Saturday, November 30, 2019

Stanley and Blanche Relationship in a Streetcar Named Desire

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams is a classic of American theater. Thomas P. Adler said that â€Å"it was the finest play ever written for the American stage† (Kolin 1). Exactly this play determined the author’s themes, thoughts and ideals.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Stanley and Blanche Relationship in a Streetcar Named Desire specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Harold Klerman, it is the only play that describes the personality, society and depicts realistically the reality of that time. The setting of the play took place in contemporary times. It is a story of a decline of a Southern lady Blanche DuBois. In this play, Williams disclose a wide range of themes. Among them are the themes of domestic violence, relationships of men and women, the fantasy and its confrontation with reality. One of the most important themes of the play turns around the relationships of the mai n characters, Blanche DuBois and Stanley Kowalski. These are two characters that are put in opposition. The climax of their opposition is the Stanley’s rape of Blanche. On one hand, this episode depicts a cruel attitude and immoral behavior, â€Å"Stanley is wrong and Blanche is right, the moralists agree† (Fleche 500). On the other hand, Blanche’s rape was inevitable (Fleche 500). And through the characterization of Blanche and Stanley’s relationship, I will argue that Blanche was raped. Blanche DuBois comes to New Orleans to her sister Stella married to rude and down-to-earth man Stanley Kowalski. Blanche and Stanley did not like each other from the very first second they met each other. Blanche saw Stanley beat his wife and behaved as an animal, â€Å"the primary example of physical abuse against Stella occurs in Scene Three, when drunk and angry, Stanley first tosses the radio out the window and then charges after his pregnant wife and strikes herâ⠂¬  (Koprince 46). Stanley is showed as a brutish person without moral qualities. However, Blanche is also not â€Å"an angel†. Her previous life is not perfect and all the manners and tenderness is just a mask to hide her â€Å"dark† past and alcoholism. The only person who suspects her and wants to show her real face to everybody, â€Å"and yet it seems â€Å"natural† to read A Streetcar Named Desire as an allegorical journey toward Blanche’s apocalyptic destruction at the hands of her â€Å"executioner,† Stanley† (Fleche 504).Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As it has already been mentioned, these two characters are put in opposition, however we cannot say that this is an opposition of good and evil. Thus, Blanche appears as a young, beautiful, and unhappy woman who survived the suicide of her husband and wants to start all over again. For the first time, we see her elegant and tender. The first impression is absolutely positive. She is so light and smart, she knows French and music. However, we do not know much about her past and it is also suspiciously. We guess that she lies and Stanley helps us understand it. The author is sympathetic to his heroine. He does not idealize her, on the contrary, he is quite objective: he shows her live to whiskey and relations with men after her husband’s death. â€Å"Blanche who has never spoken an honest word in her life is allowed, indeed encouraged, to present her life to the audience as a vocational decision†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Toles 119). The â€Å"impurity† of Blanche’s past suggests the final of the play and it is a quite logical completion of the story. The truth cannot be hide and everybody should pay for his/her actions. Blanche planned to marry Mitchell, but sooner or later, he would find out about her â€Å"sins†, â€Å"she cannot esca pe the status of victim, on many fronts, nor avert the plans which have led to her committal† (Toles 117). She could not expect other attitude to herself, especially in that social layer with it principles and relations between men and women. Thus, the character of Blanche can be interpreted as positive and negative at the same time, on the one hand â€Å"she has been enshrined as a hallowed representative of the Old South, a secular saint. On the other, negatively, she has been branded a nymphomaniac, a liar, an infectious source of destructive feminine desire† (Kolin 3). With this â€Å"image† of a liar and nymphomaniac Stanley fought. Stanley appears as a person with animal nature. He drinks bear all the time, â€Å"copulates, play games, smashes light bulbs, paws through Blanche’s wardrobe, throws plates on the floor, even commits rape† (Cardullo 29). Stanley is a representative of a dark reality. He embodies the â€Å"prototypical battererâ₠¬ . According to Susan Koprince, he has all signs of such person. â€Å"He is hypermasculine, believes in mail’s superiority and has dual personality† (50). Those traits make him hate Blanche.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Stanley and Blanche Relationship in a Streetcar Named Desire specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More First of all, he hates her aristocratic past and he is outraged by her attempts to fool him showing that she is better than he and his friends. This is contradictory to his image of a woman. It makes him look for â€Å"dark spots† in her past and he finds them. Stanley does everything to ruin life of this woman. It seems to be cruel and basely. However, he is the only person who supported the truth and â€Å"justice† and reality. Stanley is a dark version of the salesman, selling the idealistic Blanche a harsh reality on the specious grounds that it is somehow good for h er and willing to use force, if necessary, to make the sale.† (Cardullo 30). The result of the confrontation of Stanley and Blanch was the rape. However, it cannot be considered as a cruel violation. Neither the context, nor the scene manifests it. In her article, Anna Fleche says, â€Å"she is the erring woman who gets what she â€Å"asks† for (her realistic antecedents are clear)† (507). This is the way other men treated her, this is what she expected, this is how a logical flow of things should be like. All the situation and Blanche herself â€Å"suggests† rape to Stanley. If other men did it, why he cannot? Moreover, she does not resist but sinks on her knees and remains â€Å"inert†, â€Å"She is not only silent but crumpled, immobile, while he takes over control and agency† (Fleche 508 ). Thus, the scene of the rape denies any emotions, it is a conflict that arises between two characters. In addition. With this action Stanley returned B lanche to reality. As George Toles mentions, â€Å"Stanley’s casually violent gesture recalls the rape and, less malevolently, repeats the realist’s inalterable lesson: those who live entirely in dreams will perish† (130). Thus, Blanche and Stanley are two characters put in opposition. Neither of them is perfect. Blanche lives with her dream and she constantly lies to hide a cruel reality and her real past. Stanley is a representative of this cruel reality which opens Blanche’s eyes through the violent action. However, both, with context, main characters’ traits of character and actions, especially in the scene of a rape, the author coverts the meaning of the rape. Now, it is not just the act of violence, but the conflict that shows who is who in the play.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Works Cited Cardullo, Robert James. â€Å"Selling in American Drama.† Helen Dwight Reid Educational Foundation. (2007): 29-33. Fleche, Anne. â€Å"The Space of Madness and Desire: Tennessee Williams and Streetcar.† Modern Drama. Vol. 38. Issue 4. (1995): 498-509. Kolin, Phillip. Williams. A streetcar named Desire. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Print. Koprince, Susan. â€Å"Domestic violence in A Streetcar Named Desire.† Southern Studies. Vol 7. Issue 2. (1996): 43-55. Toles, George. â€Å"Blanche Dubois and the kindness of endings†. Raritan. Vol 14. Issue 4. (1995): 115-144. This essay on Stanley and Blanche Relationship in a Streetcar Named Desire was written and submitted by user Max Horne to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Сhildrеn Rеunifiсation with thеir Substanсе Abusing Parеnts

Ð ¡hildrÐ µn RÐ µunifiÃ' ation with thÐ µir SubstanÃ' Ã µ Abusing ParÐ µnts Ð ¡hildrÐ µn RÐ µunifiÃ' ation with thÐ µir SubstanÃ' Ã µ Abusing ParÐ µnts IntroduÃ' tion AlÃ' ohol and othÐ µr drug abusÐ µ is a major problÐ µm for Ã' hildrÐ µn and familiÐ µs involvÐ µd with publiÃ'  Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ. SubstanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ Ã' ompromisÐ µs appropriatÐ µ parÐ µnting praÃ' tiÃ' Ã µs and inÃ' rÐ µasÐ µs thÐ µ risk of Ã' hild maltrÐ µatmÐ µnt. A substantial proportion of substantiatÐ µd Ã' hild abusÐ µ and nÐ µglÐ µÃ' t rÐ µports involvÐ µ parÐ µntal substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ. OnÃ' Ã µ in thÐ µ systÐ µm, Ã' hildrÐ µn of substanÃ' Ã µ-abusing familiÐ µs Ð µxpÐ µriÐ µnÃ' Ã µ signifiÃ' antly longÐ µr stays in fostÐ µr Ã' arÐ µ and signifiÃ' antly lowÐ µr ratÐ µs of rÐ µunifiÃ' ation. To addrÐ µss thÐ µsÐ µ problÐ µms, Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ systÐ µms arÐ µ dÐ µvÐ µloping sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µ intÐ µgration modÐ µls that inÃ' orporatÐ µ both substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ and Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs. This study providÐ µs an initial Ð µxamination of thÐ µ Ð µffÐ µÃ' tivÐ µn Ð µss of onÐ µ sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µ intÐ µgration modÐ µl that Ð µmphasizÐ µs thÐ µ provision of intÐ µnsivÐ µ Ã' asÐ µ managÐ µmÐ µnt to link substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ and Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs. ThÐ µ authors usÐ µd an Ð µxpÐ µrimÐ µntal dÐ µsign and foÃ' usÐ µd partiÃ' ular attÐ µntion on two outÃ' omÐ µs: aÃ' Ã' Ã µss to substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs and family rÐ µunifiÃ' ation. ThÐ µ findings indiÃ' atÐ µ that thÐ µ familiÐ µs assignÐ µd to thÐ µ Ð µxpÐ µrimÐ µntal group usÐ µd substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs at a signifiÃ' antly highÐ µr ratÐ µ and wÐ µrÐ µ morÐ µ likÐ µly to aÃ' hiÐ µvÐ µ family rÐ µunifiÃ' ation than wÐ µrÐ µ familiÐ µs in thÐ µ Ã' ontrol group. ThÐ µ Ð µffÐ µÃ' tivÐ µ Ã' ollaboration of multiplÐ µ sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µ systÐ µms to dÐ µal with parÐ µntal alÃ' ohol and othÐ µr drug abusÐ µ (AODA) Ã' ontinuÐ µs to Ã' hallÐ µngÐ µ govÐ µrnmÐ µnt Ð µfforts to Ð µnsurÐ µ family pÐ µrmanÐ µnÃ' Ã µ and thÐ µ safÐ µty and wÐ µll-bÐ µing of nÐ µglÐ µÃ' tÐ µd and abusÐ µd Ã' hildrÐ µn. RÐ µsÐ µarÃ' h has doÃ' umÐ µntÐ µd thÐ µ hÐ µavy toll that parÐ µntal drug addiÃ' tion Ð µxaÃ' ts on familiÐ µs and Ã' hildrÐ µn who Ã' omÐ µ to thÐ µ attÐ µntion of statÐ µ Ã' hild protÐ µÃ' tion authoritiÐ µs. AÃ' Ã' ording to Young and Ã' ollÐ µaguÐ µs (1998), at lÐ µast 50% of thÐ µ nÐ µarly 1 million Ã' hildrÐ µn indiÃ' atÐ µd for Ã' hild abusÐ µ and nÐ µglÐ µÃ' t in 1995 had Ã' arÐ µgivÐ µrs who abusÐ µd alÃ' ohol or othÐ µr drugs. A 1994 rÐ µport issuÐ µd by thÐ µ U.S. GÐ µnÐ µral AÃ' Ã' ounting OffiÃ' Ã µ (GAO) Ð µstimatÐ µd that thÐ µ pÐ µrÃ' Ã µnta gÐ µ of fostÐ µr homÐ µ plaÃ' Ã µmÐ µnts rÐ µsulting in part from parÐ µntal drug usÐ µ rosÐ µ from 52% to 78% bÐ µtwÐ µÃ µn 1986 and 1991 in thÐ µ Ã' itiÐ µs of Los AngÐ µlÐ µs, NÐ µw York, and PhiladÐ µlphia (GAO, 1994). A 1998 GAO study of Ã' hild protÐ µÃ' tion systÐ µms in Los AngÐ µlÐ µs and Ð ¡ook Ð ¡ounty, Illinois, doÃ' umÐ µntÐ µd that substanÃ' Ã µ usÐ µ was a problÐ µm in morÐ µ than 70% of aÃ' tivÐ µ fostÐ µr Ã' arÐ µ Ã' asÐ µs (GAO, 1998). If Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ systÐ µms arÐ µ to aÃ' hiÐ µvÐ µ dÐ µsirablÐ µ pÐ µrmanÐ µnÃ' y and safÐ µty outÃ' omÐ µs, thÐ µ dÐ µvÐ µlopmÐ µnt of innovativÐ µ sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µ stratÐ µgiÐ µs and agÐ µnÃ' y partnÐ µrships arÐ µ nÐ µÃ' Ã µssary. BaÃ' kground and StatÐ µmÐ µnt of thÐ µ ProblÐ µm RÐ µsÐ µarÃ' h quÐ µstion ParÐ µntal substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ oftÐ µn Ã' ompromisÐ µs appropriatÐ µ parÐ µnting praÃ' tiÃ' Ã µs, Ã' rÐ µatÐ µs problÐ µms in thÐ µ parÐ µntÃ' hild rÐ µlationship, and signifiÃ' antly inÃ' rÐ µasÐ µs thÐ µ risk of Ã' hild maltrÐ µatmÐ µnt. This papÐ µr addrÐ µssÐ µs thÐ µ quÐ µstions whÐ µthÐ µr onÃ' Ã µ involvÐ µd in thÐ µ Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ systÐ µm, substanÃ' Ã µ-abusing parÐ µnts arÐ µ morÐ µ likÐ µly to Ð µxpÐ µriÐ µnÃ' Ã µ subsÐ µquÐ µnt allÐ µgations of maltrÐ µatmÐ µnt Ã' omparÐ µd with non-substanÃ' Ã µ-abusing parÐ µnts. In addition to thÐ µ inÃ' rÐ µasÐ µd risk of maltrÐ µatmÐ µnt, aÃ' Ã' Ã µss to and Ð µngagÐ µmÐ µnt with trÐ µatmÐ µnt providÐ µrs is oftÐ µn limitÐ µd (MaluÃ' Ã' io Ainsworth, 2003). Ð ¡onsÐ µquÐ µntly, Ã' hildrÐ µn of substanÃ' Ã µ-abusing parÐ µnts rÐ µmain in substitutÐ µ Ã' arÐ µ for signifiÃ' antly longÐ µr pÐ µriods of timÐ µ and Ð µxpÐ µriÐ µnÃ' Ã µ signifiÃ' antly lowÐ µr ratÐ µs of family rÐ µunifiÃ' ation rÐ µlativÐ µ to almost Ð µvÐ µry othÐ µr subgroup of familiÐ µs in thÐ µ Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ systÐ µm (GAO, 1998). RationalÐ µ AÃ' Ã' Ã µss to substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ trÐ µatmÐ µnt is limitÐ µd for substanÃ' Ã µ-abusing parÐ µnts. OvÐ µrall, in thÐ µ UnitÐ µd StatÐ µs approximatÐ µly onÐ µ-third of all individuals who nÐ µÃ µd trÐ µatmÐ µnt rÐ µÃ' Ã µivÐ µ it (SubstanÃ' Ã µ AbusÐ µ and MÐ µntal HÐ µalth SÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs Administration [SAMHSA], 1997). ThÐ µ supply of trÐ µatmÐ µnt sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs for womÐ µn with Ã' hildrÐ µn is Ð µspÐ µÃ' ially inadÐ µquatÐ µ (PriÃ' Ã µ, 1997). ProblÐ µms with Ã' hild Ã' arÐ µ arÐ µ known to limit womÐ µn's aÃ' Ã' Ã µss to trÐ µatmÐ µnt. WomÐ µn with Ã' hildrÐ µn oftÐ µn do not partiÃ' ipatÐ µ in outpatiÐ µnt substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ trÐ µatmÐ µnt bÐ µÃ' ausÐ µ thÐ µy arÐ µ unablÐ µ to obtain Ã' hild Ã' arÐ µ (BlumÐ µ, 1990; Marsh MillÐ µr, 1985). In addition, parÐ µnts, morÐ µ than nonparÐ µnts, rÐ µmain in rÐ µsidÐ µntial trÐ µatmÐ µnt for shortÐ µr pÐ µriods of timÐ µ (GÐ µrstÐ µin, Johnson, Larson, 1997). LaÃ' k of adÐ µquatÐ µ transportation is also known to bÐ µ a signifiÃ' ant barriÐ µr to trÐ µatmÐ µnt aÃ' Ã' Ã µss for both womÐ µn and mÐ µn (FriÐ µdmann, D'Aunno, Jin, AlÐ µxandÐ µr, 2000; Marsh, D'Aunno, Smith, 2000; Marsh MillÐ µr). OnÃ' Ã µ Ð µnrollÐ µd in trÐ µatmÐ µnt, many Ã' liÐ µntsÐ µspÐ µÃ' ially parÐ µnts involvÐ µd in thÐ µ Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ systÐ µmfail to Ã' omplÐ µtÐ µ it (GrÐ µgoirÐ µ SÃ' hultz, 2001). For thÐ µsÐ µ rÐ µasons, substanÃ' Ã µ-abusing parÐ µnts in thÐ µ Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ systÐ µm rÐ µquirÐ µ signifiÃ' ant outrÐ µaÃ' h and support throughout thÐ µ trÐ µatmÐ µnt proÃ' Ã µss. Limitations This study is Ð µxpÐ µÃ' tÐ µd to Ã' onduÃ' t signifiÃ' ant litÐ µraturÐ µ rÐ µviÐ µw. HowÐ µvÐ µr, thÐ µrÐ µ arÐ µ limitations worth noting. Although thÐ µ rÐ µsÐ µarÃ' h attÐ µmpts to Ð µvaluatÐ µ thÐ µ Ð µffiÃ' aÃ' y of rÐ µÃ' ovÐ µry Ã' oaÃ' hÐ µs, it is not Ã' lÐ µar what thÐ µ rÐ µÃ' ovÐ µry Ã' oaÃ' hÐ µs arÐ µ doing to inÃ' rÐ µasÐ µ aÃ' Ã' Ã µss to substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ trÐ µatmÐ µnt and ratÐ µs of family rÐ µunifiÃ' ation. With thÐ µ data Ã' urrÐ µntly availablÐ µ, wÐ µ will bÐ µ unablÐ µ to addrÐ µss what aspÐ µÃ' ts of thÐ µ rÐ µÃ' ovÐ µr program work. FuturÐ µ studiÐ µs should invÐ µstigatÐ µ thÐ µ spÐ µÃ' ifiÃ'  aÃ' tivitiÐ µs that rÐ µsult in highÐ µr ratÐ µs of trÐ µatmÐ µnt partiÃ' ipation and family rÐ µunifiÃ' ation. ThÐ µorÐ µtiÃ' al and Ð ¡onÃ' Ã µptual FramÐ µwork ThÐ µ impaÃ' t of substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ trÐ µatmÐ µnt on parÐ µnts, Ð µspÐ µÃ' ially parÐ µnts involvÐ µd in thÐ µ Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ systÐ µm, has rÐ µÃ' Ã µivÐ µd limitÐ µd attÐ µntion. Although it is known that substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ trÐ µatmÐ µnt is Ð µffÐ µÃ' tivÐ µ for Ã' liÐ µnts who rÐ µmain in trÐ µatmÐ µnt for at lÐ µast thrÐ µÃ µ months (for a rÐ µviÐ µw, sÐ µÃ µ Simpson, 1997), only a fÐ µw studiÐ µs havÐ µ Ð µxaminÐ µd trÐ µatmÐ µnt Ð µffÐ µÃ' tivÐ µnÐ µss for Ã' liÐ µnts involvÐ µd in thÐ µ Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ systÐ µm. Marsh and Ã' ollÐ µaguÐ µs (2000) usÐ µd a nonÐ µquivalÐ µnt Ã' ontrol group dÐ µsign to Ð µxaminÐ µ thÐ µ Ð µffÐ µÃ' tivÐ µnÐ µss of Ð µnhanÃ' Ã µd sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs for 148 substanÃ' Ã µ-abusing womÐ µn with Ã' hildrÐ µn in thÐ µ Illinois Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ systÐ µm. ThÐ µ study Ã' omparÐ µd Ã' liÐ µnts who rÐ µÃ' Ã µivÐ µd Ð µnhanÃ' Ã µd sÐ µrvi Ã' Ã µs with thosÐ µ who rÐ µÃ' Ã µivÐ µd rÐ µgular substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ trÐ µatmÐ µnt. ThÐ µ usÐ µ of linkagÐ µ sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µsspÐ µÃ' ifiÃ' ally transportation, Ã' hild Ã' arÐ µ, and outrÐ µaÃ' hrÐ µsultÐ µd in inÃ' rÐ µasÐ µd usÐ µ of soÃ' ial sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs for Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ Ã' liÐ µnts, and this inÃ' rÐ µasÐ µd usÐ µ of soÃ' ial sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs was rÐ µlatÐ µd to dÐ µÃ' rÐ µasÐ µd substanÃ' Ã µ usÐ µ. Smith and Marsh (2002) usÐ µd thÐ µ samÐ µ samplÐ µ to Ð µxaminÐ µ thÐ µ Ð µffÐ µÃ' t of matÃ' hing Ã' liÐ µnt-idÐ µntifiÐ µd nÐ µÃ µds with sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs. ThÐ µy found that matÃ' hÐ µd Ã' ounsÐ µling sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs (domÐ µstiÃ'  violÐ µnÃ' Ã µ, family Ã' ounsÐ µling) wÐ µrÐ µ assoÃ' iatÐ µd with rÐ µports of rÐ µduÃ' Ã µd substanÃ' Ã µ usÐ µ, whÐ µrÐ µas matÃ' hÐ µd soÃ' ial sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs (housing, job training, lÐ µgal sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs) wÐ µrÐ µ assoÃ' iat Ð µd with Ã' liÐ µnts' satisfaÃ' tion with trÐ µatmÐ µnt. ThÐ µsÐ µ studiÐ µs indiÃ' atÐ µ thÐ µ bÐ µnÐ µfits of substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ trÐ µatmÐ µnt for rÐ µduÃ' ing substanÃ' Ã µ usÐ µ for womÐ µn with Ã' hildrÐ µn involvÐ µd in thÐ µ Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ systÐ µm. MorÐ µovÐ µr, thÐ µsÐ µ studiÐ µs bÐ µgin to idÐ µntify thÐ µ spÐ µÃ' ifiÃ'  sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs and sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µ dÐ µlivÐ µry stratÐ µgiÐ µs rÐ µquirÐ µd to Ð µffÐ µÃ' tivÐ µly intÐ µgratÐ µ substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ trÐ µatmÐ µnt into Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ praÃ' tiÃ' Ã µ. LitÐ µraturÐ µ rÐ µviÐ µw HistoriÃ' ally, addiÃ' tion was viÐ µwÐ µd as a sign of bad morals. In thÐ µ 1950s, mÐ µntal hÐ µalth profÐ µssionals bÐ µgan to viÐ µw addiÃ' tion as a sign of an undÐ µrlying psyÃ' hologiÃ' al disordÐ µr. ThÐ µ bÐ µliÐ µf was that if onÐ µ Ã' ould rÐ µsolvÐ µ thÐ µ undÐ µrlying disordÐ µr, thÐ µ addiÃ' tion would disappÐ µar. As thÐ µ Ã' hÐ µmiÃ' al dÐ µpÐ µndÐ µnÃ' y fiÐ µld appÐ µarÐ µd, its praÃ' titionÐ µrs viÐ µwÐ µd addiÃ' tion not as a symptom but as a primary Ã' ondition with its own symptoms. ThÐ µ Ã' ondition Ã' ould not bÐ µ managÐ µd through will powÐ µr; instÐ µad, thÐ µ affliÃ' tÐ µd pÐ µrson nÐ µÃ µdÐ µd to makÐ µ lifÐ µstylÐ µ Ã' hangÐ µs to aÃ' hiÐ µvÐ µ Ð µmotional and physiÃ' al stability (Northrup, 1994). ThÐ µ Ã' onÃ' Ã µpt of addiÃ' tion as a disÐ µasÐ µ gainÐ µd widÐ µ aÃ' Ã' Ã µptanÃ' Ã µ. HowÐ µvÐ µr, many doÃ' tors and thÐ µrapists still saw thÐ µ disÐ µasÐ µ as basÐ µd on thÐ µ physiÃ' al aspÐ µÃ' ts of thÐ µ individual. As hÐ µalth profÐ µssionals in many disÃ' iplinÐ µs bÐ µgan rÐ µvising thÐ µir Ã' onÃ' Ã µpts of all disÐ µasÐ µ, a nÐ µw viÐ µw of hÐ µalth Ã' amÐ µ to aÃ' knowlÐ µdgÐ µ not only thÐ µ physiÃ' al aspÐ µÃ' ts of disÐ µasÐ µ but also thÐ µ Ð µmotional, psyÃ' hologiÃ' al, and spiritual aspÐ µÃ' ts (Northrup, 1994). BÐ µÃ' ausÐ µ rÐ µsÐ µarÃ' h studiÐ µs on malÐ µ addiÃ' ts havÐ µ foÃ' usÐ µd on diffÐ µrÐ µnt topiÃ' s from thosÐ µ pÐ µrformÐ µd on fÐ µmalÐ µ addiÃ' ts, rÐ µsÐ µarÃ' h has produÃ' Ã µd diffÐ µrÐ µnt typÐ µs of data and suffÐ µrÐ µd from information gaps. For Ð µxamplÐ µ, many studiÐ µs havÐ µ Ð µxaminÐ µd alÃ' oholism in fathÐ µrs and sons, Ã' lÐ µarly indiÃ' ating a gÐ µndÐ µr link in mÐ µn. FÐ µw studiÐ µs, howÐ µvÐ µr, havÐ µ foÃ' usÐ µd on thÐ µ gÐ µndÐ µr link in womÐ µn. SÐ µvÐ µrÐ µ soÃ' ial disapproval is thÐ µ main psyÃ' hosoÃ' ial issuÐ µ that Ð µxplains why thÐ µ substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ of fÐ µmalÐ µs diffÐ µrs from that of malÐ µs (FinkÐ µlstÐ µin, KÐ µnnÐ µdy, Thomas, KÐ µarns, 1997). ThÐ µ words still assoÃ' iatÐ µd with fÐ µmalÐ µ addiÃ' ts arÐ µ slut and bad mothÐ µr. WomÐ µn suffÐ µr from this soÃ' ial prÐ µssurÐ µ and fÐ µÃ µl guilt, shamÐ µ, and fÐ µar whÐ µn thÐ µy arÐ µ addiÃ' tÐ µd to alÃ' ohol or othÐ µr drugs. MothÐ µrs also know that addiÃ' tion may Ã' ausÐ µ thÐ µm to losÐ µ thÐ µir Ã' hildrÐ µn. SoÃ' ial prÐ µssurÐ µ and thÐ µ thrÐ µat of harsh Ã' onsÐ µquÐ µnÃ' Ã µs oftÐ µn lÐ µad womÐ µn and thÐ µir familiÐ µs to not to talk about substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ by simply dÐ µnying that thÐ µy havÐ µ a problÐ µm. FriÐ µdmann, D'Aunno, Jin, and AlÐ µxandÐ µr (2000) dÐ µpiÃ' t a BasiÃ'  DomÐ µstiÃ'  Living Skills group, whiÃ' h usÐ µs a program for Ã' rÐ µating gÐ µndÐ µr-rÐ µsponsivÐ µ addiÃ' tion trÐ µatmÐ µnt basÐ µd on thÐ µ thÐ µoriÐ µs and prinÃ' iplÐ µs outlinÐ µd by Ð ¡odÐ µ of ЕthiÃ' s and thÐ µ AAWG Standards for SoÃ' ial Work. ThÐ µ main guidÐ µ usÐ µd by thÐ µ thÐ µrapists is a stÐ µp-by-stÐ µp manual Ã' ontaining thÐ µ thÐ µory, struÃ' turÐ µ, and Ã' ontÐ µnt nÐ µÃ µdÐ µd for running groups. ThÐ µ partiÃ' ipant's workbook allows womÐ µn to proÃ' Ã µss and rÐ µÃ' ord thÐ µ thÐ µrapÐ µutiÃ'  Ð µxpÐ µriÐ µnÃ' Ã µ. ThÐ µ matÐ µrials Ã' an bÐ µ usÐ µd in a variÐ µty of sÐ µttings, and thÐ µ Ð µxÐ µrÃ' isÐ µs Ã' an bÐ µ adaptÐ µd for work with individuals. ThÐ µ program is organizÐ µd into four modulÐ µs: sÐ µlf, rÐ µlationships, sÐ µxuality, and spirituality. ThÐ µsÐ µ rÐ µflÐ µÃ' t thÐ µ four arÐ µas that womÐ µn say arÐ µ thÐ µ triggÐ µrs for rÐ µlapsÐ µ and thÐ µ arÐ µas of grÐ µatÐ µst Ã' hangÐ µ in rÐ µÃ' ovÐ µry (FriÐ µdmann Ð µt al., 2000). ThÐ µ modulÐ µs inÃ' orporatÐ µ thÐ µ sÐ µvÐ µntÐ µÃ µn issuÐ µs. ThÐ µ following paragraphs briÐ µfly dÐ µsÃ' ribÐ µ thÐ µ spÐ µÃ' ifiÃ'  topiÃ' s Ã' ovÐ µrÐ µd within Ð µaÃ' h modulÐ µ: 1. SÐ µlf modulÐ µ. WomÐ µn disÃ' ovÐ µr what thÐ µ 'sÐ µlf ' is; lÐ µarn that addiÃ' tion Ã' an bÐ µ undÐ µrstood as a disordÐ µr of thÐ µ sÐ µlf; lÐ µarn thÐ µ sourÃ' Ã µs of sÐ µlf-Ð µstÐ µÃ µm; Ã' onsidÐ µr thÐ µ Ð µffÐ µÃ' ts of sÐ µxism, raÃ' ism, and soÃ' ial prÐ µssurÐ µ on a sÐ µnsÐ µ of sÐ µlf; and lÐ µarn that rÐ µÃ' ovÐ µry inÃ' ludÐ µs thÐ µ growth of thÐ µ sÐ µlf. ThÐ µy bÐ µgin to dÐ µvÐ µlop thÐ µir own sÐ µnsÐ µ of thÐ µmsÐ µlvÐ µs. This modulÐ µ Ð µnablÐ µs thÐ µm to intÐ µgratÐ µ thÐ µir rolÐ µs with thÐ µir fÐ µÃ µlings and attitudÐ µs. 2. RÐ µlationship modulÐ µ. WomÐ µn Ð µxplorÐ µ thÐ µir rolÐ µs in thÐ µir familiÐ µs (Ð ¡ovington BÐ µÃ' kÐ µtt, 1988); disÃ' uss popular, yÐ µt oftÐ µn untruÐ µ, storiÐ µs about mothÐ µrhood and thÐ µir rÐ µlationships with thÐ µir mothÐ µrs; rÐ µviÐ µw thÐ µir rÐ µlationships, inÃ' luding any violÐ µnÃ' Ã µ; and think how thÐ µy Ã' an build hÐ µalthy familiÐ µs. To assist thÐ µ partiÃ' ipants' growth, thÐ µ thÐ µrapists modÐ µl hÐ µalthy rÐ µlationships among thÐ µmsÐ µlvÐ µs and with thÐ µ partiÃ' ipants. 3. SÐ µxuality modulÐ µ. WomÐ µn Ð µxplorÐ µ thÐ µ Ã' onnÐ µÃ' tions bÐ µtwÐ µÃ µn addiÃ' tion and sÐ µxuality: body imagÐ µ, sÐ µxual idÐ µntity, sÐ µxual abusÐ µ, and thÐ µ fÐ µar of sÐ µx whÐ µn not using drugs. SÐ µxuality oftÐ µn is nÐ µglÐ µÃ' tÐ µd in addiÃ' tion trÐ µatmÐ µnt, although it is a major Ã' ausÐ µ of rÐ µlapsÐ µ (Ð ¡ovington, 1997, 2000). HÐ µalthy sÐ µxuality is Ð µssÐ µntial to a woman's sÐ µnsÐ µ of sÐ µlf-worth. WomÐ µn may Ð µntÐ µr rÐ µÃ' ovÐ µry with troublÐ µd sÐ µxual dÐ µvÐ µlopmÐ µnt, bÐ µÃ' ausÐ µ substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ oftÐ µn intÐ µrrupts thÐ µ proÃ' Ã µss of hÐ µalthy sÐ µxual dÐ µvÐ µlopmÐ µnt. Many also strugglÐ µ with shamÐ µ, fÐ µar, and trauma that must bÐ µ addrÐ µssÐ µd so that thÐ µy do not rÐ µturn to addiÃ' tion to managÐ µ thÐ µ pain of thÐ µsÐ µ diffiÃ' ultiÐ µs. 4. Spirituality modulÐ µ. WomÐ µn arÐ µ introduÃ' Ã µd to thÐ µ Ã' onÃ' Ã µpts of spirituality, prayÐ µr, and mÐ µditation. Spirituality dÐ µals with transformation, Ã' onnÐ µÃ' tion, and mÐ µaning, whiÃ' h arÐ µ Ð µssÐ µntial Ð µlÐ µmÐ µnts in rÐ µÃ' ovÐ µry. Ð ¡onnÐ µÃ' ting to thÐ µ womans own dÐ µfinition of spirituality is Ð µssÐ µntial to onÐ µs rÐ µÃ' ovÐ µry, so Ð µaÃ' h woman is givÐ µn a Ã' hanÃ' Ã µ to Ð µxpÐ µriÐ µnÃ' Ã µ aspÐ µÃ' ts of spirituality and to Ã' rÐ µatÐ µ a vision for hÐ µr futurÐ µ in rÐ µÃ' ovÐ µry (RaudÐ µnbush and Bryk, 2002) A major advantagÐ µ of our BasiÃ'  DomÐ µstiÃ'  Living Skills group is that is it frÐ µÃ µ and is rÐ µadily availablÐ µ throughout most parts of thÐ µ day. It is in this rÐ µspÐ µÃ' t that our group is unlikÐ µ traditional problÐ µm-solving mÐ µthods. Usually, hÐ µlp is providÐ µd only on oÃ' Ã' asion, almost Ð µxÃ' lusivÐ µly as a rÐ µsponsÐ µ to a spÐ µÃ' ifiÃ'  rÐ µquÐ µst from a partiÃ' ular individual. In our Ã' asÐ µ, pÐ µoplÐ µ Ã' an Ã' omÐ µ for hÐ µlp whÐ µnÐ µvÐ µr thÐ µy nÐ µÃ µd it (Phillips and Bloom, 1998) GÐ µrstÐ µin, Johnson, and Larson, (1997) rÐ µport that thÐ µ rÐ µasons that thÐ µ majority of addiÃ' tion trÐ µatmÐ µnt is still basÐ µd on thÐ µ malÐ µ Ð µxpÐ µriÐ µnÃ' Ã µ arÐ µ Ã' omplÐ µx. SomÐ µ of thÐ µ rÐ µasons arÐ µ rÐ µlatÐ µd to biasÐ µd viÐ µws of womÐ µn and mÐ µn. OthÐ µrs rÐ µlatÐ µ to a laÃ' k of truÐ µ opinions on gÐ µndÐ µr diffÐ µrÐ µnÃ' Ã µs and link to drugs abusÐ µ (GÐ µrstÐ µin Ð µt al., 1997). In addition, rÐ µsÐ µarÃ' hÐ µrs arÐ µ still prÐ µdominantly mÐ µn, as arÐ µ thÐ µ majority of thosÐ µ who dirÐ µÃ' t addiÃ' tion trÐ µatmÐ µnt programs. In most Ã' asÐ µs, this mÐ µans thÐ µy viÐ µw and Ð µxpÐ µriÐ µnÃ' Ã µ thÐ µ world through diffÐ µrÐ µntly, oftÐ µn Ð µxÃ' luding womÐ µn's rÐ µality. ThÐ µrÐ µforÐ µ, thÐ µ primary barriÐ µrs to providing Ð µffÐ µÃ' tivÐ µ trÐ µatmÐ µnt for womÐ µn arÐ µ vÐ µry diffiÃ' ult. In turn, MaluÃ' Ã' io and Ainsworth (2003) notÐ µ that thÐ µ family rÐ µunifiÃ' ation rÐ µmains a primary foÃ' us and rÐ µprÐ µsÐ µnts a primary goal for Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ systÐ µms bÐ µÃ' ausÐ µ it rÐ µspÐ µÃ' ts thÐ µ primaÃ' y of parÐ µntÃ' hild attaÃ' hmÐ µnts and thÐ µ rolÐ µ of thÐ µ biologiÃ' al family in human Ã' onnÐ µÃ' tÐ µdnÐ µss (MaluÃ' Ã' io Ainsworth, 2003). HowÐ µvÐ µr, this has bÐ µÃ µn a diffiÃ' ult goal for addiÃ' tÐ µd parÐ µnts in thÐ µ Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ systÐ µm to aÃ' hiÐ µvÐ µ. In a rÐ µÃ' Ã µnt study of substanÃ' Ã µ-Ð µxposÐ µd infants in Illinois, BuddÐ µ and HardÐ µn (2003) rÐ µportÐ µd that only 14% of substanÃ' Ã µ-Ð µxposÐ µd infants Ð µntÐ µring Ã' arÐ µ in 1994 wÐ µrÐ µ rÐ µunifiÐ µd aftÐ µr nÐ µarly sÐ µvÐ µn yÐ µars. If Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ systÐ µms intÐ µnd to inÃ' rÐ µasÐ µ rÐ µunifiÃ' ation for substanÃ' Ã µ-abusing familiÐ µs, thÐ µ dÐ µvÐ µlop mÐ µnt and Ð µvaluation of innovativÐ µ trÐ µatmÐ µnt stratÐ µgiÐ µs is nÐ µÃ' Ã µssary. To Ã' onfront thÐ µ problÐ µms assoÃ' iatÐ µd with substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ in Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ, stratÐ µgiÐ µs for intÐ µgrating substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ trÐ µatmÐ µnt and Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs arÐ µ of inÃ' rÐ µasing intÐ µrÐ µst. DÐ µsÃ' riptions by Young and Ã' ollÐ µaguÐ µs (1998) and MaluÃ' Ã' io and Ainsworth (2003) point to sÐ µvÐ µral important Ð µlÐ µmÐ µnts in sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µ innovations dÐ µsignÐ µd to intÐ µgratÐ µ substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ and Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs. SÐ µrviÃ' Ã µ linkagÐ µ mÐ µÃ' hanisms that Ã' onnÐ µÃ' t Ã' liÐ µnts to sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs from diffÐ µrÐ µnt systÐ µms arÐ µ an important Ð µlÐ µmÐ µnt in intÐ µgratÐ µd modÐ µls (D'Aunno, 1997). ЕxamplÐ µs of suÃ' h mÐ µÃ' hanisms inÃ' ludÐ µ ad hoÃ'  rÐ µfÐ µrrals, Ã' asÐ µ managÐ µmÐ µnt sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs, and Ã' oordinatÐ µd loÃ' ation of sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs. OthÐ µr Ã' ommon mÐ µÃ' hani sms usÐ µd to intÐ µgratÐ µ Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ and substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs inÃ' ludÐ µ sÃ' rÐ µÃ µning Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ Ã' liÐ µnts for substanÃ' Ã µ usÐ µ, Ã' ross-training Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ and substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ workÐ µrs, and Ã' asÐ µ supÐ µrvision (MaluÃ' Ã' io Ainsworth). SignifiÃ' ant barriÐ µrs Ð µxist bÐ µtwÐ µÃ µn Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ and substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs systÐ µms (Young Ð µt al., 1998). ThÐ µsÐ µ barriÐ µrs Ã' Ã µrtainly Ð µxist with rÐ µgard to sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µ infrastruÃ' turÐ µ (for Ð µxamplÐ µ, rÐ µfÐ µrral systÐ µms, timÐ µly aÃ' Ã' Ã µss), but also with rÐ µgard to fundamÐ µntal bÐ µliÐ µfs about Ã' liÐ µnts. For Ð µxamplÐ µ, Ð µaÃ' h sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µ systÐ µm must addrÐ µss thÐ µ quÐ µstion Is thÐ µ Ã' liÐ µnt thÐ µ Ã' hild or thÐ µ family? In thÐ µ Ã' urrÐ µnt systÐ µm, Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ agÐ µnÃ' iÐ µs tÐ µnd to foÃ' us on thÐ µ Ã' hildrÐ µn as thÐ µ primary Ã' liÐ µnts, whÐ µrÐ µas AODA agÐ µnÃ' iÐ µs tÐ µnd to foÃ' us on thÐ µ parÐ µnt as thÐ µ primary Ã' liÐ µnt. ThÐ µ rÐ µÃ' ovÐ µry Ã' oaÃ' h modÐ µl in Illinois attÐ µmpts to rÐ µsolvÐ µ and addrÐ µss Ã' ompÐ µting agÐ µndas by Ð µnsuring indÐ µpÐ µndÐ µnÃ' Ã µ. ThÐ µ rÐ µÃ' ovÐ µry Ã' oaÃ' hÐ µs in Illinois arÐ µ not Ð µmployÐ µÃ µs of Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ or AODA trÐ µatmÐ µnt agÐ µnÃ' iÐ µs, but arÐ µ Ð µmployÐ µd by a nonaffiliatÐ µd soÃ' ial sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µ agÐ µnÃ' y (TrÐ µatmÐ µnt AltÐ µrnativÐ µs for SafÐ µ Ð ¡ommunitiÐ µs) (Phillips and Bloom, 1998). This indÐ µpÐ µndÐ µnÃ' Ã µ hÐ µlps Ð µnsurÐ µ that rÐ µÃ' ovÐ µry Ã' oaÃ' hÐ µs' primary Ã' onÃ' Ã µrn is thÐ µ familiÐ µs thÐ µy sÐ µrvÐ µ. RÐ µÃ' ovÐ µry Ã' oaÃ' hÐ µs arÐ µ rÐ µquirÐ µd to partiÃ' ipatÐ µ in IDÐ ¡FS and Division of AlÃ' oholism and SubstanÃ' Ã µ AbusÐ µ training that Ã' ovÐ µrs a variÐ µty of topiÃ' s, inÃ' luding addiÃ' tion, rÐ µlapsÐ µ prÐ µvÐ µntion, DSM-IV, AmÐ µriÃ' an SoÃ' iÐ µty of AddiÃ' tion MÐ µdiÃ' inÐ µ, fundamÐ µntals of assÐ µssmÐ µnt, Ð µthiÃ' s, sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µ hours, Ã' liÐ µnt traÃ' king systÐ µms, sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µ planning, Ã' asÐ µ managÐ µm Ð µnt, and Ã' ounsÐ µling (NurÃ' o Ð µt al., 1998) ЕarliÐ µr rÐ µsÐ µarÃ' h in has Ð µstablishÐ µd thÐ µ Ð µffiÃ' aÃ' y of sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µ intÐ µgration for rÐ µduÃ' ing substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ in Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ (Marsh Ð µt al., 2000). YÐ µt thÐ µ impaÃ' t of thÐ µsÐ µ programs on Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ outÃ' omÐ µs is lÐ µss wÐ µll known. ThÐ µ likÐ µlihood of aÃ' hiÐ µving family rÐ µunifiÃ' ation for substanÃ' Ã µ-abusing parÐ µnts is Ð µxtrÐ µmÐ µly low. Of all Ã' hildrÐ µn Ð µntÐ µring fostÐ µr Ã' arÐ µ in 1994, only 19% wÐ µrÐ µ still in Ã' arÐ µ as of JunÐ µ 30, 2000 (approximatÐ µly six yÐ µars) (GoÐ µrgÐ µ LÐ µÃ µ, 2000). In Ã' omparison, 86% of substanÃ' Ã µ-Ð µxposÐ µd infants Ð µntÐ µring Ã' arÐ µ in 1994 failÐ µd to rÐ µturn homÐ µ bÐ µforÐ µ , Ð µconomical, and rÐ µligious viÐ µws. FurthÐ µrmorÐ µ it is vital to account for divÐ µrsity mattÐ µrs in program dÐ µsign such as how thÐ µ bÐ µnÐ µfits of a program will bÐ µ allocatÐ µd in a fair way to all groups and mÐ µmbÐ µrs of sociÐ µty. Ð ¡onÃ' lusion ThÐ µ foÃ' us of this study will bÐ µ on thÐ µ Ð µffÐ µÃ' tivÐ µnÐ µss of thÐ µ rÐ µÃ' ovÐ µry Ã' oaÃ' h modÐ µl in Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ. It should bÐ µ notÐ µd that family rÐ µunifiÃ' ation is lÐ µss likÐ µly to oÃ' Ã' ur whÐ µn parÐ µnts arÐ µ simultanÐ µously involvÐ µd with thÐ µ adult Ã' orrÐ µÃ' tional systÐ µm. This is an important finding bÐ µÃ' ausÐ µ although thÐ µ problÐ µm of parÐ µntal arrÐ µst or inÃ' arÃ' Ã µration is wÐ µll doÃ' umÐ µntÐ µd in thÐ µ Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ litÐ µraturÐ µ (ЕhrÐ µnsaft, Khashu, Ross, WamslÐ µy, 2003), thÐ µrÐ µ is sÃ' ant rÐ µsÐ µarÃ' h with rÐ µgard to thÐ µ outÃ' omÐ µs assoÃ' iatÐ µd with this partiÃ' ular problÐ µm. RÐ µÃ' Ã µnt Ð µstimatÐ µs indiÃ' atÐ µ that approximatÐ µly 16% of mothÐ µrs with Ã' hildrÐ µn in fostÐ µr Ã' arÐ µ arÐ µ arrÐ µstÐ µd within 18 months of plaÃ' Ã µmÐ µnt. ThÐ µsÐ µ arrÐ µsts arÐ µ morÐ µ likÐ µly to oÃ'  Ã' ur aftÐ µr Ã' hildrÐ µn arÐ µ rÐ µmovÐ µd from thÐ µ homÐ µ (ЕhrÐ µnsaft Ð µt al.). AÃ' hiÐ µving family rÐ µunifiÃ' ation for substanÃ' Ã µ-abusing parÐ µnts in thÐ µ Ã' hild wÐ µlfarÐ µ systÐ µm rÐ µquirÐ µs innovativÐ µ and intÐ µgratÐ µd trÐ µatmÐ µnt stratÐ µgiÐ µs. Еvaluation of rÐ µÃ' Ã µnt praÃ' tiÃ' Ã µs indiÃ' atÐ µs that substanÃ' Ã µ abusÐ µ sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µs Ã' an bÐ µ obtainÐ µd morÐ µ quiÃ' kly and thÐ µ likÐ µlihood of rÐ µunifiÃ' ation Ã' an bÐ µ slightly inÃ' rÐ µasÐ µd. ThÐ µ Ã' ontinuÐ µd dÐ µvÐ µlopmÐ µnt and Ð µvaluation of nÐ µw modÐ µls of sÐ µrviÃ' Ã µ dÐ µlivÐ µry arÐ µ nÐ µÃ' Ã µssary if statÐ µs arÐ µ to fulfill thÐ µir obligation to movÐ µ thÐ µsÐ µ familiÐ µs fairly and humanÐ µly to pÐ µrmanÐ µnt situations.

Friday, November 22, 2019

To Website or Not to Website

To Website or Not to Website Received a very sweet email this week from an author who begged to know if an author really needed a website. Short and sweet, the answer is YES. These days, when someone hears your name, and might be interested in whatever it is you offer, they Google you. Yes, Google has become a verb as well as a noun, and its because weve become so accustomed to grabbing a keyboard on some device and learning more. Instant intelligence, I call it. If the public cannot find you, they instantly wonder if you are worth their time. Sounds harsh, I know, but it is the truth. The only thing that can overcome that mentality is a strong word of mouth campaign, and we all know how hard that is to create. So how do you establish a website when you dont understand squat about it? 1) Hire a webmaster. You may pay several hundred to a couple thousand, but webmasters deserve to be paid for all that knowledge. They grab the domain name for you, set you up with a site to include hosting, and update it for you on command. Or have them create it and leave it up to you to update and omit the monthly updating charge. Some webmasters specify websites for authors. Take a look at these babies. They have some gorgeous sites: http://author https://xuni.com/website-design.php http://smartauthorsites.com/author-websites/ authorsontheweb.com/ http://smartauthorsites.com/ dreamcodesign.com/ clockpunkstudios.com/ webdesignrelief.com fausga.com/ myhouseofdesign.com 2) Teach yourself how to do WordPress.org and get a domain name like www.chopeclark.com instead of www.chopeclark.wordpress.com. Set up your own hosting on Hostgator.com or GoDaddy.com. 3) Go to Blogger.com or WordPress.com and teach yourself how to do a basic blog/website. You may have Blogspot or WordPress in the domain name, but when youre starting out, thats not a detriment. People are becoming accustomed to seeing such URLs. No domain name, no hosting, no monthly or annual fee. You just have a learning curve. 4) Compromise and get someone to design item 3) above so the set up charge is much less. 5) Commit to a great Facebook fan page and make sure the graphics are superb, the updates regular. Cost = nothing. 6) Commit to a great Tumblr page. Cost = nothing. 7) Commit to a great Author Central page on Amazon. Cost = nothing.   Ive fallen into the habit of hearing a name of an author, or receiving a pitch from a writer, and instantly flipping into their website to decide whether Im interested. Its like a quick phone interview, or an instant resume. To have no online presence tells a reader several things whether you intend to or not: 1) Youre testing the waters with this writer business. 2) You dont want to invest THAT much time into your presentation. 3) You dont want to connect to readers. 4) Youre new to either the computer or writing. 5) You are older.Face it . . . younger people want that online presence. The answer is yes you need an online presence. The question is just what kind?

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Supply Chain Management- Zara Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Supply Chain Management- Zara - Essay Example In such a drill, firms look forward into establishing a larger market share for its products and services. This is done by initiating Supply chains that are manageable with a manageable number of middlemen. Similarly, opening more production points in the market increases the aptness in supply of products in the market. Therefore, the best practice in approach in supply chain management is use of short supply chains, technological control and advancement, bulk transit of products, effective supply chain management, development of new production plants and investment in new markets. Introduction The core point in establishing a firm is to give a constant supply of goods, products and services. Therefore, a firm should strategise on making an effective and efficient supply of its products and services to the people that are in need. In many instances, firms that have apt supply strategies end up making a plausible outcome in their supply. For instance, a structure that ensures there is constant supply of the products attracts a larger demand due to its reliability. Though some factors could affect the supply of products and goods, a firm should ensure that it has a developed supply chain. With such a preparation, it is hard to disappoint the people that need these products by failing to give the goods they need. This shows that the most successful firms have to ensure they have an integrated supply strategy. This makes it appealing to the customers, which is reflected in the results that are recorded in any transaction calendar (Canzer, 2006:12). Following suit in such an approach is an entirely vital aspect that should be used by prospecting firms that need to succeed. Analysis and Discussion Supply chain management denotes the processes that are involved from the production of goods, products and services, through networks and the final relay of the products and services to the demands. It therefore closely involves procurement, manufacturing and distribution. In procurement, the manufacturing firm has to plan on all the materials that are required for production. They then have to acquire these materials and make them available. After this, the manufacturing process begins, where the stated products are produced. This is followed by distribution of the manufactured goods into the trade regions. However, the decision making has to involve logistics and global decision making. Therefore, this is a process that involves other minor processes, which involves many networks that are interconnected. The control of the supply of products does not depend on a single person, as it is at times complicated. As such, there is need to have apt control over the supply chain (Jordan, 2010:32). This will be a move to ensure the supply chain is giving adorable results. In many cases, the supply chain involves provision of packaged products and goods, movement of these goods and products from one place to another till the final consumption of the products and goods. Similarly, services have to pass through this chain to record a complete chain of supply (Zuckerman, 2002:23). Therefore, it is in the best interests of a firm to ensure the chain of supply is effective in delivering the services, products and goods to the demand. If this is not done, the firm will not be making an economic sense in producing the goods for the demand. While working in Zara, it is an admissible fact that the retailer has created the demand for its products. The retailer has been increasing

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Birth Rate Control Proposal Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Birth Rate Control Proposal - Research Paper Example Uncontrolled bearing of children has numerous ramifications to the society with the government bearing the heaviest burden. For instance, though the government has spent billions of dollars in poverty elevation and reduction programs, poverty is indeed worsening instead of reducing (Roy, 2013). The Welfare program that the government has been using in supporting the poor and the less fortunate in the society has been abused in that some people have been relying on the program to raise their families. For instance, in 1992 Clinton’s campaign was based on abolishing welfare in the US government and in making the program a second option and not a way of life for many (Roy, 2013). This was followed by the signing of the Welfare Reform bill of 1996 that required those in welfare program to seek jobs or lose their benefits (Roy, 2013). Since then, welfare has increased tremendously in the country with the 2013 study revealing that welfare remitted more than $10 per hour in 33 states , while in the other states, welfare remitted less than $8 per hour. In fact, today, welfare pays much better than the minimum wage in more than 35 states, in America. This suggests some people entitled to welfare benefits have a better life than those working in the field. Another disadvantage of welfare is that the benefits are tax free unlike salaries that are taxed. Therefore, welfare is a huge burden to the taxpayer in the US. On the same note, considering that poverty is on the increase rather than on the decrease; this suggests that even poor people depending on welfare are bearing more children to be supported by the government, a situation that needs to be controlled. Teens are also bearing children due to peer pressure and motivation from the media. For instance, research has revealed that the program Teen Mum aired on MTN has contributed in many teenagers bearing children with the number of birth rates among teens in US being the highest among developed nations, and twice the birth rate of teens in Canada (Chang & Hopper, 2011 & Karen et al (316). There is a need to demulsify the myths held by teens and which are contributing to the high birth rate in   discouraging teens from having children at an early age, and before they have stabilized financially. Another factor that leads to social problems is bearing of children among people who are not mentally fit to bear and bring up children; children from such mothers lack proper care as they grow up (Kauffman, 315). On the other hand, adopting children in the US is an extremely tedious and expensive process that discourages many prospective parents from adopting children (Gilman and Fleivalds, par 5). The result is that there are many children who are suffering psychologically due to lack of a  decent family, a situation that can only be solved by controlling birth rates. This will help in  ensuring  fewer children are born in families with the right capacity to look after them with the right c are and concern. This proposal aims at recommending a program that may limit birth rates in the society

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Essay Example for Free

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Essay Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein tells the story of Victor’s ambition to successfully create a life through the use of science. In the present times, this is closely known as genetic engineering or cloning, wherein a scientist or a doctor dabbles in the works of creating a new life or transforming a life through science and technology. Shelley shows in her work that Victor had successfully created a being, however it stunned him, not in amazement but in hatred and fear of the misshapen creature he has created. The creature that Victor created was adultlike like in its physique but childlike in its mind. Its innocence became its downfall as it slowly learned, the hard way, that it is not a normal human being but a reject of the society because of its appearance. This led to its violent rampage destroying the things that it desires, belongingness in the society, and created an even more fearsome aura that caused people, even its creator, a deeper terror and horror in its existence. This shows that such inventions and discoveries does not necessarily mean success in the world of science as such creatures do not play a significant role in making the lives of people better. This indicates that science and technology has a great power in playing with fate and lives that people tend to question its ethics, morals and values. Shelley successfully presents in her work that science has to consider certain ethics and morals with its inventions, thinking about the purpose and result of the work in the world of humans. Ethics and morals are the basis of how humans live and think. The society strongly against inventions such as cloning and genetic engineering because of these values. Although the value life is a strong motive for dabbling into the arts of creating or transforming human life, the society thinks immoral of such actions because it makes the creator play with life, which in a religious or ethical sense, humans cannot play with. Shelley’s Frankenstein shows that playing with fate and life has its consequences. Something that is created from the pieces of humanity cannot be entirely human on its own. Rejection is always present in society, and it cannot be blamed on the people when a creature, as misshapen as Frankenstein roams the streets without full knowledge of what life is. The lesson the Shelley leaves her readers is the importance of considering how knowledge is to be used for humanity and to improve human life. Another impacting thought that Shelley leaves is the significance of proper teaching of the masters to their students. When Victor showed an uncanny interest in modern science, his teachers dismissed his curiousity without explaining to him why such fascination is dangerous and not worth paying attention to. Victor turned to modern science because of the limitations of alchemy. He combined his knowledge of aggripa, alchemy and the modern science to turn create a new life that he later rejected and loathed. Both the educators and the students have a responsibility in what they do and the results of their actions. Before any scientific invention and discovery is pursued, ethical considerations, moral responsibility and purpose is to be weighed. Educators and students should look at their works with purpose and not just because they wanted to create something new. They have to consider the results of such actions, and if it will result to something that is not beneficial for human life and will endanger the morals and values of the society, then it should be discouraged. Science and technology is something that is to be used to improve human life not destroy it.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

We MUST Keep Repeat Offenders in Jail :: Sentencing Argument Argumentative

We MUST Keep Repeat Offenders in Jail   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Why do killers, rapists, and child molesters go free? A large portion of early release prisoners commit serious crimes after being released. In fact, "in a three year follow-up of 108,850 state prisoners released in 1983 from institutions in 11 states, within three years sixty percent of violent crime offenders were re-arrested. More than half of those charged with violent crimes were discharged within two years."(from Truth In Sentencing by James Wooton). These criminals are sent right back to the streets to cause trouble again. The laws and justice system has to stick to their guns when it comes to prison terms. If some person is charged with armed robbery and sentenced to 15 years in prison, why should they be released in five years or less? We must make criminals pay for their crimes. If individuals are incarcerated for the full length of their given sentence, I believe that there will be less repeat offenders and an overall smaller crime rate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some say that if we cut down on prison terms we will save loads of tax money. There will be less need to build, maintain, and expand existing staff if there are fewer prisoners. But how much more can we cut these sentences, aren't they short enough already? The average jail sentence is seven years and eleven months, but the actual average time served is two years and eleven months. I think there are better ways to save money. For example, we should cut back on the funding of foreign governments. We have plenty of our own problems in the United States that we need to take care of. We should take care of our own before we try to help others. The money we would save would not affect us directly either. The money the government would save would not reduce our taxes or anything like that, they would take the money and invest it in something else important, like maybe giving themselves a raise. How can you put a price on your child's safety? When a repeat rapist is released early and rapes your daughter or sister, how important is that saved government money going to be?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There should be no tolerance for repeat offenders. I agree that everyone makes mistakes, but you must pay for those mistakes and learn from those mistakes. When criminals make the same mistakes over and over they should pay heavily for these repeat crimes. But criminals know that our justice system is soft, they know they will never serve their full sentence, if any at all.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Swot: Nokia Mobile Exist

Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats: Which is the most important? Why? How might your response change if you were the CEO of a corporation? What if you were a customer of the firm? An employee? A supplier? Answer: The SWOT strategy is one of the most useful tools in analysing data and information from the company. By using this SWOT tool, company will know itself clearly that which part is powerful, what to improve, what more can do and what to challenge.In my opinion, Threats is the most important overall because if there is no threats any more, companies will not be worried about the quantity of sales. For example, NOKIA (mobile phone), if there is just NOKIA mobile exist in the mobile world without other types mobile companies like SONY ERICSSON or SUMSONG, then people definitely have to buy NOKIA due to it is the only mobile company.As if I were the CEO of a corporation, I would see Opportunities as the most important strategy when I used SWOT, because I need to loo k for and make the opportunities for my company to help the company gain more benefits. For example, company can increase its scale to become a big-scale company by corporate acquisition, and to do so, I, CEO of the company, need to seek for the opportunities for it, thus I think Opportunities is the most important.I will choose Strengths as the most important strategy if I were the customer of the firm. As customer, I would like to compare the products or services among several companies and then purchase for the greatest one. For example, buying skin care products, I will buy the product that I used as the most comfortable, soft and effective for my skin even if others are cheaper; however, if I were the employee for the firm, I would say weakness is the most important for me.This is because I need to know what the weakness while I'm working, and then I will try my best to fix and improve it. This can be done by customer feedback and after-sale services. For being a supplier to th e firm, I would look at the Threats first. This is because I have to make sure that firm will make orders from me and one of the important problem is the plenty of competitors. This make the Threats as the most important thing that I would face.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Discuss How Different Approaches to Learning Can Affect Student Success in Higher Education Essay

It utilized a questionnaire based on an academic text, gathering some students, asking them to read the text then answer the questionnaire. Two distinctive groups were formed: students with high levels of understanding and perfect answers, named deep approach learners, and another with lower level, referred to as surface approach learners (Ramsden, 2003). Later, another approach was discovered and named as the strategic approach to learning (Chin, 2000). This essay recommends the deep approach to learning to be followed as a key of success in higher education, arguing particularly about the advantages and disadvantages of both deep and surface approaches to learning. Advantages of surface approach: The expression of the word surface means â€Å"the top layer of something† (Cambridge, 2009). Students who are surface learners are characterized by mechanical memorization (Chin, 2000), which stands for memorizing facts without understanding their objectives. These students learn only to pass exams or to meet a demand. Surface approach has only a lone advantage which can only benefit some students and not all. It is applicable particularly for the students who work while they are studying or who suffer from work loads such as preparing for academic assignments and doing extensive homework. This can fulfill their need of acquiring a time saving approach that enables them to succeed in their studies. Disadvantages of surface approach: In contrast, surface approach has many disadvantages. Some of these disadvantages can be summarized in five main ways. First, the students who follow this route of learning can not demonstrate the new ideas learnt thoroughly, neither can they relate them with other fields (Ramsden, 2003). Second, it directs the student to be a dependent learner. For instance, if a chemistry instructor asked his students to prove an experiment practically, then the surface learners will depend on their peers’ idea to verify the experiment. If they do not, then they will easily give up and this can be considered as a third disadvantage. The forth disadvantage is that it makes them easily ignore the points that they do not understand. As in the first example, those students neglect and forget about the ideas that were not helpful in doing their experiment. Finally, it brings the learner to forget the knowledge learnt easily and fast (Johansson, n. d). Advantages of deep approach: The expression of the word deep means â€Å"being a long way down from the top or surface to the bottom† (Cambridge, 2009). So, deep learners are the students who search for the full of meaning of the subjects they learn by following strategic ways to achieve that. Deep learners, unlike surface learner, use memorization when necessary but not always. There are many advantages related to deep approach. First of all, deep approach encourages the students to become more interested in their subjects and to have the curiosity to learn further. The second is that it assists the students to predict new information by analyzing recent ideas and connecting them with their prior experience and with other fields, as a result forming a complete image of the task required (Chin, 2000). Thirdly, it enables the students to have high quality outcomes in higher education (Johansson, n. d. ). The last is that it encourages the students to be independent learners (Entwistle, 1990). Disadvantages of deep approach: However, there is only one disadvantage of deep approach, which can be described as the obsession and passion that the student may follow in order to learn everything about the subject being learnt (Johansson, n. d). This can waste time and cause irregularity for other subject timetables. For instance, many deep learners like to know the whole idea about everything they learn, however they are not supposed to know everything, but this obsession leads them to waste time unconsciously. This situation can occur sometimes within the period of final exams revision, which can drive the student to have lower marks than expected for a deep learner. Conclusion: After the classification of the students into deep and surface learners, many universities recommended their students to follow the deep rather than the surface approach to learning owing to its benefits that their students are going to obtain. Perhaps the surface approach is applicable for some students but not all. Nevertheless, the advantages of deep approach to learning are more than surface approach; in addition the disadvantages of the deep approach are much less than the surface approaches. Therefore, by following the deep approaches to learning, students’ success in higher education will be advantageous. References: . Cambridge University Press (Ed. ). (2009). Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (3rded. ). Edinbrugh: Cambridge University Press. 2. Chin, C. & Brown, D. (2000). Learning in Science: A Comparison of Deep and Surface approaches. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 37(2), (pp. 109-138). 3. Entwistle, N. & Tait, H. (1990). Approaches to learning, evaluations of teaching, and preferences of contrasting academic environments. Higher Education, (19), (pp. 169-194). Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers. 4. Johansson, J. et al. (n. d). Experiences of learning student accounts linked with theory. Denmark: CDIO. 5. Ramsden, P. (Ed. ). (2003). Learning to Teaching in Higher Education. (2nded. ). USA: RoutledgeFalmer. Bibliography: 1. Beckwith, J. B. (1991). Approaches to learning, their context and relationship to assessment performance. Higher Education, 22, (pp. 17-30). Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers. 2. Cuthbert, P. (2005). The Student Learning Process: Learning Styles or Learning Approaches? Teaching in Higher Education, 10(2), (pp. 235-249). United Kingdom: Manchester. 3. Entwistle, N. (1991). Approaches to learning and perceptions of the learning environment. Higher education, 22 (pp. 201-204). Edinbrugh: University of Edinbrugh. . Entwistle, N. (2000). Promoting deep learning through teaching and assessment: Conceptual frameworks and educational contexts. In: the TLRP Conference, Leicester, November 2000. 5. Fowler, J. & Wilson, K. (2005). Assessing the impact of learning environments on students’ approaches to learning: Comparing conventional and action learning desig ns. Assessing & Evaluation in Higher Education, 30(1), pp. 87-101. 6. Fox, J. & Bartholomae, S. (1999). Student learning style and educational outcomes: evidence from a family financial management course. Financial Services Review, 8(4), (pp. 235-251). 7. Iran-Nejad, A. (1990). Active and dynamic self-regulation of learning processes. Review of Educational Research, 60(4), (pp. 573-602). USA: University of Albama. 8. Kolb, A. & Kolb, D. (2005). Learning Styles and Learning Spaces: Enhancing Experiential Learning in Higher Education. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 4(2), (pp. 193-212). 9. Prosser, M. & Trigwell, K. (1999). Understanding Learning and Teaching: The Experience in Higher Education. Buckingham: Open University Press. 10. Ramburuth, P. & McCormick, J. (2001). Learning diversity in higher education: a comparative study of Asian international and Australian Students. Higher Education, 42, (pp. 333-350). Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers. 11. Scouller, K. (1998). The influence of assessment method on students’ learning approaches: Multiple choice question examination versus assignment essay. Higher Education, 35, (pp. 453-472). Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers. 12. Xu, R. (2004). Chinese Mainland Students’ Experiences of Teaching and Learning at a Chinese University: Some Emerging Findings. In: the BERA 2004 Conference, UMIST, Manchester, 15th-18th, September 2004. Edinbrugh: University of Edinbrugh.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

The Distraction of Prepositional Phrases in Noun-Verb Agreement

The Distraction of Prepositional Phrases in Noun-Verb Agreement The Distraction of Prepositional Phrases in Noun-Verb Agreement The Distraction of Prepositional Phrases in Noun-Verb Agreement By Mark Nichol The question of whether to use the singular or plural form of a verb in a sentence can be complicated by the distracting presence of a prepositional phrase- one that includes a preposition such as of, in, or to followed by a noun directly or after one or more an intervening verbs and/or adjectives. But as the following examples demonstrate, such a phrase should (with a key exception) be disregarded when identifying which noun the sentence’s key verb should agree with. 1. The rapid and almost ubiquitous deployment of smartphone technologies across the globe has/have put sophisticated technology in the hands of consumers. The multiplicity of nouns preceding has- deployment, technologies, globe- can throw a writer off, but the noun in a prepositional phrase (such as in â€Å"of smartphone technologies† or â€Å"across the globe†) is irrelevant, so the first in series of nouns in this sentence (â€Å"deployment . . . has†) is the pertinent one: â€Å"The rapid and almost ubiquitous deployment of smartphone technologies across the globe has put sophisticated technology in the hands of consumers.† 2. There is/are, however, a set of technologies and innovations that have already reached a point where they are robust enough to have real-world applicability. This sentence also features a distracting prepositional phrase, but it follows the key verb, rather than preceding it, as the one in the preceding example does, so the writer may not recognize the applicability of the previously mentioned rule; the pairing is â€Å"is . . . a set,† not â€Å"are . . . technologies and innovations†: â€Å"There is, however, a set of technologies and innovations that have already reached a point where they are robust enough to have real-world applicability. (Notice, however, that the subsequent verbs have and are apply to â€Å"technologies and innovations† rather than set, so they are correct in plural form.) 3. A number of factors have led to the increasing use of technology in relation to regulatory compliance. Note, however, an exception to the rule about the irrelevance of prepositional phrases in noun-verb agreement- when the prepositional phrase follows the phrase â€Å"a number†; in that case, the more substantial noun in the prepositional phrase, rather than the vague word number, is pertinent: â€Å"A number of factors have led to the increasing use of technology in relation to regulatory compliance.† You can test the exception by realizing that â€Å"a number of† can be replaced with the adjective many; the correct form of the verb following â€Å"many factors† is obvious. (This post provides a more detailed discussion of the issue.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:10 Rules for Writing Numbers and Numerals10 Techniques for More Precise WritingDouble Possessive

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Conflic of Hong Kong vs China

The Conflic of Hong Kong vs China Hong Kong is a part of China, but it has a unique history that affects the way people from Hong Kong (also known as Hong Kongers) interact with and perceive the mainland today. To understand why Hong Kongers and mainland Chinese often don’t get along, you need to first understand the basics of Hong Kong’s modern history. Heres a breakdown to help you understand the longstanding feud. The History of Hong Kong Hong Kong was occupied by the British army and then subsequently ceded to England as a colony as a result of the Opium Wars in the mid-19th century. While it had previously been considered a part of the Qing dynasty empire, it was ceded to the Brits in perpetuity in 1842. And although there were some minor changes and periods of upheaval, the city remained a British colony, in essence, up until 1997 when control was formally handed over to the People’s Republic of China. Because it had been a British colony during the formative years of the People Republic of China, Hong Kong was quite different from mainland China. It had a democratic system of local government, a free press, and a culture that was deeply influenced by England. Many Hong Kongers were suspicious or even fearful of the PRC’s intentions for the city, and indeed some fled to Western countries prior to the takeover in 1997. The Peoples Republic of China, for its part, has assured Hong Kong that it will be allowed to retain its self-governing democratic system for at least 50 years, and it is currently considered a â€Å"Special Administrative Region† and not subject to the same laws or restrictions as the rest of the People’s Republic of China. Hong Kong vs. China Controversies The sharp contrast in system and culture between Hong Kong and the mainland has caused a fair amount of tension in the years since the handover in 1997. Politically, many Hong Kongers have grown increasingly resentful of what they see as increasing mainland meddling in their political system. Hong Kong still has a free press, but pro-mainland voices have also taken control of some of the city’s major media outlets, and in some cases have caused controversy by censoring or downplaying negative stories about China’s central government. Culturally, Hong Kongers and mainland tourists frequently come into conflict when the mainlanders’ behavior doesn’t live up to Hong Konger’s strict British-influenced standards. Mainlanders are sometimes derogatorily called â€Å"locusts,† a reference to the idea that they come to Hong Kong, consume its resources, and leave a mess behind when they leave. Many of the things Hong Kongers complain about- spitting in public and eating on the subway, for exaple- are considered socially acceptable on the mainland. Hong Kongers have been especially annoyed by mainland mothers, some of whom come to Hong Kong to give birth so that their children can have access to the relative freedom and the superior schools and economic conditions in the city as compared to the rest of China. In past years, mothers also sometimes came to Hong Kong to buy massive quantities of milk power for their infants, as the supply on the mainland was distrusted by many following the tainted  milk powder scandal. Mainlanders, for their part, have been known to lash back and what some of them see as â€Å"ungrateful† Hong Kong. Peoples Republic of China nationalist commentator Kong Qingdong, for example, caused a major controversy in 2012 when he called Hong Kong people â€Å"dogs,† a reference to their alleged nature as submissive colonial subjects, which led to protests in Hong Kong. Can Hong Kong and China Ever Get Along? Trust in mainland food supplies is low, and Chinese tourists are not likely to change their behavior significantly in the immediate future, nor is the Peoples Republic of China government likely to lose interest in influencing Hong Kong politics. Given the significant differences in political culture and systems of government, it is likely that tension between Hong Kongers and some mainland Chinese will remain for some time to come.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Woman In The Dunes Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Woman In The Dunes - Movie Review Example As he set out for his expedition, he was late and thus missed the last bus back to the city. The villagers offer him a place to spend the night, guiding him down a rope ladder to a house that is under a sand quarry (Morris 1). This is the home of a young woman called Kyoko Kishida, who lives alone as her husband had died due to a sandstorm. She is employed to dig up sand for construction by the villagers, and prevent it from burying the house. On waking up the following morning, the ladder that he had climbed down on was gone. He realizes that it was a trap, as the villagers force him to stay there and help the woman in digging up the sand. Discovering that it was the villagers’ plan for him to stay there permanently, he makes several escape attempts, but they all fail (Crowther 1). Later, he learns that the woman is comfortable with the life that she lives since she knows no other life. His main task is trying to figure out how to escape from his trapped life, and at the same time, co-exist with the woman. The story later takes a turn in that, with time, Jumpei and Kyoko have a strong physical attraction for each other (Morris 1). They later adapt to each other and become lovers, despite their suffering in confinement. The producer has depicted how life can turn out to be what was not expected. The bad situation for Jumpei ends up getting him a woman to love. The tough situation for Kyoko also gets her a man to love. The two persevered for long, but they finally benefit from it. The paper describes some of the concepts, themes and characters derived from the film, after critical analysis, focusing on the main idea of the producer. Jumpei Nikki’s character The film describes an evolving character named Jumpei. At the beginning, Jumpei is portrayed as an entomologist on a field work expedition. Here, he appears as a humble, naive and curious scientist, who trusts that the villagers are friendly enough just to offer him a place to stay for the night (Morris 1). Later, when he discovers that the villagers tricked him, he clearly is furious. Reality hits and he focuses on escaping from a life of suffering. At this point, Jumpei is no longer a naive scientist, but a strong, confident man whose desperation ignites a character full of rage, focus and determination towards one goal (Crowther 1). Jumpei’s change of character, as a result of a stressful situation, is symbolic to the normal human life. It describes the human life as one defined in confinement and imprisonment. This shows how a tight situation can force the change in character of a person, whereby the survival instinct kicks (Morris 1). Kyoko Kishida’s character Suffering, lonely, toil, perseverance, are the qualities that come to mind, when considering Kyoko Kishida. She is a woman living alone in a dangerous environment, living on the edge, trying to ensure that the advancing sand does not consume her home. She is also a widow who lost her husband and so n to a sandstorm (Crowther 1). The young woman is faced with an endless task, to dig sand for the villagers’ use. However, surprisingly, this is her lifestyle; the only life she knows and is willing to die for. Having lived under such conditions for practically her whole life, she can guide Jumpei into acceptance. The symbolic significance of this is to show the coexistence between two people from different backgrounds. Jumpei is a rough, nervous man, while Kyoto is calm and composed (Morris 1). Attraction After Jumpei’s several failed attempts to escape, he begins to get absorbed into the new way of life. He realizes that the young woman, from her experience, is his best shot at survival (Crowther 1). Later, they find themselves having a sexual attraction towards each