergence in the consensus regarding the function of selective visual attention in attentional spotlight. Opinions mainly diverge on the prevalence, degree and significance of attentional spotlight. However, there is a universal realization that existing technologies and knowledge needs is still not enough to be deterministic. Current studies indicate that selective visual attention affords for flexibility and efficiency to facilitate between high level process and low sensory information. The role of spotlight serves as an accelerator of the highlighted information or stimulus (Spratling and Johnson, 2004). In the process of spotlighting, information is illuminated by the attention spotlight which has then the effect of streamlining perscotion of the said elements. However, when spatial shifting takes place, the spotlight turns off to be able to focus anew. This means that in the process of going thorugh spotlight A to spotlight B, the current consensus is that attentional spotlight does not exist. Concept Appraisal Understanding selective attention in the process of visual perception requires the recognition of the different attention mechanisms that are involved in the identification of a stimulus versus those that are involved after the process of perception (Vecera & Rizzo, 2003). Modern cognitive neuroscience experts in particular are emphasizing the need to further understand the components of selective visual attention to an attentional spotlight considering neuroanatomy and timing (Hopf et al, 2000). This is in view of its significance not only in the process of p[perception but also in the development of language and speech skills that in humans has been identified to depend significantly on the said factors (Vargha-Khadem et al, 2005). According to Chris Chatam (2006), "The spotlight metaphor of attention accords with our subjective experience: as

Locating Resources Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Locating Resources - Assignment Example The site offers readings about the effects of alcohol to health, side-by-side with policies that would create a win-win solution for alcoholic drinks producers and the consumers. Most of the resources regarding alcohol use are published by medical experts. But there are also resources by policy-makers with regards to the use and distribution of alcohol and making feasible interventions in preventing its misuse. The International Center for Alcohol Policies or ICAP is a non-profit organization that is supported by major alcoholic beverage manufacturers such as Heineken, Carlsberg, and Anheuser-Busch, and aims to reunite scientific and medical data with the responsibilities of these vendors in promoting proper use of alcohol by the consumers (International Center for Alcohol Policies, 2012). Upon browsing the ICAP website, reading resources such as the effects of alcohol in the body, interventions for alcohol abuse, journal articles about the effects of alcohol, and other publications related to the use and distribution of alcohol in many locations. There are also tools for policy-makers in creating guidelines and other rulings regarding alcohol distribution a nd consumption that could create win-win solutions for both the alcoholic beverage producers and the consumers. Resources for brewers and manufacturers such as those that align with the World Health Organization’s policies are also present, especially since the brewers are also held accountable with the use of alcohol, apart from the consumers themselves. Lastly, articles that were authored by ICAP experts and published in other respected journals are also available. While the website of ICAP is an indispensable tool for all people interested in alcohol and its effects, its main target audiences are policy makers and manufacturers of alcoholic beverages, since they deal with the business and legal aspect of product distribution. These people must be

To What Extent Did Public Opinion Shape International Politics in the First Half of the Twentieth Century’ Essay Example for Free

To What Extent Did Public Opinion Shape International Politics in the First Half of the Twentieth Century’ Essay The first half of the twentieth century was indeed a time in history in which things such as two of the most deadly wars, the Russian Revolution, the Great Depression, the foundation of the UN and the start of the Cold War took place. But, were these events at any point influenced by the views expressed by citizens?. This essay is going to discuss public opinion during the first half of the twentieth century. To do so, the essay uses a journal article on public opinion written by Hans Speier as a guideline of the essay. In order to understand the impact of public opinion on international affairs, we must firstly define what we mean by public opinion. According to Slavko Splichal, ‘the concept of public, publicness, publicity, public sphere and public opinion are among the most controversial, ambiguous and nontransparent concepts in the social sciences, that have been used consistently since the eighteen century’. ‘Public opinion’ he adds ‘supposedly developed into a â€Å"inner-media† of political system, a mirror â€Å"generated by mass media to regulate the watching of the observers’. Then, ‘who precisely were the decision makers? Monarchs, presidents, foreign ministers, staff chiefs, or a combination of these?’ In the early twentieth century, public opinion did not have much of an impact in foreign politics. Speier says that public opinion ‘in its early phase [†¦] showed a marked preoccupation with domestic affairs, i.e., with issues of immediate concern to the life of citizens’. On the other hand ‘foreign policy issues appeared less relevant, but they were expected to be ultimately relegated from the realm of power to that of discussion and agreement, as governments would become more enlightened’. And Speier emphasised that public opinion would only support going to war if that was something that ‘were in the interest of enlightened mankind’. As Mike Sharp, Ian Westwell and John Westwood say: ‘In most European countries public opinion in the years preceding 1914 had accepted the likelihood, to some extent even the desirability, of war’. Talking about the interest of enlightened mankind, Woodrow Wilson stated: ‘National purposes have fallen more and more into the background; and the common purpose of enlightened mankind has taken their place’. Moreover he added that ‘this is a people’s war, not a statesman’s’. But Speier states that it was just after the First World War, when the ‘faith in the power of public opinion to render world politics reasonable’ was called into question. Speier argues that this was due to a series of events. The first of these was the demise of the League of Nations, which failed to fulfill its purpose, namely to prevent the outbreak of a new world war. Moreover, US President Woodrow Wilson was an advocate of the League of Nations, yet his country refused to join the organisation. Despite Wilson’s description of the Great War as a ‘people’s war, not a statesman’s’ and his intentions to join the League of Nations, the Senate refused to join the organisation. This action showed that public opinion did not have much influence in fact; it appears that statesmen still played a big role in deciding issues of internal relations. Secondly, Speier mention the ‘disillusionment concerning the lofty war aims of the Allies and the general distrust of propaganda which spread between the two world wars’, as a large section of the public thought that the Allies’ aims were overly idealistic and, more importantly, those aims were not fulfilled. The human cost of the World War was enormous. People had lost their families from the trenches and the reports from the soldiers were awful. War wasn’t glamorous and against this perception, idealism could do very little. Thirdly, Speier talks about the rise of fascism and National Socialism as the main events for which people all around the World dismissed any chance that public opinion could had a possibility to change politics or at least to have a say. On the one hand the emergence of Benito Mussolini’s fascist dictatorship in Italy was the beginning of a fascist era around Europe. This was followed by the establishment of the Nazi party in Germany, which led to the outbreak of the Second World War. In these systems everything was under the control of the state. That means, that all media coverage, either, radio, newspapers or books were censored by the government in power, to make sure that nothing against the government could be said. Censorship was the biggest attack against the public opinion. People could not give their own opinion and demonstrations were forbidden. In a form of state like that, the only presumptions that one can make are that public opinion was almost defunct. People could only see what the people in power wanted to show them. Apart from that, we need to bear in mind that the systems in these countries went further than censorship but rather they believed in the power of propaganda defined by Garth S. Jowett Victoria O’Donnell trying ‘to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist’, made public opinion disappeared. Hitler for example said: ‘ â€Å"Propaganda, propaganda, propaganda. All that matters is propaganda† ’ and it worked, the public bought into the idea of a perfect race in Germany. And again in the Soviet Union, millions of kulaks were exterminated under the death silence of the State in 1918. Fourthly, another factor is ‘the absence of inspiring peace aims during the Second World War’. Hitler had in mind two main objectives for the Second World War, which were ‘ first, to established German control in Europe, and the second (which might well come after his lifetime) to wrest control of the seas and world domination from Britain and the USA’. Both aims were quite demoralising. In practice this meant that the war was prolonged more than expected, which caused a delayed in the freedom of the public opinion. Throughout the war, Hitler made the German people think that the war was about to be won; ever-new levies of recruits were needed for the last effort. Fifthly, another factor is ‘the sterility of the resistance movements in the realm of political ideas’. In Germany for example there was no Parliament and therefore parliamentary opposition was not possible. In Europe during the Second World War both sides had different successes, Germany, for example, had not one because of the great power of the GESTAPO. On the other hand, France had some success through the famous sabotage, and this made that some news were filtered in by the media in the West. Finally Speier mentioned, ‘the use of weapons of mass destruction in the attainment of victory’. A clear example of this was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 that left ‘up to 140,000 reported dead by the end of the year’ an event which did not help to show people the end of the war and to convince the Japanese public that they faced annihilation if they continued the war. Those events mentioned above were the cause of ‘demoralization [†¦] in the power of public opinion’ just after the First World War. To sum up, at the beginning if the twentieth century public opinion had a role in International Politics but it was just after the demise of the League of Nations, the disillusionment concerning the lofty war aims of the Allies, the rise of Fascism and National Socialism, the absence of inspiring peace aims during the Second World War, etc. that the World lost its confidence on public opinion as a way to change politics.

Fireworks Essay example -- Chemistry Fireworks Essays

Fireworks How do fireworks produce their brilliant colors and loud bangs? To produce the noise and flashes, an oxidizer (an oxidizing agent) and a fuel (reducing agent) are used. The oxidizer oxidizes the fuel in a very exothermic reaction which produces a brilliant flash and a loud report from the rapidly expanding gases produced. For a color effect, an element with a colored emission spectrum is included. Electrons in atoms can be raised to higher-energy orbitals when the atoms absorb energy. The excited atoms can then release this excess energy by emitting light of specific wavelengths, often in the visible region. In fireworks, the energy to excite the electrons comes from the reaction between the oxidizer and fuel. Fireworks are usually made out of the following items; an oxidizing agent, a fuel (reducing agent), a coloring agent, binders and regulators. These mixed together are what make up the basic fireworks: Oxidizers The first thing in a firework is the oxidizing agent. These produce the Oxygen to burn the mixture. Oxidizers are usually nitrates, chlorates or perchlorates. The common oxidizers are nitrates. These are made up of a metal ion and the nitrate ion. I'll use potassium nitrate as an example. Nitrates only give up 1/3 of their oxygen. The resulting equation would look something like this: 2KNO3 ---> 2KNO2 + O2 The next Oxidizers are chlorates are also made up of a metal ion and then the chlorate ion...