Hofstede Cultural Dimension Essays

Hofstede Cultural Dimension Essays Hofstede Cultural Dimension Paper Hofstede Cultural Dimension Paper Hofstede Geert Hofstede’s five social measurements are individualistic versus cooperation, power separation, personal satisfaction versus amount of life, vulnerability evasion and time direction. Force Distance The term of intensity separation in the Hofstede’s system implies estimation of intensity in a foundation and association being conveyed where the general public ready to acknowledge (Bergman et al. 2006, 141). Both Australia and Sweden has a low force separation in their general public. Low force separation nations will in general work in a decentralization situation and have more prominent force in dynamic (Lere and Portz, 2005). With decentralization, supervisors are increasingly autonomous in the advancement of an organization with authority quality rather than simply position and status (Lere and Portz, 2005). Australia and Sweden association will in general be compliment and group situated structure to have better correspondence among subordinates and their supervisors (Business Culture, n. d). In this manner conclusions and dynamic are urged to voice out and data are simpler to be go around in the organization. In this way in Sweden grid association is basic when there are any ventures coming up (Business Culture, n. d). Vulnerability Avoidance Vulnerability evasion implies an estimation of resilience hazard and conduct where the society’s culture ready to acknowledge (Bergman et al. 2006, 141). Both Australia and Sweden has low vulnerability shirking. Nations with low vulnerability evasion will have less worry on vulnerability and uncertainty and spotlight more on resilience with one another (Lere and Portz, 2005). There will be more hazard taking and less undesirable contentions. In this general public, there will be less standard arranged and would have the option to adjust to changes of condition (Lere and Portz, 2005). Swedish are more ready to face challenge than some other nations (Business culture, n. ). When passing judgment on an individual, their exhibition is the more prominent significance in a working spot (Business culture, n. d). Consequently equivalent measure of people are typically found in high position (Business culture, n. d). While in Australia, they have a more unwind and laid-back culture, wh ere they won't dread the future and stroll towards it rather (Bassett, 2004). This shows Australia like to push ahead as opposed to being stop by a hindrance. Besides, Australians have confidence in their legitimate rights and reports are regularly deciphered truly because of their steadfastness towards British Common Law (Bassett, 2004). Time Orientation In Australia, a culture with a transient direction esteems, for example, keeping up close to home soundness or bliss and living for the current which look in the short run. Australian individuals want to keep clear principles and systems. They like to chip away at each assignment in turn and may feel baffled when other contending undertakings divert that center. (Robert et al. 2004) Furthermore in present moment, the old once is effortlessly commenced and the new once can without much of a stretch come in regardless of in what industry. Where as in Sweden, they are in the medium time direction. (Obviously Cultural n. d. ) For instance, in Australian if two officials consented to meet at 2. 0pm, they truly mean to be there by 2. 30pm sharp or considerably prior. So instantaneousness in close to home propensities is critical to them. Independence Individualism is â€Å"the degree to which individuals in a nation likes to go about as people as opposed to as individual from groups† (Robbins and Decenzo 2004, p. 48). Independence alludes to the â€Å"strength of the ties individuals need to others inside the community† (Mind Tools, 2008). In a high independence nation, there is a free association with individuals and there is additionally an absence of relational association and small sharing of duties, past family and maybe a couple of dear companions. Sweden and Australia scored exceptionally under this classification. â€Å"This independence is strengthened in Australian’s every day lives and should be viewed as when voyaging and working together in their Country. Protection is viewed as the social standard and endeavors at individual charming may meet with rebuff† (ITIM International, 2003). To impart better in an individualistic culture, as an individual you are relied upon to deal with your own and take activities. Business condition will be less dependent on relationship and individual contacts which will isolate business and individual life. Colleagues or subordinates will hope to get an opportunity to take a shot at ventures or unravel issues autonomously. It is normal for individuals in this culture to attempt to stand apart from the rest during gatherings, introductions, or in any event, during bunch work. With respect to Malaysian, they are less individualistic. They work more in gatherings to get the best result with the goal that they can satisfy the crucial they need to accomplish. Amount Vs Quality of Life In Australia, the vast majority of the Australians are really scored high in amount of life contrasted with personal satisfaction. They are portrayed by confidence and realism. For instance, Australians will in general follow one another. This happens in light of the solidness of Australian establishments and the solid economy. For instance, since the start of 2003 there has been a blast in the lodging market, in each spot everybody is discussing houses. Along these lines, this may happen to the vehicle business as well. Australia is viewed as one of the most serious countries on earth (Yes Australia n. d. ) Because of this security, Australians will in general purchase more by following the pattern. Yet, there is a fractional spot in Australia where personal satisfaction is high where individuals are well disposed and accommodating. Suggestion As we are a Swedish base organization attempting to extend our business in Australia, representatives and chiefs from Sweden ought to figure out how to discuss better with Australians. In the force separation measurement, we realize that both Australia and Sweden is rank low. The Swedish supervisors should attempt to present that person self in a casual way. Dynamic ought to likewise include others. Australians and Swedish are more towards independence. Representatives from Sweden ought to figure out how to deal with their own and take more activities. They ought to likewise be readied that business condition are less dependent on relationship and individual contact. Concerning vulnerability shirking, Australian and Swedish scored low. This implies Swedish ought to figure out how to be progressively adaptable or open in the way to deal with new thoughts. Concurred plans ought to be acknowledged rapidly. Swedish representative ought to likewise figure out how to execute their errand all alone with just rules from predominant. Swedish are progressively medium term situated as Australians are more to momentary arranged. Swedish ought to hope to live by similar gauges and rules which we make. Swedish ought to likewise be aware to other people and ought not stop for a second to present vital changes.

About Violent Video Games free essay sample

On November 29, 2013 a 16-year-old kid, Kendall Anderson, beat his mom to death in her lay down with a paw hammer after she removed his PlayStation because of his fixation of Mortal Kombat 3†, According to Wikipedia.org. Vicious computer games causes numerous frightful results, such as prompting forceful conduct in youngsters, terrible impacts to the cerebrum, and gives kids an inappropriate message. Subsequently, Minors younger than 18 ought not approach a brutal video game.One of the most horrifying impact of vicious computer games is that a minor’s blamelessness can totally change into terrible conduct in the wake of playing for an extensive stretch of time. As indicated by a logical report made by Anderson and Bushman in 2001, kids who play progressively savage computer games are bound to have expanded forceful musings, emotions,and conduct alongside diminished prosocial making a difference. In numerous games, minors are remunerated for submitting a demonstration of brutality which is done so frequently that they’re effectively accustomed to it. We will compose a custom paper test on About Violent Video Games or on the other hand any comparative theme explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page Since the minor is in charge of the brutality, such as murdering, wounding, shooting, and kicking virtual characters, they experience the entire bundle with their own eyes. This dynamic support, reiteration, and compensations in vicious computer games are viable devices for learning conduct, anyway it is neither acceptable nor positive. Numerous individuals accept that computer games don't influence ones conduct, that it just relies upon the sort of kid and their home impact however take a gander at this, an investigation of 3,034 optional and elementary school understudies demonstrated that the individuals who play increasingly savage computer games will in general be the ones well on the way to submit demonstrations of animosity, for example, genuinely harming others. For example, the main thing in a similar manner as the youngsters who started shooting at Columbine secondary school, the cinema in Aurora of Cole, and different slaughters, is that they were video gamers who appeared to be showcasing some dull advanced dream. It was as though all that presentation to mechanized brutality gave them the plan to go out of control. In this way, these sorts of revolting games cause such extraordinary viciousness in numerous minor’s conduct and ought to never happen again.

How to Develop Strong Business Acumen

How to Develop Strong Business Acumen Every business needs leaders at all levels who are able to hold the different strings together and make decisions for the benefit of the whole organisation. These people are often referred as having strong business acumen.But what is business acumen about and how can you develop it? © Shutterstock | G7 StockIn this guide, we’ll explore business acumen and the benefits of developing it. We’ll also provide tips on how to start developing strong business acumen to advance your career and enhance your ability to lead.WHAT IS BUSINESS ACUMEN?Before you can begin developing strong business acumen, you must first properly understand what it means. According to the Financial Times, business acumen is the “keenness and speed in understanding and deciding on a business situation”.It is essentially the thought process, which you need for understanding the key factors behind issues related to a particular business action and the ability to comprehend the consequences of particular actions. It’s the ability to pick the right reactions and actions in complex situations, as well as the understanding of how different parts of a business relate to each other.Furthermore, business acumen is related to understanding how businesses operate. A person with strong business acumen would be able to understand and explain things like:How does the business make money? What is a person’s individual contribution and role in this? What are the different elements that make a certain action work or not work?Perhaps most importantly, business acumen isn’t an innate ability. It is something most people learn through formal training in leadership and by enhancing your awareness of what are the key skills required for better management and leadership.To truly comprehend the issues, it’s a good idea to examine the skills that people with business acumen have. A person with good business acumen will:Be able to obtain essential information.Be able to focus on the key objectives.Be able to recognize the options available for solving problems.Be able to select the right approach to overcome those obstacles.Be able to set in motion the plan that gets things done.What this essentially means is that people with business acumen can create larger frameworks and use th em for the benefit of the business. They are able to see the big picture and use the finer details to their advantage in the event of problems. If you like sports, then you could compare a person with business acumen to the quarterback on the field in American football.When you are developing your business acumen, you therefore must focus on improving your analytical capabilities, enhance your logical thinking and remain disciplined in the face of tasks.Check the below introductory clip to business acumen: THE BENEFITS OF STRONG BUSINESS ACUMENThe above might sound interesting, but you might be wondering if business acumen is something you should focus on in your own career. The short answer is ‘yes’, as you can benefit from better business acumen whether you are an entrepreneur, a CEO or a team manager.Strong business acumen will, of course, help you advance your career further. Any major leadership role often requires the ability to see the ‘big picture’ â€" without it, yo u can’t lead the troops to victory. You must be able to relate smaller elements together and hold all the different strings together.It’s also beneficial for entrepreneurs because it boosts your ability to start a business. If you examine the key abilities of a person with business acumen, you are essentially describing the building blocks of developing a good business plan. Additionally, as a start-up entrepreneur won’t have helping hands everywhere at the start of the business, but you must be able to know about product development, marketing, accounting and so on. You need an overall sense of running a business to make it work; in short, you need business acumen.But the benefits aren’t just for improving your career or for people launching their own business. A business will benefit from having a workforce with business acumen. This is due to the following reasons:People with business acumen can be more efficient in their work, as they notice the connections within the wo rkplace and the way different contributions affect the different elements.You’ll also be able to understand the different trade-offs of actions, which can help make better and more logical decisions.Business acumen can help provide a more co-ordinated and logical responses to problems and threats the business might have. Because it teaches quick thinking, you aren’t panicked in the face of difficulties.[slideshare id=37653240doc=businessacumenslideshare2014-07-30-140804145657-phpapp02w=640h=330]DEVELOPING STRONG BUSINESS ACUMEN THROUGH FOUR KEY ELEMENTSWhen it comes to developing strong business acumen, you need to focus on four distinct elements.Better understanding of your thought processImprovement in your business knowledgeDevelopment of your management style and gaining better understanding of different stylesEnhancing your overall management and leadership skillsWe’ll examine these below and provide tips on how you can improve your skills in all four areas.#1 Better unde rstanding of your thought processBetter understanding of your thought processes is key for enhancing business acumen, as it is centered so heavily on the thinking and analyzing. If you are able to understand the frameworks in which businesses operate and the different directions different decisions take, you are better at judging different steps and actions.Improving your understanding of your own decision-making process can boost the understanding of these complex frameworks and how they relate to each other. The more you understand about your personality and ability to make decisions, the better you will become in using your strengths to your advantage.How to improve your thought processes and your understanding of them?First, you need to examine your own personality and thinking patterns. You should do personality tests, such as Myers Briggs and DiSC, and evaluate how you approach problem solving. For example, are you the type of person who likes to take a moment to think up a so lution or do you get head on solving the problem with a trial and error method?Once you are able to comprehend what type of person you are in the face of problems, you can use the strengths to your benefit and ensure the weaknesses don’t ruin your thinking.Furthermore, even in the business environment, you want to start asking more questions to get a broader picture of the business. It doesn’t matter if you are the sales person or the accountant; widening your understanding of the business will help.You essentially want to improve your knowledge on why things are done the way they are. If there’s a problem in your department, how is it dealt with? Don’t take anything you see or the decisions that are made around you for granted. Question, examine and study, and start thinking about your own solutions.Focus your efforts on the three critical dimensions of managerial thought process:The context, scope and details of the specific situation. You need to be able to outline these each time you are faced with a situation and to know which parts are important going forward.The complexity of the situation. You should also be able to see the current and future complexities and their role in causing confusion.The ability to improvise. Things don’t always go according to plan and business acumen means you are able to respond to unanticipated developments without problems.Interested in learning how business acumen is used in strategy?[slideshare id=41624288doc=businessacumenforstrategy-141116141419-conversion-gate02w=640h=330]#2 Improve your business knowledgeFor strong business acumen, a wider understanding of the different aspects in business is crucial. It’s not only about knowing how the specific organization operates, but also knowing more about the industry as a whole and business in general. Without a wider knowledge on these topics, you can’t come up with comprehensive solutions and strategies.In terms of enhancing you the focus should be on a few iss ues:The layers of competing tensions within the different stakeholders in a business. Every business has these tensions, whether it’s between customers and investors or between the different customer groups.The business strategies, which offer competitive advantage not just in terms of creating profits or attracting customers, but also for obtaining talent and better product development.The importance of talent acquisition to a business. A person with strong business acumen will know success is largely based on talent and the ability to adjust as talent requirements change within the industry and business.How to improve your business knowledge?What are the tools and resources you should use in order to stay on top of the above points? You must utilize a few key personal development strategies.First, you need to start reading more. You should delve into numerous business blogs, obtain good books about business and focus on following online discussion on relevant topics on social me dia. When finding the blogs and books, focus on the industry you are operating, the world of business in general and personal development related topics, such as leadership and management.Below is a selection of resources you definitely want to add to your regular reading list:Business InsiderEntrepreneurCleverism (us of course :-))You should also consider enrolling in courses. You can find adult classes on your chosen topics by using keywords like “adult course in [topic] in [your location]” in Google. Furthermore, don’t forget about online courses. The edX website has plenty of free business-focused courses, as well as personal development courses to enhance your knowledge.You naturally can also learn more about the different aspects of a business without external courses. If you are working in an organization, ask your manager for the option to cross-train. The ability to experience different departments and roles will be helpful for future understanding of how the business operates. When you are learning about new things, use the concepts and ideas in real life situations. Think in terms of the organization you are working for and how implementation of the new ideas would work.Thinking about these abstract concepts or strategies through real examples and existing business structures can deepen your understanding of them. If you come across concepts and ideas, you do not quite understand, make notes and conduct research later when you have time. Find the experts in the subject and don’t be afraid to ask questions from your colleagues.For instance, if you don’t understand the concepts in finance, you can check with your organizations finance department for tips on how to explore the topic further.#3 Develop your management style and understanding of different stylesBusiness acumen also requires a good grasp of management processes and styles. These are essentially the tools, ideas and procedures, which provide the structure and framework for the ma nagement and the organization as a whole. The different styles and processes can boost business acumen by guaranteeing a more logical and consistent approach for different issues.The idea is to enhance the understanding of the different approaches you can take in order to solve a business problem. It’s about the ability to understand processes that are behind sound management decisions and using the existing framework as a guide to improving decision-making and the overall business acumen.How to improve your understanding of the management styles and processes?The management processes refer to things like strategic planning, performance measurement systems and the styles of management approaches such as autocratic and permissive.You should start your venture into these topics by reading more on the topics. Great guides for management processes and styles can be found in blogs such as:Leaders In HeelsManagement BlogLeading with PurposeWhen you are examining the different processes try to think about the pros and cons in terms of your current organization. You should also think what type of organizations might be best suited for these types of processes and styles. Eventually you should start understanding which style is the most natural to you. You’ll identify the resources and approaches you like to use as a manager, which will start enhancing your business acumen.You should also consider reading interesting historical takes on management and leadership. Books such as The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli and The Art of War by Sun Tzu are interesting accounts of what strategies a successful leader should use.[slideshare id=8138750doc=managementstyles-110528195146-phpapp02w=640h=330]#4 Enhance your management and leadership skillsFinally, you can develop business acumen by focusing on improving people skills. Business success doesn’t just rely on the understanding of how a business works and what are the connections of different elements within the business, it also relies on the ability to lead the people. Implementation of the right strategies is reliant on the kind of employees you are leading.Appropriate people skills ensure you don’t harm the efficiency of the organization. Bad management has been shown to decrease productivity and increase employee dissatisfaction â€" strong business acumen requires the ability to empathize and understand different behaviors.How to improve your leadership and management skills?The best way to start exploring the topic is through books and blogs. You want to consider reading books like:The Effective Executive by Peter F. DruckerDon’t Bring It to Work by Sylvia LafairThe 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. MaxwellIn terms of blogs, you should definitely follow some of the most successful leaders and their blogs.Michael HyattJohn MaxwellSkip PrichardWayne DyerDan RockwellFurthermore, you should look at the business world, whether it’s your chosen industry or something completely differ ent, and identify the people whose leadership style you like. Follow them on social media, read their blogs and books, and learn what are the most important elements of a good business leader to them.Don’t be afraid to talk to your own managers and ask about their approach. You can learn more by comparing and analyzing different approaches rather than just narrowly focus on a specific leadership skill.Overall, you want to create a mentoring network around you. The network will be crucial for teaching you about different ways of looking at things and it will support you as you venture deeper into leadership and management. The plethora of ideas and strategies around you will strengthen your business acumen, since your awareness will enhance.Remember the mentoring network can be a collection of people with varying backgrounds and statuses in the business world. You should forge strong relationships with co-workers, managers, friends and other prominent business people.IN CONCLUSIONA person with strong business acumen will be able to make sound judgments and create business strategies, which lead to better business success. As the above has shown business acumen isn’t something easily acquired, but it can be taught and strengthened.The key to acquiring strong business acumen is about learning and experience. You want to know as much about the specific organization, but also the business world in general. You need solid people skills to ensure you don’t implement strategies purely on a financial basis, for example, but also consider the impact employees have on future operations.Developing strong business acumen will take time and the learning never stops. It’s therefore crucial to try to ensure you are using the above strategies weekly. Schedule your development and learning sessions and embrace the world of business with an inquisitive mind.

Four Things That Set Americans Apart and Why They Matter

The results are in. We now have sociological data about the values, beliefs, and attitudes that make Americans unique when compared with people from other nations—especially those from other rich nations. The Pew Research Centers 2014 Global Attitudes Survey found that Americans have a stronger belief in the power of the individual. Compared to residents of other nations, Americans are more likely to believe that hard work will lead to success. Americans also tend to be much more optimistic and religious than people in other rich nations. What Makes Americans Unique? Sociological data from the Pew Research Center suggests that Americans differ from residents of other nations in their individualism and their belief in hard work to get ahead. Moreover, compared to other wealthy nations, Americans are also more religious and optimistic. Lets dig into these data, consider why Americans differ so greatly from others, and figure out what it all means from a sociological perspective. A Stronger Belief in the Power of the Individual Pew found, after surveying people in 44 nations around the world, that  Americans believe, far more than others, that we control our own success in life. Others around the world are far more likely to believe that forces outside ones control determine the level of ones success. Pew determined this by asking people whether they agreed or disagreed with the following statement: Success in life is pretty much determined by forces outside our control. While the global median was 38 percent  of respondents disagreeing with the statement, more than half of Americans—57 percent—disagreed with it. This means that most Americans believe that success is determined by ourselves, rather than outside forces. Pew suggests that this finding means that Americans stand out on individualism, which makes sense. This result signals that we believe more in the power of ourselves as individuals to shape our own life than we believe that outside forces shape us. The majority of Americans believe that success is up to us, which means we believe in the promise and possibility of success. This belief is, in essence, the American Dream: a dream rooted in the belief in the power of the individual. However, this common belief runs counter to what we social scientists know to be true: a litany of social and economic forces surround us from birth, and they shape, to a large degree, what happens in our lives, and whether we achieve success in normative terms (i.e. economic success). This does not mean that individuals do not have power, choice, or free will. We do, and within sociology, we refer to this as agency.  But we, as individuals, also exist within a society composed of social relationships with other people, groups, institutions, and communities, and they and their norms exert social force on us. So the paths, options, and outcomes from which we choose, and how we make those choices, are influenced greatly by the social, cultural, economic, and political circumstances that surround us. That Old Pull Yourself up by Your Bootstraps Mantra Connected to this belief in the power of the individual, Americans are also more likely to believe that it is very important to work hard to get ahead in life. Nearly three-quarters of Americans believe this, whereas just 60 percent do in the United Kingdom, and 49 percent do in Germany. The global mean is 50 percent, so residents of other nations also believe this too—just not to the same extent as Americans. A sociological perspective suggests that theres circular logic at work here. Success stories—widely popular in all forms of media—are typically framed as narratives of hard work, determination, struggle, and perseverance. This fuels the belief that one must work hard to get ahead in life, which perhaps fuels hard work, but it certainly does not fuel economic success for the vast majority of the population. This myth also fails to account for the fact that most people do work hard, but do not get ahead, and that even the concept of getting ahead means that others must by necessity fall behind. So the logic can, by design, only work for some, and they are a small minority. The Most Optimistic Among Rich Nations Interestingly, the U.S. is also far more optimistic than other rich nations, with 41 percent saying they were having a particularly good day. No other rich nations even came close. Second to the U.S. was the U.K., where just 27 percent—thats less than a third—felt the same way. It makes sense that people who believe in the power of themselves as individuals to achieve success by hard work and determination would also show this kind of optimism. If you see your days as full of promise for future success, then it follows that you would consider them good days. In the U.S. we  also receive and perpetuate the message, quite consistently, that positive thinking is a necessary component of achieving success. No doubt, theres some truth to that. If you dont believe that something is possible, whether its a personal or professional goal or dream, then how will you ever achieve it? But, as author Barbara Ehrenreich has observed, there are significant downsides to this uniquely American optimism. In her 2009 book  Bright-Sided: How Positive Thinking is Undermining America, Ehrenreich suggests that positive thinking can ultimately harm us personally, and as a society. As one summary of the book explains,  On a personal level, it leads to self-blame and a morbid preoccupation with stamping out negative thoughts. On a national level, it’s brought us an era of irrational optimism resulting in disaster [i.e. the subprime mortgage foreclosure crisis]. Part of the problem with positive thinking, per Ehrenreich, is that when it becomes a mandatory attitude, it disallows for the acknowledgement of fear, and of criticism. Ultimately, Ehrenreich argues, positive thinking, as an ideology, fosters acceptance of an unequal and highly troubled status quo, because we use it to convince ourselves that we as individuals are to blame for what is hard in life, and that we can change our situation if we just have the right attitude about it. This kind of ideological manipulation is what Italian activist and writer Antonio Gramsci referred to as cultural hegemony, achieving rule through the ideological manufacture of consent. When you believe that thinking positively will solve your problems, you are unlikely to challenge the things that may be causing your trouble. Relatedly, late sociologist C. Wright Mills would look on this trend as fundamentally anti-sociological, because the essence of having a sociological imagination, or thinking like a sociologist, is being able to see the connections between personal troubles and public issues. As Ehrenreich sees it, American optimism stands in the way of the kind of critical thinking that is necessary to fight inequalities and to keep society in check.  The alternative to rampant optimism, she suggests, is not pessimism—it is realism. An Unusual Combination of National Wealth and Religiosity The 2014 Global Values Survey reaffirmed another well-established trend: the richer a nation is, in terms of GDP per capita, the less religious is its population. Around the world, the poorest nations have the highest levels of religiosity, and the wealthiest nations, like  Britain, Germany, Canada, and Australia, the lowest. Those four nations  are all clustered around a $40,000 GDP per capita, and approximately 20 percent of the population claims that religion is an important part of their life.  Conversely, the poorest nations, including Pakistan, Senegal, Kenya, and the Philippines, among others, are the most religious, with nearly all members of their populations claiming religion as an important part of their lives.   This is why it is unusual that in the U.S., the nation with the highest GDP per capita among those measured, more than half of the adult population says that religion is an important part of their lives. Thats a 30 percentage point difference over other rich nations, and puts us on par with nations that have a per capita GDP of less than $20,000. This difference between the U.S. and other rich nations seems to be connected to another—that  Americans are also far more likely to say that belief in God is a prerequisite for morality. In other rich nations like Australia and France this figure is far lower (23 and 15 percent respectively), where most people do not conflate theism with morality. These final findings about religion, when combined with the first two, demonstrate the legacy of early American Protestantism. Founding father of sociology, Max Weber, wrote about this in his famous book  The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Weber observed that in early American society, belief in God and religiosity were expressed in large part through dedicating oneself to a secular calling, or profession. Followers of Protestantism at the time were instructed by religious leaders to dedicate themselves to their calling and work hard in their earthly life in order enjoy heavenly glory in the afterlife. Over time, the universal acceptance and practice of the Protestant religion specifically waned in the U.S., but belief in hard work and the power of the individual to forge their own success remained. However, religiosity, or at least the appearance of it, remains strong in the U.S., and is perhaps connected to the three other values highlighted here, as each are form s of faith in their own right. The Trouble with American Values While all of the values described here are considered virtues in the U.S., and, indeed, can foster positive outcomes, there are significant drawbacks to the prominence of them in our society. The belief in the power of the individual, in the importance of hard work, and optimism function more as myths than they do as actual recipes for success, and what these myths obscure is a society cleaved by crippling inequalities along lines of race, class, gender, and sexuality, among other things. They do this obscuring work by encouraging us to see and think as individuals, rather than as members of communities or parts of a greater whole. Doing so prevents us from fully grasping the larger forces and patterns that organize society and shape our lives, which is to say, doing so discourages us from seeing and understanding systemic inequalities. This is how these values maintain an unequal status quo. If we want to live in a just and equal society, we have to challenge the dominance of these values and the prominent roles they play in our lives, and take instead a healthy dose of realistic social critique.

Communication Gap Between School And Home - 899 Words

Next, Mont-Cors explains how most parents of children who come fro Mexico may not have had education opportunities available for them. Which this caused a communication gap between school and home, since it was difficult to help their children adjust to the new school or help with their assignments (2008, Home literacy). Even though my parents had a descent education it was still a big issue for me because they didn’t know English, but they were able to help me in other subjects like science and math. Through out the years the educational system has been a shut door of opportunity for Chicanos, Black, Indians and other ethnic and cultural groups like Reynaldo Flores Macias mentions in his article Developing a Bilingual Culturally- Relevant Educational Programs for Chicanos. First of all, Chicanos are almost at the bottom of the educational ladder. He states, â€Å"They are less likely to finish high school, less likely to attend college and less likely to graduate when they get there.† I believe the educational ladder shouldn’t depend on the race, it should depend on how much the family’s income is. Some students don’t attend or graduate from college because they cant afford it, and even though there are scholarships and government money, for some reason they cant get that money or apply for it. From the novel The Bluest Eyes by Toni Morrison, he describes how Pecola, which is African American believes whiteness is beautiful and her own blackness is in herently ugly. Unlike her,Show MoreRelatedThe Home School Link Between Home And School1436 Words   |  6 PagesTHE HOME SCHOOL CONNECTION In order to improve the education of disadvantaged children, the existing gaps between home and school need to be addressed. There is a great deal of research evidence showing that home/school connections are beneficial to educational goals. Sanders (2008) reports that home/school partnerships contribute to higher student achievement, improved student behavior and attendance, and more positive school climates. DePlanty, et al. (2007) describe the findings of variousRead MoreFamily School Community Partnership ( Fsc Partnership )1543 Words   |  7 Pages Family-School-Community Partnership What is a partnership? According to www.merriam-webster.com, â€Å"partnership is a relationship resembling a partnership and usually involving close cooperation between parties having specified and joint rights and responsibilities† (accessed 9/14/16). 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Cultural Component Free Essays

Valduron Cleare English 119 18th October, 2011 Cultural Component The components of culture are: the attitudes, beliefs, customs, traditions, art, clothing, food, language and achievements of society that are passed on to each generation. With that explanation I’ve realized that culture is in almost every aspect of our lives. I experienced at least four of these components during my recent trips to Arawak key. We will write a custom essay sample on Cultural Component or any similar topic only for you Order Now Firstly, as a tradition for most Bahamian birthday celebrations, the main goal is to eat more than you regularly do, and we did just that. Our party consisted of my Father and mother, my two older brothers and me. After all of the congratulations on seeing another year on this earth were done, we set out to our destination. Usually we just order pizza and call it a day but we wanted to make this day special. Our place of choice was the great Arawak Key, or as I like to call it, food central. As we arrived there was rake n’ scrape music playing and people dancing. It was also obvious that we weren’t the only ones with that idea. Hungry faces as far as the eye can see, but no one was as hungry as me. I searched all around for an empty restaurant to seat me family of five. It felt like it was hopeless because every restaurant we looked in, a full house of hungry faces looked back at us. We finally found a diamond in the rough with a slightly empty restaurant. This restaurant had a cozy feel to it. It had basic light brown paint and Bahamian art strung up on the walls. These paintings were probably purchase from schools which made me wish I did better in art. As we ordered our food another component of culture came to me. The menu was stacked with Bahamian dishes, from the almighty conch snack to the luxurious lobster and shrimp snacks. I ordered two different meals for myself only and when I was finished, I still wasn’t full. Secondly, I went to an event known as Fam Fest. This is a free gospel concert held annually on Arawak key. This brings up another cultural component which is beliefs. The majority of the Bahamas is of the Christian denomination. This was seen excellently with the numbers of people that showed up. Although it could have been due only to the fact that it was free, because something that is free and a Bahamian is never far apart. Getting back to topic, with a gathering of Bahamians there has to be food. The entire right sight of the venue was covered by vendors set upped to sell their dishes. Hundreds of people gathered to praise the lord and satisfy their stomachs, not a bad combination. Arawak key is a Bahamian culture haven. From the food, the music, and the dancing, it all is truly a culture filled place. Also the clothes worn by employees to accentuate their restaurant’s Bahamian qualities are brilliant. Firstly, the food is pure Bahamian influenced. The sound of conch salad being prepared fills the air and the smell of fried foods just flow through your nostrils. Furthermore, the rake n’ scrape music played by live bands or speakers just set the mood and make for the perfect Bahamian experience. Also, the dancing, although mostly done by drunken men and women, still gives a nice feel to the place. In conclusion, it is clear to say that the components of culture, or just culture itself is evident almost everywhere you go. Arawak Key is a perfect place to go if you want a true culture experience. Although some of the components are seen more than others, each of them plays a vital role in the complete culture of the Bahamas. How to cite Cultural Component, Essay examples

Popular Muffins free essay sample

Muffins are Popular Muffins were developed in the United States of America in the 18th century and have been eaten all over the world ever since. Muffins are easy to make; they are made in most bakery and are sold in most supermarkets. Muffins are can have a variety of flavours and toppings. This article will discuss why muffins may be unhealthy and how they can be made healthy. This paragraph will look at how muffins may be unhealthy. The basic ingredients for muffins are flour, butter, eggs, baking powder and sugar. The same ingredients are used to make a basic cake. Muffins are essentially cake in disguise; muffins therefore contain a lot of sugar and fat. The number of calories in muffins ranges from 350-550 with almost half of these calories coming from fat. The flour used in muffins is usually white flour or white refined flour; these types of flour have been stripped of almost all their nutritional value, resulting in it containing nearly no fibre. We will write a custom essay sample on Popular Muffins or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When white flour, white refined flour or sugar (all ingredients in muffins) are consumed, the body rapidly breaks it down into glucose, which rushes into the bloodstream and travels to the cells far too quickly. This is what is known as the â€Å"sugar rush†. In a panic, the pancreas dumps excess insulin into the bloodstream, rushing to the cell receptors to help them convert the overload of sugar, which it partially does, but soon after the blood sugar plummets again. At this point, most people will crave sweets or bread or cereal and of course this spikes the blood sugar (glucose) back up and the pancreas dumps more insulin into the bloodstream and the cycle continues. Sugar in the muffin also temporarily raises the level of certain neurotransmitters including dopamine and serotonin as well as increasing calcium excretion. The butter in muffins also causes problems when referring to the nutritional content of the muffin as it is extremely high in saturated fat. The consumption of too much saturated fat causes high cholesterol and heart problems; fat is the smallest portion on the Eat Well Plate. Hoverer, the ingredients discussed above are just the basic ingredients of a muffin, fillings are also added to the ingredients of a muffin such as chocolate or fruit. The flavour of the muffin also affects the nutritional value of the muffin – putting a handful of chocolate chunks into the muffin mixture will increase: the number of calories; the content of saturated fat and the content of sugar. However, by putting a handful of raisins into the mixture the amount of potassium and fibre in the muffin increases with no extra fat. This paragraph will discuss how muffins can be made healthier. Whole wheat flour can be substituted for 50 percent of the white flour without harming the taste or texture of the muffin. Margarine and low fat soft spreads can be used as a substitute for butter- this can make the muffin healthier by lowering the amount of saturated and trans fat in the muffin. Canola oil can also be used as a substitute for better, especially when trying to keep whole wheat muffins moist – it also has a neutral flavour so doesn’t detract the other flavours in the muffin. Adding fruit, nuts and dried fruit to the muffin mixture means that the amount of sugar added to the mixture can be reduced by up to 25 percent as they contain naturally occurring sugars. They also give the muffin extra fibre and important nutrients. As muffins rely on sodium based leavening agents, such as baking powder, a way to curb the amount of sodium in a muffin is to avoid putting cheese in the muffin mixture ,as it is very high in sodium and use nuts, fruits, cinnamon and vanilla flavouring instead.