Psychological impact of cultures

Different cultures affect differently the behavior of society regarding how people relate with each other. In a society, comprising of mixed culture some people may find it hard accommodating others while for some they blend with others easily. A society made of mixed cultures is hard to fit in for some people. People who live in a community that is made of different cultures are called culturally diverse.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Psychological impact of cultures specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They may be foreigners or from the same country but having different identities in their beliefs and ways of doing things. The experiences of an individual living in a society with different cultures affect his or psychological behavior such as sexism. Sexual behavior at work place also varies during instances of sexual advancements, which is another level where experiences of a culturally diverse individual can e xhibit. Manifestation of cultural experiences can also be felt in issues to do with securing a job when decisions about remuneration are to be discussed and some members feel they are underpaid. By discussing these areas, one can have a better understanding on how they affect a culturally diverse person on his psychological development, behavior trend and distress. Sexism Sexism means perception of human beings based on sex on other people especially during decision-making processes. For instance, in placements involving professional responsibilities culturally diverse people base their opinions about one’s ability on sex, which is a form of discrimination (Douglas, 2010). Sexism affects negatively psychological advancement of culturally diverse individuals because they experience special challenges adapting in a new culture while still conserving their own. Culturally diverse people go through psychological impacts that make them feel inferior and think others are superior b ecause they dominate in terms of cultural values. Student who are studying abroad or immigrants are the mostly affected (Douglas, 2010). When a person finds it hard to accommodate new culture, he or she responds through distress. The person becomes frustrated psychologically and this manifests through distress.Advertising Looking for report on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More People in a culture that differs a lot from their own are unable to decide which culture to take and which one to abandon. It becomes hard to follow a culture they have not experienced since their early age. However, if the culturally diverse individual opts to follow the foreign culture he or she may behave differently and against the norms of the new culture. This may cause the individual to react in ways that conflict expectations of other people especially if many people in the society interact with him or her. How such a person behaves var ies according to the extent of cultural conflicts where the behavior is a natural way of getting rid of the conflicts (Berg, 2009). A foreigner might therefore accept the new culture to feel accepted in the society. Culturally diverse people experience identity crisis if they are not certain of their identity. When such people are strongly embedded in their culture, they take a lot of time to accommodate the new culture. Identity crisis mostly affects young culturally diverse people where they experience psychological problems in their developments. Sexism is a key determinant of personal perception for people who live in a foreign culture and affects their insight about their roles in the community. It can also determine one’s view and response to his or her new roles in a community. When culturally diverse individuals feel their roles are better defined in their own culture than in the new society they behave in ways that oppose the difference. They treat others according t o the roles that they are already accustomed. However, continued exposure to the new culture changes their behavior. The concept of sexism may be at low levels in individuals such that they do not realize. Culturally diverse people then transfer the hidden sexism traits to the new values (Berg, 2009). Sexual harassment Sexual harassment occurs when a person seeks sexual attention from another person who is not ready to give the attention. Depending on the level of harassment, an individual may find it hard to continue with employment. Cases of sexual harassment are usually unreported and thus hard to cope with for culturally diverse individuals. The feeling of being powerless for a person in a new culture makes the act to progress and advance to higher levels. Sexual harassment may create a situation where a person in a new culture feels unable to cope because of threats issued and fear of report to the relevant authority.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Psyc hological impact of cultures specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Most cases of sexual harassment occur to minority groups. Such people are usually not informed about their rights or how to seek redress when they are harassed sexually (Hajdin LeMoncheck, 1997). Some issues about sexual attention might be acceptable in some societies while in others they are regarded as harassment. What might be considered as sexual jokes in a certain community might be regarded as sexual advancements where a culturally diverse person might feel offended and even take action. Culturally diverse individuals may misunderstand some actions, which are not sexual jokes and interpret them as sexual harassment. Culturally diverse individuals may also be misinterpreted to be harassing others sexually when they behave in certain ways, as every culture is unique. These differences lead to poor communication between individuals with different cultural backgrounds. T herefore, it is important for people to be aware of what others expect regardless of their cultural differences to avoid unnecessary pressure when one seeks employment, promotion or education. Misunderstanding leads to tension and embarrassment (Stockdale, 1996). Despite cultural differences, diverse individuals need to understand what may be misinterpreted as sexual harassment because lack of understanding might lead to people harassing others out of ignorance and later being accused. This requires communities to be enlightened about cultural differences to equip them with various approaches accepted at organizations, institutions, work places and behaviors that are not acceptable while interacting with various people. Sexual harassment can be eliminated in the society through implementation of adequate penalties to protect the victims. Lack of laws to suppress sexual harassment may lead to high prevalence of the behavior in institutions where cultural diversity is high. Organizati ons should also develop mechanisms to inform employees about cultural diversity and sexual harassment as well as create a common practice for everyone, which is known as code of ethics.Advertising Looking for report on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Society should solve the problem of sexual harassment through awareness to facilitate common behaviors by specifying what is legal and illegal irrespective of one’s cultural background (Hajdin LeMoncheck, 1997). Unequal pay Unequal pay refers to lack of a uniform scale for wages and salaries for employees doing same responsibilities in an organization. This is illegal but some employers pay their employees using different salary scales and justify the act using excuses. The employees who are paid less for the same tasks done by others are affected psychologically and the situation is worse if they know about the differences. When employees are discriminated in terms of pay, they suffer from low esteem and feel less valued. An employee who has low esteem may be disillusioned and dissatisfied with his or her job (Burchell, Horrell Rubery, 2007). Discriminated employees lack the morale needed at work place because they know that even when they work extra they are not rewarded enough. Such people feel they are not part of the majority culture and are likely to cooperate less in strategies meant for the growth of the organization. In the past, discrimination based on pay has been prevalent between genders because of sexism in organizations. The concept of unequal pay is even worse when it affects employees who are sexually harassed at work place because they may welcome the behavior hoping they would be rewarded financially to compensate for their low pay. Some organizations do not have established boundaries for employees at different levels, which perpetuate unequal pay. In such cases, discriminated employees are not informed about the unequal pay and when they realize it, lack mechanisms to address the problem properly (Burchell, Horrell Rubery, 2007). Most societies do not regard the rights of the culturally diverse people with importance, which makes the group live with injustices in their places of work as most of such employees form the minority gr oup in the society. They prefer fitting in the new systems to avoid interrupting them and console themselves that even though their pay is less it is still higher than they would be paid where they come from. Culturally diverse individuals may be aware of their low payment but continue working extra hard to achieve same results as their workmates, which is stressing. The experience of being paid less than expected can lead to distress and negative attitude towards job as well as the organization. The consequence of such feelings is change in behavior for the affected employees leading to poor performance and less output in the organization (Burchell, Horrell Rubery, 2007). Culturally diverse individuals find it hard to embrace values in a corporate culture because they have to adapt to the new culture and familiarize with values outside the organization. Corporate culture may borrow a lot from the culture that dominates, which is advantageous to the employees who come from the domi nant culture. Culturally diverse individuals who are paid less do not have many expectations in such cases. This trend can be passed on to future generations in the category of culturally diverse individuals. In organizations where sexism is prevalent, women might develop less expectation for many years (Burchell, Horrell Rubery, 2007). The many challenges that culturally diverse individuals experience affect their behavioral development and awareness about their ability in a community. Analysis of culturally diverse people can help address issues of identity crisis, self-perception and distress that face them when they have to live in a new environment. It is hard for such groups to learn new values in a new culture because they are strongly embedded in their own culture. However, there are many advantages for culturally diverse individuals trying to adapt in a new culture if they feel free to interact with people from the dominant culture and have the knowledge in socializing wit h them. The experiences such people go through can help them adapt fast or slowly based on other elements like time and social structure in the new environment. It is possible to develop a cohesive society if culturally diverse individuals learn how to relate with people from other cultures. References Berg, B. (2009). Sexism in America: Alive, well, and ruining our future. Chicago: Lawrence Hill Books. Burchell, B., Horrell, S. Rubery, J. (2007). Unequal jobs or unequal pay. Industrial Relations Journal, 20(3), 176–191. Douglas, S. (2010). Enlightened sexism: The seductive message that feminism’s work is done. New York: Times Books, Henry Holt and Company. Hajdin, M., LeMoncheck, L. (1997). Sexual harassment. Lanham: Rowman Littlefield Publishers. Stockdale, M. (1996). Sexual harassment in the workplace. Thousand Oakes: Sage Publications. This report on Psychological impact of cultures was written and submitted by user Jerome Gamble to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

5 Tips on How to Work with an Editor

5 Tips on How to Work with an Editor 5 Tips on How to Work with an Editor 5 Tips on How to Work with an Editor By Mark Nichol You’ve retained an editor’s services and have received the edited version of your manuscript or article, or you are reviewing the work of a staff or freelance editor working for a publication you have submitted your content to. If you haven’t worked with an editor before, you may be disconcerted by the amount of editing that has been done. But whether you’re a novice or a veteran, these guidelines will help you have a productive relationship with the editor. 1. Respect Objectivity An editor experiences your work dispassionately. Whether he or she simply engages with a decent manuscript or exults in the opportunity to help craft a classic, the editor is not emotionally involved. Take advantage of this fortunate fact by carefully considering any changes, comments, or suggestions the editor makes about your work Is a character in a novel too good or too evil, or inconsistent in behavior or inadequately portrayed? Is your how-to book poorly organized or too sparse or too dense? Have you inserted yourself too obtrusively into an essay? An editor will let you know. Trust his or her outside perspective. An editor is the reader’s representative, and as he or she reacts to the content, so, likely, will your intended readership. 2. Cool Off If something an editor does or says puts you off, do not respond immediately. Consider the substance, not the delivery, of the critique, then reply or accept the comment or the change with good grace or reject it with good grace based on its merits. Don’t be defensive. Good editors are generally diplomatic, but few people can avoid saying something the wrong way sometimes. (Editors should follow this advice from their end, too.) 3. Pick Your Battles Editors reorganize syntax and replace words, among other tasks. Sometimes these are optional changes, made because the editor believes that another word or a recast sentence works better and sometimes because the original word is wrong or the original sentence is confusing or ungrammatical. In the former case, feel free to disagree, but understand that an editor may revise dozens or even hundreds of words or sentences, and you’re wise to let most of them pass without comment. That said, if you strongly believe in challenging a change, politely ask the editor about his or her rationale for making it. If the editor informs you that the revision corrects an error, thank him or her perhaps before asking for clarification so that you can avoid repeating such mistakes and move on. If a particular edit is discretionary but strongly advised, use your good judgment about accepting or rejecting it. (But see the next item’s second paragraph, too.) 4. Be Prepared to Rewrite When you work with a developmental editor, he or she will likely recommend that you do a lot of rewriting. (If you thought you had submitted the final draft, you were naive.) You will likely be advised to do significant reorganizing of sections and recasting of sentences. The editor will suggest that you add new content and delete existing material. A copy editor will send you a list of queries, or embed comments in the manuscript, or both. A good copy editor will usually understand what you were trying to say and will improve unclear or verbose content, but occasionally he or she may be unsure of your intent, or may ask you to confirm that the revision better reflects it. You are always welcome to revise a revision, and good editors are happy to know that they prompted you to come up with something better than both the original and their alteration. 5. Accept Fallibility Even the best editors sometimes misunderstand material or make a mistake. If you catch an editor’s error, go ahead and gloat a little, but then politely inform the editor, who should appreciate receiving clarification or learning something new. Forbearance is especially important if the content is especially esoteric or technical. Of course, if errors are numerous or you are otherwise dissatisfied with the editing, or the relationship becomes strained for some reason, try to resolve the difficulty calmly. If your efforts are not productive, check in with a staff editor’s manager and ask for advice or action, or inform the freelance editor that you will pay him or her for the work already done but have decided to retain the services of another editor. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Creative Writing 101Driver License vs. Driver’s LicenseEducational vs. Educative

Debt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Debt - Essay Example void the fiscal deficit as much as possible by the repayment of massive public debt in order to save the current and future generation from the burdens of debt. The American deficit in 2009 was around $1.8 trillion which was equal to 13.0 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). This deficit was $157 billion higher than what is expected. The additional spending to recover the economic sector from the current financial crisis was the major reason for the increase in deficit (An Analysis of the President’s Budgetary Proposals for Fiscal Year 2010, p.1). America was one of the worst affected countries as far as the current recession is concerned. Many big companies were one the verge of close down unless the government helped them. The close down of big companies will definitely increase the unemployment problem which the government don’t want to occur. So, only option available in front of the government was to declare a stimulus package to pump money to the ailing economy. Since the gross domestic production growth was less, the pumping of money to the ailing economy may increase the fiscal deficit again and again which means e ach American’s debt was also increasing. The Iraq and Afghan wars were also contributed heavily to America’s deficit. It is difficult for America to stop the military exercises in Afghanistan and Iraq before achieving the objectives. It is suicidal for America to stop these wars since neither of the objectives was achieved yet. At the same time, new war fronts are also on cards for America. For example, Iran’s efforts to acquire nuclear weapons cannot be watched silently by America. Many people believe that America will be forced to open another warfront in Iran in order to prevent Iran acquiring the nuclear power. Any such moves will again put American economy in jeopardy. It is difficult for America to conduct wars in three different regions at the same time. Immediate stoppage of wars is the only possible solution in front

English - Narrative Writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

English - Narrative Writing - Essay Example I then told her that I was not in the mood to go out, much more attend a party for the poor. The whole idea does not appeal to me. Jessica was insisting that it would be fun and that I will enjoy the activity. I thought to myself, why would an activity with the poor people be fun? I even asked her if there will be cute boys around. Jessica did not answer. I realized at that point that she really wanted me to come and that she felt bad that I would give so many excuses. After the brief silence on the phone, I thought I will just say yes to Jessica to make her feel good. When I agreed to come, Jessica told me that she will pick me up and we will go to the party together. The Christmas party was held in the community’s basketball court. There were lots of food on one table and another long table with numerous toys for children. Balloons, colorful trimmings and banners decorated the whole court. Christmas carols were being played in the background that gave a festive mood in the u sually drab basketball court. Looking around, I saw several children on wheelchairs, while others had crutches. In one corner was a toddler, obviously suffering from hydrocephalus, who was cradled by her mother. In the other corner of the court, I noticed a group of children who were doing sign language. They were deaf and mute. After a while, a group of blind children with canes entered the court. They were in one line and were being directed by their guide to sit on the chairs in front of the stage. Seeing all those people in the court, I approached Jessica and asked her why there were so many disabled children in the party. I thought all along it was a party for the poor. Jessica then explained to me that their parents were part of an organization which helped the disabled poor children of the community. In Jessica’s own words she said, â€Å"These are the poorest of the poor.† My heart sunk hearing those words. Yes, they were indeed the poorest of the poor. Being p oor is bad enough but being disabled at the same time is really unfortunate. Just seeing those kids made me feel so depressed. Jessica noticed the sudden change in my facial expression and she went towards the long table which contained the toys. She handed a doctor set toy and urged me to go to the boy on the wheelchair. At first, I was hesitant to go but something inside me was telling me to hand the toy over to the boy. I approached the boy and he smiled at me. He was a paraplegic and was unable to talk. I gave him the doctor set and told him, â€Å"Do you want to be a doctor when you grow up?† He nodded and grinned from ear to ear and accepted the toy. He hugged the toy as if it was his first time to receive a present. Oh, that smile! It was the most wonderful and genuine smile that I have seen. Not even the Mona Lisa can surpass that smile. I felt the joy that the little boy felt. My heart was leaping with joy. Now I know why the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta spent so m uch time with the poorest of the poor. The feeling is overwhelming that it encompasses your whole being. Suddenly, I was convinced that the saying, â€Å"It is better to give than to receive† is indeed true. Not long, the program started and in one part of the program a blind girl was asked to talk in behalf of the group of disabled children. She thanked everyone who made the event possible. Her speech was brief but very meaningful. She said that they are so blessed to have people like those in the organization who

No topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 11

No topic - Essay Example The terminals are strapped on as belt packs connected to a headset during voice operations, while also scanning bar codes and carrying out applications on the screen. Products are moved to carts from shelving and flow racks. There are about 20 totes in the carts that are utilized for the gathering of particular orders. The workers are guided to the specific location that the product is stored by the Jennifer system. The worker then communicates a check digit in order to confirm that this is the right location. The Jennifer system then advices the worker on the number of items to be picked and their specific loading tote position on the cart. This ensures picking accuracy that is accurate. The SI system provides software, which increases profitability, accuracy, and productivity via the optimization of distribution operations. It allows companies to maximize on efficiency for all the distribution centre’s picking systems. It does this via real time analysis of the storage and system for picking up in the building. It also determines each product’s proper technology and its optimal placing that will ensure the greatest productivity and efficiency. The system decreases walk time, eliminates bottlenecks, allows for increased labour effectiveness, and creates flexibility in operations and increases throughput. The slotting strategy reduces up to 50% of walk time, translating into increased savings on labour. DC Xcellerator is not only operated by a warehouse management system (Laudon & Carol 46). The system requires; the product information, the characteristics of the order, and the system for storage and picking available in the company building. A list is then generated that shows the moves to be made for slot products to reach the peak efficiency. A major advantage for the program is the minimal capital investment and dedication from the staff at the IT

The Laugher Of The Medusa | Analysis

The Laugher Of The Medusa | Analysis Throughout history, women have been excluded from any kind of writing that could allow them the participation in the making of history and culture. Being considered as creatures of lesser rank in mental capacities and intellect, women have been, over centuries, kept in the dark by a patriarchal system that has successfully muted their needs for expression, be it physical, oral or written. In her fundamental essay The Laugh of the Medusa, Hà ©là ¨ne Cixous, French philosopher and feminist critic, openly introduces this idea of womans need for writing as a biological drive which intimately relies on her ceasing back and mastering her own body that has been violently miused by males rhetoric , as Toril Moi asserts that always and everywhere, the rational, active, masculine intellect operates on the passive, objectified, feminized body (189). Its only from the bodily experience that women, according to Cixous, can give birth to an  «Ãƒ ©criture fà ©minine  » which will subvert the phallocentric discourse of masculine writing, along with the logocentric representational system through which it functions. The purpose of this paper is to examine the key insights that the author explores in her essay, mainly the feminine writing  [1]  with the idea of sexual differences. It is, also, necessary to consider, in the following stages, how Cixous makes use of Freuds and Lacans psychoanalysis and Derridas deconstructist theory to disrupt the phallocentric assumptions, hence to break up with all forms of repression against women. A particular focus will be on the critics contribution to French feminism and Anglo-American feminist theory. Le Rire de la Mà ©duse was written by Cixous in 1975, and translated into English as The Laugh of the Medusa in 1976 by Keith Cohen and Paula Cohen. This influential essay, essentially adressing women in order to  « bring them to writing  » (Cixous 875), is expressed in a beautiful and poetic language to convey the idea of the existence of an à ©criture fà ©minine, which is already used by the author. As with many of her writings  [2]  , Cixouss The Laugh of the Medusa revises sexual differences between men and women from past to present, anticipating a future radical change in the perception of this notion which would only take shape if woman takes back a body that is hers, from the masculine repressing language, in order to employ it as a cause and effect of a new genre of writing which Cixous introduces as the feminine writing. The whole premise of the essay is that  « Woman must write her self: must write about women and bring women to writing .  » (Cixous 875). In the light of this idea, the critic goes on to relate womens writing to their bodily experiences that represent a source of desire and urge for creativity. In other words, for a woman to be able to break up with the old traditional doormat in her skin, she must trace her own body with a feminine language. As a result, women will create their own tradition of writing, embarking from the past and its repressive language. Over centuries, masculine discourse has been the dominant and the stronger one. Women had no word to say in a patriarchal universe where, as Cixous states, they were regarded as  « dark  » and  « dangerous  » (878). Women have, accordingly, developed a sense of resentment for other women and themselves under the influence of the masculine ideology. To break up with this complex, Cixous calls woman to manifest through a writing that belongs to her ; but which can neither be defined nor theorized (883) since, as it can be deduced, language is males property, and there is no room to theorize a feminine writing within the masculine dominant discourse. However, the feminine mode of writing can be described as revolutionary against the phallocentric language and thought (888). Cixouss point is to approach this genre of writing in relation to sexual differences and gender in order to demonstrate how these differences have served historico-cultural purposes to hinder womens intellect ual capacities. She goes further to discuss the traditional idea of bisexuality as neutrality- that engenders the fear of lacking  [3]  , contrasted with a bisexuality, that allows one to identify one self as having sexual orientation toward the two sexes. From this equation, Cixous concludes that  « woman is bisexual  » by the nature of her organs and the turning shifts of events; whereas man cannot be so without losing his phallocentric masculine identity (884). In the same way, she believes that writing is bisexual, for women should write to women and men without no exclusion. Throughout the article, Cixous sensibilizes women to the urgent need of a universal revolution against the phallocentric discourse to which they have been the signified subject. By creating their a discourse of their own, women will fly through and, at the same time, steal back that which is already theirs  [4]  , their voices that have been repressed. The author points out to the fact that this subjugation has resulted in creating a female voice consciousness which, aware of the difficulties that women have undergone, reclaims their socio-cultural identity and their natural rights. She also argues for womens freedom to have children or not to have any, without being  « threatened  » or blamed for the choices they make in life (890). The main purpose of this study is to analyze the key insights that Cixous discusses in The Laugh of the Medusa, along with the major influences that affect her writing, namely the Derridian deconstruction and psychoanalytical theory. As its title indicates, the essay includes the  « Medusa  » as a metaphor to portray womans beauty, oppression and intelligence at the same time. By using this Greek mythical figure  [5]  , Cixous hits two birds with one stone : she firstly alludes to women being treated badly by their male counterparts, as Medusa was once ill-treated and raped. On the other hand, the author also hints to womens jealousy of and hatred to other women under the influence of the masculine worldview. Cixous goes on to develop this idea when she argues that men  « have committed the greatest crime against women. Insidiously, violently, they have led them to hate women, to be their own enemies  ». In the same way, the Medusas metaphor is associated with the modern psychoanalytic interpretations of Sigmund Freud who refers to the Medusas head as  « the supreme talisman who provides the image of castration associated in the childs mind with the discovery of maternal sexuality and its denial  » (Freud). Cixous takes on the idea of castration, by which the phallocentric mind is haunted, and relates it to the Medusas image so as to prove that man is unconsciously weak at the sight of the feminine sex, to the point that he is  « consumed, as Freud and his followers note, by a fear of being a woman  » (884). At this level, the critic implicitly alludes to the French psychoanalytist Jacques Lacan, who follows Freud in his concept of Wunsch  [6]  to arrive at a  « desire  » that is associated with a lack. According to Lacans theory of Lack, as explained by Joel Dor in his Introduction to the Re ading of Lacan, womans desire towards the masculine body does not originate from the body itself as the object of desire ; rather, it originates from her lacking a penis ( Dor 236). Ironically, Cixous refutes this  « phallocratic  » analysis arguing that her personal desire of the other is for the other, and that  « a desire originating from a lack  » is much poor and lacking(891). She goes further to criticize women who madly fetishize the masculine sex, treating them of  « the woman of yesterday  » who is either kept in the dark ages, idolizing the traditional way the big penis takes her ; or falsely modernized with naive virtuous thinking as Cixous affirms here :  « They still exist, easy and numerous victims of the oldest of farces: either theyre cast in the original silent version in which, as titanesses lying under the mountains they make with their quivering, they never see erected that theoretic monument to the golden phallus looming, in the old manner, over their bodies. Or, coming today out of their infans period and into the second, enlightened version of their virtuous de-basement, they see themselves suddenly assaulted by the builders of the analytic empire and, as soon as theyve begun to formulate the new desire, naked, nameless, so happy at making an appearance, theyre taken in their bath by the new old men, and then, whoops! Luring them with flashy signifiers, the demon of interpretation  » (892) Following this idea, Cixous is harshly attacking the masculine phallocentric values in the personae of Freud and Lacan, whom she accuses of exploiting the new version of  « modern  » woman to satisfy their sexual needs while theyre reducing them to an inferior and negative position. One cannot understand Cixouss ideas without going back to the Freudian and Lacanian psychoanalytic theories. If we examine Freuds interpretation of sexual differences which place man in a superior position for biological reasons  [7]  , it would then be obvious why he has been criticized by feminists  [8]  , including Cixous. Though she mainly builds her theoretical legacy on psychoanalysis, precisely Freuds, Cixous uses this latters analysis of developmental theory and gender roles -which are based on the biological differences between man and woman- as a counter-argument to assert that, though there is a sexual difference, women should be treated equally, and not in terms of the Lacanian binary oppositions, as she states :  « writing has been run by a libidinal and cultural-hence political, typically masculine-economy; that this is a locus where the repression of women has been perpetuated, over and over, more or less consciously, and in a manner thats frightening since its often hidden or adorned with the mystifying charms of fiction; that this locus has grossly exaggerated all the signs of sexual opposition (and not sexual difference), where woman has never her turn to speak  ». (879) In the same way, Cixous criticizes Lacans theory of phallocentrism which posits the phallus in the centre of the masculine being. Furthermore, the critic employs this primacy of the phallus in the Derridian deconstructist critique of logocentrism to coin the term  « phallogocentrism  », which refers to a (superior) masculine language centered upon the phallus, opposed to a (deficient) feminine language which lacks a phallus. In other words, her writing is a deconstructist one through which she undermines the phallocentric ideology that dominates language (Tidd 98). In addition to the medusas image which is used by the author to overcome Freuds  « castration  » and Lacans  « lack  », is the metaphor of Dora  [9]  that strongly disturbs Freuds legacy in psychoanalysis and therapy. When she directly adresses Dora as  « the true mistress of the Signifier  » (886), Cixous evokes the story of humiliated girl who was manipulated by her father as a pawn in a sexual game between him and his mistresss husband, and later by Freuds therapy that tried to convince her of the necessity to play the game. As a result, the girl was a subject of a double oppression, applied firstly by the father, and secondly by Freud. The case of Dora in the essay, if it alludes to patriarchal ideology and oppression of the females voice, it does not fail to deconstruct the Freudian assumptions of male superiority and the Lacanian theory of  « the Name of the Father  » which prescribes the father as a symbol of law and order. For Cixous, the name of Dora repr esents more than an example of the psychological violence caused by males oppression; she rather employs it as an icon of females revolution and manifest (Showalter 332). The Laugh of the Medusa is the most significant example of Cixouss  « à ©criture feminine  ». Rich of artistic metaphors and innovative ideas, this influential essay is inscribed as a fundamental work of art within literary and critical theory. Influenced by the deconstructist and differentialist thought, Cixouss writing has been effective in undermining the patriarchal dominance over language. By revising the question of sexual differences existing in the psychoanalytical theories of Freud and Lacan, she deconstructs the equation of the binary oppositions applied to the couple man-woman, while intelligently adopting the difference to prove the equality rather than the opposition between the sexes. The idea is recognized through feminist critiques like Shiachs  « Their Symbolic Exists- it Holds Power  » in which she notes :  « Cixous has represented the process of differentiation in more social terms, and has offered the possibility of more hopeful conclusions: the construction of new sorts of identity, which cut across dual hierarchized oppositions  ».( 165) Her poetic language and feminine style is a demonstration of what she calls  « à ©criture fà ©minine  ». Influenced by her reading of James Joyce and Virginia Woolf, Cixous seems to take up their experimentation and modernist mode of writing, herded with a feminine sensual voice and experience, as essential features of a new form, which is the feminine writing. Consequently, introducing this idea, among many others, into the critical theory has undoubtedly made of Cixous one of the most prominent figures of French feminism. When translated into English, Cixouss The Laugh has gained international interest, mainly by Anglo-American feminists. Admittedly, the author has been often criticized  [10]  for considering the sexual differences and making them as a basis for her argument, which, for certain critiques, cannot but reinforce the unequality, hence, repression. To make sense of her ideas, however, one has to contextualize them within a poststructuralist framework. Being a deconstructist par-excellence, Cixous emphasizes the differences in order to deconstruct them. For a deep understanding of her writing, it is crucial to be familiar with psychoanalytical concepts of Freud and his readers, so as to make sense of them in a Cixousian shape. Karen L. Taylor recognizes Cixouss legacy, against Morag Shiachs critique  [11]  , when she states : Furthermore, through her writing, Cixous engages in a psychoanalytical exploration of the feminine. Reading and writing are, for her, the means to grapple with the enigma of male / female relations. She has been criticized for her psychoanalytical style, influenced by Jacques Lacan, and marked by a superabundance of images. Nonetheless, Cixous has been instrumental in establishing a new form of literature that lies somewhere between myth and novel.  » ( 70) What Cixous does is more than claiming equal civil rights for women with regards to their male counterpart. What she does is deconstructing the patriarchal language that hierachizes woman into inferior positions, calling at the meanwhile for a new mode of writing that inscribes the feminine as equal to the masculine, hence, anticipating a possibility of change in social structures. Through the  « à ©criture fà ©minine  », the feminine body  « will produce far more radical effects of political and social changes than some might like to think  » ( Cixous 882).

Privacy Issues with the Internet Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research

Privacy Issues with the Internet Privacy has long been as elusive as the mythical Fountain of Youth. The very idea of "protecting" information about family stirs up ominous images of powerful agencies stealing our individuality and even our identity. The fears about privacy have grown exponentially with the Web. But who are we protecting ourselves from? The government? Not likely, at least in the Orwellian sense that most of us imagine it. While Congress passes the laws and regulatory bodies enforce them, media focus of late has been on the private sector, particularly commercial Websites. Civil libertarians' protests against information-collecting Websites are enigmatic given that most of this information has already been available for years in libraries, in town halls, in departments of motor vehicles and from countless other places. Thus it should be understood that "privacy" is largely an illusion. While the Lewinsky tapes raised eyebrows, the media fanfare over the issue shows that someone, somewhere, when you least expect it, will place a higher priority on something that compromises your privacy. Nevertheless, the increasing commodification of personal information is worrisome to this author, particularly when the "collectors" get their information wrong or draw incorrect conclusions from the data they acquire. Already, some national pharmacies have tried to sell information about their customers to marketers. (In at least one case the pharmacy backed off after critics severely chastised them for the plan). No doubt other organizations will move to sell medical records to the highest bidder. What does this mean to the public? ... ...we promise your privacy, we have someone who makes sure we keep that promise. However, many other TRUSTe licensees provide more extensive privacy statements for visitors to scrutinize. Nevertheless, trust and privacy guarantees don't come cheap. Costs for TRUSTe licenses range from $299 to almost $5,000, depending on the licensee's corporate revenue. While $5,000 may not be a lot for a Microsoft, $299 is quite a bit for a start-up firm with no annual revenue. This license allows TRUSTe clients to showcase a mark of trust that could easily (but not legally) be copied and used by any Website developer who wants to capitalize on trust. With all the trust-brokers on the Web, the question remains whether "buying trust" is any less elusive than the Fountain of Youth. Moreover, one should ask, who is worthy of trust management? Privacy Issues with the Internet Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research Privacy Issues with the Internet Privacy has long been as elusive as the mythical Fountain of Youth. The very idea of "protecting" information about family stirs up ominous images of powerful agencies stealing our individuality and even our identity. The fears about privacy have grown exponentially with the Web. But who are we protecting ourselves from? The government? Not likely, at least in the Orwellian sense that most of us imagine it. While Congress passes the laws and regulatory bodies enforce them, media focus of late has been on the private sector, particularly commercial Websites. Civil libertarians' protests against information-collecting Websites are enigmatic given that most of this information has already been available for years in libraries, in town halls, in departments of motor vehicles and from countless other places. Thus it should be understood that "privacy" is largely an illusion. While the Lewinsky tapes raised eyebrows, the media fanfare over the issue shows that someone, somewhere, when you least expect it, will place a higher priority on something that compromises your privacy. Nevertheless, the increasing commodification of personal information is worrisome to this author, particularly when the "collectors" get their information wrong or draw incorrect conclusions from the data they acquire. Already, some national pharmacies have tried to sell information about their customers to marketers. (In at least one case the pharmacy backed off after critics severely chastised them for the plan). No doubt other organizations will move to sell medical records to the highest bidder. What does this mean to the public? ... ...we promise your privacy, we have someone who makes sure we keep that promise. However, many other TRUSTe licensees provide more extensive privacy statements for visitors to scrutinize. Nevertheless, trust and privacy guarantees don't come cheap. Costs for TRUSTe licenses range from $299 to almost $5,000, depending on the licensee's corporate revenue. While $5,000 may not be a lot for a Microsoft, $299 is quite a bit for a start-up firm with no annual revenue. This license allows TRUSTe clients to showcase a mark of trust that could easily (but not legally) be copied and used by any Website developer who wants to capitalize on trust. With all the trust-brokers on the Web, the question remains whether "buying trust" is any less elusive than the Fountain of Youth. Moreover, one should ask, who is worthy of trust management?