Thesis Chapter free essay sample

The call center industry is considered as one of the newest blooming industry in the Philippines, earning around US$I billion in 2005 alone. Although there has been a worldwide recession during the start of their industry, they have managed to grow notably and make a name. Presently, it has provided employment for 96,000 Filipinos. In fact, the Philippines is now considered the call center capital of the world (DOST- COT, 2012). Call center employees are required to display patience and empathy in dealing with their customers demands thus, employees who can manage their motions more effectively is much likely to perform better (Hang, Chance, Lam Nan, 2010). This type of Job requires telephone contact with the public and call center employees are expected to provide or perform emotional labor (Household; as cited in Deere, Iverson, Walsh 2002). They are expected to convey emotions based on what the organization expects from them and these emotions were intended to create the desired reaction from the customer. We will write a custom essay sample on Thesis Chapter or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Erickson and Wharton (as cited in Deere, Iverson Walsh, 2002) stated that the employees are expected to appear happy, nice and glad to be able to serve the customer even if they are experiencing negative emotions at the moment. The key feature of this type of work is conveying the emotions that were specified by the organization together with the rules of employment. Household (as cited in Deere, Iverson, Walsh 2002) claimed that the most probable outcome of performing emotional labor is Job-related burnout. The psychological health is crucial for good Job performance; however, it is often neglected in the call center industry both by employers and employee. Job reference is conceptualized as the level wherein an individual does ones role with consideration to the organizations standards (Knavery, as cited in Mishear Anaphora, 2010). Excessive Job demands and continuous hassles may result in a chronic state of physical and emotional depletion or the experience of emotional exhaustion. Emotional exhaustion is the core component of burnout and it has significant implications with the quality of ones work life and to the optimal functioning of an organization (Sahara, 1997; Shirrs, as cited in Byrne, Cropland, and Molder, n. D. ). The nature of call center Jobs which involves spending all day on the phone, dealing with people one after another is the primary source of stress to the employees because the nature of the Job is difficult (Iraqi Sure, 2008). Aside from the emotional exhaustion experienced by employees, this study also covers three possible factors, which might predict Job performance: emotional intelligence, civil status and Job ratification. Salvoes and Mayer (1990) provided definitions of emotional intelligence (E) : as the ability to perceive accurately, appraise, and express emotion; the ability to access and/or generate feelings when hey facilitate thought; the ability to understand emotion and emotional knowledge; and the ability to regulate emotions to promote emotional and intellectual growth. E able to manage their emotions so that they can be able to display the emotions desired by the organization (Hurt Moon, 2011). The variable civil status in this study refers specifically on the marital aspect of the individual; married or single. The last possible predictor of Job performance is ratification. Ratification refers to the repetition of the tasks performed in the Job which will be represented by customer purp ort representatives and technical support representatives. Call center agents within Metro Manila are asked to take part in the study. The participants are divided with equal representation for civil status and ratification of their Job. There are a total of 320 participants. Non-discriminative snowball sampling is used in selecting the participants. Three scales are utilized, each scale measures one construct, the variables measured are: emotional intelligence, emotional exhaustion, and Job performance. Statement of the Problem This proposed study determines the possible predictors of Job performance and the editing role of emotional exhaustion. Specifically, the study intends to answer the following questions: 1. Do the following significantly predict Job performance? Emotional intelligence b. Civil status c. ratification 2. Does emotional exhaustion mediate the relationship between Job performance and the following: a. Emotional intelligence Review of Related Literature The review of related literature focuses on studies which discuss the relationship of each predictor variables to Job performance. Each variable is defined and this section also includes results and discussions from previous studies that are erectly and/or closely related to the study. However, there is limited literature available on the relationship between the variable ratification and Job performance. Also, studies on the relationship of emotional intelligence to Job performance show inconsistent results. Job Performance Knavery (as cited in Mishear Anaphora, 2010) conceptualized Job performance as the level in which an individual performs ones role in consideration of certain standards set by the organization. It is the combined value of the discrete behavioral episodes that is performed by the individual for the organization over a standard interval of time (Motility, Barman, Schmitt, as cited in Sahara Regenerated, 2011) and is divided into two dimensions. The first dimension, task performance, refers to behaviors that are directly linked with Job completion and it consists of carrying out technical processes and maintenance and servicing of technical requirements. The second dimension is contextual performance; this dimension pertains to an individuals interpersonal behaviors or actions that benefit the organization. This dimension comprises different activities like helping and volunteering to carry out tasks (Motility et al. As cited in Sahara Regenerated, 2011). These dimensions lead to raising awareness about what contributes to an individuals overall performance in the workplace. Emotional Exhaustion Emotional exhaustion is a chronic state of physical and emotional depletion which results from excessive Job demands and continuous hassles (Shirrs, as cited in Byrne, Cropland, and Molder, n. ; Sahara; as cited in Wright and Cropland, 1998). It is a significant topic of interest for organizational researchers because it has important implications for the quality of work life and for optimal organizational injunction. Emotional exhaustion is one of the three components of burnout, a psychological response to work-related stress. The two other components are diversification and reduced personal accomplishment (Mascara, Schaeffer, Letter, as cited in Deere, Iverson, Walsh, 2002). Focusing on emotional exhaustion, even if it is Just one part of the three-component conceptualization of burnout, can be Justified by two issues. First issue is that, although past research about burnout was dominated by the three-component conceptualization as it elates to measurement of burnout, other researchers have questioned Machs three component conceptualization and other conceptualizations were proposed for the processes underlying burnout (Demerit, Beaker, Machinery, Schaeffer; Pines, Aarons, Carry; Shirrs, as cited in Byrne, Cropland Molder, n. D. Hellbender; as cited in Demerit Moister, 2010) and the second issue is that, even though the alternative conceptualizations vary in different ways, all of them included emotional exhaustion as a primary component of burnout (Hellbender, 2007). This suggests that emotional exhaustion is indeed central to the experience of burnout because it is the most consistent with its relationships with outside variables such as commitmen t and Job satisfaction (Corded Doughtier; Demerit; Green, Walked, Taylor; Lee Seaports; Hellbender; as cited in Wright Cropland, 1998). Although the three components are important, a growing number consensus based on previous research has concluded that emotional exhaustion is the key dimension of burnout (Corded Doughtier, as cited in Wright Cropland, 1998). According to Shirrs (as cited in Byrne, Cropland, Molder, n. D. ), the core meaning of burnout can be best found in the physical and psychological depletion that characterizes emotional exhaustion. He further noted that defining burnout as emotional exhaustion will help distinguish it from other social science concepts. Wright and Cropland (1998) focused on emotional exhaustion derived from the Conservation of Resources (CORE) theory that provided particular valuable insights on prolonged emotional exhaustion. The framework stated that emotional exhaustion is most likely to manifest if an individual experienced an actual resource loss, or a perceived threat of resource loss or if the individual had been in a situation where ones resources were inadequate to meet work demands, or when in a situation in which the return of an investment of resources were not obtained (Hobble, 1988 as cited in Wright Cropland, 1998). In a one-year longitudinal study conducted by Wright and Cropland (1998), and Job performance to emotional exhaustion. Wright asked social welfare workers employed by a large city on the West Coast of the United States (N = 64) to participate n the study by meaner of a direct contact procedure. The actual sample included 52 employees, representing a response rate of 81%. The mean age for this mostly male (69%) sample was 42 years; the mean tenure was 13 years. Emotional exhaustion was measured with Mascara and Jacksons (1986) nine-item emotional exhaustion scale (Mascara Burnout Inventory). This nine-item scale measured how often one feels emotionally overextended and exhausted by ones work. Results showed that emotional exhaustion was unrelated to Job satisfaction, it was associated with both performance and subsequent turnover. Multiple regression analysis further demonstrated that emotional exhaustion predicted both turnover and Job performance, even after negative affectively and positive affectively were controlled. Call center employees experienced high levels of emotional pressure and work- related strain, which caused poor performance as well as high turnover (Highs; Vary; Rose Wright; as cited in Hang, 2010). Emotional Intelligence The concept of emotional intelligence originated from Thorniness (1920) concept of social intelligence. Salvoes and Mayer (1990) provided definitions of emotional intelligence: as ones capability to clearly convey emotions, the ability to make sense of what one feels when processing a thought, the ability to comprehend and interpret emotion and emotional knowledge, and lastly, the ability to manage emotions in a way that enhances ones emotional and intellectual growth. There are two constructs of emotional intelligence (E): trait emotional intelligence and ability emotional intelligence (Peptides, Burnham Manville, 2007). Trait emotional intelligence which can also be called trait emotional self-efficacy focused on the motion -related dispositions and self-perceptions which are measured using self- report while the second construct, that is ability emotional intelligence or the cognitive-emotional ability focused on the emotion-related cognitive abilities which can be measured through maximum-performance tests. Trait El and ability El are different in terms of measurement and conceptualization because Trait El is measured using self-reports while ability El is performance-based and for their differences in conceptualization, Trait El is based on personality trait while ability El is based on the cognitive ability (Peptides et al, 2007). Emotional Intelligence on Job Performance According to Munchkins (as cited in Barbet, Barterer, See, 2004), there is a lack of literature on organizational behavior that focuses on the emotional aspect because people often see emotion as the complete opposite of logic. In line with this rising interest in emotions, studies have been conducted in which the role of emotional intelligence in individuals and organizational performance has been demonstrated (Bar-on; Coleman; as cited in Moon Hurt, 2011). Coleman (as cited in Moon Hurt, 2011) defined emotional intelligence as a competency of managing oneself and ones relationships with others, making effective teamwork, leading others, and forecasting the future, all of which had positive effects in terms of efficacy and Job performance. Emotional intelligence is important for employees because it is essential for them to be able to manage their emotions so they may be Individuals who are emotionally intelligent cope better with lifes challenges and job stresses, and therefore are psychologically and physically healthy. It was also suggested that emotional intelligence aids individuals in managing Job stress and remotes adaptability to challenging environments so that distress or burnout are avoided (Bar-on, as cited in Moon Hurt, 2011). Contrary to the previous studies mentioned, a study conducted by Gray (2010) showed that there was no statistically significant relationship between emotional intelligence and Job performance. The sample consisted of 268 call center (45 leaders and 223 raters) across different age and race groups. All of the participants completed the 3600 Emotional Competency Profiler (ESP.) in order to measure emotional intelligence whereas the Job performance data were obtained from the management team and an average score of their performance over a one-year period was examined. Civil Status on Job Performance The role of civil status on Job performance is still in need of more studies that will focus entirely on the relationship of the two. However, there are studies that are related to civil status and Job performance that offers different perspectives on how job performance varies depending on civil status. Johnston and Keeled (as cited in Russell Rush) 1987 said that married individuals may be perceived more favorably than singles because marriage is received with high value, a desired characteristic and as an important state for the development of an individual. Russell and Rush (1987) asked 160 male and female undergraduates to provide performance evaluations and attributions for a poor- performing stimulus employee depicted as male or female, either single or married. Results showed no significant difference between the evaluation of the males and females. However, when it comes to civil status, it shows that married mothers were evaluated most favorably while single females were least favorably evaluated. Their endings were interpreted through the societal values individuals have regarding employment and civil status. Being employed is positively evaluated because individuals perceive it as a factor that contributes to an individuals sense of life satisfaction and positive mental health. Ratification The forms of service that call center employees provide may vary from providing inbound or outbound services and the management practices of the call center companies (Bait; Wood, Holman Stride; as cited in Hang et al. 2010). Majority of the work they provide is characterized by high degrees of ratification and employee control (Knights McCabe; Taylor Pain; Franken, Corrosions, Shire Tam; Holman Fernier; Taylor, Baldly, Pain Ellis; as cited in Hang et al. , 2010). The repetitive nature of the tasks performed in call centers is a distinctive feature of the Job (Jennie, Hutchison, Purcell; Taylor Pain; as cited in Deere et al. 2002) which led to the expectation that employees in cal l centers will have higher level of emotional exhaustion due to its lacking of task variety and routinely nature (Wharton, as cited in Deere et al. , 2002). Emotional Intelligence, Emotional Exhaustion and Job Performance particularly relevant to work behavior in call centers, because abilities to manage relationships and to show empathy and social sensibility when needed are the prerequisites for good performance in the call center workplace. Employees who are high in Emotional Intelligence (E) have lower risk of experiencing emotional exhaustion and burnout. The reason behind this is that, employees high in El have better interpersonal skills and are more able to tolerate emotional pressure which implies that employees high in El will probably exhibit higher performance at work. Based on a study conducted by Highs (2004), El was positively related to individual performance. The data were collected from 289 call center employees in the I-J. In addition, Van Roy and Visceral (2004, as cited in Hang et al. , 2010) proposed that emotional intelligence should be a predictor of burnout (p. 87) which in turn may influence the work performance of employees. Hang et al. (2010) hypothesized that in call centers, burnout may be an intermediate variable that mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and work performance. They examined the Joint effect of leader-member exchange ELM) and emotional intelligence (E) on burnout and work performance. Results based on data collected from 493 leader-member dyads in the call center of a large Chinese telecommunication company indicated that ELM was negatively related to burnout, in which the variable emotional exhaustion is a component, and was not significantly related to objective work performance. Furthermore, the effects of the four dimensions of El (self emotion appraisal, other-emotion appraisal, use of emotion, and regulation of emotion) on burnout and performance was examined and found that burnout mediated the link between use of emotion and work reference. (Hang, et. Al , 2010) A study conducted by Moon and Hurt (2011) examined how emotional intelligence (E) affects emotional exhaustion (burnout) resulting from emotional labor, and how emotional exhaustion influences an individuals Job performance in terms of organizational commitment and Job satisfaction. The participants include retail sales employees who had worked at major department stores (Lotto, Shingle, and Kayaking) in South Korea for at least one year. They were asked to complete a self-administered survey. Results showed that the three factors of emotional intelligence appraisal of motions, optimism, and social skills were negatively associated with emotional exhaustion, which was also negatively related to Job performance. In addition, the mediating effect of emotional exhaustion was confirmed in the relationship between job performance and appraisals of emotions, optimism, and social skills as factors in emotional intelligence. The literature discussed in this chapter presents observed relationships between the variables and Job performance, and the mediating role of emotional exhaustion. Researches stated that emotional exhaustion being the core component of burnout an lead to deterioration of ones Job performance. In previous studies, researchers also pointed out that emotional intelligence has an existing role on a persons individual and organizational performance. Likewise, civil status affects Job performance of individuals. However, the results of the studies about civil status and job performance are not consistent whether married people or those who are single The diagram shows the predictor variables, emotional intelligence, civil status and ratification, the possible mediating variable; emotional exhaustion, and the criterion variable; Job performance. The solid lines indicate relationships between variables that are supported by literature. The broken lines indicate that no related literature shows the relationship between the two variables. The diagram shows the predictor variables, emotional intelligence, civil status and ratification, the possible mediating variable; emotional exhaustion, and the criterion variable; Job performance. The solid lines indicate relationships between variables that are supported by literature. The broken lines indicate that no related literature shows the relationship between the two variables. Figure 1 . The variables emotional intelligence, civil status and ratification are predictors of Job performance among call center agents in Metro Manila with emotional exhaustion as a mediating variable. The predictor variables are emotional intelligence, civil status and ratification. Emotional intelligence is ones capability to clearly convey emotions, the ability to make sense of what one feels when processing a thought, the ability to comprehend and interpret emotion and emotional knowledge, and lastly, the ability to manage emotions in a way that it enhances ones emotional and intellectual growth (Mayer amp; Salvoes, 1990). In this study, civil status pertains to individuals who are married or single by law. Ratification encompasses how patterned and monotonous the nature of an employees work is. It pertains to the nature of work that the individual is engaged in, which may vary depending on whether the call center agent is a customer support representative or technical support representative. The criterion variable is Job performance, which is the level wherein an individual does ones role with consideration to the organizations standards (Knavery, as cited in Mishear and Anaphora, 2010). The predictor variables and the criterion variables are mediated by emotional exhaustion which is defined as a chronic state of physical and emotional depletion which results from excessive Job demands and continuous hassles (Shirrs, as cited in Byrne, Cropland, and Molder, n. D; Sahara; as cited in Wright and Cropland, 1998). Hypotheses 1. The following variables significantly predict Job performance a. Emotional intelligence 2. Emotional exhaustion mediates the relationship between Job performance and emotional intelligence, civil status, ratification.

The eNotes Blog Teachers Who Tweet 50 Educators You ShouldFollow

Teachers Who Tweet 50 Educators You ShouldFollow Its no surprise that Twitter, inarguably  one of the most popular social platforms, has more than tweens and hip brands (like us, of course!) tweeting tidbits  into the universe. Teachers, professors, and other types of educators use this platform to bring academia into the 21st Century, share ideas, and intellectually influence their followers. Weve put together a list of the top tweetin educators on the basis of high Klout scores, content, and engagement. Whether they are discussing revolutionary  edtech techniques, intersectional feminism, or race relations we think they are awesome and you should too!  Simply click on their names to follow them individually, or check out this handy Twitter list. Anyone we should add? Let us know in the comments! 1.  Lawrence  Lessig | @lessig Professor of Law at Harvard Law School 2. Marc Lamont Hill | @marclamonthill Professor of African American Studies at Morehouse College   3. Alec Couros | @courosa Professor of Media at  University of Regina 4. Don Wettrick | @DonWettrick Innovation Coordinator at Noblesville High School 5. Carrie Brown | @Brizzyc Social Journalism Director at CUNY 6. Tom Whitby | @tomwhitby Retired Educator and Active EdTech Blogger and Speaker 7. Shannon Miller | @shannonmiller Teacher Librarian and Educational Consultant 8. Joy Mayer | @mayerjoy Associate Professor at the Missouri School of Journalism 9. Lyndsay Kirkham | @HisFeministMama College Professor in Ontario 10. Kevin Jarrett | @kjarrett Certified K-4 Tech/STEM Teacher   11. Blair LM Kelley | @profblmkelley Associate Professor of History at North Carolina State University  and  Assistant Dean of Interdisciplinary Studies and International Programs 12. Oliver Schinkten | @schink10 Educator at Lynda.com 13. Cindy Royal | @CindyRoyal Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Texas State University 14.   Wang Ping | @wangjingping English Professor at Macalester College 15. A.J. Hoge | @ajhoge Owner of Effortless English, LLC   16. AJ Juliani | @ajjuliani Education and Technology Innovation Specialist 17. Laura K. Lawless | @lkl Writer and Editor of French Learning Site, Lawless French 18. Karen Austin | @TheGenAboveMe Adjunct Professor at Wichita State University 19.   Thema Bryant-Davis | @drthema Associate Professor at Pepperdine University 20. Kathy E Gill | @kegill Professor at University of Washington   21. C.W.  Anderson | @Chanders Associate Professor at  College of Staten Island 22. Kenna Griffin | @profkrg Mass Communication Professor at Oklahoma City University   23. Eric Mazur | @eric_mazur Physicist and Educator at Harvard University 24. Yong Zhao | @YongZhaoUO Director of Institute of Global and Online Education at University of Oregon 25. James K.A. Smith | @james_ka_smith Professor of Philosophy at Calvin College 26.   Nancy Rubin | @nancyrubin Executive Director Columbia Video Network at Columbia University 27. Erin Olsen | @eolsonteacher Instructional Technology Consultant 28. Tami Brass | @brasst Director of Instructional Technology at St. Paul Academy and Summit School 29. Dave Batstone | @DaveBatstone Professor at University of San Francisco 30. Jon Becker | @jonbecker Director, Learning Innovation Online Academic Programs at Virginia Commonwealth University 31.   Diane Main | @Dowbiggin Director of Learning Innovation Design at The Harker School 32.   Peter Ubertaccio | @ProfessorU Associate Dean for Interdisciplinary Programs and Director of the Joseph Martin Institute at Stonehill College 33. Karen Russell | @karenrussell Professor at the University of Georgia 34. Brandon David Wilson | @Geniusbastard English Teacher and Filmmaker 35.   Michelle Baldwin | @michellek107 Lead Teacher at Anastasis Academy 36. Diana Laufenberg | @dlaufenberg SLA Teacher and Consultant 37. Cindy Minnich | @CBethM High School English Teacher  and Certified School Librarian 38. Ben Kuhlman | @bkuhl2you Middle School Teacher (literacy, social studies, and science) 39. Holly Tucker | @history_geek Professor in the Department of French Italian and in the Center for Biomedical Ethics Society 40. Julie D. Ramsay | @JulieDRamsay Author and 6th Grade Teacher 41.   Ben Owens | @engineerteacher High School Physics and Mathematics Teacher 42. Alice Daer | @alicedaer English Professor at Arizona State University 43. Shawn Ram | @shawnrram Teacher (Special Education Grades 1-4) at  Brightbank Academy 44. Chris Aviles | @TechedUpTeacher Ed Tech Coach for  Fair Haven School District 45. Pernille Ripp | @pernilletipp 7th Grade Teacher and Creator of the Global Read Aloud Project 46. Lyn Hilt | @lynhilt Elementary Instructional Tech Integrator and Coach   47. Vicki Davis | @coolcatteacher Teacher/Technology Administrator and EdTech Consultant 48. Josh Stumpenhorst | @stumpteacher 6th grade Language Arts and Social Science Teacher 49. Patrick Larkin | @patrickmlarkin Assistant Superintendent for Learning in Burlington Public Schools 50. Steven W. Anderson | @web2classroom Former Classroom Teacher and Director of Instructional Technology, Current Speaker

Immunizations are safe for children Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Immunizations are safe for children - Essay Example Going by the first definition of safety, there is no immunization that is safe. According to Baggs, Gee, Lewis et al. (2011), in vaccines are generally safe and effective even though they may be associated with rare and long term adverse effects. Apart from these potential long term effects, a majority of them cause pain, tenderness or even redness during injection. For instant the pertussis (or whooping cough) vaccine can cause persistent, inconsolable crying, high fever or seizures connected to fever. Though some of these side effects can be severe, they are not permanent (Offit 2013). In real sense, no activity in this world is 100 percent safe, and most of the things considered safe do possess hidden danger. For instance in the United States, 350 people die from shower or bathroom related accidents, 200 people get killed due to food getting stuck in the wind pipe and 100 people die due to lightening strikes every year (Offit 2013). Despite these risks, very few people consider taking a bath, eating food or walking outside in the rain as dangerous activities (Offit 2013). The other definition of safety is hinged upon preserving from real danger. Going by this definition, the danger (infection or disease) is leads to a graver consequence as compared to the protective measure (vaccine) against the danger. In other words, the benefits of having an immunization are clearly greater than the risks of not having one (Offit 2013). Baggs, Gee, Lewis et al. (2011) note that the safety of vaccines is assured by the rigorous assessments they are subjected to during their pre -licensing clinical trials. To better examine the safety of immunization for children, benefits of immunization must be looked into. One of the best ways to protect children is through immunization as this has the ability to protect their lives against ailments that are associated

Impact of Social Media in International Marketing Research Paper

Impact of Social Media in International Marketing - Research Paper Example This essay declares that the emergence of the social media has had a powerful impact on enterprises. In the coming years, social media has the potential to change the landscape of the business environment and the way organizations conduct their business operations. Companies will have to alter the way they conduct business in order to fully take advantage of the opportunities presented by the emergence of social media. Companies that quickly understand the changes brought about by social media on customer value and customer engagement will be in a good position to realize optimum benefits from the use of social media. This paper stresses that the emergence of new technologies, such as the worldwide web, mobile devices and digital television has created a number of opportunities for businesses to produce and market innovative goods and services. It has also helped customers to get increased value for their money. Traditional marketing approaches limit the number of customers a company can reach to hundreds, thousands or even tens of thousands. These marketing techniques also require a lot of time, effort and cost. In sharp contrast, a business today through the use of computers and the Internet can reach millions of customers with minimal effort and cost. China has gone beyond the United States in terms of the leading country that has the maximum number of Internet users. Asia Pacific will have more than 500 million of the Internet population. In terms of the world Internet population, the percentage of users in the Latin American and South Pacific regions will increase and that of North America an d Europe will decrease even though the actual numbers will continue to increase (Luukka). Social media allows

Mexican American Essay Example for Free

Mexican American Essay ?Even though we as a society live in a more liberal world as compared to life in eighteenth century or even nineteenth century, there are still people who separate themselves from people of different race, age, sex, religion because perhaps they do not handle change well. People all across their world at one point in their life time can have directly or indirectly experienced stereotypes, racism, and or discrimination. Most likely their race or ethnicity was the basis of why the experienced happened. The concept of race and ethnicity has to be established first among people to get a better understanding of the people they interact with on a daily basis. Race is a concept that is dividing people into groups or populations based on their genetic or biological appearance. A factor that people most associate this with is skin color. Then there is the concept of ethnicity that is more complicated for people to completely understand. Ethnicity is a population in which people identify themselves with by shared culture and history. This will help a person understand why people identify themselves with Mexican, Latino, Cherokee, American, German, and even African American. Personally I have dealt with and experienced stereotypes, racism, and discrimination based on my race. Stereotypes are beliefs and assumptions that are associated with individuals based on their sex, religion, race, or age that may not accurately reflect reality. Some of the stereotypes that I have come across are all Mexicans speak Spanish, all Mexicans are here illegally, illiterate, and have families of ten or more. Those are just a few stereotypes that some of my white and Asian friends have told me that quite offended me. In fact not all Mexicans speak Spanish and even though I am bilingual don’t mean people should automatically assume that every Mexican they come across will know Spanish because sometimes it is based on whether or not they learned from their parents growing up or in school. Then the part where some have said that all Mexicans are here illegally is far from being completely true. I was born here in good ole Lubbock, Texas. Yes, my mom is from Durango which is a city in Mexico but after coming here to the United States at age fourteen she became a U. S. citizen to be able to work and support her family in Mexico. There are in fact some people here illegally but that should not be reflected onto those who were born in the U. S. Not all Mexicans are illiterate because what person would not have trouble trying to read or write in another language that is not their primary language. That means that they have to take time and learn to read, write, and speak English, just like any other foreigner coming from another country. Also to address the stereotype that Mexicans have families of ten or more is not accurate. It is in the culture to have big families because sometimes it has to do with the common religion amongst Mexicans is catholic and therefore birth control is something that is frowned upon and even a sin in that religion. But usually having big families is a choice between the husband and wife; it’s not just something that is instilled within every Mexican to want big families. Moreover, racism and discrimination sort of go hand in hand with one another. Racism is when a belief that all members of a race are inferior or superior to another race. Discrimination is treatment and judgment towards a group of people based on class, age, sex, and race that they are in favor for or against. Discrimination is one I had to deal with on my first time applying for a job once I turned seventeen. I was living in Alice, Texas for the summer and I applied to a small fast food restaurant. I spoke to the manager who happens to be an older white woman on the phone about positions that were open for hire and she was more than willing to speak to me in person. I walk into the restaurant on the set date to meet and she was surprised when I told her, â€Å"Hi, my name is Addy; I am the person you spoke to on the phone about jobs†. She then quickly said, â€Å"Were fully staffed now, I am sorry† and walked off through the double doors to the kitchen. I was so upset because I knew it had to do with me being Mexican because I took a look around the restaurant and all the waitresses, cashier, and cooks were white. My dad and I had a long talk of his experiences through his life in regards of discrimination. He is going to be seventy-two this November and it is sad to know that through all those years discrimination has not disappeared. Also racism is something I currently deal with at my job at Covenant usually amongst the older generation. My position at the hospital is a phlebotomist and it typically is racist comments or even as straight forward as them saying, â€Å"Can I have Chance, the white guy? † instead of me to draw their blood. I have got to the point where it does not faze me much at work because I know I need to keep my composure and stay professional in a situation like that. Therefore, people of all ages, gender, and race have had an experience where stereotyping, racism, and discrimination were involved. Whether it was directly happening to them or indirectly where they have witnessed it happening to someone else, it still has affected their life in some way. It is how a person handles the situation that makes all the difference. Maybe one day in the near future people will be more accepting of change and differences amongst everyone that diminishes stereotypes, racism, and discrimination.

Lees Philosophy To Kill A Mock :: essays research papers

Nelle Harper Lee’s Philosophy on the Proper Treatment of Human Beings in To Kill A Mockingbird   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The 1930’s were a time in which blacks faced many hardships. It was a time in which the Ku Klux Klan had its peak. However, most importantly, it was the time when Nelle Harper Lee, the writer of To Kill A Mockingbird, was being raised. She was raised in a world where “niggers'; were the bottom class in one of the most powerful countries in the world. She was also being raised during the Great Depression, a time when the attacks on blacks were intensified, as they were the scapegoats of the immense downfall of the US economy. However, she was only a small, innocent child who believed in equality for all. Thus, Harper Lee expressed her disapproval over the treatment of blacks in her Award-Winning novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, through the eyes of a fictional character called Jean Louise Finch, better known as “Scout';.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Scout, the main character in the story, grew up in Maycomb County; a fictional town in Alabama inspired by the Monroe County, Harper Lee’s hometown. Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, was a defense attorney during the Great Depression. Just like everyone in Maycomb County, his economic conditions were very poor. Judge Taylor assigns him the task of defending Tom Robinson, a married black man accused of raping the eldest daughter of Bob Ewell, the head of a family that “…had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations.'; As the story progresses, Scout slowly becomes introduced into the world of hatred, unfairness, and racism that the 1930’s exposed. Nevertheless, since Scout still had both her innocence and naivete, due to her premature age, she completely expressed total disapproval towards the treatment of blacks during the time of her childhood. The author portrays this disapproval through Dill and Jem, Scout’s friend, and Scout’s brother, respectively, as shown here by Dill, “‘I don’t care one speck. It ain’t right to do ‘em that way. Hasn’t anybody got any business talkin’ like that—it just makes me sick.’'; Various characters’ reactions to the verdict emphasize Lee’s feelings toward racial injustice. During the Tom Robinson trial, Atticus could not have portrayed his evidence in a more professional and convincing manner. Unfortunately, Tom Robinson was found guilty by the jury and was sentenced to death. Atticus’s son, Jem, expresses his rejection to the unfair treatment of blacks by stating, “‘How could they do it, how could they? Lees Philosophy To Kill A Mock :: essays research papers Nelle Harper Lee’s Philosophy on the Proper Treatment of Human Beings in To Kill A Mockingbird   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The 1930’s were a time in which blacks faced many hardships. It was a time in which the Ku Klux Klan had its peak. However, most importantly, it was the time when Nelle Harper Lee, the writer of To Kill A Mockingbird, was being raised. She was raised in a world where “niggers'; were the bottom class in one of the most powerful countries in the world. She was also being raised during the Great Depression, a time when the attacks on blacks were intensified, as they were the scapegoats of the immense downfall of the US economy. However, she was only a small, innocent child who believed in equality for all. Thus, Harper Lee expressed her disapproval over the treatment of blacks in her Award-Winning novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, through the eyes of a fictional character called Jean Louise Finch, better known as “Scout';.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Scout, the main character in the story, grew up in Maycomb County; a fictional town in Alabama inspired by the Monroe County, Harper Lee’s hometown. Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, was a defense attorney during the Great Depression. Just like everyone in Maycomb County, his economic conditions were very poor. Judge Taylor assigns him the task of defending Tom Robinson, a married black man accused of raping the eldest daughter of Bob Ewell, the head of a family that “…had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations.'; As the story progresses, Scout slowly becomes introduced into the world of hatred, unfairness, and racism that the 1930’s exposed. Nevertheless, since Scout still had both her innocence and naivete, due to her premature age, she completely expressed total disapproval towards the treatment of blacks during the time of her childhood. The author portrays this disapproval through Dill and Jem, Scout’s friend, and Scout’s brother, respectively, as shown here by Dill, “‘I don’t care one speck. It ain’t right to do ‘em that way. Hasn’t anybody got any business talkin’ like that—it just makes me sick.’'; Various characters’ reactions to the verdict emphasize Lee’s feelings toward racial injustice. During the Tom Robinson trial, Atticus could not have portrayed his evidence in a more professional and convincing manner. Unfortunately, Tom Robinson was found guilty by the jury and was sentenced to death. Atticus’s son, Jem, expresses his rejection to the unfair treatment of blacks by stating, “‘How could they do it, how could they?

What Is Community Work

What Is Community Work? Through this essay I will try to create a greater understanding of the term ‘community work’. I will begin with a short summary from two studies which help define the term on a broad basis. I will follow this by an explanation of the various approaches which can be used in community work. I will highlight the importance the community and voluntary sector have in social partnership in Ireland today. I will also discuss how funding, or a lack of it, impacts on essential services. Whether or not volunteers are an essential part of community work.I will also discuss the possible consequence of losing some of these organisations as a result of cuts in funding. Finally by looking at the work of ‘Community Platform’ I will show how, through a shared vision they hope to create a better Ireland through their work in the community. To understand what community work is it is first necessary to understand the various definitions of community. Whi le this may seem apparent initially, upon closer inspection one will discover that there is no clear consensus.What we do know is that as Hillery, a sociologist working in the 1950s pointed out, all 94 definitions of community referred to people (Mayo 1994). Varley (1988) defines these more concisely into three categories. ?Communities defined in purely special or geographical term. ?Communities defined as relationships that occur within a specific locality. ?Communities defined as relationships which may occur within or transcend conventional geographical boundaries. Working within these categories community workers seek to empower individuals and groups of people by providing them with the skills they need to effect change in their own communities.We will look at detailed examples of this later. I will first explain my understanding of the five main strands or approaches identified by David A Thomas (1993) in his study of community work in the early 1980s: Community Action: this r equires people from a community to come together, recognising the problems that their community faces and taking action to reduce these problems. This approach can have a range of benefits. It helps those individuals involved to develop skills and claim ownership of the outcome. An example of this is when residents come together to campaign for speed bumps or lower speed limits in the area.Community Development: this requires people coming together to develop a range of practices to help improve local conditions, especially for people in disadvantaged situations. It helps people to participate in public decision making and thus achieve greater control of their circumstances. An example of this is when residents turn an area that was once used for anti-social behaviour into a playground for children. This creates a safer environment for local people. Social Planning: this is a process that is carried out through identifying strengths and weaknesses in a community.This is done by desi gning and implementing programmes, which help to improve the quality of life in that community. It usually involves the action of a political, legal, or recognized voluntary body. An example of this is when an area is identified as having a very large increase in children. This information is acted on and a new school is built in the area. Community Organisation involves various community or welfare agencies working with or without the involvement of statutory authorities, supporting joint initiatives.An example of this is when organisations connect through managing, sponsoring and improving the work of various bodies. This may be carried out at a local, regional or national level. Community Care primarily focuses on the area of healthcare for the disabled, the elderly and the very young. It is a model that encourages members of the community to be active participants in helping themselves. In some cases community care may use professionals in conjunction with volunteers. In other c ases volunteers may manage projects with little or no involvement from professionals.Now that we have an understanding of the various definitions of community and have explored the different approaches of community work, we will now look at the how this work is structured in Ireland today with the help of social partnership. Social partnership was set up in Ireland in 1987. Its membership was initially limited to the government, businesses, trade unions and farmers. Organisations representing the unemployed and those experiencing poverty and inequality protested that their members did not benefit from the agreements and so began to lobby to be included in the 1996 negotiations.It was decided in 2000, by the Fianna Fail government, that inclusion of community and voluntary organisations was the way forward. Eight organisations were successful in their efforts when they were selected by the Government to become the Community & Voluntary Pillar – the fourth social partnership pi llar. It is now made up of seventeen representative organisations. This pillar represents huge progress for marginalised people. Although it is important to remember that in order to make a sustainable difference the voice these organisations have been give, must be listened to.While in theory social partners can be involved in both policy making and implementation of such policy, it is argued ( Meade 2005) that because community and voluntary organisations lack economic clout, they have been granted only marginal influence over the substance of policy decisions. Popples theory in â€Å"Analysing community Work† (1995) states â€Å"Most practitioners are employed in one way or another by the state therefore acting with particular instructions or authority, so that they could be considered to be a subordinate branch of the dominant ‘organic’ intellectuals.Whilst on the other hand the fact that they can be at odds with the dominant ideology and are encouraging ind ividuals and groups to articulate their own discourse means that they do not fully agree with the dominant system. † While it is important that the government is involved and provides subsidises to the voluntary and community sector at a national and community level, it is also fair to say that participation by volunteers in the local community is equally important as they understand what the community requires at a grass roots level.As the Mayfield Community Development Project in Cork advocates, it is fundamental to ask the local people what they need, to encourage as much participation as possible. Cullen (1989) observes that participative community development projects counterbalance the bigness and the bureaucracy of state run welfare agencies. In other words, if the recipients of these services are involved, these agencies become less intimidating and more user-friendly. This approach empowers people to be involved in identifying and meeting their own needs.Although part icipation from volunteers in the local community is vital, problems can surface when local communities come to rely heavily on the support provided by these volunteers. An example of this occurred when an introduction of community care policies led to reductions in the provision of state sponsored residential care and thus increased the demands on already pressured carers. This issue is particularly relevant today due to the current economic climate. The government is seeking to cut their expenditure in many areas, including the community and voluntary sectors.An Bord Snip Nua’s proposed cuts in funding for community and voluntary organisations will effectively amount to a huge reduction in funding for essential public services. The proposed cut of 64% in the allocation for community and voluntary sector supports, will weaken community and voluntary organisation's capacity to deliver essential services to the most vulnerable people in society. Which raises the following quest ions, ? Is the government relying on volunteers too heavily? ? Is lack of funding going to break down the fabric of the community work network in Ireland? ? What are the potential consequences of the proposed cuts?Only in time, will we discover the true answers to these questions but for now let us look at the evidence that is available to us today. Undoubtedly the Governments reliance on volunteers within the community is very apparent. It is important to remember that very often we would not have these volunteers, without the recruitment strategies that are put in place by professionals. It is also crucial volunteers are monitored and get the support they need to carry out their work effectively. Without the funded professional element in community work, it is possible that the quality of service may be compromised.This may result in volunteers becoming over worked by carrying out the duties of the paid professionals. This can lead to volunteers being under too much pressure to ca rry out their vital work. A consequence of this may be the closure of much needed services, which will impact greatly on society in general. This may lead to a more segregated community with an increased level of problems such as anti-social behaviour and mental health issues to name just two. This is why in my opinion, it is essential to have both professional and voluntary workers in the community for a cohesive approach to the various issues.It is important at this point to examine the vital community work that may be affected by these cuts. I am using the organisation Community Platform as an example. This is an organisation which facilitates both community and voluntary organisations to come together through one voice at a national level. Publishing its pre-budget submission (2010), the Community Platform said that making the poor poorer in order to try to balance the books made absolutely no sense and would have disastrous and costly social consequences.Community platform curr ently has 29 members that work together to address poverty, social exclusion and inequality. Funding is provided to the Community Platform by the Department of Community, Rural ; Gaeltacht Affairs. The vision of the Community Platform is an Ireland that is inclusive, sustainable and equal. Working closely with all of its members it aims to develop and promote this vision through shared analysis. The following groups are just a small example of the essential services that come under the community platform umbrella: ?Age Action Ireland. Rape Crises Network Ireland. ?Simon Communities of Ireland. ?Womens Aid. ?Community Workers’ Co-operative. By looking at some of the essential services that Community Platform facilitate we can see just how important this community work is and the key services that may suffer because of these cuts. As a result of my studies I have ascertained that community work appears to be many things to many people. It can be a rewarding experience to both t he facilitator and the beneficiary. It can bring people together in the hope of improving circumstances for themselves or others.It can help people to achieve their goals for their community by coming together through one voice. It may be a carried out by a paid professional or a volunteer. Both of which have their own merit. Government support and funding are imperative to sustain the level of help that is needed in the community. However it is evident that when both professionals and volunteers work together, greater results can be achieved. Community work is essential in society to help improve living conditions. With an emphasis on improving the conditions of marginalised, vulnerable people. Bibliography