Sibling separation Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sibling separation - Annotated Bibliography Example In the article, there are the effects of sibling separation like trauma, extreme sense of loss and anger. The article also clearly states the repercussions of sibling separation like making it difficult for the siblings to heal, development of a healthy self image and making personal; attachments to people. In the article, there are the reasons for the placement like lack of resources and the needs of the siblings, and the factors to consider when carrying out the exercise like determining the level of attachment between the siblings. Lastly, the article looks into the ways in which the sibling can be adjusted during the process. The article expounds on the implications of sibling separations and relationships in child placement practice. The article gives details of how the relationship and bonds developed by the siblings can be monitored and understood. According to the article, the sibling placement process is multidisciplinary area requiring inputs from family therapy, rivalry, adult siblings, incest and siblings from poor families among others. The article also explains the importance of maintaining relationships and bonds during the sibling separation process. The article also gives recommendations on how to make the process of children placement in foster care successful. This book gives the details involved in children adoption process and lists the groups involved in the process. The book also explains on the measures prerequisite to enable the process to be a success. The book also explains the implications of the children separation from their friends and family on basis of various age brackets. The book also explains the various types of adoption and the implications on the sibling of each category of adoption. In the book there is a list of the social policies to be followed to make the process legal and ensure that the process has less negative impacts on the sibling, the siblings new family and the former family. The

Course work Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Course work - Coursework Example Competition has been the main effect of the changing technological environment. The company has had to compete with a number of companies with Apple Inc. offering the greatest competition among the competing companies for the supply of wireless solutions. The increasing competition has been recognized in form of the introduction of new products. Companies have been able to do research and come up with new products that are able to meet the changing needs of consumers hence rendering RIM’s products irrelevant (Christensen and Raynor, 2003, p. 28). Companies have been able to produce differentiated products unlike RIM hence attracting a good number of customers. For instance, Blackberry phones are no longer differentiated resulting in IM to lose its clients to competing service providers. This is evident from the feedback recorded from the high end market for mobile phones. The major effect of the changing technology has been the introduction of differentiated products that have rendered those of RIM unattractive. One of the major characteristics of human wants is that they are always changing. Companies have invested a lot of capital in research and development in efforts aimed at understanding the needs of the market. Technology has played an important role in the efforts by companies to identify market needs (Schneiderman, 2002, p. 123). There are new technologies of doing research that have resulted in organizations collecting accurate information on market needs hence producing products that match the needs. RIM has been unable to embrace new technologies in the design and supply of its wireless solutions for the mobile market hence resulting in the loss of market share. Some of the new products that have been introduced as a result of changing technologies include iPhone and android. Research studies indicate that 74 percent of the companies using mobile email have shifted and adopted new

Foundations Of Organization Structure

Foundations Of Organization Structure (b; Easy; p. 452-453) 4. The degree to which tasks are subdivided into separate jobs is termed: a. departmentalization.b. decentralization. c. work specialization. d. structure.(c; Moderate; p. 452-453) 5. In the late 1940s, most manufacturing jobs in industrialized countries were being done with high: a. departmentalization. b. decentralization. c. work specialization. d. structuralization. (c; Moderate; p. 453) 6. For much of the first half of the 20th century, managers viewed _____ as an unending source of increased productivity. a. departmentalization b. formalization c. work specialization d. automation (c; Moderate; p. 454) 7. Which one of the following components of organizational structure specifically defines where decisions are made? a. complexity/simplicity b. formalization/informalization c. centralization/decentralization d. specialization/enlargement (c; Moderate; Exh 15-1; p. 453) 8. The basis by which jobs are grouped together is termed: a. departmentalization. b. bureaucracy. c. specialization. d. centralization. (a; Easy; Exh. 15-1; p. 453) 9. Grouping jobs on the basis of function, product, geography, process, or customer is a form of: a. departmentalization. b. specialization. c. centralization. d. bureaucracy. (a; Moderate; p. 454) 10. One of the most popular ways to group activities is by: a. product. b. function. c. geography. d. process. (b; Challenging; p. 454) 11. Proctor Gamble departmentalizes by Tide, Pampers, Charmin, and Pringles. This is an example of departmentalization by: a. function. b. process. c. geography. d. product. (d; Easy; p. 455) 12. A plant manager who organizes the plant by separating engineering, accounting, manufacturing, personnel, and purchasing into departments is practicing _____ departmentalization. a. target customer b. product c. functional d. geographic (c; Moderate; p. 454) 13. _____ departmentalization achieves economies of scale by placing people with common skills and orientations into common units. a. Functional b. Process c. Product d. Geographic (a; Moderate; p. 454) 14. At an Alcoa aluminum tubing plant in New York, production is organized into five departments: casting; press; tubing; finishing; and inspecting; packing; and shipping. This is a. functional departmentalization. b. process departmentalization. c. product departmentalization. d. none of the above. (b; Moderate; p. 455) 15. The unbroken line of authority that extends from the top of the organization to the lowest echelon and clarifies who reports to whom is termed: a. chain of command. b. authority. c. span of control. d. unity of command. (a; Moderate; p. 456) 16. The right inherent in a managerial position to give orders and expect orders to be obeyed is termed: a. chain of command. b. authority. c. power. d. unity of command. (b; Moderate; p. 456) 17. The _____ principle helps preserve the concept of an unbroken line of authority. a. span of control b. chain of command c. unity of command d. centralization (c; Moderate; p. 456) 18. The _____ principle states that a person should have one and only one superior to whom he or she is directly responsible. a. span of control b. chain of command c. unity of command d. authority (c; Moderate; p. 456) 19. The _____ refers to the number of subordinates a manager can efficiently and effectively direct. a. span of control b. unity of command c. chain of command d. decentralization principle (a; Moderate; p. 456) 20. Which of the following is a drawback of a narrow span of control? a. It reduces effectiveness. b. It is more efficient. c. It encourages overly tight supervision and discourages employee autonomy. d. It empowers employees. (c; Challenging; p. 457) 21. Which of the following is not a drawback of a narrow span of control? It is expensive. It makes vertical communication in the organization more complex. Supervisors may loose control of their employees. It encourages overly tight supervision. (c; Challenging; p. 457) 22. The trend in recent years has been toward: narrower spans of control. wider spans of control. a span of control of four. an ideal span of control of six to eight. (b; Moderate; p. 457) 23. If you have a narrow span of control, you have a(n) _____ organization. efficient short tall matrix (c; Moderate; p. 457) 24. _____ are consistent with recent efforts by companies to reduce costs, cut overhead, speed up decision making, increase flexibility, get closer to customers, and empower employees. Wider spans of control Narrower spans of control Matrix structures Simple structures (a; Moderate; p. 457) 25. The best definition for centralization is: decision making is pushed down to lower level employees. decision making is concentrated at a single point in the organization. decision making depends on the situation. decision making is done in each department and then sent to the president for the final decision. (b; Moderate; p. 458) 26. In an organization that has high centralization: a. the corporate headquarters is located centrally to branch offices. b. all top level officials are located within the same geographic area. c. top managers make all the decisions and lower level managers merely carry out directions. d. action can be taken more quickly to solve problems. (c; Moderate; p. 457-458) 27. The more that lower-level personnel provide input or are actually given the discretion to make decisions, the more _____ there is. a. centralization b. decentralization c. work specialization d. departmentalization (b; Moderate; p. 458) 28. If a job is highly formalized, it would not include which of the following? a. clearly defined procedures on work processes b. explicit job description c. high employee job discretion d. a large number of organizational rules (c; Moderate; p. 458) 29. Explicit job descriptions, lots of rules, and clearly defined procedures concerning work processes are consistent with: a. high formalization. b. high specialization. c. high centralization. d. bureaucracy. (a; Moderate; p. 458) 30. Employee discretion is inversely related to: a. complexity. b. standardization. c. specialization. d. departmentalization. (b; Challenging; p. 458-459) Common Organizational Designs 31. Which of the following is not a common organizational design? simple structure bureaucracy centralized structure matrix structure (c; Moderate; p. 459) 32. The _____ is characterized by a low degree of departmentalization, wide spans of control, authority centralized in a single person, and little formalization. a. bureaucracy b. matrix organization c. simple structure d. team structure (c; Moderate; p. 460) 33. Which one of the following is consistent with a simple structure? a. high centralization b. high horizontal differentiation c. high employee discretion d. standardization (a; Moderate; p. 460) 34. The ____ is a flat organization. bureaucracy centralized structure matrix structure none of the above (d; Moderate; p. 460) 35. Simple structures are characterized by: a. shared authority. b. a narrow span of control. c. standardization. d. a low degree of departmentalization. (d; Moderate; p. 460) 36. This is most widely practiced in small businesses. simple structure standardization centralized structure span of control (a; Easy; p. 460) 37. The bureaucracy is characterized by all of the following except: a. highly routine operating tasks. b. formalized rules and regulations. c. tasks that are grouped into functional departments. d. decentralized decision making. (d; Moderate; p. 461) 38. The key underlying all bureaucracies is: a. flexibility. b. standardization. c. dual lines of authority. d. wide span of control. (b; Easy; p. 460) 39. The ____ is characterized by highly routine operating tasks achieved through specialization. simple structure bureaucracy centralized structure matrix structure (b; Moderate; p. 461) 40. The strength of the simple structure lies in its: efficiency. simplicity. centralization. span of control. (b; Easy; p. 460) 41. Which of the following is not a weakness of the simple structure? It is risky. information overload There is little unity of command. slower decision making (c; Moderate; p. 460) 42. The structure that creates dual lines of authority and combines functional and product departmentalization is the: a. organizational structure. b. bureaucracy. c. matrix structure. d. virtual organization. (c; Moderate; p. 462) 43. The matrix structure combines which two forms of departmentalization? a. process and functional b. functional and product c. product and process d. none of the above (b; Challenging; p. 462) 44. The _____ violates the unity of command concept. a. simple structure b. virtual structure c. matrix structure d. team structure (c; Challenging; p. 462) 45. Which one of the following problems is most likely to occur in a matrix structure? a. decreased response to environmental change b. decreased employee motivation c. loss of economies of scale d. employees receiving conflicting directives (d; Moderate; p. 463) 46. The strength of the matrix structure is its: a. ability to facilitate coordination. b. economies of scale. c. adherence to chain of command. d. standardization. (a; Moderate; p. 463) 47. The major disadvantage of the matrix structure is: a. the confusion it creates. b. its propensity to foster power struggles. c. the stress it places on individuals. d. all of the above (d; Challenging; p. 463) New Design Options 48. The primary characteristics of the _____ structure are that it breaks down departmental barriers and decentralizes decision making to the level of the work team. a. virtual b. team c. boundaryless d. organizational (b; Moderate; p. 463-464) 49. In larger organizations, the team structure complements what is typically a: virtual organization. bureaucracy. formal structure. boundaryless organization. (b; Challenging; p. 464) 50. A small, core organization that outsources major business functions is the _____ organization. a. team b. virtual c. boundaryless d. matrix (b; Moderate; p. 464) 51. The ____ is also called the network or modular organization. virtual organization team structure pyramid boundaryless organization (a; Moderate; p. 464) 52. The prototype of the virtual structure is todays: appliance manufacturers. movie-making organizations. fast-food restaurants. software companies. (b; Challenging; p. 464) 53. The major advantage of the virtual organization is its: a. control. b. predictability. c. flexibility. d. empowerment. (c; Moderate; p. 465) 54. The _____ organization stands in sharp contrast to the typical bureaucracy that has many vertical levels of management and where control is sought through ownership. a. virtual b. team c. limitless d. matrix (a; Moderate; p. 465) 55. The boundaryless organization relies heavily on: information technology. functional and product departmentalization. the simple structure. none of the above. (a; Moderate; p. 466) 56. An organization that seeks to eliminate the chain of command, have limitless spans of control, and replace departments with empowered teams is the: a. virtual organization. b. boundaryless organization. c. matrix organization. d. team structure. (b; Moderate; p. 466) 57. The one common technological thread that makes the boundaryless organization possible is: a. reengineering. b. MBAs. c. networked computers. d. mainframes. (c; Moderate; p. 468) Why Do Structures Differ? 58. The _____ is a structure characterized by extensive departmentalization, high formalization, a limited information network, and centralization. a. mechanistic model b. organic model c. traditional model d. bureaucracy organization (a; Moderate; p. 468) 59. Which of the following is not a characteristic of a mechanistic structure? a. extensive departmentalization b. high formalization c. limited information network d. flexibility (d; Easy; p. 468) 60. If there is low formalization, a comprehensive information network, and high participation in decision making, one would expect a(n): a. simple structure. b. mechanistic structure. c. organic structure. d. stable structure. (c; Challenging; p. 468-469) 61. All of the following are characteristics of the organic model except: a. cross-functional teams. b. cross-departmentalization. c. cross-hierarchical teams. d. high participation. (b; Moderate; p. 468-469) 62. Which of the following is not a determinant of an organizations structure? strategy organization size innovation technology (c; Moderate; p. 469-472) 63. Changes in corporate strategy precede and lead to: a. changes in the environment. b. better communication. c. increased productivity. d. changes in an organizations structure. (d; Challenging; p. 469) 64. A strategy that emphasizes the introduction of major new products and services is a(n) _____ strategy. a. innovation b. enhancement c. progressive d. organic (a; Moderate; p. 469) 65. The innovation strategy is characterized by: a. unorthodox structures. b. a mixture of loose with tight properties. c. low specialization and low formalization. d. high technology. (c; Moderate; p. 469) 66. _____ refers to how an organization transfers its inputs into outputs. Production Technology Operations Process (b; Challenging; p. 470) 67. Which of the following is not part of the organizations environment? public pressure groups customers technology competitors (c; Moderate; p. 471) 68. The _____ of an environment refers to the degree to which it can support growth. a. capacity b. qualifications c. potential d. capability (a; Moderate; p. 472) 69. _____ refers to the degree of instability of an environment. a. Instability b. Volatility c. Irregularity d. Unpredictability (b; Moderate; p. 472) 70. Three key dimensions to any organizations environment have been found. Which of the following is not one of these key dimensions? a. volatility b. capability c. complexity d. capacity (b; Moderate; p. 472) 71. The _____ of an environment refers to the degree of heterogeneity and concentration among environmental elements. a. density b. simplicity c. complexity d. intricacy (c; Moderate; p. 472) Organization Designs and Employee Behavior 72. Which of the following generalizations about organizational structures and employee performance and satisfaction is most true? a. There is fairly strong evidence linking decentralization and job satisfaction. b. It is probably safe to say that no evidence supports a relationship between span of control and employee performance. c. The evidence generally indicates that work specialization contributes to lower employee productivity. d. No one wants work that makes minimal intellectual demands and is routine. (b; Challenging; p. 474) 73. There is research evidence to suggest that: a. employees with high self-esteem are more satisfied with decentralized organizations. b. a managers job satisfaction increases along with the number of employees he or she supervises c. centralized organizations tend to have more satisfied employees. d. a managers job satisfaction is inversely related to the number of employees he or she supervises (b; Challenging; p. 474) TRUE/FALSE 74. Organizations have different structures, but the structure has little bearing on employee attitudes and behavior. (False; Easy; p. 452) What is Organizational Structure? 75. Specialization defines how job tasks are formally defined, grouped, and coordinated. (False; Moderate; p. 452) 76. Managers need to address six key elements when they design their organizations structure: work specialization, departmentalization, chain of command, chain of control, centralization and decentralization, and formalization. (False; Challenging; p. 452) 77. The degree to which tasks in the organization are subdivided into separate jobs is termed departmentalization. (False; Moderate; p. 452-453) 78. Work specialization and division of labor are the same thing. (True; Easy; p. 452-453) 79. Work specialization may result in employee boredom, stress, and absenteeism. (True; Easy; p. 454) 80. For much of the first half of this century, managers viewed departmentalization as an unending source of increased productivity. (False; Moderate; p. 454) 81. The strength of functional departmentalization is putting similar specialists together. (True; Moderate; p. 454) 82. Only one form of departmentalization can effectively be implemented in an organization at a time. (False; Moderate; p. 455) 83. The inherent right in a managerial position to give orders and expect the orders to be obeyed is termed power. (False; Moderate; p. 456) 84. Departmentalization answers questions for employee such as To whom do I go if I have a problem? (False; Moderate; p. 456) 85. The unbroken line of authority that extends from the top of the organization to the lowest echelon is termed the command line of authority. (False; Easy; p. 456) 86. The principle of unity of command suggests that managers should support one another. (False; Easy; p. 456) 87. The trend in recent years has been toward wider spans of control. (True; Easy; p. 457) 88. Span of command determines the number of levels and managers an organization has. (False; Moderate; p. 456) 89. All things being equal, the wider or larger the span, the more profitable the organization. (False; Challenging; p. 456) 90. Flat organizational structures result from narrow spans of control. (False; Challenging; Exh. 15-3; p. 457) 91. Narrow spans of control can result in lack of supervision, causing performance to suffer. (False; Moderate; p. 457) 92. Having too many people report to you can undermine your effectiveness. (True; Easy; p. 457) 93. The more that lower-level personnel provide input or are actually given the discretion to make decisions, the more decentralized the organization. (True; Moderate; p. 458) 94. A decentralized organization is more likely to result in a feeling of alienation by employees than a centralized organization. (False; Challenging; p. 458) 95. There has been a marked trend toward centralized decision making. (False; Moderate; p. 458) 96. Increase in the number of rules and regulations results in increased formalization. (True; Easy; p. 458-459) 97. The greater the formalization, the more input an employee has into how his or her work is done. (False; Challenging; p. 458) 98. Autonomy and formalization are positively related. (False; Moderate; p. 458) Common Organizational Designs 99. The simple structure is flexible and inexpensive to maintain, but the chain of command is often ambiguous. (False; Moderate; p. 460) 100. The strength of the bureaucracy lies in its ability to perform standardized activities. (True; Challenging; p. 461) 101. A major strength of the simple structure is that it easily adapts to any size organization. (False; Challenging; p. 460) 102. The simple structure is risky. (True; Challenging; p. 460) 103. Standardization is the key that underlies the simple structure. (False; Easy; p. 460) 104. The matrix structure is characterized by highly routine operating tasks achieved through specialization. (False; Challenging; p. 461) 105. A major weakness of the bureaucracy is that it creates sub-unit conflicts. (False; Moderate; p. 462) 106. The bureaucracy is efficient only as long as employees confront problems that they have previously encountered. (True; Easy; p. 462) 107. A structure that creates dual lines of authority and combines functional and product departmentalization is the matrix structure. (True; Easy; p. 462) 108. The strength of the bureaucracy is its ability to facilitate coordination when the organization has complex and interdependent activities. (False; Moderate; p. 462) 109. The matrix structure facilitates the allocation of specialists. (True; Challenging; p. 462) 110. The major disadvantages of the matrix lie is that it creates sub-unit conflicts and that functional unit goals can override the organizational goals. (False; Challenging; p. 463) New Design Options 111. The team structure breaks down department barriers and decentralizes decision making. (True; Moderate; p. 463-464) 112. Often the team structure complements what is typically a bureaucracy. (True; Moderate; p. 464) 113. The primary characteristics of the virtual organization are that it breaks down department barriers and decentralizes decision. (False; Moderate; p. 463-464) 114. You have decided to hire a small shop to do all your duplicating and printing. This is an example of outsourcing. (True; Moderate; p. 465) 115. The matrix organization is also called the network or modular organization. (False; Challenging; p. 464) 116. The major advantage to the virtual organization is its flexibility. (True; Easy; p. 466) 117. The virtual organization is effective in obtaining organizational stability. (False; Moderate; p. 465-466) 118. Jack Welch coined the term virtual organization. (False; Easy; p. 466) 119. An organization that seeks to eliminate the chain of command is a boundaryless organization. (True; Easy; p. 466) 120. Status and rank are minimized in the borderless organization. (False; Challenging; p. 466) 121. Globalization is easier in a borderless organization. (False; Challenging; p. 466) 122. The technological thread that makes the boundaryless organization possible is networked computers. (True; Moderate; p. 468) Why Do Structures Differ? 123. The organic structure is characterized by extensive departmentalization, high formalization, a limited information network, and centralization. (False; Easy; p. 468) 124. The boundaryless organization is an example of the organic model of organizational design. (True; Easy; p. 468) 125. Mechanistic structures are high in formalization. (True; Easy; p. 468) 126. Mechanistic structures have high participation in decision making. (False; Moderate; p. 468) 127. Strategy does not impact an organizations structure. (False; Easy; p. 469) 128. An innovation strategy works well only for the simple structure. (False; Moderate; p. 469) 129. An organization that controls costs, refrains from incurring unnecessary innovation or marketing expenses, and cuts prices in selling a basic product pursues a price-minimization strategy. (False; Moderate; p. 469) 130. An innovation strategy seeks to quickly move into new products or new markets after their viability has been proven. (False; Moderate; p. 469) 131. Size affects structure at a decreasing rate. (True; Challenging; p. 470) 132. Adding 500 employees to an organization that has only 300 members is likely to result in a shift toward a more organic structure. (False; Challenging; p. 470) 133. Technology refers to how an organization transfers its inputs into outputs. (True; Moderate; p. 470) 134. The three key dimensions to an organizations environment have been found to be: capacity, complexity, and technology. (False; Challenging; p. 472) 135. The environment of an organization needs to be assessed in terms of capacity, which is the degree of heterogeneity and concentration among environmental elements. (False; Challenging; p. 472) 136. The more scarce, dynamic, and complex the environment, the more organic a structure should be. (True; Challenging; p. 472) Organizational Designs and Employee Behavior 137. Research supports the notion that employees prefer an organic structure. (False; Moderate; p. 474) 138. The evidence generally indicates that work specialization contributes positively to productivity. (True; Easy; p. 473) 139. A review of the research indicates that there is no evidence to support a relationship between span of control and employee performance. (True; Moderate; p. 474) 140. Organizations that are less centralized have a greater amount of participative decision making. (True; Easy; p. 474) SCENARIO-BASED QUESTIONS Application of: What is Organizational Structure? Consultants Exceptional has hired you to develop training materials for their consultants. Your first assignment is to develop a training program that helps their consultants to analyze and understand the organizational structure of the company that they are assisting. They believe that in order to adequately evaluate and understand the company, they need to understand the basic organizational structure. Then they will be able to recommend actions and changes based on that structure. 141. One of the questions you tell the trainees to ask is To what degree are tasks subdivided into separate jobs? This question addresses the issue of: a. formalization. b. work specialization. c. span of control. d. chain of command. (b; Moderate; Exh. 15-1; p. 453) 142. _____ is addressed by asking the question On what basis are jobs grouped together? a. Departmentalization b. Work specialization c. Centralization and decentralization d. Formalization (a; Challenging; Exh. 15-1; p. 453) 143. You instruct the trainees to ask about the degree of rules and regulations that direct employees and managers. You want to help them understand the: a. chain of command. b. degree of formalization. c. span of control. d. degree of departmentalization. (b; Moderate; Exh. 15-1; p. 453) Application of Departmentalization You have divided the jobs done by your department through work specialization and are now trying to decide how to best group them for efficiency and service to the customer. You are considering whether to group activities by function, product, process, geography, or customer. 144. You have decided that since you are a

Euthanasia Essay - Artificial Life or Natural Death? :: Euthanasia Physician Assisted Suicide

Artificial Life or Natural Death? Euthanasia has been a hotly debated about topic for the past couple of decades, but has recently been thrust into the limelight by many controversial court and hospital decisions. Euthanasia is defined as the "mercy killing" of a person who is brain dead, terminally ill or otherwise at death's door. This usually, but not necessarily, affects people who are are separated from death only by machines. Whether you personally believe "mercy killing" is a viable solution in a hopeless situation or not the proponents for both sides provide arguments that can be quite convincing. Supporters of euthanasia say that it is such an improbability for a miraculous recovery and a return to a normal life that it is not worth putting the patient through all the suffering and agony that prolonging their life would cause or the fortune of hospital bills that you would pay. The opposition feels that it is not right for people to abandon other members of the human race because there is always a chance, even though it is a small one, that they will regain all functons and return to a normal life. There are many cases in which euthanasia is acceptable. Brain death is one situation which merits euthanasia. It is also one of the more common cases where euthanasia is requested. Brain death is when all brain activities cease. The lines are fairly well drawn in the law about patients who are suffering but are still compotent, but when the law is asked to determine the fate of a lingering, comatose, incompotent patient the lines begin to blur. In many cases the courts turned to the patient's family, but what if there are not any or they disagree? In such cases who decides? In a controversial decision a Massachusetts court allowed that it would invoke its own "substitute judgement" on behalf of a mentally ill woman. In a second case mentioned in the January 7 issue of Newsweek, a Minnesota Surpreme court turned to three hospital ethics committees to review a dying loner's case, followed their collected wisdom and ordered him off the respirator so that he could have a dignified death. "It is

Dominican heritage

Angie Cruz’s Soledad is a marvelous story of family and integrity, myth and mysticism, racial identity, culture and chaos and various other themes. The background of the author has deeply influenced the setting of the novel as the story is deeply influenced by her Dominican heritage. Author herself has testified that her cultural upbringing highly impacted the novel. Even though she authored it with keeping ‘community’ in her mind, the novel also turned out to be a story of family, relationships, girlhood, motherhood and extended to several other premises.The main voice in the story is that of an art student Soledad who wants to fly to her sick mother to take care of her. She is about to leave her neighborhood behind as only she can help her mother to recover from the emotional coma. Soledad also has her aunt Gorda, her wild cousin Flaca to tame in her family. As she comes back to her house, she is confronted with a big challenge to negotiate or forget the painful or chaotic past for rebuilding her fellowship with her mother. ‘Family’ and relationships become the centre theme of the story.Soledad had left her contentious family at the age of eighteen as she got fed up with petty fights, struggles and endless tragedies. She joined as an art student at Cooper Union and also had a gallery job (along with a hip East Village walk-up). Soledad was imminently cool, fine, peaceful being infinitely far from her belligerent, superstitious neighborhood where she had her upbringing. Soledad however could not continue for a long time as she got call from Tia Gorda saying that her mother badly needs her as she had slipped into an emotional coma. Soledad's return was the only solution to save her mother.The love that remained for her family made Soledad to return home though she was haunted with the terrible recollections about leering men, open hydrants, and dreadful slick-skinned teen girls with bawdy mouths and snapping gum. Soledad had muc h to face in her home at West 164th Street. She had to adjust with the raucous behavior of her cousin Flaca and had to keep her from falling for Richie, the neighbor. Soledad struggles and she falls into a big challenge. She was also disturbed by the memories and ghosts of her mother’s past and also had to mend their relationship so that she may recover.She had to fight the memories of all painful past experiences to help her love her mother. The story is all about the family burden suffered by young Soledad. Soledad always had strained relationship with the family members, especially her widowed mother Olivia. Much of the novel is about the family of Olivia, her female relatives. Soledad had her aunt Gorda who can better be called a witch. She opt ceremonies and home remedies for treating her sister. Soledad had much to suffer from the fiery adolescent Flaca her cousin. More than all this was the nightmares, terrifying flashbacks and fearful memories.Soledad struggles being ‘caught between two worlds’ for the sake of her family. The bad images of her mother’s Dominican youth, Soledad returns to her family. Soledad’s responsibility for her family and love for her mother constraints her to forgive or forget Olivia's past as a prostitute, her spurious paternity, and the death of her father in the hand of Olivia. She says â€Å"And when I surrender to the warmth of the water, I feel the past, present, and future becomes one. My mother becomes the ocean and the sky, wrapping herself around me†. The family warmth engulfs Soledad as she gets into a spiritual epiphany.Soledad is found to be compelled by guilt and responsibility and a forced loyalty and start to take care of the family that she once left. This forced loyalty or the love remnants make Soledad come back to the place that she longed to leave and meet her family that she wanted to forget. Soledad took herself away from her collapsed family as she wanted to have a d ifferent future than everybody else. She separated from everything, explored new paths and found herself successful in her new world. However the little love residue that remained in her heart made her sacrifice everything for the sake of her family (or her sick mother).She was back to her old neighborhood and finds something that longed for and that she did not expect. She finally recognizes that everything she was yearning for was there in front of her. We can say that the novel Soledad is all about family relationships. The news of her mother’s sickness melted the heart of young Soledad and made her take the crucial decision to leave her happy world and come to her family from which she was fleeing away. Even though Soledad was reluctantly returning to her family, her time with her family becomes too crucial in the novel that it occupies majority of the pages.Soledad’s plight was painful but her family members turned out to be characters that made the whole story in teresting, rather than Soledad. The background of the novel is in the family or cultural background of the author Angie Cruz. Author’s childhood experience in the ethnic barrio of New York City's Washington Heights neighborhood highly influenced the story. The story more or less appears as an autobiography where the family of Soledad represents the entire women folk of the superstitious neighborhood.The bizarre mother, jealous cousin Flaca, her crazy Aunt Gorda, the entire family of Angie Cruz speaks of the predicament of the entire neighborhood. Even though the whole story intended to report the helpless womanhood of the undeveloped neighborhood, the novel turned out to be a tale of family relationships that sprang up from an extremely collapsed background. The family of Soledad, her mother, cousin and her aunt filled the novel making it a tale family story. References Angie (2001) Cruz Soledad, Simon & Schuster Trent Masiki (2001) Soledad – Review – Black Issu es Book Review, Matthews & Associates.

Gender and Power in the Media Essay

Media is the best avenue for companies to advertise their products, especially if they want to reach a greater scopre of target consumers. Every day, persuasion through the television, internet, and radio commercials, as well as in printed ads and billboards will make them sell more of their products in an effectual manner (Allen). Radio and television are the two channels where most Americans get information, especially news, aside from the Internet, magazines, and many others. And because of these two media, they can definitely change the way audiences perceive things in society, especially the youth, who may be more vulnerable to media influence compared to adults. This may partly be attributed to their inexperience. It affects how they decide on things that matter greatly to them and to others (Reed). The core and obvious difference is that the radio only produces sound, while the television produces both sound and images. The radio was formed from different ideas coming from Michael Faraday’s electromagnetism, to James Clark Maxwell’s treatise on electricity and magnetism, to Heinrich Hertz’ Hertzian waves, down to Gugliemo Marconi’s wireless telegraph and signal company (the world’s first radio factory) and tuned syntonic telegraphy (Parker). The radio was first used as a transmitter of information, especially for the ships who sails long distances (Parker). This later on became a major requirement for ships, especially to have radio auxiliary power and two operators with a licensed driver after the Titanic sank in early 1900’s (Schoenherr). Previously, the programs in radio were only for musical and talk show purposes. However, starting 1940, the programs in radio also offered drama and news (Schoenher). In California, KALW San Francisco is one of the stations that operated in FM as it was aired on September 1. 1941. It was licensed by the Federal Communications Commission on March 10, 1941, to broadcast educational programs. Its first program was Schoolcast. The listeners of this program were mostly soldiers training in tanks as their radio is reached by the signal of the station (Tripod. com). Radio was even once classified as monopolistic competition, as only few individuals or group of people operate the radio industry in some states. But with the Telecommunications act of 1996, ownership was also granted to some groups (Drushel). Nowadays, there are registered and licensed 643 public and private FM and AM radio stations available for the listeners in California. One of these is 102. 7 KIIS FM or KISS FM in Spanish located in Los Angeles (SHG Resources State Handbook and Guide). The station was first heard in 1948. Presently, it was owned and managed by Clear Channel Communications. The station is actually a result of change formats, purchasing, and trade frequencies among defunct radio stations, individuals, and companies. Today it the stations is also known as LA’s #1 Hit Music Radio Station as it is one of the highest rated Radio station in the United States, and is recognized as 2007’s station of the year. The station plays R&B, pop, and rock music. They said that their play list is based on the likes of their listeners. Unlike any other station, they censor the songs before they play it on air. One of the popular personalities in the station is Ryan Seacrest. In society, some topics are beyond common knowledge, for example technical terms that are medical in nature and only medical experts can further explain. By having discussions on the radio or in television or having these placed in an article will allow information for more people, especially if these concern health and safety of the majority. Critical issues need to be exposed, analyzed, evaluated, and properly addressed, thus the role of media is vital in this stage (RadioIslam. org). Popular media, like FM Radio programs, particularly KIIS FM, in the late capitalist societies became the primary source of knowledge and experience virtually about anything, including gender. It is said that they are important in the creation of power relations in society (Hains). Take for example the social status of women and men. In the construction of gender and sexuality, it is said that the school, particularly the teacher, plays a very important role in this crucial stage. As expected, one can only be masculine and feminine. In some cases, some of the abuses of these children are coming from male teachers, whether this be physical or verbal. Some experts opine that femininity is always shown as sexual appeal, while men are sex seekers. Students would favor a woman teacher rather than a male teacher because they act as mothers and more overtly show concern for their students. To some students, male teachers are impatient. Male students are punished heavily by male teachers as compared to female students. Having said all of these, we can say that both sexes experience harassment and abuse from both sexes, and not just the females (Chege). The media can use their influence to expose these problems and seek help and justice for this people, who at an early age have been subjected to such trauma. Moreover, it may be worth noting that media may also be partly blamed for reinforcing both the abusive behavior of the teacher and the shame felt by student over her stigma (Chege). Previously, females were viewed as passive. They are not allowed to work and usually stay at home, doing the chores of a wife, and only serve as trophies of their husbands. Worse, they are not allowed to go to school as it was believed that only men can seek education since they are the heads of their families. They are always expected to watch themselves and to act according to the norms of society, especially in the eyes of men as she is the object of men’s sight. Her skin must be supple, hairless, and smooth. Her face must be free of wrinkles, with no signs of stress or whatsoever. Her lips must be kissable, and her eyes mysterious. Women are said to be more restricted with their movements. They must be cross legged when sitting, and toes pointing only in straight or inward directions. Aside from these, they are also trained to show their smiles more than men do. They must stand with stomach in and chest out. If any of these are violated, it means that they violated norms of morals, speech, and movements. Moreover, women tend to occupy the lower and marginalized positions in a company, or even in society. Most women are given reproductive, productive, and community work. Reproductive tasks would include giving birth, feeding and educating her kids, taking care of her husband and children, and other domestic tasks. Her productive work would mean to produce products and services for others’ consumption. Community work would entail her to support different activities that will directly benefit society through volunteerism. However, not all women are given the chance to enjoy community work, since they are burdened by her reproductive and productive functions. Men tend to be more powerful in most realms. Needless to say, they occupy most of the highest positions in industrial organizations and society; thus the glass ceiling phenomenon (Chege). On the other hand, men are expected to be active, and to make things happen. They go out of their houses to work, and were sent to school whether they like it or not. Men are allowed to sit with legs apart so they can move loosely from one place to another (Employees. oneonta. edu). Nowadays, as media plays a greater role in building society, things have changed. There is equality among men and women. Women are more empowered to do things that men usually do. Media brought the new concept of a woman, someone who is ideal. For most, what is beautiful is a woman who is firm, with a narrow hip, with a small breast, and slim, as evidenced by the models in the cover of a magazine. For those who do not posses this kind of body, dieting is an alternative. Another way is to have surgery in order to enhance one’s physical attributes. Diet and surgery are some of the popular topics both in print and non-print media (Employees. oneonta. edu). Women are becoming more liberal as evidenced in the paper of Izabel Magalhaes. She said that it the responsibility of media especially radio in introducing the said concept to these women. Media is more open about talking about women’s stories that discuss their sex experiences at the expense of entertainment of others (Magalhaes). They say what they feel; they enact what they think (Employees. oneonta. edu). Women would go to school and get the job opportunities opened for men, and nowadays, women excel in different fields, almost overtaking men in different positions and levels. Some male workers would even be surprised that their boss is a woman In KIIS FM; men are not the only DJ’s in the station. There are also women who work everyday for the station. Even in describing the achievements of a woman, some adjectives that are associated with men are actually used. Those words are not anymore exclusive to men. The main reason is that men are usually viewed as individuals with physical strength. Nowadays, physical strength is not the only issue, topics about men’s health, fashion, and trips are now being featured by the media. This time, the notion that men only desires for women is not anymore true, since nowadays they are also interested in fashion, health, and many other things like women do (Magalhaes). As what have mentioned a while ago, media, particularly radio is also used to attract possible buyers by different companies. It is said that advertising, such as those in radios, contributes in representing and constructing gender identities in urban region which also exists in the past. The interests of large corporations are presented to the people, and whoever has the most interesting advertising skills and features will be favored by the consumers (Magalhaes). Alternatives were provided in front of us everyday, both are competitively packaged. Women are now represented by these advertisements as liberal, yet viewed as a commodity to be used by the society. Men on the other hand, are presented to be not only dominant over women, but with other types of men as well: disabled, heterosexual, homosexuals, and many others. At some point, women remains presented as incapable and dependent on men, and that it is assumed by the society that their existence is for the purpose of men’s pleasure. Some advertisements would use adjectives for a product that is a characteristic of a woman (Magalhaes). The choice of words will trigger our minds to think of different things. But because of these, more women are verbally harassed by men, whether in public or in private places. This injury is transformed into grievance, and lastly to a dispute. These situations encouraged more women to aspire greater positions in the society like in Congress, in the courtroom, or in media, and to acquire greater power. It is assumed that the media can change an individual’s outlook in life, behavior, ethics, and values. The combination of media with law, for example, has goals of transforming the society, using naming, blaming, and claiming. Naming would imply discussing harassment and defining it; blaming would mean identifying the suspect for harassment; and claiming would demand for the transformation of grievance into a remedy. In this situation, media can be used to educate the people in the different harassments that women acquire. But despite this fact, until now, there are still women who remains marginalized in the society. They still remain powerless and voiceless against the criminals (Laniya). Aside from advertising, media is also influential in the political realm. In every Presidential election, candidates would use the media to reach more people, and to persuade them to vote for him or her, such as in the case of the United States. This scheme started in 1930’s and 40’s when President Roosevelt used the radio to campaign in such a conversational manner with the people. Its success triggered other U. S Presidents to follow him, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. Aside from media exposure for these candidates, media can also be a source of funds for the candidates (The University of Texas at Austin). The voter’s idea of the personality of the speaker either make or break them. However, we should remember that personality and leadership is not really together. There were presidents who are idolized for their great leadership, but not for their personality. There were inefficient leaders who are revered for their personality (The University of Texas at Austin). Television and radio debates are important especially in educating the voters about who the deserving candidate They scrutinize the past and present of this candidates. But although media affects our decision regarding this matter, studies would show that face to face contact is still the most effective medium to get votes from the people. In election histories, it is said that a well oiled political machine, particularly with good relationship with the media, is more likely to win the elections (The University of Texas at Austin). In this juncture, we can say that indeed, media has the power to make a change, but not as much powerful as we do (The University of Texas at Austin). The real problem is that people does not have the power to control the media. It is said that in this setting it is the minority that dictates the people the things that they want others to know, the events that will only be consider for reporting, the facts that will be examined and evaluated, and many other instances. This minority controls the media, which affects the politics of the country, then way wee live, the way we talk, the way we think, and many others. The discussion on radio and televisions regarding any political issue that directly affects the interest of the people is only limited, as it is restricted to discuss some sensitive issues. Take for example if the discussion on the radio program is anti-Semitism, the station would not actually invite true anti-Semitist. In this case, the discussion is not really a discussion of the topic at all. Investigative journalism on the other hand, plays as a hero in revealing to us the hidden truth, up to some point that they already invade public lives (RadioIslam. org). The music played on the radio affects our moods and our emotions. Music can trigger sad and happy memories, depending on the song played at the program. Radio stations can dictate what kind of music and genres society ought to appreciate, and which singers ought to be popular. It modifies choice of music into something that favors the capitalist. Other artists may not be given the chance to be heard and present their talent (RadioIslam. org).