Critically discuss Essay Example for Free

Critically discuss Essay In order to critically discuss the quoted statement it is first necessary to determine what the power relations between adults and children are. How do adults demonstrate power over children, and what part does fear play in contributing to this power. Fear is another word which will need to be classified, what frightens children and how do adults exploit this fear to exercise power over children. Throughout history and in all cultures adults exercise power over children, in all aspects of their lives from parental power, teacher/school regulation through to the passing of laws at national level that affect the lives of all children within that society. S. A. Taylor (2000) cited in Doing Research with Children and Young People Edited by Fraser et al, pointed out that it is adults and not children themselves who write about, debate and decide what rights children should have. This can be seen as an indication of the power adults exercise over children which confines them to subordinate roles within society. Power means different thing to different people, however, it is generally thought of as the ability of individuals or groups to influence others and put forward their point of view despite the resistance or objections of others. Sometimes the direct use of force is used to exercise power, however idealogies are usually used to justify the application of this force (Giddens 1995) cited in Doing Research with Children and Young People Edited by Fraser et al pg81. Thus the old adage that knowledge is power can be said to be true. Children’s knowledge can be disregarded by adults and they can still be controlled by force, (no matter how well intentioned) by the adults who are responsible for them. In order to understand the role of power in research with children and young people, it is necessary to acknowledge the contribution of sociological thinking. Sociological thinking seeks to explain the role of power in people’s lives, how society as a whole works and how order is achieved (Doing Research with Children and Young People Edited by Fraser et al pg 81). In the past, such explanations emphasized the world of men with small consideration to the world of women and less still to the worlds of children. Feminists were critical of the ideas that portrayed the family as â€Å"natural† and unchanging. However, Feminists ideas also came into conflict with each other in particular black Feminists were critical of white Feminist fro ignoring the paradox of black experience in their arguments. Wright et al (1998) cited in Doing Research with Children and Young People Edited by Fraser et al pg83 Fraser et al pg83 Fraser et al pg83 Fraser et al pg83 Fraser et al pg83 acknowledged in his research the importance of Feminist researchers recognition of the reproduction of gender divisions within education. Research in this area has helped to address the educational performance of young women in school. Family life and public aspects of life are important in considering the concept of power in the lives of children and young people. Bill and Ribbens (1995) and Ribbens and Edwards (1998) cited in Doing Research with Children and Young People Edited by Fraser et al pg 83 suggest the concepts of public and private aspects of life and family are relevant for understanding the divisions within the of people in Western society in terms of the meanings men and women associate with the idea of public and private life. These aspects can contribute to the thinking about the position of children, who have limited power within family life. Research studies involving children and young people in their home environment, are often reliant on reports by their parents or carers. Modern researchers, however, increasingly conduct research with children and young people via direct communication with children in order to determine their views first hand. Power elations in research with children and young people are reinforced by more general and cultural ideas that exist between adults and children in society at large (Doing Research with Children and Young People Edited by Fraser et al pg 84.) Mayall maintained that adults have divided up the social order into two major groups that is adults and children, with specific conditions surrounding the lives of each group. One factor that helps to maintain unequal adult-child power relations is beliefs that adult possess a superior level of knowledge. However, it is difficult to believe that an adult would have a better knowledge of what it is like to be child than the child themselves. Mayall points out that she needs to acquire from a child their own unique knowledge of what it means to be a child, because although of course she has been a child herself, she may have forgotten much and childhoods vary and are likely to have changed in the time since she herself was a child. Researchers can try to minimise the power relation gulf between them as the adult to the child/children by trying to be â€Å"one of them† it is not easy to negate the central adult characteristic of having power over children. Christensen and Prout (2002) cited in Doing Research with Children and Young People Edited by Fraser et al pg 85, outlined four ways that children and childhood have been identified in research. The first of these is that of â€Å"the child as an object† this assumes that children and young people are dependent, incompetent and unable to deal appropriately with information. They are in need of care and protection by adults who undertake the role of â€Å"interpreters† of their lives. This orientation of research relies heavily on the adult perception of situations and the accounts of adults; it all but negates the views of children. The second view point is of â€Å"the child as subject† this puts children more to the fore in the research process and moving the research to a more child-centred perspective. Despite the suitability of involving children it is recognised that it can be countered by judgements about their social maturity and cognitive ability. Adult researchers exert power in determining who to include e.g. only children of a certain age or intelligence level. In the third viewpoint the child is seen as a â€Å"social actor†. That is they take part in, change and become changed by the world in which they live. Children are seen as entities in their own right, rather than just part of a family unit, or a member of a school, etc. The final viewpoint sees the child as a â€Å"participant or co-researcher†. This involves the children having an active role in the research. This perception considers that children should be informed, involved and consulted about all activities that have an affect on their lives; including research. In this situation the balance of power between adults and children can be volatile and changeable. The level of knowledge that the adult shares with the child, dictates the level at which the child is truly involved.

Essay --

Ever since our minds were old enough to comprehend three syllable words, we've been told to be original. Originality by definition means the ability to think independently or creatively. Such a simple task it seems but so many of us find it extremely difficult to fulfill. Staying true to yourself and embracing your individuality isn't a task or concept all will grasp. To be yourself means to embrace and acknowledge that no one else in this universe is just like you and that conforming to their standards will have to take a backseat to your happiness. Only the strong minded can do this and this revelation won't take a day or even a year, but it will embark you on a lifelong journey. "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment" Ralph Waldo Emerson. We live in a world where society tells you to be yourself and then judges you. We love in a constant fear of being judged or called a weirdo. Though the barons that hold us to this conformity are strong, many manage to break through. No other person in this universe is exactly like you. Everyone has a different quality to bring to the table and that is what makes out world such a diverse place. Embracing your assets to society and not trying to imitate someone else will not only change your outlook on certain situations but on your life as a whole. The phrase only the strong will survive applies to all aspects of life, including individuality. To be able to stand up for who you are and not let the opinions of the world faze you takes a strong mind and a strong spirit. Having a true sense of self is a life long journey and some people reach it more quickly than others. Some reach this place of nirvana while still in thei... ...ted. There are many countries that frown upon standing out to the extent of the Americans. In some Middle Eastern cultures, women are required to cover their bodies from head to toe. They dress in dark clothing so that little attention is drawn to them, if any at all. Differing from the Middle Eastern culture, American people often dress to the extreme; showing them off as if the world is always watching them. Although one covers their body with a black hijab and another prances around in a rainbow dress, the one covered is not any less of an individual as the one standing out physically. In conclusion, we as a society have to realize that individuality goes much deeper than material things and that it is okay to be different. Conforming to what society feels you should do will not only be detrimental to our growth as humans but as a world community as well.

The Middle Age

The Middle Age has been portrayed as a tumultuous period that started from the fall of Rome in 476 AD to the beginnings of the Protestant Reformation in 1517.   In spite of all the negative depictions of the period, the two most important contributions of this period are: (1) the rise of independent nations out of the fragmentation of the former Roman Empire; and (2) the rise of urban towns which eventually became centers of trade and sustained economic activity in Europe. Morris Bishop, in the book The Middle Ages, describes this period of European history both as â€Å"a continuation and a formation.† It is a continuation in the sense that it continued the Roman legacy and civilizations, assimilating the â€Å"barbaric† civilizations along the way (Bishop, p. 7). But more importantly, this is a formation, according to Bishop, because out of this period emerged the modern Europe of our times. Out of the ashes of the former â€Å"grandeur that was Rome† arose independent nations with a common language and tradition. The Carolingian Empire founded by Charlemagne in 800 AD was subdivided into different geographical patches because of inheritance over his grandsons and great grandsons. These geo-political subdivisions of Europe eventually defined the boundaries of modern Europe as we now know it. It gave birth to the independent nations of France, England, and the Italian city-states. Moreover, it was during the Middle Age that the masses of the different regions of the former empire developed their vernaculars (from Latin vernaculus, â€Å"out of one’s house†) that eventually became the modern languages. During the height of the Roman Empire, Latin was used as the language of nobility, politics and church. In medieval times, the Christianized â€Å"barbaric† tribes gradually developed their own version of Latin. The geo-political subdivisions mentioned earlier hastened the rise of these vernaculars that would later develop into independent languages of Italian, French, Spanish and Portuguese. With common political background and language, the independent kingdoms arose. The Crusades also helped strengthen these newly-created kingdoms by weakening the hold of the nobility and ending the feudal system, thus making the nobles swear allegiance to the king. Indeed, much of Europe’s boundaries, geographically and politically, were in essence created during the Middle Age. Economic activity during the early Middle Age was almost halted by the constant wars that plagued the boundaries of the former empire. Transferring goods from one location to another proved dangerous, and with the rise of Muslim armies controlling east of the Mediterranean, trading between the eastern and western regions of the empire declined. The latter part of the Medieval Period, however, was characterized as a period of relative peace, and even though there were political instabilities, especially within the crumbling Byzantine Empire, trading flourished within commercial districts and towns. The medieval towns laid the foundations of trading that now characterize modern economy. The system of economy shifted from the land-based feudalism to that of money-based mercantilism. Merchants emerged, and they engaged in banking, which financed economic activity. Even kings and nobles borrow money from the merchant class, and they were regarded as an important component of the society. With the rise of the merchant class, the material growth led to the fostering of the arts and literature, as these merchants became patrons of the arts and supporters of artists. Citizens engaging in the businesses or the trades established guilds to promote mutual aid and protection, the forerunners of present-day labor unions. Even the land laborers, who were then very much oppressed, were empowered during this period, as described by Barbara Rosenwein: â€Å"Peasants, like town citizens, gained a new sense of identity and solidarity as they bargained with a lord keen to increase his income at their expense† (Rosenwein, p. 224). In summary, the Middle Age created a strong and materially progressive Europe. The independent nations of modern-day Europe owes much to the events that occurred during the period between 500 and 1500 AD.   The Middle Age also created an atmosphere of active trading and economic activity, which in turn caused proliferation of the arts and culture. Bishop, Morris. The Middle Ages. Houghton Mifflin Books, 2001. Rosenwein, Barbara. A Short History of the Middle Ages. Broadway Press, 2004.

Cause and Effect of Corruption - 1644 Words

There is a growing worldwide concern over corruption at the present time. Several factors are responsible for this. A consensus has now been reached that corruption is universal. It exists in all countries, both developed and developing, in the public and private sectors, as well as in non-profit and charitable organizations. Allegations and charges of corruption now play a more central role in politics than at any other time. Governments have fallen, careers of world renowned public figures ruined, and reputations of well-respected organizations and business firms badly tarnished on account of it. The international mass media feeds on it and scandals and improper conduct, especially of those in high places. The rising trend in the use of†¦show more content†¦Thus, price controls, subsidies and the corruption and black markets they generate, can lead to undesirable social and economic consequences. This also illustrates the point that dismantling controls, getting rid of sub sidies and preventing price distortions form a key element in economic reforms and for the establishment of a properly functioning market economy. Unfortunately, corruption places severe constraints on a country’s capacity to undertake economic reforms. The rich and the powerful, the main gainers of a corrupt system, will therefore oppose reforms. The leadership in a country has a key role to play in combating corruption. It is an Asian tradition to hold leaders and those in authority in high regard and esteem. Hence the top leadership must set a good example with respect to honesty, integrity and capacity for hard work. Since fighting corruption will involve taking difficult decisions, the leadership must also display firmness, political will and commitment to carry out the required reforms. Honest and dedicated leaders are an essential, but not a sufficient, condition to counter corruption. Several other conditions are needed as well. Credibility is one of them. For success, the offenders both on the demand and supply side of a corrupt deal must be convinced that the government is serious about fighting corruption. Publicly try and punish some well-known corruptShow MoreRelatedEffect Of Noble Cause Corruption Essay1159 Words   |  5 PagesImpact of Noble-Cause Corruption Ethical decision making will have the propensity to suffer with positive results garnered by acts of noble cause corruption. Getting a sense of accomplishment through corrupt means will make an individual more likely to take shortcuts during future events. Law enforcement professionals will be more likely to go to greater extents to get the bad guy off the street. This can be dangerous to all individuals involved. It can leave the officer open to administrativeRead MoreThe Law Enforcement System And The Criminal Justice System Essay1657 Words   |  7 Pagesconduct follow up investigations if needed.† In addition, in this essay I will be discussing about, the cause and effect of how the law enforcement system relates to unethical behavior, to police subcultures, and finally, corruption prevention programs. First of allUnethical behavior relates to the Law enforcement system, since according to Martin ( 2011), he states that Research into police corruption offers some understanding of the phenomenon in the hope of rooting out this behavior that serves toRead MoreCorruption Is A Universal One1431 Words   |  6 PagesThe problem with corruption is a universal one, but this challenge is particularly egregious in new and developing democracies. Brazil’s troubles with corruption stem from far before democratization in the 1980s. From the military takeover and the rule of the bureaucratic authoritarian regime to the present day, this nation has struggled with nepotism, clientism, and favoritism as well as a slew of other corrupt practices. The state, federal, and municipal levels of government have all been plaguedRead MoreCorruption And Its Effects On Society1551 Words   |  7 PagesCorruption is globally regarded to be one of the most immoral and ethically wrong practices in the political realm. There is a reason as to why corruption has such a strong negative connotation associated with it, as impacts caused by its direct and indirect effects on society cause massive consequences. The very nature of corruption undermines almost all processes and goals set fourth by a liberal democracy, while causing high distrust and low public approval between officials and citizens. TheRead MoreAdministrative Corruption Is Now A Buzzword For The Current Era Essay1360 Words   |  6 PagesAdministrative corruption is now a buzzword for the current era. It differs from country to country as it’s effects are varying on the basis of socio ­economic and political structure and the proportion of a nation’s growth. It makes a public or, private organisation untrustworthy and increase nullification negligence and in society. Corruption has been the problem belonging ever since from the human civilisation.Corruption is not a new phenomenon Bangladesh. It got heavily engaged with the administrativeRead MoreCorruption And Corruption Of The Public Sector1530 Words   |  7 PagesBribery and corruption in the public sector, is endemic and unavoidable in all societies 1 The supportive reasons of unavoidable bribery and corruption Bribery and corruption in the public sector have been investigated by government for many years, while such hidden bribery and corruption are the behaviour that members working in the public sector indiscriminately take actions. Bribery and corruption are due to members’ heart swell and unsound personality so as to break the public welfare natureRead MoreImplementation of Good Governance in Pakistan1095 Words   |  5 PagesStrategic vision STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN PAKISTAN 1. Institutional Imbalance 2. Poor relations between center and federating units 3. Political Instability 4. Poor planning and development 5. Inability to provide justice 6. Increasing rate of Corruption 7. Inefficient Economic Management 8. Expenditure Mismanagement 9. Poverty 10. Unemployment 11. Illiteracy 12. Lack of control over law and order situation 13. National Sovereignty of Pakistan is being affected 14. Terrorism 15. StrongRead MoreCorruption1154 Words   |  5 PagesEffects of Corruption in Multinational Corporation’s [Student name] [Professor’s name] [Course title] [Date] Introduction Corruption can be defined as a spiritual or moral deviation from an ideal. Corruption come in different styles and that include bribery and funds embezzlement. Corruption has been the number one menace in many countries of the world. It impacts countries in many ways, impacting economy and development in a negative way. Corruption tends to raise the cost of governmentRead MoreHow Corruption Has Proven Detrimental Effect On Business And Economic Growth1534 Words   |  7 Pagesand Ross (Corruption entrepreneurship) study, the effects of corruption on the number of establishments in any given municipality have proven to be negative and statistically significant. Over time, corruption has proven to be detrimental to business and economic growth and has long lasting negative effects (entrepernerushipbrazilmuncipalities, 69). Business growth slows or stops all together and only the state owned enterprises are able to persist through an economy riddled with corruption. These stateRead MorePoor Leadership And Internal Conflicts Essay1270 Words   |  6 Pagessome do not care what happens to them either. Internal conflicts cause poverty because the wars that start put workers out of business, and those workers cannot get work anywhere else so they are soon in poverty. Poverty can also cause conflicts within country. If people are upset with the government and tired of how they have been treated, they will go and cause problems for the government. When the government stop corruption and lets the people know they are spending taxpayer’s money on resourceful