Managing Information Systems In Organizations Essay

Managing Information Systems In Organizations INTRODUCTION In recent years, there has been an abundance of new technologies in the information systems field. These new technologies have altered the very development process itself. Information systems have gone from being a series of one level databases to three dimensional reality, virtual reality, and multimedia systems. In the early days of information systems, the demands were for data, with no real function of artificial intelligence. However, as the 21st century approaches, business has taken on an entirely different function, and the need for individual information systems has grown immensely. This demand for information technology is in all areas of business: corporations,†¦show more content†¦Data models were used for the first time to describe physical structures from a logical point of view. With this distinction between the logical and physical information, value systems were developed which could integrate all the data of a given application into one collection. The fourth generation consisted of relational databases and began in the 1980s, resulting in database systems that could store data redundancy free under a central control and in a clear distinction between physical and a logical data model. Systems based on relationship modeling occurred during this period of time. The systems based on relationship modeling are provided with a high degree of physical data independence and the availability of powerful languages. Less of the system is visible to the user, with changes taking place in the background. A shift from record orientation to set orientation marks this fourth generation. As of 1991, there was a fifth generation predicted, post-relational, which we are currently experiencing, and perhaps surpassing. Other applications can benefit from database technology. The development of extensible systems, logic-oriented systems, and object-oriented systems are part of this generation. R.G. Cattel speaks of the changes seen in the last fifteen years: â€Å"The past decade has seen major changes in the computing industry. There has been a widespreadShow MoreRelatedInformation Technology Systems Primary Responsibility1198 Words   |  5 PagesThe Information Technology systems primary responsibility is to maintain and sustain the organization network and communications operations. Although, they specialize in a particular field, they combine experiences and resources to support the IT department. The functional areas support the IT department which in turns support the organization’s mission, vision, and goals. Mission: Planning, managing, synchronizing, and directing the Information Technology system communication operations with theRead MoreInformation Technology Service Management Framework1006 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Information technology companies are faced with a continuously increasing need for information technology processes and systems regards to achieve business objectives. Companies in nowadays are getting more and more dependent on information technology to reach their business goal. In result, the needs of information technology service regards to the increasing dependence from information technology companies to IT service corresponding to the business is growing rapidly. To reinforceRead MoreTransforming Nursing and Healthcare Through Technology885 Words   |  3 Pageshealthcare information systems must be driven first by the continual integration of key process areas, ensuring responsiveness to each stakeholder and most of all, the patient. Integration between healthcare systems however can be daunting and aside from the costs of change management, the most costly aspect of any healthcare information technology initiative (Sadeghi, Benyoucef, Kuziemsky, 2012). The intent of this a nalysis is to evaluate the challenges that healthcare organizations face when sharingRead MoreClinical Decision Support Essay1037 Words   |  5 PagesPopulation Health Management Effectively managing the health of the population requires tremendous efforts and strategies of a healthcare organization. Leveraging the use of health information technology such as enabling the use of clinical decision support (CDS) at the point care is one of the strategies for an effective population health management (PHM). Rush-Copley Medical Center has successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of CDS at the point of care in managing a TB outbreak, which has resultedRead MoreInformation Technology And Information Systems Essay1450 Words   |  6 PagesInformation Technology Information technology and systems are vital to our success personally and professionally, and managers rely on information technology and systems every day. It is these systems that also help to support managers in planning, leading, organizing, and controlling. Many people need access to the same information which requires information to be centralized, accessible, stored, updated, and even customized. In this paper, we will explore how information technology and informationRead More Effective Management in Healthcare Organizations Essay examples999 Words   |  4 PagesManagement in Healthcare Organizations The present environments for healthcare organizations contain many forces demanding unprecedented levels of change. These forces include changing demographics, increased customer outlook, increased competition, and strengthen governmental pressure. Meeting these challenges will require healthcare organizations to go through fundamental changes and to continuously inquire about new behavior to produce future value. Healthcare is an information-intensive processRead MorePlan Human Resources For A Proposed Project Based On Plan966 Words   |  4 PagesManagement Information System and with online reservation and booking system. Additionally, firm is unable to maintain formal and proper records of selecting structure for its project, identifying different roles of personals working at project is not that much easier as it seems. Therefore are different aspects and factors, must be considered in this regards like: Structure of Organization: In order to achieve goals and objectives and activities to be performed, business organizations are structuredRead MoreWhy Are Information Systems So Essential For Running And Managing A Business Today?1458 Words   |  6 PagesAssignment One 1. Why are information systems so essential for running and managing a business today? An organization’s information system is capable of very important tasks and it is important for any business to exploit its capabilities. Information systems are important to businesses because they process data from the businesses’ input to generate information that is crucial for managing operations. The following points will explain why information systems are important to businesses: †¢ OperationalRead MoreImpact Of Information On The Transport Sector Of Bangladesh Essay1296 Words   |  6 Pagesbetween Data and Information Data is specific and it is organized for a purpose accurately and timely. Presented within a context, it gives its meaning and relevance. The uncertainty also gets minimized. Information is valuable because it can affect decision or an outcome. For example, if the manager is told about the company s net profit which has been decreased in the past month, then this information can lead for a reason to cut financial spending for the next month. Information systems makes operationsRead MoreQuestions On Information Resource Planning1677 Words   |  7 Pages1. Describe the five basic steps in information resource planning, and some ways that business managers might participate in each step? Answer: Information Resource Planning is one of the major stage in managing information systems in any Organizations. There are commonly 5 basic steps are involved in this planning 1. Assessment of Current Information Resources 2. Information Vision 3. IT Architecture 4. Strategic IS Plan 5. Operational IS Plan In each of these stage explains how the IT managers

Easyjet Market Analysis - 5043 Words

Executive Summary: This report illustrates an in-depth look of easyJet and will also discuss an analytic research that was made to demonstrate aspects of the history of the airline, along with the marketing strategy and brand strategy used and implemented by the low-budget airline. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, known as SWOT analysis, will also be illustrated along with the external environment better known as PEST analysis which consists of the political, environmental, social/cultural and technology factors of easyJet. In addition an analysis of the competitive market environment of easyJet will be shown, which includes an overview of easyJet’s main competitors and the nature of business in which they operate†¦show more content†¦Economical Factors: Some of the economical factors that may affect easyJet consist of an increase in fuel costs, other environmental factors that contribute to the economy such as natural disasters would result in easyJet not being able to operate for a certain period of time. Another factor that can have an effect on easyJet is the recession, research has indicated that this recession is likely to last longer than expected, which results in less business travellers travelling due to an attempt to decrease the amount of spending. Globalisation may be seen as another factor, as it continues to enhance air traffic in the long-term. (Geiger et al., n.d.). Social/Cultural Factors: The social and cultural factors that might affect the operation of easyJet are that French and German customers are unwilling to use their credit cards over the internet or phones or via the internet, this caused a problem for easyJet since they only sell tickets via the internet and phones. Another simple but affective factor that contributes to their operation is that the people are generally willing and not hesitant to pay for cheaper flights. (Geirger et al., n.d.). Technological Factors: The key technological factors that contribute to easyJets’ operations is the technological advancements which they try to integrate into their own systems such an example would be Galileo and Amadeus, which in turn makes online bookings more efficient and effective. (Bing, 2007).Show MoreRelatedEasyjet Market Analysis5052 Words   |  21 Pageslook of easyJet and will also discuss an analytic research that was made to demonstrate aspects of the history of the airline, along with the marketing strategy and brand strategy used and implemented by the low-budget airline. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, known as SWOT analysis, will also be illustrated along with the external environment better known as PEST analysis which consists of the political, environmental, social/cultural and technology factors of easyJet. In additionRead MoreRyanair vs. Easyjet Price Comparison1220 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Ticket Price Comparison of Ryanair Easyjet in the European Market Ron D’Alli Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University The European Airline industry’s growth dramatically changed after deregulation phased into the European market. Prior to deregulation, bilateral agreements between host countries in Europe existed, and typically each country had a national airline (Airline Operations Management, 2014). The industry stagnated and costs were very high for air travel. Deregulation inRead MoreEasyjet, The Main Strategy Of Easyjet Essay1476 Words   |  6 Pages Introduction EasyJet plc is a low-cost passenger airline what conducts it’s operations throughout the United Kingdom and mainland Europe. Bloomberg. (2016) Easyjet Plc. [Online] [31st October 2016] http://www.bloomberg.com/profiles/companies/EZJ:LN-easyjet-plc The main strategy of Easyjet is to be Europe’s preferred short-haul airline, delivering market-leading returns. Easyjet Corporate. (2015) Annual report and accounts 2015. [Online] [31st October 2016] http://corporate.easyjet.com/~/medRead MoreHuge Popularity of Low-cost Airline EasyJet1645 Words   |  7 Pages Executive summary EasyJet is an airline company operating in a low-cost airline market, which has gained in popularity over the past few years. It has come to EasyJet’s attention that a number of investors are reconsidering an investment in the company. This report should be used as a tool that might help potential investors decide as to why invest in Easy Jet instead of in a competing firm. EasyJet believes in a very high market potential as the industry for low-cost carriers has been rapidlyRead MoreEasyjet Case Study1039 Words   |  5 PagesStudy Corporate success of EasyJet EasyJet focuses on a cost leadership strategy and differentiation strategy. Central to the easy philosophy is yield management. The Easy model provides to the customer functional services at the lowest possible price, on the basis of the real value of the basics of the service provided, avoiding any unessential frills. EasyJet was launched in 1995 and was the pioneer in the economical airlines segment. The PESTEL analysis of EasyJet airlines shown in figure 1Read MoreManagement Accounting Information Aids Managers1639 Words   |  7 PagesEasyjet Plc. was established in 1995 and has grown from flying from London Luton to Edinburgh and Glasgow to 2015 where Easy Jet now flies over 600 different routes and operates across over 30 countries. Easy jet expanded its business activities to include the sale of package holidays and hotel bookings. Easy Jet has strategic objectives in which it likes to follow. These objectives are set out in Easy Jets 2014 Annual and Financial report. The objectives are as follows: - 1. Drive demand, ConversionRead MoreStrategy Easyjet887 Words   |  4 Pages2.1 Strategy EasyJet has adopted its business model from Southwest Airlines from the United states. It is adapted to the European market trough further cost-cutting measures. Important points in this business model are high aircraft utilization, short times on airport, charging for not needed extras and put much efforts in keeping the operating costs low. The key words in the strategy of Easy jet are â€Å"low price and no frill† based on Porter’s generic strategies (2.1.1) (appendix XX). This statesRead MorePestle Analysis of Easyjet797 Words   |  4 PagesPestle analysis of Easyjet Political Factors Political factors reflect the political stability of the region where Easyjet is operating. OPPORTUNITIES Government grants permission to purchase new Aircrafts. Government guidance and assistance available to travel and tourism businesses. European Countries Collaboration and good relationship making EU politically stable. This stability is a significant advantage for the growth of Easyjet THREATS Airlines which fail to comply with strictRead MoreEasyjet Is A British Airline Based At London Luton Airport1564 Words   |  7 PagesINTRODUCTION EasyJet is a British airline based at London Luton Airport. Sir Stelios Haji-loannou founded EasyJet in 1995 with the vision of creating a customer-focused brand that would revolutionize the concept of air travel. More than fifteen years on, EasyJet is the Europe’s leading airline and the largest airline in the United Kingdom carrying over 50 million passengers a year and flyting to over 600 routes across 30 countries. EasyJet flies to 44 out of 50 Europe’s largest airports and holdsRead MoreSwot Analysis Of Easyjet1159 Words   |  5 PagesInnovators and bold in their ventures in business EasyJet are key contenders within the European economic market and despite Brexit, have huge scope to succeed in a tactical relocation in a suitable EU member state after Great Britain imminently leaves the European Union. Background Founded by Greek billionaire Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and driven by CEO Dame Carolyn McCall since taking her post in 2010. EasyJet launched in 1995, and has made a niche market for itself as cheap and cheerful, not being

Humalit Poems †Torres Free Essays

CHILDREN AND LOVERS Ophelia Alcantara-Dimalanta (1934-2010) children have a special knack for making you feel odd and nude suddenly even with that vaguest piece of smile you ready somewhere to cover a scorching shame when they wickedly naive and sportive barge in without ceremony and when you finally shut that errant door on them again to try resuming love you terminate it both ways instead it seems the look of bewilderment and hurt they leave behind you cannot annul henceforth an alienating chill scudding across your upright headboard flipped into stiffened sheets and consciences eighty and brittle with adult experiences and reconsidered passions confounding even the best intentions but even more final than all finalities fumbled for is the cool crisp â€Å"later† you wall them away with somewhere again love waiting suffers a little falling away you end up wishing lovers are more like gaming children and children less like gnarled impatient lovers. DREAMWEAVERS Marjorie M. Ev asco (b. We will write a custom essay sample on Humalit Poems – Torres or any similar topic only for you Order Now 1953) We are entitled to our own definitions of the worlds we have in common: earthhouse(stay) waterwell(carry) firestove(tend) airsong(sigh) etherdream(die) and try out new combinations ith key words unlocking power house on fire sing! stove under water stay, earth filled well die. The spells and spellings of our vocabularies are oracular in translation one woman in Pagnito-an another in Solentiname still another in Harxheim and many other women naming half the world together canmove their earth musthouse their fire be water to their song will their dreams well. THE CONVERSION J. Neil C. Garcia (b. 1969) It happened in a metal drum. They put me there, my family that loved me. The water had been saved just for it, that day. The laundry lay caked and smelly In the flower-shaped basins. Dishes soiled with fat and swill piled high in the sink, and grew flies. My cousins did not get washed that morning. Lost in masks of snot and dust, their faces looked tired and resigned to the dirty lot of children. All the neighbors gathered around our open-air bathroom. Wives peered out from the upper floor of their houses into our yard. Father had arrived booming with his cousins, my uncles. They were big, strong men, my uncles. They turned the house inside-out looking for me. Curled up in the deepest corner of my dead mother’s cabinet, father found me. He dragged me down the stairs by the hair into the waiting arms of my uncles. Because of modesty, I merely screamed and cried. Their hands, swollen and black with hair, bore me up in the air, and touched me. Into the cold of the drum I slipped, the tingling too much to bear at times my knees felt like they had turned into water. Waves swirled up and down around me, my head bobbing up and down. Father kept booming, Girl or Boy. I thought about it and squealed, Girl. Water curled under my nose. When I rose the same two words from father. The same girl kept sinking deeper, breathing deeper in the churning void. In the end I had to say what they all wanted me to say. I had to bring this diversion to its happy end, if only for the pot of rice left burning in the kitchen. I had to stop wearing my dead mother’s clothes. In the mirror I watched the holes on my ears grow smaller, until they looked as if they had never heard of rhinestones, nor felt their glassy weight. I should feel happy now that I’m redeemed. And I do. Father died within five years. I got my wife pregnant with the next. Our four children, all boys, are the joy of my manhood, my proof. Cousins who never shed their masks lay them for all their snot and grime. Another child is on the way. I have stopped caring what it will be. Water is still a problem and the drum is still there, deep and rusty. The bathroom has been roofed over with plastic. Scrubbed and clean, my wife knows I like things. She follows, though sometimes a pighead she is. It does not hurt to show her who is the man. A woman needs some talking sense in to. If not, I hit her in the mouth to learn her. Every time, swill drips from her shredded lips. I drink with my uncles who all agree. They should because tonight I own their souls nd the bottles they nuzzle like their prides. While they boom and boom flies whirr over their heads that grew them. Though nobody remembers, I sometimes think of the girl who drowned somewhere in a dream many dreams ago. I see her at night with bubbles springing like flowers from her nose. She is dying and before she sinks I try to touch her open face. But the water learns to heal itself and closes around her like a wound. I should feel sorry but I drown myself in gin before I can. Better off dead, I say to myself and my family that loves me for my bitter breath. We die to rise to a better life. How to cite Humalit Poems – Torres, Essay examples

Networking Models In Flying Ad Hoc Networks â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Networking Models In Flying Ad Hoc Networks? Answer: Intorducation Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) refers to the delivery of services to long mile wireless broadband access (Bernardos et al., 2014). It provides both multipoint and applications. It has able to improve the network security during transmission to last mile. WiMax uses three data encryption standards for protecting the data and information. WiMax uses Counter Mode with Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code Protocol (CCMP) to encrypt all traffic on its network (Makris, Skoutas Skianis, 2013). The data encryption standards used by WiMax is described as below: Triple DES used to implement original Data Encryption Standard (DES) algorithm, hackers used for figuring out how to vanquish effortlessly. Triple DES was important standard and most used symmetric algorithm in organization (Osseiran et al., 2014). Triple DES uses three different keys that are 56 bits each. The key length is 168 bits; researchers would suggest that 112-bits in key quality is more similar to it. The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is algorithm trusted as standard by the U.S. Government. It is used in 128-piece frame. AES uses keys of 192 and 256 bits for encryption purposes (Sahingoz, 2014). It is used in many cases in the organization for providing security to the data and security of the business organization. RSA is a key encryption algorithm and standard for encrypting transmitted on Internet. RSA is used as an asymmetric algorithm because of its uses of a couple of keys (Viani et al., 2013). The key is an algorithm that is use to encrypt message. There is a private key to decode it. The limitation of RSA encryption is a data that takes aggressors a lot of time. The two examples of WPAN technologies are Bluetooth and Zigbee. There are various security challenges in the Bluetooth devices and technology. There are various attacks against confidentiality and data integrity (Ayyash et al., 2016). Bluetooth does not provide native client verification. The authorization of the Bluetooth device is not done that causes explicit behavior of other connected devices. There is a huge threat of DoS attacks on the Bluetooth devices during transmission of data and information. There can be malicious entry of external parties during the transmission process of data and information. The sensitive data and information might be damaged and corrupted during the wireless transmission. Bluesnarfing is a threat to this technology that allows the attackers to increase the use of the Bluetooth enabled devices. It looks for the IMEI number of the Bluetooth devices and get connected through this. After connecting with the parent Bluetooth devices, the connected device breaches all the data and information from the Bluetooth device. Bluejacking causes data breach from the Bluetooth enabled mobile phones. The attacker starts the bluejacking by sending false message to the mobile phones (Jiang et al., 2017). These span messages and phishing mail causes damage to the mobile phones. ZigBee is a wireless communication with low power and low-rate that aims to provide cryptographic keys for security. The link between the two devices is maintained by the security orotocol of the ZigBee. There are various physical attacks on the ZigBee radio regarding the frequency breach (Osseiran et al., 2014). The data packets collected during the wireless communication ca be breached. Shaikh, Faisal Karim, and Sherali Zeadally. "Energy harvesting in wireless sensor networks: A comprehensive review." Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 55 (2016): 1041-1054. This paper deals with the harvesting of energy in the Wireless Sensor Network (WSN). WSN consist of large number of static sensor nodes that helps in low processing. There are various sources of energy for the WSNs including Radio Frequency-based energy harvesting, Solar-based energy harvesting, Thermal-based Energy Harvesting and Flow-based energy harvesting. There are various approaches discussed in the paper for the energy harvesting. As argued by (), the energy harvesting system might cause damage to the ecological balance of the nature. The harvesting from different sources causes depletion of the resources in the environment. Choochaisri, Apicharttrisorn Intanagonwiwat, (2017) argued that log lasting devices consumes more battery and causes energy draining. The energy-efficient reliable systems provides benefit to the users in the form of ultra-energy efficient sensors. Ulukus, Sennur, et al. "Energy harvesting wireless communications: A review of recent advances." IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications 33.3 (2015): 360-381. This paper discusses about the new technologies implemented in the energy-harvesting sector. As commented by Fontes et al., (2017), the new advances in the energy harvesting have changed the traditional scenario of energy harvesting. There are various potential model used in recent market for energy harvesting. On the other hand, Choochaisri, Apicharttrisorn Intanagonwiwat, (2017) argued that the use of the modern techniques in the energy harvesting have increases the initial cost of various energy sources and also depleting the natural resources. Various equations and theories discussed in the paper that utilizes the traditional concept of energy harvesting and converting it into modern technology (Osseiran et al., 2014). The possible improvement in the traditional theory has been upgraded into modern tactics. The VLSI model is used for understanding the complexity and energy of decoding and encoding in system. References Ayyash, M., Elgala, H., Khreishah, A., Jungnickel, V., Little, T., Shao, S., ... Freund, R. (2016). Coexistence of WiFi and LiFi toward 5G: Concepts, opportunities, and challenges.IEEE Communications Magazine,54(2), 64-71. Bernardos, C. J., De La Oliva, A., Serrano, P., Banchs, A., Contreras, L. M., Jin, H., Ziga, J. C. (2014). An architecture for software defined wireless networking.IEEE wireless communications,21(3), 52-61. Choochaisri, S., Apicharttrisorn, K., Intanagonwiwat, C. (2017). Stable Desynchronization for Wireless Sensor Networks:(I) Concepts and Algorithms. arXiv preprint arXiv:1704.07002. Fontes, R. D. R., Mahfoudi, M., Dabbous, W., Turletti, T., Rothenberg, C. (2017). How Far Can We Go? Towards Realistic Software-Defined Wireless Networking Experiments.The Computer Journal, 1-14. Jiang, C., Zhang, H., Ren, Y., Han, Z., Chen, K. C., Hanzo, L. (2017). Machine learning paradigms for next-generation wireless networks.IEEE Wireless Communications,24(2), 98-105. Makris, P., Skoutas, D. N., Skianis, C. (2013). A survey on context-aware mobile and wireless networking: On networking and computing environments' integration.IEEE communications surveys tutorials,15(1), 362-386. Osseiran, A., Boccardi, F., Braun, V., Kusume, K., Marsch, P., Maternia, M., ... Tullberg, H. (2014). Scenarios for 5G mobile and wireless communications: the vision of the METIS project.IEEE Communications Magazine,52(5), 26-35. Sahingoz, O. K. (2014). Networking models in flying ad-hoc networks (FANETs): Concepts and challenges.Journal of Intelligent Robotic Systems,74(1-2), 513. Viani, F., Robol, F., Polo, A., Rocca, P., Oliveri, G., Massa, A. (2013). Wireless architectures for heterogeneous sensing in smart home applications: Concepts and real implementation.Proceedings of the IEEE,101(11), 2381-2396.

Average AP Scores for Every AP Exam

Average AP Scores for Every AP Exam SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Taking an AP class this year? You might be wondering about average AP scores or what good AP scores are for certain classes. Or if you are thinking about taking AP exams in the future, you might want to know which exams have the highest passing rates. In this post, we will break down the average score for each AP test, as well as the average passing rate. We will also show you how to interpret this info and how to use it to make decisions about your schedule. Average AP Score by Test Instead of giving you an overall average score for all AP tests, we will show you the average score for every AP exam. We break it down by test because every AP test is different. It’s important to know the average score for whichever test you are taking or thinking about taking. We will also explore how you can use this info- and learn why the exams with the highest passing rates are not the easiest! But first, the data. The table contains the national average scores for each AP exam from 2018. Remember that AP exams are scored from 1 to 5, with 3 and higher considered passing rates. We have sorted the exams from highest average scoreto lowest. Take a look: AP Test Average Score Chinese Language 4.31 Calculus BC 3.74 Japanese Language 3.70 Spanish Language 3.69 Studio Art Drawing 3.65 Physics C EM 3.60 Physics C Mechanics 3.55 Studio Art 2-D Design 3.48 Spanish Language (Standard) 3.45 French Language 3.32 German Language 3.31 Economics - Micro 3.21 Computer Science A 3.18 Music Theory 3.18 Research 3.17 French Language (Standard) 3.16 Seminar 3.15 Italian Language 3.14 Psychology 3.14 Gov. and Politics - Comparative 3.12 Computer Science Principles 3. Studio Art 3-D Design 3. Chinese Language (Standard) 3.06 Spanish Literature 3.06 Calculus AB 3.05 Art History 3.04 Physics 2 2.97 German Language (Standard) 2.96 Economics - Macro 2.96 Latin 2.94 Japanese Language (Standard) 2.89 European History 2.89 Italian Language (Standard) 2.88 Statistics 2.88 Biology 2.87 English Language 2.83 Chemistry 2.80 World History 2.78 Human Geography 2.72 Gov. and Politics - US 2.70 United States History 2.66 Environmental Science 2.63 English Literature 2.57 Physics 1 2.36 Via College Board. Check out the link for a complete distribution of scores for each AP exam. Want to get a perfect 5 on your AP exam and an A in class? We can help. PrepScholar Tutors is the world's best tutoring service. We combine world-class expert tutors with our proprietary teaching techniques. Our students have gotten A's on thousands of classes, perfect 5's on AP tests, and ludicrously high SAT Subject Test scores. Whether you need help with science, math, English, social science, or more, we've got you covered. Get better grades today with PrepScholar Tutors. One very important fact to note is that high average scores don't correspond to the easiest exams! Chinese, Calculus BC, Japanese, and Spanish Language are the AP tests with the highest average scores, but they are all known to be quite difficult. Also note that native speakers, or students with experience living abroad, tend to take the AP language exams, which inflates their average scores (for the average of those who learned in a classroom, check the "Standard" score). Furthermore, some of the tests with the lowest averages are often regarded as some the easiest APs- Human Geography, Environmental Science, and US Government. So why are their passing rates so low? This is because freshmen and sophomores might take these as their first-ever AP classes. Even though the content is easier than, say, Calculus, all AP exams are tough and could be hard for a younger student to do well on. It’s also possible that students simply don’t study enough for the â€Å"easier† exams because they underestimate them. All AP tests are difficult, even if some are easier than others. To sum up, the average score can say more about the students taking the exam than the exam itself. Don’t sign up for BC Calculus just because the average score is super high. And by the same token, don’t avoid AP Environmental Science because the average score is relatively low. Focus on your own strengths and interests when signing up for AP classes! What's a Good AP Score? Beyond the basic averages, it’s helpful to have some context about what a "good" AP score is. A score of 3 or higher is generally considered good, because that means you passed the exam! A 4 is considered very good, and a 5 is especially impressive since it is the highest score. Also keep in mind that every college sets its own policy about AP credit. Some schools only give credit for scores of 4 or 5. Check the AP credit database to find out the AP credit policy for schools you're interested in. But with that in mind, let’s look at which 2019 AP exams have the highest passing rates- a.k.a. rates of scores over 3. We also note the percentage of students who get a 5, the highest score. Exam Name Passing Rate (3+) 5 Rate Studio Art: Drawing 91.1% 20.8% Spanish Language and Culture 89% 24.9% Chinese Language and Culture 88.3% 57.2% Studio Art: 2-D Design 86.4% 21% Calculus BC 81.5% 43.2% Physics C: Electricity Magnetism 81.1% 35.9% Seminar 80.7% 6.8% French Language and Culture 76.7% 15.5% Research 76.2% 10.8% Japanese Language and Culture 75% 38.2% Computer Science Principles 72.7% 13.6% Spanish Literature 71.9% 9.1% Physics C: Mechanics 71.1% 34.6% German Language and Culture 70.5% 18.4% Studio Art: 3-D Design 70.1% 10.1% Computer Science A 69.9% 27% Microeconomics 68.4% 22.2% Gov. and Politics - Comparative 66.2% 22.2% Biology 64.6% 7.1% Italian Language and Culture 64.6% .8% Psychology 64.4% 20.2% Art History 63.9% 12% Physics 2 63.5% 12.6% Music Theory 63.4% 20.9% Latin 63.1% 13.1% Statistics 59.2% 14.5% European History 58.4% .7% Calculus AB 58.3% 18.9% Macroeconomics 57.9% 17.6% World History 56% 8.7% Gov. and Politics - United States 55.2% 12.9% English Language and Composition 55.1% 10.1% Chemistry 54.6% 10.7% United States History 54.3% 12.1% English Literature and Composition 50.1% 6.2% Environmental Science 49.6% 9.5% Human Geography 49.1% 10.7% Physics 1 44.6% 6.2% Source: College Board. For language rates, "Total" includes all students, while "Standard" includes only those students who didn't indicate they speak this language at home or spent more than four weeks studying it abroad. Again, note that some of the toughest exams- like Chinese and BC Calculus- have very high passing rates. Notice also the exams with very low 5 rates (below 10%), including Physics 1, English Literature, and Environmental Science. It will look especially impressive if you can earn a 5 on these tests! So Which AP Classes Should You Take? The goal of taking an AP class is to get a good grade in it and also pass the AP test. Doing both these things will show colleges that you can handle college-level material, and scoring high enough on the AP test can help you get college credit. You want to take AP classes you think you'll do well in. However, be careful about signing up for exams based on their average scores alone. As we saw above, some of the toughest exams (like Physics, AB and BC Calculus, and many of the foreign languages) have the highest passing rates, and some of the easiest exams (like Environmental Science and Human Geography) have the lowest passing rates. This means you shouldn't sign up for AP classes based on just their passing rates. Do some research before signing up for an AP class and make sure it’s the right fit for you. Ask older classmates how difficult they've found certain AP classes. Also, think about your own academic strengths and the classes you enjoy the most. If you love math and have always been good at it, you can probably score well on an AP Calculus exam even though they're known for being difficult. Also be careful not to overload yourself! If you cram too many AP classes into your schedule, it will be harder to pass the exams. Finally, note that these are the national averages. The passing rates for different subjects could be very different at your school. If you want to find out the passing rates for these classes at your school, talk to your guidance counselor and they can help you find that info. For example, some teachers have passing rates for their AP classes above 90%. If you have a teacher like that at your school, and they teach an AP subject you are interested in, you will likely have a very high chance of passing. One last word of advice: check out our scoring guide to see how AP scores are calculated to help you develop a target raw score to help you pass. Understanding how the exam is scored is a very important step in preparing for AP tests. What's Next? Learn about what AP Exams are like and how to avoid fatigue. Check out our guide on AP test length for exclusive tips! Want help deciding which AP classes will be easiest for you to take? We will show you which factors to consider to find the easiest AP classes for your schedule. Trying to decide between the ACT and SAT? Read our guide to decide which is best for you- and learn why it’s best to just focus on one test. Get tips on the SAT from our 1600 Full Scorer- you can also put the same techniques to use when studying for AP exams, especially the multiple choice sections! Get advice on writing SAT and ACT essays. If you’re going for perfection, you can even learn how to write a perfect SAT essay or a perfect ACT essay. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Essay Sample on Wisdom How Did Thoreau and Plato Follow the Path to Wisdom

Essay Sample on Wisdom How Did Thoreau and Plato Follow the Path to Wisdom Eudaimonia. That is the Greek word for happiness. Every person, regardless on statute, age, race, or gender, is in search for that one true thing that could make them fulfilled. Peoples definition of happiness varies and the path to achieving that is not at all easy. Life is a series of learning and relearning. And each of us is looking for the path to wisdom to achieve the one true end of happiness. There were people who came before us who gave their ideas on how to make life more manageable. Their lives have ended yet they continue into our own lives through their contributions. I call them the timeless people. And two of the most outstanding thinkers who ever lived were Henry David Thoreau and Plato. Before discussing the contributions of these two distinguished men, it is also important to look into their background and the milieu into which they were born. It was on July 12, 1817 when Thoreau was born in the town of Concord, Massachusetts. In1837, he graduated from Harvard College. He was a former schoolteacher and also made a living chiefly by surveying land and helping with the family pencil-making and ground lead business. Not only that, he also lectured from time to time from 1838 until 1860. He had his own dose of travels and he took time to document them. He died at the age of 44 on May 6, 1862. He never married and he only stayed in his cabin for most of his life. Plato lived way before Thoreau. This Athenian philosopher was born around 428-7 B.C. and died at the age of eighty or eighty-one at 348-7 B.C. He was born into a rich and politically-active family. He was educated by Socrates and was Aristotles mentor. Plato also joined the military service during the Peloponnesian war. He then pursued his political career because he felt more called for that profession. He established the Academy, a school in Athens, Greece. He was one of the philosophers who touched everything: from mathematics, to love, to equality, society and the like. On of his most famous works was Res Republica or The Republic. Thoreau was an utmost individualist and he championed the human spirit against avariciousness and social conformity. He urged others to be simple in their circumstances because that was the key, as seen in his own life, to an astonishing intellectual and spiritual wealth. It was in a plain kind of living that could make one reflect on different things and therefore, have better views of life. I went to the woods, he wrote, because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. He recommended to others to organize life in such a way that the simple and basic things do not get lost within complexities. His thoughts on individualism, materialism, and transcendentalism were the most influential and taught society on how to have a better grasp of things that exist. The Transcendentalists perceived the universe as divided into two fundamental parts, the soul and nature. It was through a definition of nature that Emerson defined the soul: all that is separate from us, all which Philosophy distinguishes as the NOT ME, that is, both nature and art, all other men and my own body, must be ranked under this name, NATURE. The dependability of the human conscience was an essential Transcendentalist principle, and this belief was rooted upon a conviction of the existence or the innate presence of God in the soul of the individual. God is within each one of us. His view on materialism revolved around the premise that one must look into what was necessary to his survival and just live with that. One must not measure ones worth by the things and properties he owned. In fact, he stated in Walden, one of his most well-known crafts, that †¦a man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone (Walden, 82). He also stated that Most of the luxuries, and many of the so called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind (Walden, 14). Platos Res Republica was often associated with the word utopia since the suggestion he laid down to achieve happiness in the society was all but abstract and very hard to attain. Unlike Thoreaus claims which were based on his own experience, his was still more of a fragment of the mind. Plato said that the ones who should rule should be devoid of the concept of family to avoid injustices. They should also live like soldiers in a camp making do with scarce resources. And he said that these people he was referring to were the philosopher-kings. Plato also discussed the division of labor and specialization in the society. For him, one should only be a master of one craft. Only people with philosophical temperament, according to Plato, are competent to judge between what is real and what seems to be, between the disguising, impermanent appearances of sensible objects and the the permanent reality of unchanging, abstract form. He also supposed that it was through rigorous education where one can achieve what he proposed as the ideal nature of man and the state. While Thoreau viewed man as individualistic, Plato thought And even in the smallest manner [one] should stand under leadership. For example, he should get up, or move, or wash, or take his meals only if he has been told to do so. In a word, he should teach his soul, by long habit, never to dream of acting independently There will be no end to the troubles of states, or of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands (The Republic).Both had opposing views on how man should act. While Thoreau thought that of civil disobedience, trancendentalism, and pro-individualism, Plato believed in civil obedience, anti-individualism, and the presence of many gods. Both agreed on anti-materialism. But, for me, Thoreaus suppositions are more favorable because they were based from experience. They were not only thought of, they were lived. And in life, it is experience that teaches us more rather than the formal schooling. In the four corners of the classroom, we do learn a lot of things but the outside world is a much bigger world and thus, have more things to reveal to us. This is a sample Philosophy essay written by one of our academic writers. If you need a custom essay, term paper, research paper, dissertation, thesis contact our company to get professional academic writing help.

Japanese healthcare system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Japanese healthcare system - Essay Example The delivery of healthcare services in Japan is largely controlled by the government despite the fact that the private sector is involved in the provision of health services. Despite covering the citizens of Japan, the healthcare system also offers medical services to foreigners who might visit the country. The cover provided to the citizens of Japan also depends on employment and the income earned by each individual citizen (Haffner et al, 2009) In every healthcare system, there are expenses incurred in providing services such as treatment, as well as drugs. In Japan, healthcare is paid for by the government, as well as medical insurance cover. Healthcare costs incurred are also paid for by the insurance cover; the social security system of Japan is divided into several pillars, which include public health, social welfare, social insurance, as well as public assistance. Social insurance is mandatory for all citizens and insures them against medical expenses that might be incurred as a result of health conditions. The National Health Insurance Act in Japan has set up an insurance system that is universal to ensure that all citizens can manage to pay for the healthcare costs they incur (Johnson & Stoskopf, 2010). Employed citizens have an employee’s insurance system whereby they pay a premium on a monthly basis based on their income. There is also national health insurance that caters for self-employed individuals. Hea lth insurance in Japan also caters for the elderly persons aged above 75 years. The decision of what care is covered is left to the health insurance agencies, as well as the contribution of the insured persons. Those who contribute a huge amount receive expensive insurance cover compared to those whose contributions are low. In addition, the health policies that the Japanese government has set up also determine the care provided to the citizens. The private sector also determines the care covered by the healthcare system of

Taxation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 2

Taxation - Essay Example The conceptual framework of accounting holds accounting theories related to taxation together. The framework establishes goal and objectives of financial reporting by businesses. Financial accounting information provides useful information for making business and economic decision such as taxation (Riahi-Belkaoui, 2005, p. 121). The theory that financial reporting should avail significant information for taxation recognizes that reporting does not exist out of the legal, economic, political, and social environment. The conceptual framework of accounting ensures that accounting information in relation to taxation is relevant, comparable, reliable, and consistent (Bebbington, Gray & Laughlin, 2001, p. 97). Comparability and consistency of taxation benefit from having  Generally  Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Adhering to financial statements to GAAP in relation to taxation means, they are consistent from year to year and the tax difference between various companies can be c ompared. Therefore, the accounting theories help in practical analysis of taxation in a business. The accounting theories of taxation function on four assumptions. The economic entity assumption illustrates that the practices of a business are distinct from the actions of the owner. It means that tax is computed separately for the company’s profit generation. In addition, the income tax of an employee is distinctively calculated in relation to the amount of salary gained. The going concern assumption states that when financial statements are prepared, the accountant assumes that the company will move without threat of dissolution or bankruptcy (Riahi-Belkaoui, 2005, p. 97). Therefore, it means that the likely taxable amount is already catered for in the financial statements hence in the event of taxation, the business does not feel any

Analysis of the Existing Strategy of the TUI Group Essay

Analysis of the Existing Strategy of the TUI Group - Essay Example The modern critics of the modern forms of planning and management postulate the notions that the modern world is dominated by uncertainty, complexity and widespread of ambiguity. It is, therefore, noted that in such dynamic environment, there is need of being flexible to respond swiftly to the changing conditions and this often calls for the alteration of the already established organization’s strategies to suit the current market structures (Weaver & Oppermann 45). Business and organization strategies offer the illustrations on the activities that the managers and stakeholders undertake as designed to achieve the firm’s objectives either in the short run or long run. Every organization has a purpose to accomplish and a defined direction of achieving it and these are always clearly articulated and embraced in their mission statement thereby acting as a guiding principle (Holloway 65). In a broader sense, business strategies are considered to be game plans that enable an organization to execute its activities that are geared towards achieving their objectives such as the expansion of market share and sales. Definition according to Ansoff takes business strategy as the common thread among firms, activities and the product markets that are aimed at defining the fundamental nature of the business that the organization has planned to be in the future. He, therefore, introduces the Ansoff Matrix that gives four main strategies that when impleme nted by an organization helps in the attainment of business growth.

Human Trafficking And Sexual Exploitation Criminology Essay

Human Trafficking And Sexual Exploitation Criminology Essay When I was in Holland in August 1999, I was curious to see Amsterdams Red Light District for myself. Then it was the only place I knew in the world where prostitution was legal and have heard that women pose in window inviting customers in. I was with a friend and she started taking pictures of the women in the windows. When my friend took another picture when we were in the middle of the walkway, a prostitute came from behind her window, descendent on us furiously, grabbed the camera and violently removed the film from the camera. We were stunned, apologised profusely and hurriedly tried to make our way. A man came from somewhere and explained that taking pictures were prohibited. At that time I, like most people, have not heard about human trafficking. The issue of human trafficking has received considerable attention in the last ten years from researchers, non-governmental organisations, governments and international bodies the world over. Like most countries, South Africa too is a signatory to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (generally referred to as the Palermo Protocol). We formally consented to the Palermo Protocol in December 2003. Thus, as a nation we are obligated to ensure that our internal laws address the issue of human trafficking. Human trafficking has been called a heinous, monstrous,  [1]  crime against humanity  [2]  . It has also been coined modern-day slavery. Human trafficking can take the form of sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, slavery, illegal adoptions, removal of organs and other body parts, for conveying drugs nationally and internationally. However, as much as the issue has been discussed and debated, it has contributed to the hype surrounding FIFA World Cup 2010 and how human trafficking for sexual exploitative purposes will increase [even though there is no research to draw from] during the soccer world cup. This led to discussions and public outcry on whether or not to legalise prostitution; and whether South Africa need a specific legislation dealing with human trafficking. When I wrote my proposal, I considered several key focus areas. It soon became apparent that due to limitations such as time and length of paper, that I needed to reduce the key focus areas. Consequently I have decided for this paper, to focus on definition of trafficking the causes of trafficking explore prostitution and whether or not it should be legalised explore legislative developments pertaining to trafficking protective measures available to victims of trafficking. Research Methodology The research methodology consisted majorly of in-depth desktop research on trafficking of adults, and not people under the age of 18 years, for purposes of sexual exploitation. Much has been written about human trafficking, but it is still difficult to find reliable studies thereof. Some of these factors include deficiencies in methodology; defining trafficking; high levels of mobility; and the underground nature of trafficking; links to organised crime; victims fears and unwillingness to participate in research; and potential dangers to researchers.  [3]   Gould and Fick wrote that they failed to find a single prostitute who said she was being forced by unscrupulous pimps to sell sex against her will.  [4]  This does not mean that there are no victims of sex trafficking in and around Cape Town. I thought I could draw on an article written by Immelback Interviewing a Victim of Human Trafficking.  [5]  Upon closer look I realised that she did not interview a victim of human trafficking, but interviewed the Victim Assistance team who works with victims of trafficking. As it is difficult  [6]  to set up interviews with victims of sex trafficking due to a host of reasons, including personal, I abandoned interviewing them for this paper due to my limitations. I decided to instead research movies and or documentaries that depict human trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation. I will reflect on one of such movies, namely the movie Taken where Liam Neeson plays the role of a concerned and heroic father, whose daughter and friend have been trafficked for purposes of sexual exploitation, and he lengths he went to rescue them. Throughout the paper I will try to avoid preferring to victims in the feminine form, even if the majority of the persons who victims of sex trafficking are women. This is to prevent sexism in my writing.  [7]   A Review Of The Literature Defining Human Trafficking One of most debated issues of human trafficking is the definition of human trafficking. Article 3 of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (Palermo Procol) defines trafficking as: trafficking in persons shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include at a minimum the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour of services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs; the consent of a victim of trafficking in persons to the intended exploitation set forth in subparagraph (a) of this Article shall be irrelevant where any of the means set out in paragraph (a) have been used; Most countries have taken the definition verbatim when they drafted their anti-trafficking laws. Kara  [8]  undertook several research trips to investigate human trafficking on four continents. He questions whether the definition is subparagraph 3(a) includes exploitation.  [9]  He opines that the wording only speaks to the movement portion of the chain, which explains why anti-trafficking law focus on movement more than exploitation  [10]  . He argues that trafficking is not about movement, it is about slavery.  [11]  He writes that current anti-trafficking efforts primary seek to crack down on modern-day slave traders, resulting in little more than adjustments in routes, larger bribes to border guards, and the procurement of false travel documents.  [12]  He suggests that a much clearer understanding of sex trafficking is required- wherein the movement and the purpose of the movement are disaggregated as criminal acts- to achieve greater abolitionist effectivene ss.  [13]  He suggests two definitions which could be used to eradicate sex trafficking, namely Slave trading- process of acquiring, recruiting, harbouring, receiving, or transporting an individual, through any means and for any distance, into a condition of slavery or slave-like exploitation.  [14]   Slavery- process of coercing labour or other services from a captive individual, through any means, including exploitation of bodies or body parts. He argues breaking the definition into different parts should be effective when formulating efforts to combat the crime of sex trafficking, and that confusion over what trafficking is results in blunted purpose, diffracted focus and exclusion of important components of trafficking-related crimes.  [15]   The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) Tsireledzani 2010 report dealt with the problems of trafficking. They have expanded the definition of trafficking to include trafficking within national borders; forced marriages; child labour; impregnation of a female against her will for the purposes of selling her child when born; and trafficking of body parts.  [16]   In South Africa Gould and Fick created a stir with their controversial research on sex trafficking in Cape Town. They argue that the definition is too broad  [17]  and that there seem to no agreement on what could be considered as exploitation  [18]  . Another criticism of the definition by Gould and Fick is the issue of consent of the victim being irrelevant.  [19]  They opine that by ignoring the fact that the victim consented to be trafficked, is to ignore the specific needs of the victim, especially the victim who do not wish to return home to the same circumstances that led the victim to be trafficked in the first place.  [20]  Gould and Fick conclude that critiques would suggest that the term trafficking may not be a useful lens through which to consider issues of exploitation and abuse in the sex work industry.  [21]   Sex trafficking and prostitution are often perceived as two sides of the same coin. However, it is not. It is important to differentiate between sex trafficking and prostitution. With sex trafficking the person is being exploited to perform sex work; the person is not directly paid, but money might be sent to the victims family; the person is compelled to do the sex work; the person is not in a position to stop working unless the person escape; the person does not have autonomy of movement- it is restricted; the person is not able to negotiate a rate, fee, hours; the person is not able to negotiate the sexual acts; the person is not able to negotiate safe sexual practices; With prostitution, however, the sex worker is paid directly (if the person is based at a brothel, money might be paid either to person self or the person managing the brothel); can decide to stop whenever; choose to do the sex work due personal circumstances; can negotiate sexual acts; can negotiate safe sexual practices; can negotiate the rate, fee and hours; is able to enjoy freedom of movement; can still enjoy life as a person (fall in love, have babies, etc) Why does sex trafficking occur? The root causes of trafficking are complex, the vulnerability resulting from poverty is a major contributor.  [22]  The HSRC list pull factors such as economic inequality, conflicts, adoption trade, the use of organs or body parts in rituals.  [23]  They list poverty and deprivation, persistent unemployment, gender discrimination, lack of information and education, harmful socio-cultural practices and lack of legislative and policy protection as push factors.  [24]  They also cite issues such as disempowerment, social exclusion, and economic vulnerability- the result of policies and practices- marginalise entire groups of people, rendering them vulnerable to being trafficked.  [25]   The general perception is that only men are traffickers. Women are also involved in human trafficking, not only as victims, but also as traffickers.  [26]  It has been found that traffickers are also women, as mainly Mozambican women in partnership with their compatriots and South African men who transport trafficked victims from Maputo to Johannesburg or Durban.  [27]  Victims trafficked to Europe are recruited by Malawian businesswomen.  [28]   Kara argues that sex trafficking occurs because it is a lucrative business.  [29]  He equates sex trafficking with drug trafficking.  [30]  He states that drug trafficking generate greater dollar revenues, but [sex] trafficking is more profitable.  [31]  Unlike a drug, a [human] does not have to be grown, cultivated, distilled, or packaged.  [32]  Unlike a drug, a [human] can be used by the customer again and again.  [33]  34It generates profits through the vulgar and wanton destruction of lives.  [35]   Kara describes several five ways how sex slaves are acquired, namely deceit, sale by family, abduction, seduction or romance, or recruitment by former sex slaves.  [36]  Each of these ways will be briefly illustrated below. Deceit Deceit involves false job offers, travel, or other income-generating opportunity, false marriage offers (mail order brides).  [37]  He opine that in countries where marriage is the only way for a female to secure social acceptance, basic rights, and avoid a lifetime of persecution, false marriage offers are effective ways to acquire sex slaves.  [38]  People living in refugee camps are very susceptible to sex trafficking as they are often not allowed to leave the camp to seek employment.  [39]  Traffickers visiting refugee camps with job offers are usually very successful in getting people.  [40]   Sale by or involvement of family members I first encountered family involvement when I read a news article.  [41]  The article said that police had rescued a seventeen year old teenage girl from Klerksdorp from a brothel in Table View.  [42]  It alleged that the mother of the teenager knew the brothel owner and have promised her daughter that she will be working as a child minder.  [43]  Did the mother knew that her daughter will be expected to do sex work? Poverty, desperation and displacement lead many families to sell a family member into slavery, and that they seldom are sold for greed.  [44]  Parents are often forced by poverty and ignorance to enlist their children, hoping to benefit from their wages and sustain the deteriorating family economic situation.  [45]   Abduction People are rarely abducted into sex trafficking, because it is difficult to transport person without drawing attention. People are also abducted in and from conflict zones and forced to serve as sex slaves to rebel commanders or are sold as slaves.  [46]   Kara says that not only is the abducted victim unwilling to travel, but also will to escape at any opportunity.  [47]  If a person is abducted into sex trafficking, the person is usually also drugged to facilitate easier movement. Seduction or Romance Victims are also lured into trafficking by promises of love and marriage. Traffickers would find attractive and vulnerable people (more often girls), offering them love and marriage, treating them to expensive gifts, seducing them to migrate to a rich country where they can build a life together.  [48]  Once the victim reaches the other country, they are forced into sexual slavery.  [49]   Recruitment by former slaves This too might be difficult to comprehend, but people are also recruited by other victims of trafficking.  [50]  Sex slaves employ adaptive mechanisms to survive their ordeals, including drug and alcohol abuse and the morose acceptance that their fate.  [51]  In East Africa, Ugandan women working as prostitutes in the Gulf States lure young girls from their country because they are usually preferred by male clients.  [52]   Lastly, Kara controversially opines that the United States is more responsible than any other nation for the inimical accretion in human exploitation, trafficking, slavery since the fall of the Berlin Wall. He notes that through the International Monetary Fund and other institutions, the US government rapidly imposed its particular brand of unfettered market economics upon the developing world, unleashing catastrophic increases in poverty, social upheaval, mass migration and lawlessness.  [53]   Should sex work be legalised? When dealing with the issue of sexual exploitation, the question is often raised whether or not to legalised or to decriminalise prostitution. Kara too addresses this in his research. He writes that the argument that prostitution be legalised rests on the premise that women have a right to control their bodies.  [54]  He indicates that legalisation would mean that prostitutes could enjoy the same benefits that other occupations do.  [55]  Legalisation would also allow for state monitoring to ensure that prostitutes were less subject to violence and exploitation and that it would make it more difficult to traffic people for sexual exploitation because victims would have rights under the law, and that criminalising prostitution leads to increased victimisation of trafficking victims.  [56]  Those who are against legalising prostitution argue that purchasing sex and operating sex establishments should be criminalised because prostitution can never be a choice and that the pr ofession is inherently based on a system of male sexual dominance, appropriating the female body for pleasure and reinforcing the subordination and sexual objectification of women.  [57]  He further writes that legalisation gives protection to brothel owners to purchase trafficking victims and inflict greater exploitation behind closed, but legal doors.  [58]  He writes that only governments, organized crime, and pimps benefit from legalisation and women and children suffer state-sanctioned rape and slavery.  [59]  He does not elaborate on how governments benefit from legalising prostitution. Kara investigated two countries, the Netherlands and Sweden legislation regarding prostitution. The Netherlands have legalised prostitution and Sweden has criminalised it. Even though prostitution was legal in Amsterdam, brothels were not until October 2000, when the ban was lifted to enable the Dutch government to exercise more control over the sex industry and counter abuses.  [60]  Brothel owners are issued licences if they are in compliance with certain standards, including panic buttons in work areas, hot and cold running water, and free condoms.  [61]   National Legislative framework Since South Africa signed and ratified the Palermo Protocol, we had to ensure that we enact legislation in accordance. The US Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons 2010 report ranked South Africa as Tier 2. This means that our government do not fully with the Trafficking Victims Protection Acts (TPVA) minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring us into compliance with those standards. Currently our anti-trafficking law is in draft stage, and it is not known if and when the bill will become law. It has been stated that we have several laws that deals with aspects of human trafficking, inter alia the Childrens Act 38 of 2005 (Chapter 18- sections 281 to 291); Films and Publications Board 65 of 1996; Human Tissues Act 65 of 1983; The Corruption Act 94 of 1992; Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998; Infringement of Immigration Act 13 of 1996; Refugee Act 130 of 1998; and Extradition Act 67 of 1962. I will discuss these legislative provisions contained in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act  [62]  as well as the Prevention and Combating Trafficking in Persons bill (2009). The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act The Sexual Offences Act (SOA) can be used in the interim to charge and prosecute traffickers and victims of trafficking. Section 70 and 71 of the SOA are transitional provisions relating to trafficking. Section 70 deals with application and interpretation and section 71 deals with trafficking in persons for sexual purposes. Section 70 states that 70(b) trafficking includes the supply, recruitment, procurement, capture, removal. Transportation, transfer, harbouring, sale, disposal, or receiving of a person, within or across the borders of the Republic, by means of a threat of harm; the threat or use of force, intimidation or other forms of coercion; abduction; fraud; deception or false pretences; the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability, to the extent that the complainant is inhibited from indicating his or her unwillingness or resistance to being trafficked, or unwillingness to participate in such an act; or the giving or receiving of payments, compensation, rewards, benefits or any other advantages for the purpose of any form or manner of exploitation, grooming or abuse of a sexual nature of such person, including the commission of any sexual offence or any offence of a sexual nature in any other law against such person, whether committed in or outside the borders of the Republic, and trafficks and trafficked have a corresponding meaning. Section 71 reads 71(1) Any person (A) who trafficks any person (B) without consent of B, is guilty of the offence of trafficking in persons for sexual purposes. 71(2) A person who- orders, commands, organises, supervises, controls or directs trafficking performs any act which is aimed at committing, causing, bringing about, encouraging, promoting, contributing towards or participating in trafficking or incites, instigates, commands, aids, advises, recruits, encourages or procures any other person to commit, cause, bring about, promote, perform, contribute towards or participates in trafficking, is guilty of an offence of involvement in trafficking in persons for sexual purposes. 71(3) For the purpose of subsection (1), consent means voluntary or uncoerced agreement. The SOA elaborates further on the circumstances. It states that 71(4) Circumstances in which B does not voluntarily or without coercion agree to being trafficked, as contemplated in subsection (3), include, but are not limited to, the following where B submits or is subjected to such an act as a result of any one or more of the means or circumstances contemplated in subparagraphs (i) to (vii) of the definition of trafficking having been used or being present; or where B is incapable in law of appreciating the nature of the act, including where B is, at the time of the commission of such act- asleep; unconscious; in an altered state of consciousness, including under the influence of any medicine, drug, alcohol or other substance, to the extent that Bs consciousness or judgement is adversely affected. 71(5) Any person who has been trafficked is not liable to stand trial for any criminal offence, including any migration-related offence, which was committed as a direct result of being trafficked. Any act of trafficking which is not included in sections 70 and 71 of the SOA, such as kidnapping, assault (common, and assault GBH), extortion, slavery, attempted murder, and murder have to be prosecuted under general statutory or common law offences.  [63]   Malachi v Cape Dance Academy International Pty Ltd Others In a recent reportable case of Tatiana Malachi v Cape Dance Academy Others  [64]  , even though the legal question did not deal with human trafficking, I think that it was a case of human trafficking. The facts are cited as follows. Applicant is a citizen of the Republic of Moldova. She was employed as an exotic dancer at a nightclub managed by the first respondent (Cape Dance Academy International PTY LTD) and second respondent (House of Rasputin Properties PTY LTD). On her arrival in South Africa during March 2009, applicant handed her passport to the owner of Rasputin. Applicant was initially informed that her passport would be kept for 30 days in order to have it registered at the Police station. Second respondent subsequently kept applicants passport during the entire period of her employment. The owner of second respondent informed applicant that he would not return her passport unless the applicant paid him $2000 for her air ticket and R20 000 as a levy. The applicant was unable to pay either of these amounts, as she was not earning sufficient income during her employment with second respondent. The applicant was to remain in custody pending the return date, which was to be 30 July 2009. If the applicant furnished adequate and satisfactory security for the total claim of R100 000 plus interest and costs, the applicant would be released from custody and the order for arrest discharged. The applicant had no assets of any tangible value in South Africa and therefore was unable to furnish adequate and satisfactory security. By agreement between the parties, the first and second respondents secured the discharge of the arrest warrant by the third respondent and the applicant was released from the custody on 24 July 2009. Applicant sought and received the assistance of the Consul General of Russia to facilitate her return to her home country Moldova. Prior to her departure from South Africa on 9 July 2009, applicant was arrested and taken into custody at Pollsmoor Prison. The arrest was made pursuant to a court order issued by the third respondent ex parte on 9 July 2009 and warrant of arrest tanquam suspectus de fuga. If we interpreted sections 70 and 71 as is, based on the facts of this case, Ms Malachi arrived in March 2009 and employed as an exotic dancer. It not evident from the facts how she got to be employed as an erotic dancer. Lets for

Lupus Essay -- science

"Lupus" Systemic lupus erythematosus, or simply lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease or immune system malfunction. A person's immune system normally protects the person from viruses, bacteria and other foreign materials. When a person has an autoimmune diseases like lupus, the immune system turns against itself and attacks itself. Lupus does not have a known cause, and because of that it has no known cure. The exact cause of lupus is unknown, but scientists suspect that it is likely to be a combination of factors, people who contract lupus are probably genetically predisposed to lupus, and know that environmental factors such as infections, antibodies, ultraviolet light, extreme stress and certain drugs play a critical role in triggering lupus. Managing lupus is different from person to person. Individuals with lupus can usually live a normal life span. Medications are usually prescribed to patients, although treatment is not required at all times, but most patients will undergo some treatment. Some medications that are often prescribed for people with lupus are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, corticosteroids, antimalarials and immunomodulating drugs. The treatment goal for lupus is to stop the immune system from attacking & destroying vital organs. Another popular treatment for lupus is simply exercising and eating right. Since we have no known cause of lupus, you cannot prevent it. It is sometimes referred to as a chronic diseas...

Emma/Clueless Essay

Emma Essay How has the changing contexts influenced the representations of main issues from Emma to Clueless? Amy Heckerling’s Clueless is a cinematic reconstruction of Jane Austen’s 19th century classic Emma and perfectly encapsulates the idea that the issues of a time, change and adapt with the changing of context. The contemporary text Clueless takes the rustic values placed on courtship, dating and ultimately marriage as well as the social/class distinctions in Regency England and successfully transforms them to better suite the new context of a contemporary audience and less rigid society.In the 19th century, marriage was the sole occupation of women and was the only way for women to rise in social status and to ‘support themselves’. Marriage was a fundamental aspect of Austen’s world and the importance of marriage is highlighted as Emma states that she is â€Å"not going to be married† and Harriet exclaims in a shocked tone â€Å"it is so odd to hear a woman talk so! †. For Harriet, and most women in the 19th century, marriage was an economic necessity to provide a stable financial future.This is reiterated by Emma’s use of short phrases in â€Å"a single woman, with a very narrow income, must be a ridiculous, disagreeable old maid† which expresses her disdain for those women who do not possess fortunes to match hers and reinforces the value of wealth in relation to marriage. Marriage was therefor, not for love but for wealth, as is demonstrated in Mr. Elton’s arrogant proclamation that he â€Å"need not so totally despair of an equal alliance as to be addressing myself to Ms. Smith! † The use of the word ‘alliance’ emphasizes the fact that matrimony was for financial benefits.Marriage in Austen’s time was valued unconditionally and was seen as a means to achieve financial and social stability. While Emma focuses on the importance of marriage in the rigid Regen cy period, in the contemporary American setting of Clueless, although marriage is still featured, the focus has shifted to more contemporary themes relating to the sexuality and fluidity of relationships. Cher’s dialogue when explaining her indecisiveness over who to lose her virginity to: â€Å"You know how picky I a with my shoes, and they only go on my feet! shows how sexual relationships have replaced marriage in the new context, as Cher’s dilemma becomes a question of whom to lose her virginity to and not whom to marry. The role of women in courtship has also changed dramatically as is demonstrated by the zoom in on Cher’s feet rubbing Christians, indicating her desire to have sex with him. This active role in the relationship contrasts starkly with the subservient role women played in the 19th century. Marriage still plays a role in the 21st century and this is shown the last scene; the marriage of Mr.Hall and Ms. Geist. Heckerling does however, employ sa tire through Cher’s voice-over of â€Å"As if! I’m only 16! This is California, not Kentucky. † when audiences presume that she is marrying to gently mock the 19th century necessity to marry early, once again highlighting the shift away from the importance of marriage. In the 21tst century, marriage has been pushed to the side and values in relationships focus more on sexuality. The social hierarchy of Regency England was rigid and dependent on wealth, property and heritage of the individuals and families.The extreme importance of class is demonstrated through the exaggerated caricature of Mrs. Elton, a woman who is quite obnoxious, but still thought to be a better â€Å"catch† than the kind-hearted Harriet, simply because of her â€Å"genteel heritage† and â€Å"wealth†. The rigidity of social standings is further accentuated by Emma’s pretentious and condescending tone in â€Å"the yeomanry are precisely the people with which I fee l I can have nothing to do with† where her disdain for Robert Martin, a farmer in love with Harriet, reflect her disdain for those with a lower social standing than herself.Austen however, challenges the prerequisites of her society through her character Mr. Knightley, who shows generosity towards the lower class despite his own high social standing, even describing Robert Martins as â€Å"respectable, intelligent, gentle†. His use of positive adjectives accentuates Austen’s view that kindness and charity are more important that social superiority; an idea that many in her time did not share. Heckerling appropriates 19th century class snobbery and transforms them to better suite the growing multicultural and democratic setting in Clueless.Although class distinction no longer exists, Clueless depicts a social structure based on popularity, appearance and acquaintance in a high school environment. The importance of popularity mirrors the importance of class in Emma and is established through Cher’s use of dialogue in â€Å"The fact that you hang with Dionne and I, speaks very highly of you. † Close up shots of Cher and Dionne’s disgusted expressions as they scorn Trevor (the Clueless equivalent of Robert Martin) again echoes the class snobbery and disdain shown by the genteel in Emma towards those of lesser standing.Heckerling does however; emphasize the fluidity and flexibility of 21st century class structure, which is the principal difference between the contexts of Emma and Clueless. Tai’s gradual change of costume is in direct correlation to her gradual rise in popularity from â€Å"adorably clueless† outcast to the centre of attention; highlighting the superficial and shallow ‘social’ structure present in the 21st century. Amy Heckerling has taken into consideration the changed context of Clueless and appropriately caused the adapted the Regency England views on social structure to better r eflect the class values of the high school setting.

IRONY the Challenge of Acting Oscar Wilde And George Bernard Shaw essays

IRONY the Challenge of Acting Oscar Wilde And George Bernard Shaw essays the Challenge of Acting Oscar Wilde And George Bernard Shaw Irony is another staple tool of wit in Style acting, and it often seems to come effortlessly to British actors because the British rarely say what they mean. "The speech we hear is an indication of what we don't hear... One way of looking at speech is to say it is a constant stratagem to cover nakedness," says British playwright Harold Pinter. But I notice that some American actors (other than native New Yorkers) are made uneasy by the notion that what they are saying is a decoy from the true intention, that the language distracts from what the character is actually thinking They worry that the underlying meaning is not obvious enough and in their attempts to communicate it they destroy all irony because if it isn't delicate, it's not irony. It's nudge,nudge or worse. Meaning one thing while saying something else is like singing a harmony with yourself, and the dominant tune is the spoken words. If they are convincing in their own right, and the audience realizes the unspoken irony a second later, it's funny. The character need not necessarily grasp the irony: awareness is not always part of the equation. Another form of irony springs from the contradiction between words and actions. When this is deliberate it can be crude, such as "how very amusing" said with a straight face. Action should not reinforce an irony or it will overload it. For example, "I like you already more than I can say" should not be accompanied by a hostile stare. In fact, the action that accompanies irony should be ambiguously appropriate. In other words, it should be capable of being interpreted as the truth by the recipient, and recognizable cover up by the audience. It's a fine line to tread. Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest is a minefield of irony, and you will fall all too easily into leaden unfunniness if the you don't have a light touch.The structure of Oscar Wilde's di ...

The Bell Jar Review essays

The Bell Jar Review essays The bell jar is a considerably powerful novel. It is a poignant account of an American girls beak down and treatment during the late fifties in America. The Bell Jar constantly displays Sylvia Plaths tremendous magic with words. The book takes the reader on a journey from the heights of urban glamour to the terror of feeling imprisoned within one's own mind. Interlaced through out the book are Plaths real life experiences and feelings. We are shown a mirror between fact and fiction. In this loosely autobiographical novel, Plath's protagonist, Esther Greenwood, sinks into a profound depression during the summer after her third year of college. Esther spends the month of June interning at a ladies' fashion magazine in Manhattan, but despite her initial expectations, is uninterested in the work and increasingly unsure of her own prospects in life. Esther begins her spiraling deterioration into an utterly depressing state of mind. She is confused, fed up and depressed about life itself. Esther grows increasingly dissatisfied with the way society works and she no longer seems herself fitting in anywhere. She has a dream which sums up her predicament in the book, and this predicament is something that young people today unfortunately can relate to well. Esther imagines herself in a fig tree: all around her, she sees figs that represent the various things she could do with her life, such as become a writer, or an editor, or marry Buddy, and so on. She is paralysed by choice, and as she tries to decide, the figs wither and rot and fall from the tree. This is the beginning of her breakdown. Esther cannot keep the airless bell jar of depression and despair from descending over her. Suddenly, Esther finds herself in a nightmare. Unable to sleep write or concentrate; she can see no point in life. Taken to a psychiatrist, Dr. Gordon, who performs terrifying electroshock therapy on her, I thought my bones would bre...

Boeing is the Manufacturing of Commercial Airplane and Military Research Paper

Boeing is the Manufacturing of Commercial Airplane and Military Airplanes - Research Paper Example In its growth, Boeing has managed to broaden its portfolio and grow its revenues and profitably, which has translated into improved stakeholder value. Boeing is ranked second after Airbus on being the maker of commercial jets and falls second after Lockheed Martin as a defense contractor. This research paper explores how Boeing leverages leveraged its performance through the use of strategic information architecture systems to meet its strategic enterprise objectives. Background Overtime, Boeing has grown to become one of U.S. biggest commercial jet manufacturers to command a significant global market share. The core objective of Boeing centers of continuing to lead the industry and creating innovative aircrafts and satisfying the entire customer’s growing needs. Boeing aspires to be the strongest, and the best integrated aerospace-based company globally. Boeing has grown to become the largest global aircraft manufacturer by revenue, deliveries, and orders, as well as one of t he largest aerospace and defense contractor globally. Boeing’s Commercial Aviation Services section enables Boeing to provide efficient, timely technical support to help airlines operators to keep their airplanes in optimum operating state. The acquisition of McDonnell Douglas in 1997 played a big role in raising the stature of the company. In 2010, Boeing revenue stood at USD 64.306 billion, which a drop of 6% from 2009 full-year results. The drop in revenue can be linked to multiple factors such as a reduction in airline demand, as well as production interruptions and consequent negative publicity connected to delays for the delivery of 787 Boeing Dreamliner (Boeing, 2011). The Boeing 787 Dreamliner can be regarded to be the most successful product that Boeing has launched in the recent past judged by the numbers of orders that Boeing has received. In the 1st Quarter of 2011, Boeing succeeded in raising its revenue by 2% from the 2010 revenue of $30.79 billion to $31.45 bil lion. Similarly, Boeing’s net income increased to $3.31 billion in 2010 from a 2009 net income of $1.31 billion. The 250% jump in net income emanate from the streamlining and efficiency procedures that Boeing implemented. During the first half of 2011, Boeing’s net income increased by 17% from $1.31 (2010) to $1.53 billion (2011) (Boeing, 2011). This demonstrates the economic success that Boeing currently enjoys owing to the robustness of its operations and the capability to utilize its resources productively. Boeing’s Organization and Management of Information Systems Boeing has a strong commitment towards the long-term enhancement in its products and processes. Boeing has a strong commitment towards customer satisfaction and improving shareholder value, which necessitates that Boeing continuously work together to enhance the overall efficiency and productivity within its design, administrative, manufacturing, and support organizations. The need for continuousl y improve products makes technology a central factor in generating the future of the aerospace industry. Boeing’s client base extends in over in over 90 countries, which has necessitated its adoption of partnerships across the globe in technology, service, and manufacturing sectors. Furthermore, Boeing enjoys a robust, in-house, research, design and technology-development departments and has also extended research and develop centers and programs in a number countries.  Ã‚  

Emirates Airline's Company Strategy Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Emirates Airline's Company Strategy - Case Study Example The events of eleventh September 2001 affected all countries of the world. This is because Airline Companies were now seen as vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Many believed that the bombings that occurred in 9-11 could only have been achieved if there was a security breach at the Pentagon and also in some Airports. This event discouraged some passengers from flying and it also affected customer expectations. Clients now expected airlines to increase their security in all airports. This has now become a determinant factor when clients are choosing an Airline. Many Airline Companies ; especially those ones found in Western countries made the choice of expand their operations using the hub and spoke model where flights cater for clients going from an origin market to a specific destination. These expansions saw creation of about seven hundred and fifty mainline jets. This was a huge overestimation because market share is quite low in the origin-destination market. Consequently, many Airline Companies lost a lot of revenue because there was hardly any return on their investments. Supply definitely exceeded demand and it therefore became uneconomical to use this model. Most Companies within the Airline industry have been focusing on short term rather than long term profit margins. Most of them have been trying to improve their performances within the stock exchange over an abnormally short period of time. Since it is almost impossible to increase profitability overnight, companies decided to increase Airline tickets and the pressure was then transferred to the consumer. The major problem with this is that companies were harming the same people who were the main source of revenue and this has resulted in long term loses as consumers dashed off to other low cost Airlines. 2 There is a looming economic crisis in the Airline industry if conventional carriers do not up-their -game; low cost airlines. In the past, low cost airlines had only one unique product offerings for their customers that is low ticket charges. However, with the passage of time, these companies have become very competitive. Most of them now have the ability to attract a hoard of clients through good customer service, top of the class aircrafts and efficient employees. Their emergence has led to the decline in corporate fights and shift to mainstream offerings. 2.2 Social Most Airline companies may opt to host a range of aircrafts within their hubs or ports. As much as these aircrafts offer unique services to a host of clientele, they can become a source of concern when considering the kind of staff one needs to recruit. For example, is an Airline Company owns Regional jets Twin engines Four engine Turboprops Wide-body Narrow body All these various types of aircrafts will require their own pilots and engineers. They may have different qualifications and may also require different pay. Such ideas are quite sustainable if the economy is stable, but most countries have been experiences upsurges; it has therefore become difficult to maintain the payment schedules of al their employees given the fact that most of them belong to different labour unions. 3 2.3 Technology During the mid and late nineties, there was a huge demand for technology. Most airlines throughout the world were also overtaken by this technological boom. They incorporated it into their operations,

Understanding the career and role of health insurance professionals is Essay

Understanding the career and role of health insurance professionals is essential - Essay Example So this suggests that an accounting oriented job profile will suit me well. Having identified this possible career direction, I am yet open to explore other interesting options. I believe that sales and customer services are challenging options requiring dynamism and enterprise on part of the aspirant. As of now I only have limited exposure to health insurance. I’ve visited the websites of industry organization such as AAPC and AHIMA and carried out some preliminary research. I discovered to my pleasant surprise that the AAPC site is rich in learning resources. These include industry publications, peer-reviewed journals, relevant events and news, practical and learning tools, etc. I hope to consolidate my knowledge through a mix of practical experience and theoretical understanding through the duration of the course. I would ideally need a mix of I discovered that a career in health insurance offers opportunities for continuing education. Over the years the industry has embraced information technology for its processes. So keeping up-breast with latest advances in IT is a good idea. Keeping with this view, AAPC and AHIMA offer several diploma courses and supplementary training. I realize that no amount of training and theoretical learning is a substitute for real work experience. So even as I approach the course with enthusiasm, I am gearing up for lifelong learning in the actual business environment. Finally, health insurance professionals are not as well paid on average as doctors or engineers. However, the industrious professional can reach great heights. Those professionals who approach their job responsibilities with sincerity and honesty are most likely to

The Evolution of a Fairy Tale Essay Example for Free

The Evolution of a Fairy Tale Essay In the universe of fairy tales, the Just often find a way to prevail, and the Wicked generally receive their comeuppance. But a closer look at the stories reveals much more than a simple formula. Behind the seemingly innocent tales of old lie undeniable truths about women—how they were treated in society, and how they wanted to break free from the mold their surroundings had built around them. To fully understand this, I will be examining â€Å"fairy tales† where women were not weak and vapid, where they became the heroes, and where a reversal of roles that was ahead of its time, arose. But first, a brief look at its history. The Origin of Fairy Tales Once Upon a Time, fairy tales werent written for children. According to Bob Huang’s essay, in spite of their name, the popular fairy tales usually have very little to do with fairies. We took the name from the French contes des fee, and the French literary fairy tales of the 17th century do feature far more fairies than the tales which are best-known today. The Grimm brothers collected the folk tales of the German people to make up their volume, but fairy tales are more than just folk tales. The German term for them is Marchen, a word for which there is no satisfactory English equivalent it is the diminutive of Mar, a story or a tale, and has come to mean a story of wonder and enchantment, as the fairy tale is. Although large numbers of literary fairy tales were written in 17th century France, most of the tales which are still told and retold now are far older in origin. Many of the stories were edited and changed as they were written down, removing the darker and more gruesome elements of the stories. The intended audience of the stories has also changed. Perraults collection of tales was written to be presented at the court of Versailles, and each tale ended with a moralistic verse. At the same time, literary fairy tales of great imagination and invention, often quite cruel and gruesome, were being created by the women surreptitiously rebelling against the constraints placed on them by their restrictive society. They were not written for children. Today, when asked to name authors of fairy tales, most people now (if they knew at all) would answer the Grimm Brothers or Charles Perrault, and perhaps Hans Christian Andersen. Yet throughout history, fairy tales have been womens stories, passed down orally by the mothers and grandmothers. When the tales began to be a literary form, the number and output of female authors vastly exceeds that of the males. The Grimm Brothers collected their tales from peasants and edited them to suit their audience; most of Perraults stories are retellings of old tales. Although the female authors included familiar elements, their now-forgotten tales were largely more inventive, original and fantastical than their male counterparts and frequently nastier, too. The Authors of the â€Å"Real† Fairy Tales In 1634, a cycle of fifty tales was published by Giambattista Basile, in which can be found some of the earliest written versions of familiar stories like Sleeping Beauty. Basiles tone is bawdy and comic; his narrators within the tale are old women, hags, crones and old gossips, the stereotypical tellers of the old wives tale. The women who brought the literary fairy tale to popularity fifty years or so later were anything but old wives. The story which marked the beginning of the form was written by the Countess dAulnoy, an aristocratic woman who tried to implicate her husband in a crime of high treason, but was discovered, and managed to flee Paris. She had been married to the husband at the age of 15; he was 30 years her senior, and a gambler and libertine. The cruelty of enforced marriages is remarked on by the heroines of many of her stories, and the tales of other women of the time. 0 years after fleeing Paris (she returned in 1685), Mme dAulnoy is thought to have assisted a friend to kill her husband, who had abused her. The friend was beheaded. The Countess de Murat was banished from Louis XIVs court in Paris for publishing a political satire about him; she then shocked the people of Loches, where she had her chateau, by holding gatherings where she and her friends would dance, talk, and tell fairy tales, as in the salons of Paris. Her tales concern marriage, the power struggles of the aristocracy, and true love. They do not always have a happy ending, either. Marie-Jeanne L Heritier led a less controversial life. She did not marry, choosing to dedicate herself to writing. Her father was a historian and writer, her sister was a poet. She was also the niece of Charles Perrault, and quite likely influenced his interested in fairy tales. Her Adventures of Finette features a heroine who wins by her wits, in spite of two lazy sisters and an evil prince. The Secret Messages In a time of political censorship, where women had few rights, fairy tales were one way that they could make their opinions known. The fairies themselves in the tales often stand for the aristocrats, having power over many but often caring little, bickering amongst themselves, concerned with their own power struggles. The heroines comment on the double-standards of the times, arranged marriages, and the false glory of war; the tales also illustrate the authors ideas on the standards of correct manners, justice and love. The tales were also written in opposition to the literary establishment at the time, which championed Classical literature as the standard for French writers to follow. Fairy tales were modeled on French folklore and the courtly love of medieval literature. When Perrault joined them in writing fairy tales, he was taking a stand for the modern style and for womens tales (although his tales did not exactly feature liberates females). The Quarrel of the Ancients and the Moderns was part of the society which the fairy tales rebelled against for most women there was no choice over which side to take, as they werent thought worth educating in Latin and Greek anyway. Instead of being forced out, they formed their own style. A Fresh Look at the tale Donkeyskin (Feminism at work) We begin with a dying queen, a king who is described as being the most powerful monarch in the world, and their daughter. In the queens final conversation with her spouse, she extracts a promise that should he wed again, he will marry no woman who does not fulfill a particular condition: to match her in beauty, to fit her wedding ring, to have hair of a hue as golden as her own, and so forth—conditions differing from culture to culture. The king remains single for a number of years, unable to meet the conditions of his promise to his wife. At least not until their only daughter matures. It becomes apparent that she, and she alone, fulfills the necessary conditions, and he resolves to marry her, much to the horror of kingdom and princess alike. Seeking to evade her fate, the princess follows her mothers example by attempting to set an impossible condition to prevent, or at least delay, the impending union (in some versions, through her own wiles; in others, through the advice of a substitute mother figure such as a fairy godmother; and sometimes, though more rarely than is common in other tales such as Cinderella or The Goose Girl, through the direct advice of her dead mothers spirit). Typically, she asks her father for a dress as shining as the sun, a dress as lucent as the moon, and a coat made from the skin of either a single precious animal, or from skins representative of all of the animals in the woods. In some variants, the princess asks directly for the source of her fathers wealth, such as the skin of the donkey. Regardless, the father is so driven by his incestuous urges that impossible condition after impossible condition is met. It is interesting to note that in this particular story, the action which fits the mold of unassertive femininity starts the ball rolling, indirectly causing a series of harmful effects, while the more assertive, independent actions of the daughter are both required and rewarded. When her conditions are met, instead of choosing to follow her fathers path and acquiesce to immorality, our heroine chooses to take her fate into her own hands and flees, disguised by her coat of skin, her link to the natural world, carrying the precious dresses that represent her heritage and worldly position. Once this character is away from civilization, she finds herself at something of a loss. Her only advantage in her new environment is the cloak of skins, which she has finagled away from her father. The implications of this garment are interesting. First, there is the fact that it was created, whole cloth, from the harm that her father wished to do her and the manner in which she avoided that fate. As such, it can be described as being the product of courage and cunning. It is also a resource that allows her to tap into a deeper part of nature and thus succeed in her future attempts at happiness through craft and cunning. After a time spent wandering the forest, a place symbolic of change and transformation, the princess is discovered by a hunting party, and taken to a foreign court on the strength of her value as a curiosity. After spending some time persevering by dint of hard labor in the court kitchens, the princess develops a strategy. She determines to catch the interest of this kingdoms prince through traditionally feminine gifts. She uses her physical appearance, her cooking skills, and her general ability to maintain his continued interest and fascination. This threefold plan succeeds. Aside from the aforementioned aspects of feminism that the princess displayed: the independent streak, the stubbornness, the unwillingness to conform, there are also the symbols that the story made use of in terms of the other central characters. The King, for instance, whose incestuous intent, for its time (and now), extremely amoral, symbolized the power that men of that era had. It did not matter that the relationship was a no-no, nor the fact that his daughter did not want to go through with it. He wanted her as his wife, and he intended to have her—come what may. The century in which this story was written clearly had women and men in set roles. Men were the hunters, the leaders, and the autocracy. Do you not often wonder why quite a few of the mothers in tales we know, died to start the story off (Cinderella, Snow White)? It was as if the women during that time wanted to relay to the readers how hard life was for them that the maternal figures for the protagonists were dead to begin with. And then the authors branch off. We’ve established the role of the man as the â€Å"obey-me† figure, now there’s the fairy godmother who always rushes in to help. What this character clearly meant was the supposition of a female as a powerful figure; A magical creature who could do anything with a flick of her wand. The author clearly wanted to show that despite the antagonist’s presence, something could be done, and it would be a woman to do it. If you notice, a lot of other tales incorporate the â€Å"Fairy Godmother† figure (Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel). Then there’s Prince Charming. He is the culmination of all the hardships that our heroine goes through. A rich, handsome, not-too-bright fellow who can’t seem to recognize the love of his life when in costume! Research has shown that women in the olden days did want rich husbands and a comfortable life. It was as if the Prince was their way of saying, â€Å"this is what I want, and what I deserve. Now, about our Donkeyskin heroine†¦her femininity did come back (the cooking, the vanity), but one could see all through to the end of the story, that she was willing to assert her authority, and not play second fiddle anymore. She ran away from her situation in the hope of finding a better one, and in the process, found she really needed (in her time, a husband seemed to fit the bill). Modern Feminist Fairy Tale Authors In our modern arts, as in ages past, women storytellers have understood this best. Margaret Atwood, Olga Broumas, Carol Ann Duffy, Denise Duhamel, Sandra Gilbert, Theodora Goss, Liz Lochead, Lisel Mueller, Lisa Russ Spar, Gwen Strauss, Jane Yolen, and many other contemporary feminist poets have used fairy tale themes to powerful effect to portray the truth of womens lives. (Anne Sextons collection Transformations, in particular, is an extraordinary work which no lover of fairy tales or womens writing should miss. ) Prose writers, too, have used fairy tales themes in a variety of interesting ways, exploring tradition stories from fresh, shrewd, modern perspectives. Some of their fairy tale novels and stories can be found on the mainstream fiction shelves, such as Angela Carter’s ground–breaking collection The Bloody Chamber, Margaret Atwoods The Robber Bride, Kate Bernheimers The Complete Tales of Ketzia Gold, Loranne Browns The Handless Maiden, A. S. Byatts Possession, Kathryn Daviss The Girl Who Trod on a Loaf, Berlie Dohertys The Vinegar Jar, Emma Donaghues Kissing the Witch, Alice Hoffmans The Blue Diary, Susanna Moores Sleeping Beauty, and Gioia Timpanelli’s Sometimes the Soul. Similarly enchanting works can be found tucked away on the fantasy shelves: Gwyneth Joness Seven Fairy Tales and a Fable, Peg Kerrs Wild Swans, Tanith Lees Red as Blood and White as Snow, Patricia McKillips Winter Rose, Robin McKinley Beauty and Deerskin, Rachel Pollacks Godmother Death, Delia Shermans Porcelain Dove, Sheri Teppers Beauty, Patricia C. Wredes Snow White and Rose Red, Jane Yolens Briar Rose, and the stories in the Snow White, Blood Red anthology series, to name just a few. Still more can be found on the Young Adult fiction shelves, including Francesca Lia Block’s The Beast and the Rose, Shannon Hales The Goose Girl, Sophie Massons Serafin, Edith Patous East, Ursula Synges Swans Wing, and the many fairy tale novels of Donna Jo Napoli. In The Feminine in Fairy Tales, a collection of her lectures at the Jung Institute in Zurich, Von Franz discusses themes in The Girl With No Hands, equating the heroines flight into the wilderness with the inner journeys we make into the unconscious and the lands of the soul. The forest [is] the place of unconventional inner life, she says, in the deepest sense of the word. It is there, in solitude, that the heroine can look deep inside herself and find the space, time, and clarity to heal, symbolized by the restoration of her hands at the end of the tale. Gertrude Mueller–Nelson builds on these ideas in her book Here All Dwell Free: Stories to Heal the Wounded Feminine in which she uses two fairy tales — The Girl With No Hands and The Sleeping Beauty — to examine the ways the ‘Feminine’ is devalued in modern culture, and in men and womens lives. Conclusion Such tales were passed down through the generations by word of mouth, woman to woman, mother to child — using archetypes as a mirror held to daily life, particularly the lives of those without clear avenues of social power. Why do we continue to be ensnared by fairy tales, after all these centuries? Why do we continue to tell the same old tales, over and over again? Because we all have encountered wicked wolves, faced trial by fire, and found fairy godmothers. We have all set off into unknown woods at one point in life or another. Women had found their voices through the â€Å"tales† and were set free.