Oskar Schindler free essay sample

If you saw a dog going to be crushed under a car, wouldn’t you help him†. He went from being a selfish, greedy player to a savior for the Jewish people. In the end, he did what most Germans wouldn’t do, and that’s saving a large portion of a race that was discriminated against during this time. Oskar Schindler was born on April 28, 1908 in Zwittau, Austria-Hungary. He grew up wealthy and happy in one of the worst environments of this time. In the book Oskar Schindler: Righteous Gentile, it reads â€Å"He was known as a carefree party lover and future business man† This tells you that the people around him knew he was a handful, but had a great future ahead of him because of his family. As a child to his teenage years, Oskar didn’t really make good decisions mainly because of his wealth. In an article it reads, â€Å"He was born catholic, but from an early age je inhabited a world of sin† (Pottinger, article). We will write a custom essay sample on Oskar Schindler or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This tells that he had good teachings but at an early age was exposed to the bad parts of the world. Oskar had to work many jobs due to the great depression. In an article it says, â€Å"never one to miss a chance to make money, he marched into Poland on the heels of the S. S. † (Pottinger, article). This explains that Oskar made money anyway he could, even if it meant illegally. The depression also opened more opportunities for Oskar also. In the article â€Å"Oskar Schindler: 1908-1974†, it says â€Å"He has presided or the demise of the family business and became a salesman when opportunity came knocking in the guise of the war â€Å". It shows that when Oskar’s family businessman went bankrupt, he became a businessman to make profit off the war. Consequently, Oskar worked a lot of jobs because of the hardships faced during the war. During the time of Oskar’s life Germany was changing rapidly. In 1933 Hitler and the Nazis came to power and made plans to change Germany. An article says â€Å"the Nazis, who came to power in Germany believed that Germans were racially superior and that Jews were deemed inferior, were an Alien threat to the so called German racial community† (U. S. Holocaust museum). When Hitler came into power he had already established his plans to eliminate the Jewish race. The Nazis persecuted not only Jews, but people out of the ordinary too. One article reads† By 1935 Sudeten Germans who wanted to avoid being labeled as communists or social democrats joined the Nazi Sudeten German Party. †(Yourdictionary). The Sudeten Germans would be known as communist, so they joined the Nazi party to avoid death or persecution. The Germans invaded Poland and started to put Jews in ghettos. â€Å"Jews were herded into crowded ghettos, randomly beaten and humiliated, capriciously killedâ€Å" (Pottinger, Article). The Germans started to punish the Jews in Krakow. â€Å"The Germans decided that, to stay in the ghetto, Jews would have to work. Anyone who didn’t have a job including children and older people had to leave. Eventually, only 15,000 Jews were left. (Roberts, 27). The Germans forced Jews in ghettos to work. Others had to leave or got sent to die. In 1944 Allies invaded Poland and Germans eventually surrendered. â€Å"As the Russian Army approached, Nazis tried to desperately to complete their program of liquidation and sent all remaining Jews to die† (Pottinger, Article). When the Russian army neared the Nazis tried to quickly eliminate the rest of the Jews. The allies were winning the battle against Germany. An article states that â€Å"The marches continued until May 7, 1945, the day the German armed forces surrendered unconditionally to the Allies† (U. S. Holocaust museum). This says that the Allies marched into Germany and the Germans had no choice but to surrender. Overall, the Germans tortured the Jews and killed many till the allies came. Oskar Schindler eventually saved up enough money to get a factory known as the Emalia. â€Å"Schindler’s Emalia as it was known served as a haven for Jews â€Å". Schindler factory was run by Jews which saved them from death and other disastrous things. Schindler’s main focus was to help the Jews. â€Å"In addition to the approximately 1,000 Jewish forced laborers registered as factory workers, Schindler permitted about450 Jews working in other nearby factories to live at Emalia as well â€Å"(Crowe). He used the Emalia as a place for the Jews to live till they could be moved. Schindler had mainly Jews working in his factory. â€Å"One of his assistants drew several versions of a list of up to 1200 Jewish prisoners needed to work in the new factory† (Crowe). This helped about 1200 escape from death.

To what extent do the mass media influence their audience Research Paper Example

To what extent do the mass media influence their audience Research Paper Example To what extent do the mass media influence their audience Paper To what extent do the mass media influence their audience Paper Essay Topic: Sociology It is generally believed that daily newspapers, television, radio, films, the Internet, or any form of message communication that is targeted at a large audience has an influence on behaviour, (Moore 1996) but to what extent? How much influence do the mass media really have on society and the individuals within a society that have now become a media loyal audience? (Moore 1996) and how do people gauge the extent of this influence? The aim of this essay is to look at the theories of the mass media effects. Such effect theories as the hypodermic-syringe model, the cultural effects theory, the two-step flow model, and the uses and gratification theory, and then determine from these theories the true extent of the mass media influence upon society. The Hypodermic-syringe model, that is also referred to as the silver bullet model (Schramm Porter 1982) is the idea that the mass media are so powerful that they can inject their messages into the audience. Or that, like a magic bullet, they can be precisely targeted at an audience, who irresistibly fall down when hit by the bullet. In brief, it is the idea that the makers of media messages can get people to do whatever they want them to do. (Schramm Porter 1982) Whilst it could be argued that no media analyst holds such a view today, it remains popular amongst the public and the media moralists. For instance, in the aftermath of the murder of a young child, Jamie Bulger, in the United Kingdom in 1993 by two young boys, the video of childs play 3, in which a similar kind of murder was to be seen, was evoked as a cause of the murder. Macionis Plummer 1998 p593) Whilst it is possible to say that the film may have played a part, along with other factors, it cannot be said to have simply caused the two boys to murder the young child. (Macionis Plummer 1998) Another factor was that the senior police officers that interviewed the two young boys at the time agreed that there was no evidence that either child had even seen the video of childs play 3. (J. Petley 1994) Many theorists believe that it is really more of a folk belief than a model. Chapman 2000) It could be argued that methodologically, the model is very weak because it ignores the fact that social characteristics of audiences differ in terms of class, age, gender and ethnicity. (Chapman 2000) But still the theory that people are passively injected with media messages crops up repeatedly in the popular media whenever there is an unusual or grotesque crime, which they can somehow link to supposedly excessive media violence or sex and which is then typically taken up by politicians who call for greater control of media output. If it applies at all, then probably only in the rare circumstances where all competing messages are rigorously excluded, such as in a totalitarian state. Nazi Germany being a prime example, where Dr Joseph Goebbels centrally controlled the mass media, and in doing so, he influenced a country into believing that Adolf Hitler was the saviour of Germany. (Wistrich 1997) As you read through the various approaches however, it could be argued that a rather weaker version of the hypodermic syringe model underlies many of them, notably in the cultural effects approach. The cultural effects approach or the mass-culture theory, as it is otherwise known implies that some of the media audience will accept media messages rather uncritically and in other cases resist media messages. (Haralambos Holborn 2000) Clearly this suggests not only different types of media messages but also the idea of different audiences. (Haralambos Holborn 2000) It could be argued that the media actually target these different audiences, these cultures, and effect the way these people look upon the world. The idea is that the mass media have created a mass culture in society, but, at the same time, they have the effect of maintaining cultural individuality. (Burton 2002) The idea that the mass media has created a mass culture in society is particularly associated with Marxism. (Chapman 2000) Marxists argue that the once popular cultures or folk cultures used to be the product of the family and revolved around such activities as folk music, dancing, folk tales and carnivals, but now, in a capitalist society, they argue that it is no longer a product of the family but more down to mass production, or more commonly, the mass media. Chapman 2000) It is seen by Marxists, such as Marcuse in particular that people have become passive recipients of culture rather than actively participating in it. (Chapman 2000) Marcuse believed that people consequently absorb mentally, such things as violent images from movies or television, and then, just as any advertising is seen to do, it gives an appeti te for things that the viewer cannot have, and therefore fuels crimes. (Chapman 2000) Although Marxists such as Marcuse have argued that this type of popular culture is responsible for stifling creativity, imagination and critical thought in society, (Chapman 2000) a number of the mass-culture arguments have come from other directions. Pluralists argue that the pre-industrial folk culture has been over romanticised by the Marxist critics and they also argue that the mass media in modern society has also had a positive effect on people. They claim that literacy has been encouraged, and knowledge and awareness of the world around them has been encouraged. They claim that people have much more choice of cultural products and opinions than they ever had before. (Chapman 2000) In many ways, the mass-culture theory, or the cultural effects approach is similar to the hypodermic-syringe model of media effects and like that model, it is also difficult to prove an effect. (Chapman 2000) It is generally believed that a more acceptable approach is the two-step flow theory for understanding the influence that the mass media have on their audience. The two-step flow model is slightly different to the previous two methods, in that it suggests that people are not influenced directly by the media. It implies that people interpret media messages through a framework of attitudes that they acquire from primary groups or opinion leaders. It was first recognised by Paul Lazarsfeld, along with Bernard Berelson and Hazel Gaudet (Lazarsfeld, Berelson, Gaudet 1948) in The Peoples Choice, a paper analyzing the voters decision-making processes during an early nineteenth century presidential election campaign. Lazarsfeld found that voters, who already knew how they were going to vote in the election, had read and listened to more campaign material than the people who still did not know how they would vote. (Lazarsfeld, Berelson, Gaudet 1948) The researchers found that voters who made a decision late in the campaign were not likely to be influenced by the media, but rather by opinion leaders who swayed their vote. It as been suggested that these so called opinion leaders are not a general characteristic of a person, but rather, limited to specific issues. It is seen that, any Individual, who acts as the opinion leader on one issue, may not be considered influential in regard to another issue. (Burton 2002) Their research was originally based on something like the simplistic hypodermic syringe model of media influence. However, their investigations suggested that media effects were minimal, that the conception of a mass audience was inadequate and misguided and that social influences had a major effect on the process of opinion formation and limited the medias effect. (Burton 2002) As with the other two methods, it could also be argued that the two-step flow method also has its arguments. One being that the Influence, if any, or be it a small amount of influence, tended to be straight across a particular social economic class, except that in the higher social classes there was a tendency for people to find opinion leaders in the next class up. No opinion leader was an opinion leader in all aspects of life. (Burton 2002) For example, a car mechanic in the local pub may not use the media much at all because hes always working late. Nevertheless, he knows a lot about cars and so what the rest of those in the pub know from the media about different makes of car will be influenced by his views. Similarly, a Politics lecturer for example, may not use the media anything like as much as his or her students do, but the lecturers reading and viewing is targeted on political issues. Together with the lecturers broad knowledge of political theory and history, which is likely to make the lecturer the opinion leader as far as the Politics class is concerned. Allowing for the differences from one class to another and from one subject area to another, people could probably recognize in opinion leaders the characteristics which Lazarsfeld suggested, in particular that opinion leaders will be more active users of the mass media than others, (Burton 2002) As a result of this theory, attention began to turn from the question of what the media do to the audience to what the audience do with the media, or, the uses and gratifications theory The uses and gratifications theory focuses on the active use made of the media by the audience itself, to seek gratification of a variety of needs. (Chapman 2000) The standard saying is that, where effects research asks, What do the media do to audiences? the uses and gratifications approach asks, What do audiences do with the media? (Chapman 2000) In this theory, it is said that audiences use the media to gratify needs. The needs being most commonly identified as surveillance, such as monitoring whats going on in the world, or, personal relationships, family interaction, or just to escape from a normal routine. (Chapman 2000) Readers of a newspaper for example, might open the paper, turn past the hard news and head straight for the gossip section, or to the stars section because they need entertainment. Also, as with television, one person might understand their favourite soap opera because their favourite character holds power, and they relate it to their own needs for power. Another person may understand the same soap opera as being mainly about love and understanding because they have strong needs for security and choose to bring out those aspects of the story in their minds. (Burton 2002) But as with all the theories, the uses and gratifications theory also holds arguments. The biggest argument directed at the Uses and Gratifications theory, is that it is seen as being non-theoretical. Other arguments are that it is seen as being vague in key concepts, and being nothing more than a data-collecting strategy. However it is still the most modern theory to date. (ODonnell G, 1994) After looking at the theories of mass media effects, to actually determine the mass media influence upon their audience is no easy task. It could be argued that modern theories of the mass media effect, such as the two-step flow theory or the uses and gratification theory show that people are more likely to reinforce existing attitudes and behavior than to change them. It could be argued that peoples existing attitudes act as a protective net preventing any direct effect at all. It could be said that the media has most influence when an audience lacks knowledge and clear opinions, as with the hypodermic-syringe model or the cultural effects theory. (ODonnell G, 1994) Even so, after looking at these theories, there is no overwhelming evidence that the mass media actually influences its audience at all. However, there is more evidence, to suggest that the audience actually influences the mass media. (Chapman 2000)

Computer and Network Hardware Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Computer and Network Hardware - Assignment Example A router is necessary in a network in that they are the paths through which creation of layer 3 takes place (Lammle, 2008). Layer 3 refers to the gateway through which the data transmitted in a network operates and this mainly takes place in OSI model. Routers make use of Internet Protocol commonly known as IP address to pass data across the network. Routers are common in Local Area Networks (LAN) (Lammle, 2008). A collision domain is where collision of data packets takes place on a shared medium mostly in Ethernet networking (Lammle, 2008). On the other hand, a broadcast domain is where any connected device to the network is capable of transmitting data to the other. In a broadcast domain, the data does not have to pass through a router. Finally, a network segment refers to any section of a workstation network depending on the devices used in the network. LAN segmentation is one of the common methods of creating collision domain (Medhi, 2007). The configurations depend on networks needed. With LAN, it is possible to extend the network and isolate faulty networks. It also helps to improve the network security and applicable in creating network domains (Medhi, 2007). LAN segmentation makes of bridges, network switches and routers in configuring the required

Compare two moving image texts the genere gangster flims Essay

Compare two moving image texts the genere gangster flims - Essay Example The main story line of the film is Dick Tracy's efforts to bring down Big Boy Caprice's gangster empire and the search for a mystery assassin known as The Blank. A secondary storyline follows Tracy's romances with Tess Trueheart and Breathless Mahoney. The third sub-plot is Tracy's rescuing a young orphan boy, The Kid, who looks up to Tracy as a father figure. All this becomes quickly tangled when Tracy finds himself framed for the murder of Chicago's beloved (although corrupt) District Attorney, and Caprice's empire begins to take over the city itself. Classical Hollywood cinema has traditionally presented its viewer with a unified narrative. The Untouchablesis a perfect example of this. The film's narrative deals with Treasury Officer Elliot Ness's quest to get criminal Al Capone behind bars. This is a goal that is clearly and explicitly delineated from the start, and most scenes follow the protagonist's actions from that point on. At first he tries to achieve this goal by himself, which leads to failure when he finds out that the rest of the police force is corrupt. As he walks home, depressed about his embarrassing failure, the character of Maloneis introduced. The death of Malone not only has the plot function of strengthening Ness's resolve to catch Capone, it also functions structurally as reinforcement of the audience's sympathy for his quest. When

Community Statistic Data Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Community Statistic Data - Research Paper Example The city is large with a local market hosting 6.37million residents according to the demographic report of the area in 2010. This paper provides useful information on the City of Dallas by investigating the community’s wellbeing such as the health sector and the living standards. Through analytical interpretation of subjective and objective data collected on the community this reports analyses this data and outlays a critical report that covers various segments of the community. These sections include the education background of the city, economic indicators, ethnic and racial mix-up and the city’s morbidity and mortality rate. The report also focuses on some of the factors that may be of concern to the residents of the community such as the crime rate and its frequency in the community. All this information is used to come up with a diagnosis of the community to determine its advantages and limitations on the overall health of the community. Subjective data Following t he Windshield survey and interviews conducted on the community, which involved talking to some key informants from the city of Dallas; there were two major health concerns that were of concern. The first major health concern in the area is the air pollution, which comes from them the activities of the Midlothian big Industrial firms. According to a government report released in November 2012, the main concerns from the pollution include children exposure to lead which lowers their IQ levels. The other health concerns from the pollution are heart and breathing problems especially for those suffering from Asthma (Loftis, 2012). The second health concern in Dallas community is the high rate of traffic accidents in the community. Dallas, as many would tell it’s a city meant for driving; each day there are more cars on the road with hundreds of people moving into the city and out (D Magazine , 2009). This phenomenon is a negative setback to the community as it increases the mortal ity rate, which negatively influences to the community’s economy. The findings from the interview process with key informants in the area such as the police indicated that around 40 percent of the accidents are a result of drunk driving. Reckless driving caused 33 percent and driving above the speed limit resulted in 30 percent of the accidents (D Magazine , 2009). Objective data support To clarify the subjective findings from the windshield survey and the notable concerns highlighted above; statistical work had to be incorporated to have a clear picture of the situation. Statistical data was drawn from various governmental departments of concern, and other relevant sources of concern such as City-Data and reports done on the community by experts. The objective data found concerning health issues was as highlighted in the following segments: demographic, economic, racial/ethnic, Education, Morbidity, and mortality statistics of the community as a whole. Demographic data In Da llas community, the demographics indicate that the population as per 2011 was estimated to be 1,223,229 compare to the previous year of 1,197,229. The majority of the community comprises of persons between the ages of 18 to 65. The ratio of women to men stands at 50 percent. Population change stands at 2.1 percent per

A Mother Diagnosed With Cancer Psychology Essay

A Mother Diagnosed With Cancer Psychology Essay At that time, cancer for me and probably for anyone else was an unknown monster who spared no life when it hits you. There were endless nights full of hope for her recovery. At night before I would doze off to sleep I would look at her closely. She still had that same pretty face, beautiful eyes, lovely shaped lips and brilliant mind. But deep inside, it was too painful to see my ever energetic mother lying in bed with all the tubes in her body. Too hurtful to think that all we had shared, our plans might come to an endà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ This is an adolescent daughters account of her journey with having a mother diagnosed with cancer. Dealing with maternal cancer can cause distress and anxiety because this illness is usually associated with poor prognosis, agonizing pain, negative effects of the treatment, and low survival rates. Cancer is considered by many as a silent killer, which unsuspectingly ravages the body from within. It can be a stressful experience, not only for the patients themselves, but also for the entire family. Every member of the family, especially the children, has to adjust to the emotional burden, physical demands, and lifestyle changes which cancer brings about. The occurrence of cancer has alarmingly increased throughout the years, affecting and claiming many lives around the world. It has been estimated that around 12.2 million people are diagnosed with cancer worldwide (American Cancer Society, 2007). It is also projected that the number of cancer cases and deaths will continue to escalate in the future. New cancer cases are estimated to increase from 11.3 million in 2007 to 15.5 million in 2030 (WHO, 2008). Based on the worldwide proliferation of cancer cases, this disease is now considered to be a major health problem. In the local scene, it is estimated that one in every 1,800 Filipinos will suffer from cancer every year (Philippines Breast Cancer, 2008). Based on the 2005 Cancer Facts and Estimates (cited in A Look at Cancer, 2007), approximately 39,929 men and 32,917 women were diagnosed with cancer that year. Consistent with the worldwide trend, the number of cancer patients in the Philippines is also expected to increase in the coming years. The most common cancer sites for both men and women are as follows: lung, breast, liver, cervix, and colon (A Look at Cancer, 2007). Young and middle-aged women are at great risk of developing cancer. According to Hamouy (2007), statistics show that females have one in three chances of getting cancer in their lifetime. This risk is also due to the drastic increase in the number of breast and cervical cancer cases, which are commonly and specifically associated with women. The breast is the most common cancer site among Filipinas. As of 2008, the Philippines had the highest reported cases of breast cancer in Asia, even surpassing other European countries (Philippines Breast Cancer, 2008). Cervical cancer ranks as the second most frequent type of cancer among Filipino women (World Health Organization, 2007). According to the Department of Health (cited in DOH Launches, 2008), approximately 10 Filipinas die from cervical cancer each day. Women diagnosed with cancer belong to various age groups. However, findings consistently show that cancer risk is positively correlated with age (Baum Andersen, 2001; A Look at Cancer, 2007). This puts older women at greater risk for developing this dreaded disease. In the past years, majority of cancer cases were diagnosed at 50 years old or at a postmenopausal age (Bobadilla, 2006). Unfortunately, there has been an increase in the occurrence of cancer among women in their midlife (Bobadilla, 2006) as well. Recently, the battle against cancer has started to affect younger women. A significant number of women who belong to this population are mothers. It is estimated that 30% of women diagnosed with breast cancer has one or more dependent offspring still under her care (Faulkner Davey, 2002). The growing incidence of cancer among younger mothers means that more families are being challenged to cope with this disease. Mothers diagnosed with cancer are faced with various issues in the different facets of their lives. On a personal level, their concerns include experiencing the physical rigors of the disease and treatment, emotional issues, and preoccupation with existential matters. Aside from these, they also have additional sources of stress such as meeting the demands of being wives, mothers, and professionals in their respective fields. Being diagnosed with cancer at this stage in ones life can be stressful and in some cases, traumatic. This can be attributed to the pressure of having to fulfill different roles despite the physical and emotional demands of the disease. Mothers with cancer are forced to shift their role from taking care of their family to the one being cared for. In effect, although a maternal cancer diagnosis is experienced as a personal crisis, it also makes a great impact on the whole family system. These families are put in a predicament wherein they have to adapt with the changes and stresses brought about by maternal cancer. As the patients roles as a mother and spouse are disrupted, dealing with the illness becomes a shared crisis within the family. The husband and children are forced to adapt with the situation by handling the responsibilities which the mother could not perform, while dealing with their own emotional distress. The stressful nature of the situation puts other family members at risk for psychological distress, especially the children. In families dealing with maternal cancer, the adolescent daughters are expected to assume the responsibilities of the mother. In the Filipino culture, daughters are reared to help out in domestic chores and assist the mother with her duties (Liwag, Dela Cruz, Macapagal, 1998). Thus, when the mother is not well enough to carry out her responsibilities, adolescent daughters take over in caring for the family. This additional burden makes adolescent daughters the most vulnerable to experience psychological distress. Such circumstances subject the daughters to witness drastic physical and emotional changes in their mothers, disruption in their daily routines and changes in family roles. Aside from sharing the burden with their family, the daughters are also faced with the challenge of dealing with the developmental demands of being an adolescent. They may experience a variety of emotional responses, the most common of which are depression and anxiety, as a way to cope with their stress. Parents may fail to recognize the distress their daughters are experiencing due to preoccupation with the treatment and their own distress. In effect, the emotional issues harbored by the daughters may not be addressed appropriately. In the field of psychological research, a large body of studies had already been devoted to investigating the effects of cancer on the different aspects of a patients life. It has only been recently that researchers also recognized the need to shift their attention to the children of cancer patients. It is in this vein that the focus of this research will be centered on adolescent daughters whose mothers have cancer. This research will look into the psychological impact of maternal cancer on adolescent daughters, specifically in terms of emotional, behavioral, and social functioning. The mothers perceptions regarding how their daughters are dealing with situation will also be explored. It is also of interest to know how maternal cancer affects the relationship between the mother and adolescent daughter. Review of Literature Impact of Parental Cancer on the Family Cancer was found to be associated with psychological distress. Much of past research on cancer has focused mainly on the psychological impact of cancer on the patients themselves (Veach, 1998). Researchers have acknowledged that it is also necessary to look into the effect of cancer within the context of the family. Family Systems Theory The family is defined by Buckley (as cited in Papadopolous, 1995) as a system made up of sets of different parts which are interdependent and interconnected. A change in one part causes a change in the entire system. It is comprised of several subsystems which characterize the existing relationships within the family such as parental, marital, and sibling relationships (Faulkner Davey, 2002). According to the family systems theory, the condition of one family member influences the condition of other family members. It proposes that all the subsystems within the family interact and affect each other (Faulkner Davey, 2002; Papadopolous, 1995). The members of the family operate in a way that it maintains a balanced level of functioning, also known as equilibrium. The well-being of the family members and the familys functioning depend greatly on the interaction of the subsystems (Faulkner Davey, 2002). Due to the dynamic and interdependent nature of the family system, the roles and psychological functioning of individual members can affect the whole system. A role change initiated by one member will alter how the rest of the members play their roles. In this case, the whole system has to make corresponding changes in their behavior in order to compensate for the disruption in the roles among the members. This adjustment has to be made in order to regain the familys equilibrium (Jolley Mitchell, 1996). In the same way, a members psychological functioning is strongly influenced by ones interaction with the other members (Oster Caro, 1990). In families which are under a great deal of stress, the child is vulnerable to everything that is going on between the parents. The tension or conflict within a family can also induce distress within the child, whether the child is directly exposed to the stressor or not (Sokolova, n.d.). The Filipino Family The Philippine society is familial in nature (Jocano, 1995). Filipinos recognize that the family is the most basic institution in the society and is at the center of the affairs of the community. The high regard given to the family can be seen in the strong and pervasive influence this institution exerts towards individuals. According to Jocano (1995), the Filipino family is superordinate over the members. The life of each member is strongly influenced by the dynamics within the family. An individual must involve the family in decision-making and resolution of important issues. This is because the entire family is affected if something happens to its member, regardless of whether this occurrence is positive or negative. Thus, the Filipino family tends to be protective of its members, as a way to preserve not only the individual but the entire system as well. In order to uphold the traditional Filipino family system, cultural ideals which guide ones behavior are instilled in the individual. These ideals are learned through rearing practices and adherence to the societys norms. The following standards are honored and imbibed by traditional Filipino families: kapwa, damdamin, anddangal (Jocano, 1995, p.7). Kapwa refers to establishing interpersonal relationships which are based on equality and empathy. Damdamin on the other hand, deals with valuing others peoples emotions and striving in order not to hurts the feelings of others. Lastly, dangal, pertains to honoring and respecting others. Despite the changes in the society, in light of modernization, Jocano (1995) found that many Filipino parents continue to inculcate the following cultural ideals to their children: paggalang, which is giving respect to people and venerated customs; pagbabalikatan, which is empathizing and sharing the burden of others; pagbabayanihan, which is cooperating w ith one another; and pagmamalasakit, which is being considerate and concerned with other peoples welfare (Jocano, 1995, pp.7-8). The Filipino family is also described to be bilateral (Jocano, 1995). This refers to the establishment of close relationships with relatives from both the sides of the mother and father. An individuals level of affinity towards the maternal and paternal relatives are said to be equal. This bilateral characteristic of the family makes the relationships within the family system wider and more intertwined. In effect, the typical Filipinos concept of family is not only limited to the nuclear family structure, which is comprised of the parents and their children, but also includes the extended family which includes the relatives from both sides. By going beyond the immediate family, the individual can draw support and security from both the immediate and extended family. Jocano (1995) considers this close kinship among Filipinos as a significant source of strength. This provides an individual with an assurance that there will always be someone to count on when problems arise. The close ties among relatives and the ideals which families uphold influence the structure of Filipino households (Torres, 1995). It is typical for a nuclear family to share a roof with a few relatives and a nonrelative, which is usually the househelp. This is true, most especially for middle class urban families. In some cases, nuclear families who belong to the same clan reside in separate dwellings which are close in proximity. By maintaining geographical nearness, the extended family and its members are able to strengthen the support that they derive from each other. Carandang (1987) applied the family systems approach within the context of Filipino families. In line with Western theories on family systems, she suggested that any stress experienced by one member can be vicariously felt by the other members. Each of the family members responds to this stress by acting out in their own unique way. It has to be taken into consideration that the Filipino family is usually comprised of immediate family members, as well as extended relatives. There is also greater emphasis on maintaining close emotional bond among the family members. This nature of Filipino families makes it a more dynamic and complicated system. In effect, the children are challenged to gain recognition so as not to be lost within the larger system. This makes the children the most vulnerable members of the family because they can be easily affected by the stresses experienced by the family (Carandang, 1987). When the family is in the middle of a crisis, there is a tendency for the children not to directly articulate their feelings, especially if these are negative and are felt towards the adults in the family. In some cases, these stresses are manifested through the childrens behavior. Carandang (1987) found out that regardless of the socioeconomic status of the family, the children play the role of the familys protector. Being the protectors, the children absorb the familys stress and respond through their behaviors. In the Philippine setting, the familys tagasalo (Carandang, 1987, p. 47) or the one who takes care of the family is considered to be at risk for developing distress. Older siblings, most especially the daughters, are commonly expected to fulfill the role of being the familys tagasalo. Daughters are groomed at an early age to assist in tasks which are domestic and nurturant in nature, such as household chores and caretaking duties. By the time Filipino daughters reach adolescence, they are expected to become mother substitutes (Liwag, Dela Cruz, Macapagal, 1998, p.155). With this new role, adolescent daughters assume a considerable number of their mothers household responsibilities. The study of Go Tian (2003) supports Carandangs premise that daughters are more likely than sons to assume the role of the tagasalo. Based on her research among Filipino college students, females exhibited higher tagasalo traits than males. In contrast, Udarbes (2001) research proposed that the familys tagasalo is not necessarily related to the childs gender or birth order. Her findings suggest that the tagasalo generally possesses the following characteristics: strong sense of responsibility, good listener, nurturant, peacemaker and a strong need for control. Traditionally, women are considered to be central to the functioning of the family. This is due to gender role socialization, which dictates that women are expected and trained to take care of household matters (Liwag, Dela Cruz, Macapagal, 1998). As the major female figure in the family, the mothers main role is to handle domestic responsibilities at home. Thus, when a mother is diagnosed with cancer, the family adapts to the situation by assuming the responsibilities which the mother could not handle. This burden is often passed on to the adolescent daughter, who had been trained since childhood to carry out domestic chores. The impact of cancer within the Filipino family was evident in a local study done by Gorospe (2002). A cancer diagnosis affects the different aspects of a patients life, as well as the rest of the family members. The debilitating effect of cancer on the patient can cause a disruption in routine, changes in lifestyle, and limitations in performing ones responsibilities. Thus, the patient and his family are confronted with overwhelming changes which they have to adjust to. As a reaction to these changes, the entire family undergoes a process of emotional distress characterized by disbelief, denial, and initial resistance to the diagnosis. The roles within the family also have to be re-assigned in order to compensate for the changes related to the patients inability to fulfill ones role. Family Changes Brought About by Parental Cancer A mothers diagnosis of cancer is not an individual struggle. The entire family is subjected to the repercussions of dealing with maternal cancer. According to Robinson, Caroll, and Watson (2005), cancer within the family can be considered as an emotional crucible. This is the shared experience in which the family goes through a series of emotional adjustments. Such experience has been described as both draining and empowering, not only for the cancer patient but for all the family members. The profound stress brought about by the illness affects the relationships and interactions within the family. As a response, the family members reactions are manifested through their behavior and emotions (Sargent, 2003). Parents diagnosed with cancer reported that due to the illness, they were unable to spend time with and address the needs of their children (Walsh, Manuel, Avis, 2005). This was supported by the study of Faulkner and Davey (2002) which revealed that parental cancer can lead to impaired parenting. The demands of the illness made both the healthy and ill parents less available to their children, emotionally and physically. There were also cases of less communication, decrease in supervision, and lack of consistency in discipline and nurturance. Such disruption in the family system undeniably exposes the children to many psychological stressors such as: threat of permanent loss of parent to death, temporary loss of parent due to the treatment demands, and changes in family roles and routines (Davey, Askew, Godette, 2003). This may result in adjustment difficulties and psychological consequences, thus, making the children vulnerable to the impact of having a parent with cancer. Cancer blurs the roles in the family. The study of Walsh, Manuel, and Avis (2005), which investigated the impact of maternal breast cancer on the family, revealed that because the mothers were not well enough to perform their usual responsibilities at home, they had to transfer some of their family duties to their spouses and children. Generally, adolescents in the family had to take on more responsibilities at home, such as household chores and caregiving tasks for their younger siblings and the ill parent (Davey, Askew, Godette, 2003; Davey, Gulish, Askew, Godette, Childs, 2005; Grabiak, Bender, Puskar, 2007; Visser, Huizinga, Van der Graaf, Hoekstra, Hoekstra-Weebers, 2003). Aside from dealing with worry over the ill parents condition, the adolescent children in the family felt that their lives were complicated due to the additional responsibilities they had to carry out in order to augment the deficiencies caused by maternal cancer (Davey, Gulish, Askew, Godette, Childs, 2005). Psychological Adjustment Among Adolescents of Cancer Patients The psychological effects of maternal cancer on children are widely investigated. The qualitative study of Forrest, Plumb, Ziebland, and Stein (2006) reported that children already suspected that something was wrong even before they were told about their mothers diagnosis. They based this suspicion on the mood and behavior changes in their mother. Upon knowing about the maternal cancer diagnosis, the adolescents experienced emotional distress. The initial emotional responses were shock and disbelief, followed by devastation and intense feelings of sadness (Davey, Askew, Godette, 2003; Davey, Gulish, Askew, Godette, Childs, 2005). Compas, Worsham, Ey, and Howell (1996) assessed the emotional distress experienced by children of cancer patients by looking into their depression and anxiety. Their distress arose from their considerable worry about their mothers health and fear of losing their mother from cancer (Davey, Askew, et al., 2003; Davey, Gulish, et al., 2005; Grabiak, Bender, Puskar, 2007; Kristjanson, Chalmers, Woodgate, 2004; Walsh et al., 2005). In some studies, adolescents were also concerned with the possibility of potentially inheriting the cancer (Davey, Askew, et al., 2003; Walsh et al., 2005). The adolescents emotional difficulties partly stemmed from feeling powerless over their parents illness. The adolescents felt that they did not have control over the outcome of the diagnosis and treatment, which in turn also affected the moods and accessibility of both parents (Davey, Askew, et al., 2003). Another cause of the adolescents distress was witnessing their parents pain. Some of the adolescents reported that they were bothered by the side effects of chemotherapy (Forrest et al., 2006). They had to adapt to seeing their usually healthy parent slowly become weak and ill (Davey, Askew, et al., 2003). The positive effect this had on the children was that they became more empathic towards their ill parent. They were also more tolerant and understanding of both their parents, who exhibited increased irritability and moodiness (Davey, Askew, et al., 2003). This was consistent with the findings of Kristjanson et al. (2004) which revealed that the adolescents were sensitive to the suffering of their ill mother. The teenagers expressed that they felt guilty because their own lives were normal, whereas their mother was enduring the painful physical and psychological consequences of cancer. They were able to empathize with their mothers suffering but they expressed guilt about their own situation. A local research done by Tantoco (1992) examined the issues confronted by terminally ill mothers and their eldest offspring. Results revealed that the eldest children exhibited considerable anxiety during the process of dealing with their mothers illness. Many of the participants described their journey as an emotional roller coaster ride (Tantoco, 1992, p.73). This experience compelled them to prioritize their mothers condition. This forced them to put other aspects of their lives, such as studies, work, and heterosexual relationships aside. Given that the eldest children focused much of their attention on their ill mother, they became sensitive to their mothers physical, emotional, and mental anguish. The children shared that they had difficulties in dealing with their ill mothers emotional outbursts. Despite this, the eldest in the family also felt the need to give emotional support, security, and assurance to their ill mother. Another source of the eldest childrens stress was the ir informal role of being next to their parents in terms of responsibility and authority. Being the eldest, they had to take on additional household responsibilities, including caring of their ill mother and younger siblings. These extra tasks required them to make personal sacrifices such as not being able to engage in their usual adolescent activities. Aside from emotional problems, behavioral changes were also observed among children of cancer patients. Increased crying, clinging, difficulty in sleeping, and changes in the intensity of talking were some of the behaviors which children engaged in after their parent was diagnosed with cancer (Visser et al., 2003). There are inconsistent findings in terms of the childrens school performance. Some adolescents showed a decline in their academics and attendance (Visser et al., 2003; Grabiak, Bender, Puskar, 2007. This was due to their inability to concentrate during school hours because of their preoccupation with their parents illness and the disruptions in their routine (Visser et al., 2003; Forrest et al., 2006). However, some adolescents actually performed better in school even though they were dealing with parental cancer (Visser et al., 2003). Positive behavioral changes also surfaced as the adolescents were dealing with their mothers cancer. The adolescents expressed that they appreciated their mother more even when the diagnosis and treatment were over. They showed this newfound appreciation by constantly checking on how the ill mother is doing, wanting to be physically close, paying more than usual attention to mothers needs, and wanting to offer support (Visser et al., 2003; Davey, Gulish et al., 2005). Some adolescents also reported that they took over their mothers role even if it meant an increase in their responsibilities. This contributed to their perception that they were older than their years, after having gone through that experience (Davey, Gulish et al., 2005). Daughters whose mothers have cancer also became more involved with the medical aspects of the treatment. Even though they were less convinced that things will work out, they took more initiative in handling the medical concerns of their mother (Gilbar Borovik, 1998). According to Grabiak, Bender, and Puskar (2007), the behavioral adjustment of adolescents rely heavily on the emotional condition of both parents and on the family functioning. When both parents display symptoms of depression, adolescents tended to show increased behavioral problems. Between the two parents, maternal depression exerts a stronger influence on the childs behavioral functioning. It was also found that adolescents who experienced difficulty with behavioral adjustment perceived their families as having poor quality of communication, responsiveness, and involvement. In the aspect of social functioning, the study of Osborn (2007) found no evidence to suggest that social competence is negatively affected among children of cancer patients. In a few studies, adolescents of cancer patients even reported handling their social lives more effectively than those from the norm groups (Osborn, 2007). This favorable social functioning may be attributed to the strong social support which the adolescents actively seek and maintain. Common sources of social support were family, friends, school counselors, teachers, and support groups (Davey, Askew, Godette, 2003; Grabiak, Bender, Puskar, 2007; Huizinga, Van der Graaf et al., 2005). Adolescents felt that their peers were positive sources of support with whom they could talk openly about their feelings and fears. However, some teenagers expressed that their friends had difficulty empathizing with their situation. They felt that their friends could not really understand what it is like to have a mother diagnosed with cancer. This feeling further highlights the sense of isolation which the adolescents sometimes feel. They felt more consoled when they talked to peers who were also experiencing the same adversity (Huizinga, Van der Graaf et al., 2005). Similarly, Filipina adolescents place importance on having strong social ties. Being more emotionally involved in relationships and having higher levels of interpersonal needs, warmth, and sensitivity are important factors which contribute to the finding that female adolescents are less lonely than their male counterparts. Their need for interaction actually reduces the feelings of loneliness because Filipina adolescents have a richer source of social and emotional support (Jimenez, 2009). Adolescents of Cancer Patients in Comparison With Control Groups Several studies compared the psychological functioning of adolescents whose parents have cancer vis-a-vis a control group. Inconsistent findings were found. A number of studies reveal that adolescents of cancer patients and the control group did not significantly differ in terms of emotional, behavioral, and social functioning (Brown et al., 2006; Harris Zakowski, 2003; Hoke, 2001; Huzinga, Van der Graaf, Visser, Djikstra, Hoekstra-Weebers, 2005; Osborn, 2007; Visser, et al., 2007). The similarity in the levels of psychological distress between adolescents of cancer patients and the control group can be attributed to the childrens efforts to mask their true feelings. They were aware that their parents were already under a great deal of stress. The adolescents showed that they were not affected by the situation so that their parents would not worry about them. This was their way of protecting their parents from additional stress (Visser et al., 2007). Although no significant differences were found in terms of psychological distress, a percentage of the adolescents of cancer patients exhibited scores within the clinical range. In the study of Houck, Rodrigue, and Lobato (2006), one-third of the adolescents whose parents have cancer reported clinical levels of posttraumatic stress in response to their parents illness. In addition, approximately 25% to 30% of the adolescents in both the studies of Visser et al. (2007) and Huizinga, Van der Graaf et al. (2005) reported clinically elevated scores in internalizing and externalizing problems. Internalizing problems refer to turning ones emotions inward. This is manifested through withdrawal, somatic symptoms, anxiety, and depression. On the other hand, externalizing problems are more noticeable ways of dealing with stress because they are reflected through ones behavior. This can be in the form of socially unacceptable, delinquent, and aggressive behavior (Visser et al., 2005). Consisten t with the abovementioned, Osborn (2007) proposed that adolescents of cancer patients generally did not experience higher levels of psychological distress compared to reference groups. However, they were slightly at increased risk for internalizing problems. Some studies found that adolescents of cancer patients are more emotionally distressed than those from the control sample. The research of Grabiak et al. (2007) revealed that adolescents whose parents have cancer displayed a significantly higher level of anxiety compared to the age-normed sample. Visser et al. (2003) supported this claim as their study found that when compared to a control group, adolescents dealing with parental cancer exhibited significantly higher stress-response symptoms, which included avoidance and intrusive thoughts. In another study, adolescents of cancer patients also displayed significantly higher levels of perceived risk for developing cancer than adolescents who have healthy parents (Harris Zakowski, 2003). Despite this, it is interesting to note that these two groups did not differ in depression and anxiety. Hoke (2001) found that adolescents coping with maternal cancer did better in their social and academic endeavors when their mother was more distres sed. This is in comparison with adolescents in the control group who did less well when their mother was more distressed. The results also varied depending on the t

Women in Literature :: Essays Papers

Women in Literature The Arizona Territory was a beautiful and impressive area that deserved to have exquisite writings to represent the land. It was particularly the men who were allowed to publish their thoughts. Women’s writings were not looked upon as scholarly and not published for public enjoyment. In the late 1800's and early 1900's women's literature was underrepresented. The ideas of women and their creativity was discouraged. In Southern Arizona, this discouragement existed for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons attributed to this was that there were more limiting resources, an overabundance of women who were illiterate, and geography. Despite these and other stumbling blocks, two women overcame the odds and are seen as great women authors and literary achievers. Sharlot Hall and Frances Gillmor proved that women had a great deal to convey and exhibited the talent of literary expertise to accomplish their goals. Not only do they write about beauty and harmony, they write ab out the conflicts with the Indians and the hardships that other cultures had to endure in Arizona. One reason that few women published literature was because they came to Arizona primarily with their husbands who were in the Army and needed to relocate. These women, who came from populated and larger cities, were exposed to a different way of life in Arizona. There were few educational facilities in the west to teach young ladies about literary traditions. A lot of these women had to take care of themselves, their children, growing food and teaching. They were rooted to the same spot, sometimes for months at a time. This deprived them of a lot of mental stimuli that may have gotten in more populated areas.(1 pg. 48) Therefore sheltered women in Arizona were not encouraged to write stories or poems. Not that they didn’t know how, they told stories all the time. Children loved to hear the stories of their mothers lives and backgrounds. Women just never knew there was a medium to get their work out, so that more than just their children were partial to stories and poems o f landscapes and journeys across many different lands. There is a wealth of information about Ms. Sharlot Hall. Her life was very complex and together it all ties together to tell the story of her fame.