Management and Organisational Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Management and Organisational Behaviour - Essay Example It deals with the understanding of thoughts, feelings and behaviors of the members; the interactions being necessary in an organizational context towards achievement of organizational objectives (Martin & Fellenz, 2010, pp.9-14). Human behavior at work has been studied by researchers since early times and the concept of behavioral approach implies that human resources are the major contributors in the output of a business. Gradually with time several approaches towards understanding the human behavior have been focused for enhancing the performances of business organizations (Gupta, 2009, pp.24-25). It has been studied that several external factors may affect the organizational processes and internal behavior. These factors may also include the global economic movements, the regulations of government, alterations in technology and culture or other environmental issues (Capitalism and organizational behavior, n.d., p.11). In case of the UK, it has been obtained that the booming econom y that was prevailing in the nation was collapsed by the impacts of the recent global recession, thus affecting the organizational performances and behaviors as well. This report would primarily focus on the effects of the recession on the UK business organizations and find out the modifications in behavior approach that might benefit the firms, based on a case study of a Kingfisher plc. Impact of Recession on the UK economy and Organizational Behaviors: Until the latter part of the last decade the economy of the United Kingdom seemed to be in a period of endless boom. Levels of unemployment were relatively low, house prices were rising pretty quickly and people seemed to be reaping the rewards.  However, the Credit/Liquidity Crunch and subsequent recession brought this to a crashing halt and a number of organizations have subsequently gone into administration / receivership and many more have had to tighten their belts and cut costs just to survive.  The UK economy was to a gre at extent dependent on the services of finance and business particularly in the last decade. With an assumption that growth would take place inevitably, the government of the nation had an increased rate of debt, implying the recession to have had a severe impact on the economy of the country (Killick, 2008). The crisis in the UK was mainly realized in the financial sector, which represented the most active business area for the country. The rest of the economy was thus subsequently affected. The financial calamity had developed into a credit crisis that had severe impacts on the business organizational performances affecting their abilities. Also, the consumers’ capability to borrow and purchase was affected and declined to a great extent. The availability of finances from the public also started getting limited thus impacting the â€Å"ability of the UK government to use fiscal policy to combat the crisis† (Killick, 2008). A very significant consideration in this con text of study relates to the association between the recession and the behavior among organizational members. Recession impacts the motivation of the human resources primarily with respect to unemployment. The issue of unemployment as a consequence of economic crisis also focuses on the welfare of the employees as well as motivation. The Expectancy theory of organizational behavior, reflecting focus on individuals, facilitates the understanding of members’ ability to motivate themselves during the periods of recession (Sinclair, 2010). Countries like the UK have been found to manage the circumstances of recession through cost cutting measures that include undertaking administrative and receivership measures or layoffs leading to unemployment. Behavioral

Politics and Religion Essay Example for Free

Politics and Religion Essay To answer the hypothetical question whether or not, if I was a political leader in the early seventeenth century, I would use religion to my own ends would be very difficult and daunting. At the very outset, it should be noted that the 17th century was a very exciting period. It was characterized by major movements, shakers, upheavals and pivotal points. To be brief and concise, allow me to offer a timeless, albeit simplistic answer to this above mentioned hypothetical question. My answer would be NO, and I offer three reasons to back my answer. 1. Politics and Religion must never mix. Most democratic countries declare in their state principles and policy that there should be a separation of Church and State. So much so, matters of spiritual import can not and must not exist alongside matters of political and ‘worldly’ dominions. To mix both would be to invite chaos and perhaps, bigotry, social injustice and create inequities due to over zealous religiosity. 2. Lessons in History tell us that religious standards imposed by those who wield political influence crumbled in time. Such lessons definitely point out that indeed, sound judgment dictate that a political leader should not use religion to advance his own ends. We see abdications, uprising and other violent overthrows and civil uprising involving religious disquiet and bigotry towards political leaders, not only in the 17th century, but all throughout history, when religion is used by political hands. Religion, being the opium of the masses may prove beneficial at times, but in the long run, like the effect of drugs or opium, people come to their senses, and again, as earlier pointed out, there must be a separation of matters of faith and matters of state. 3. Using religion to advance one’s ends, no matter how noble is morally wrong. One should use sheer power of conviction, political will and strength of character and unbridled and sterling leadership qualities if one is to be an effective political leader. The use of spirituality or religion in advancing one’s political ends is a moral wrong. This by example, as the Spaniards once were, is called mammon after Christ/Cross. Up until now, the Roman Catholic Church is plagued and beset by the wrongs committed by the Church officials during the dark ages. This only shows that again, Religion and Politics are two ‘incompatible’ concepts, and should be avoided. While an enlightened governance or political leadership is a paradox, it should not be an impossibility. After all, conscientious leadership is a desired trait for a political leader, however, out and out, politics and religion should not be put out in one outfit, especially so in such turbulent a time as the 17th century. For the above stated reasons, I reiterate my answer; No. If I was a political leader in the 17th century, I will not use religion for my own end.

Cancer: its Risk Factors, Treatments and Diagnosis

Cancer: its Risk Factors, Treatments and Diagnosis Cancer is a disease in which irregular cells multiply uncontrollably and inhabit the surrounding tissues. These cells can metastasize to different parts of the body via bodily fluids such as the lymphatic system (NHS, 2014). Cancers are categorised based on the organ or cell from where they arose. As an example, cancer that develops in the lung is known as lung cancer and cancer that arises in melanocytes of the skin is called melanoma. (Cancer Research UK, 2013) There are four major types of cancer: Carcinoma, cancer that originates on the surface of internal organs. Sarcoma, cancer that initiates in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, and blood vessels. Leukemia, Cancer that arises in bone marrow and causes abnormal blood cells to be made. Lymphoma and myeloma, cancers that originate in the immune system and nervous system cancers, cancers that develop in the cells of the central nervous system (Cancer Research UK, 2013). Some of the risk factors of cancer include the following and for the purpose of this essay, only two are briefly explained. Alcohol Unhealthy eating Lack of exercise Ultraviolet light Air Pollution Radiation Smoking: Smoking precipitates cancer by damaging the DNA, as well as the crucial genes that defend us against cancer. Numerous chemicals such as benzene found in tobacco have been proven to cause DNA mutilation. Old age: The progression of ageing favours two vital processes in cancer growth: the procurement of alterations and the creation of a molecular and cellular environment, which favours carcinogenesis. Over 331,000 people had cancer in 2011 in the UK. 1 in 3 British resident will develop cancer in their lifetime. Approximately 162,000 died from cancer in 2012. The hazard of developing cancer below the age of 50 is 1 in 35 for males and 1 in 20 for females. Less than 1% of entire cancers develop in children aged below 14 years. Less than 1% of all cancers occur in teenagers. In general cancer incidence rates in Great Britain have escalated in the last 40 years, with nearly the entire increase happening in the last 20 years. Cancer is the number one threat for British residents, ahead of debt, violent crime, Alzheimer’s disease and losing a job. There have been huge upsurges in the frequency of numerous cancers strongly related to lifestyle, such as kidney, liver, skin oral and uterine (Cancer Research UK, 2012) Cancer develops when the genetic material of a cell becomes corrupted; the corruption triggers mutations that interfere with the normal cell development and division. When this occurs, the cell does not die. Instead, additional cells are made superfluously; these excess cells accumulate to form a tissue called a tumour, which is the basis of cancer. Tumours are either benign or malignant. Benign tumours remain confined to the location of origin and are not cancerous. Malignant tumours can infiltrate nearby tissues and propagate to various parts of the body. Not all cancers start with a tumour for instance; leukaemia is a cancer of the blood. Viruses such as Human papillomavirus escalates the hazard for cancers of the cervix, penis, vulva, and anus. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses extend the dangers for liver cancer. Symptoms of cancer may include lumps and bumps anywhere on the body, changes in colour of the skin, continuous cough, irregular bowel movements, pain when swallowing and unusual bleeding. (NHS, 2012). The government has taken numerous steps to minimise the health hazards associated with smoking. As an example the 2006 Health Act, Smoking was forbidden in virtually all enclosed work and public spaces in the United Kingdom since July 2007. Some of the methods employed to detect early signs of the disease involve the following. Imaging Endoscopy Cancer screening Theres a greater chance of cure for cancer if diagnosed early. Some of the treatments available include Surgery radiotherapy chemotherapy The current Government cancer policy is the Improving outcomes a strategy for cancer 2011: national cancer strategy. Three, conjointly strengthening values, reinforces this policy. To place the patient at the heart of the public services by refining the relationship between the public and service via the principle of no decision about me without me. To set the NHS and public health care services towards bringing progress in outcomes. Permitting local organisations and professionals to attain the liberties to modernise and drive enhancements in services that provide care of the utmost value for all patients. What is smoking Smoking is the inhalation and exhalation of tobacco smoke in cigarettes. Traditionally, smoking as a practice, was followed by natives of the Western Hemisphere, in religious ceremonials and for medicinal resolutions. It has a history beginning in the early 1600s. Smoking increases the risks of thrombosis it causes hypertension and accelerate the heart rate, compelling the heart to work harder than normal. It Narrows the arteries, dwindling the volume of oxygen-rich blood flowing to the organs. Smoking can elicit male impotence as it interferes with blood supply to the penis. It also damages sperm, diminish sperm count and initiate testicular cancer. In women, smoking can decrease fertility. Smoking while pregnant can result in a miscarriage, premature birth, and stillborn. It also raises the risk of cot death by at least 25%. Furthermore, smoking is an enormous squander on the budget of families on minimum earnings predominantly as households on low incomes ironically tend to smoke considerably more than those on greater earnings. The typical family spending on tobacco in smoking households is about 2.1%, while the deprived section of the population devotes close to 15% of weekly income on cigarettes. 1 in 5 adults was a smoker in 2012, a proportion that has remained mostly unchanged, compared to 1 in 4 in 2002. In 2013, less than a quarter of 11 to 15-year olds stated that they had attempted smoking. At 22%, this is the lowest level recorded since the statistics were first composed in 1982 and continues to decrease since 2003, when 42% of pupils had tried smoking. The percentage of admissions attributable to smoking as a proportion of all admissions was higher in men than women. In 2013 approxmatley 1 in 6 deaths of adults aged 35 and over were projected to be triggered by smoking compared with 81,900 in 2005 (Hscic, 2014). Some of the determinants of smoking include the following and for the purpose of this essay only 2 are briefly explained. Socioeconomic status Cultural Characteristics Biological elements Stress Advertising The tobacco industry’s advertisements, and other promotions for its products are a tremendous impact in society. The tobacco industry devotes billions of pounds each year to generate and market advertisements that display smoking as exhilarating, stylish, and harmless. Price of tobacco Peer pressure Health Hazard of smoking Cancer Cardiovascular Disease Respiratory disorders Sexual dysfunction Smoking raises the hazard of atherosclerosis and hypertension that can result in the development of a Cardiovascular disease. (NHS, 2012). Some chemicals found tobacco smoke such as benzene can cause cancer. They instigate DNA mutilation that can result in an uncontrollable multiplication of cells consequently forming a cancer tumour(NHS, 2012). The government regularly maintains tobacco prices high through tax policy to discourage young people from starting to smoke and prompt smokers to quit.Tobacco promotion is now illicit in the UK and numerous other countries. After the introduction of the tobacco Advertising Promotion Act 2002, nearly all advertising ended in February 2003, i.e., on posters and in printed publications. Cigarette adverts at the point of sale was forbidden in supermarkets in April 2012 and will be proscribed in small shops from April 2015 (Ash, 2014) Smoking has a significant impact on the environment. Smoke and cigarette butts, instigate air, water and soil pollution, and nearly 5 million hectares of woodland are wrecked each year to facilitate the production of tobacco (Ewles, 2005) Current UK smoking policy is the tobacco control plan for England. â€Å"The Plan intends to lessen adult smoking prevalence from 21% to 18.5% by 2015. Diminish the smoking percentage of 15-year-olds from 15% to 12% by 2015, and smoking during pregnancy from 14% to 11% by 2015† (Ash, 2014). The Plan also pledges support for plain packaging of tobacco products, and to cease the parade of ciggeratt in supermarkets by April 2012, and in small shops by April 2015 (Ash, 2014). Cardiovascular Disease Cardiovascular disease is a overall term that defines the ailments that affect the cardiovascular system. CVD develops after the amount of blood flowing to the heart, and brain reduces due to thrombosis, or atherosclerosis (NHS, 2012) Presently, 1 in 3 deaths in the UK are initiated by CVD, accounting for 180,000 deaths each year. CVD causes a substantial problem of disability, and up to  £8 billion of NHS resources are dedicated to CVD (NICE, 2014). The 4 main categories of cardiovascular disease are Coronary heart disease Stroke Peripheral arterial disease Aortic disease Coronary heart disease develops when the coronary arteries narrow due to fat accrual. This ailment is known as atherosclerosis, and the fat is called atheroma. Eventually, the arteries will be so narrow the provision of oxygenated blood diminishes accordingly damaging certain parts of the heart causing angina. However, if a part of atheroma disassembles, it may initiate a thrombosis and if it occludes the blood flow for a long enough time the heart muscle is perpetually impaired or dies causing a heart attack. Angina and heart attack are the two most common symptoms of CHD. The typical symptoms for angina include pain, ache, discomfort in the chest area. The pain usually subsides within 10 minutes after resting. If glyceryl trinitrate is administered the pain fades within 2 minutes. Angina pain can also be generated by other causes of a rapid heart rate. For example, when in a state of â€Å"fight or flight†. A Heart attack usually has the following symptoms, chest pain – a feeling of heaviness, and tension in the centre of chest. Discomfort in various areas of the body it can feel the pain can spread from the chest to arms typically the left arm is affected, jaw, neck, feeling light-headed, sweating and shortness of breath. A stroke happens when the blood provision to a section of the brain halts and creates damage due to oxygen deprivation. A thrombosis or a haemorrhage in the brain can elicit the blockage. As a result, the affected region of the brain cannot operate routinely. Strokes affect people in dissimilar ways, subject on the section of the brain that is impaired, how extensive the harm is and how healthy the individual was afore the stroke. A stroke can change the way the body functions as well as the thought procedures, communication and vision. A stroke can also have an emotional effect and can create problems such as anxiety, despair or alterations to personality. Types of strokesThere are around 152,000 strokes in the UK each year. There are around 1.1 million stroke survivors living in the UK. Stroke is a significant cause of adult incapacity. More than half of entire stroke survivors are left reliant on others for everyday activities. Stroke is responsible for roughly 7% of deaths in men and 10% in women. Statistics In 2010, cardiovascular diseases were the UK’s main killer, nearly 180,000 people died from CVD roughly 81,000 of these deaths caused by coronary heart disease and about 50,000 from strokes. In 2010, cardiovascular diseases were responsible for around 46,000 untimely deaths in the UK; 68% of these were men. For men, the incidence of angina is highest in Wales, for women it is highest in Scotland. It is lowest for both sexes in England. In 2009, CVD cost the NHS  £8.7 billion and  £19 billion on the economy. Risk factors risk factors associated with coronary heart disease and stroke Family history, Ethnicity and age, Tobacco exposure, Hypertension, High cholesterol, Obesity, Physical inactivity, Diabetes, Unhealthy diets, Harmful use of alcohol Hypertension, Blood pressure refers to the total force the blood applies to the inside walls of the arteries as it passes through them. It is typical for blood pressure to momentarily upsurge. However, if blood pressure is regularly greater than the healthy level when at repose, this condition known as high blood pressure or hypertension. Blood pressure is quantified in millimetres and noted as two numbers: Systolic pressure – the force of the blood when the heart pumps blood out. Diastolic pressure – the pressure of the blood when the heart reposes between beats, which reveals how efficiently the arteries are resisting blood flow. Smoking Alcohol Alcohol is a product that has delivered a range of purposes for people throughout history. Alcohol has played a significant part in religion and worship. Historically, alcoholic drinks have served as a source of nutrients and extensively used for medicinal, antibacterial, and palliative properties. They can be a social lubricant, can aid entertainment, can provide pharmacological pleasure, and can enhance the pleasure of eating. Alcohol impedes the brain’s messaging paths and can influence the manner the brain operates. These disturbances can alter attitude and behaviour, and make it difficult to think sensibly and move with coordination. It is difficult to know and recall the quantity alcohol is in beverages, and just how this can impact health. The lower risk guidelines can assist with this. Men are reccomended to drink no more than 3 – 4 units of regular strength of lager, or cider per day. For women no more than 2-3 units of a normal glass of wine. There’s no evidence to verify that drinking alcohol is completely safe, but by keeping within these guidelines, there is only a little risk of causing damage in most situations. Drinking excessively over an extended period or on a single occasion can harm the heart, causing health conditions such as Cardiomyopathy Arrhythmias Stroke High blood pressure fatty liver Alcoholic hepatitis Fibrosis Cirrhosis Cancers Approxmatley 9990 people were victims of alcohol related driving accidents in the UK in 2011 together with 280 who lost their lives and 1290 who sustained severe harm. Alcohol-linked criminality costs  £11 billion each year. They were roughly 1.2 million alcohol associated hospital admissions between 2011 2012, a 135% upsurge since 2002-2003 and 8748 deaths absolutely linked to alcohol. The alcohol-related deaths of men in the most deprived socio-economic class is 3.5 times greater than for men in the least deprived class whereas for women the number is 5.7 times Between 2002 and 2009, 92,220 children below18 years were admitted to hospital in England for alcohol-related illnesses. The incidents of people aged between 60 and 74 admitted to hospitals in England due to alcohol has escalated by over 50%, more than in the 15-59 age category over the last decade. Change4Life is a public health plan in England, created in January 2009 regulated by the Department of Health. Change4Life focuses on helping the public to make small, maintainable yet essential enhancements to their diet, activity levels and alcohol intake. The Public Health Responsibility Deal was formally launched in March 2011. It challenges businesses and other organisations to play their role in creating an environment that supports people to make informed, balanced, healthier choices. The Government’s Alcohol Strategy. The Strategy focuses on Crime and disorder Binge drinking/’irresponsible drinking’ Individual responsibility ‘Minimum Unit Pricing’ and increased punitive measures Younger people

Book Review on The World of Yesterday :: essays research papers fc

The Death of a Soul, The Glance of History And meet the time as it seeks us. Cymberline Before the preface, I saw the sentence adopted from Shakespeare ¡Ã‚ ¯s Cymberline . All of the sudden, a sense of seriousness and heaviness mounted up in my heart. I felt the author ¡Ã‚ ¯s tone of despair and disillusionment.  ¡Ã‚ °at most, one generation had gone though a revolution, another experienced a putsch, the third a war, the fourth a famine, the fifth national bankruptcy ¡Ã‚ ­But we, who are sixty today and who, de jure, still have a space of time before us, what have we not seen, not suffered, not lived though? ¡Ã‚ ± Such struggling words can only be composed by a writer in unbearable agonies. Actually, the author was forced to witness the most terrible defeat of reason and the wildest triumph of brutality in the chronicle of the ages. What an embarrassing situation it was to an intellectual with great concern for the humanity and morality. Stefan Zweig was born in 1881 in a middle class family in Austria and died at his own hands in 1942 at the age of 60, crossing two centuries, witnessing two contemporary wars. He was well-known as a novelist, a playwright, a biographer a manuscript collector and a pacifist. In 1934, he was exiled to Britain and then to Brazil where he lived his rest of life with his wife. The World of Yesterday is his autobiography written between 1939 and 1940. Zweig always encouraged his friends to set down their reminiscences, not necessarily for publication but for the pleasure and benefit of their children, their families. As for his own autography, he was to  ¡Ã‚ °give some reflection of his life before it sinks into the darkness. ¡Ã‚ ±(P.9) It is not so much an autobiography as a  ¡Ã‚ °biography ¡Ã‚ ± of his time. It is a vivid, moving and nostalgic portrayal of Europe before wars; it is a story about intellectual brotherhood which tried to prevent national madness that destroyed the Europe and the world, twice. In the book, we picture the dramatic progress of material wealth and despairing collapse of morality. It also provides a source for us to know other great figures like Dostoyevsky, Goethe, Tolstoy and Freud who constituted the most glorious and attractive scenery at that time, making the sky not so sad. If we intend to figure out one of the best times in history, there is no doubt that the time before the World War I ¡Ã‚ ªZweig ¡Ã‚ ¯s childhood and youth hood ¡Ã‚ ªis definitely one.

The Problem of Power in Shakespeares Macbeth :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

The Problem of Power in Macbeth      Ã‚   "Power poisons every man who covets it for himself" (Chute 126). In the Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, the character, Macbeth, kills the respected King Duncan in his quest for power. However, during his rule, Macbeth demonstrates that he is incapable of mastering the power and responsibilities of being a king. His drive for power and maintaining his power is the source of his downfall. Macbeth is not meant to have authority beyond Thane of Cawdor. When Macbeth is king, he does not use his authority judiciously.    Macbeth's eventual demise is by virtue of his obsession for power and retaining his power. Before he desired the power of being king, Macbeth was a respected noble. He was labeled, "brave Macbeth" (Act I, scene, ii, line 16) for his actions in battle. During a conversation between Duncan and the Captain, the Captain describes how Macbeth brutally slew the rebel Macdonwald:    Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, ... Till he unseamed him from the nave to th' chops, And fixed his head upon our battlements (act I, scene, ii, lines 17- 23).    In his speech, the Captain describes Macbeth's violence to indicate what a good warrior he is thus showing that he has respect for Macbeth. Once Macbeth became king, he became overpowered with keeping his authority. Macbeth realized that he was being used just so that Banquo's sons can inherit the throne:       They hailed him father to a line of kings. Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown, And put a barren sceptre in my gripe, Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding (act III, scene 1, lines 60-64).    Macbeth feeling this way convinces a pair of men to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. By having Banquo and Fleance murdered, Macbeth believes that it will prevent Banquo's sons from becoming king. Macbeth also hires the murderers to kill Macduff's family. This demonstrates Macbeth's obsession because it indicates that Macbeth values his power over his friends. His obsession with power causes Macbeth to feel guilty and lose his sanity. Macbeth's guilt and loss of sanity is indicated in the hallucinations he experiences. His first hallucination occurs just before killing King Duncan. Macbeth sees "A dagger of the mind, a false creation" (act II, scene I, line 38). The Problem of Power in Shakespeare's Macbeth :: GCSE English Literature Coursework The Problem of Power in Macbeth      Ã‚   "Power poisons every man who covets it for himself" (Chute 126). In the Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, the character, Macbeth, kills the respected King Duncan in his quest for power. However, during his rule, Macbeth demonstrates that he is incapable of mastering the power and responsibilities of being a king. His drive for power and maintaining his power is the source of his downfall. Macbeth is not meant to have authority beyond Thane of Cawdor. When Macbeth is king, he does not use his authority judiciously.    Macbeth's eventual demise is by virtue of his obsession for power and retaining his power. Before he desired the power of being king, Macbeth was a respected noble. He was labeled, "brave Macbeth" (Act I, scene, ii, line 16) for his actions in battle. During a conversation between Duncan and the Captain, the Captain describes how Macbeth brutally slew the rebel Macdonwald:    Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, ... Till he unseamed him from the nave to th' chops, And fixed his head upon our battlements (act I, scene, ii, lines 17- 23).    In his speech, the Captain describes Macbeth's violence to indicate what a good warrior he is thus showing that he has respect for Macbeth. Once Macbeth became king, he became overpowered with keeping his authority. Macbeth realized that he was being used just so that Banquo's sons can inherit the throne:       They hailed him father to a line of kings. Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown, And put a barren sceptre in my gripe, Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding (act III, scene 1, lines 60-64).    Macbeth feeling this way convinces a pair of men to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. By having Banquo and Fleance murdered, Macbeth believes that it will prevent Banquo's sons from becoming king. Macbeth also hires the murderers to kill Macduff's family. This demonstrates Macbeth's obsession because it indicates that Macbeth values his power over his friends. His obsession with power causes Macbeth to feel guilty and lose his sanity. Macbeth's guilt and loss of sanity is indicated in the hallucinations he experiences. His first hallucination occurs just before killing King Duncan. Macbeth sees "A dagger of the mind, a false creation" (act II, scene I, line 38).

Do I Look Fat? Essay -- essays research papers fc

Do I Look Fat? How many calories does it have? I can’t eat that it’s too fattening. Do I look fat? I wish I had her body. How many times can we listen to woman say the same thing over and over again? How many times can we (as women) think these things about ourselves? It is words and phrases like these that seem to plague the minds of over 7 million women across the United States (Eating Disorders in the USA). Why is it that so many woman have such a preoccupation with the way their body’s look? Why is it that the shape of a woman’s body determines how her high self- esteem is? These are questions that have been with out answers for many years. This in not the way it should be, but this is how it is. So many woman are concerned with they way they look. So concerned, that it often begins to interfere with their physical and mental health, causing them to develop sever eating disorders. Why is it like this, and who or what is to blame? This is where the controversies start . There is overwhelming evidence and many reasons to believe that â€Å"today’s society† is the one to blame in this case. Sadly enough, women are given the message that in order to obtain happiness and success, they must have the perfect body. Growing older in today's society is much different for women than it is for men. If a man's body changes or his hair starts to turn gray, he is considered to be "distinguished". If a woman's body changes and her hair starts to turn gray, she is considered to be "letting herself go". Eating disorders often become a woman's way of escaping the daily pressures of life. In turn, woman begin to feel guilty for eating, because of the pressures that society has bestowed upon them (Psychiatric Times, 1999) Many people are under the impression that eating disorders only affect teenage girls. Unfortunately, more and more women are developing eating disorders well into their twenties, thirties, forties, and beyond. The onset of such eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive eating can occur at any time in a person's life (National Association). There are no biological causes for these disorders, however there are many aspects of society that seem to have strong influences on women who develop eating disorders. The media is high on the list as being one of the negative influences on women, and may be one of the main reasons why wom... ...reat deal of pressure to be thin which is why so many develop some kind of eating disorder. Women need to take a stand and stop trying to live up to the standards that society has set. For starters, women need to stop buying fashion magazines and diet products. Most importantly, women need to remember that weight is nothing but a number, and has absolutely nothing to do with intellectual ability. So, to all the woman out there who have ever had any doubt about there inner beauty (or outer beauty) I say this- â€Å"There nothing wrong with wanting to be healthy and wanting to feel good, but we are going to be running this country some day, and we can’t let not let the shape of our body get in the way of the wonderful things we can do.† Women need to live their lives, happy, healthy, and confident. Hopefully, society will soon realize how truly amazing women really are. Works Cited Eating Disorders in the USA, http://www.edap.org/edinfo/stats.html Miller, M.D., Merry N., and Pumariega, M.D. Andrà ©s. â€Å"Culture and Eating Disorders.† Psychiatric Times February 1999, Vol. XVI, Issue 2 National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, http://www.anad.org/facts.htm.

Geof is the only genuine caring character in the play Essay

Geof is the only genuine caring character in the play; the others are totally selfish and self centred. Discuss this statement. From the beginning of the play we can see Jo is the main character, she is highly independent and self reliant this is obvious from one of the opening pages were Jo’s mum Helen states ‘children owe their parents these little attentions’ to which Jo replies with ‘I don’t owe you a thing.’ This shows Jo sees her relationship with her mother as strained, she feels she has brought herself up and not really had her mother their to support her. She has learnt to rely on herself and not trust her mother. When Jo becomes pregnant with a black boy form the navy, who leaves her pregnant Jo reacts badly because she is so independent and used to looking after herself. Geof (Jo’s gay friend) offers her a shoulder to turn to and she turns on him ‘I’m not planning big plans for this baby or dreaming big dreams. You Know what happens when you do things like that. The baby will be born dead or daft!’ She feels she has let herself down and been promiscuous, however the sailor boy was offering her marriage and love before he left, she felt in a safe relationship and that was why she slept with him. But Jo just sees that she’s made the same mistakes her mother made when she had her at a young age. Most expectant mothers don’t have this negative attitude towards their unborn child however I feel it’s because she thinks she may let the child down like her mother let her down. Jimmy the black boy from the navy who got Jo pregnant gave the impression of a kind and genuine character who did honestly love Jo until he left. In my opinion he loved her and did intend to return for her but got scared of the prejudice he would face if he did return. He said to Jo about her mother finding out about their engagement ‘She’ll see a coloured boy.’ He obviously felt his race was going to be an issue in their relationship and how it was perceived and was worried about it. Jo however did know Jimmy was in the navy and even said to him on one occasion ‘I might as well be naughty while I’ve got the chance. I’ll probably never see you again I know it.’ So I believe deep down Jo knew there was a chance she wouldn’t be seeing him again. In my opinion Helen did love her daughter she just didn’t know how to treat her, maybe it was because she had her at a young age? She seems to think she should treat her daughter like a friend, she even encourages her underage daughter to drink ‘You don’t smell it, you drink it!’ I think the only way Helen knew to make her daughter love her was the way she made men love her, by getting her drunk. Helen did want her daughter to make something of her life I feel. She encouraged her to draw, saying her drawings were very good ‘Have you ever thought of going to a proper art school and getting proper training?’ But I think the main reason she wanted Jo to make something of herself was so she could sponge of her. Helen says to Jo ‘When you start earning you can start moaning.’ In my opinion she’s saying to Jo you make some money and get us somewhere nicer. She’s not taken the task upon herself to find her and her daughter somewhere nice to live she’s going to wait for her daughter to did it for them. Not a typical loving mother and daughter relationship, Helen is reliant on her daughter Jo. Helen is in my opinion lazy with regard to her relationship with her daughter. She is constantly asking her daughter to do stuff around the house ‘Pass me that bottle’ ‘Have we got any aspirins left Jo?’ Here is another example of Helen being reliant on her daughter. She also becomes strangely jealous of Jo’s gay friend Geof. She is constantly rude to him ‘Oh shut up Geof’ ‘Sling your hook’ I believe she is jealous of his strong bond with Jo. She feels jealous of their close relationship and doesn’t like him around as she feels inadequate compared to him. Jo maintains through out the play that she wants to be rid of her mother ‘as soon as I get a full-time job, I’m leaving Helen and starting up with a room somewhere’ so for Helen to know there’s someone in her life she wants there, that person being Geof it must make her feel less important. Even for Helen who shows no real care for her Jo to know that her own daughter feels like that must be difficult. I think part of her feels she should have a close loving relationship with Jo I just don’t think she knows how to or more importantly can be bothered. Peter, Helens latest fling who becomes her husband comes across as a decent sort of guy at first, however he is sleazy ‘Helen you look utterly fantastic’ ‘Got your blue garters on?’ He does turn nasty towards the end when their marriage isn’t going so well ‘Look at Helen, isn’t she a game old bird? Worn out on the beat but she’s still got a few good strokes left.’ and ‘I dragged you out of the gutter once , If you want to go back there it’s all the same to me.’ The way he speaks down to Helen are reminiscent of his character, he believes himself to be above everyone else, better looking, better dressed, better educated, a real snob. Geof takes a mothering role in Jo’s life, which I don’t think she always appreciates. ‘I’ll buy you one for Christmas. If you ask nice I’ll buy you two.’ ‘I’ll stay here and clear this place up a bit and make you a proper meal.’ I think Jo actually likes having a figure to look after her but I think she finds it difficult sometimes as she’s not used to it, she’s used to fending for herself. ‘Why don’t you leave me alone?’ I think that all this shows that despite Jo’s though exterior she does want looking after and companionship, especially from her mother even though she denies it, as that is what Geof is doing for her, being a substitute mother. Geof , a single gay man was evicted from his flat by his landlady because she caught him with another man. In those days being a sexually active gay man was frowned upon so he was probably quite ashamed about the reason for his eviction and that is why he tries to hide it from Jo. When she asks ‘has your landlady thrown you out?’ Geof replies ‘Don’t be silly,’ but later tells her the truth. Geof also agrees to move in with Jo, taking on the responsibilities of looking after a Jo and her baby. Also when Jo tells him her baby will be black he is extremely accepting and doesn’t seem to care. In my opinion this is due to the prejudice he has faced about being gay. Another time his kind and compassionate character is seen is when he tries to get Jo and Helen talking again despite Jo telling him exactly what her mother is like he still persists and tries to build bridges in their relationship with them and get Helen to help out with the baby. ‘Your mother should know, do you have her address?’ When he meets Helen though he is struck by how rude and uncaring she is and sticks up for Jo telling Helen. ‘If I’d known you were going to bully her like this I’d have never asked you to come!’ Here he shows true loyalty for Jo by sticking up for her. In my opinion Geof is a very lonely young man he didn’t seem to have any other friends besides Jo in the play, other than young man he was found in his flat with but in his own words ‘he didn’t really know the guy’ . We can’t really be sure of his past because the play doesn’t mention it but I feel he’s faced a lot of prejudice about his sexuality and perhaps that is why he so understands Jo. He doesn’t seem to have any family, and I think he was trying to make Jo and the baby into a surrogate family for himself. I feel he was the nicest character in the book but he did become quite irritating as he was too nice all of the time. All the other characters had floors and attributes that made them lovable or unlovable. Geof however, was just quite bland. Helen for instance was an interesting character because she was so unpredictable, she could have a new boyfriend at any moment, or get drunk and do something ridiculous. Goef on the other hand was predictable but provided the rock of the story. He was Mr. Reliable that Jo could turn to he wasn’t an interesting character like Helen but was a vital part of the play.