The Lifelong Affects and Consequences of Domestic Violence Essay Example for Free

The Lifelong Affects and Consequences of Domestic Violence Essay Domestic Violence has been proven to have an unhealthy impact on the victims exposed to the violence. Most people do not realize the scope of the potential adverse affects that domestic violence has on adult victims, pregnant victims, children and adolescents that are exposed to the type of behavior. When a woman is pregnant and becomes a victim of domestic violence, she is not the only one affected, but her fetus is as well. Domestic violence has been linked to physical, mental and emotional damage to its victims which can result in the development of significant disorders that linger throughout their life. The prevention and assessment for domestic violence is very essential in order to stop the adverse affects that it has on the victims and society as a whole. Domestic violence has been given several names throughout history which includes: intimate partner violence (IPV), partner abuse, abuse, marital abuse, spousal abuse and battering to name a few (Breiding Ziembroski, 2010). Domestic violence is considered to be an event, multiple or pattern of abusive behavior that includes verbal, physical and sexual abuse towards an intimate partner or family member (Breiding Ziembroski, 2010). Domestic violence is not an issue that is associated with any single population. Domestic violence can involve individuals of any gender, race economic status. Domestic violence happens in all socioeconomic statuses, but it has been more of an increased risk when associated with women in a lower socioeconomic status. Women are considered to be the more commonly abused victims, but males can also be victims of abuse. Males are exposed to psychological, verbally and sometimes even physical abuse. Domestic violence can also occur in same sex relationships as well as heterosexual relationships. Most batterers in a relationship are generally very manipulative and controlling. They usually attempt to have power over their partner. There are usually signs that are present when abuse is involved within a relationship. The most common sign is when one partner is afraid of the other. This fear is manifested in an individual’s belief that they must accommodate their partner for apprehension of how their unhappy, abusive mate may retaliate against them. The abusers tend to use this type of violence to facilitate intimidation and to foster compliance from their victims. Minority women and younger single women who are not yet married are usually considered at increased risk as potential victims of domestic violence. The large number of domestic violence relationships usually starts off as what appears as a promising and stable union. Then everything seems to take a turn for the wo rse and the abuse begins. The abuser attempt to have their partners think that they are the only individuals that will ever be there for them and that they are the only person that they can trust. These victims are systematically isolated and removed from family and friends and their support system goes from some to one. When the victims let their guard down and become increasingly comfortable with this situation the abuse then starts. Unfortunately the victims usually stay in the abusive relationship because they are hanging on to the promises of what once was, but what will never return. After explosive abusive episodes that are directed towards the victims the batterer often starts to be remorseful and apologizes. That is followed by the abusive mate making promises and excuses for the inappropriate behaviors that has been displayed. Those promises generally revolve around the wonderful memories that were had in the beginning of the relationship. Battering usually doesn’t just start off by a partner physically beating an individual. It often starts off with verbal abuse and if the behavior is not contested or addressed it can escalate to physical abuse. The physical abuse may start as something considered to be small or insignificant; a pinch, grab or a shove. If that behavior is not correc ted it will lead to more harsh abuse in every subsequent episode. Many times victims are abused as a result of being made to participate in unwanted sex. Emotional abuse can be just as severe or in some cases more brutal than physical abuse. Physical abuse may leave a victim with visible scars, but sometimes emotional abuse has lingering lifelong effects. When a person is emotionally abused it can affect their confidence and perception of the world. The abusive partner will usually identify and focus on things that they perceive to be valuable to the victim in order to control them. One way of controlling a victim is by withholding access to things like money and basic essentials. The goal is to make the victim to feel and in essence become totally dependant upon their mate. No individual should ever be subjected to verbal, emotional, psychological or physical abuse on any level. This is why it is so important for victims to seek help that can remove them from a potentially hostile relationship before it gets violent and someone eventually loses th eir life. There are laws in place in several states that will prosecute abusers and the state will usually pick up the case and only use the victim as a witnesses. These laws have been implemented to save people that have been repeated victims of abuse. When victims are in repeated situations of abuse it usually only gets more serious which may ultimately lead to their death. The laws that are in place in most states will help eliminate those cases of repeat offenders because after a certain amount of arrests they will go to prison. Law Enforcement officials consider this to be a serious concern because it has taken the lives of so many innocent people. Some offenders are charged fines and are required to attend anger management counseling. There have been methods implemented in order to screen for individuals who are involved in domestic violence relationships. One of the most common methods of screening often takes place during physician visits. Even though this practice is not considered to be universal when actually utilized it has been found to discover more case of domestic violence. Some victims have stated that they chose not to disclose their abuse because fear of being blamed, lack of understanding from others, losing their family, their economic dependency of the abuser and lack of confidentiality within the medical home (Bailey, 2010). This simply proves that there is a very urgent need for victims to be provided with more interventions and assistance when dealing with this type of problem. Victims require compassion, sensitivity and confidentially from other individuals including health care providers. It is through this type of support that victims will feel more comfortable disclosing domestic violence within their relationship. This is an area that requires much sincerity and empathy therefore more health care providers may need to be trained in order to accurately assess domestic violence victims. It is evident that more prevention methods need to be implemented in order to teach individuals the negative associations tied to domestic violence. People that are abusers are usually trying to intimidate their victims in some way. Domestic violence should never be considered just a secret family issue. Individuals need to realize that domestic violence does not only affect the victim or the family unit in which it occurs, but it affects the society as a whole. It is a very costly matter for society when you consider social service workers, shelters, police officers that are involved in those situations in various capacities. The most important thing that needs to be focused on in all is the lives that have been lost as well as those that can potentially be lost. For example, a potential case of a domestic violence situation would be where a man beats on a pregnant woman with other children in the home witnessing the behavior. The potential harm that can be had by the fetus inside the mother could lead to short term or long term problems. The woman is at-risk for suffering greatly from psychological problems therefore being pote ntially unfit to raise her children. There is also the possibly having the children pushed into the homes of other family members or the foster care system for the state to cover the bill. The children witnessing the violence can be affected psychologically as well. The children may have to see a psychologist to work out the issues from being exposed to the negative environment. They could suffer from adjustment problems such as behavioral or mental issues. Children that suffer from behavioral or mental issues as a result of being exposed to domestic violence are predisposed to repeat that type of behavior in their future relationships. They will most likely require more skill and on-going mental health counseling to be productive citizens. These individuals may have perceived this type of violence as a learned behavior and feel that it is appropriate as it was commonplace in their upbringing. Unfortunately domestic violence can cycle through many generations of a family. Generally because this is the behavior that has been displayed and possibly condoned in the earlier generations it may continue as part of the family dynamic. This deep rooted dysfunction is very hard to break or change once it has become ingrained in the socially acceptable vi ew of an individual or their family. This cycle of violence will regrettably continue to destroy the lives of other innocent people. When domestic violence occurs it requires a lot of adjustments and it is ultimately an unnecessary strain on society. This type of violence has been going on throughout history, but it can be stopped. This is an issue that can be prevented through education and appropriate assessment. Individuals can be taught that this behavior is not acceptable. Individuals can be educated on how this behavior affects everyone from their immediate family to society as a whole. A health care professional’s ability to screen for cases of domestic violence can be more productive in identifying victims with proper training. Most social service agencies have resources for the victims to utilize. This is helpful so that he or she feels comfortable about making the transition of leaving the abusive home without fears of being homeless or if their basic essential needs would be met. Although pregnancy can seem to some the most exciting time, that is sadly not the case for some pregnant women. A woman that is pregnant is more at-risk for becoming a victim of domestic violence. It is reported that 1 in 5 pregnant women will be experience domestic violence (Bailey, 2010). There are several pregnant women per year have reported to have suffered from domestic violence. Pregnant women are a lot more likely to be abused compared to non-pregnant women. Abuse during pregnancy is not only dangerous to the women, but it is also very harmful to the fetus as well. Insensitive and cruel abuse that is perpetrated upon a woman during pregnancy can cause a number of emotional, physical and psychological issues and concerns. There are several consequences caused by domestic violence during pregnancy. Domestic violence can cause low birth weight and preterm delivery which are the highest causes of mortality (Bailey, 2010). Some of the potential consequences associated with domesti c violence includes: immediate and long term developmental delays, cerebral palsy, academic problems, language delays, attention problems, behavior issues, sudden infant death syndrome, and respiratory problems (Bailey, 2010). Women that are victims are more likely to start with prenatal services later in the pregnancy. Smoking has also been associated with violence during pregnancy, because it is used a stress relief and a coping mechanism for depression. Smoking also then adds to the increased risk factors for low birth weight and other potential health problems. Other children in the home being battered can also be a form of abuse towards the mother in the home. An unfortunate result of the parent being abused is the potential damage that can be caused on the child psychologically. It is estimated that 3.3 to 10 million children have been exposed to domestic violence every year, and 15.5 million children live in homes with violence (Kelly Klostermann, 2009). Children that have witnessed violence among their parents often have feelings of fear, helplessness, and fear for safety, anxiety and sleep disorders (Kelly Klostermann, 2009). The exposure of domestic violence has been known to be associated with many other problems in children. Some of these problems include: â€Å"poor peer relationships, higher loneliness levels during school, less likely to get along with other children, more likely to get into fights, more likely to be disliked by peers and showing more aggression towards the same sex peers† (Hunter, Katz Klowden, 2008). Some of the stress associated with being exposed to domestic violence can lead to health issues. Women victims who report having previously experienced or currently experiencing domestic violence have more likely to have had children that had been diagnosed with asthma and were more to have children that will be diagnosed with asthma in the future. There is research to conclude that a chronically elevated stress response can lead to attenuation of stress hormones that counteract the inflammatory response that causes asthma (Breiding Ziembroski, 2010). A child’s types of maltreatment, gender, age and support systems are all additional factors that affect a child’s response to the exposure of domestic violence (Overlien, 2009). Children that are younger are more vulnerable to be affected by the abuse because they are more likely to view the abuse in the home visually as opposed to older children (Overlien, 2009). Adolescents are also affected by the exposure of domestic violence. Normally adolescence is a time that teenagers are already faced with a lot of issues and it really does not help to expose them to violence. Teenage girls and boys that are violent were more likely to have been exposed to domestic violence. Teenage girls exposed to this behavior may feel that this abuse is acceptable and accept this type of behavior in relationships that she is involved in. â€Å"Majority of the adolescent boys exposed to domestic violence are more likely than unexposed boys to believe aggression is acceptable in intimate rel ationships, and behave more aggressively with intimate partners within a relationship† (Kelley Klostermann, 2009). One issue of concern is that the perception of the abusive parent is almost identical to those of non-abusive parents regarding the effect of their violence on children. The unsuitable behaviors that are displayed by these individuals can have a very severe impact on the entire family but especially the children. Even though in some cases the children are not the ones that are directly abused they may still display some of the same problems as the identified victim. The victim’s often times suffer from stress and fear from being subjected to abuse. As a result they tend to develop anxiety and other forms of issues and problems. Children are very likely to have these same problems after witnessing a parent commit an act of violence on the other parent. Thankfully there are some children that are able to handle the turmoil and chaos that takes place in the home and continue to have normal childhoods. There is a lot of research that suggests that fathers who are abusive often tim es appear to be indifferent with the effects of their actions on their victims or even their children (Rothman, Mandel and Silverman, 2007). These abusive fathers rarely report that their children are having any problems. Children are generally abused by a step-father who has less of a biological incentive to ensure the child’s well-being. Biological fathers are thought to be more likely to be abusive towards their spouse than a step father would be. Abusers that participate in intervention programs generally will show more or less remorse dependent upon their role in the family unit. Compared to step-fathers, biological fathers are thought to be more aware of the negative results of their actions, express more concern about the negative long term effects that result from their abuse, and are more likely to express intentions to change their unacceptable behavior (Mandel, Rothman Silverman, 2007). Additionally, biological fathers are also more likely than step-fathers to have genuine concerns for both male and female children alike. Their fear is that female children will be predisposed to suffering the same type of abuse that they witness at the hands of their abusive parents. In regards to male children, the fear is that they will become abusers based on learned behaviors that they have witnessed. The ability for the partner to effectively parent is also affected negatively. In every case this number is higher for biological fathers than it is for step-fathers. There are also children that are exposed to domestic violence that do not react negatively. A study that was done in a battered women’s shelter showed that one third of the children in this particular shelter had no particular outcomes from being exposed to abuse in the home. It was concluded that those children were members of families that avoided the negative effects of domestic violence (Hunter, Katz Klowden, 2008). One method that parents use in order to avoid their children from being negatively affected is emotion coaching. â€Å"These parents usually use low intensity emotions within their child and themselves, view the child’s negative emotion as a chance for intimacy or a teaching moment, they then validate and label their child’s emotion. And problem solve with the child by discussing goals and strategies for handling the situation that led to the emotional feeling† (Hunter, Katz Klowden, 2008). The children that have experienced emotion coaching usually perform better in an academic setting, incur fewer illnesses and are better equipped to handle their emotions. Women that are subjected to this type and level of abuse generally identify doctors and nurses as a potential support system. Many times their abuse will go unnoticed as there has traditionally been little training regarding identifying and responding to abuse victims. This abuse comes in many forms and can even include emotional, sexual, financial, and physical violence. Domestic violence can result in a myriad of problems for women that can range from health problems to psychological issues. These victims usually suffer recurring health problems and seek some type of assistance in an attempt to manage those problems. Post traumatic stress disorder and depression are the two major psychological issues that are most frequently diagnosed for victims of this level of abuse. These victims are very likely to have a higher level of anxiety than most other people. Unfortunately, if these victims cannot get the help that they need they may seek out alternative solutions to cope with their problems. These solutions may come in the form of illegal drugs and alcohol abuse. These are attempts to mask or pacify the pain and anxiety that they are dealing with. Abuse was the beginning factor for a lot of chain smokers and alcoholics. An extreme but regrettable solution to people that are dealing with domestic violence comes in the form of attempted suicides. Domestic Violence victims do not have an age limit and even the elderly can be involved in disputes. Usually when violence is instigated towards the elderly it is even more crucial because the elderly are more fragile and don’t heal quickly from attac ks. Violence towards the elderly is no more acceptable to for them as it is for the younger individuals. Violence is wrong and it is harmful for individuals from any age. Domestic violence toward the elderly maybe rare and statistics maybe appear unclear because most cases are blanketed under the term elderly abuse. Most victims don’t get the medication and the counseling treatment that they need to help them to regain their status as productive members of society. However, the reality is that these victims will receive the appropriate level of health care or have some type of intervention is highly unlikely. This is in part due to the fact that domestic violence is almost non-existent in most cases because it is not always disclosed or identified on the first office visit. Unless it is disclosed during an office visit there may be no documentation or reports of any type of domestic violence in a victims file. Without the disclosure of the abuse from the victim there is a very slim chance that the victim will be afforded any possible type of assistance from their health care provider that can be supplied for them. There have been some improvements in identifying and asking the appropriate questions that numerous health care providers have been exposed to through training and awareness programs. This is very important as most women will often seek assistance by frequent visits to the doctor’s office for what may seem to be routine issue, all the while it may be a silent cry for help. The education and advocacy for the prevention and assessment of abuse cases can prevent harm for individuals of all ages. Some individuals may have grown up with the assumption that abuse is appropriate and have decided as adults to continue the pattern. Some individuals may think that abuse will keep their partner scared of them and will never leave them. There are also others that choose to resort to violence when under the influence of some type of drug. Regardless of the reason domestic violence should never be acceptable in any degree. Every individual deserves to be treated with respect and allowed to feel safe at all times and in any situation. References Bailey, B. A., (2010, June). Partner Violence During Pregnancy: Prevalence, Efforts, Screening, and Management. International Journal of Women’s Health, 2, 183-197. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S8632 Bogat, G. A., DeJonghe, E.S., Eye, A., Levendosky, A. A., (2008). Symposium: Violence Against Children and Women. Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, 54(4), 294-300. Retrieved from http://www.jpgmonline.com/text.asp?2008/54/4/294/4143 Bogat, G. G., Eye, A.V., Levendosky, A.A., (2007) New Directions for Research on Intimate Partner Violence and Children. American Psychological Association, 12(1) doi: 10.1027/1016-940.12.1.1 Breiding, M. J., Ziembroski, J. S., (2011). The Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence And Children’s Asthma in 10 States/Territories. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. 22, 95-100. Doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2010.01087.x Clements, C. M., Hungerford, A., Ogle, R.L., (2010). Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence: Relations Between Partner-Child Concordance and Children’s Adjustment. MEDLINE, 25(2), 185-201. Retrieved from http://www.web.ebschohost.comezproxy.liberty.edu: 2048/ehost/detail?sid=26a34189-af9c-4722- Feder, G., Rutterford, C., Sharp, D., (2010, February 2). Primary Care Identification and Referral to Improve Safety of Women Experiencing Domestic Violence. BMC Public Health, 10(54). Retrieved from http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/54 Hunter, E., Katz, L.F., Klowden, A., (2008). Intimate Partner Violence and Children’s Reaction to Peer Provocation: The moderating Role of Emotion Coaching. Journal of Family Psychology, doi: 10.1037/a0012793. Kelley, M. L., Klostermann, K.,(2009). Alcoholism and Intimate Partner Violence: Effects on Children’s Psychosocial Adjustment. Environmental Research and Public Health, 6, 3156-3168. Doi: 10.3390/ijerph6123156 Mandel, D. G., Rothman, E. F., Silverman, J. G., (2007, November). Children Exposed to Domestic Violence: Conclusions from the Literature and Challenges Ahead. Violence Against Women, 13(11),1179-1191. doi:10.1177/1077801207308260 Overlien, C., (2009, December 8). Children Exposed to Domestic Violence: Conclusions from The Literature and Challenges Ahead. Journal of Social Work, 10(80) doi: 10.1177/1468017309350663

Chinese Exploitation And Discrimination In Canada History Essay

Chinese Exploitation And Discrimination In Canada History Essay European colonial period is characterized by the conquering of foreign land, the exploitation of resources and slaves, and the imposition of European culture. From European colonialism arose many atrocious acts such as the Triangular Slave Trade and the decimation of many indigenous populations. Ideologically, the concept of orientalism emerged from European colonialism where it became lens in which the West sees the people of the East as weak and inferior. European explorers sought to make sense of their travels by drawing from classical knowledge, religious sources, and mythology (Glyn, Meth and Willis 2009); it was a corrupt archive on the cultural identity of the colonized based on sweeping generalizations and stereotypes that crossed several cultural and national boundaries (ibid). The information isolated the colonized and separated them as the other from Europeans (ibid). The creation of a general inferior identity allowed colonial powers to legitimize their colonization and e xploitation of these people (ibid). Although Great Britain and other powerful countries in Europe actively colonized much of the modern Third World and created many obstacles for their future development, other non-colonizing countries do are not guilt-free. Loyal historical colonies like Canada have had a similarly exploitative relationship with Third World citizens, including its blatant discrimination against non-European settlers such as the Chinese. Contrary to the popular belief that Canada has always had a benevolent relationship with people of the Third World, Canada carried forth the orientalist view from European colonialism and used them to justify its discrimination against and exploitation of Chinese immigrants from 1880 to 1947. Under the pretense of orientalism, Canada exploited Chinese labour in building their national railway, created racism immigration policies to keep the Chinese out, and withheld fundamental rights on the grounds of ethnicity. Canada exploited Chinese immigrants as a solution to the labour shortage in building the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) from 1881 to 1885. Throughout the four years and even following it, Chinese suffering outweighed their benefits while Canada was able to complete its railroad on time for a considerably cheaper price. The completion of the CPR was extremely important to Canada because it was a physical means to unite the different regions of Canada together as a country (Baureiss 2007:15). Canada had a lot at stake in the CPR project where a delay in its construction could lead to British Columbias secession from the union of Canada (ibid). In order to meet the completion deadline, the CPR contractor, Andrew Onderdonk, was granted permission from the federal government to import Chinese labourers to compensate for the insufficient Canadian labour force (Wang 2006:11). The Chinese immigrants were allowed entry only for the purposes of building the railroad; Canada was not in favour o f having permanent Chinese settlements and primarily hired men who would presumably return home to their families upon completion (ibid). With the extra labour force of approximately 15 000 Chinese labourers working on the Western portion of the CPR, the railroad was completed on time (Yu 2009:16). Canada also benefit from the low wages that they paid the Chinese immigrants. In the construction of the CPR, white Canadian labourers were paid an average wage of $1.50 to $1.75 while the Chinese labourers were paid $1.00 with the mandate to purchase their provisions solely from the company store (Baureiss 2007:15). Although the two groups performed the same tasks, Canada justified the difference using the orientalist stereotype that the Chinese could survive on a lower wage than the white Canadian labourers (Whiteley, 1929: 342). The railway company saved money in paying cheaper wages and also earned profits in selling provisions to Chinese labourers (ibid). Orientalism created an unequal power relation between Canada and the Chinese immigrants where the Chinese served to benefit Canada. A tragic example is the 4 000 deaths of Chinese labourers working on the CPR as a result of poor working conditions, disease, landslides and accidental explosions (Toronto Star 1986:F.2) For those who survived, Canada did not make an attempt to include or integrate the Chinese into Canadian society because they were not truly welcome and were expected to leave anyway (Wang 2006:12). However, nearing completion of the CPR many Chinese labourers were dismissed early and found themselves with insufficient funds to finance their return fare back to China (ibid). Many descended into poverty as they lost employment with the railway company and others resorted to labouring in mines (ibid). The sole reason that the Chinese were allowed entry into Canada was to advance Canadas own interests in completing the railway in the most efficient and cost effective manner; in complete disregard for the well-being of the Chinese, they opened the gates for the destitute in China in order for Canada to exploit their cheap labour and then abandon them. Canada initially decided to import Chinese because orientalist beliefs dictated that the Chinese were stereotypically inferior in hard labour (Wang 2006:12); Canada would be able to exploit their inferiority and still use them to complete the railroad efficiently. Although this orientalist perception of the Chinese is inaccurate, the fact that Chinese immigrants were imported into a disadvantaged position forced them into the powerless stereotype as they were subject to Canadian interests. They were allowed entry into Canada in accordance to the amount of labour needed by Canada, and they worked at any offered in order to survive. In p urposefully pushing a number of Chinese immigrants into the orientalist stereotype, Canada was able to prove the orientalist knowledge as true and thus justify their exploitation of cheap Chinese labour. As exemplified in the CPR project, Canadas relationship with the Chinese people from the then developing country of China is in no way benevolent or good-willed; on the contrary Canada used and promoted orientalist perceptions of the Chinese in order to rationalize the exploitation of their labour. Canada subsequently discriminated against the Chinese systematically through a racially exclusive immigration policy. The orientalist stereotypes of the Chinese fuelled Canadas institutionally racist immigration policy as they primarily focused on defending against the sojourner image of transitory labourers, who had come [to Canada] to find a fortune and return with it to China (Baureiss 2007:22). Believing in this sojourner stereotype, Canadians felt threatened by the Chinese labourers competitive edge and feared for their job security (ibid). Moreover, in 1903 Prime Minister Wilfred Laurier publically supported the racist and orientalist ideals in his statement to the House of Commons where he said in my opinion there is not much room for the Chinaman in Canada (Winter 2008:122). In response to the wantlessness for the Chinese, Canada passed racially discriminatory regulations through the 1885 Act to Restrict and Regulate Chinese Immigration into Canada which necessitated a $50 pa yment for entry know as the head tax (ibid). However the head tax seemed to reinforce the sojourner stereotype as Chinese men arrived in Canada to work and often sent large sums of their salaries home to their families rather than spending it on the Canadian economy (Baureiss 2007:22). The orientalist stereotype fuelled further intolerance for the Chinese, even though it ignores the fact that the head tax was designed to discourage permanent Chinese settlements in Canada; it was presumably too expensive for a Chinese family to afford the head tax for all family members (ibid). In response to the growing intolerance for the Chinese, Canada took intensified measures to stop Chinese immigration, the head tax was raised to $100 in 1902 and then $500 in 1904 the equivalent of two years worth of wages for an average worker (Wang 2006:12). With the hike in price for the head tax, many men who immigrated ahead of their families lost hope of bringing their wives or children to Canada and fo r many years [the Chinese] community became a bachelor society (Plaitiel 1988:A8). As men working on a dollar a day could not afford to bring their families to Canada, Chinese immigration was significantly curtailed and the Canadian government profited $23 million generated by approximately 81 000 Chinese immigrants (Winter 2008:122), however Canadas intolerance was not satiated. In 1923 Canada replaced the head taxes with the Chinese Immigration Act that prohibited Chinese immigration altogether for a total of twenty-four years (Winter 2008:122). The act gave many Chinese workers the ultimatum of being separated from their family permanently or giving up their immigrant status to return home (Wang 2006:12). The immigration policies set forth by the Canadian government are not only racially discriminatory, but it spread the general orientalist view of unworthiness and undesirability in the Chinese ethnicity. The orientalist stereotypes of the Chinese initially caused Canadians to unwelcome the Chinese but the implementation of head taxes seemingly reinforced the stereotypes, without consideration towards the actual circumstances and created a completely intolerant society. The exclusion of the Chinese in Canada was justified by the orientalist stigma that the Chinese are an unwanted ethnicity in Canada, and thus legitimating any means to eliminate them; the h ead tax that created a financial burden on the Chinese, separated families between countries, and prevented a second generation of Chinese Canadians were valid. Moreover, the eventual total refusal of Chinese immigrants was substantiated based on the orientalist sojourner identity created for the Chinese immigrants dictated them as morally inferior and self-interested. Canadas creation of an orientalist lens in which to view the Chinese through blatantly racism immigration policies contradicts its perceived identity as being benevolent and accommodating to people of the Third World in development. In addition to barring the entry of Chinese immigrants, Canada systemically discriminated against Chinese immigrants already within Canada by legally withholding fundamental human rights. For example, the Chinese were excluded from political life and did not have the right to vote (Baureiss 2007:23). Although they were initially granted voting rights like immigrants of other ethnicities, the right to vote was disallowed to the Chinese in British Columbia in 1985 in provincial and municipal elections (ibid). Later, the federal government also refused to give the Chinese voting rights in federal elections (ibid). Prime Minister John A. Macdonald further justified disenfranchisement of the Chinese by stating that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the Chinese have no British instinct and their mind [is] not suited for democracy (Baureiss 2007:23). Macdonalds statement crystallized the fact that the Chinese are denied rights based on the knowledge about their race as communicated by orientalism; the Chinese are inferior because without British instinct, their intelligence is too elementary for democracy. The Chinese in Canada did not have access to equal opportunity and were further excluded from numerous jobs based on racial grounds. Initially, the exclusion from participating in politics led to disqualification from certain prestigious or powerful professions that included law, pharmacy and accounting (Baureiss 2007:27). Similar to the discriminatory immigration policy, the denial of equality rights to the Chinese stemmed from the oriental stereotype of the sojourner. Since the sojourner stereotype dictated that the Chinese immigrants would all leave after amassing their wealth, Canadians rationalized that it was unnecessary to grant them equal opportunity rights because they would return home and not remain in Canada permanently (Baureiss 2007:23). As a result, in 1878 British Columbia passed a resolution that prohibited Chinese immigrants from working in the provincial public sector (Baureiss 2007:26). Subsequently, the Chinese were also denied positions in many skilled occupatio ns such as boat-makers, mechanics and merchants (ibid). Disqualification became widespread in so many different professions because of restrictive legislation that the Chinese were marginalized to a very limited number of industries such as agriculture, retail and services trades and certain elements of lumbering and fishing low-paying professions that required very minimal education or training (ibid:27). In an effort to combat the greedy and self-interested sojourner, there were a limited number of tasks that the Chinese were eligible to perform within these designated industries. For example, the Chinese were only welcome as cheap farm labourers and could not buy or lease their own land by law (ibid). Being surrounded by these restrictions made the service industry the only major avenue available and the Chinese were generally marginalized to become laundrymen, grocers or homemakers (ibid). Through orientalist knowledge, the Chinese were perceived as weak and incompetent compared to white Canadians, validating their exclusion from franchise and from many more respectable professions. The acceptance and creation of an orientalist identity justified that any measures including those that violate the fundamental human rights the Chinese should be entitled to were justified so long as they cater towards protecting the employment opportunities of white Canadians. In essence, orientalism was a tool for Canada to rationalize the second-class treatment of the Chinese and the refusal of several inalienable human rights. The blatant institutional racism that Canada created under the pretense of orientalist knowledge not only shattered down its perceived kindness but it reveals the hostility that Canada showed to the Chinese. Canadas discrimination and exploitation of the Chinese people directly contradicts the belief that Canada is benevolent towards people of the Third World and Third World countries in general. Canada accepted and further enhanced the orientalist views of the Chinese to exploit their cheap labour in constructing the CPR. Subsequently once the Chinese were no longer useful, Canada justified discriminatory immigration policies to stop Chinese immigration with orientalist stereotypes. In regards to the Chinese immigrants in Canada, the government systemically withheld fundamental political and equality rights from them and justified the second-class treatment with orientalist knowledge of inferiority. Historically, Canada has evidently not been as benevolent towards people of the Third World as it portrays itself to be. Although conditions have significantly improved since the nineteenth century, Canada still has not lived up to the high standards of benevolence and generosity as immigrat ion policies remain exclusive in many other ways. Canadians may see themselves as peaceful and kind to the multicultural people of the Third World but whether it becomes the truth or not depends on what actions Canada decides to take. Canada can choose to make it a priority to root out orientalism or to simply lower the standards of Canadas role in helping and empowering people of the Third World.

Structure Organization And Function Of The Human Body Biology Essay

Structure Organization And Function Of The Human Body Biology Essay Cell are the structural and functional units of all living organisms. Some organisms, such as bacteria, are unicellular, consisting of a single cell. Other organisms, such as humans, are multicellular, or have many cells-an estimated 100,000,000,000,000 cells! Each cell is an amazing world unto itself: it can take in nutrients, convert these nutrients into energy, carry out specialized functions, and reproduce as necessary. Even more amazing is that each cell stores its own set of instructions for carrying out each of these activities. Prokaryotic Cells organisms that are lack of nuclear membrane, the membrane that surrounds the nucleus of a cell. Bacteria are the best known and most studied form of prokaryotic organisms, although the recent discovery of a second group of prokaryotes, called archaea, has provided evidence of a third cellular domain of life and new insights into the origin of life itself. prokaryotes are unicellular organisms that do not develop or differentiate into multicellular forms. are capable of inhabiting almost every place on the earth, from the deep ocean, to the edges of hot springs, to just about every surface of our bodies. Prokaryotes are distinguished from eukaryotes on the basis of nuclear organization, specifically their lack of a nuclear membrane. Prokaryotes also lack any of the intracellular organelles and structures that are characteristic of eukaryotic cells. Most of the functions of organelles, such as mitochondria, chloroplasts, and the Golgi apparatus, are taken over by the prokaryotic plasma membrane. Prokaryotic cells have three architectural regions: appendages called flagella and pili-proteins attached to the cell surface; a cell envelope consisting of a capsule, a cell wall, and a plasma membrane; and a cytoplasmic region that contains the cell genome (DNA) and ribosomes and various sorts of inclusions. Eukaryotes include fungi, animals, and plants as well as some unicellular organisms. Eukaryotic cells are about 10 times the size of a prokaryote and can be as much as 1000 times greater in volume. The major and extremely significant difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes is that eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound compartments in which specific metabolic activities take place. Most important among these is the presence of a nucleus, a membrane-delineated compartment that houses the eukaryotic cells DNA. It is this nucleus that gives the eukaryote-literally, true nucleus-its name. Cell Structures: The Basics The Plasma Membrane-A Cells Protective Coat The outer lining of a eukaryotic cell is called the plasma membrane. This membrane serves to separate and protect a cell from its surrounding environment and is made mostly from a double layer of proteins and lipids, fat-like molecules. Embedded within this membrane are a variety of other molecules that act as channels and pumps, moving different molecules into and out of the cell. A form of plasma membrane is also found in prokaryotes, but in this organism it is usually referred to as the cell membrane. The Cytoskeleton-A Cells Scaffold The cytoskeleton is an important, complex, and dynamic cell component. It acts to organize and maintain the cells shape; anchors organelles in place; helps during endocytosis, the uptake of external materials by a cell; and moves parts of the cell in processes of growth and motility. There are a great number of proteins associated with the cytoskeleton, each controlling a cells structure by directing, bundling, and aligning filaments. The Cytoplasm-A Cells Inner Space Inside the cell there is a large fluid-filled space called the cytoplasm, sometimes called the cytosol. In prokaryotes, this space is relatively free of compartments. In eukaryotes, the cytosol is the soup within which all of the cells organelles reside. It is also the home of the cytoskeleton. The cytosol contains dissolved nutrients, helps break down waste products, and moves material around the cell through a process called cytoplasmic streaming. The nucleus often flows with the cytoplasm changing its shape as it moves. The cytoplasm also contains many salts and is an excellent conductor of electricity, creating the perfect environment for the mechanics of the cell. The function of the cytoplasm, and the organelles which reside in it, are critical for a cells survival. Genetic Material Two different kinds of genetic material exist: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). Most organisms are made of DNA, but a few viruses have RNA as their genetic material. The biological information contained in an organism is encoded in its DNA or RNA sequence. Prokaryotic genetic material is organized in a simple circular structure that rests in the cytoplasm. Eukaryotic genetic material is more complex and is divided into discrete units called genes. Human genetic material is made up of two distinct components: the nuclear genome and the mitochondrial genome. The nuclear genome is divided into 24 linear DNA molecules, each contained in a different chromosome. The mitochondrial genome is a circular DNA molecule separate from the nuclear DNA. Although the mitochondrial genome is very small, it codes for some very important proteins. Organelles The human body contains many different organs, such as the heart, lung, and kidney, with each organ performing a different function. Cells also have a set of little organs, called organelles, that are adapted and/or specialized for carrying out one or more vital functions. Organelles are found only in eukaryotes and are always surrounded by a protective membrane. It is important to know some basic facts about the following organelles. The Nucleus-A Cells Center The nucleus is the most conspicuous organelle found in a eukaryotic cell. It houses the cells chromosomes and is the place where almost all DNA replication and RNA synthesis occur. The nucleus is spheroid in shape and separated from the cytoplasm by a membrane called the nuclear envelope. The nuclear envelope isolates and protects a cells DNA from various molecules that could accidentally damage its structure or interfere with its processing. During processing, DNA is transcribed, or synthesized, into a special RNA, called mRNA. This mRNA is then transported out of the nucleus, where it is translated into a specific protein molecule. In prokaryotes, DNA processing takes place in the cytoplasm. The Ribosome-The Protein Production Machine Ribosomes are found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The ribosome is a large complex composed of many molecules, including RNAs and proteins, and is responsible for processing the genetic instructions carried by an mRNA. The process of converting an mRNAs genetic code into the exact sequence of amino acids that make up a protein is called translation. Protein synthesis is extremely important to all cells, and therefore a large number of ribosomes-sometimes hundreds or even thousands-can be found throughout a cell. Ribosomes float freely in the cytoplasm or sometimes bind to another organelle called the endoplasmic reticulum. Ribosomes are composed of one large and one small subunit, each having a different function during protein synthesis. 2. Describe and distinguish between the cell and tissue organizations and systems. Tissues are the collection of similar cells that group together to perform a specialized function. The four primary tissue types in the human body: epithelial tissue, connective tissue, muscle tissue and nerve tissue. Epithelial Tissue The cells are pack tightly together and form continuous sheets that serve as linings in different parts of the body.   It serves as membranes lining organs and helping to keep the bodys organs separate, in place and protected.   Some examples of epithelial tissue are the outer layer of the skin, the inside of the mouth and stomach, and the tissue surrounding the bodys organs. Connective Tissue There are many types of connective tissue in the body.   It adds support and structure to the body.   Most types of connective tissue contain fibrous strands of the protein collagen that add strength to connective tissue.   Some examples of connective tissue include the inner layers of skin, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, bone and fat tissue.   In addition to these more recognizable forms of connective tissue, blood is also considered a form of connective tissue. Muscle Tissue Muscle tissue is a specialized tissue that can contract.   Muscle tissue contains the specialized proteins actin and myosin that slide past one another and allow movement.   Examples of muscle tissue are contained in the muscles throughout your body. Nerve Tissue Nerve tissue contains two types of cells: neurons and glial cells.   Nerve tissue has the ability to generate and conduct electrical signals in the body.   These electrical messages are managed by nerve tissue in the brain and transmitted down the spinal cord to the body.

Free Essays - The Message of Homers Iliad :: Iliad essays

The Message of Homer's Iliad          In Homer's Iliad, Homer shows his views on heroes, villains, and war. He shows that heroes have great qualities to them and that villains have evil qualities to them. He also shows that even heroes have villainous qualities. Homer also tries to convey that all warriors have a choice between a life of war and a life of peace.    Homer's view of a hero displays bravery, martial skills, and even friendship. Hector is portrayed as the perfect hero in The Iliad. He displays amazing martial skills by being one of the Trojans' top warriors. Hector also shows that he loves his family, he's seen as a man who can be a great warrior and a loving father. He's very devoted to his wife and loves his children. In one scene in the poem, his son was scared of him because of his great helmet. Hector, seeing this, soon removed his helmet and let his son comes to him. This shows that even though he still fights in a war, he still has time to care for his family. Odysseus is another hero who is unwavering in his devotion to his people. Throughout the epic, he shows that he will never betray his people; he even does a marvelous job in rallying up his troops. Priam was also portrayed as a hero. He was a leader who always cared for his men. He even cared about his son Paris who was basically the reason why the war had begun. Even the unnamed warriors were heroes. They gave away 10 years of their life to fight for their leaders.    Homer's view of a villain is petty, selfish, and disloyal. Achilles is shown as an extreme villain in The Iliad. In almost three quarters of the epic, he stays home and just continues to argue with Agamemnon. He may display incredible martial skills on the battlefield, but he still will not fight in the war. He's petty because he's not fighting in his country's war just because he is in a small argument. It also shows that he is disloyal because he is not serving his leader by not fighting in the war.

Luck, Moral Guilt and Legal Guilt Essay -- Philosophy essays

Luck, Moral Guilt and Legal Guilt      Ã‚   The question of whether luck should play a role in our assessment of other people is fundamental to human society. Our judicial laws express the view that we are responsible for our actions-in other words, luck does have a bearing on the determination of legal guilt; since legal guilt is theoretically based on moral guilt, this means that luck is usually considered to have a bearing on moral guilt as well. However, there are serious difficulties with this system of judgment. Indeed, I believe that it is neither advantageous nor even logically plausible to accede to either side of this debate: simply admitting to one extreme (e.g., that luck should never be considered when assessing others, or vice versa) automatically creates a multitude of problems. If we do consider luck when assessing someone's moral character, we open ourselves to the very real possibility of punishing two people unequally for the same exact action or intention, which is incompatible with our notion of j ustice. Yet if we decide that luck should not be a factor, we are in effect embracing the notion that we are not responsible for our actions, and in such a case, punishment would be futile; without legal guilt and punishment, however, society would be chaotic, which again assaults our notion of justice. We shall see that this issue is closely tied in with the more general idea of free will vs. determinism, which itself is a fundamentally disturbing problem. As long as the free will debate remains inconclusive-as most people feel it is-so too will the debate over moral luck remain unresolved.    In order to examine this issue, it is beneficial to start with a specific example: consider a person who happens to ... ... leads to chaos. Yet factoring in luck fails to punish those who are immoral but have good luck, while punishing only those who have bad luck. I maintain that a satisfactory answer to this question is impossible because, as I stated earlier, the issue of moral guilt in relation to luck is based heavily upon the idea of free will versus determinism, a problem which is fundamentally troublesome. With no clear way to decide the issue of free will vs. determinism, it is equally unclear how we should decide the issue of moral guilt. Should luck play a part in the assessment of a person's character? As I asserted at the start of this discussion, I believe that such a determination is logically implausible.    WORKS CITED Nagel, Thomas. "Moral Luck." Reason and Responsibility, 9th edition. Joel Feinberg, ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co., 1996: 515-521.

Comparing My Twin Cousins Essay -- comparison compare contrast essays

Comparing My Twin Cousins For years I have been fascinated by that mysterious quirk of nature called twins. In my family, there are several sets of identical twins, and I have always concentrated on their similarities. I did not realize that identical twins also have many differences. My identical twin cousins, Sue and Heidi, appear to be perfect mirror images. They love to dress alike. They can feel each other's pain. They sound alike and can complete each other's sentences. But upon taking a closer look, I have found that they are as different as day and night. Aside from Sue and Heidi's outward characteristics, they possess several distinguishing traits that allow them to be viewed as two separate, independent individuals. Sue and Heidi are total opposites intellectually. Sue is not a very good student. She absolutely hates school and does only enough work to get by. She does not study and refuses to apply herself. She has a bad habit of procrastinating when it comes to her school work. For example, one of her class assignments was a Black History report on anyone of her choice. The assignment was given on a Monday and was due the following Friday. Sue did not begin working on her report until Thursday evening. As a result of her not allowing herself enough time to prepare her material, she received a low grade on her report. Heidi, on the other hand, is an exceptional student. She does more than what is expected from her by her teachers. She asks for extra assignments to keep her busy in her spare time. She takes her studies seriously. She prepares well in advance for each assignment and takes her time in completing her work. For instance, her class received the same Black History assignme nt as ... ...away from home. She has several pets of her own: two cats, a dog, four hamsters, and a ten-gallon aquarium of fish. She also loves to read. She makes it a habit to read daily, whether it's a newspaper, a magazine, or a book. She especially loves to read novels; she is even a member of a mail-order book club. She plans to attend Texas Southern University and major in veterinary medicine with a minor in business administration. Her future goal is to own a veterinary clinic. Sue and Heidi have as many differences as they have similarities. But they do not compete with each other and are like built-in best friends. Sometimes they communicate with one another by an unspoken means, telepathy. Identical twins, Sue and Heidi are a remarkable creation. On the outside they are a perfect mirror image, but, on the inside, they are as different as night and day.

Single-Sex or Co-Ed Schools: Which Do You Prefer?

Many parents are agonizing about aspects between single-sex school and co-ed school (coeducational school) in relation to what is best for their children. Hence, to justify which is a much preferred choice in respect to differences between the two kinds of school as well as its benefits and disadvantages. It is only natural, of course, for parents to be concerned especially in matters that concern their children.A minority of parents will choose to send their children to single-sex school because they are concerned about their children’s studies in terms of the possible distraction of the opposite sex, knowing the teenage trends in this modern century. Looking at the modern trends, most teenagers begin having relationships at young ages of 13. It is highly understandable that parents worry. However, parents should also have the confidence in their children, whom they have tirelessly instilled values since the day of their birth, to be able to manage these relationships so that it will not negatively affect their studies.There are percentages of students who are affectionately fond of each other, but did not negatively affect their studies and even made them work harder because they didn’t want their parents to be against the relationship. Besides that, some teachers pay more attention to the boys because usually boy tend to slack in comparison to girls, and sometimes teachers will encourage boys to put in more effort and try harder to solve difficulties. In contrast to that, when girls were having difficulty, the teacher often provides the answer.This may in turn affect girls, thinking that they do not receive equal opportunities of the challenge and lack enjoyment in their studies. While some may send their children to single-sex schools, many still send their children to co-ed school because they are of the opinion that schools are just places where students get acquainted with the basics of the life, which further helps them to foster their pro ficiency level in different aspects of life required in this competitive world.In many cases, students who come from single-sex school face difficulties adapting or even coping with society because they lack experience in associating themselves with the opposite sex. According to reports from the Australian Government, test results of students from single-sex school are higher in marks than students from co-ed school. This is because children in single-sex schools are more focused in revising for they do not have the distraction students in co-ed classes have. Another eason why single-sex schooling is a good idea is that students are going to have more study time to get more work done, thereby leading to less undone homework and reduce procrastinations. Boys and girls learn in two different ways. That's why having a single sex school is more rewarding than a co-ed school. According to the report, the difference between the way boys and girls learn are the type of weather boys and gi rls preferred. Boys prefer to learn in a cool, dark room but girl prefer to learn in warm and light room. Boys like the subject that around math and science but girls usually like around language.So when there are two different people wanting two different things it’s hard to please both sides. In conclusion, whether sending children to Single-sex or co-ed schools a type of love from parents. Going to the two kinds of school actually doesn’t affect the behaviour or a child’s study, it basically just focuses on the student whether they want to study or not. Therefore, I think going to either single- sex or Co-ed school doesn’t actually matter that much as long as you can keep up with your study then having opposite sex around you is an absolute fine thing. Single-Sex or Co-Ed Schools: Which Do You Prefer? Many parents are agonizing about aspects between single-sex school and co-ed school (coeducational school) in relation to what is best for their children. Hence, to justify which is a much preferred choice in respect to differences between the two kinds of school as well as its benefits and disadvantages. It is only natural, of course, for parents to be concerned especially in matters that concern their children.A minority of parents will choose to send their children to single-sex school because they are concerned about their children’s studies in terms of the possible distraction of the opposite sex, knowing the teenage trends in this modern century. Looking at the modern trends, most teenagers begin having relationships at young ages of 13. It is highly understandable that parents worry. However, parents should also have the confidence in their children, whom they have tirelessly instilled values since the day of their birth, to be able to manage these relationships so that it will not negatively affect their studies.There are percentages of students who are affectionately fond of each other, but did not negatively affect their studies and even made them work harder because they didn’t want their parents to be against the relationship. Besides that, some teachers pay more attention to the boys because usually boy tend to slack in comparison to girls, and sometimes teachers will encourage boys to put in more effort and try harder to solve difficulties. In contrast to that, when girls were having difficulty, the teacher often provides the answer.This may in turn affect girls, thinking that they do not receive equal opportunities of the challenge and lack enjoyment in their studies. While some may send their children to single-sex schools, many still send their children to co-ed school because they are of the opinion that schools are just places where students get acquainted with the basics of the life, which further helps them to foster their pro ficiency level in different aspects of life required in this competitive world.In many cases, students who come from single-sex school face difficulties adapting or even coping with society because they lack experience in associating themselves with the opposite sex. According to reports from the Australian Government, test results of students from single-sex school are higher in marks than students from co-ed school. This is because children in single-sex schools are more focused in revising for they do not have the distraction students in co-ed classes have. Another eason why single-sex schooling is a good idea is that students are going to have more study time to get more work done, thereby leading to less undone homework and reduce procrastinations. Boys and girls learn in two different ways. That's why having a single sex school is more rewarding than a co-ed school. According to the report, the difference between the way boys and girls learn are the type of weather boys and gi rls preferred. Boys prefer to learn in a cool, dark room but girl prefer to learn in warm and light room. Boys like the subject that around math and science but girls usually like around language.So when there are two different people wanting two different things it’s hard to please both sides. In conclusion, whether sending children to Single-sex or co-ed schools a type of love from parents. Going to the two kinds of school actually doesn’t affect the behaviour or a child’s study, it basically just focuses on the student whether they want to study or not. Therefore, I think going to either single- sex or Co-ed school doesn’t actually matter that much as long as you can keep up with your study then having opposite sex around you is an absolute fine thing.